Digital Commons Network^™

Characterizing The Genetic Diversity Of Pfrh5 In Plasmodium Falciparum Clinical Isolates From Burkina Faso, Ghana, And Tanzania: A Next-Generation Sequencing Study To Inform Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Development, Manuel Emilio Perez

Public Health Theses

The development of a highly effective malaria vaccine is of global health priority, given the persistently high malaria burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and growing resistance to antimalarial treatment and vector control measures. P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) has emerged as a leading target among blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates due to its essential role in erythrocyte invasion and initial documentation of limited polymorphisms. However, recent studies have revealed greater PfRH5 genetic diversity than previously believed, raising concerns about potential parasite evasion of vaccine-induced immunity. This study utilized deep targeted amplicon next-generation sequencing to characterize PfRH5 genetic variation in …

Quantifying Ambient And Occupational Pollutant Exposure In Urban Street Vendors: Evidence To Inform Electrification Transitions In New York City, Bryn Redal

Public Health Theses

Food cart vendors in New York City face significant environmental health risks from exposure to extreme heat and air pollution, compounded by their reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators. Despite growing interest in electrification as a cleaner alternative, limited research has explored vendors' experiences with generator use, health concerns, and attitudes toward electrification. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Yale School of Public Health and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), used a mixed-methods approach to assess vendor conditions and perspectives. Data were collected from 31 vendors across four NYC locations through structured interviews …

Expanding The Trypanosoma Brucei Parasite Detection Limit Through Tb177 Gene Detection In Qpcr, Yi Yan

Public Health Theses

Trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosoma genus, remains a significant health and veterinary burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) posing ongoing threats to underserved populations. Despite advances in therapeutics, the lack of sensitive and scalable diagnostic tools continues to limit early detection, effective disease management, and evaluation of emerging vaccine candidates. Current diagnostic methods such as light microscopy and serological tests frequently fail to detect low levels of parasitemia during the early stages of infection, thereby delaying intervention and increasing the risk of disease progression and transmission.

Our study mainly …

Integrating Satellite-Based Precipitation Analysis: A Case Study In Norfolk, Virginia, Imiya M. Chathuranika, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In many developing cities, the scarcity of adequate observed precipitation stations, due to constraints such as limited space, urban growth, and maintenance challenges, compromises data reliability. This study explores the use of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) as a solution to supplement missing data over the long term, thereby enabling more accurate environmental analysis and decision-making. Specifically, the effectiveness of SbPPs in Norfolk, Virginia, is assessed by comparing them with observed precipitation data from Norfolk International Airport (NIA) using common bias adjustment methods. The study applies three different methods to correct biases caused by sensor limitations and calibration discrepancies and then …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Stay-In-Place Forms To Improve The Tosional Stability Of Box Beam Bridges During Erection, Karl E. Barth, Michael W. Seek, Gregory K. Michaelson, Dimitra Pyrialakou, Brook T. Woldegabriel

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Cold-formed tub girders provide an effective steel solution for short-span bridges. The girders are often delivered with an open top with stay-in-place forms installed on site. Walkways may be installed to the side of the girder that can induce significant torsion rotations in the open cross section. Full scale tests on girder specimens have shown that installing one or two panels of stay in place forms at the ends of the girder can significantly reduce the torsion rotation of the girder by providing warping resistance. Cantilever tests on the stay in place forms are performed to investigate the influence of …

A Comprehensive Academic And Industrial Survey Of Blockchain Technology For The Energy Sector Using Fuzzy Einstein Decision-Making, Umit Cali, Annabelle Lee, Barry Hayes, Claudio Lima, D. Jonathan Sebastian-Cardenas, David Flynn, Emre Kantar, Farrokh Rahimi, Kaung Si Thu, Marco Pasetti, Marthe Fogstad Dynge, Merlinda Andoni, Muhammet Deveci, Murat Kuzlu, Raquel Alanso, Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, Sambeet Mishra, Shammya Shananda Saha, Sonam Norbu, Srinikhil Gourisetti, Ugur Halden, Vahid Hosseinezhad, Valentin Robu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The global energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by decarbonization and digitalization, leading to the emergence of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) — particularly blockchain — as a promising tool for enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in modern power systems. This study aims to provide a comprehensive academic and industrial survey of blockchain applications in the energy sector and develop a robust decision-making framework to identify and prioritize the most promising real-world use cases based on multidisciplinary criteria. A three-stage methodology was adopted: (i) a literature and market review encompassing over 300 academic publications and commercial blockchain initiatives in …

