Digital Commons Network^™

A Review Of Zahi Zalloua's The Politics Of The Wretched: Race, Reason, And Ressentiment, Benjamin Davis

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

No abstract provided.

Exploring Chinese Elements In J.D. Salinger’S Works: A Response To Mccarthyism In The Early Cold War Era, Yixin Lu

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Since the publication of “The Laughing Man” in 1949, various ideas about “China” have emerged in J. D. Salinger’s famously obscure works. This article aims to argue that Salinger’s incorporation of elements related to China and ancient Chinese philosophy in his works illustrates an artistic response to American anxieties during the McCarthy Era. The article uses “The Laughing Man” and “De Daumier-Smith’s Blue Period” as case studies to demonstrate how Salinger’s engagement with “China,” including the concept of indiscrimination from Zen Buddhist ideas, as well as notions of naturalness and non-action from Taoist ideas, develops not only a mystical writing …

Ginsberg’S China Experience And Its Influence On His Series Of Poems On China, Xiankai Ren

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

As a renowned poet and representative of the Beat Generation, Allen Ginsberg was invited to be a member of the US Writers’ Delegation to visit China in 1984. His China trip as well as his reading of traditional Chinese literature constitute his China experience, which is represented in Ginsberg’s poetry. This essay examines Ginsberg’s series of poems on China. It first shows that Ginsberg’s introduction to the Beat Generation poets and their poetics provided the inspiration for his poetry writing. Then it discusses Ginsberg’s observation of Chinese society during his visit and his reading of the Chinese poet Bai Juyi. …

Cyborg Feminism And Toxic Colonialism In Chen Qiufan’S Waste Tide, Yuan Yuan

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

The article probes into the interrelationships among cyborg technology, sexual violence, and toxic colonialism represented in the Chinese SF novel Waste Tide by Chen Qiufan. It applies methodologies in posthumanism and ecofeminism and situates the text in the Chinese as well as a global context. It intends to provide a non-Western perspective to understand cyborg feminism by associating the Chinese historical reality with trans-species thinking. It argues that the SF author Chen Qiufan is critical about the anthropogenic body modifications which may challenge the process of female resistance and resilience in the face of gender and colonial oppression. By doing …

In Memoriam Gwangju: Transnational Memoryscapes Of Gwangju And Buenos Aires In The Works Of Han Kang And Im Heung-Soon, Heewon Chung

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Currently acclaimed as the first Asian female author who won the Nobel Prize in literature, Korean writer Han Kang has persistently struggled with memoryscapes and traumascapes. Han’s collection of poems Winter Beyond the Mirror delineates the poetic “I”’s experiences of visiting Argentina and describes how she senses the interconnectedness between Gwangju and Buenos Aires. Korean artist-filmmaker Im Heung-soon’s recent film Good Light, Good Air addresses the same issue, and actually Im and Han have shared a mutual concern about it since Han’s novel Human Acts. This essay defines Winter Beyond the Mirror and Good Light, Good Air, coupled …

“I Have Got Rid Of, For Good, Eastern Backwardness”: Ra’Fat’S Guilty Assimilation In Al Aswany’S Chicago: A Novel, Rimun Murad

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Where scholars of Arab studies have asserted that conversations of integration or assimilation in Arab American and Arab immigrant literature have shifted to notions of hybridity and multiculturalism, Alaa Al Aswany’s Chicago: A Novel stresses that the question of assimilation remains relevant due to the power differentials that exist between “East” and “West.” Chicago’s Dr. Ra’fat Thabit who insists on replacing his Egyptian identity with an “American” one—and embracing highly problematic norms—offers an understanding of assimilation as an emotional process that occasions violence towards the other. This violence, in turn, brings about feelings of guilt and shame rechanneled as …

Daoist Philosophy And Stephen Mitchell’S The Frog Prince: A Fairy Tale For Consenting Adults, Yunfei Yu, Senlin Yu

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In 1999, Stephen Mitchell published The Frog Prince: A Fairy Tale for Consenting Adults, in which he added “a good deal of background materials” and “a certain number of necessary explanations” to the “six-and-a-half-minute” world-famous Grimms’ fairy tale The Frog Prince, making it a psychological and philosophical novella. This paper illustrates how Daoist philosophy is entailed in Stephen Mitchell’s Frog Prince by analyzing the protagonists’ practice of Daoist philosophy: the Princess’s pursuit of a Daoist natural, simple and carefree life; the Frog’s transformation from an ugly frog to a handsome prince by practicing meditation; and the King’s love …

