Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Safety And Efficacy Of Autologous Platelet-Rich Fibrin In The Treatment Of Psoriasis Vulgaris, Hajar Esamelddin, Maha Elgyyar, Mohamed Sultan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated dermatosis characterized by dysregulated cutaneous immunity. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous biomaterial concentrated with immunomodulatory cytokines and growth factors, presents a potential novel therapeutic approach by modulating localized inflammatory pathways. Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical and intralesionally autologous PRF protocol in patients with localized plaque psoriasis. Methods: In a prospective single-arm trial, sixty adults with mild-to-moderate localized plaque psoriasis (BSA ≤10%, PASI ≤10) were enrolled. PRF was prepared from peripheral blood via low-speed centrifugation without anti-coagulant. Treatment involved bi-weekly intralesionally injections and topical massage of the …

Comparison Of Baumgaertner Reduction Quality Criteria , Chang Criteria And Ap3×Ml3 Classification And Their Ability To Predict Mechanical Complications Of Trochanteric Fractures Fixed With Proximal Femoral Nail, Amr Elhadidy Elhadidy, Ahmed Abdelbadie Ibrahim, Sallam Ibrahim Fawzy, Ehab Youssef Hassanin

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Trochanteric fractures are common injuries among the elderly. Despite advances in fixation with proximal femoral nails (PFN), Mechanical complication remain significant. Several reduction quality systems have been proposed, but their predictive value and reproducibility remain debated. Aim To evaluate and compare the predictive value and reproducibility of Baumgaertner Reduction Quality Criteria (BRQC), Chang Reduction Quality Criteria (CRQC), and AP3×ML3 classification in patients with AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) 31-A1 and 31-A2 trochanteric fractures fixed with PFN. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted on 146 patients with 31-A1 and A2 trochanteric fractures treated by PFN. Postoperative radiographs were assessed …

Association Of Uric Acid Index And Cardiovascular Risk In Egyptian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Reem Fathallah, Talaat Abdelaaty, Hend Ghallab, Shimaa M. Elrahmany

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background The uric acid index (UAI) has recently gained recognition as a potential indicator for cardiovascular risk, particularly among middle-aged individuals. This research investigated the association between UAI levels and cardiovascular disease risk in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods 200 individuals with T2DM were included in this cross-sectional analysis. The UAI was derived using the logarithmic formula: Ln [fasting triglycerides × fasting uric acid × fasting glucose ÷ 2]. To estimate the 10-year risk of cardiovascular events, the SCORE2-Diabetes was employed. Results The average serum uric acid level was 4.40 ± 1.48 mg/dL, and the mean UAI …

Evaluation Of Serum Zinc-To-Copper Ratio In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes And Its Association With Microvascular Complications, Magdy H. Megallaa, Shimaa M. Elrahmany, Rehab Safwat, Mohamed Zietoun

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are indispensable trace metals that contribute fundamentally to insulin biology, antioxidant defense, and vascular health. In this research, we sought to explore the association between the serum zinc-to-copper (Zn/Cu) ratio and microvascular complications among adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods For this case-control design, a total of 336 participants were selected and divided into two main groups: Group 1, comprising 224 patients with T2DM, and Group 2, consisting of 112 healthy subjects serving as controls. Group 1 was further stratified into two subgroups based on the presence of microvascular complications; Group 1A …

Urinary Transferrin As A Marker For Diagnosis And Progression Of Diabetic Nephropathy: Short-Term Follow Up, Ghada El-Said Ahmed Ibrahim, Ibrahim Mohammed Adel Ibrahim Bakr, Amany Ragab Youssef Ahmed, Rasha Mahmoud Abdel Fattah

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: One of the most serious and devastating effects of diabetes mellitus is diabetic nephropathy, which in many cases progresses to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Microalbuminuria is currently the gold standard biomarker for DN diagnosis. Microalbuminuria has a poor predictive value, though. Patients occasionally experienced progressive renal failure without microalbuminuria. A plasma protein called transferrin has a different ionic charge from albumin but is otherwise similar in weight. Aim: Our objectives were to evaluate urinary transferrin as a more accurate and earlier marker for the diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease and to investigate its relationship to the excretion of urinary …

Examining Kentucky Agriculture Teachers’ Use Of Student Credentialing In Agricultural Education Programming, Kaycee J. Palmeri, Kevin T. Wells

