Digital Commons Network^™

Epigenetic And Genotoxic Effects Of Tritium In Marine Mussels: Comparing Waterborne And Metal-Associated Forms, Maria Florencia Ferreira, Andrew Turner, Mickaël Payet, Olivier Debellemaniere, Christian Grisolia, Veronique Malard, Michael N. Moore, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tritium (³H), an isotope of hydrogen, is a by-product of the nuclear industry. Decommissioning and normal operations of nuclear facilities can generate tritiated stainless-steel particles (T-SSPs) that could be unintentionally released into the environment. Considering tritium's physicochemical properties and the proximity of nuclear facilities to water bodies, assessing the behaviour and potential effects of these particles in the aquatic environment is imperative. In the present study, marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, were exposed to: (a) hydrogenated, non-radioactive stainless-steel particles (H-SSPs) (10 mg L⁻¹) (b) T-SSPs (1 and 10 MBq L⁻¹) and (c) tritiated water (HTO) …

Model Fatigue: Debugging Hector Through Climate Computational Aesthetics, Helen Pritchard, Guillemette Legrand

School of Art, Design and Architecture

In this paper, we document three computational features of the climate model Hector by translating the modalities through which the model predicts climate futures in a game engine. We build upon the computational aesthetics of M. Beatrice Fazi and Matthew Fuller (2016) and suggest additional characteristics of computation to their proposed list. We argue that these computational aesthetics are essential to climate modelling. The three features are time series, couplings and cosmograms, which are based on our practical and theoretical inquiry into Hector’s computation and literacy. We develop a framework that employs two processual methods: translating the model’s operations into …

Stuck Or Stepping Forward: The Dual Realities Of Industry 4.0 Integration In Philippine Tvet, Rayhanah P. Mariano

Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment Faculty Publications

The onset of Industry 4.0 demands for transformation in TVET curricula, pedagogy, and infrastructure. The study examines how TVET institutions integrate industry 4.0 and identifies enabling and constraining factors. This is a qualitative study, grounded in critical realism and morphogenetic approach. Semi-structured interview was conducted with TVET educators in the National Capital Region (NCR) to unpack underlying mechanisms and structural conditions influencing Industry 4.0 integration. Thematic analysis revealed five overarching dispositional themes: driving institutional integration to digital and industry 4.0 demands, strengthening collaborative partnerships and industry engagement, fostering professional development and transformative mindset, confronting infrastructural and financial challenges, and navigating …

Levetiracetam In Epilepsy And Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analysis Of Safety, Tolerability, And Efficacy, Jon Allard, William Henley, Brendan Mclean, Lance Watkins, Mary Parrett, Sanjeev Rajakulendran, Melissa Maguire, Shan Ellawela, Phil Tittensor, Juliet Bransgrove, Arjune Sen, Rajiv Mohanraj, Many Bagary, Sunil Ram, Sarah Pashley, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Purpose: One in five people with autism spectrum disorder have epilepsy and take Anti-Seizure Medications (ASM). However, the impact of ASM on people with autism is under researched. This study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of Levetiracetam (LEV) for autistic people and epilepsy. Method: Data was derived from the English Epilepsy Research Database Register which compares ASM responses in those with neurodevelopmental disorders to those without. Age range was 18–50 years as there were no autistic research participants with autism prescribed LEV over 50. Twelve-month ASM data, including withdrawal rate, seizure frequency and adverse effects were compared. Fisher's exact test …

Priming With Transcutaneous Spinal Direct Current Stimulation Followed By Robotic Exoskeleton Gait Training In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series, Marcie Kern, Catherine Velasquez-Ignacio, Taimoor Afzal, Shih-Chiao Tseng, Gerard E Francisco, Shuo-Hsiu Chang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To investigate the safety and feasibility of repeated transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) as priming strategy during exoskeleton-assisted locomotor training in individuals with SCI and evaluate potential neurophysiologic and functional gait changes.

Study design: Case series experimental design.

Setting: Research laboratory at a post-acute rehabilitation hospital.

Participants: Four participants with chronic incomplete SCI.

