Digital Commons Network^™

Geomorphological Indicators Of Tectonic Activity Of Selected Basins In The Dokan Area, Northeastern Iraq, Mohammed Hisham Abdul Rahman Mohi Al-Shammari

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Through the study and application of tectonic geomorphological indicators, it was found that the basins in the region have a high tectonic index, as the region suffers from continuous seismic activity and recurrence of earthquakes. Tectonic activity indicates the severity of the ruggedness of the basins and the slope in the region and the recurrence of landslide risks and the activity of the effectiveness of geomorphological processes. By using the equations of tectonic geomorphological indicators for the basins, which indicate or indicate the presence of tectonic activity, the river network was extracted through the digital elevation model (DEM) and the …

Development Of Children's Understanding Of Conflict Resolution, Noor Rafe’ Muhammed, Intisar Hashem Mahdi

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Childhood is one of the most important stages in a person's life, as the first personality traits are formed and the basic building blocks for mental, social, and emotional growth are laid. Hence, studying how children acquire concepts is a very important topic, so our research came to present one of these concepts, as the research topic aims to understand conflict resolution for Iraqi children, and aims to identify: 1. Understanding conflict resolution according to the variables: A. Age (5, 6, 7( B. Gender (males, females( 2. Identifying the significance of differences according to the variables: A. Age (5, 6, …

The Euro-Maghreb Political Approach To Illegal Migration 1990-2010, Sondos A. Taha

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This study aims to monitor the political actions undertaken by European and Maghreb countries in combating the phenomenon of illegal immigration from 1990 to 2010. This leads us to a problematic question regarding the seriousness and effectiveness of Euro-Maghreb political cooperation in addressing this phenomenon. In this study, we adopted a methodology dictated by the nature of the topic, primarily the historical method, by tracing the development of migration trends within the European Union. This approach helps us understand the nature of European migration policies by following their evolution from the Cold War era to the most recent policies implemented …

Pioneers Of Islamic Education In China Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Elias, D. 1597 Ad, Leqaa Shaker Khatar

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This research deals with the biography of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Elias, one of the most prominent pioneers of Islamic education in China during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Sheikh was born in the city of Nanjing during the late Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and grew up in a distinguished scientific environment that enabled him to combine Islamic sciences with traditional Chinese culture . The research discussed his most prominent contributions to spreading Islamic education, including establishing religious schools in mosques to teach Islamic sciences and the Arabic language, and translating Islamic texts …

Analysis Of Narrative Speech In George Salem's Story Collection (Departure), Ansam Arkan Hariz

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Short story art is an important creative narrative arts; Having a speech that reflects the author's (text sender's) download of an idea, he strives to disseminate that speech among the elements of the story text. George Salem's anecdotal collection carried a speech, reflecting his feelings and feelings. It was a sincere picture of his reality, as well as his description of his suffering, pain and psychological crisis. The writer tends to express those feelings with a personality (the unsung hero), which opens up a wide range of questions, thus leading us to a plethora of interpretations and connotations. The lesson …

An Approach To Advertising Through The Words ‘Reality’ And ‘Incident’ In The Koranic Text, Mahabad Hashim Ibrahim

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The term ‘advertising’ has expanded its field of knowledge by relying on the suggestive image that indicates semantic loading, and that is based on influence, persuasion, reporting and communication. It also expanded its emotional value that is manifested in those motivations that control the individual’s behavior to do an action as a result of the influences s/she experienced. In addition, advertisement, which is based on denotation, is not only a commercial field, but has become a field of knowledge in linguistic and literary studies. It has become a type of discourse that has its own semiotic and pragmatic features, and …

A Sociopragmatic Study Of Emojis As Non-Verbal Cues In Virtual Team Meetings, Abdulkarim Fadhil Jameel

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The sociopragmatic study examines the use of emojis as non-verbal cues in virtual team meetings, analyzing their linguistic and pragmatic functions across professional domains, meeting types, and levels of formality. The study focuses on how emojis contribute to meaning-making in remote work settings using platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. It draws on a dataset of 50 virtual meetings from technology, education, health, and finance sectors, with informed consent from participants. This diverse sample allows for an exploration of emoji use across various organizational cultures and communication practices. The study categorizes meetings into four types: routine check-ins, brainstorming sessions, …