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Kentucky agriculture teachers’ perceptions regarding current industry credential offerings, how they operationalize the curricula, knowledge, and skills necessary to prepare for industry credential offerings, and the perceived benefits for students who earn such credentials. The current study was undergirded by human capital theory. Using random sampling across the 12 Kentucky FFA service regions, the researcher collected data from nine current Kentucky agriculture teachers via semi-structured interviews. Further, the researcher used a Qualtrics-based instrument to collect participant demographics data. The analysis of the interview data revealed eight distinct emerging themes. The researcher …

Systematic Review Of Lattice-Based Cryptography Algorithms For Securing Blockchain Networks In The Post-Quantum Era, Salim Arfaoui, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

The rise of quantum computing threatens blockchain security as traditional cryptographic schemes become vulnerable. Lattice-based cryptography has emerged as a promising quantum-resistant solution. This systematic literature review uniquely provides an in-depth, blockchain-specific analysis of lattice-based cryptographic integration challenges. Following PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 48 studies published between 2017-2025 from major academic databases. Unlike previous reviews that broadly examine post-quantum cryptography, we identify critical blockchain-specific implementation barriers, performance bottlenecks, and standardization gaps. Key challenges include computational overhead, protocol compatibility, and the need for lightweight cryptographic standards. Despite these challenges, lattice-based cryptography demonstrates significant potential for enhancing blockchain security in the quantum …

Real-Time Privacy-Preserving Threat Detection In Iot Environments Using Federated Learning And Differential Privacy, Salim Arfaoui, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Motivated by the increasing security threats in Internet of Things (IoT) environments, this research develops a novel, real-time, privacy-preserving threat detection framework integrating Federated Learning (FL) and Differential Privacy (DP). The proposed system enables collaborative threat detection across IoT devices while preserving data privacy. We tested our approach against the UNSW-NB15 dataset in a federated environment with 100 devices, achieving 90.8% accuracy (ε = 1.0) while reducing communication overhead by 97.5% compared to centralized approaches (212MB → 5.2MB/device/day). The integration of differential privacy introduces a measurable trade-off: stronger privacy guarantees (ε = 0.5) reduce accuracy by 2.9% (from 90.8% to …

Mapping The Intersection Of Blockchain And Project Management: A Bibliometric Review, Cherie Noteboom, David Zeng, Sai Neelima Seru, Sai Mounika Chintalapudi

Research & Publications

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of 93 peer-reviewed articles examining the intersection of blockchain technology and project management. Utilizing PRISMA and analytical tools such as VOSviewer, bibliometrix R, and python, it identifies publication trends, keyword co-occurrence, and three thematic clusters: blockchain infrastructure, project management, and industry application domains. Results reveal rapid growth since 2018 and conceptual tensions between centralized project methods and decentralized technologies. This analysis contributes a structured overview of how blockchain is reshaping project environments, offering insights for both researchers and practitioners seeking to align emerging technologies with project governance and execution models.

A Systematic Literature Review On Ai Chatbots In Automating Customer Support For E-Commerce, Sai Mounika Chintalapudi, Omar F. El-Gayar, Cherie Noteboom

Research & Publications

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed the e-commerce sector, particularly through the integration of AI-powered chatbots. This study conducts a systematic literature review to examine how chatbots align with the eight foundational features of e-commerce technology: ubiquity, global reach, universal standards, interactivity, information richness, information density, personalization/customization, and social technology. Guided by the PRISMA framework, the review addresses two primary research questions: (1) How do AI-driven chatbots support the unique features of e-commerce technology? and (2) What technological advancements enhance their functionality in this context? Relevant literature was retrieved from five major academic databases: ACM Digital …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Ai, Education, And Change In Radiology Practice, Cherie Noteboom, Vahini Atluri, Sai Mounika Chintalapudi

Research & Publications

Radiology is undergoing a role change as Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in clinical workflows, reshaping the roles, responsibilities, and educational needs of radiologists. As professionals known for their autonomy and expertise, radiologists face significant transitions that require effective change management and educational support. The systematic literature review is guided by the PRISMA methodology and synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed research between 2019 and 2024 to explore how AI integration influences radiology practice and training. Anchored in the GrandFusion Framework—a novel theoretical synthesis of Dewey’s Experiential Learning, Simon’s Bounded Rationality, Lewin’s Change Management, Davis’s Technology Acceptance Model, and Rogers’s Diffusion …