Integrating Sustainable Practices Into Lean Engineering: Applying The Engineering For One Planet Framework In Manufacturing Engineering Technology Education, Dalya Ismael, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Murat Kuzlu, Charles Lowe, Lisa Bosman

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A growing number of manufacturers are recognizing significant financial and environmental benefits from adopting sustainable business practices. Sustainable manufacturing refers to the production of goods through processes that are economically sound, minimize environmental impact, and conserve energy and natural resources. Lean engineering, a comprehensive approach to decision-making and leadership within manufacturing organizations, has proven effective in driving sustainable practices. Key strategies include waste elimination, value identification, value stream mapping, flow creation, pull system establishment, and continuous improvement. Both lean manufacturing and sustainability share a common focus on minimizing waste. Lean principles address seven types of waste: transport, inventory, motion, waiting, …

Using Quanser Platform To Introduce Engineering Technology Students To Autonomous Vehicles, Otilia Popescu, Logan Beaver, Murat Kuzlu, Krishnanand Kaipa

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The area of autonomous vehicles is not new, but the latest advances in various technologies gave it a new boost in the last decade and it keeps growing in interest. However, undergraduate curricula rarely include courses specific to this area, which is considered mostly an interdisciplinary graduate field. While various programs introduce students to the background needed to understand and approach the field, specific work on autonomous vehicle projects is left for extra curriculum activities or student clubs, and eventually for senior (capstone) projects. This paper presents the work of a team of electrical engineering technology students on an autonomous …

5g-Enabled Iot Gateway For Educational Purposes, Murat Kuzlu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The project aims to develop and implement a 5G-IoT gateway for efficient management and interconnection of IoT devices through advanced sensing and communication technologies. Sensing technologies encompass modern approaches for detecting and measuring physical properties with high accuracy across manufacturing, smart grids, healthcare, smart cities, and other domains. Communication technologies represent the latest developments in high-speed data transmission, offering enhanced reliability and network capacity. This 5G-IoT gateway functions as an educational platform, providing students and educators with hands-on experience in emerging technologies. The system creates opportunities for practical learning and research in telecommunication technologies by enabling direct engagement with 5G …

Differential Equations' Coverage In Circuits And Heat Transfer Courses In An Engineering Technology Curricula, Otilia Popescu, Orlando Ayala

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Differential equations are at the core of any undergraduate engineering as well as of science programs. While a course in differential equations is required by any engineering degree, it is not a requirement for engineering technology programs, which usually require mathematics up to calculus I. This paper discusses the undergraduate engineering technology curricula, focusing on how differential equations are taught to engineering technology students and how they are covered in the programs. In particular, the paper will discuss the treatment of differential equations in electrical circuits and heat transfer courses.

Soviet-American Relations During The Cold War: What Policies And Circumstances Conspired To Unravel The Soviet Empire?, John W. Krey

Dissertations and Theses

The two victorious superpowers of World War II – America and the Soviet Union – conceived and implemented unilateral foreign policies amid an atmosphere of intense hostility and suspicion of each other’s international intentions. Regardless of Moscow’s acquiescence in joining the United Nations and resolving a host of disputes (for example, the Security Council veto) regarding the establishment and operation of the same organization, it threatened to disequilibrate power relations between the US and the Soviet Union in the immediate aftermath of the second world war, which convinced Washington to develop the containment policy, a defensive realist posture for repelling …

Asian-American Literature And The Family Saga: Cyclical Histories Of Racial Melancholia And Racial Dissociation, Molly Schwarz

Dissertations and Theses

This paper analyzes the novels The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, and Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig and argues how the family saga within Asian American literature draws out elements of the diaspora to best share histories across different ethnic and racial groups. There is a brief overview of the development of Asian-American literature and an explanation of how hyphenated identity is intrinsic to diasporic literatures, and then further discussion of how each of these novels contributes to the legacies of Asian-American writing and storytelling. Then, each novel is analyzed for how the various family saga …

Sticky Valuations, Systemic Risks: Quantifying The Denominator Effect Of Private Equity Holdings In U.S. Public Pensions, Rutvij Thakkar

