Digital Commons Network^™

Estimating Prey Capture Attempts And Activity Costs In Foraging Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes Forsteri) Using Integrated Biologging Data, Taylor Rose Azizeh

Master's Theses

To forage efficiently in patchy and unpredictable prey landscapes, marine predators must optimize energy intake while minimizing costs. Central place foragers like emperor penguins face greater energetic constraints during demanding periods of high investment like chick-rearing. I used high-resolution tri-axial acceleration, depth, and GPS data from 25 birds from two feeding seasons (2019 and 2022) to quantify prey capture attempts and a proxy for energy expenditure (overall dynamic body acceleration; ODBA) across dive types (epipelagic, mesopelagic, benthic), phases (descent, bottom, ascent), and over time at-sea. While prey capture attempts per minute did not differ when looking across dive types alone, …

The Impact Of Targeting Traf2 And Nck-Interacting Protein Kinase On Antitumor Effect And Tumor Immune Environment In C-Myc-High Sclc, Azusa Tanimoto, Kavya Ramkumar, C Allison Stewart, Bingnan Zhang, Kyle Concannon, Robert J Cardnell, Li Shen, Qi Wang, Jing Wang, Carl M Gay, Lauren Averett Byers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation contributes to tumorigenesis and chemo-resistance in SCLC, yet clinical attempts to target this pathway have been unsuccessful. TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK), an essential nuclear activator of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, has not yet been validated as a viable therapeutic target in SCLC. Here, we validated that TNIK inhibition is a promising approach for personalized anticancer therapy in SCLC.

Methods: We correlated the IC50 values of a TNIK inhibitor, NCB-0846, with proteomic profiling (reverse phase protein array) data across 28 SCLC cell lines. Cytokine array analysis was performed to quantify changes in 105 cytokines after …

Anti-Saccade Error Rates Are Associated With Somatic Depressive Symptoms In Cocaine Use Disorder, Constanza De Dios, Heather E Webber, Margaret C Wardle, Jin H Yoon, Michelle A Patriquin, Jessica N Vincent, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Inhibitory control deficits are associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD) development and maintenance. Additionally, drug use and inhibitory control can be negatively affected by depressive symptoms, including somatic factors like sleep disturbance and fatigue.

Aim: The current study assessed the relationship between inhibitory control and depressive symptoms among individuals initiating CUD treatment. We examined associations among anti-saccade response inhibition performance, total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and individual BDI-II items.

Methods: N = 101 patients enrolled in a clinical trial for CUD completed drug-specific anti-saccade and depression (BDI-II) measures prior to treatment. Generalized linear models tested the …

Detection Of The Linac Jaw Face Angle Misalignment Using High Energy Electron Beam Symmetry, Song Gao, Andres Cibrian, Jared Ohrt, Peter Balter

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To demonstrate the usage of a high energy electron beam symmetry measured at different collimator angles to detect jaws face angle misalignments on Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators (linac) during acceptance and commissioning processes.

Methods: During the linac acceptance, all beams were steered to a symmetric shape with the gantry and collimator at 0°. We noted that the symmetries of higher energies electrons (e.g., 16 MeV, 20 MeV) changed over 2% when measured with the collimator at 90° and/or 270° for two linacs commissioned within 5-months of each other. Misaligned applicators were ruled out as the cause of this issue. …

Hospital–Medicare Advantage Vertical Integration And Cardiopulmonary Care In Integrated Hospitals, Geronimo Bejarano, Meehir N. Dixit, Alexander P. Philips, Karen E. Joynt Maddox, Meredith B. Rosenthal, Amal Trivedi, David J. Meyers

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Distinct Populations Of Lung Capillary Endothelial Cells And Their Functional Significance, Joel James, Dan Yi, Zhiyu Dai, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The role of the lung's microcirculation and capillary endothelial cells in normal physiology and the pathobiology of pulmonary diseases is obviously vital. The recent discovery of molecularly distinct aerocytes and general capillary (gCaps) endothelial cells by single-cell transcriptomics (scRNAseq) advanced the field in understanding microcirculatory milieu and cellular communications. However, increasing evidence from different groups indicated the possibility of a more heterogeneous nature of lung capillaries. Therefore, we investigated enriched lung endothelial cells by scRNAseq and identified five novel populations of gCaps with distinct molecular signatures and roles. Our analysis suggests that two major populations of gCaps that express Scn7a(Na

