Digital Commons Network^™

An Open-Label, Clinical Feasibility Study Of The Efficacy Of Remdesivir For Long-Covid, Helen Neilens, Victoria Allgar, Kayle-Anne Sands, Jade Chynoweth, Amber Lord, Paigan J Aspinall, Helen Hambly, Anton Barnett, Lindsay Skipper, Tom Bewick, Ian Maidment, Hairil Abdul Razak, Ruth Ashton, David Strain, Karen Knapp, Mark A Faghy

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Long COVID (LC) affects around two million people in the UK and over 65 million people globally. Antiviral medications have shown positive effects in reducing the risk of progression to severe disease in high-risk patients during an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and have improved outcomes in those living with LC. Research testing the feasibility and efficacy of antiviral medications is ongoing, and clinical trials should determine the use of Remdesivir and its impact on LC symptoms, patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and functional status.

METHODS: Seventy-two patients ≥ 18 years of age who have a confirmed LC diagnosis will be …

Visual Cues Elicit Differential Aggression Towards Female And Female Mimics In The Corkwing Wrasse, Benjamin A. Ellis, Tonje K. Sørdalen, Mark Briffa, Anne Berit Skiftesvik, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Kim A.T. Halvorsen

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are consistent intrasexual differences in behavior that maximize reproductive success through different means. In corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops), smaller males mimic female visual morphology (hereafter sneakers) to steal fertilizations from nest-building parental males (hereafter nesting males). We investigated whether this visual mimicry effectively deceived 47 nesting males across 4 sites by quantifying 2 agonistic responses (attack latency and attack frequency) to models depicting unfamiliar females, sneakers and rival nesting males. Contrary to expectations, nesting males exhibited faster agonistic responses towards female models, with lower attack latencies compared with both male types. Additionally, the relationship between model …

Sustainable Technology Evolution In Innovation Ecosystems: A Regulatory Framework For (Non)-Convergent Technologies, Christopher Agyapong Siaw, Joseph Amankwah-Amoah

Plymouth Business School

Technological convergence is a critical driver of technological evolution and industrial transformation, yet, convergence also generates complex ethical, sustainability, and regulatory challenges that remain poorly understood and insufficiently theorized. This study advances a conceptual framework that explains the regulatory mechanisms shaping convergence and non-convergence dynamics across three ecosystem layers: components, products and applications, and support and infrastructure. By distinguishing these layers, the framework reveals how interdependent evolution can raise ethical, sustainability, and regulatory concerns at different levels. The study advances theory by (1) reconceptualizing convergence as a multi-layered phenomenon, (2) expanding analysis beyond appropriability indicators such as patents to includedevelopment-based …

Autonomous Contracts And Transformative Justice: Practicing Family Law Without Court Intervention, D Dangaran, Andy Izenson

Cardozo Law Review

Legal scholars have made calls to “abolish family court” or “abolish the family.” Before family court can be abolished, society must reduce its reliance on state interventions to resolve family disputes. This Article applies abolition theory and the praxis of “non-reformist reforms,” derived from Black feminist thought and the prison abolition movement, to family law. It details the context of the current “carceral” interventions that rely on state enforcement and then categorizes alternative family law tools into noncarceral, anticarceral, and transformative practices. Noncarceral approaches, such as private ordering through prenuptial, “no-nuptial,” and separation agreements, and establishing parentage for assisted reproduction …

The Impact Of Ai Companions On Family Law, Clare Huntington

Cardozo Law Review

People of all ages and backgrounds regularly use AI companions—virtual friends, lovers, and confidantes powered by artificial intelligence. As a new form of relationship, this development poses novel doctrinal and policy questions for family law. As a doctrinal matter, what does child neglect look like when a parent delegates caretaking to an AI companion? How should standards for elder neglect adapt to the widespread use of robotic caregivers? Should lawmakers impose mandatory reporting requirements on therapy bots if children share experiences of abuse or neglect? And can people designate an AI companion as a health care proxy? As a policy …

Adoption And The Illusion Of Choice After Dobbs V. Jackson Women’S Health, Solangel Maldonado

Cardozo Law Review

Thalia, a twenty-eight-year-old mother of two, has struggled with a substance use disorder for several years. Her children, ages five and seven, are in foster care. Thalia was homeless when she learned that she was fourteen weeks pregnant. She wanted to have an abortion, but her state banned abortions after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The closest abortion care provider in a neighboring state was 400 miles away, and a medical (non-surgical) abortion was no longer an option.

