Digital Commons Network^™

Listening Ahead Ever So Slightly, Chris Chafe, Mike Dickey

Journal of Network Music and Arts

This paper presents a novel packet loss concealment system called “Regulator,” designed for interactive network audio applications, particularly server-mediated “jam rooms” in the cloud, where large ensembles of musicians perform together synchronously. The system addresses the critical challenge of maintaining continuous high-quality audio output while minimizing latency penalties in unreliable network environments including Wi-Fi. The Regulator architecture combines four core components: a central Regulator class orchestrating packet loss concealment operations; a BurgAlgorithm class implementing maximum entropy autoregressive prediction to reconstruct missing audio samples; a Channel class providing per-channel independent modeling for multi-channel streams; and a RegulatorWorker class offering asynchronous processing …

Pulse Before Sound: Reimagining Presence And Liveness In Telematic Music Performance Through Midi-Native Collaboration, Matt C. Bray

Journal of Network Music and Arts

Telematic Music Performance heralds a new paradigm for human creativity, seeking to extend the practical limits imposed by physical co-presence and to permit the cooperative, simultaneous creation of music among geographically remote collaborators. This paper examines how MIDI-native interaction provides a structurally robust alternative to audio-centric telematic systems constrained by latency, bandwidth, and waveform fidelity. Drawing on practice-led research, including over 34 hours of documented improvisation across 91 networked sessions in the SHOALZ series—a longitudinal Telemidi performance research initiative (2022–2024)—the study examines how the Telemidi system employs MIDI as a primary substrate for remote musical collaboration by establishing a synchronized …

Editorial, Sarah Rose Weaver

Journal of Network Music and Arts

No abstract provided.

Some Notes On A Tolkien’S Manuscript Linked To ‘Leaf By Niggle’, Claudio Antonio Testi

Journal of Tolkien Research

In these brief notes, I provide further information regarding a manuscript relating to 'Leaf by Niggle' that may lead to a more precise dating of the earliest version of this story.

Euscorpius Emae Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), A New Scorpion Species From Montenegro, František Kovařík

Euscorpius

A new species Euscorpius emae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Montenegro is described, fully complemented with color photographs. E. emae sp. n. is morphologically unique by yellow to orange color, very narrow metasoma and enlarged chela. Pedipalp patella external trichobothria numbers are 4eb, 4eb_a, 2esb, 4em, 4est, 5et, and ventral aspect of patella with 9 trichobothria.

High Burden Of Elevated Fib-4 In Metabolically At-Risk Primary Care Patients: Simple Predictors To Guide Hepatic Fibrosis Triage, Ridwan Ademola Lawal, Fatimah Bello, Rashmee Patil, Juliana Yang

Research Symposium

Background: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Current guidelines recommend fibrosis-based risk stratification using noninvasive tools such as the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index in patients with metabolic risk factors, followed by secondary assessment (e.g., transient elastography or enhanced liver fibrosis(ELF) testing) for those with elevated scores. However, data on the real-world prevalence of elevated FIB-4 in U.S. primary care populations, particularly in safety-net settings, and the downstream implications for fibrosis evaluation remain limited. We aimed to quantify the burden of elevated FIB-4 in a primary care setting …

Mississippi Libraries Volume 88, Number 1 And 2

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Katie Gill, Audrey Beach

Mississippi Libraries

Reviews of:

Alsup, William. The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald. Athens, GA: New South Books, 2022.

Loewen, James W., Byron D’Andra Orey, and Charles Sallis, eds. Mississippi, Conflict and Change. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 2025.

A Brush With History: Shared Authority, Distributed Archives, And Artist M.B. Mayfield, Jeannie S. Latartara

Mississippi Libraries

In 2020, a school librarian volunteered to lead preservation of the papers of visionary artist M.B. Mayfield that were discovered during the restoration of the artist’s Mississippi home. In March of 2020, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic threatened the success of the community-led project, due to the project’s physical isolation, limited resources, and inability to garner support for the paper’s preservation. In early 2021, the librarian and community partners formed a shared authority and distributed archives partnership with public history faculty at the University of Mississippi that would help preserve and increase awareness of the importance of the papers. …

News Briefs, Tiffany Cline, Patsy C. Brewer

Mississippi Libraries

News and updates from members of the Mississippi Library Association.

Mississippi Library Association Annual Conference: 2025 Recap, Janessa Ullendorf

Mississippi Libraries

Recap from the 2025 annual conference of the Mississippi Library Association.

The Generative Turn: What Ai Doesn't Do And A Framework For Responsible Use, Deborah Lee

Mississippi Libraries

This column examines the limitations of generative AI as a foundation for responsible and informed use.  While much attention has been given to what AI can do, effective and responsible use depends on understanding what it does not do well.  For librarians as professionals grounded in information literacy, these limitations underscore the importance of critical evaluation and contextual understanding.  By recognizing both the capabilities and constraints of AI, librarians can better guide their communities in using these tools thoughtfully and effectively.

