Digital Commons Network^™

America The Monstrous: The Birth Of American Horror Fiction In The Long Nineteenth Century, Rachel Kietzman

Dissertations

American gothic works that center the affect of horror explore themes of abjection, inhumanity, and monstrosity that impede a coherent expression of American identity. By approaching these works through the lens of horror rather than only as Gothic works, a picture ofa visceral, embodied becoming takes shape: America is a monstrous birth in the most literal sense of the word, a sign and demonstration that unity and uniformity are not the same, that wholeness does not require conformity, and that political choices are paid for in flesh. In short, American horror fiction is the head of Medusa, an apotropaic sign …

Creative Differences: Specialization And Competence Gaps In The Treatment Of Intellectual Property In The Marital Estate, Kenneth J. Sanney, Doug Parker, John Weatherford, David Smith, Sanjay Rajagopal, Janet Ford

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

The Deepfake Plague: Legal Gaps And Regulating Ai, Abhishek Chakrabarti

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Decoupling Innovation From Regulation: Why The U.S. Needs A General Statutory Experimental Use Exception, Shahrokh Falati, Ph.D.

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Ai In Writing And Communication Job Listings, Max Reed

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Multi-Format Prompt Preprocessing Using Unified Reinforcement Learning Framework, Katyayani Kiranmayee Kolluru, Shivam Mohan

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure provides a system for adaptive multi-format prompt preprocessing using a unified reinforcement learning framework. The system includes a prompt-type classifier (116) configured to identify a format type of an input prompt, wherein the format type includes one of natural language text, code, log, hybrid content, or error trace, the prompt-type classifier (116) being configured in some embodiments to perform deterministic rule-based classification. The system further includes a feature extraction layer (118) configured to produce a multi-modal representation of the input prompt capturing structural, linguistic, and semantic signals. The system also includes a hierarchical reinforcement learning policy engine …

In-File Stapled Freshness: Hash-Chain Validity Tokens Written Into A Frozen Self-Serialized Document Via A Length-Preserving Neutralized Zone, With Fail-Stale Offline Verification, Michael Benaudis

Defensive Publications Series

Revocation of frozen offline credentials — single-file HTML documents, PDFs, or other self-serialized digital credentials verified without any network, server, or public-key infrastructure — is information-theoretically constrained: a file sealed at issuance cannot learn of a later revocation event unless some information reaches the verification context. This disclosure does not remove that channel; it reduces it to one short, public, unforgeable hash-chain token per validity period, relayable by any untrusted party, and relocates the freshness proof inside the credential file itself. At issuance, a hash-chain tip (Micali NOVOMODO style) and period parameters are embedded in the credential's signed core, attested …

Persistent Driver Signatures For Software-Defined Vehicles, Sean C. Keys, Karsten Knese

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a system that enables software-defined vehicles (SDVs), smart cars, or connected autonomous vehicles to adjust their advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) based on a persistent driver signature. The driver signature acts as a portable digital identity or user profile representing a driver’s unique physiological and behavioral tendencies, such as typical steering and braking patterns. Instead of storing raw data like video files, the system relies on a cloud database to store a secure mathematical model (a vector or tensor) that represents these individual habits. At the beginning of each trip, the SDV identifies the driver using a …

Faithful Ole Miss Alumnus Pays It Forward, Bill Dabney

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – For Rob Whorton, supporting the University of Mississippi is not just about giving back; it is about paying forward opportunities that shaped his lifetime and honoring his father, who taught him the value of education.

