Digital Commons Network^™

The Sortee Guidelines For Data And Code Quality Control In Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, Joel L. Pick, Bethany J. Allen, Benedicte Bachelot, Kevin R. Bairos-Novak, Jack A. Brand, Barbara Class, Tad Dallas, Pietro B. D'Amelio, Erola Fenollosa, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Dylan G. Gomes, Matthew J. Grainger, Thomas Guillemaud, John Christian, Ruby Krasnow, Malgorzata Lagisz, Sebastian Lequime, Daniel S. Maynard, Shinichi Nakagawa, Rose E. O'Dea, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Open data and code are crucial to increasing transparency and reproducibility, and in building trust in scientific research. However, despite an increasing number of journals in ecology and evolutionary biology mandating for data and code to be archived alongside published articles, the amount and quality of archived data and code, and subsequent reproducibility of results, has remained worryingly low. As a result, a handful of journals have recruited dedicated data editors, whose role is to help authors increase the overall quality of archived data and code. There is, however, a general lack of consensus around what a data editor should …

Commonality And Co-Occurrence Of Discrete Strategies Within Implementation Strategy Bundles: Findings From The Living Database Of Hiv Implementation Science Systematic Review, 2014-2021, Sita Lujintanon, Ingrid Eshun-Wilson, Noelle Le Tourneau, Laura K Beres, Sheree Schwartz, Stefan Baral, Ryan Thompson, Ashley Underwood, Branson Fox, Elvin H Geng, Christopher G Kemp

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: HIV services and innovations are delivered through implementation strategy bundles that are often complex, comprising numerous discrete strategies. Systematically characterizing the use patterns of discrete strategies may inform strategy prioritization and selection to optimize service delivery. We used the Living Database of HIV Implementation Science (LIVE) to describe the commonality and co-occurrence of discrete strategies within multi-component strategy bundles in published HIV implementation studies from low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS: The LIVE systematic review identified studies from PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL, and included HIV implementation studies that reported ≥ 1 HIV care cascade outcome, were conducted in low- and …

Symptomatic Manifestations Of Hip Dysplasia In Young Adults: How Do Patients Present Before Or After Surgery? Results From A Social Media Cohort, John M. Gaddis, Amanda J. Wheeler, Erika Shults, Charles South, Stephen T. Duncan, Joel Wells

School of Medicine Publications

This study aimed to analyse the symptomatic differences of hip dysplasia before or after separate surgical interventions, including pain location and characteristics, severity, patient-reported outcomes, and a body pain diagram. A REDCap-based survey was distributed through social media from October 2023 to May 2024 and targeted individuals with current or past hip pain. The survey gathered data on demographics, comprehensive hip-specific history, and various patient-reported outcome measures. Of 509 completed surveys, 287 respondents reported a diagnosis of hip dysplasia and were divided into cohorts based on treatment history: no surgery (n = 65), post-periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) (n = 162), post-THA …

Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman Disease Misdiagnosed As Granulomatous Dermatitis: A Diagnostic Pitfall, Sri Naidnur, Jamie Hedrick, Smaran Marupudi, Kara Asbury, Kelly Maedo, Bryan Gammon, Rick Lin

School of Medicine Publications

Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD) is an uncommon non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that may occur without systemic involvement and lacks specific clinical features. We report a 17-year-old female with a slowly enlarging chest lesion initially diagnosed as granulomatous dermatitis on a 4-mm punch biopsy. The lesion was treated as an inflammatory process without improvement. Complete excision revealed a multinodular dermal and subcutaneous infiltrate of large histiocytes demonstrating emperipolesis, confirming CRDD. Systemic evaluation was negative. The initial limited biopsy did not capture defining features, delaying diagnosis.

Persistent nodular lesions that fail to respond to therapy should prompt reconsideration and more representative tissue sampling. …

Town Hall Feminist Mobilization To Ensure Gender Justice In The Crimes Against Humanity Convention, Cardozo Law Institute In Holocaust And Human Rights (Clihhr)

2025–2026 Flyers

This town hall event features feminist experts, activists, and movements in the upcoming effort to ensure the crimes against humanity treaty is gender-sensitive, intersectional and survivor-centered.