Slis Notes: Psst...Do You Have This Dirty Book?, Stacy Creel, Crystal Walker

Mississippi Libraries

Romance fiction is one of the most commercially successful and culturally significant genres in contemporary publishing, and this is not a one-year instance; it is a multi-year trend (Adams, 2026). In 2025, sales were up in the United States, and the growth was across platforms and formats—digital audio, e-books, and print. Two subgenres have sparked greater interest—romantasy and dark romance. Romantasy, the combination of romance and fantasy, has drawn new readers with the explosion of Sarah J. Maas, and dark romance, which gained some notoriety with Fifty Shades of Grey (2011) has seen strong growth and acceptance. In fact, the …

President's Page, Dawn Zimmerer

Mississippi Libraries

Update from the president of the Mississippi Library Association.

Front Matter

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Volume 21, Issue 2 - Summer 2026

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

A publication for friends and colleagues of Jefferson’s Department of Surgery

In This Issue

Cover Story

Jefferson Transplant Institute Enters New Chapter of Innovation, Growth and National Impact - Page 1

Overview Science: Targeting the ‘Undruggable’ in Pancreatic and Other Cancers - Page 2

Clinical Integration Jefferson Trauma Surgeon and Resident Reflect on Honduras Medical Mission Trip - Page 2

In the Spotlight Joseph Boback, MBA - Page 2

Changing Lives Through Research Pilot Grant Lays Groundwork for New Standard in Ventral Hernia Recovery - Page 3

Please Welcome New Faculty - Page 3

Those Who Give Hollingsworth Family’s Gratitude …

Indian Independence, Unknown

Usher Burdick Papers

This editorial, titled “Indian Independence,” reflects on the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Native Americans due to colonization and federal policy and discusses the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ policy that allows tribes to govern themselves and gain independence from federal supervision, though it notes that full independence remains a distant goal. It addresses concerns about overprotection, undereducation, and the lack of viable opportunities for tribes to thrive economically, particularly in agriculture and ranching.

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Geno Merli, MD, was honored with UNICO National’s Marconi Science Award at the 2026 Mid-Year Meeting in Atlantic City, NJ. Established in 1995, the award recognizes a living scientist who exemplifies Guglielmo Marconi's vast scientific and creative accomplishments.

On March 25, Talar Tatarian, MD, received a 2026 Barbara Berci Memorial Award for leadership growth and career development from the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons at the annual meeting in Tampa.

On April 30, Stanton B. Miller, MD, MPH, Executive Director of the Jefferson Center for Injury Research & Prevention (JCIRP), accepted a CeaseFirePA Keystone Courage Award on …

Hollingsworth Family’S Gratitude Endows A Lasting Legacy

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Jefferson has been part of Kim and Steve Hollingsworth’s lives for decades. Kim’s healthcare consulting firm began partnering with Jefferson in the early 2000s to implement a new hospital-information system. Across three generations, family members have turned to Jefferson for medical care. Their philanthropic relationship with Jefferson spans years, as well. Through the Hollingsworth Family Foundation, they have supported the COVID-19 Better Together Fund, pancreatic cancer research and the naming of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Family Gathering Area in the Honickman Center.

Their most recent gift – endowing the Hollingsworth Family Professorship in Surgery, which honors …

New Faculty

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

David G. McKeown, MD, MCh, MRCS, FACS, FASCRS, has joined the Division of Colorectal Surgery. Dr. McKeown earned his medical degree and a Master in Surgery (MCh) from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In 2019, he graduated from our General Surgery Residency Program and then completed a colorectal surgery fellowship at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is double board-certified in Colon and Rectal Surgery and Surgery. In 2024, Dr. McKeown returned to Jefferson Abington Hospital as an attending surgeon and recently transitioned to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he is also serving as director of the …

Pilot Grant Lays Groundwork For New Standard In Ventral Hernia Recovery

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Over the past several years, the Department of Surgery Pilot Grant Program has supported a wide range of disease-oriented research among faculty and trainees. These projects explore ways to improve the quality and safety of surgical care. What follows is an update on one study funded in 2025 that has demonstrated meaningful progress and long-term potential to transform patient outcomes.

Study: Creation of an Evidence-Based Model for Physiotherapy-Enhanced Ventral Hernia Repair (IMPACT Study)

Patients who undergo orthopedic procedures, such as knee replacements, hip replacements or spine surgery, follow well-established rehabilitation protocols. The week-by-week progression is standardized, taught in physical therapy …

In The Spotlight

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Joseph Boback, MBA, joined Jefferson in 2022 as a clinic operations assistant in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. Although he initially viewed it as a “gap year” position before pursuing physician assistant (PA) studies, his manager had other ideas.

Recognizing his instincts with people and his potential as a leader, she encouraged him to apply for an open practice-manager position. He agreed, telling himself he’d give it a year or two. Within his first year, Boback had a change of heart.

“I think this is my calling,” he recalls realizing. He pivoted from PA school to Jefferson's MBA program, …

Jefferson Trauma Surgeon And Resident Reflect On Honduras Medical Mission Trip

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

For one week each February, Jefferson trauma surgeon Kris R. Kaulback, MD, trades the operating rooms of suburban Philadelphia for a surgical center in rural Honduras. While there, he performs procedures on patients who have often waited years, sometimes decades, for surgical care they couldn’t otherwise afford or access.