Consciousness And Knowledge Organization In Lis: Online And Offline Bubbles Of Experience, Arwa Alsultan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Knowledge organization (KO) systems such as the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) structure human knowledge primarily through disciplinary subject relationships, leaving the subjective, experiential dimension of knowledge engagement largely unexamined. This conceptual study extends David Gamez's (2018) distinction between "online" (environmentally-coupled) and "offline" (environmentally-decoupled) bubbles of experience into Library and Information Science (LIS), proposing that DDC's ten main classes can be interpreted as differing in the dominant mode of conscious engagement they require. Drawing on Integrated Information Theory, Global Workspace Theory, and Default Mode Network research, the study maps each DDC class onto this experiential spectrum and examines the cognitive capacities …

Enhancing Construction Simulation Optimization Performance Through Variance Reduction Techniques, Mohammed Mawlana, Amin Hammad

College of Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty Papers

Simulation optimization has been used to analyze construction operations and support planning decisions under uncertainty. It enables the identification of effective planning strategies throughout a project’s lifecycle. However, the use of stochastic simulation to evaluate alternative strategies results in higher computational demands and the generation of inferior solutions within the resulting optimal solutions. This study examines the feasibility of overcoming these issues by implementing variance reduction techniques into a discrete-event simulation optimization framework. Three variance reduction techniques are evaluated in a case study: Common Random Numbers, Antithetic Variates, and a combined application of both. While these techniques are well established …

Vibro-Seismic Approach For Remediation Of Near-Wellbore Damage, Mounira Ahmed Abdallah

Theses and Dissertations

The research highlights the importance of vibro-seismic technology in the oil and gas industry. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate how the vibro-seismic method enhances formation properties which are porosity, and permeability. Ultimately, this will lead to improved productivity and its application to remove the wellbore damage.

The research discusses whether or not the formation properties will be enhanced by the optimized acoustic vibration formation parameters. The thesis details laboratory experiments on core plugs, and four key findings are presented. The experimental work first showed that the use of the proper and optimum parameters enhanced the porosity …

3d Semi-Analytical Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Model For Additive Manufacturing, Tao Liu, Ming C. Leu, Edward C. Kinzel, Chinedum Okwudire

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In additive manufacturing (AM), stress field drives distortion and warping and promotes delamination and cracking. Fast, accurate stress prediction is therefore essential for AM process planning and control, including real-time adaptive control, AM digital twins, data-driven and physics-driven workflows. However, spot-wise thermo-elasto-plastic finite element method (FEM) are often too slow for design iteration or real time use. Existing semi-analytical thermo-elasto-plastic approaches achieve high speed but are largely limited to 2D. In this paper, a full 3D semi-analytical thermo-elasto-plastic model for AM is built. The method uses a spot-wise analytical thermal field as the load and computes displacements and stresses via …

Latency-Slo-Aware Memory Offloading For Large Language Model Inference, Chenxiang Ma, Hanyu Zhao, Zhisheng Ye, Zehua Yang, Tianhao Fu, Jiaxun Han, Jie Zhang, Yingwei Luo, Xiaolin Wang, Zhenlin Wang, Yong Li, Diyu Zhou

Michigan Tech Publications

Offloading large language models (LLMs) states to host memory during inference promises to reduce operational costs by supporting larger models, longer prompts, and larger batch sizes. However, the design of existing memory offloading mechanisms does not take latency service-level objectives (SLOs) into consideration. As a result, they either lead to frequent SLO violations or underutilize host memory, thereby incurring economic loss and thus defeating the purpose of memory offloading. This paper presents NovaServe, a latency-SLO-aware memory offloading system for LLM serving. A key challenge in designing NovaServe is to reconcile the tension between meeting SLOs and maximizing host memory usage. …

Real-Time Image Denoising And Reconstruction Using Generative Adversarial Networks (Gans), Roa'a M. Al-Airaji, Haider Th. Salim Alrikabi, Rula Kamil, Svyd Iryna

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This paper presents a real-time image denoising and reconstruction system based on a compact Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) designed for embedded systems and edge computing. The proposed model employs a [ generator and a PatchGAN discriminator, trained using hybrid loss function that combines L1, perceptual, and adversarial terms to balance pixel and perceptual realism. Evaluations were conducted on multiple datasets, including DIV2K, BSD68, SIDD, DND, RENOIR, and PolyU at noise levels (σ = 15, 25, 50). Quantitatively, the proposed model achieves an average PSNR of 32.8 dB and an SSIM of 0.88, which is higher by more than 3 dB …

