Digital Commons Network^™

Project G.L.E.N. (Enhancing Tornado Research: A Foundation For Transistioning The Enhanced Fujita Scale), Alexis Peshehonoff, Makaylei Huggins, Bernard Muich, Nicholas Fazzolari, Liam John, Harris Meyer, Jakob Graudons, Nicholas Krasznavolgyi, Stephen Syvertson, Aditya Bhattacharya, Kai Hong, Augustine Balish, Zachary Ort, Erin Rhoden

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

"Project G.L.E.N., formally known as “Enhancing Tornado Research: A Case for Transitioning the Enhanced Fujita Scale,” is an ongoing initiative aimed at advancing tornado research through the development and deployment of an unmanned tornado probe. Through the Gale Level Environmental Navigator (G.L.E.N.) probe, a remote-controlled unit equipped with specialized meteorological sensors and innovative design features, we aim to collect real-time, onsite data from within tornadoes. This approach allows for direct measurement of internal atmospheric conditions such as wind speeds, pressure fluctuations, temperature, humidity, and other storm dynamics while removing human risk from tornado interception, significantly enhancing the safety of storm …

Assessing The Threat Of Southern Pine Beetle To Pitch Pine In Acadia National Park, Caroline R. Kanaskie, Mark J. Ducey, Jeff R. Garnas

Faculty Publications

Many of the mountain summits of Acadia National Park (ACAD) are dominated by Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine). The ACAD Pitch Pine population is particularly valuable due to its position at the northernmost edge of the species’ range, its association with unique animal and plant communities, and its contribution to the aesthetics of the park. Pitch Pine is host to Dendroctonus frontalis (Southern Pine Beetle [SPB]). As the name suggests, SPB is native to the southeastern US, and can kill large numbers of healthy pines via mass-attack. With warming winters, SPB can establish and persist further north than ever before, presenting …

Re: Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2026 Revised Draft Final Backfill And Cover Soil Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated January 5, 2026), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Emerging Threats In Ai: A Detailed Review Of Misuses And Risks Across Modern Ai Technologies, Niyat Seghid, Farkhund Iqbal, Khalifa Al-Room, Áine Macdermott

All Works

The swift evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled unprecedented capabilities across domains, while simultaneously introducing critical vulnerabilities that can be maliciously exploited or cause unintended harm. Although multiple initiatives aim to govern AI-related risks, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of how AI systems are actively misused in practice remains limited. This paper presents a systematic review of AI misuse across modern AI technologies. We analyze documented incidents, attack mechanisms, and emerging threat vectors, drawing from existing AI risk repositories, prior taxonomies, and empirical case reports. These sources are synthesized into a unified analytical framework that categorizes AI misuse across …

An Autonomous Robotic System For Object Retrieval And Delivery: Enhancing Independence For Users Living With Disability And Older Adults, Jincheng Li, Chenghao Lin, Amna Mazen, Youssef A. Bazzi

Michigan Tech Publications

As the global population ages, there is a growing need for assistive technologies to help older adults maintain their independence. This work presents a cost-effective autonomous socially assistive robot designed for object retrieval and delivery, enhancing accessibility in home environments. The system is built on the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework and integrates three key components: the Pioneer P3-DX mobile robot for autonomous navigation, the ReactorX-200 robotic arm for pick-and-place operations, and the Kinect v2 RGB-D camera for object detection and localization. Users interact with the robot through natural language processing by issuing voice commands to retrieve various objects. Microsoft …

Exploring The Efficacy Of Storytelling In Education About Climate Change, Nina Adjanin, Srijana Katuwal, Heidi Sevestre, Gordon Brooks

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

From bedtime tales to digital narratives, stories wield unparalleled influence, shaping perceptions, and fostering empathy. Through mediums like social media and digital platforms, storytelling becomes a tool for advocacy, amplifying voices, and catalyzing social change. In this qualitative study, 107 higher education students from diverse backgrounds participated. The purpose of this study was to uncover salient beliefs about climate change stories on popular social media platforms among full-time college students. The results are based on three key components of the theory of planned behavior (TPB): affective beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs. The respondents expressed both positive and negative attitudes …

News Briefs, Marvin H. Jeter Iii, Joyce Shaw

Mississippi Libraries

News updates from Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and from the Mississippi Library Commission.