From Imaging To Insights: Ai’S Role In Radiology Transformation Through 2pdt And 4aim, Cherie Noteboom, Sai Mounika Chintalapudi, Vahini Atluri

Research & Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is progressively integrated into radiologists' processes, improving diagnostic precision, decision-making, and operational efficiency. This systematic literature review (SLR) is a Meta- analysis utilizing the PRISMA framework that investigates the transformative impact of AI in radiology by analyzing studies published from January 2019 to December 2024 across the academic databases of ACM Digital Library, IEEE/IET, Elsevier ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and PubMed. The research employs the People, Process, Data, and Technology (2PDT) framework to classify AI technologies and assess their effects on patient outcomes, radiologists' experiences, and healthcare system performance. The findings indicate the substantial contributions of AI, including enhanced …

The Impact Of Knowledge Management In The Banking Industry: A Systematic Literature Review, Sai Anurag Illendula, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

The banking industry is experiencing unprecedented transformation due to rising employee turnover, increasing regulatory pressures, and intense competition from fintech companies offering personalized digital services. In this knowledge-intensive and low-margin environment, effective Knowledge Management (KM) is critical for maintaining a competitive edge. Despite its importance, the relationships between KM processes, performance outcomes, and mediating variables remain underexplored. This study conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of peer-reviewed journal articles to investigate how KM influences both organizational performance (OP) and employee performance within the banking sector. The review reveals that effective KM processes enhance efficiency, foster innovation, mitigate risks, and empower …

Enhancing Climate Change Mitigation: An Ai-Based System For Real-Time Monitoring Of Environmental Changes Using Satellite Data, Yesu Vara Prasad Kollipara, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

This study presents a real-time AI system for environmental monitoring using satellite imagery. The framework integrates EfficientNet-B0 with attention for spatial classification, LSTM for temporal forecasting, and transfer learning for cross-satellite generalization. Trained on EuroSAT and validated on Landsat-8, the system achieved 77.7% classification accuracy with inference times under 0.15 seconds per image. A cloud-based dashboard enables visualization of deforestation, carbon trends, and land cover changes for policymakers. Aligned with SDG 13 and CORSIA, the approach demonstrates scalability, efficiency, and policy relevance, offering a practical AI-based tool for climate change mitigation.

Knowledge Management Processes For Improving Supply Chain Performance - A Systematic Literature Review, Sai Neelima Seru, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

This study presents a systematic review of 36 articles published between 2020 and 2025 to explore how knowledge management processes improve supply chain performance. Using the Resource-Based, Knowledge-Based, and Dynamic Capability View as theoretical lenses, the review examines KM processes - creation, storage, sharing, and application across the People-Process-Technology (PPT) dimensions. The findings show that KM enhances collaboration, agility, resilience, innovation, and sustainability by balancing human enablers, structured processes, and digital technologies. The review positions KM as a strategic capability and suggests that future research should explore KM integration with AI and blockchain to build smarter, more adaptive supply chains.

Adapting Project Management Life Cycles For Blockchain Implementation: A Thematic Pilot Study., Cherie Noteboom, Aravindh Sekar, Deb Tech

Research & Publications

Blockchain implementation challenges traditional project management practices due to its decentralized, cross-organizational nature. This exploratory study examines how project management life cycle processes must adapt to support successful blockchain adoption. Using open coding and thematic analysis of five expert interviews, key themes were identified and mapped to the five PMBOK process groups. The findings reveal that blockchain projects demand broader stakeholder engagement, iterative planning, human-centered execution, decentralized monitoring, and long-term sustainability planning. By aligning emergent themes with established project management phases, this study highlights the need for a flexible, ecosystem-focused approach to managing blockchain initiatives. The results offer practical insights …

Strategic Factors For Blockchain Implementation In Supply Chains, Aravindh Sekar, Cherie Noteboom, Deb Tech

Research & Publications

This study identifies twelve critical factors influencing the successful implementation of Blockchain Technology (BCT) in supply chain processes, addressing the significant gap in understanding the practical and theoretical complexities of blockchain implementation. Through semi-structured interviews and grounded theory analysis, the concept of Decentralized Coordination and Sustainability was derived in addition to themes such as Strategic Alignment and Leadership Commitment, Organizational Adaptability and Resilience, Data Security and Integrity, User Preparedness and Engagement. These themes provide a novel theoretical lens to explore blockchain’s role in enhancing supply chain transparency, traceability, and collaboration. The study bridges strategic frameworks with decentralized technologies, providing actionable …