CMC Senior Theses

U.S. public pension systems have increasingly adopted the "Yale Model," shifting assets under management into private equity to capture excess returns. However, the valuation asymmetry between marked-to-market public equities and smoothed private net asset values creates a mechanical denominator effect during market downturns. This thesis quantifies this passive allocation drift using a fixed-effects panel regression of 2,706 observations from 182 U.S. public pension plans between 2005 and 2024. I find that a 10 percentage point decline in public equity returns mechanically increases private equity allocation by 50.5 basis points, an effect that amplifies to 55 basis points during systemic crises. …

Examining Healthcare Access Disparities: Social Determinants And Patient Experiences At Valley Healthcare, Mikaila Larmond

Theses and Dissertations

Persistent disparities in healthcare access continued to affect low-income, rural, and underserved populations across the United States. This capstone project explored these disparities within Valley HealthCare, a regional provider in Columbus, Georgia, by examining how social determinants such as income, education, geography, and transportation shaped healthcare engagement among adult patients. A mixed-methods case study design was used to analyze survey data, patient satisfaction feedback, and organizational reports from a sample of 80 adult patients between January and March 2025.

The results showed that patients residing in lower-income or geographically isolated areas reported significantly higher rates of missed appointments. Individuals with …

Trade Tensions And Consumer Decisions: Evidence From Taxable Sales During The 2018 Us-China Trade War, Eddie Wei

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the consumption response to the 2018 US-China trade war. While prior research has largely focused on economic outcomes such as export values, income, and employment, trade policies may also have salient distributional consequences for consumption. On one hand, import tariffs may boost well-being in regions with greater employment in protected sectors, such as manufacturing. On the other hand, retaliatory tariffs may raise prices overall and depress consumption in areas more reliant on the Chinese market, such as agriculture. To explore these dynamics, I construct a novel dataset of county-level taxable sales, capturing both household and business spending. …

Preferences For Enhanced Seasonal Weather And Climate Services Among Maize Farmers In Zimbabwe: A Choice Experiment Analysis, Joseph Manzvera, Kwabena \ Asomanin Anaman, Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu, Alfred Barimah

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Using a discrete choice experiment, this article analyzed maize farmers' stated preferences for seasonal weather forecast attributes in Zimbabwe. Specifically, the study assessed the most preferred attributes of modern seasonal weather forecasts to guide investment priorities. The mixed logit model, which accounts for taste heterogeneity, was employed to analyze the data. The results show that maize farmers place positive utility on downscaling forecasts to the village level, bundling with agronomic advisory information, and a long lead time of 6 months ahead of the onset of the rainy season. Farmers are willing to pay 1.40 United States dollars (US$) for downscaling …

A Feasibility Study On Barriers To Access To Solar Photovoltaic Energy: A Survey Study Of Moundou, Chad, Wakiang Emile Latchiba, Sebastian M. Waita, Robert Krueger, Julius Mwakondo Mwabora

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

It is widely acknowledged that energy sources such as the sun are potential providers of clean, limitless, and free energy that could satisfy energy needs now and in the future. This is particularly relevant when only small amounts of energy are necessary, such as in tiny homes or rural areas. For this study, we conducted a feasibility analysis by surveying local authorities and households in Moundou, Chad. The aim was to identify the barriers preventing householdsfrom accessing energy. The key decision-making data in this paper are based on the sample proportion of respondents and the margin of error associated with …

Evaluation Of High-Risk Factors For Maternal Mortality At Specialist Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, U. B. Danfulani, E. D. Dzarma, A Uduak

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Maternal health disparities in Nigeria are pronounced, with higher maternal mortality rates (42 per 1,000 live births) and poor outcomes driven by education, healthcare access, and cultural factors like polygamy. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of High-Risk Factors for Maternal Mortality at Specialist Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria using appropriate standard procedures with Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Modeling (MCDM) Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Data obtained reveals that Infant mortality is high, with under-five mortality at 120 per 1,000 and neonatal mortality at 2 per 1,000 live births. Healthcare system challenges include limited …

Naïve Bayes Based Android Adaptive User Authenticationprototype For Young Internet Of Medical Things Users, Prudence Munyaradzi Mavhemwa Mavhemwa, Marco Zennaro, Philibert Nsengiyumva, Frederic Nzanywayingoma

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The increasing use of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in healthcare highlights privacy and security concerns surroundingsensitive health data. This research focuses on enhancing the security and usability of IoMT for young users through arobust, adaptive continuous authentication model using physiological biometrics on Android devices and heart rate data fromsmartwatches. By integrating user behavior, environmental context, and health conditions, the model dynamically determinesrisk, trust, and authorization decisions. Machine learning techniques analyse data related to devices, networks, locations, anduser habits while considering demographics like age and medical conditions to assign suitable authenticators. The model balancesaccuracy and usability, favouring correct positive …