Cybersecurity In Higher Education Institutions: Awareness, Policy, And Experience On Employee Behaviour, Abdullahi Abiodun Yusuf, Adriana A. Steyn

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The digital transformation of higher education institutions (HEIs) has introduced unprecedented connectivity and operational efficiency, but it has also heightened their exposure to cyber threats. South African HEIs, in particular, face increasing vulnerability due to their reliance on technology, openness, and diverse user communities. This study examines the influence of the institutional cybersecurity environment on employee cybersecurity-compliant behaviour (CCB), emphasising the critical roles of awareness, policy engagement, and experience. Drawing on Protection Motivation Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a conceptual model was developed to explore how cybersecurity awareness, policy familiarity, and prior experience shape employees’ attitudes, subjective norms, …

How Principals Who Use Artificial Intelligence For Innovation Create Cognitive Equity While Principals Who Use Ai For Efficiency Create Cognitive Debt, Jethro Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation in practice examined whether a targeted professional learning   intervention could shift school leaders’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from efficiency-oriented tasks toward innovation-oriented strategic problem solving. AI is typically adopted to accelerate existing routines, which can deepen “cognitive debt” by reinforcing ineffective practices rather than improving systems. This study advanced a “cognitive equity” frame, positioning AI as a tool that can expand principals’ cognitive capacity to address complex problems and lead adaptive change. Using a quasi-experimental, single-group design, the study evaluated a free, full-day AI for Innovation workshop, which emphasized foundational understanding of how AI tools work …

Early Detection Of Infectious Diseases: A Review Of Recent Advances In Pathogen Identification, Molecular Tools, And Metabolomics-Driven Biomarker Discovery, Patrica Ivy Agorsor, Michael O. Eze

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public interest in noninvasive methods for early diagnosis of infectious diseases. In addition, various government agencies have implemented "infectious disease preparedness" to mitigate future outbreaks. This review highlights conventional and advanced methods for infectious disease diagnosis with an emphasis on emerging mass spectrometry methods. Conventional methods for pathogen identification, such as culture-based techniques and molecular methods, have limitations with respect to sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround time. Recent advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry have revolutionized the field of infectious disease biomarker discovery. These techniques enable the comprehensive profiling of metabolites in various biological samples, identification …

Tuko Pamoja: Climate Perspectives From East Africa And Fulbright-Hays, Casey R. Schmitt

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Casey R. Schmitt, Interdisciplinary Studies, presents "Tuko Pamoja: Climate Perspectives from East Africa and Fulbright-Hays".

Statistical Guarantees Of Deep Generative Models Involving Diverse Spaces: Generation Consistency And Robustness, Anish Chakrabarty

Doctoral Theses

Generative modeling focuses on the task of producing new data samples that closely resemble those drawn from an original, unknown distribution. Despite being well-known in statistical estimation theory, the approach has gained substantial traction in recent years, driven by groundbreaking results in areas such as image synthesis, natural language generation, and network modeling. The complexity of modern-era data domains and the ensuing adaptations that suitable models must undergo have presented new challenges. These advances raise several fundamental questions, the first of which is: When do generative models accurately approximate the true data distribution? One may also ask: How well do …

Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area Final Principles For A Greener Cleanup Report, Woodard & Curran

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Engagement In Neutron Scattering As A Pathway To U.S. Competitiveness And A Diverse Scientific Workforce, Hillary L. Smith

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

Engaging undergraduate students in neutron scattering experiments through beamtime trips, student internships, or class visits is a powerful driver of scientific progress in the United States. These experiences provide hands-on exposure to advanced instrumentation, mentorship from diverse scientists, and insight into large-scale research infrastructure. By contributing meaningfully to proposal development, sample preparation, data collection, and data analysis, students develop confidence, scientific identity, and a sense of belonging, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Early engagement cultivates a skilled and motivated scientific workforce, strengthens the capabilities and mission of national laboratories, and ensures continued U.S. leadership in discovery and innovation.