Unable to access abortion care, Thalia was forced to carry the pregnancy to term. Her …

Not Just Monetary: Arts And Humanities Scholars’ Perspectives On The Costs Of Open Access Publishing, Lindsey Skaggs, Rachel Scott, Colby Cilento

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Bibliometric and survey-based studies have documented different open access (OA) publishing practices among scholars across academic disciplines. This article reports on interviews conducted with arts and humanities scholars from the United States and explores how OA intersects with their research and publication practices. Beyond the considerable financial costs of OA publishing, findings demonstrate that arts and humanities scholars contend with opportunity, reputational, equity, and time costs as they consider and engage with OA publishing. The authors discuss the implications of these costs for librarians who facilitate the dissemination, discovery, and preservation of arts and humanities scholarship.

A Comparative Analysis Of Macro-Scale And Micro-Scale Pcswmm Models For Urban Flood Simulation In The Ormond Drainage System, Binit Gautam

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This research utilized an existing SWMM modeling framework of the Ormond area within St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. A micro scale PCSWMM model was updated using GIS Derived values for CN, percent imperviousness, and subcatchment slope and compared to an macro-scale model. Models were compared under several storm events, which included the recent May 14, 2020 storm as well as 2-, 10-, and 100-year design storms. Peak flow, total inflow volume, and hydrograph characteristics were analyzed to assess response of each model.

The results show that the macro-scale model generally produces higher peak flows and total volumes, while the micro-scale model …

(A)Typicality Of Inclusivity: A Neuro-Inclusive Tourism Workforce, Rigin Sebastian, Noufal Naheem Kottekkadan, Toney K. Thomas, Paolo Mura

All Works

By focusing on the social reality of neurodiversity, an alternative expression of the human condition to sensory perception and social engagement, this research note advocates a collective responsibility for neurodiversity inclusion in the tourism workforce. Specifically, this work introduces and critically discusses a ‘critical neurodiversity paradigm’ to scrutinise the pathologisation of diversely abled individuals working in the tourism industry. As such, this study contributes a neuro-inclusive framework for future research based on macro, meso and micro approaches alongside propositions for workforce equity initiatives.

2026 May - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

The main weather and climate story for May 2026 across Tennessee was the weather whiplash that many experienced with severe and extreme drought conditions giving way to flash flooding later in the month. Additionally, many saw large and rapid temperature swings with two strong blasts of cold air sending temperatures into the 30’s or low 40’s for many early in the month and again on May 14-15. Followed by a heat wave that brought an early taste of summer to the state from May 16-21. The Bristol/Tri-Cities airport experienced a 2-day span between freezing temperatures and 90-degree heat …

Rising Numbers In Achilles Tendon Ruptures In The Nba, Katelyn Delap

All Student Scholarship

Achilles tendon ruptures (ATRs) are increasingly recognized as one of the most severe injuries in professional basketball, with recent National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons demonstrating a notable rise in incidence. This review examines the epidemiology, biomechanical mechanisms, risk factors, and prevention strategies associated with Achilles tendon ruptures in NBA athletes. Video-based biomechanical studies reveal that most NBA Achilels ruptures are non-contact injuries occurring during offensive play, particularly during rapid acceleration, directional changes, and explosive basketball-specific movements such as crossovers, push-offs, and layups. Common injury patterns include forced ankle dorsiflexion, forefoot loading, trunk flexion, and lower-extremity extension occurring during a “false-step” …

“It’S Hard To Look At All Our Trauma All At Once”: What Personal Narratives Reveal About The Triple Burden Of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, And Homelessness, Céline E. Guedj

All Student Scholarship

Scope of the Problem

Intimate partner violence constitutes a pervasive public health issue, impacting nearly half of all women in the United States, about 61.7 million, over the course of their lifetime (Leemis et al., 2022). For Black, Latina, Indigenous and Asian Women, these rates are even higher. The majority of women of color will experience intimate partner violence, including nearly 2 out of 3 mutiracial women, demonstrating a grave overrepresentation amongst victims (Leemis et al., 2022). A study of college students found that LGBTQ women are even more likely to be targeted by abusive partners than their cis and …

Vitaltitration Predicts Fermentation Performance Of Phylogenetically Distinct Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Yeast Strains, Samantha White Ms

