Digital Commons Network^™

The Sleek Composite Virtual Projection System Of 3 Composite Projection Configurations That Collectively Provides A Composite Heads-Up-Display Area., Punarjeewa Abeysekera

Defensive Publications Series

This paper describes a sleek composite virtual projection system of 3 composite projection configurations that collectively provides a composite heads-up-display area. The entire sleek composite virtual projection system will consist of a video screen based composite projection configuration, a convex lens stack based composite projection configuration and a composite reflection-based projection projecting and directing configuration. The video screen based composite projection configuration will contain 4 video displays that will project video projections from 4 directions. And the convex lens stack based composite projection configuration will contain 4 composite convex lens stack sections that have the capability to project the 4 …

Vectorized Pipeline For Real‑Time Lock‑In Amplification On Microcontrollers, Gary Cheng

Defensive Publications Series

Lock‑in amplification involves extracting weak signals from background noise, a process that traditionally utilizes computationally intensive floating‑point operations. Performing these operations on standard microcontrollers frequently causes central processing unit (CPU) saturation. The disclosed system provides a vectorized data pipeline that structures digital signal processing tasks to natively utilize internal hardware multiply‑accumulate instructions within a microcontroller. To bypass runtime floating‑point trigonometry, a pre‑computed integer look‑up table and a phase accumulator generate reference waveforms. Further, a scaling recovery algorithm mathematically restores absolute physical units following high‑speed hardware vector bit‑shifts. Consequently, the disclosed system facilitates real‑time, phase‑sensitive signal extraction on resource‑constrained microcontrollers, decreasing …

Dynamic Programming For Post‑Route Power Delivery Network Augmentation, Prateek Pendyala, Vishant Gotra

Defensive Publications Series

Modern high‑performance integrated circuits frequently experience localized dynamic voltage drop hotspots due to accumulated peak currents in congested layout regions. Traditional post‑route power grid augmentation approaches may encounter limitations due to routing blockages and a lack of available placement sites. The disclosed method provides a track‑aware standard cell repositioning technique that treats a post‑route layout database as a primary constraint and standard cell locations as adjustable variables. A computing device executing a dynamic programming algorithm scans lower‑level metal tracks to identify continuous vertical routing corridors. It then calculates localized standard cell displacements to accommodate the insertion of new power grid …

Rapid Ir Hotspot Identification Via Hybrid Machine Learning, Praphulla Pandey, Vaibhav Gupta

Defensive Publications Series

Traditional dynamic voltage drop (IR drop) analysis in integrated circuit design might be computationally expensive and oftentimes relies on late‑stage routing data. These traditional methods can lead to delays in design closure and may increase infrastructure costs due to high resource needs. This document discloses a two‑stage hybrid machine learning method for rapid IR hotspot identification. As a part of the method, an algorithm utilizes a gradient boosting model to capture a bulk IR drop distribution and triggers a neural network for high‑risk instances to predict peak hotspot values. The method incorporates physics‑grounded features (e.g., power switch density for gated …

Predictive Workload Modeling And Voltage Scaling Using Event‑Driven Workload Queue Telemetry, Girish Vv

Defensive Publications Series

Conventional power management methods for processors may be reactive, adjusting frequency only after a computing device exceeds utilization thresholds. This reactive lag may result in increased latency for sudden workload bursts and allow low‑priority background tasks to trigger voltage increases. This publication describes a predictive frequency scaling method based on real‑time introspection of operating system workqueues. Implementing the method, a computing device may extract internal statistics (e.g., queue depth, task wait times) through event‑driven kernel tracepoints. The computing device can identify task priorities by resolving function pointers and incorporating application‑level telemetry. The computing device then generates a predictive workload index …

Non-Invasive Adaptive Posterior Ocular Transport System (Apots-Ω V1.0) A Closed-Loop Multimodal Acoustic-Hydrogel-Nanocarrier Platform For Macula-Targeted Eye-Drop Delivery, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The APOTS-Ω v1.0 platform is a conceptual, non-invasive, closed-loop ocular transport system designed to enhance the posterior delivery of topically applied therapeutics to the macular region of the eye without intra-vitreal injection. The system combines low-energy phased ultrasound, adaptive vortex-mode acoustic transport, conductive hydrogel coupling interfaces, smart nanoparticle eye-drop carriers, thermal-stabilizing biointerfaces, and real-time safety monitoring into a unified transport-conditioning architecture.