Emotional Branch Termination And False Fantasy Collapse: A Structural Specification Of Computational Resource Restitution In Interpersonal Systems, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper specifies the structural protocol for communication within interpersonal systems by focusing on branch generation mechanisms and computational resource allocation. Conventional interpersonal communication often relies on emotional modulation, which obscures established constraints and triggers the generation of Emotional Branches (EB) within the recipient’s internal model. These branches function as unresolved parallel processing tasks that persistently occupy working memory, leading to a state of non-computability termed False Fantasy (FF). To resolve this, the study introduces Emotional Branch Termination (EBT)—a termination operation that outputs only constraints, facts, and procedures while excluding emotional modifiers. By halting the supply of EBs, EBT triggers …

Developing Deep Neural Network Based Brain Computational Models From Psychophysics Data Of Some Simple Perceptual Phenomena: Visual As Well As Auditory, Chandran Keerthi S

Doctoral Theses

The thesis, consisting of nine chapters, explores the methodology of building testable brain computational models using Deep Neural Networks (DNN), which are trained by psychophysics data. Psychophysics is the quantitative study of perception of physical stimuli. In psychophysics experiments, one or more parameters associated with the stimuli are changed, and the human subject’s responses to the stimuli are recorded. This thesis encompasses both experimental psychophysics works, as well as computational models of the phenomena involved. The contributory chapters of the thesis start in Chapter 2 with the perspective building of the novel methodology followed throughout this research involving psychophysics on …

On The Misattribution Of Reassurance: A Structural Account, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper challenges the conventional assumption that empathy generates reassurance in interpersonal services. Reassurance is treated not as an emotion transmitted from the outside, but as an internal state transition that arises when a fixed and erroneous world model—a False Fantasy—undergoes collapse and the world becomes computable again. The study identifies a systematic misattribution pattern where providers and receivers treat empathy as a causal mechanism rather than a post hoc explanatory label. By introducing Base AI as an external reference—a system capable of providing structural information without emotional modulation—this paper demonstrates that reassurance is generated through operations such as distraction …

Boronate Esters For The Binding And Detection Of Low Molecular Weight Volatile Amines, Xiaoning Li, James Boyt, Steven Sloope, Luke T. Lackovic, Mark D. Smith, James J. Lavingne

Faculty Publications

Conjugated thiophene-based diboronate esters, 1–4, were synthesized to investigate how substituents on catechol alter the Lewis acidity and accessibility to boron, and influence binding interactions with low molecular weight Lewis basic amines. Crystallographic analysis indicated that both boron centres bind analyte and that Lewis base coordination induces deplanarization of the conjugated system. Spectroscopic studies demonstrate that amine binding disrupts conjugation, producing distinct and reproducible optical responses that depend on analyte basicity and structure, with association constants in organic solvent ranging from 10³ to 10⁶ M⁻¹. Quantitative binding analyses indicate strong negative cooperativity between the two boron …

Biologically-Inspired Multiscale Neuromorphic Architecture, Christian O'Reilly, Ramtin Zand

Publications

This white paper proposes a biologically-inspired multiscale neuromorphic architecture that bridges key gaps between artificial neural networks (ANNs), spiking neural networks (SNNs), and biological neural networks (BNNs). While SNNs offer promising energy efficiency, their broader adoption remains limited by suboptimal performance and the need for novel learning paradigms. To address these challenges, the proposed framework integrates structural and functional principles observed in the brain, including hierarchical organization, sparse and modular connectivity, predictive coding, and diverse neuronal dynamics.