The annual medical mission trip, now in its fourth year, is led by Dr. Kaulback and Nina Kalawadia, MD, Chief of Anesthesiology at Paoli Hospital, and run through One World Surgery. This nonprofit operates a permanent surgical center on the grounds of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a long-established orphanage on more than …

Science: Targeting The ‘Undruggable’ In Pancreatic And Other Cancers, Charles J. Yeo, Md, Facs

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Scientific discoveries and advances often come in an unpredictable cadence. Over the course of my 40 years as a surgeon treating patients with pancreatic and related cancers, we have seen overall five-year patient survival rates improve more than six-fold from under 2% to over 13%. This improvement has its genesis in many areas – improved patient selection and surgical results, better imaging, advances in nursing and critical care and new oncologic treatment options. One area that has eluded progress for decades has been targeting the RAS oncogene mutations common in nearly all pancreatic cancers.

Therapeutic targeting of RAS with a …

Knowledge And Application Of Solar Energy As Alternative Power Source To Ict Facilities: A Case Study Of Minhaj University Lahore, Dr.Shahid Mehmood Dr., , Muhammad Faisal Mr., Ahmad Nawaz, Dr Allah Ditta Nawaz, Dr. Muhammad Aamir Hameed

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper is an exploration of the knowledge and utilization of solar energy to support ICT infrastructure at Minhaj University Lahore. In Pakistan, library operations and digital services can be disrupted due to power outages. In the survey, 87 scholars, students and library workers were surveyed about their awareness, experience and attitudes towards solar energy. The level of knowledge on solar energy was high as 100% of the respondents indicated that they are well informed about solar energy, 93.1 percent indicating that they can use it in the ICT sector. Nonetheless, large start-up costs, lack of equipment, and institutional barriers …

Jefferson Transplant Institute Enters New Chapter Of Innovation, Growth And National Impact

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

When James V. Guarrera, MD, joined Jefferson last summer as the Nicoletti Family Professor of Transplantation Surgery and executive director of the Jefferson Transplant Institute, he arrived with a clear conviction about what makes a transplant program succeed.

“Transplantation is the epitome of a team sport,” Dr. Guarrera says. “My charge is to take all of the talent and dedication already present at Jefferson and continue building on it clinically and academically, including making this a destination for innovation and training the next generation of transplant surgeons.”

Since his appointment, this philosophy has been translated into measurable momentum across the …

Toward The Significance Of Crevasse Orientation In Low And High Crevassed Regions On The Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, Usa, Claire A. Sturm

DePaul Discoveries

Supraglacial landforms serve as potential indicators of underlying bedrock morphology and glacier dynamics. The distribution and morphology of crevasses are closely associated with stress fields and ice-flow regimes, representing processes of stable glaciers, in contrast to their reduced occurrence in stagnant or receding ice masses. The orientation and density of crevasses influence a glacier’s ability to absorb solar energy, as they facilitate movement of meltwater down to subglacial rivers. Beyond the meltwater acting as a lubricant for basal sliding, the slope of the bedrock further impacts the local velocity and ice deformation of a glacier. The study of ice-fracturing mechanics …

Solvent-Free Ball-Milling Synthesis Of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles, Zachary A. Jaffery, Katherine E. Christopher, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

The search for sustainability in chemistry has led to the development of the field of Green Chemistry, comprised by 12 guiding principles. Existing syntheses of benzimidazoles, a heterocycle widely used in medicinal chemistry, utilize methods with much room for improved sustainability. This work presents a solventless mechanochemical synthesis of 1,2-disubsituted substituted benzimidazoles from the condensation of phenylenediamines and aryl aldehydes. The effect of milling aid on yield and selectivity was investigated and montmorillonite K10 was determined to be the best milling aid. The purification protocol was optimized as well, with a heptane:EtOAc extraction and subsequent recrystallization from EtOH found to …

Peer Attachment And Popularity Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role Of Relational Aggression, Katherine S. Fosco, Bailee Hill, Yan Li, Michelle F. Wright

DePaul Discoveries

Popularity during adolescence may pose a challenging social barrier, involving the desire for exclusivity and the need for broader peer connections. This study investigated the longitudinal effects of peer attachment on popularity among adolescents and the mediation process of relational aggression, expecting that peer attachment would be linked to reduced relational aggression, in turn relating to lower popularity at a later time point. The research participants (N = 569) included adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 in the United States with data collection occurring at three time points. The path from Time 1 peer attachment to Time 2 …

Measuring And Mapping Spatial Distributions Of Soil Lead Concentrations Along Chicago Parkways: West Ridge And Near South Side, Alyssa M. Kain

DePaul Discoveries

Lead is a heavy metal that can be found in every part of our planet. Human activities like the extraction of fossil fuels and degradation of construction materials can release lead into the environment, where it travels and accumulates in places like our soil or water. Despite efforts to lower the use of lead-based materials within the last fifty years, lead contamination remains as a threat to public health and safety. Elevated blood lead levels are known to cause a variety of health issues particularly for young children and pregnant women. This study aims to measure, map, and analyze the …