Unlike conventional ultrasound drug-delivery concepts that rely primarily on brute-force permeability enhancement, APOTS-Ω is designed around controlled transport engineering using low-intensity adaptive fields, posterior-biased streaming geometries, delayed-release nanocarriers, and distributed safety feedback systems. The platform seeks to improve posterior …

Generating Structured Responses From Large Language Models For Client-Side Updates, Duc-Hieu Tran, Florian Hartmann

Defensive Publications Series

Interactive systems using large language models (LLMs) may experience inefficiencies where a user edit to a query can trigger a re-inference process, consuming resources and increasing latency. A backend system can predict potentially editable components in a user's query. An LLM may then generate a structured response containing static text and executable client-side functions or tool calls corresponding to these predicted components. A client device, such as a smartphone or personal computer, can parse this response to render an interactive interface. This can allow user modifications to interactive components to be processed locally on the client device, which may reduce …

Synchronized Multi-Modal Verification For Point-Of-Sale Transactions, Gulmohar Khan, Ved Patil

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes systems and methods for multi-modal transaction verification. The technology can involve generating a synchronized sequence of dynamic, single-use validation tokens, such as a numeric code, a visual shape, or a specific color, across a customer's computing device (e.g., a smartphone, smart watch, wearable device, or augmented reality glasses) and a merchant's confirmation device. Visual matching of these tokens, which can be manual or automated, may be used for verification. Additionally, sensory synchronization methods, such as coordinated audio jingles or light patterns between the devices, can be employed. These techniques can aid in creating a verifiable link between …

Scalable Per-Scene Media Signal Generation Using Configurable Signal Extraction Algorithms, Pooja Verlani, Balu Adsumilli, Shruti Kanetkar

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes a distributed computing platform for automatically performing feature extraction, signal extraction, and/or metadata extraction from large collections of media files, including videos, audio recordings, and multimedia content. A cloud-based processing system is described that uses a “Bring-Your-Own-Signal” framework to enable developers to submit custom extraction programs, algorithms, machine learning models, or processing graphs directly into the central management system. The system automatically validates and sets up submitted extraction algorithms for use. The system may support resource sharing and improve scalability by dispatching extraction tasks to execute on client-provided hardware, and receiving, from the client-provided hardware, only the …

Defensive Publication Concerning Electrical Machines, Optionally With Externally Pressurized Fluid Bearings, For Wind Power Generation And Marine Propulsion, Per Lenberg

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure relates to application systems comprising an electrical machine having a rotor, a stator, one or more windings, and optionally one or more externally pressurized fluid bearings configured to maintain a fluid film between movable and stationary machine parts. In particular, the disclosure describes use of such electrical machines as motors, motor- generators or generators in wind turbines and wind power plants, and as motors, motor- generators or generators in marine propulsion systems, including pod propulsion systems, azimuthing thrusters, tunnel thrusters, rim-driven propulsors, shaft-line propulsion systems, pump jets, and water jets. The electrical machine may comprise an axial flux, …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Strengthening Democracy, Lect. Dr. Majid Hamed Faraj, Lect. Dr. Mahmood Noori Matlab

Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University Journal of Legal Studies

The research aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on promoting democracy and the associated challenges. Using an analytical approach, the findings suggest that AI can improve the accuracy and objectivity of information, contribute to strengthening the rule of law and public opinion analysis, and play a role in the legitimacy of elections by ensuring their integrity. However, the findings indicate that overreliance on technology may weaken direct interaction between government and citizens and negatively impact individual rights. There are also risks related to the collection of voters’ personal data and the unethical exploitation of AI. The study suggests …

The United States Intervention In Iraq After 1990 And Its Legitimacy From A Humanitarian Legal Perspective, Asst Lect. Saad Majed Abdulhussein Jabbar Al-Izza

Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University Journal of Legal Studies

When God Almighty created man, He created him in the best manner, and honored him and favored him over many of his creatures. Despite this, man spent a lifetime on the face of the earth that was never free of persecution and the loss of dignity and rights, and all of that was the handiwork of man himself, except that the good conscience within Humans. He never accepted human aggression against one another, so they strove to codify the necessary protection against injustice, arbitrariness and tyranny. This conscience was consistent with what God honored his creation with and was reinforced …