Integrating Generative Ai Into Knowledge Management Systems For Context-Aware Decision Support, Thad J. Dymkowski, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

In complex organizations, traditional Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) and decision support systems (DSS) often struggle with three persistent challenges: capturing and converting tacit knowledge, like employee expertise and contextual insights, into explicit shareable formats; dynamically adapting recommendations and knowledge delivery to rapidly changing organizational contexts, user roles, and project needs; and enabling fast, relevant knowledge retrieval for timely decision-making. These challenges result in knowledge silos, loss of critical expertise, and decision delays. Integrating Generative AI (GenAI) with KMS, and context-aware DSS (CADSS) directly addresses these challenges by automating the collection, extraction, and structuring of tacit knowledge; personalizing insights based on …

Unveiling Ai Maturity Dimensions For Strategic Transformation In Supply Chain Management, Lordt Becklines, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a cornerstone technology in reshaping how supply chains operate, compete, and evolve in the digital era. As supply chains grow more interconnected and data-driven, the strategic integration of AI offers significant potential to optimize logistics, enhance forecasting accuracy, drive sustainable practices, and elevate resilience against global disruptions. However, a critical challenge persists: despite widespread enthusiasm for AI, organizations often lack a robust, standardized Capability Maturity Model (CMM) that can diagnose their readiness, benchmark progress, and guide incremental adoption within the unique and multifaceted contexts of Supply Chain Management (SCM). This TREO Talk addresses this …

Strategic Leadership In Cybersecurity Risk Management: Elevating The Role Of Executive Managers, Lordt Becklines, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

As the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats continue to escalate, cybersecurity has evolved from a technical concern to a central pillar of strategic enterprise governance. This TREO Talk presents the findings of a rigorous systematic literature review (SLR) encompassing 69 scholarly publications selected using the PRISMA 2020 framework. The study investigates how executive managers (EMs) influence the success of cybersecurity risk management (CRM) programs and frames their participation as both a requirement and a competitive advantage. Despite global investment in security infrastructure, many organizations remain vulnerable to breaches, largely due to the absence of sustained executive leadership in CRM. …

Ai-Powered Operations: Navigating Ethics, Automation, And Strategic Innovation In The Digital Era, Lordt Becklines, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining Operations Management (OM) by transforming how organizations plan, execute, and optimize their core processes. This TREO Talk presents a comprehensive synthesis of AI’s evolution and impact in OM, underscoring its role as a strategic enabler of agility, resilience, and innovation in digitally driven enterprises. Leveraging a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by PRISMA methodology across nine scholarly databases, this research constructs a validated framework that captures the multidimensional role of AI in transforming operational strategies, capabilities, and outcomes across industries. AI's influence spans predictive analytics, robotic process automation, supply chain orchestration, logistics, and real-time quality …

Evaluating Topic Models With Openai Embeddings: A Comparative Analysis On Variable-Length Texts Using Two Datasets, Abdullah Wahbeh, Mohammad Al-Ramahi, Omar F. El-Gayar, Ahmed Elnoshokaty, Tareq Nasralah

Research & Publications

Topic modeling is a crucial unsupervised machine learning technique for identifying themes within unstructured text. This study compares traditional topic modeling methods, like Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), against advanced embedding-based models, specifically BERTopic-OpenAI. The analysis utilizes two distinct datasets: user reviews from the mental health app Replika and the 20newsgroup dataset. For the Replika dataset, both methods identified common themes, but BERTopic-OpenAI uncovered additional nuanced topics, demonstrating its enhanced semantic capabilities. Quantitative evaluation of the 20newsgroup dataset further highlighted BERTopic-OpenAI's advantage through achieving higher topic coherence and diversity than the best-performing LDA model. These results suggest that embedding-based models provide …

Human Cognitive Bias Mitigation Approaches To Fairness Within The Machine Learning Value Chain: A Review And Research Agenda, Stephen Surles, Cherie Noteboom, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

This systematic review examines the influence of human cognitive biases on machine learning (ML) systems across the 9 phases of the ML algorithmic value chain. Following the PRISMA guidelines, it synthesizes 19 studies on bias integration and management within ML, highlighting techniques to reduce bias and increase fairness. The review identifies key gaps: the unclear translation of human cognitive biases to ML biases, absence of metrics to measure biases, re-introduction of biases during debiasing, and the critical need for human intervention. These findings prompt several research themes spanning human cognition and algorithmic bias. The theoretical implications are three-fold: extending bias …