Cleancity Iot: A Vehicle-Mounted Platform For Real-Time Urban Air-Quality Monitoring And Forecasting In Resource-Constrained African Cities, Eric Nizeyimana, Damien Hanyurwimfura, Gabriel Uwanyirigira, Bonaventure Karikumutima, Jimmy Nsenga, Irene Niyonambaza Mihigo

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Urban air pollution is a growing public-health challenge in African cities, yet traditional monitoring stations are sparse and expensive. The paper presents CleanCity IoT, a deployed, low-cost, vehicle-mounted air-quality platform that combines IoT sensors, GSM connectivity, cloud aggregation, and machine learning to produce near-real-time exposure maps and 2- hour forecasts for multiple pollutants. Each device integrates lowcost sensors for PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, and CO₂, alongside temperature and humidity. Measurements are geotagged and transmitted over mobile networks form vehicles to a cloud backend, where data are validated, stored, and visualized through a user-friendly dashboard that also issues automated alerts …

Modelling And Optimization Of Microgrid With Combined Genetic Algorithm And Model Predictive Control Of Pv/Wind/Fc/Battery Energy Systems, Maklewa Agoundedemba, Chang Ki Kim, Hyun-Goo Kim, Raphael Nyenge, Nicholas Musila

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Microgrid systems with hybrid renewable energy resources, such as PV, wind, have been widely used with storage devices to supply power to certain load demands. However, technical issues and fewer benefits can occur due to their intermittent nature and the high investment costs associated. So, an accurate model, sizing, and management approach are required to maximize the operational benefits of the microgrid with battery energy storage systems and fuel cells. This study used the combined genetic algorithm (GA) and model predictive control (MPC) to size and optimize the hybrid renewable energy PV/Wind/FC/Battery subject to certain constraints on the power flow …

A Machine Learning Approach To Lithology Classification In Mining Using Measurement While Drilling And Exploration Data, Gbétoglo Charles Komadja, Erik Westman, Aditya Rana, Anye Vitalis

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Accurate lithology classification is essential as variations in rock formations can significantly impact the cost and efficiency of mineral exploration and mining. Initial exploration maps provide insights into subsurface formations, though typically collected at widely spaced intervals. This study examines the use of early exploration data and Measurement While Drilling (MWD) data for lithology prediction through machine learning. The research specifically evaluates the benefit of incorporating spatial coordinates with MWD parameters to enhance classification accuracy, using support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and extra gradient boosting (XGBoost) classifiers with tenfold cross-validation. The models were trained on 235,501 data points …

Wolbanking77: Wolof Banking Speech Intent Classification Dataset, Abdou Karim Kandji, Frédéric Precioso, Cheikh Ba, Samba Ndiaye, Augustin Ndione

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Intent classification models have made a significant progress in recent years. However, previous studies primarily focus on high-resource language datasets, which results in a gap for low-resource languages and for regions with high rates of illiteracy, where languages are more spoken than read or written. This is the case in Senegal, for example, where Wolof is spoken by around 90% of the population, while the national illiteracy rate remains at of 42%. Wolof is actually spoken by more than 10 million people in West African region. To address these limitations, we introduce the Wolof Banking Speech Intent Classification Dataset (WolBanking77), …

Conserving Carbon Stocks Under Climate Change: Importance Of Trees Outside Forests In Agricultural Landscapes Of Mongala Province, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Jean Pierre Azenge Bokoy, Aboubacar‑Oumar Zon, Jean Pierre Pitchou Meniko, Jérôme Ebuy, Justin N’Dja Kassi, Paxie W. Chirwa

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the role of trees outside forests on agricultural land (TOF‑AL) in preserving the initial aboveground biomass (AGB) of forests within the agricultural landscape of Mongala province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2024, tree inventories were conducted over four months in the forests and agricultural lands of Mongala province to analyse AGB. The effects of artisanal logging and charcoal production activities on the AGB conservation rate were considered. This study indicates that 78.3% of the trees encountered in agricultural lands were large‑diameter trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 60 cm). In forest areas, …

Effect Of Aflasafe Tz01® On Aflatoxin Reduction And Emerging Challenges With Fusarium Mycotoxins In Maize From Rural Tanzania, Sambwe Fundikira, Martin Kimanya, Rashid Suleiman, Marthe De Boevre, Kokeb Tesfamariam Kokeb Tesfamariam, Sarah De Saeger