The Echo Of Surrealism: Introspecting The Enigma In Selected Poems Of David Gascoyne, Hanan Abd Zaid, Nadia Ali Ismael

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The research seeks to provide a clear vision of the contribution of David Gascoyne (1916-2001) to British surrealism, the main surrealist elements, and the psychological scope of this movement; more precisely to expose the enigmatic allure of the unconscious. It presents Gascoyne's surrealist phase as a creative breakthrough in poetry. The selected poems from his volume Man's Life Is This Meat (1936) will be discussed in this research through the lens of Freud's theories of dreams and the unconscious. This approach helps to unravel the mysterious nature of the poems, which parallels the enigmatic qualities of the dreams. Surrealism, as …

Study Of The Rural Environment In The Novel »A Small Death« By Mohammed Hasan Alwan, Ahmad Abed Mirza, Yahya Ma'ruf

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The novel "Mawt Saghir" by Mohammad Hassan Alwan is considered one of the most significant contemporary literary works addressing existential themes and spirituality. It explores the symbolism of death, immortality, and religious rituals in rural life through the character of Ibn Arabi. The novel illustrates how characters are influenced by the contrast between the calm rural environment and the chaotic urban one. Despite the tranquility of rural life, Ibn Arabi experiences a sense of confinement, struggling with adaptation to change and feelings of separation and longing. However, the breathtaking nature and rural landscapes offer him an opportunity for self-reflection and …

Study Of Characters In “Cheapest Nights” By Yusuf Idris, Elaf Muhammad Abbas, Yahya Ma'ruf, Ali Akbar Mohseni

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Yusuf Idris, born in 1927, published over 35 works spanning short stories, novels, and plays. His writings vividly depict poverty and deprivation experienced by marginalized classes. "Cheapest Nights" is among his most remarkable works, delving deeply into societal issues, analyzing social relationships, and addressing environmental challenges. Idris wrote about diverse figures: students, workers, farmers, professionals, intellectuals, men, and women. In this story, he follows a hardworking peasant whose sole pleasure lies in increasing his offspring. The collection carries profound social significance, expressed in simple and accessible language.This study focuses on evaluating the characters. First, we examine their coherence within the …

Continuum Of Academic Collaboration: Issues Of Inconsistent Terminology In Multilingual Context, Cristo Leon Ph.D., James Lipuma Ph.D., Marcos O. Cabobianco, Maria B. Daizo

STEM for Success Resources

Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
1690-4524 (Online)

Hydrogen Storage In Multilayer Ti3c2tx Mxene, Yi Zhi Chu, Kah Chun Lau

Michigan Tech Publications

In this work, we systematically investigated the hydrogen storage properties of multilayer Ti3C2Tx MXene using density functional theory (DFT) coupled with the quantum-thermodynamic model to include the thermodynamic effect on hydrogen adsorption and storage behavior over a wide range of applied pressure and temperature. In addition to the surface-adsorbed hydrogen, we show that the interlayer spacing is a plausible storage route that could contribute to an additional hydrogen storage capacity. Due to hydrogen-bond bounded multilayer Ti3C2Tx, the insertion, diffusion, and adsorption of hydrogen molecules into the interlayer spacing of the multilayer structure require sufficient external pressure to overcome the energy …

Type I Interferon Protects Against Bone Loss In Periodontitis By Mitigating An Interleukin (Il)-17-Neutrophil Axis, Jinmei Zhang, Qiong Ding, Angela X Wang, Maoxuan Lin, Ning Yu, Kevin Moss, Megumi A Williamson, Di Miao, Julie T Marchesan, Erliang Zeng, Wei Shi, Hongli Sun, Yu Leo Lei, Shaoping Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Type I interferons (IFNs-I), a group of pleiotropic cytokines, critically modulate host response in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of the IFN-I pathway in periodontitis remains largely unknown. In this report, we describe that the IFN-β levels in the gingival crevicular fluid of human subjects were negatively associated with periodontitis and clinical gingival inflammation. Disruption of IFN-I signaling worsened alveolar bone resorption in a ligature-induced periodontitis murine model. Deficiency of the IFN-I pathway resulted in an exaggerated inflammatory response in myeloid cells and drastically increased the interleukin-17 (IL-17)-mediated neutrophil recruitment in the gingiva. We further identified that the myeloid …