Interventions: Four participants with chronic incomplete SCI received three weeks of training consisting of two types of interventions after baseline (A): 20-minute tsDCS (anode or cathode) applied over the spinous processes of T10 followed by 20-minute exoskeleton-assisted locomotor training (B, B1, B2) and 20-minute exoskeleton-assisted …

An Analysis Of How Autistic Burnout Relates To Posttraumatic Stress In Autistic Adults, Antonio F Pagán, Madeline J Bruce, Juliana L Vanderburg, Grace Sattem, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study investigated the relationship between autistic burnout and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in trauma-exposed autistic adults without intellectual disability (n = 91). Cross-sectional relationships between autistic burnout (measured by the ABSI), PTSS (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) were assessed using Pearson correlations. To examine the distinctiveness of autistic burnout from posttraumatic stress, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted on ABSI and PCL-5 data. A strong correlation was found between autistic burnout and PTSS (r = .70, p < .001), an exploratory factor analysis suggested shared underlying factors. These findings indicate a close relationship between autistic burnout and …

Missing The Target: A Scoping Review Of The Use Of Percent Weight Loss For Obesity Management, Diana Sherifali, Megan Racey, Donna Fitzpatrick-Lewis, Michelle Greenway, Sanjeev Sockalingam, Jun Wada, Soo Huat Teoh, Ian Patton, David Macklin, Elizabeth F C Van Rossum, Luca Busetto, Deborah Bade Horn, J D Patricia Nece, Morgan Emile Gabriel Salmon Leguede, Nicole Pearce, Carel Le Roux, Jamy Ard, Angela S Alberga, Lee Kaplan, Arya M Sharma, Sean Wharton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: To co-create comprehensive targets for obesity management, we need to understand the genesis and current use of percent weight loss targets in research. The goals of our scoping review are to (1) synthesize the literature on percent weight loss targets for adults with obesity and (2) discuss the percent weight loss targets in context with their health benefits.

Methods: We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for English language, pharmaceutical, and/or behavioral intervention studies in adults with obesity where the explicit aim of the study was weight reduction defined as a percent of body weight. Reviewers screened citations and extracted …

Hand Swelling And Other Non-Raynaud Phenomenon Symptoms As The Initial Presentation Of Systemic Sclerosis: Prevalence And Clinical Associations In Two Us Cohorts, Iqtidar Hanif, Shervin Assassi, Maureen D Mayes, Zsuzsanna H Mcmahan, Meng Zhang, Julio Charles, John M Vanburen, Jessica S Alvey, Kimia Ghaffari, Elana J Bernstein, Flavia V Castelino, Lorinda Chung, Luke Evnin, Tracy M Frech, Jessica K Gordon, Faye N Hant, Laura K Hummers, Dinesh Khanna, Kimberly S Lakin, Dorota Lebiedz-Odrobina, Yiming Luo, Ashima Makol, Jerry A Molitor, Duncan F Moore, Carrie Richardson, Nora Sandorfi, Ami A Shah, Ankoor Shah, Victoria K Shanmugam, Virginia D Steen, Elizabeth R Volkmann, Carleigh Zahn, Brian Skaug

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is often the initial clinical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), but some patients develop other manifestations first. To help elucidate the diversity of SSc presentation in its early stages, we describe the initial clinical manifestations and antinuclear antibody (ANA) profiles of patients in two early SSc cohorts.

Methods: All patient data in the Genetics vs Environment in Scleroderma Outcomes Study (GENISOS) and Collaborative National Quality and Efficacy Registry (CONQUER) cohorts were reviewed. Both studies enrolled patients within five years of the first non-RP symptom.

Results: In GENISOS and CONQUER, respectively, 194 (44.2%) of 439 and 292 …

A Fake Friend? Ai Companions Are Exactly That, Seow Hon Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Tan Seow Hon discussed how AI companions, which promise emotionally intelligent companionship, have blurred the line between human and machine relationships by mimicking empathy, memory, and affection. She suggested that while such technologies may ease loneliness, they risk fostering narcissism, diminishing real human connection, and replacing authentic friendship with comforting illusions that erode the capacity for love and community.

Associations Between Perceived Stress And Glycemic Measures: Gender And Age As Moderators, Ming-Hong Tsai, Charlene Enhui Goh, Michelle H. Lee, Francine Seah, Maybritte Lim, Eveline Febriana, Jiahui Fu, Julie K. Yip, Philip Presham, Sue-Anne Ee Shiow Toh

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Introduction Prediabetes presents an opportunity for early intervention. Growing evidence suggests that psychological stress may contribute to glucose dysregulation, but the findings are inconsistent. This study aimed to clarify the association between perceived stress and glycemic measures, by first testing gender as a moderator, and then examining age as a moderator within each gender group. Research design and methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from 470 diabetes-free adults in Singapore. Participants completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, comprising two subscales: perceived helplessness and perceived self-efficacy. Glycemic measures included fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and 2-hour plasma glucose (2h-PG) following an oral …

Clinician-Led Development And Feasibility Of A Neural Network For Assessing 3d Dental Cavity Preparations Assisted By Conversational Ai, Mohammed El-Hakim, Haitham Khaled, Amr Fawzy, Robert Anthonappa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Artificial intelligence is emerging in dental education, but its use in preclinical assessment remains limited. Large language models like ChatGPT^® V4.5 enable non-programmers to build AI models through real-time guidance, addressing the coding barrier. Aim: This study aims to empower clinician-led, low-cost, AI-driven assessment models in preclinical restorative dentistry and to evaluate the technical feasibility of using a neural network to score 3D cavity preparations. Methods: Twenty mandibular molars (tooth 46), each with two carious lesions, were prepared and scored by two expert examiners using a 20-point rubric. The teeth were scanned with a Medit i700^® and …