Shanghai In The 1930s, The German Civil Code And The Tragic Story Of A Brilliant Legal Mind, Lutz-Christian Wolff

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Community Ai Resilience: A Five-Pillar Framework For Preparing Communities For An Ai-Transformed World, Robin D. Anderson, Nicholas A. Curtis

Faculty Scholarship

Current artificial intelligence readiness strategies focus almost exclusively on two priorities: expanding access to AI tools and developing a technical workforce. While necessary, these efforts are insufficient. AI seems likely to transform how people work and, with that, to reshape how individuals derive meaning, how families function, and how communities organize. This paper presents the Community AI Resilience Framework, a five-pillar model addressing the human systems dimensions of AI transformation: (1) Economic Resilience and Regulatory Adaptation; (2) Social Cohesion and Belonging Infrastructure; (3) Psychological Resilience and Identity Reconstruction; (4) Civic and Educational Renewal; and (5) Ecological and Leisure Commons Management. …

The Coupled Hydrology–Human Activity Information (Chhai) Dataset: A Global Benchmark Dataset For Model Comparison And Evaluation, Azara Boschee, Aneseh Alborzi, Augustina Clara Alexander, Berit Arheimer, Salsebil Bel Hadj Ali, Günter Blöschl, Andrea Castelletti, Xi Chen, Aniya Dogra, Erhu Du, Jesse Duku, Aldo Fiori, Margaret Garcia, Salvatore Grimaldi, Naota Hanasaki, Yeonjoo Kim, Heidi Kreibich, Chenyuan Li, Ali Mehran, For Full Author List, See Comments Below

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

To enhance hydrologic modeling, the hydrology community has developed benchmark datasets (e.g. Model Parameter Estimation Experiment, MOPEX), providing standardized data for model evaluation and parameter estimation. However, these datasets primarily focus on modeling natural hydrologic processes, leaving a critical gap in understanding the role of human influences. Here, we introduce the Coupled Hydrology-Human Activity Information (CHHAI) dataset, a benchmark dataset that integrates coupled human–water data from regions across all continents, excluding Antarctica. CHHAI incorporates data from 25 regions that cover various human impacts such as reservoir management, flood protection, river management policies, land use changes, and water use. Each basin …

Beyond Step Counts: Dual Perspectives On Designing Interactive Technologies To Support Outdoor Movement In Older Adults, Fatima Badmos, Emma Murphy, Peterson Jean, Damon Berry

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Outdoor movement supports older adults' health and wellbeing, yet participation is constrained by environmental, physical, and social barriers. Existing technologies often prioritise clinical risk management and quantified functional metrics, and rarely integrate older adults' lived experience alongside physical activity experts' perspectives in early design. We conducted four focus group workshops with 24 urban dwelling older adults (63 to 91 years) and semi structured online interviews with 11 physical activity experts. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and grounded theory coding, then triangulated to identify convergent themes, divergent perspectives, and complementary views. Key tensions concerned risk management versus independence, clinical benchmarks …

Stopping Child Pornography And Csam Online: Act Local, Unite Global, Hon. Anne-Christine Massullo, Frederick W. Mostert, Lea Leisure

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Mapping And Diagnosing Local Climate Zones For Urban Heat Assessment And Planning In Tropical Cities, Inuwa Sani Sani, Adi Wibowo

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Rapid urbanization and rising heat risk are intensifying thermal stress and environmental degradation in tropical cities. This study applies the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) framework to examine how urban morphology influences land surface temperature (LST) and to support evidence-based urban planning and climate adaptation in Makassar, Indonesia. We hypothesized that compact built LCZs (1–3) exhibit significantly higher LST than vegetated LCZs (A–G). Landsat 8 OLI and MODIS LST datasets (2013–2023) were processed in Google Earth Engine to evaluate decade-long urban development and thermal dynamics. LCZs were classified using a Random Forest (RF) model trained with approximately 100 manually digitized polygons …