Allfromair™ Ires (Gen 3) – System Architecture, Process Physics & Compliance Verification, Vesa Olavi Lius

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes the ALLFROMAIR™ IRES (Gen 3), a unified thermodynamic platform integrating heating, cooling, ventilation, and atmospheric water generation (AWG) into a single hardware unit. The system utilizes an ”Anticubic” U-channel geometry with airflow velocities <2.5 m/s to minimize fan power according to the Cube Law. Key innovations include a ”Three-Stage Rocket” thermodynamic process and a ”Turbo Effect” where regenerative pre-cooling reduces compressor temperature lift (\Delta T \approx 5K), enabling practical COPs >30.

The disclosure specifically details a pressure-modulated spray nozzle matrix capable of switching between ”Flash Evaporation” (<300 µm droplets) and ”Film Wetting” modes to maximize latent heat transfer on Heresite P-413/Hydrophilic coated exchangers. The system solves historical displacement ventilation stratification (”The Bahco Problem”) via a scavenger heat exchanger (HX4) coupled to a hydronic floor loop. An integrated ”Water Ring” harvests and purifies condensate to EU Directive 2020/2184 standards, enabling decentralized potable water production for residential, commercial, and tropical applications.

Keywords:

Integrated Regenerative Energy System (IRES), ALLFROMAIR, Anticubic U-Channel, Low Lift Heat Pump, Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG), Pressure Modulated Spray Matrix, Flash Evaporation, Thermodynamic Up-Gearing, Heresite P-413, Hydrophilic Topcoat, Radiant-Assisted Displacement Ventilation, Twin-Leg Air Separation, EU Directive 2020/2184, Three-Stage Rocket Process.

Power-Efficient Speech Detection And Transcription Utilizing Cascaded Visual Triggers And Sensor Fusion, Jon Hurwitz, Yaaseen Mahomed

Defensive Publications Series

Voice interaction is often the primary input modality for wearable electronic devices, such as augmented reality (AR) glasses. However, effective interaction via a voice interface can be difficult in certain common scenarios such as noisy environments, quiet environments where the wearer cannot provide audible spoken input, etc. This disclosure describes techniques that enable adaptive, multi-modal speech-to-text transcription on smart glasses using sensor fusion. The smart glasses include microphones (e.g., a microphone array), a vibration sensor (e.g., in the nose bridge), and low-power cameras that have the wearer’s lips in the field of view. Data streams from these sensors are combined …

Correcting Display Deformations Using A Thermoelectric Cooler Matrix, Kunwoo Park, Sean Terbeek, Yusuf Mohsinally, Harrison Pham

Defensive Publications Series

Temperature variations in the context in which a lenticular display is deployed can result in non-uniform expansion across the display, leading to visual distortion. This disclosure describes techniques to counter non-uniform thermal expansion of a lenticular display due to temperature gradients or other environmental factors. Per the techniques, individual elements of the display are each coupled to a strain gauge and a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). Strains (thermally induced displacements) across the display are provided as input to a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU coordinates the matrix of TECs such that individual TECs heat or cool their regions of the display …

Policy-Compliant Generative Artificial Intelligence Deployment Using A Multimodal Critic, Xingyu Federico Xu, Khyatti Gupta, Ágoston Weisz, Felipe Tiengo Ferreira, Anca Dragan, Adilet Zhaxybay, Igor Petrovski

Defensive Publications Series

Generative AI service providers provide access to image generation tools under contractual terms and conditions that require that such tools are used in a compliant way. GenAI service providers can implement guardrails and safety mechanisms to ensure compliance with their terms and conditions, and applicable regulations. However, it is possible for users to bypass such mechanisms and cause a genAI model to generate images that violate the policies of the service provider and/or applicable regulations. This disclosure describes a vision language model (VLM) that detects AI-generated images that violate specified policies. Using preamble-based policy guidelines, the VLM analyzes a generated …

Rack Thermal Topography Gans, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The technology relates to a framework for designing the thermal layout of compute resource racks to proactively mitigate heat concentration zones and optimize cooling efficiency. The framework utilizes an artificial intelligence (AI) model, specifically a generative adversarial network (GAN), to automate the layout design process. The generative network is configured to ingest physical and operational constraints and produce a simulated layout. The initial layout estimation is then verified by a discriminator network, which acts as a neural network approximation of fluid dynamics, providing a closed-loop feedback mechanism to refine the generated result. The framework allows for the exploration of a …