Las Filipinas: The Persistence Of Spain In Jessica Hagedorn's Dogeaters, Blake Seana Locklin

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

This essay argues for the significance of the legacy of Spain in Jessica Hagedorn's Dogeaters. Critical analyses have explored many aspects of the novel's portrayal of relations between the Philippines and the United States, a more recent colonizer whose influence on politics and culture is prominent in Dogeaters. The effects of Spanish colonization are more subtle in the novel, but pervade its representation of characters, language, and society. While highlighting the fragmentation of individual and national identities, Dogeaters depicts a Philippines in which many social and political problems have roots in the Spanish colonial era. Building on the …

System For Epistemologically-Informed Text Generation With Language Models, Kenneth Steimel, Aman Sardana, Scott Dozier

Defensive Publications Series

Proposed herein is a system that enables Large Language Models (LLMs) to automatically generate linguistically appropriate hedging language that accurately reflects the reliability of underlying information sources. By extracting multi-dimensional epistemological metadata (source authority, temporal relevance, evidential support) from knowledge base documents and integrating this metadata directly into LLM generation processes through augmented attention mechanisms, the system produces responses where confidence expressions match actual source reliability. The approach addresses the "confidently incorrect" problem in high-stakes applications (medical, legal, financial) by ensuring LLMs communicate uncertainty appropriately, using domain-specific hedging conventions and continuous feedback-driven refinement.

Numerical Study Using Narx To Improve Pipe Vibration In Dosing Pump Systems, Shmoos Rahem Mazal, Mohammed Jawad Mohammed, Mahmoud Mustafa Mahdi

Engineering and Technology Journal

Pressure pulsation is a serious problem in the piping system. It is generated at the beginning and end of the water-pumping process, or when valves suddenly close. The high turbulence of fluid particles in the presence of pressure waves causes multiple stresses on the pipe walls, requiring maintenance and eventual replacement over time. In this research, an experimental setup for a piping system vibration model induced by pulsating pressure is designed, developed, and fabricated. The objective of the present work is to create a MATLAB program using the NARX method at the beginning of the Neural Network time series. Nonlinear …

Deep Learning For Manufacturing: Surface Roughness Prediction In Cnc Turning Via 1d Cnn, Amar Awad Mohammad Al-Sumaidaee

Engineering and Technology Journal

Optimisation of machining parameters is crucial to achieve an excellent surface finish, with surface roughness serving as the primary indicator of product quality. This study investigates the application of a one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D CNN) to predict surface roughness in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) turning processes. In contrast to conventional machine learning methods, the proposed CNN captures local dependencies within the tabulated input features, which include cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and force components (Fx, Fy, Fz, and resultant force). A laboratory data set was used for model training, with the mean square error serving as the …

Thermal Performance Investigation Of A Double Pipe Heat Exchanger Using Experimental And Simulation Techniques, Paiman Sidiq Salih, Shadi Bakir Ahmed, Didar Othman Mohammed

Engineering and Technology Journal

A heat exchanger is a device that transfers heat between two media. It is widely applied in various Industrial processes and power plants. Most previous studies relied either on CFD without experimental validation or on limited diameters, while this work integrates both experiments and CFD and compares three diameters. An experimental study on a counter-flow double-pipe heat exchanger with a 12 mm inner pipe was conducted to validate the CFD model. The validated model was then used to assess the effects of inner pipe diameter (12, 15, and 18 mm), flow rate, and temperature on thermal performance. For validation purposes, …

Metaheuristic Evaluation Of Paraffin Wax-Related Flow Assurance Challenges For Optimal Productivity In Onshore Facilities, Sylvanus O. Isaac, Emenike Nwaokoro, Cissan A. Sylvanus

Engineering and Technology Journal

In this research, paraffin wax deposition models were evaluated using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). This is a metaheuristic approach to multi-parametric solution of complex mathematical problems. The study aims to apply a suitable metaheuristic technique to analyse the parameters of paraffin wax-related flow assurance issues in onshore oil and gas facilities in Nigeria, thereby ensuring optimal productivity and operational efficiency. Thus, a paraffin wax sample collected from a typical onshore production facility was analysed in a laboratory to determine its thermophysical and transport properties and composition. These properties are the WAT, melting point, flash point, liquid density, and dynamic …