Pan-Cancer Evolution Signatures Link Clonal Expansion To Dynamic Changes In The Tumor Immune Microenvironment, Xinyu Yang, Wei Liu, Geoff Macintyre, Peter Van Loo, Florian Markowetz, Ke Yuan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer is an evolutionary process characterized by profound intratumor heterogeneity (ITH), which can be quantified using in silico estimates of cancer cell fractions (CCFs) of tumor-specific somatic mutations. We demonstrate a data-driven approach based on CCF distributions to identify 4 robust pan-cancer evolutionary signatures from 4,146 tumors across 17 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). These signatures define a continuum of cancer cell fractions reflecting neutral evolution, clonal expansion, and clonal fixation. Correlating evolutionary signatures with mutational and biological programs reveals that tumors enriched for clonal expansion and fixation are associated with immune evasion and distinct changes in …

Uncovering Hidden Prognostic Patterns In Colorectal Cancer Histology Using Unsupervised Learning: A Computational Pathology Study, Wen-Tong Zhou, Yong Liu, Gang Yu, Kuan-Song Wang, Chao Xu, Chong Wu, Christopher J Papasian, Hong-Mei Xiao, Hong-Wen Deng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, yet current histopathological diagnostics capture only limited features. This study aimed to discover subtle, prognostically significant histomorphological patterns in CRC tissues using unsupervised deep learning. We developed a framework integrating convolutional neural networks with deep clustering, trained on 23,341 image patches from 493 patients. We identified 30 distinct histomorphological clusters from CRC tissue images. Through univariate and multivariate survival analyses, three clusters (Cluster13, Cluster19, and Cluster24) were consistently associated with patient prognosis. These clusters were integrated with clinical factors (T stage, N stage, and differentiation degree) to construct a …

The Efficacy And Safety Of Serratus Anterior Plane Block In Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Xu-Bo Cui, Ming-Zhu Cui, Qiu-Ju Yang, Yang Liu, Meng-Qi Yi, Yun-Tai Yao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is a widely used fascial block that reduces postoperative pain and perioperative opioid consumption. This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of SAPB in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases on May 10, 2024. Pooled relative risks and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was evaluated using Egger test. Subgroup analyses were stratified by study design (randomized controlled trials …

Telemedicine As A Gateway To Early-Phase Oncology Trials: Lessons From 14,000 Patients And Future Directions For Global Access And Equity, Carlos Torrado, Clark R Andersen, Lei Kang, Amanda L Brink, Taiwo Adesoye, Clover J Patterson, Jessica A Osburn, Harold N Tan, Mohamed A Gouda, Sheena Charles, Gabriele E Urschel, Tin-Yun Tang, David S Hong, Stephane Champiat, Aung Naing, Apostolia M Tsimberidou, Ecaterina E Dumbrava, Sarina A Piha-Paul, Jordi Rodon, Timothy A Yap, Paula R Pohlmann, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Siqing Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Telemedicine expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its role in early-phase oncology trials remains uncertain. We evaluated its impact on recruitment, enrollment, equity, and access in a large phase I program.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients seen for first consultation in the MD Anderson Phase I Program (2016-2023). Recruitment (consent) and enrollment (treatment initiation) were compared by visit type, race/ethnicity, and geography across pre-pandemic (2016-2019), pandemic (2020-March 11, 2023), and post-public health emergency (PHE; March-December 2023) periods. A chart review of 400 patients validated findings.