Deterministic Workflow Generation From Ai-Generated Prototypes, Wai Tai

Defensive Publications Series

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools can accelerate workflow prototyping but remain inherently unreliable — the same prompt can yield inconsistent, incomplete, or broken outputs. Proposed herein is an innovation that bridges the gap between AI prototyping and production-grade automation by capturing validated “golden outputs,” extracting them into reusable briefs ("golden briefs"), and regenerating workflows deterministically through template-aware automation. Layered validation, including schema compliance, simulation with golden inputs, and regression testing ensures that every workflow produced is correct, reproducible, and ready for production deployment.

Automated Multi-Modal System For Generating Product Recommendations For Video Advertisements, Satish Shreenivasa, Morgan Brenner, Leigh Purcell Blossom, Xi Li, Briana Wallace

Defensive Publications Series

A system and method for automatically generating a highly relevant list of candidate products from an advertiser’s product catalog to feature alongside a video advertisement are provided herein. The manual process currently used for selecting products is often time-consuming, unscalable, and results in sub-optimal product relevance. The solution provided herein uses an automated, AI-powered approach to identify products featured in a video and then utilizes a two-stage similarity ranking process involving text and image data to find the most contextually and visually similar items in a potentially massive product catalog. This multi-modal approach enhances relevance compared to simple text-based searches …

Process For The Preparation Of 2-{4-[(3s)-Piperidin-3-Yl]Phenyl}-2h-Indazole 7-Carboxamide 4-Methylbenzenesulfonate And Intermediates Thereof

Defensive Publications Series

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 2-{4-[(3S)-piperidin-3-yl]phenyl}-2H-indazole 7-carboxamide 4-methylbenzenesulfonate represented by the following structural formula-1a and intermediates thereof.

Formula-1a

Reduction Of Ground Vibration Dynamic Effects Induced From Mining Blasting On Nearby Structures: Case Study, Ayman M. Ismail, Sherif H. M. Hassnien

HBRC Journal

One of the primary challenges confronting the quarrying industry pertains to the ground vibrations resulting from the blasting activities in cement quarries, as these vibrations have the potential to inflict significant damage upon adjacent structures. Within the context of this scholarly article, an examination is conducted on a residential edifice situated in the 15th of May city in Cairo, Egypt, which has been impacted by the proximate mining blasting. The ground velocity at the foundation of this residential building is assessed, mainly from the peak particle’s velocity prospective. Subsequently, a finite element model (FEM) of the building is formulated and …

Carbon Nanotubes Enhanced Tio2/G-C3N4 As A Potential Nanocomposite Material For Impedance-Type Humidity Sensors, Mohamed Morsy

HBRC Journal

The development of high-performance humidity sensors based on nanotechnology has become critical for different applications. This work focuses on the fabrication and characterization of impedance-type humidity sensors based on graphitic carbon nitride, titanium dioxide, and carbon nanotubes. The prepared materials comprise g-C3N4, g-C3N4/TiO₂, and g-C3N4/TiO₂/CNTs, which have been synthesized through the co-precipitation method. The properties of the nanocomposites have been verified through different characterization techniques that confirm the phase composition and morphology. The humidity-sensing response of the prepared materials was tested within a humidity range of 11%–97% RH at different testing frequencies. The unique structure of …

A Proposed Model For Assessing The Impact Of Sustainable Practices On The Affordability Of Affordable Housing In Egypt Using Ahp, Ayman M Zakaria Eraqi, Omnia Nagy Abd El-Hafez, Amany Nagy Abd El-Hafez

HBRC Journal

Amid rising inflation and a housing crisis in Egypt, this research develops a model to assess the affordability of sustainable housing for low- and middle-income groups by integrating environmental, social, and economic sustainability criteria. The research methodology used Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate the relative weights of sustainability criteria in housing projects. Based on their impact on construction costs, these criteria were classified by experts into five main groups: Design Criteria (preliminary studies, initial cost, environmental planning), Neighborhood Criteria (location, design, management), Social and Cultural Criteria (privacy and safety), Natural Resource Sustainability (water, energy), Housing Unit Criteria (design and …