Numerical Study Of Thermal Stress And Deformation In Piston And Cylinder Head Assemblies, Oluwaseyi O. Alabi, Oyetunde A. Adeaga

Engineering and Technology Journal

This study examines the behavior of thermal stress and deformation in piston and cylinder head assemblies of internal combustion engines using numerical simulation techniques. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is employed to investigate the influence of varying thermal loads on the structural response and durability of these critical engine components. In our numerical investigation, we aimed to understand the role of temperature differences in thermal stresses and deformations within piston-cylinder head setups. These rates are indicative of the severe thermal stresses experienced by the material, which are significantly higher than typical rates observed in standard operating conditions. Results show that peak …

Enhancing Solar Desalination Performance Through Pcms, Nanomaterials, And Intelligent Control: A Review Of Integrated Approaches, Malak M. Alobaidy, Hussein T. Rishag, Muna S. Kassim

Engineering and Technology Journal

Solar desalination utilizing Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and nanomaterials offers promising avenues for water purification. Still, challenges must be addressed: PCM limitations include low thermal conductivity, supercooling, corrosion, and leakage, while nanomaterial challenges include stability, aggregation, toxicity, and scalability. System integration and performance include complexity, hybrid optimization, fouling, scaling, and durability. Intelligence can enhance the thermal work of systems with still water by enabling smarter design and control. This system relies on robust monitoring to provide data for analysis, optimization, and efficient operation. Monitoring is indispensable for reviewing and improving such systems. Freshwater scarcity is a global issue, especially in …

Experimental Characterization Of Thermal And Flow Behavior Of Nanofluids With Varying Particle Shapes In Microchannel, Shaheed Mahdi Talib, Ekhlas M Fayyadh, Moayed R Hasan

Engineering and Technology Journal

This study experimentally investigates the thermal and hydraulic behavior of mono nanofluids in a single rectangular copper microchannel under single-phase forced convection. Experiments were conducted within a Reynolds number range of 165–2550, at an inlet temperature of 30 °C, and under an applied heat flux of 60 kW/m2. Deionized water was used as the reference fluid, while silver (Ag), graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were individually tested at a fixed volume concentration of 0.01%. The hydraulic diameter of the channel was 0.42 mm. The results demonstrate that all nanofluids increase the Fanning friction factor compared with deionized …

Finite Element Analysis Of Conical Steel Crash Boxes With Uniform And Graded Aluminum Honeycomb Cores, Sura T. Bader, Mohsin N. Hamzah, Qasim A. Atiyah

Engineering and Technology Journal

Crash boxes play a vital role in vehicle crashworthiness by dissipating kinetic energy during frontal impacts. Positioned between the bumper and side rails, they limit vehicle damage, reduce repair costs, and improve passenger safety. Enhancing their energy absorption capacity is therefore critical. Graded fillers have emerged as an effective approach, providing controlled crushing behavior, reduced initial peak forces, and improved performance. While most prior studies have focused on rectangular and cylindrical crash boxes, limited work has explored conical designs, particularly with graded honeycomb reinforcement. This study examines the crashworthiness of conical steel crash boxes using finite element analysis in ABAQUS …

Computational Study Of Combustion And Emissions Behaviors In Petrol Engine Fuel By Natural Gas And Hydrogen, Ahmed A. Elshenawy, Said Abdel Razek, Mohamed S. Gad

Engineering and Technology Journal

To assess the potential of natural gas and hydrogen mixtures as cleaner alternatives, this study presents a modeling analysis of combustion and emissions behavior in a petrol engine running on these fuels. Utilizing a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, numerical modeling was conducted to investigate the emissions and combustion characteristics of hydrogen and CNG mixtures at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20%. The highest increase in cylinder temperature for HCNG20 compared to pure CNG is 3.9272% at 2500 rpm rated engine speed. The heat flux increased as the hydrogen proportion grew because both the adiabatic flame temperature and …

Enhancing R-410a Cooling Efficiency Through Strategic Utilization Of Groundwater In Hvac System, Muntadher H. Abed, Mohammed I. Mohsin, Hasaanein M. Hussein