Communicating The Green Transition - Practices And Competencies For Engineers, Paul Talbot, Una Beagon, Stephen Harper, Janet Mckennedy

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The green transition is driving demand for engineering expertise in sectors such as renewable energy, construction, transport, and industrial decarbonisation. Projects are complex and interdisciplinary, and communication plays a central role. This report presents findings from 20 focus groups with 103 engineers across Europe examining how engineers communicate in green transition project contexts. Participants described a wide range of communicative tasks involving coordination, documentation, stakeholder engagement, and public communication.Engineers work across spoken, written, and digital modes, shifting between formal and informal styles, and adapting to varied audiences. They must navigate fragmented tools and workflows, unclear goals and roles, jargon pitfalls, …

Building Confidence For Class Participation, Tamas Makany, Ivy Seow

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

What happens to students’ critical thinking when half the class filters their thoughts through AI? During a recent debate on AI policy in education, one student mentioned they routinely run their ideas through ChatGPT before speaking up. When I asked who else did the same, more than half the class raised their hands.

A Century Of Sediment Metal Contamination Of Mar Menor, Europe's Largest Saltwater Lagoon, Irene Alorda-Montiel, Valentí Rodellas, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Albert Palanques, Andrea G. Bravo, Júlia Rodriguez-Puig, Aaron Alorda-Kleinglass, Carlos Green-Ruiz, Marc Diego-Feliu, Pere Masqué, Javier Gilabert, Jordi Garcia-Orellana

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal enclosed ecosystems, such as lagoons, are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts because they favor the accumulation of contaminants from the surrounding watersheds, particularly in their sediments. Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor (SE, Iberian Peninsula), is a highly impacted ecosystem and the first in the continent to be granted personhood rights. Based on a high-resolution spatial and temporal dataset, we present the historical reconstruction of metal contamination in this ecosystem during the last century. Our results highlight that sediment metal contamination has been mainly driven by the development of the mining industry in the nearby Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La …

Adaptive Guard Band And Power Control For Resource Allocation In Mobile And Fixed Mission-Critical Iout Networks, Walid K. Hasan, Iftekhar Ahmad, Quoc Viet Phung, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) is transforming underwater communication by enabling essential mission-critical applications such as precise navigation, emergency response coordination, diver safety, robust security and surveillance systems, and real-time environmental monitoring. However, Underwater Acoustic Communication (UAC), which serves as the primary communication medium for IoUT, experiences substantial challenges, including limited bandwidth availability, severe signal attenuation and Doppler-induced frequency shifts, especially pronounced in mobile underwater environments. These challenges degrade throughput and increase latency, making it difficult to meet the strict delay and reliability demands of mission-critical IoUT applications. Without adaptive solutions, real-time underwater communication remains unreliable and inefficient. This …

Catch Me If You Can: Microplastics Hidden In Plain Sight, Karin Mattsson, Pere Masque, Thomas Maes, Marc Metian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microplastic (MP) pollution is widely recognised as a pressing environmental issue, yet certain major sources remain under-addressed. This paper focuses on three significant but often overlooked contributors: paint particles, textile fibres, and tire wear particles (TWP). Together, these sources account for over 25 % of global MP emissions, nearly 3 million tonnes annually, yet they are rarely singled out in research or regulation. Each presents unique analytical and regulatory challenges due to their complex compositions, diffuse emissions, and strong ties to daily life. We enumerate current knowledge on their environmental pathways, emission estimates, and detection methods, highlighting the need for …

Cost-Optimized Energy Management For Urban Multi-Story Residential Buildings With Community Energy Sharing And Flexible Ev Charging, Nishadi Weerasinghe Mudiyanselage, Asma Aziz, Bassam Al-Hanahi, Iftekhar Ahmad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Multi-story residential buildings present distinct challenges for demand-side management due to shared infrastructure, diverse occupant behaviors, and complex load profiles. Although demand-side management strategies are well established in industrial sectors, their application in high-density residential communities remains limited. This study proposes a cost-optimized energy management framework for urban multi-story apartment buildings, integrating rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, shared battery energy storage, and flexible electric vehicle (EV) charging. A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is developed to simulate 24 h energy operations across nine architecturally identical apartments equipped with the same set of smart appliances but exhibiting varied usage patterns to …

Critical Young Consumers: What Types Of Porn Do Teens Watch, And Why?, Giselle Woodley, Marc Zen, Harrison W. See, Lelia Green