A Dual-Crosslinked Metallo-Elastomer Platform For Architecture-Directed Vascular Remodeling, Narangerel Gantumur, Shuhao Jiao, Xiaochu Ding, Simon Van Herck, Isabella Frangiosa, Emily Kopchick, Caitlin Maureen Purdy, Ty Walker, Aarati Kharal, Ying Grace Chen

Michigan Tech Publications

The engineering of durable small-diameter vascular grafts remains constrained by the challenge of simultaneously achieving mechanical robustness, controlled degradation, and instructive scaffold architecture. Here, we report a programmable dual-crosslinked metallo-elastomer platform, poly(1,3-propylene itaconate-co-2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylate-co-succinate-co-sebacate) (M-PBIS), that integrates dynamic metal–ligand coordination with covalent crosslinking to enable orthogonal control over network mechanics, time-dependent viscoelastic behavior, and processability. PBIS polymers were synthesized by modular step-growth polyesterification, allowing independent tuning of backbone composition, bipyridine ligand density for metal coordination, and alkene (C = C) content for covalent crosslinking. This multidimensional design space allowed systematic tuning of tensile elastic modulus (0.06–3.2 MPa), extensibility (53%–491%), toughness (66–1339 …

Purification And Concentration Of Model Viruses Using Single-Pass Tangential Flow Filtration, Luis Alberto Mejía-Manzano, Lynn M. Manchester, Grace Wallis, Kan Wang, Bruce Lee, Michael Betenbaugh, Caryn Heldt

Michigan Tech Publications

The vaccine and viral vector industry is growing at an accelerated rate. To improve harvest and purification processes, the development of continuous membrane-based operations, such as normal flow filtration (NFF) and single pass tangential flow filtration (SPTFF) for concentration were explored. This work was conducted using two model viruses, non-enveloped porcine parvovirus (PPV) and enveloped Suid herpesvirus (SuHV). The viruses are in the same family as the gene therapy vectors adeno associated virus and herpes simplex virus, respectively. SPTFF design started with batch TFF for membrane selection. Hollow fiber membranes with a 100 and 300 kDa molecular weight cut off …

Research Competence, Technology Skills As Correlates For Job Satisfaction Among Librarians In Universities In Delta State, Oghuvbu Blessing

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Librarians perform academic and professional functions in universities, which require them to have job satisfaction for effective job performance. This study worked at the intersection of research competencies, technological skills and job satisfaction among librarians in universities in Delta State, Nigeria. The population of the study was the entire 81 librarians in universities in the state. A total population sampling was adopted. Data collected using a structured questionnaire was analysed using mean and standard deviation. The study found a high level of research competence, technology skills, and job satisfaction among the librarians in the universities. Conclusion the study found that …

Influence Of Peristalsis On The Hemodynamic Analysis Of Magnetohydrodynamic Jeffrey Fluid In A Two-Layered Narrow Channel, N. Lavanya, G. Ravi Kiran, M. Varun Kumar, K. Rajyalakshmi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In this paper, an analytical study of MHD-influenced hemodynamic of Jeffrey fluid during peristaltic transport in a two layered narrow channel is presented, a phenomenon that has substantial ramifications for microcirculatory dynamics in the cardiovascular system. The model assumes a Jeffery fluid in the core area to encapsulate microstructural phenomena, including viscosity fluctuations, whereas the periphery area is treated as a Newtonian fluid. The governing equations for both regions are simplified and analytically solved under the long wavelength approximation. Using MATHEMATICA, a numerical investigation is carried out to examine the influence of various parameters, such as the magnetic parameters, amplitude, …

Utilization Of Egyptian Flax For Industrial Applications: Sustainable Composite Tubes From Egyptian Flax Cord, Rania El Deeb, Alaa Arafa Badr, Shaimaa Youssef El-Tarfawy, Ahmed H. Hassanin, Ashraf Elnahrawy, Abdelhamid R. Aboalasaad

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The growing demand for eco-friendly products has increased interest in natural fibers such as flax for composite materials, yet high costs limit industrial adoption. This research aims to utilize less expensive Egyptian flax secondary fibers and multifunctional characterization of locally produced flax cords to develop high-performance composite tubes via filament winding. An additional objective is to treat these fibers for technical applications, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials.