Structural Behavior Of Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Eccentric Loads Strengthened By Steel Jackets Filled With Normal And High-Strength Concrete, Mahmoud Ahmed M. Amin, Mahmoud Mostafa El Hawary, Ahmed Shaheen, Ibrahim M. Mashhour

HBRC Journal

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are essential structural components in buildings and infrastructure, providing vertical load support and stability. However, these columns can be degraded over time due to various factors, such as environmental exposure, seismic events, and increased loading demands. As a result, the need for effective and reliable column-strengthening techniques arises to ensure the safety, durability, and longevity of structures. The main objective of this study is to investigate how fully strengthening damaged columns affects load-bearing capacity and overall structural performance. Moreover, this study tested thirteen reinforced concrete columns during the experimental program. The original dimensions of these columns …

Finite Element Analysis Of Double-Skin Steel-Concrete Composite Shear Walls With Portal Frames Under Monotonic Shear Loading, Islam Salama, Mahmoud M. Elnahla, Hasan Maaly, Ibrahim T. Arafa

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

This study investigates the structural performance of double-skin profiled steel-concrete composite shear walls (DSPCW) integrated with portal frames under monotonic shear loading using a validated finite element model. The FE framework, developed in ABAQUS, accurately predicts experimental load-displacement behavior, stress distribution, and failure modes, demonstrating its reliability for parametric exploration. A comprehensive analysis evaluates the effects of steel grade, fastener quantity and distribution, panel openings, and comparative performance against traditional vertical bracing systems. Key findings reveal that DSPCW panels with engineered cementitious composite concrete cores exhibit 1.5–2 times higher shear capacity than conventional braced frames at comparable mass, emphasizing their …

A Generalized Convolutional Autoencoder Framework For Seismic Waveform Compression, Emad B. Helal, Mostafa M. Ibrahim, Ali G. Hafez

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

Effective data compression methods have become crucial as the amounts of seismic data are growing exponentially. Due to extensive surveys and ongoing real-time monitoring, compression not only reduces storage requirements but also optimizes communication bandwidth between remote seismic stations and central processing hubs. In this paper, a generalized autoencoder-based compression framework is proposed.. Its primary innovation is a single, fixed network architecture that delivers robust performance across low, medium, and high compression ratios (CRs). Performance was compared with a dynamic pooling-based model and three wavelet-based methods (db4, sym8, coif3) across CRs from 2 to 100. Experimental results demonstrate that the …

A Review Of Machine Learning Methods In Energy Management System, Mays Sattar Al-Fatllah, Zaipatimah Ali, Aidil Azwin Zainul Abidin

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

Traditional energy sources are vital for energizing residences and industries. Nonetheless, they meet considerable obstacles, such as deteriorating infrastructure, ecological decline, resource exhaustion, price fluctuations, and a disparity between real-time demand and supply. Conversely, renewable energy sources offer cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Renewable energy mitigates the pollution caused by carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in traditional power systems. Incorporating renewable energy into a power system needs an efficient management system to keep stability and improve power use. Modern energy management systems (EMS) face a significant challenge in controlling renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The challenges encompass intermittent and …

Multivariate Optimization Of Nonlinear Response Functions Using Central Composite Design, Hussein M. Hussein, Bassma H. Elwakil, Esraa Abdelhamid Moneer, Sara H. Akl, Yahya H. Shahin

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

This study addresses critical challenges in multivariate optimization by: (1) developing efficient strategies for optimizing nonlinear response functions in high-dimensional parameter spaces, (2) quantifying comparative performance of traditional versus statistical design methodologies, (3) establishing mathematical frameworks for parameter interactions, and (4) validating results through comprehensive statistical analysis. A dual-phase optimization framework combined One-Variable-At-a-Time (OVAT) screening with Central Composite Design-based Response Surface Methodology (CCD-RSM). Five parameters were evaluated using rotatable CCD (α= 2.378) with 50 design points. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression modeling, interaction quantification, and cross-validation. CCD-RSM demonstrated superior performance with model predictability improving from …

Machine Learning Framework For Automatic Classification Of Nano-Seismic Signals Preceding Earthquakes, Ghada Ali, Ali G. Hafez, Sayed Hasaneen, Hamed Nofel, Nabeel Al-Atwan, Ahmed Mohamed