Results: Of 14,085 patients, 7,247 were evaluated post-pandemic, with 36% (n …

Mechanism-Informed Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care In Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Study, Jane S Hankins, Tarun Aurora, Rachel Matsumoto, Sara Malone, Ana A Baumann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Healthcare transition (HCT) refers to the shift from a child-centered to an adult-centered model of care, a process that, when well-functioning, can reduce disengagement and improve satisfaction with care. The Six Core Elements (6CE) framework structures HCT services; however, its implementation process remains understudied, limiting its broader applicability. Learning how to effectively implement the 6CE strategies can enhance their application in real clinical contexts. This case study describes the successful implementation of a 6CE-informed transition program for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic condition associated with reduced life expectancy. We also propose a mechanism-informed …

Graphene For A Sustainable Future: Clean Energy, Environmental Remediation, And Green Pathways A Review, Ahmed Al-Amiery, Wan N. R. Wan Isahak

Terra Joule Journal

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial whose exceptional properties high mechanical strength (Young's modulus ∼1 TPa; tensile strength >130 GPa), high carrier mobility (>200,000 cm²/V· s at room temperature), high thermal conductivity (∼5,000 W/m· K), and large theoretical specific surface area (∼2,630 m²/g) make it an attractive platform for sustainability-oriented technologies. In this review, we will critically discuss green and sustainable synthesis routes such as those derived from biomass/waste materials, electrochemical exfoliation, and green chemical vapor deposition innovations, and their associated sustainability based on life cycle assessment concepts, functional units, and impact category indicators such …

Toward More Reliable Uavs: Interpretable Machine Learning For Understanding Propeller Fault Separability, Saadi Turied Kurdi, Luttfi A. Al-Haddad, Latif Ibraheem

Terra Joule Journal

This study investigates the fundamental limits of UAV propeller fault discrimination using an interpretable XGBoost–SHAP framework applied to the high-resolution DronePropA dataset. Three fault types—edge-cut, structural crack, and surface erosion—were evaluated across three severity levels under constrained flight conditions to isolate the physical signatures of degradation. A curated subset of 1 kHz IMU and ESC telemetry from Drone 1 (trajectory t1, speed SP1) enabled analysis of fault separability independent of kinematic variability. Despite deploying a moderately complex XGBoost classifier (300 estimators, depth = 6) and a comprehensive multi-domain feature set, the model achieved a performance ceiling of 38.04% accuracy and …

Impact Of Glass Powder As A Sustainable Material On The Workability, Strength, And Durability Properties In High-Performance Basalt Fiber Reinforced Concrete: A Statistical Analysis, Ahmed Fathi Mohamed Salih

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The global construction sector is increasingly challenged to balance environmental sustainability with the growing demand for durable, high-performance materials. As cement production continues to be a major source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, the incorporation of alternative, low-impact binders has become a key strategy for reducing the environmental footprint of concrete. In this context, glass powder (GP)—a finely ground industrial by-product rich in amorphous silica—has emerged as a promising partial replacement for Portland cement. Its pozzolanic reactivity contributes to improved hydration and matrix densification, while its use also supports circular economy principles by diverting waste glass from landfills. At the same …

Fragmentation Of The Self And The Alienation Of Objects: An Interpretive Study Of The Secret Migration To Things, A Short Story Collection By The Saudi Writer Siham Al-Aboudi, Asmaa Ahmed Al-Anakrah

UB Journal for Humanities

This study examines the fragmentation of the self and the appropriation of things in contemporary thought and Saudi literature through an interpretive reading of Seham al-Aboudi’s Secret Migration to Things. It argues that external pressures fragment the self while objects act as semantic agents shaping characters’ consciousness and behavior, making narrative a means to explore human interaction with the material world. Using a hermeneutical approach inspired by Paul Ricoeur and combining semantic, stylistic, and phenomenological analysis, the study addresses three axes: narrative hermeneutics and meaning-making, representations of objects and identity disintegration, and the formation of narrative space and consciousness transformations. …

Integrating Green Hr Practices To Enhance Organizational Sustainability: An Insight From Banking Sector Of Saudi Arabia, Asst.Prof. Adi Sudan Albaqami

UB Journal for Humanities

Green human resources (HR) is a crucial tactic for incorporating environmental management into HR procedures as businesses look for more sustainable ways to solve environmental issues. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to examine the influence of green HR practices on organizational sustainability, with a focus on the mediating roles of organizational culture, employee engagement, and top management commitment in the Saudi banking sector. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to a study sample of 125 managers from Saudi banks at various levels. The results show that integrating green HR practices into Saudi banks …

