Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Design Thinking In Edtech Startups, Toluwani Victor Aliu

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

A move toward user-centered methods to innovation has been garnering attention due to the realization that consumers and users may offer possibilities and expertise. An innovative strategy that infuses creativity with user-centeredness is design thinking. Despite this, design thinking has received little attention in startups, particularly in the EdTech sector. Even while design thinking has become quite popular, there is a need for empirical study on design thinking in startups. This is because the majority of the research has been on large organizations. The paper explicates how design thinking facilitates the implementation of methodologies through iterative development, empathy mapping, and …

Data For Fermentation Research Guide Analysis, Laura Guengerich

Morris Library Data Sets

No abstract provided.

Modular Architecture For High-Performance And Low Overhead Data Transfers, Rasman Mubtasim Swargo, Engin Arslan, Md Arifuzzaman

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-performance applications necessitate rapid and dependable transfer of massive datasets across geographically dispersed locations. Traditional file transfer tools often suffer from resource underutilization and instability due to fixed configurations or monolithic optimization methods. We propose AutoMDT, a novel Modular Data Transfer Architecture, to address these issues by employing a deep reinforcement learning agent to simultaneously optimize concurrency levels for read, network, and write operations. This solution incorporates a lightweight network-system simulator, enabling offline training of a Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) agent in approximately 45 minutes on average, thereby overcoming the impracticality of lengthy online training in production networks. AutoMDT's modular …

Magnesium, Iron, And Calcium Isotope Signatures Of Chicxulub Impact Spherules: Isotopic Fingerprint Of The Projectile And Plume Thermodynamics, Courtney Jean Rundhaug, Martin Schiller, Martin Bizzarro, Zhengbin Deng, Hermann D. Bermúdez

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (KPB) represents a massive extinction event in Earth's history, probably triggered by the Chicxulub asteroid impact ∼66 Ma. The event dispersed vast volumes of ejecta materials including exceptionally preserved impact spherules in the Gorgonilla Island KPB section. Previous work identified three populations of spherules at Gorgonilla: 1) ballistically transported molten spherules, 2) a mixture of molten and condensed spherules dispersed by the expansion of a high-temperature, turbulent cloud (the "pyrocloud"), and 3) tiny droplets condensed from the plume (the "fireball layer"). We determine the Mg, Fe, and Ca isotopic compositions of pristine spherules to better understand the …

Generation And Characterization Of A Knockout Mouse Of An Enhancer Of Ebf3., Emily Cordova Hurtado, Janine M Wotton, Alexander Gulka, Crystal Burke, Jeffrey K Ng, Ibrahim Bah, Juana Manuel, Hillary Heins, Stephen A Murray, David U Gorkin, Jacqueline K White, Kevin A Peterson, Tychele N Turner

Faculty Research 2025

Genomic studies of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have identified several relevant genomic variants. EBF3 is a gene with an excess of protein-coding de novo variants and underlies Hypotonia, Ataxia, and Delayed Development Syndrome. We previously identified noncoding de novo variants in an enhancer of EBF3 and further found enrichment of deletions of this enhancer in NDDs. In this study, we generated a novel mouse line that deletes the highly conserved, orthologous mouse region within the Rr169617 regulatory region, and characterized the molecular and phenotypic aspects of this mouse model. We found a deviation from Mendelian expectation (P=0.02) with significant depletion of …

Exploring Generation Z Student Satisfaction In Radiography Programs Within A Southern State: Development And Application Of A Survey Instrument For Leadership Use, Brittany Seruntine Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design to examine the extent to which Generation Z students in radiography programs within a southern state perceive that their needs and expectations are being fulfilled. Additionally, the study examined how program leaders perceived and plan to utilize the survey and its findings within the cycle of continuous program improvement and accreditation readiness. A Likert-scale survey instrument was constructed by cross-referencing Generation Z’s characteristics, needs, and expectations with JRCERT standards. Items were refined through target population focus groups and validated using Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio. The validated instrument was then administered to Generation …