Student Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence: A Freelisting Study, Gary Kaplan, Mslis, Ahip, Jessica G. Hamilton, Mls, Rebecca Miller, Mlis, Rosemary Frasso, Phd, Cph

Thomas Jefferson University Faculty Days

Background

Librarians typically provide guest lectures on topics in information literacy, connecting students to the scholarly literature. Hervieux & Wheatley’s Six Frames for AI Literacy emphasize the need to engage in AI discourse. As artificial intelligence changes the way students often interact with information, librarians must adjust their approach, whether changing the framing while retaining the traditional content, or changing the content. In the 2025-26 academic year, we experimented with various approaches. Here we describe a brief freelisting exercise we conducted before the lessons to surface students’ perceptions of artificial intelligence.

Testing The Christian University Belonging Scale: Revision From Target Population Feedback., Jasmine Bowles

Honors Projects

This study explored whether feedback from a scale’s target population can improve its psychometric qualities. We developed a psychological scale of Christian university belonging, defined as feelings of being accepted, valued, engaged and connected in direct association with the faith-integration at a Christian university. Three studies were executed. First, we collected and analyzed quantitative data (n=55) on the 14-item scale and reduced the number of items to six. Second, we collected and analyzed qualitative data from students attending a Christian university in the Pacific Northwestern United States (n=7) on the 6-item version to revise the scale. After revision, the scale …

An Integrative Approach To The Evolution Of Neotropical Whale Catfishes (Family: Cetopsidae), Daniel Akin

Doctoral Dissertations

The catfishes (order Siluriformes) represent over five percent of world’s vertebrate diversity. The story of vertebrate evolution remains incomplete without a thorough evaluation of catfishes, and the ichthyological community is yet to reach consensus on some of the deeper evolutionary patterns within this fascinating group. Our complete macro-evolutionary understanding of catfishes is inhibited by a paucity of information on the taxonomies, phylogenetics, ecologies, and life histories of many understudied groups of catfishes. One such group is the Neotropical whale catfishes of the family Cetopsidae. This dissertation provides an integrated approach to studying the family Cetopsidae. I use genomics to determine …

Mathematical Analysis Of Within-Host Models: Viral–Immune Dynamics, Bifurcations, And Disease Severity, Nazia Afrin

Doctoral Dissertations

My research develops and analyzes ODE-based within-host models at multiple scales. Using dynamical systems theory and numerical methods, I study host–pathogen interactions and immune responses, providing insights into disease dynamics and control. The first model describes the complex dynamics of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and addresses the question: what mechanisms determine whether the infection is cleared during the acute phase or progresses to a chronic state? A key feature of this model is the assumption that all classes of liver cells (uninfected, infected, and protected from reinfection) proliferate at different rates. The findings provide insight into two important aspects …

A Comparative Examination Of Early Reading Literacy Policies In Louisiana And Mississippi, Joyrance Neveu Cormier

Doctoral Dissertations

Controversies over the best practices for teaching children to read have persisted for decades (Thomas, 2022). Researchers and practitioners continue to identify best practices, curricula, and assessment tools to produce young readers who are ready to "read to learn" by the end of third grade. Since the 1990s, accountability has primarily focused on reading, particularly on students' challenges with reading comprehension. To address these challenges, the National Reading Panel was established in 1997. The panel was charged with synthesizing research findings on the most effective methods for teaching children to read (Shanahan, 2005). More recently, the concerning reading performance of …

The Evolutionary Response Of HawaiʻI ʻAmakihi (Chlorodrepanis Virens) To The Introduction Of Avian Malaria (Plasmodium Relictum), Gabrielle Atkinson

Doctoral Dissertations

The emergence of novel pathogens can impose intense selective pressures on natural populations, driving rapid evolutionary change or precipitating population collapse. In Hawaiʻi, the introduction of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and its mosquito vector (Culex quinquefasciatus) have caused severe declines and extinctions among native forest birds. Yet some populations of Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) persist across a broad elevational and disease gradient, providing a powerful natural system for examining the genomic basis of rapid adaptation, the role of gene flow in adaptive response, and the potential for parallel evolutionary responses. This dissertation integrates genomic, population genetic, and transcriptomic approaches to …