All Student Scholarship

Accurate assessment of yeast physiological health is essential for achieving consistent, efficient, and predictable beer fermentations. Although yeast vitality is more predictive of fermentation performance than viability alone, no universally adopted vitality assay currently exists in the brewing industry. This thesis investigates vitaltitration (VT) as a rapid, robust, and brewery-feasible method for quantifying yeast vitality and predicting fermentation performance. We hypothesize that VT provides a reliable measure of metabolic competence that correlates with fermentation kinetics across brewery-relevant yeast strains. To test this hypothesis, VT was evaluated alongside Acidification Power (AP) in structured serial-fermentation experiments in two phylogenetically distinct brewing yeasts: …

From Words To Growth: Exploring Employee Perceptions Of How Organizational Culture Shapes Effective Feedback Experiences, Amanda Neuts Phd

All Student Scholarship

Organizational culture plays an essential role in shaping how employees experience feedback and whether feedback supports professional growth. While feedback processes have been widely studied, less emphasis has been placed on how employees interpret the organizational culture conditions that influence feedback effectiveness. This qualitative phenomenological study explored employee perceptions of how organizational culture shapes feedback experiences and their impact on professional development, satisfaction, and engagement. Grounded in Schein’s Model of Organizational Culture and supported by Social Exchange Theory, this study investigated how values, underlying assumptions, and artifacts interact with relational dynamics such as trust, reciprocity, and fairness. Analysis of eight …

Attitudes Toward Harm Reduction Among Criminal Legal Staff, Diamond Meadows

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among individuals interacting with the criminal legal system (Moore et al., 2019). Despite the high rates of individuals with SUDs interacting with the criminal legal system, there continue to be barriers to integrating harm reduction approaches within the system. Harm reduction approaches (i.e., medication assisted treatment) are effective in reducing the negative consequences associated with substance use and the pathway to recovery for many. The purposes of this study are to: 1. examine the psychometric properties of the Harm Reduction Acceptability Scale (HRAS) among criminal legal staff, 2. explore individual differences in staff attitudes …

Factors Influencing Patient Recall For Follow-Up In The Multi-Stage Deployment Of Medical Intelligent Screening Systems, Wenjie Chen

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

With the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the healthcare sector, intelligent screening systems have achieved significant breakthroughs in predictive accuracy; however, they commonly face a management challenge in clinical implementation: accurate early warnings but limited patient recall. To address this ineffective technological empowerment issue in practice, this study proposes a theoretical framework featuringbidirectional interactions between "technological empowerment" and"relational empowerment" based on empowerment theory to systematicallyinvestigate the dynamic evolution mechanisms and boundary conditions of patient recall willingness under multi-stage, cross-departmental deployment of medical intelligent screening systems. Using a leading municipal hospital as the primary experimental setting, the study …

Essays On Money Search Models, Fangfang Gong

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation comprises three papers that use money search models to revisit the distributional welfare costs of inflation, study the optimal design of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and investigate the role of liquidity and monetary policy in initial investment and capital reallocation in secondary markets.

The second chapter develops a micro-founded general equilibrium model of payments to revisit the distributional welfare costs of inflation. We consider different cost structures incurred by merchants when accepting cash and deposits. In equilibrium, there exists a cutoff for buyers’ money holdings, above which card payments are accepted by merchants. We calibrate the …

Securing Cloud-Native Systems: From Vulnerability Analysis To External And Insider Threat Detection, Jiongchi Yu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Cloud-native systems have become the backbone of modern software infrastructure. However, their dynamic resource orchestration and complex configurability introduce a large attack surface and intricate security challenges. Adversaries can externally exploit vulnerabilities in cloud components or perform insider movement within cloud environments to launch attacks. As these systems increasingly support critical services, security breaches can lead to severe operational and economic consequences.

Despite extensive efforts in vulnerability detection and attack monitoring, existing approaches struggle to remain effective in cloud-native environments characterized by rapid evolution and inherent heterogeneity. In particular, they exhibit three fundamental limitations: (1) Insufficient understanding of defect patterns …

Uncertainty, Information, And Major Choice: Evidence From Chinese Gaokao, Sikun Dou

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

An unresolved background risk makes people more averse to other, independent  risks—most of all when a high-stakes, irreversible choice must be made under that risk. College major choice is such a setting. In China, students are admitted directly into a major they cannot easily change, and in the early 2000s they had to commit before learning their exam scores, bearing a field’s academic risk on top of an unresolved admission risk. Because STEM fields carry more academic risk and women are on average more risk-averse, this burden falls hardest on women’s entry into STEM. Exploiting a reform that moved application …