Learners’ Use And Perceptions Of The First Language Across Writing Stages: A Mixed-Methods Study In A Saudi Efl Context, Abdulrahman Ali Alqahtani

UB Journal for Humanities

The role of the first language (L1) in second-language (L2) writing has been widely debated; however, empirical research examining learners’ perceptions of L1 use across different stages of the writing process remains limited in the Saudi EFL context. Addressing this gap, this mixed-methods study investigates how EFL undergraduate students at the University of Bisha use their first language (Arabic) during the English writing process (pre-writing, drafting, and post-writing) and how they perceive its impact on their writing development. Participants were 36 undergraduate EFL learners with advanced English proficiency who completed a Likert-scale questionnaire measuring the frequency and the purposes of …

The Effect Of Transcranial Near-Infrared Laser Therapy On Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial, Merna Hassan, Osama Al Balah, Ahmed Hegazy, El Sayed Satour

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Transcranial photobiomodulation (TPBM) using near-infrared (NIR) light is a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation strategy with potential to enhance neurorecovery. While preclinical studies are promising, clinical evidence in chronic stroke remains limited and inconsistent.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 980 nm transcranial NIR laser therapy as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation in improving neurological function in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.

Methods: In this randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial, 40 chronic ischemic stroke patients (>6 months post-onset, NIHSS 7-22) were allocated to active treatment (n=20) or sham control (n=20). The active group received 980 nm laser therapy (6W, …

Developing And Delphi-Validating A Phase-Based Sustainable Bsc Framework For Contractors' Sustainable Productivity Management In Developing Countries, Truong Van Luu, Le Minh Long Nguyen

HBRC Journal

This study develops and validates, using the Delphi method, a conceptual decision-support framework for construction contractors' sustainable productivity management (CSPM) in developing-country settings. Guided by KAMET rules, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 experts to elicit, refine, and reach consensus on a set of productivity management attributes that construction contractors can realistically apply. The outcome is 29 feasible productivity management attributes, organized under the four Sustainable Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) perspectives and mapped onto five management phases (planning, organizing, staffing, leading/coordination, and controlling). Rather than predicting or demonstrating productivity gains, the framework provides a practical roadmap for diagnosing capability gaps, prioritizing …

Heuristic Particle Swarm Optimization Method For The Stability Analysis Of Geosynthetics-Reinforced Slopes, Hoda Mostafa, Ibrahim Mashhour

HBRC Journal

Slope stability is considered one of the crucial topics in geotechnical engineering. Accurate soil slopes stability analyses are essential as slope failures could cause catastrophic environmental and human disasters. Geosynthetics are widely used as stabilizing elements in slope stability analyses. Incorporating geosynthetic reinforcement generally improves the global factor of safety against slope failure. However, in practice, analyses must not only focus on the global slope stability but should also account for any sliding along geosynthetic interfaces, since geosynthetics are considered as week layers within the reinforced soil mass and act as potential slip interfaces that should be checked for stability. …

Symmetry And Scale: The Precise Engineering Of Chitosan-Based Polyhedral For The Delivery Of Therapeutic Materials At The Nanoscale, Ahmed. J. Jasim, Noor Malik Saadoon

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Preparation of chitosan-based drug delivery carriers requires converting linear polysaccharide chains into individual 3D objects. By building on the natural structural properties of chitin-based polymers, in addition to control the geometry of organically derived raw material from feedstock to submicron polyhedral or spherical dimensions. This geometric change is governed by a surface area-to-volume ratio that maximizes the exposure of the therapeutic payload to the external environment. The approach centres on the development of such carriers using ion-complexation and emulsification methodologies, which involve electrostatic cross-linking of ion-binding pairs to define an impenetrable boundary separating a liquid from a solid phase. Critical …