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

Nano-seismicity preceding earthquakes has many applications in fault prediction, in structure health monitoring, and in enhancing fault and source parameter determination. Not all earthquakes are preceded by these precursors; therefore, there is a need to identify P-wave arrivals that are preceded by these nano signals, which will eliminate errors in P-wave arrival timing. The current work introduces topologies capable of automatically categorizing the arrivals with nano-seismic precursors. The proposed methods are trained on datasets extracted from stations belonging to Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN). These records contain both P-wave arrivals preceded by such nano precursors and other records without these …

Optimizing Bioethanol Production Using Design Of Experiments For Sustainable Biofuel Development, Hussein M. Hussein, Yahya H. Shahin, Ihab A. Moneam

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

This study presents a statistically optimal approach for bioethanol production from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) using alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation processes. To maximize cellulose yield, four extraction parameters—solvent type, concentration, temperature, and time—were optimized using a Taguchi statistical model. The Taguchi-optimized extraction yields 11.3% increased cellulose recovery relative to cellulose recovered via non-optimized extraction methods (i.e., alkaline treatment with 6% NaOH at 90 °C for 3 hours). This yielded 45.20% cellulose (w/w), with 37.80% weight loss (predicted weight loss was 36.94%). Statistical analysis of extraction results verified solvent type (p = 0.0022) and temperature (p = 0.0007) to be …

A Smart City Transformation Survey: Using Intelligent Buildings To Promote Smart Cities, Salma A. Alhashimi, Majid A. Alwan, Ali N. Aliedani

Almaaqal Journal of Sustainability and Emerging Technology

The challenges of urbanization have been greatly aided by the integration of cutting-edge technology into smart buildings and cities. In smart cities and buildings, machine learning and the Internet of Things are essential for boosting sustainability, increasing safety, and optimizing resource use. In order to enable more effective, connected, and comfortable living in urban settings, this work has introduced the relationship between creative technology and buildings. It also discusses the regulatory frameworks for smart cities and emphasizes the importance of standardization in this regard.

Synthesis Of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles From Apricot Kernel Extracts For The Colorimetric Determination Of Gold, Ayça Gi̇rgi̇n, Hi̇lal Akbiyik, Buse Tuğba Zaman, Omid Nejati, Ayça Bal Öztürk, Gülten Çeti̇n, Sezgi̇n Bakirdere

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Gold is abundant in nature, however, precise and reliable analytical methods for its detection are required stemming from its increasing prevalence in environmental, biological, and industrial systems, as well as the growing interest in understanding its function in living organisms and its effects on human health. This study investigates the use of biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the preconcentration and determination of gold ions prior to determination by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. AgNPs were synthesized by reducing silver nitrate through the use of an apricot kernel extract as both reducer and stabilizer agent. The colloidal yellowish AgNPs interacted with gold ions, …

A Novel Approach On Digital Pentapartitioned Neutrosophic Topological Structures In Bpˆ˙A˚Lgebra, R. Shalini, G. Sindhu, S.S. Surekha

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

An Intelligent Soft Computing-Oriented Strategy For Managing Global Sustainability Issues In Dynamic Environments, Walaa M. Sabry

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Transnational Mass Tort Litigation: A Proposal For An International Court Of Civil Justice, Maya Steinitz

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter argues for the creation of an International Court of Civil Justice for transnational mass tort cases. It considers the challenges of adjudicating cross-border mass torts along with the incentives and feasibility of a new international court. Drawing upon case studies including the Bhopal disaster, litigation surrounding the devastation of the Ecuadorian rainforest, and the attempts to sue over human rights abuses in Nigeria, the chapter demonstrates that the world's legal systems were not designed to solve these kinds of complex cases, and the absence of mechanisms to ensure coordination means that victims try, but fail, to find justice …

Automatic Guitar Transcription Of Polyphonic Music, Ritwik Patil

Master's Theses

Transcribing guitar music automatically is a complex task due to polyphonic overlap, tuning variations, and diverse playing techniques. Current transcription systems focus on identifying note pitches and timing while ignoring performance techniques that describe how the notes are played, treating guitar recordings as generic polyphonic audio and producing MIDI-like outputs that lose important information about articulation and style. To address these challenges, we propose an end-to-end transformer model for automatic guitar transcription. The system uses a T5-based encoder-decoder architecture that processes the Constant-Q Transform (CQT) of stereo audio input. The stereo representation helps separate individual guitar parts within a mix …