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species and are common contaminants of many crops including maize. Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains, formulated as biocontrol products such as Aflasafe® TZ01, that comprises a mixture of four native atoxigenic strains, are used as pre-harvest agents to suppress toxigenic strains and reduce aflatoxin levels. This study assessed the intended and potential unintended impacts of Aflasafe® TZ01 on mycotoxin contamination in maize. A total of 158 samples 79 from treated and 79 from untreated fields were collected from Chemba and Kiteto districts in Tanzania. Multi-mycotoxin analysis was conducted using liquid chromatography coupled with …

Molecular Evidence Of Brucella Abortus Circulating In Cattle, Goats, And Humans In Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, Emmanuel Philip Lasuba Lita, Ernatus M. Mkupas, Erneo B. Och, Gerald Misinzo, Henriette Van Heerden, Robab Katani, Jacques Godfroid, Coletha Mathew

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease in most developing countries, including South Sudan. Precise identification of Brucella species is crucial for addressing public health and epidemiological concerns associated with brucellosis. The study aimed to identify Brucella species using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from seropositive samples that were acquired from an earlier investigation. A total of 143 genomic DNA samples were extracted from brucellosis Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) seropositive samples from humans (n=7), cattle (n=103) and goats (n=33). The samples were collected from Terekeka and Juba counties, Central Equatoria State (CES), South Sudan. The qPCR targeting the Brucella-specific IS711 …

Jstmapp: A Web-Based Joint Spatiotemporal Modelling And Mapping Application For Epidemiologists, Alfred Ngwira, Samuel O.M Manda, Esron D. Karimuribo, Sharadhuli I. Kimera

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Disease mapping models help create disease risk maps, which public health policymakers can use to design disease control and monitoring programmes. These models are now routinely implemented using spatial statistical software packages that use frequentist estimation methods, such as SaTScan and HDSpatialScan, and Bayesian estimation methods, such as the Windows version of Bayesian inference using Gibbs sampling (WinBUGS) and R integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA). We aimed to develop a user-friendly joint disease spatiotemporal modelling and mapping application (JSTMapp) for epidemiologists and health statistics analysts based on Bayesian methods. Using the R package Shiny and utilising the proven and embedded …

Meta-Analysis Of The Prevalence Of Tuberculosis In Cattle And Zoonotic Tuberculosis In Humans In Sub-Saharan Africa, Alfred Ngwira, Samuel Manda, Esron Daniel Karimuribo, Sharadhuli Iddi Kimera

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background Tuberculosis (TB) in cattle negatively affects the cattle economy in Africa, with zoonotic TB posing drugresistance issues in humans. The burden of TB in cattle and zoonotic TB in humans in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of both TB in cattle and zoonotic TB in humans in SSA through meta-analysis. Methods Research on TB prevalence was sourced from multiple databases. A random effects meta-analysis model estimated TB prevalence in SSA and its regions, while meta-regression identified risk factors. The analysis included 114 studies for cattle and 59 for humans. Results …

Effect Of Malt Barley Cluster Farming On Food Security In Amhara Region, Ethiopia, Betelhem Tsedalu Adane, Irene Susan Egyir, Ama Asantewah Ahene-Codjoe, Taeyoon Kim

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Cluster farming is the practice of merging neighbouring farms into a unified production unit to grow specific crops collaboratively. This is a promising method to enhance food security by improving agricultural productivity through coordinated resource use and enabling access to inputs, technologies, and markets. Despite this benefit, no empirical studies have examined how malt barley cluster farming affects smallholder farmers’ food security. This study adopts descriptive and econometric analysis, including the endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) and control function approach to account for selection bias and endogeneity in estimating the causal effect of malt barley cluster farming. Cross-sectional data were …

Of Labor, Antitrust, And Why The Proposed House Settlement Will Not Solve The Ncaa’S Problem, Marc Edelman, Michael A. Carrier

Fordham Law Review

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently settled three antitrust lawsuits. With a significant payout, it hopes to put its antitrust worries behind it. In doing so, the NCAA seeks to follow in the footsteps of the National Football League (NFL), which has enjoyed thirty years of labor peace. But there is a big difference between these two situations. The NFL’s 1993 settlement in White v. National Football League was shielded from antitrust scrutiny by the nonstatutory labor exemption, which encourages collective bargaining activity. No such exemption protects the NCAA’s settlement. This Essay explains why the NCAA cannot establish a …