A Qualitative Study Of Transfer Student Policies And Practices At Four-Year Public Regional Universities In Louisiana, Mickey Diez

Doctoral Dissertations

This research study presented a qualitative, multiple case study that examined the extent to which universities within the University of Louisiana System (ULS) align their transfer policies and practices with national best practices for transfer student success, as outlined in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ A Guide to Best Practices: Awarding Transfer and Prior Learning Credit (AACRAO, 2017). Through a document analysis of institutional transfer policies and practices, the study aimed to identify common themes, similarities, differences, strengths, and gaps in institutional support for students transferring from two-year community colleges to four-year universities. The study was …

The Impact Of Evolution And Strong Allee Effects On The Dynamics Of A Discrete-Time Predator-Prey System, Neerob Basak

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the dynamics of discrete-time predator-prey systems, focusing on both evolutionary responses and ecological interactions. The first part of this dissertation, in Chapters 2 and 3, explores how evolutionary processes, particularly the development of resistance to toxicants in predators, influence the persistence and stability of predator-prey populations. In this part, we extend the predator-prey model developed in Ackleh et al., 2019 to incorporate the evolution of a predator's resistance to toxicant effects. We consider three cases: (1) lethal effects, where the toxicant directly influences the predator's survival; (2) sublethal effects, where the toxicant impacts the predator's fecundity, and …

An Oral History Study: The Relationship Between Curriculum And Social And Cultural Capital In The New Orleans School System, Alaina Gaugis Carter

Doctoral Dissertations

This oral history study examines how high school academic experiences in New Orleans public and charter schools have shaped graduates’ preparedness for adulthood, active citizenship, and participation as productive members of society. This study explores the relationship between curriculum, particularly scripted curriculum, and the development of social and cultural capital. The research critiques neoliberal education reforms that prioritize accountability, standardization, and market-based outcomes over relational and community-centered learning. Using oral history methodology and the currere method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve New Orleans high school alumni who graduated both before and after Hurricane Katrina from public, charter, and parochial …

An Exploration Of Variables Related To Gender Role Differences And Social Relationships Among Nontraditional Bachelor's Degree Recipients, Cynthia Bourgeois Bergeron

Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this study was to examine variables that speak to gender role differences among nontraditional bachelor’s degree recipients aged 30 to 49. These issues are particularly relevant given enrollment trends showing that the diversification of bachelor’s degree seekers has outpaced the policies and norms of traditional undergraduate education. A nonexperimental, correlational research design was employed using chi-square tests and Cramer’s V as post-hoc measures on categorical data from the 2012, 2014, and 2016 General Social Survey. Shaped by Gilligan’s moral development theory, several social variables were included in the analysis. Two statistically significant associations emerged: women earning bachelor’s …

A Cross-Sectional Study Of First-Generation College Students' Sense Of Belonging Across Diverse Institutional Contexts, Nirmal Chandra Gope

Doctoral Dissertations

First-generation college students comprise a significant growth demographic in U.S. higher education. Even with lower enrollment rates, more than one-third of U.S. postsecondary school students are first-generation students (Cataldi et al., 2018; Redford & Mulvaney Hoyer, 2017; Ward et al., 2012; Whitley et al., 2018). However, their retention and graduation rates are significantly lower than those of their continuing peers (Choy, 2001; Engle, 2007, 2008; Ishitani, 2006; Longwell-Grice & Longwell-Grice, 2021). Various factors play a significant role in creating this disparity (Longwell-Grice & Longwell-Grice, 2021; Tinto, 1993). Research identifies belonging as a crucial factor influencing student persistence, academic achievement, mental …

The Pie Thief (And Friends): Ethnographic Microanalysis Of Peer Interactions Involving Children With Highly Unintelligible Speech: A Descriptive Study, Katherine Anne Mcquitty Hays

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethnographic microanalysis investigating how children with highly unintelligible speech accomplish a range of social actions when interacting with their peers. Detailed transcription of multimodal communications of peers interacting in the context of a 9-day summer therapy camp yield profiles of two participants of interest, each with approximately 30-40% speech intelligibility. Domain analysis and taxonomy organize data for the purposes of comparative analysis across transcribed durations of peer conversation and peer play. Findings indicate pervasive pragmatic impacts as well as effective uses of multimodal means within interactional frames and schemas. Clinical implications include consideration of AAC optimization …