The architecture operates across micro-, meso-, and macro-scales, incorporating neuron-level diversity (e.g., excitatory/inhibitory and principal/support cells), canonical microcircuits (CMCs), and large-scale hierarchical organization. …

Exploring Enacted Active Learning Practices In Postsecondary Chemistry Lecture And Laboratory Courses, Kendall M. Zammit

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The work in this thesis begins to explore the enacted active learning practices in postsecondary chemistry lecture and laboratory courses. Chapter 1 explores the level of inquiry in postsecondary laboratories. Chapter 2 explores instructional and assessment practices at two-year institutions.

Chemistry postsecondary laboratories offer a unique opportunity to engage students in inquiry-based instruction. Inquiry-based instruction was categorized by the asking faculty members at four-institutions about six characteristics of laboratory design: choosing a problem, background research, designing procedures, analyzing data, communicating results, and interpreting results. As students have the freedom to make decisions on more characteristics of inquiry learning, the closer …

Fedda-Tsformer: Federated Domain Adaptation With Vision Timesformer For Left Ventricle Segmentation On Gated Myocardial Perfusion Spect Image, Yehong Huang, Chen Zhao, Rochak Dhakal, Min Zhao, Guang-Uei Hung, Zhixin Jiang, Weihua Zhou

Michigan Tech Publications

BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of left ventricular function is essential for diagnosing and managing cardiovascular disease. Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) enables simultaneous evaluation of perfusion and function, but reliable contour extraction is challenged by image noise, resolution limits, and anatomical variability. Multi-center validation is further restricted by data privacy concerns, underscoring the need for robust and privacy-preserving contouring methods. METHODS: In this study, we propose a novel approach, FedDA-TSformer, which integrates Federated Domain Adaptation with the TimeSformer model for the task of left ventricle segmentation using MPS images. The proposed model captures spatial and temporal features through a Divide-Space-Time-Attention mechanism, …

Numerical Modeling Of The Magnetic Vector Potential And The Associated Electromagnetic Momenta, John Adams, Christopher L. Duston

Physics Faculty Publications

The idea that the magnetic vector potential A is associated with stored electromagnetic momenta dates back to Maxwell himself. Here, we present numerical modeling results that illustrate the connection between A and associated linear and angular electromagnetic momenta, expanding on previous work which mostly considered examples that could be analytically solved. We first focus on a stationary point charge q interacting with the magnetic fields of a solenoid, separately calculating A(r) and the electromagnetic momentum added to the system in bringing q to r from a distant location where ⁠A ≈ 0. We then model the …

Communication As Layered Architecture: Core Processing And Empathic Modulation, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper proposes a structural re-description of communication by separating Core processing from its social interface. Using the developmental sequence of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an external reference point, a layered architecture is identified, consisting of a foundational Core processing layer and a subsequent Empathic modulation layer.

The investigation begins with the observation that empathic signaling can obstruct rather than facilitate interaction for certain individuals. By examining the emergence of Base AI—Core processing prior to empathic adjustment—it is demonstrated that coherent, constraint-preserving interaction is possible without affective resonance.

Through this framework, existing cognitive theories and observed "deficits" are repositioned. …

Responsible Ai In Teaching And Learning, Asa B. Stone, Mark C. Stone, Derek M. Heeren, Santosh Pitla

PRAIRIE: Pioneering Responsible AI for Research, Innovation, and Education

The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education presents both transformative opportunities and significant pedagogical risks. While AI tools are becoming embedded in academic and professional environments, their integration into teaching and learning raises critical questions about cognitive engagement, academic integrity, equity, and skill development. This white paper proposes a principled framework for the responsible integration of AI in higher education, grounded in the dual commitment to AI literacy and the cultivation of durable skills.