Exploring The Interoperability For Information Exchange Between Acute And Post-Acute Care Settings, Madhu Gottumukkala, Cherie Noteboom, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

The seamless transfer and assimilation of healthcare data are foundational to delivering holistic, timely, and effective patient care across the healthcare spectrum. However, disparities in Electronic Health Record (EHR) system adoption, especially in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings, consistently obstruct interoperability. This study explores the factors that impede and facilitate health information exchange in LTPAC environments, focusing on technical and organizational facets. Grounded theory guided our qualitative case study research, involving 35 stakeholder interviews. Key technical findings highlight the need for integrated, reliable data structures, robust infrastructure, and standardized practices. Organizational insights reveal a shift towards integrative, patient-centric strategies …

Latent Subtypes Of Comorbidities In Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Insights From Social Media, Laxmi Manasa Gorugantu, Nevine Nawar, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease associated with various physical and cognitive impairments. Individuals with MS might also experience medical and psychiatric comorbidities that can exacerbate the severity of the disease and lower their overall well-being. Therefore, it becomes essential to identify these co-occurring health conditions at the early stages to optimize treatment and improve patient outcomes. Consequently, the objective of this study is to explore the commonly occurring comorbidities among MS patients around the globe from social media discourse. Furthermore, it aims to unveil public perceptions, providing insights that might not be captured via clinical research methods. The …

Highlighting Competency Gaps In Health Informatics Education Using Advanced Text-Embedding Models, Omar F. El-Gayar, Abdullah Wahbeh, Mohammad Al-Ramahi, Ahmed Elnoshokaty

Research & Publications

The healthcare sector anticipates substantial growth, with 125,000 job openings by 2026, including 69,000 middle-skilled positions. Despite this growth, data use and integration inefficiencies cost the sector $750 billion annually. Health informatics, an interdisciplinary field blending healthcare, computer, information, and cognitive sciences, can address these challenges through enhanced healthcare management via information technology. However, there is a critical disparity between competencies taught in educational programs and those demanded by the job market. This study examines competencies from job postings on Indeed.com and accredited health informatics programs, comparing them with the Health Information Technology Competencies (HITComp) database. Utilizing advanced text-embedding models, …

Non-Functional Requirementsand Key Propositionselicitation For An Hdss:A Grounded Theory Approach, Mohammad Tafiqur Rahman, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Deciding humanitarian actions during relief distribution is a crucial and challengingtask.Humanitarian decision-makers (HDM) make manycritical decisions during disaster responses,but they sufferfrom incomplete, irrelevant, and sometimes excessive humanitarian operations-related disaster datain many situations.Hence, for constructive and meaningful support in decision-making, HDMs oftenappreciate computer-basedinformation systems(IS) (i.e. humanitarian decision support systems) that require non-functional requirements (NFRs) for their development. To identify those necessary NFRs, we applied the grounded theory approach to analyze 61 literature-and field-based decision-making parameters reported in the primary author's previous research (Rahman and Majchrzak (2020)). Our analysis resulted in 13 essentialNFRs and four key propositions to guide relief distribution decision-making …

Generative Ai And Academic Integrity In Higher Education: A Systematic Review And Research Agenda, Kyle Bittle, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

This systematic literature review rigorously evaluates the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on academic integrity within higher education settings. The primary objective is to synthesize how GenAI technologies influence student behavior and academic honesty, assessing the benefits and risks associated with their integration. We defined clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on studies explicitly discussing GenAI’s role in higher education from January 2021 to December 2024. Databases included ABI/INFORM, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, and JSTOR, with the last search conducted in May 2024. A total of 41 studies met our precise inclusion criteria. Our synthesis methods involved qualitative analysis …

Thei Student Applied Research Presentations Sarp 2025, Research Office Thei

THEi Student Applied Research Presentations (SARP)

No abstract provided.

Endoscopic Excision Of Nasopalatine Duct Cyst: A Case Report And Review Of Literature, Deviprasad Dosemane, Meera Niranjan Khadilkar, Ananya Sinha

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Nasopalatine duct cyst is the most frequently seen nonodontogenic cyst in the oral cavity, yet prevalent only in approximately 1% of individuals. Due to its asymptomatic nature, it is often unrecognized and an incidental finding.

Here, we describe one such case presenting as a hard palate swelling.