Evaluation Of Iron-Phosphate Glass–Ceramic Waste Form For Electrorefiner Salt Waste Simulant Dechlorinated With Phosphoric Acid, Harmony Werth, Paige Murray, Lucas Greiner, Jade Beland, Charmayne Lonergan, Brian Riley, Krista Carlson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The importance of glass and glass–ceramic nuclear waste forms has been reaffirmed in recent years by the growing interest in nuclear power as a reliable energy source. Determination of processing methods for the disposal of halide-containing wastes will be essential for the advancement of nuclear technologies such as non-aqueous fuel reprocessing. Phosphate-based dechlorination and subsequent vitrification of radioactive salt waste into an iron-phosphate waste form have been identified as a potential processing scheme for electrochemical processing waste. The impact of H₃PO₄-based dechlorination of complex salt mixtures on the vitrification process and structure of the final iron-phosphate …

Effect Of Composition On Grain-Boundary Chemistry And Fracture Behavior In High-Entropy Carbides, Caleb Schenck, Marium Mostafiz Mou, Elizabeth Pritchett, Fu Yun Tsai, Josephine Hartmann, Michael Lastovich, Sam Daigle, Kayla Yano, Matthew J. Olszta, Sanjit Bhowick, Elizabeth Kautz, Gregory E. Hilmas, William G. Fahrenholtz, Donald W. Brenner

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-entropy carbides (HECs) are often treated as a single material class defined by configurational entropy; however, their properties are governed by composition-specific defects and grain-boundary chemistry. This study demonstrates that substituting a single element can qualitatively change grain-boundary structure and fracture behavior in HEC ceramics. Two HECs, (Cr,Hf,Ta,Ti,Zr)C (HEC-Cr) and (Hf,Ta,Ti,W,Zr)C (HEC-W), were examined via electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations predict preferential segregation of Cr, W, and Zr to grain boundaries. Experiments confirmed Cr enrichment at grain boundaries and the formation of W-rich nanograins along boundary networks. Mechanical testing revealed that these compositional differences translated …

Evaluating The Integration Of Bio-Based Waste Into Cement Production: A Pathway To Sustainable Building, Anja Terzić, Suzana Filipović, Adriana Peleš Tadić, Jelena Živojinović, Ivana N. Jelić, Nina Obradović, William G. Fahrenholtz

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Rapid urbanization has increased the demand for building materials, depleting natural resources used in cement production and prompting the use of alternative and waste materials. This research verifies that eggshell powder waste can fully replace limestone in clinker synthesis. Five clinkers were produced using eggshell powder, aluminum sources (bentonite, zeolite, fly ash, and kaolinitic–illitic clay), Fe-slag, and quartz sand, with mechanical preprocessing (10–30 min) before sintering at 1300 °C. Experimental tests assessed the effects of mix design and mechanical activation on clinkerization, phase formation, temperature, and mechanical properties. XRD, FTIR, and SEM/EDS confirmed consistent phase compositions and primary cement minerals. …

Selective Extraction Of Nickel And Cobalt From Limonitic Laterite Via Optimized Sulfation Roasting–Water Leaching And Solvent Extraction, Maryam Osali, Farid Ahani, Mohammad Reza Aboutalebi, Mandana Adeli, Javad Moghaddam, Saeid Karimi, Janaka Jayamini Wijenayake, Lana Alagha

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Limonitic laterites typically contain low Ni and Co contents and significant impurities, making the development of technical and economically feasible processes challenging. To address this challenge, this study investigates and evaluates an integrated hydrometallurgical process comprising sulfation roasting, water leaching, and solvent extraction (SX) for the selective recovery of Ni and Co from limonite-type laterite. Response Surface Methodology coupled with a Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) was employed as a statistical experimental design tool to efficiently optimize the sulfation roasting conditions. Under the optimal sulfation roasting conditions (temperature 703 °C), selective leaching efficiencies of 87.2% for Ni and 96.6% for Co …

An Examination Of Student-Faculty Relationships As A Factor In Retention Of Students In The Department Of Agriculture, Macie C. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover the best approach in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Based on past research, student GPA, learning style, faculty relatability, and involvement were common factors in retention research. These factors contributed to the creation of statements used to analyze the best course of action in building academic relationships between students and faculty. Students and faculty in the Department of Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University were able to rank statements using a Quasi-Q-Sort. Results from the Quasi-Q-Sort were analyzed using cross-tabulation, descriptive statistics, Kendall’s W, and Mann-Whitney tests. Following these …