Egyptian flax cords were processed using a filament winding technique to fabricate composite tubes. The study investigated the effects of varying the number of layers (e.g., 80/14 and 40/14/40 configurations), the …

A Hybrid Densenet121-Inceptionv3 Model For Multi-Output Race And Gender Classification, Maiwan Bahjat Abdulrazzaq, Mayyadah Ramiz Mahmood, Sardar Hasen Ali, Azar Abid Salih

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

This research proposes and validates a novel Hybrid DenseNet121-InceptionV3 architecture for robust multi-output demographic classification from facial images, with a focus on optimizing both time efficiency and parameter utilization. The model was trained on a curated subset of the UTKFace dataset comprising 4,000 images, balanced across four racial groups with equal gender distribution. Our hybrid approach processes images through parallel feature extractors, strategically combining DenseNet121's parameter-efficient feature reuse with InceptionV3's multi-scale analysis capabilities. This architectural synergy achieves superior performance while maintaining computational efficiency. Through rigorous 3-fold cross-validation, the hybrid model demonstrated significant advantages in accuracy and training time, achieving 98.35% …

Performance Evaluation And Sustainable Benefits Of Using Metakaolin And Recycled Steel Fibers In Concrete, Lova Raju Surla, Ramprasad Naik Desavathu, Raja Murugadoss Jeyaraju

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The rapid accumulation of waste vehicle tires and the increasing demand for cement pose significant environmental challenges through land pollution and CO2 emissions. The combined use of recycled steel fibers (RSFs) recovered from waste tires and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) offers a sustainable solution to these issues. This study investigates concrete incorporating 20% fly ash (FA), varying metakaolin (MK) contents (4–16%), and RSF dosages of 0.5–1.5%. Mechanical properties (compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths) and durability characteristics (sorptivity, water absorption, chloride permeability, and homogeneity) were evaluated at 7, 28, and 90 days. Results showed that the mixture containing 20% FA …

Climate-Responsive Design For Sustainable Construction: Passive Strategies In Domestic Architecture Supporting Sustainability, Nahed Chakouf

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study explores climate-responsive design in domestic architecture, focusing on the application and effectiveness of passive strategies across various climatic regions, including the UK, hot-arid, tropical, and cold climates. A qualitative comparative case study method was used to explore different passive design strategies, integration of sustainability, procurement, the coordination of stakeholders, and compliance with regulations in residential architectural projects under varying climate conditions. Drawing from a combination of historical case studies and original architectural projects, the research evaluates how spatial configuration, material selection, solar orientation, shading, ventilation, and insulation are optimized to achieve thermal comfort and energy efficiency. In temperate …

Case-Based Method Encyclopedia Of Maros Pangkep Geopark Through A Community Approach In Biraeng Village, Badrizal Al Hazar, Eva Nurrahmi Lukman, Muhammad Ikhsan Iccang, Nur Faizah Alim, Hervina Hervina

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The 21 st-century geography learning requires the use of contextual learning resources that are based on local potential to support deep learning. However, the availability of learning media that integrates geoparks and community knowledge is still limited. Therefore, this research and development aims to produce a community-based encyclopedia using the case-based method. It aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the encyclopedia as a source of geography learning. The learning media was developed by using the Research and Development (R&D) method with the ADDIE model, which includes the stages of analysis, design, development, and implementation. The encyclopedia was developed …