Shared Voices: How Pk-16 Leaders Perceive School University Partnership Alignment With Caep Standards, Ann-Marie Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined PK–16 leaders’ perspectives regarding the alignment of an educator preparation provider (EPP) with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards 2 (Clinical Partnerships and Practice) and 5 (Quality Assurance System and Continuous Improvement). Data were collected through a researcher-designed survey and semi-structured interviews with principals, district administrators, and university leaders. Survey results provided descriptive insights into stakeholder perceptions, while interviews offered deeper contextual understanding of the strengths and challenges within school–university partnerships. Findings indicated that leaders valued residency programs and recruitment pipelines as key strengths, highlighting the mutual benefits of sustained clinical partnerships. …

Secret Key Generation Based On The Physical Layer Characteristics For Iot Networks, Abdullah Dakhlallah Alshamdayn

Doctoral Dissertations

The rapid expansion of low-resource devices, coupled with advances in telecommunications, has significantly increased the number of connected devices and enabled the development of affordable, energy-efficient, portable, and high-performance sensors for diverse applications. However, this convenience comes with security and privacy concerns related to the reliability of hardware, software, and communication infrastructure. The extensive interconnectivity of limited-resource devices and the transmission of large data volumes pose significant security challenges in wireless networks. The future wireless technologies, such as 5G, will enable the transfer of critical data, including personal, financial, military, and industrial information, necessitating secure communication in wireless networks. Generally, …

For The Good Times: The Influence Of Leaders' Regret On Risk-Taking Behavior In Decision-Making, Ashley Elizabeth Owen

Doctoral Dissertations

Regret is a powerful and often underexplored emotion that significantly shapes leadership decision-making, particularly in high-stakes environments where the consequences of choices have lasting impacts on individuals, organizations, and communities. The researcher utilized qualitative research to explore how various forms of regret, including anticipatory regret, self-blame regret, and existential regret, influence risk-taking behavior and decision-making processes among higher education leaders within the University of Louisiana System. Drawing upon behavioral decision theory, regret theory, prospect theory, and emotional intelligence frameworks, the study aimed to understand how leaders experience, process, and respond to the emotional dynamics of regret within complex organizational settings. …

Advanced Plant Growth Using Halloysite Nanotubes (Hnts) And Waste Extraction For Medical Applications, Zeinab Jabbari Velisdeh

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents an integrated research framework that bridges nanotechnology, green chemistry, and sustainable agriculture, aiming to address two critical global challenges: enhancing plant growth under resource-limited conditions and valorizing agricultural waste for bioactive compound extraction. The study is divided into three major projects that together highlight the innovative application of magnesium oxide-coated halloysite nanotubes (MgO-HNTs) and the development of environmentally conscious extraction methods for high-value phytochemicals. The first component of this work investigates the design, fabrication, and functional evaluation of MgO-HNTs as advanced nanocarriers for promoting seed germination and early root development in tomato plants. MgO-HNTs were synthesized via …

Towards Robust Autonomous Systems: Handling Multi-Modal Uncertainties In Gps-Denied Environments, Vivya Kalidindi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on designing a robust and uncertainty-aware framework for autonomous systems operating in GPS-denied environments, such as indoor infrastructures, underground tunnels, and lunar surfaces. The proposed framework addresses the challenges posed by multi-modal uncertainties, including sensor noise, distributional shifts under adverse conditions, and conflicting decision-making preferences. These challenges compromise the reliability and adaptability of autonomous platforms. To overcome these challenges, the proposed framework adopts a layered architecture that integrates advanced methodologies across the sensing, perception, and decision-making layers. At the sensing layer, an Edge-Kalman Filter combined with a density ratio-based update mechanism is employed to reduce aleatoric uncertainty …

Investigation Of Electrochemical Corrosion Fatigue Mitigation Strategies For Mild Carbon Steel, Joel Andrew Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations

Corrosion fatigue remains a critical durability challenge for steels used in boiler tubes and other safety-critical components, where the interaction of cyclic stresses and corrosive environments accelerates material degradation. This dissertation comprises three experimental studies aimed at advancing mitigation strategies and test methodologies: (1) enhancing corrosion resistance through electrodeposited Fe-Ni anodic coatings, (2) inducing synthetic crack closure to suppress fatigue crack growth, and (3) developing an accessible, low-cost, automated testing system to investigate environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) under controlled laboratory conditions. The first study examined the corrosion behavior of Fe and Fe-Ni electrodeposits synthesized from sulfate-based baths and applied to …

Development Of New Design Criteria For Coastal Highway Embankment Under Wave-Induced Loading, Udaya Bilas Panta