Post-Exercise Vitals Recovery Response In Barrel Horses: A Field Study On Cooling Methods Used By Competitors, Lauran E. Hetrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Barrel racing demands peak physical performance from equine athletes, yet limited research evaluates the field-based strategies used to optimize equine recovery at competition. This study assessed recovery management approaches used by competitors to elucidate their influence of physiological recovery by measuring heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature during a high-profile barrel race competition. Physiological data were collected at baseline, immediately post-exercise, and during a 15–30-minute cooldown period to characterize recovery under real-world conditions. Significant increases in HR, RR, and BT occurred from baseline to post-run (p < 0.001), followed by reductions during cooldown (p < 0.01), though values remained elevated (p < 0.05). Rinsing reduced HR and RR (p < 0.01), while shade and fans decreased RR and variably influenced HR. Noise, as a confounding variable, decreased HR but increased BT (p < 0.001). Ultimately, these results emphasize multimodal recovery approaches in competitive equine management in the field.

Propagation And Cultivation Of Sarracenia Species, Kathryn M. Huether

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the effectiveness of seed treatments on Sarracenina species to overcome seed dormancy; as well as evaluating fertilizer concentration and substrate mixture impacts on the growth of Sarracenia × wrigleyana, ‘Scarlet Belle’. The first portion of this study evaluated the effects of cold stratification and chemical treatments (smoke water and gibberellic acid) on the germination rates of Sarracenia alata and leucophylla. The primary objective was to determine whether increasing concentrations of these treatments paired with or without stratification could significantly enhance germination and serve as viable seed treatments for horticultural use. Germination did occur within all the …

From Mono To Object: A Contextual Evolution Of R&B And Soul Vocal Production Techniques With Emphasis On Object-Based Audio In Dolby Atmos, Samuel W. Slape

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The human voice is the central element in much of recorded commercial music, and in R&B it serves as the primary vehicle of expression. Across the evolution of reproduction formats, including mono, stereo, surround, and Dolby Atmos, engineers have adapted strategies to preserve vocal clarity while exploring new spatial possibilities. This thesis examines how these shifts in technology and perception have shaped vocal production, using R&B as a lens for the relationship between format and artistic practice. Psychoacoustics provides a foundation for understanding how listeners perceive localization, masking, and vocal prominence. Analytical approaches are introduced to distinguish direct and indirect …

Bass And Drum Grooves In R&B: Analysis And Composition, Hugh Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term “R&B” has existed within the musical lexicon for nearly eighty years. It was first introduced in 1949 to replace the label “race music,” and was a combination of blues, jazz, gospel, and rock. Since then, the genre has transitioned from swing-based, live instrumentation toward straight-eighth backbeats and electronically produced sounds. Despite these shifts, contemporary R&B continues to borrow from its ancestral roots while maintaining a modern aesthetic. A primary feature that has persisted through this landscape is the “groove,” specifically defined here as the rhythmic layer created by the drums and bass. In R&B, the bass provides both …

The Incredible Is, Justin L. Hughes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Incredible Is is a full-length philosophical play in two acts that follows Self — a man whose body contains the visible cosmos — as he travels existence with his companion Cosmic Cat in search of his creator, the "Ultimate Personifier." Along the way he encounters personified abstractions including You, Them, We, Power, Pleasure and Pain, Creator and Destroyer, and falls in love with Magic. When his obsession with finding his maker leads him to break the Rules and plunge the universe into chaos, God resets reality and Self at last confronts the Ultimate Personifier — only to discover a …

Pedagogy Of Immersive Audio In Music For Collegiate Application, Nathaniel Q. Stansbury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Academia has always struggled to keep up with the fast-changing audio industry. Recent developments in immersive audio have further widened this gap, and comparatively few pedagogical materials exist to assist in addressing the problem. This manuscript proposes a three-course curriculum designed to prepare undergraduate engineers for immersive music production. Course I introduces the history and terminology of immersive audio. Course II explores DAW signal flow, production procedures, and major immersive formats. Course III focuses on applied mixing, giving students hands-on experience. The curriculum acts as an opportunity for universities and educators to better equip students going into the music industry. …