The Different Roles Of Women In The Islamic State Of Iraq And Syria: An Explanation., Menan Baher Hassanein

Theses and Dissertations

Why do women not run away from a violent anti-feminist group like ISIS even though gender norms dictate that women shall be peaceful, stereotypes highlight that they are peace-loving, and rationality directs that they should not leave their patriarchal societies only to join another mini patriarchal one? This thesis aimed to answer this question and focused on non-Western ISIS female members. Notably, this study was merely interested in a gender-based explanation in the sense that it wanted to see how gender dynamics, norms and gender-related grievances push Daesh women into the group’s ranks. This study hypothesized that women join ISIS …

Deep Neural Networks For Particle Identification In Simulated Proton-Proton Collisions At Lhc And Rhic, Omar Mazhar Khalaf

Theses and Dissertations

Particle identification is an essential part of experimental high-energy physics, which allows the study of the most fundamental constituents of matter. This thesis explores the use of deep neural networks for identifying particles in simulated proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The deep neural networks were trained on LHC datasets which have various momentum ranges including regions of high transverse momentum above 3 GeV/c. The key findings of thesis include achieving an accuracy of 99.99%, 98.3%, and 90.14% for 3-5 pt, 5-7 pt and above 7 pt regions respectively for the …

An Llm Approach For Automating The Analysis Of Bim (Ifc) Data, Miral Selim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a novel methodology for automating the analysis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) data using LangGraph, an advanced extension of the LangChain framework, and integrating Google’s Gemini Large Language Model (LLM) with IfcOpenShell. BIM, and specifically Industry Foundation Class (IFC) files, are widely used in the construction industry for representing and managing building data. However, analyzing this data effectively remains a significant challenge due to its volume and complexity. Additionally, analyzing BIM data typically requires knowledge of different BIM software depending on the application. This research addresses this challenge by creating a workflow that utilizes LangGraph’s ability to …

Removal Of Fluoroquinolones From Water Systems Employing Rice Husk Composited Sponges Via Nanoadsorption, Dalia Kanaa

Theses and Dissertations

A novel nanocomposite of polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde (PVF) sponge loaded with green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) and referred to as (NP-PVF) was fabricated as a potential adsorbent of ciprofloxacin from water. A simple mechanical foaming process was used to synthesize the adsorbent. Rice husk extract was used to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) for its phytochemicals as reducing agents. A facile and low-energy-dependent extraction method was used that did not require the use of high-temperature annealing. The synthesized nanoparticles showed a maximum UV absorption at 347 nm, which corresponds to a 3.58 eV band gap energy. FTIR confirmed the successful …

The Dubr/Mir-210-5p/Retsat Axis In Cholesterol-Associated Steatohepatitis: Clinical Signatures And Molecular Mechanisms, Hana Mahmoud Abdelzaher

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) represents an increasing global health challenge, with cholesterol-associated steatohepatitis (CASH) emerging as a distinct pathological entity warranting investigation. While CASH demonstrates unique features compared to traditional triglyceride-driven steatohepatitis, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates a novel regulatory axis involving DPPA2 Upstream Binding RNA (DUBR), miR-210-5p, and retinol saturase (RETSAT). 170 patient samples revealed progressive axis dysregulation in disease states, with RETSAT emerging as a highly accurate diagnostic marker (AUC=1.000). Using novel in vitro models of MASH and CASH, we demonstrated that miR-210-5p modulation significantly affects lipid accumulation and cellular phenotype, with …

The Impact Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus On The Severity Of Alzheimer's Disease In Hispanic Populations In The Rio Grande Valley: A Pilot Retrospective Chart Review, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Daniel Salinas, Kelsey Baker

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming more prevalent worldwide, leading to a growing demand to understand the impact of risk factors on disease progression. Notably, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as a significant risk factor for the development of AD, given the pathophysiological role of insulin resistance in cognitive impairment. In particular, the impact of type 2 DM on AD development and severity may be heightened in Hispanic populations due to the high prevalence of both conditions in this community. Here, we sought to understand the role of type 2 DM in AD severity in a Hispanic population …

Linking The Spatial, Temporal, And Compositional Variability Of Microplastics In The Nearshore Region Of Lake Ontario, Sophie Routenberg