Engineering and Technology Journal

Utilizing geothermal cooling for refrigerants is considered cost-effective, innovative, and environmentally sustainable. This method leverages the Earth’s stable subsurface temperature to enhance cooling efficiency. In this study, the system was developed by modifying the condenser from an air-cooled configuration to a water-cooled configuration, ensuring enhanced operational clarity through the implementation of water-based cooling. This study introduces a novel integration of a groundwater-based indirect cooling loop with a conventional R-410A split-type system, tailored for hot-arid climates such as Karbala, Iraq. Unlike previous studies focusing on direct ground coupling or alternative refrigerants, this approach emphasizes a real-environment experimental setup combining existing air-conditioning …

Optimizing Thermal Performance Of Concrete Bricks With Pcm Capsules For Enhanced Energy Efficiency In Hot Climates, Riyadh S. Radhi, Sattar Aljabair, Jalal M. Jalil

Engineering and Technology Journal

Incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into bricks grants a talented approach to improving energy efficiency and thermal regulation in building components, especially in hot climates like Iraq. This research examines the effects of two PCM types (RT-42 and RT-37) and three container shapes (cylindrical, spherical, and ellipsoid) on the thermal performance of PCM-enhanced concrete bricks through numerical studies using ANSYS Fluent, based on summer weather data from southern Iraq. The results indicate that RT-37, known for its lower melting point and slightly higher latent heat, significantly outperforms RT-42 across various performance metrics. Specifically, RT-37 achieves a maximum temperature reduction (MTR) …

Combined Effect Of Collector Design And Nanofluid On The Photovoltaic/Thermal System Cooling Under Hot Summer Iraqi Conditions, Hussain M. Hamed, Sattar Aljabair, Ahmed A. Imrana

Engineering and Technology Journal

The operation of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems is highly susceptible to the operating temperature of the photovoltaic (PV) panel, as elevated temperatures significantly reduce electrical efficiency and overall system performance. To address this critical issue, a PV/T system incorporating a serpentine channel with fins was carefully designed and experimentally tested using water and Al₂O₃/water nanofluids at 0.25 and 0.5%. The system’s thermal, electrical, and exergy efficiencies were systematically evaluated under different cooling conditions, along with detailed analyses of entropy generation and exergy losses. Experimental results indicated that electrical efficiency improved by 12.4, 16.1, and 22.2% when using …

Recent Advances In Modeling And Applications Of Magnetorheological Elastomer Composites: A Review, Sinaa S. Hafidh, Mohsin N. Hamzah, Muthanna H. Sadoon

Engineering and Technology Journal

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) composites are particularly effective materials for applications like vibration absorption and damping in mechanical systems because external magnetic fields modify their mechanical properties. The main topic of this review is the study of MRE composites’ rheological properties-such as their dispersion, organization, and surface features within an elastomer matrix-and how these aspects affect their mechanical performance in the presence of magnetic fields. The study explores the internal microstructures, filler-matrix adhesion, and viscoelastic behavior of MRE composites under different stresses, such as static, compressive, and dynamic. MREs are famous for their capacity to modify mechanical characteristics (such as stiffness …

Experimental Study On Al2O3/Water Nanofluids For Enhancing Air Cooling Efficiency In Gas Turbines Under High Ambient Temperatures, Alaa J. Abdulah, Hashim A. Hussein, Abdul J. Owaid

Engineering and Technology Journal

Gas turbines are considered essential components in generating electricity, as they are characterized by their high efficiency and ability to meet the increasing demand for energy. However, these turbines face major challenges that affect their performance, most notably the effect of ambient temperatures, especially in hot regions, which leads to a decrease in compressor efficiency and thus a reduction in production capacity. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt effective strategies to improve cooling and enhance performance. This research aims to study the effect of using a mist cooling system mixed with Nanofluids containing AL2O3 particles in enhancing the cooling efficiency …

Investigation Of The Effect Of Fgr On Emissions Characteristics And Performance Of An Industrial Burner Operated With Diesel Fuel, Basil A. Ahmed, Adel M. Saleh, Mohammed A. Fayad