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Pornography use by teens is of growing concern to parents and communities. There is, however, often little differentiation made between the types of contents being consumed or exploration of the types of pornography teens are watching and why. This paper interrogates data collected from 49 qualitative interviews, including 19 follow-up interviews and 4× focus groups with teens. This paper explores teens’ perspectives on the types of pornography accessed by themselves and their peers, and popular categories of pornography more widely. Teens appear to view various types and genres of pornography, as do adults. Some teens prefer ‘ethical’ sources of porn, …

Comparison Of Metal Nanoparticles As Antifungal Agents: Efficacy, Mechanisms, And Toxicity Against Candida, Aspergillus, And Cryptococcus, Ahmed Falah Imran, Hayder Hameed Saeed, Khaldoon Jasim Mohammed

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans are the invasive fungi whose diseases are becoming a growing health issue in the global community, particularly in immunocompromised people. The increasing resistance of the conventional antifungals and the shortage of the existing treatment methods require alternative methods. The present review is an evaluation of the antifungal activity of metal-based nanoparticles, including silver (Ag), copper (Cu), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and selenium (Se) in relation to the three predominant pathogenic fungi. It also talks about their mode of action, relative efficacy, toxicity and their possible future clinical …

Composing A Kaleidoscope: A Scholarly Personal Narrative Of Academia In A Time Of Digital Overload, Suzanne Porath

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

s Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) explores the experience of fractured academic identity amid illness, remote teaching, and digital saturation. Anchored in the methodology of SPN as described by Nash (2004) this narrative integrates personal storytelling with critical reflection and theoretical engagement. Drawing on Rushkoff’s concept of digiphrenia, Makowka’s fractal identity, and Gergen’s absent presence, the paper examines how academic life in the digital age increasingly demands simultaneous performances of self across disjointed timelines and virtual spaces. Through vignettes of presenting at concurrent conferences, teaching from chemotherapy bays, and supporting a dissertation defense in unlikely places, this piece reflects on the …

Enhancing Concrete Self-Healing Using Wastewater Bacteria Impregnated In Pumice Lightweight Aggregates, Mamoun Alqedra, Kamal El Kahlout, Ahmed El Refai, Mahmoud El Hessi, Muhammad Radwan, Waleed Iky

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Self-healing concrete presents a promising solution to counter the degradation of concrete structures caused by cracks and damage. This innovative mechanism employs the concrete's capacity to autonomously repair its cracks, effectively extending the lifespan of structures and reducing maintenance costs. Particularly in regions facing water scarcity, such as the Middle East and North African countries, the utilization of wastewater holds significant importance. This study investigates the self healing abilities of wastewater bacteria infused into lightweight pumice aggregates within concrete. Wastewater contains diverse bacteria, microorganisms, and oxygen—essential components for the self-healing process. Wastewater sourced from the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude Vii, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude VII is the last of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude Vi, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude VI is the sixth of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude V, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude V is the fifth of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Women, Race, Recovery: How Some Of History’S Most Impactful Thinkers Reflect On Their Own Healing, Karol Cooper

Gatherings

With examples from influential women of color feminists, the essay points to some obstacles in the way to developing a true practice of recovery for women of color academics whose research brings them in continual contact with histories and enactments of harm against women and people of color. As women of color in higher education, articulating our health and healing needs in our own terms would help us clear a path to promoting ourselves as whole and healthy persons, in addition to promoting us along a career path. The essay collects reflections on health struggles from famous women of color …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude Iv, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude IV is the fourth of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude Iii, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude II is the third of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude Ii, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude II is the second of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Guerrillera Blesson Interlude I, María L. Arroyo Cruzado, Julie G. Fogden

Gatherings

Interlude I is the first of seven reflective pieces interwoven throughout the journal. Each interlude represents a collaborative fusion of María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado’s narrative and Julie Fogden’s visual art, capturing the transformative experience of attending The State of Women of Color in New Higher Education symposium. These interludes draw inspiration from the symposium’s presentations, including thematic content, visual motifs, and the symbolic patterns found in the attire of the presenters. They honor the dedication and labor that women of color invest in both professional and personal spheres, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of these responsibilities while celebrating the …

Introduction: Building Space For Gathering In Hostile Times, Roberta Hurtado

Gatherings

This introduction serves as a means to share with you, the reader, about an upstate New York symposium that occurred in March of 2025. The event aimed to create a space where we could explore the trials, tribulations, and jubilations that women of color in New York higher education experience. Speakers and attendees gathered from all over the state—and, indeed, country—on a cold wintery day in a spirit of togetherness and awareness of where we find ourselves in this moment. We were there to learn and grow, and to find community.