Master's Theses

In the face of intensifying hurricanes and rising sea levels, Louisiana’s coastal highways, lifelines for communities and commerce, stand increasingly vulnerable. This thesis introduces a pioneering methodology for designing geosynthetic-reinforced highway embankments capable of withstanding wave-induced loading and rapid drawdown scenarios, the most critical failure condition identified in coastal environments. By integrating statistical wave modeling, advanced numerical simulations using SEEP/W and SLOPE/W, and a comprehensive parametric analysis, the study develops a novel hybrid regression formula that accurately predicts optimal reinforcement lengths based on site-specific geotechnical and hydraulic parameters. Validated against Hurricane Katrina data and real-world soil profiles from Cameron Parish, …

The Potential Co-Occurrence Of Perfectionism, Food Insecurity, And Gpa With Orthorexia Nervosa Risk, Samantha Kay Gould

Master's Theses

There are indeterminate risk, prevalence, and correlation data on orthorexia nervosa (ON) as shown by current literature on disordered eating (Rodgers et al., 2021). As a roughly defined disordered eating pattern, ON may be better understood after identifying associations among other attributes in a college student sample (Abdullah et al., 2020; Mavrandrea & Gonidakis, 2023; Parra-Fernández, 2019; Rogowska et al., 2021). A cooccurrence and influence of perfectionism, food insecurity, and grade point average (GPA) with ON risk was hypothesized since current literature suggests college students exhibit each of these characteristics independently (Abdullah et al., 2020; Ambwani et al., 2019; Caferoglu …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Learning Through Use Of Visual Eye-Tracking Analytics (Veta) And Biological Measurements, Mckinley Anne Sherman

Master's Theses

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an immersive and interactive platform for experiential learning. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the relationship between physiological responses and cognitive workload within a VR learning environment and to explore VR as an effective instructional tool. This research compared participant engagement, stress, and learning performance within a 6th-grade science module developed in VR by incorporating biometric data collected via Polar H10 heart rate monitor and Varjo Areo VR headset eye-tracking. Thirty-three participants completed a pre-lesson demographic survey, post-lesson survey, VR sickness questionnaire, and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). While completing the lesson, the …

Food Neophobia And Its Prevalence Among College Students In The United States, Joanne Mwendi Ponnappa

Master's Theses

Food neophobia “the reluctance to try unfamiliar foods” may influence diet variety and cultural food acceptance among young adults. College students represent a critical group for studying this behavior, as they are developing independent eating habits that can persist into adulthood. This study examined the prevalence of food neophobia among U.S. college students and evaluated how academic background, travel, cultural exposure, and demographic factors influence openness to trying unfamiliar foods. A cross-sectional online survey was administered via Qualtrics to 264 college students across the United States. The Food Neophobia Scale (FNS; Pliner & Hobden, 1992) was used to assess reluctance …

Illiberalism In Israeli Public Opinion, Hannah M. Ridge

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Israel has long identified as a democracy. However, scholars have expressed concerns that it is engaged in democratic backsliding (Kremnitzer and Shany 2020; Oren and Waxman 2022). Despite holding repeated elections, its liberal credentials are weakening, as the rule of law and judicial independence are threatened. Institutionally, then, it is fulfilling Dahl’s (1971) contestation requirement for democracy but not the inclusiveness requirement. At the citizen level, there is questionable democratic culture (Inglehart and Welzel 2003). If the public supports electoral institutions but not liberal values, then the democracy’s foundation is weak (Mounk 2018). This article analyzes recent Israeli public opinion …

Rethinking Schedule Quality Risk Assessment, Michael E. Oliver, Patrick T. Rodjom

Beyond the Project Horizon: Journal of the Center for Project Management Innovation

Critical Path Method schedule reliability is dependent on exhibition of specific qualities. Failure to exhibit these qualities (i.e., schedule defects) increases project risk exposure. Although current schedule quality assessment methods provide diagnostic remediation insights, they do not provide a meaningful singular assessment value that characterizes the nature and magnitude of schedule quality risk nor do they enable parity when comparing schedule quality across multiple schedules of disparate size (e.g., number of tasks) or complexity (e.g., number of concurrent paths, degree of merge bias). This study employed a design science research approach to address current schedule quality assessment practice dilemmas through …