Uncovering Hidden Potential: A Multiple Case Study Of Best Practices To Identify Giftedness In Underserved Student Populations, Kevin Hislop

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates district-level practices that promote equitable identification of giftedness among underserved student populations, particularly those who are culturally, linguistically, and ethnically/economically diverse (CLED) (Briggs et al., 2008; Briggs & Renzulli, 2009; Lewis & Novak, 2019). Grounded in Renzulli’s Schoolwide Enrichment Model, the research addresses persistent disproportionality in gifted education by examining how universal screening, teacher education, and alternative opportunities for talent development—such as student academic portfolios, teacher referrals, and nonverbal ability tests—can expand access or limit barriers to gifted services. Drawing from a solid literature base, the study emphasizes systemic barriers rooted in traditional IQ-based identification and subjective …

Inference On Quantiles Of Normal Populations: One- And Multi-Sample Cases, Justin Dunnam

Doctoral Dissertations

The problems of interval estimation for quantiles of normal distributions in one- and multi-sample cases are considered. For the one-sample case, we show that the classical confidence interval (CI) based on the noncentral t (NCT) distribution and the one based on the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator of the population quantile are equivalent. We also propose a simple closed-form alternative CI for a quantile based on a normal approximation to the NCT distribution. In addition, fiducial distributions for population quantiles are developed using both the NCT distribution and its normal approximation. On the basis of fiducial distributions, we develop approximate …

A Bifurcation Theorem And Its Application To Discrete-Time Models In Ecology And Epidemiology, Jenita Jahangir

Doctoral Dissertations

Matrix models are useful for modeling populations or diseases that involve discrete developmental stages, multiple stages of infection, and interactions among species. To study the coexistence dynamics in matrix models, we extend a bifurcation theorem for resident-invader host-parasitoid type populations by allowing every block of the projection matrix, depending on the bifurcation parameter and the off-diagonal blocks, to be nonzero. As an application, in the first part of the dissertation, we propose a discrete-time host-parasitoid model with stage structure in both species. For this model, we establish conditions for the existence and global stability of the extinction and parasitoid-free equilibria. …

A Qualitative Study: Understanding The Effects Of Acceleration Programs On The Motivation And Burnout Of Students With Gifts And Talents, Destini Duhon Manuel

Doctoral Dissertations

A student that has an advanced gift or talent which encompasses their peers is often raftered to as gifted (National Association of Gifted Children, 2018) and need differentiated instruction and accommodations to reach their full potential (Clevenger, 2022) Research shows high levels of expectations could lead to underachievement (Garn & Jolly 2019; Hornstra et al., 2003), motivation issues (Hornstra et al., 2023), and burnout (May et al., 2020) of students with gifts and talents. Acceleration programs are often used to accommodate students with gifts and talents, but evaluators must proceed with caution and place students in the correct program to …

Fairness-Aware And Efficient Federated Learning Frameworks For Heterogeneous Systems, Simin Javaherian

Doctoral Dissertations

Federated Learning (FL) enables decentralized clients to collaboratively train machine learning models without sharing raw data, making it a promising paradigm for privacy-preserving intelligence across large-scale, heterogeneous systems. However, practical FL environments face significant challenges arising from variations in client resources, participation patterns, client behavior, and data distributions. These challenges often lead to inefficiency, unbalanced contributions, and unfairness, ultimately degrading model performance and discouraging long-term client participation. This dissertation advances the state of FL by developing a unified suite of fairness-aware and efficiency-driven frameworks tailored for heterogeneous environments. We investigate fairness from multiple perspectives, including client selection, contribution weighting, and …

Out There: Notes And Stories A Hybrid Collection With Critical Introduction, Ben Porter

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of two parts: literary criticism and a collection of fiction and lyric essays. Across both sections, it examines the problem of description: how persons make experience, action, and suffering intelligible in language, and what happens when that intelligibility breaks down under historical, social, and familial pressure. The critical essay, “Failed Descriptions and Neoliberal Talk in Don DeLillo’s The Body Artist,” argues that DeLillo represents a crisis of intentional speech under neoliberal modernity, in which public language is narrowed to private affect and meaningful social description becomes increasingly difficult. Reading the novel through philosophers of language and …