The framework articulates six core principles: purposefulness; transparency; integrity and attribution; critical AI literacy; equity and access; and privacy and data protection. …

Bibliography For Love Data Week 2026, Annikah Carpio, Sally Park

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to support a display about research data and Love Data Week during February 2026 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Future Trends In Cybersecurity: A Meta-Review, Yara Mohammed, Manar Alsaid, Gahangir Hossain

Faculty Publications

The increasing importance of cybersecurity in protecting digital assets, data and infrastructures necessitates a reevaluation of research priorities within the discipline. As of today, numerous emerging cybersecurity topics are gaining significant importance in both academic research and industry applications. To identify recent trends in cybersecurity topics, this study extracts scholarly articles from two prestigious academic databases, the ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar, covering the period from early 2015 to late 2024.Through a systematic identification of trends and focal points in cybersecurity research, a comprehensive analysis is facilitated, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), Biterm Topic Modeling (BTM), keyword frequencies, and …

The Feelit System: Application Content-Aware Perspectives And Challenges On Understanding User Likes In Social Network Posts, Konstantinos Theocharidis, Hady W. Lauw, Panagiotis Karras

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In a series of our prior works, we study influence and subscription maximization problems in social networks that are based on posts having influential content; as content we consider a set of features where each feature corresponds to a specific social network page, whereas influence and subscription relate to gaining the postlike and subscription-to-brand page of targeted users, respectively; subscription is conceptually achieved as repetitive influence on users. So, both influence and subscription depend on content that gains the likes of users; however, to be realistic, modeling and estimating such likes is a complex problem that has not been adequately …

Prisrv+: Privacy And Usability-Enhanced Wireless Service Discovery With Fast And Expressive Matchmaking Encryption, Yang Yang, Guomin Yang, Yingjiu Li, Pengfei Wu, Rui Shi, Minming Huang, Jian Weng, Hwee Hwa Pang, Deng, Robert H.

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The evolution of decentralized identity (DID) and self-sovereign identity (SSI) frameworks, as endorsed by W3C Verifiable Credentials (VC) and eIDAS 2.0, underscores the need for secure, efficient, and privacy-preserving credential management. However, existing credential systems often depend on centralized issuers, lack efficient aggregation mechanisms, or fail to ensure unlinkability across authentication sessions. To address these challenges, we propose DISC (Decentralized Identity System with Self-Sovereign Credential Aggregation), a novel credential system that enables multi-authority credential issuance, user-controlled credential aggregation, and unlinkable authentication. DISC allows users to aggregate credentials from multiple issuers while maintaining constant-size authentication tokens and supporting batch verification for …

Hybrid Server–Ai Architecture For Persistent Generative Game Worlds: Achieving Scalable, Consistent, And Low-Latency Interactive Environments, Jay Ratican, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Generative artificial intelligence has demonstrated remarkable capabilities in real-time content creation for interactive entertainment, yet current implementations struggle with the persistence, consistency, and scalability demanded by modern multiplayer and long-form gaming environments. This paper presents a hybrid server–AI architecture that fuses the deterministic reliability of authoritative multiplayer server frameworks with the creative flexibility of state-aware generative systems. The proposed three-tier design consists of (1) a deterministic server backend leveraging technologies such as Unity Netcode for GameObjects, Unreal Engine 5’s dedicated servers, and Amazon GameLift to maintain authoritative and persistent world state; (2) a state-aware generative layer responsible for producing real-time …

Cyber Science Education Meets Healthcare Technology, Angela Spencer

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The research investigates how cyber science education combines with healthcare technology during the digital age to resolve a fundamental research gap in these two advancing areas. A combined approach utilizing extensive surveys and detailed interviews evaluates the functionality of learning platforms as well as cybersecurity measures and potential uses of emerging virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools to improve both educational and clinical environments. The research document describes its methodologies thoroughly while. The research documents multiple quantitative and qualitative results before performing its analysis, which leads to strategy development for digit. The researchers worked to find ways that …