Acknowledgment, Yaljod 5.1, Florian Cyril Mshanga

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

Acknowledgment from Florian Cyril Mshanga, Vice President, Governance & Operations, Young African Leaders Forum (YALF)

Reviving Pan-Africanism For The 21st Century: A Framework For Youth-Led Continental Governance Reform, Ugochukwu Mercy Prince-Ifoh

Young African Leaders Journal of Development

This paper explores the historical trajectory, current stagnation, and potential revival of PanAfricanism with a strong emphasis on youth leadership as the engine of governance reform across the African continent. By tracing the intellectual and political contributions of renowned leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Thomas Sankara, the study identifies foundational principles of unity, sovereignty, and collective progress. The paper critically evaluates the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), highlighting opportunities and limitations for youth participation. It also conducts a comparative analysis of regional youth governance structures and proposes practical frameworks to institutionalize youth-led reforms. The paper …

Synthesis Essay Assignment, Reema A. Rao

Open Educational Resources

The synthesis essay assignment is the second major assignment of ENGL 110, Freshman Composition Course. This assignment invites students to select a topic of personal interest and then do research to develop a well-supported cohesive argument. The assignment supports learner autonomy by allowing students to choose topics that resonate with their goals, curiosities, and motivations which fosters learning and meaningful engagement.

Students are encouraged to use a wide range of scholarly and non-scholarly sources. By integrating and synthesizing these sources, students build critical thinking and analytical skills. Students also present their research in class and respond to questions about their …

Community Banking, Tech Innovation Anchor Ole Miss Symposium, Marvis Herring

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Community banks are critical to the nation's economic health, but they face unprecedented challenges from evolving technology, changing customer needs and economic headwinds, industry experts told participants at the University of Mississippi's 2025 Banking and Finance Symposium.

Analysis Of Aroma Volatile Compounds In Black Tea Produced From The Large-Leaf Variety In Northern Guangxi Based On Hs-Spme-Gc-Ms, Ting Chen, Chunyu Guo, Yingqi Wu, Min Li, Yuelan Pang, Yan Qing

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study explores the unique flavor characteristics and volatile compounds of black tea produced from the large-leaf variety in northern Guangxi,aiming to reveal the material basis of aroma formation of this variety.[Method ] Sensory evaluation,determination of biochemical parameters,headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS ),and odor activity value (OAV ) analysis were performed in combination with chemometrics analysis to analyze the flavor characteristics and volatile compounds of the black tea.[Result ] The black tea samples produced from the large-leaf variety in northern Guangxi had similar aroma properties and were characterized by distinct floral and fruity aromas.A total of 88 volatile …

Advances In The Discovery Of Active Natural Products By Large Fragment Cloning, Dandan Zeng, Jiayu Chen, Tianlu Mo

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

Active natural products have diverse structures and activities and can be a major source of small molecule drugs.Given the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and superbacteria,there is an urgent need to develop new active natural products.Large fragment cloning has been an important tool for the discovery of active natural products in recent years,and it has demonstrated obvious advantages in obtaining the biosynthetic gene clusters of active natural products.This approach,combined with efficient cluster-targeted screening methods,has significantly accelerated the discovery of active natural products.This review summarizes a wide variety of active natural products.Furthermore,this paper elaborates on the principles and applications of several …

Preparation And Application Of A Polyclonal Antibody To Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Rsp 10, Chan Lu, Yuanyuan Zhang, Ye Tao, Zhenchuan Fan, Yanxia Liu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to explore the cilium assembly of the radial spoke protein RSP 10 and develop a highly specific polyclonal antibody to RSP 10.[Method ] Firstly,the prokaryotic expression vector pMal-C 2X-rsp10 was constructed,and the expression of MBP-labeled RSP 10 was induced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3).After the fusion protein was purified,and the MBP label was excised.The obtained protein was used to immunize New Zealand male white rabbits,and the antibody titer in the anti-serum was determined by indirect ELISA.[Result ] The rabbit anti- Chlamydomonas reinhardtii RSP 10 antibody with high specificity and high sensitivity was obtained after purification …

Fabrication And Antioxidant Property Characterization Of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester-Loaded Nanoparticles, Yaqiong Chen, Yumeng Li, Hui Wu, Hongdong Song, Xiao Guan