Engineering and Technology Journal

Industrial diesel burners emit various hazardous gases, including carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Industrial burners can reduce their negative environmental impacts by reusing flue gases. This research aimed to determine how flue gas recirculation affects burner emissions and performance parameters. Various flue gas recirculation ratios were tested in this experiment, including 0, 5, 10, and 15%, as well as 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45% air-to-fuel (A/F) ratios. The air-to-fuel ratio, abbreviated A/F, refers to the air-to-fuel ratio in the external combustion chamber. The results demonstrated a thermal efficiency of 83% and reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions …

Religious Identities In Morocco: Analysis Of Social And Cultural Dynamics Through Social Data Science, Ziad Azekriti

Faits de Langue et Société (FLS)

This article analyses the construction of morality in Morocco as a space for negotiation where Islamic references interact with social and cultural dynamics. Focusing on online controversies relating to the status of women, the research examines how religious discourse is mobilised in issues of power and gender hierarchies. The mixed methodology combines a qualitative approach with a computational analysis (social data science) of digital discourse in order to capture transformations in religious identity.

Connected Migration Paths: A Reflective Account Of Research On The Integration Of Moroccan Immigrants In Canada In The Digital Age, Loubna Kiouane

Faits de Langue et Société (FLS)

Rather than a simple presentation of results, this article offers a reflective and intimate account of my research journey on the digital integration of Moroccan immigrants in Canada. Rooted in personal experience, the study explores the behind-the-scenes aspects of the thesis: the challenges of conducting fieldwork entirely remotely, questions about my own position as a Moroccan researcher studying my peers, and the constant adaptations this required. The text testifies to how this intellectual journey was also a human adventure, one that profoundly nourished my thinking and influenced my own life plans.

Representation Of Gender Online: The Case Of Moroccan Female Content Creators On Youtube, Basma Kaissy

Faits de Langue et Société (FLS)

Social media has revolutionised the way we communicate. On YouTube, Moroccan female creators negotiate their visibility and social status. My thesis examines their uses and discourses to better understand online gender dynamics, combining quantitative analysis and nethnography, enriched by a semiopragmatic reading of signs and their effects. From a reflexive perspective, my experience as a woman in the digital world becomes both an analytical asset and a limitation, requiring constant vigilance in the face of possible biases.

Social Science Methodologies Focusing On Women's Emancipation Through Religion Feedback On The Second Rima Doctoral Training Programme In Morocco, Fabienne Samson, Kae Amo, Aïcha Barkaoui, Nadège Chabloz, Anouk Cohen, Marie Nathalie Leblanc, Saliou Ngom

Faits de Langue et Société (FLS)

This article introduces the special issue, based on presentations by doctoral students who participated in a training school on social science methodologies in autumn 2024. The school took place in Morocco (Casablanca, Rabat and Mohammedia), in partnership with Hassan II University and the Jacques Berque Centre, and was organised as part of the ANR RIMA programme on women's empowerment through religion. This introduction presents the RIMA programme, the activities of the training school, and the various articles written by the students, in order to understand how they respond to the teachings on the themes of gender, inequalities and religiosity, with …

Assessing Localized Recovery And Synchrony Of An Endangered Wetland Species., Aiyana Reissman

Theses

The state and federally endangered light-footed Ridgway’s rail (LFRR; Rallus obsoletus levipes) is central to regional conservation, yet the drivers of its population fluctuations remain poorly understood. The fragmented nature of coastal wetlands in Southern California is threatening the existence of endemic species like the LFRR. Tidal inundation, severe storms, and overpredation threaten the survival of LFRR. This study addresses population fluctuations by analyzing the spatial and temporal drivers of LFRR populations to inform effective, site-specific management.

To do this, a 45-year (1980–2024) LFRR census data set across 16 wetlands throughout its range in California was synthesized. A multi-faceted …

Notes From The Editor, Derek Stadler

Urban Library Journal

I am very pleased to welcome you to the second issue of the 31^st volume of Urban Library Journal, which is a collection of proceedings from the LACUNY Institute held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 as a hybrid event at City College of New York. The theme of the Institute was “The Persistent Record: Preserving Knowledge in an Uncertain World.” It explored challenges faced by librarians and information professionals across our profession. Presentations delved into the preservation of politicized data, intellectual freedom, censorship, and how information professionals can navigate these challenges in an ever-changing world.