Synergistic Microbiome-Peptidome Therapeutics: Exploring Lactobacillus Reuteri Dsmz 17648 And Stem Cell-Derived Peptides For Immunomodulation And Tissue Repair Across Diseases, Hasan M. Agha, Mohammed A. Abdalqader, Abdullah Asad Siddiqui, Shafiq Aazmi, Jantson Hoh, Oh Chin Kin Michelle, Sabaa M. Agha, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Chronic inflammatory and degenerative disorders are driven by interconnected immune dysregulation, metabolic instability, epithelial barrier disruption, and impaired tissue repair, limiting the durability of conventional single-target therapies. The global rise in chronic inflammatory, metabolic, and age-related degenerative diseases underscores an urgent need for multi-dimensional therapeutic strategies that move beyond isolated molecular targets. Despite rapid advances in microbiome science and regenerative medicine, these fields have largely evolved in parallel, with limited integration at the translational level. Emerging evidence identifies the gut microbiome as a central regulator of systemic immunometabolic homeostasis through microbial metabolites, barrier integrity modulation, and immune-cell education. In parallel, …

Sharing The Gold With The Mountain: A Proposed Quasi-Property Doctrine For Health Data Compensation, Taylor Col

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

This Note provides a legal answer to the moral question of whether a person should be compensated for lucrative health data that was collected from them. The moral question is examined through the lens of various doctrines in property, privacy, intellectual property, and ethics, in light of landmark cases concerning biomaterials and genetic information. A new doctrine for health data compensation is proposed, based on quasi-property and borrowing elements from equity, intellectual property, and profit-sharing. The proposed doctrine is evaluated by applying it to a hypothetical commercialization of one person’s health data via a precision medicine product.

Python Hunting: How Laws That Protect The Everglades From The Invasive Burmese Python, Including Eradication Programs, Can Inform The Regulation Of Objects Controlled By Artificial Intelligence, Kerri Lynn Stone, Joshua Stone

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

This Article explores the surprisingly apt analogy between the Burmese python problem in the Florida Everglades and abandoned objects that are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). With few natural predators, the invasive Burmese python, which was likely introduced to the Everglades through abandonment by pet owners, has threatened native species with extinction. Objects controlled by AI, which we will likely increasingly share our environment with, such as autonomous taxis and food delivery robots, as well as a variety of objects that are used by the military, may be abandoned by their owners and continue to operate. Over time, these objects …

Preimplantation Genetic Testing For Adult Onet Conditions And The Mismatched Wrongful Birth Claim: Creating An Appropriate Negligence Cause Of Action, Evelyn M. Tenenbaum

Journal of Technology Law & Policy

Today, parents can choose to have the embryos they create using in vitro fertilization (IVF) tested for harmful genetic mutations they want to avoid passing along to their children. Through a process called preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), hundreds of genetic mutations can now be detected, allowing parents to select embryos for implantation without the tested-for mutation. But if, due to a healthcare provider’s negligence, the resulting child is born with a harmful mutation causing an adult-onset condition, neither the parents nor the child can recover damages. This conundrum arose because the wrongful birth cause of action was created to deal …

2023 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

2024 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

2025 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Treasury.

Treasurer’s Report

No abstract provided.

Tennessee Student Fees Report 2024-2025, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Tennessee Student Fees Report

No abstract provided.

Land Grant Report 2024-2025, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Land Grant Funding Report

No abstract provided.

College President Preparation Strategies For Major Gift Solicitation, Michael T. Miller

Journal of Research on the College President

The study examined how college and university presidents prepare to solicit major gifts from individual benefactors, an increasingly important responsibility as institutions diversify revenue streams through philanthropic support. While extensive literature exists on higher education fundraising and presidential leadership, relatively little research has explored the specific practices presidents use to prepare for major gift solicitations. To address this gap, the study employed a descriptive research design consisting of two phases: a survey of 100 four-year public college and university presidents and follow-up semi-structured interviews with six presidents who agreed to discuss their preparation processes in greater detail. Survey findings indicated …