Theses

Microplastic (MP) pollution is one of the most significant environmental issues of the modern era, driven by the persistence of plastic and its rapid accumulation in aquatic environments. MPs (5 mm -1 µm) are now pervasive across global ecosystems, including the Laurentian Great Lakes, which receives an estimated 11,000 tons of plastic debris annually. Despite their prevalence, critical gaps remain in understanding MP input sources, polymer composition, morphological diversity, and spatial and temporal distribution. This study addresses those gaps by quantifying and characterizing the spatial, temporal, and compositional variability of MPs in the nearshore region of Lake Ontario’s Rochester Embayment …

Expansively Framing Mathematics And Computer Science Teaching With Digital Technology In Elementary Classrooms, Kimberly E. Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Patrick Ocran, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

Expansive Framing (EF) is a theory and an instructional technique to facilitate connections between content and contexts. We employed EF as an approach to create a series of integrated mathematics and computer science (CS) lessons, using digital technology as a tool to leverage shared mathematical and computational ideas. We used deductive theoretical qualitative analysis of transcripts of classroom implementations to investigate how two fifth-grade teachers and one computer lab paraprofessional educator used EF during their teaching and what the EF approach looked like in practice. Findings suggested that educators engaged in EF principles when they were present in curricular materials, …

Assessing The Impact Of Spraying An E. Faecium Probiotic At Hatch And Supplementing Feed With A Triple-Strain Bacillus-Based Additive On Bco Lameness Incidence In Broiler Chickens, Khawla Alharbi, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Abdulaziz Alqahtani, Ruvindu Perera, Alexa Thomas, Antoine Meuter, Adnan Ali Khalaf

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a major cause of lameness in broiler chickens. This condition arises when bacteria from the gastrointestinal or aerosol tract migrate to infect bone microfractures, often exacerbated by rapid growth, reduced blood flow, and mechanical stress. As concerns about antibiotic resistance grow, probiotics have gained attention for their potential to improve gut health and reduce systemic bacterial load. This study evaluated the efficacy of a probiotic program comprising an Enterococcus faecium-based spray (2 x 10(9) CFU/bird at hatch) and a triple-strain Bacillus-based feed additive (B. subtilis 597, B. subtilis 600, and B. amyloliquefaciens 516 at …

Characteristics, Behaviour And Fluxes Of Microplastics In The Coastal Boundary Zones Of The Persian Gulf And Oman Sea, Sajjad Abbasi, Andrew Turner

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Relatively little is known about microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere of the coastal zone, including their interaction with the sea surface. In this study, MPs have been determined and characterised in the lower atmosphere, advecting air, depositing dusts, coastal sediments and seawater of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea using a variety of sampling techniques (including filtration of water and pumped air and deployment of a vertical array of sediment traps). MPs were detected in all samples and were dominated by fibres that were, in most cases, small (<100 μm) and black. MP numbers captured in advecting air showed no trends with height or differences between locations or deployments over land and sea, but a clear increase was observed during strong winds. MPs in atmospheric suspension and in deposited dusts, sediments and seawater were also heterogeneously distributed. Environmental or transport pathway fractionation was evident according to morphology and particle size (% fibres and % small fibres) and to polymer density. Regarding the latter, relatively low-density polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) were more abundant in the atmosphere, advecting air and seawater, whereas higher density polymers (e.g., regenerated cellulosics, polyethylene terephthalate) were more abundant in settling dusts and sediments. Fluxes, based on particle counts and converted MP m⁻² h⁻¹, revealed advection (up to ∼ 1.2 × …

Elite Cohesion And Its Historical Sources: Analyzing Its Impact On Democratization In Nigeria And Botswana, Aliaa Magdy Aboutera

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the divergent democratization trajectories of Botswana and Nigeria, focusing on the role of colonial legacies and post-colonial elites in shaping elite cohesion. While both countries experienced British colonial rule, their transitions to democracy in the post-independence period have differed significantly. This study argues that elite cohesion, although insufficient on its own, is a critical facilitating factor in democratic consolidation that warrants greater attention in the democratization literature. This cohesion is largely shaped by the sociology of political elites, with historical contexts influencing how elites organize. Through process tracing, the thesis argues that colonialism in Botswana did not …