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to improve the dispersion and utilization of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE ) in aqueous solutions.[Method ] CAPE-loaded hordein (CAPE-HD ) nanoparticles were constructed via an anti-solvent precipitation method.The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized,and the antioxidant properties of the nanoparticles within Caco- 2 cells were investigated.[Result ] The components within the CAPE-HD nanoparticles interacted through non-covalent bonds,such as hydrogen bonding,resulting in an altered state of CAPE upon nanoparticle formation.The CAPE-HD nanoparticles exhibited near-spherical morphology with an average particle size of 193.93 nm,an average polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.26,and average Zeta potential of 14.50 …

Bacterial Diversity In Milk And Traditionally Fermented Dairy Products In Balin Right Banner, Lijuan Liu, Gaowa Bai, Jinghe Yu, Fang Wang, Youyi Zhang, Li Zhu, Dalai Wuyun

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study explored the bacterial diversity in milk and traditional fermented dairy products in Balin Right Banner,aiming to lay a foundation for the development and utilization of bacterial resources in the milk and traditional fermented dairy products in this region.[Method ] A total of 32 samples of cow milk,milk tofu,and sour fermentation supernatant of milk tofu were collected from Balin Right Banner,and their bacterial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing.[Result ] The diversity and abundance of bacterial communities varied among the milk and traditional fermented dairy products in Balin Right Banner.The dominant bacterial phyla were Firmicutes …

Antimicrobial Resistance And Transmission Risk Of Foodborne Escherichia Coli In Wet Markets, Sisi Li, Wei Zhou, Zhijin Zhou, Bin Wang, Chengjun Qiu, Zhangsheng Zhang, Qi Zhang, Yun Sun, Xu Xu, Tao Shen, Jianzhong Han, Daofeng Qu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance and transmission risk of foodborne Escherichia coli in wet markets,this study isolated E.coli from pork,aquatic products,vegetables,and wastewater collected from three wet markets in Hangzhou,Zhejiang.[Method ] The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing,and their antimicrobial resistance phenotypes were determined via the disk diffusion method.PCR was employed to detect antimicrobial resistance genes and integrons in the isolates.The antimicrobial resistance characteristics of E.coli were analyzed,and conjugation experiments were performed to assess the potential for horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes.Co-occurrence network analysis was conducted to evaluate the transmission risk of antimicrobial resistance among the isolates.[Result …

A Zif- 8 Electrode Immobilizing Enzyme For Detection Of Glucose Solution In Food, Tingmei Ma, Shouxin Tang, Wenpan Shi, Yuchen Ma, Haijun Du

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] The aim was to construct an electrochemical sensor based on a metal-organic framework-modified electrode for the highly sensitive detection of glucose solution in beverages.[Method ] An electrochemical sensor based on ZIF- 8 composite carbon nanotubes and immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOx ) was prepared by in-situ synthesis and immobilized enzyme technology.The microstructure and morphology of the material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD ),scanning electron microscopy (SEM ),UV-Vis spectroscopy,and infrared spectrometry (IR).The electrochemical performance of the electrode immobilizing enzyme was tested by electrochemical workstation.[Result ] The prepared electrode immobilizing enzyme showed excellent detection performance for glucose solution,with a limit …

Establishment Of A Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Nh 2-Mwcnts@ 4-Fpba For The Detection Of Epidermal Growth Factor In Dairy Products, Ruyue Zhang, Yiwei Wang, Hongxiu Zeng, Bini Wang, Fuxin Zhang, Zhenquan Huo, Yufang Liu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to develop a rapid and accurate method for detecting epidermal growth factor (EGF ).[Method ] 4-Formylphenylboronic acid (4-FPBA ) was covalently anchored to the surface of aminocarbon nanotubes (NH 2-MWCNTs ) to synthesize nanocomposites (NH 2-MWCNTs@ 4-FPBA ),and NH 2-MWCNTs@ 4-FPBA was modified on a glassy carbon electrode.When EGF was present,4-FPBA captured the EGF template through benzaldehyde,and then the electrode was immersed in pyrrole solution to electropolymerize to form a pyrrole molecularly imprinted layer.Finally,after dissociation and removal of the EGF template in an acidic solution,a three-dimensional cavity complementary to the EGF template was formed.[Result ] …