Development Of Preventive Dental Guidelines In The Primary Healthcare Setting In Egypt: A Delphi Method, Basant Mehriz

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the critical need for standardized preventive dental care guidelines within Egypt's primary healthcare system amid the rising burden of oral diseases. Through a systematic two-phase methodology combining a comprehensive literature review and a Delphi consensus-building process engaging 35 dental professionals, the research established priorities for contextually appropriate preventive measures. The consensus framework revealed strong support for clinical interventions (mean of 83% agreement), particularly fluoride-based prevention; community initiatives (mean of 83%), especially school-based programs; policy measures (mean of 77%) such as workforce and educational development, though with variable support for taxation and social determinants approaches. Statistical analysis demonstrated …

Negotiating The Canon: Arab Women Romantic Poets Jamila Al-ʿAlayli And Zahra Al-Hurr, Osama Amer

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the engagement of two Arab romantic women poets, Jamila al-ʿAlayli and Zahra al-Hurr, with the Arabic literary canon, focusing on how they negotiated their positions within the canon. Despite being active contributors to the Arabic romantic movement, their works remain overlooked in literary histories and anthologies. The study explores the modes of canonization, such as gender essentialism, exceptionalism, and socio-political engagement, by which the canon operates. Through a feminist lens, this research analyzes selected poems, autobiographical texts, articles, interviews, and critical writings by both poets, highlighting their distinct strategies for challenging and reshaping their literary status. Al-ʿAlayli …

Image-Based Models For Left Heart Flow Morphodynamics In Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Abdelrahman A. Sultan

Theses and Dissertations

Relieving flow obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is highly effective in reducing symptoms and promoting left ventricular remodeling. However, existing characteristics in the disease, such as the systolic anterior motion of the mitral, mitral regurgitation, and papillary muscle motion, and their effect on ventricular flow and vortex formation, have not been thoroughly addressed. This study aims to develop image-based computational fluid dynamics models to evaluate flow morphodynamics in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. A computational fluid dynamics model is constructed to investigate the interaction between inflow and outflow in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, with a focus on how the motion of the left …

Game, Set, Empower: A Comparative Instagram Analysis Of Branding And Engagement In The Confederation Of African Football (Caf) Women’S And Men’S Champions League, Nour Abdelkader Ms

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of women’s football has placed new emphasis on digital branding, with social media becoming a vital space for visibility, engagement, and representation. This thesis investigates how Instagram content strategies influence fan engagement during the CAF Women’s and Men’s Champions League tournaments. Specifically, it examines the role of content type (match, behind-the-scenes, off-the-pitch, promotional), marketing orientation (organic, sponsored, collaborative), and post format (reel, carousel, photo, graphic) in shaping audience interaction.

Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, the study analyzed 674 Instagram posts (276 CAFWCL, 398 CAFCL) and conducted semi-structured interviews with five digital sports professionals, including CAF digital …

Multi-Parameter Optimization Of Brine Desalination Using Machine Learning, Elaf Mman Seif

Theses and Dissertations

Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD) is a promising desalination technology with significant potential for addressing global water scarcity. However, the interplay of operational parameters significantly impacts its performance, making optimization a challenging task. This research focuses on brine desalination as a means to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of brine disposal which will eventually help in provide a sustainable solution for handling brine while producing freshwater. The study seeks to develop a predictive model and optimize the AGMD process for efficient brine desalination. To achieve this, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were utilized to develop predictive …

Transgenerational Obesity Modulation Of Gut Mucosal Immunity, Chen-Ting Hung, Justin Kern, Tihana Trsan, Santosh K Panda, Marie Laury, Umang Jain, Marco Colonna, Thaddeus S Stappenbeck, Ta-Chiang Liu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has continued to increase over the past several decades. A growing concern is that transgenerational effects of obesity negatively impact physiologic functions. We showed that consumption of a high fat, high sugar "Western" diet (WD) decreased the density of both gut innate (Paneth cells) and adaptive immune cells (intraepithelial lymphocytes; IEL). We asked whether consumption of WD impacts gut mucosal immunity in the offspring. WD-mediated Paneth cell loss was reversible, whereas IEL loss was not. However, the overall composition of the fecal microbiome and response to infection were defined by the diet …