Digital Commons Network^™

Latent Classification Of Multi-Model Non-Homogeneous Continuous-Time Markov Chains, Joonha Chang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) model and latent clustering models are commonly used to study longitudinal measures of categorical outcomes. Because of its simple but powerful Markovian property, CTMC models have been widely used in medical and public health researches. Due to limitations in the standard CTMC model, there have been some studies on non-homogeneous continuous-time Markov chain (NH-CTMC) that utilized time-dependent rates, but the progresses have been limited. NH-CTMC can be more powerful than CTMC by its default nature of time-dependent rate that can be fitted to a wider range of applications in medical studies. In this study, we …

Context-Aware Affective Behavior Modeling And Analytics, Md Taufeeq Uddin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Affective computing (AC) is a sub-domain of AI that has the potential to assist people by assessing mental states and making appropriate recommendations to patients, loved ones, caregivers, and domain experts. Humans usually produce an enormous amount of data (such as face videos) every day. One of the major challenges for affective computer vision is to efficiently deal with high volumes of data to facilitate automated model development. To cope with this challenge, we developed computer vision algorithms that measure the expressivity of the human face from video data. More precisely, the developed algorithms can map complex affect information from …

An Exploration Of Companion Robots, Annelyse Lockhart

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Japan and the United States have a drastically different view towards artificial intelligence and smart machines. Within my project, I did an exploratory analysis of robotics within the United States and Japan, and posed the question as to why Japan has substantially more robotics within their day-to-day life. I took an in-depth look at Japanese robotics that do not exist within the United States, as well as explored the biases behind smart machines in both cultures. Judging Category: Exploratory

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Big Red By Ai, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period March 3 - April 8, 2024.

• Big Red, Is That You?
• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor - Artificial Intelligence
• Phelps, Maggie. What is AI? - Artificial Intelligence
• AI’s Impact on Higher Education
• Reed, Bailey. Students Share Opinions on AI
• Abney, Shayla. WKU Faculty Discuss AI in Courses
• Hawkins, Kaylee. AI’s Impact on Blackboard Ultra
• Randolph, Eli. AI Recreates a WKU Tour
• Shaw, Cameron. WKU Department of Political Science Hosts Dead President’s Tour

Comparing Cognitive Theories Of Learning Transfer To Advance Cybersecurity Instruction, Assessment, And Testing, Daniel T. Hickey Ph.D., Ronald J. Kantor

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The cybersecurity threat landscape evolves quickly, continually, and consequentially. This means that the transfer of cybersecurity learning is crucial. We compared how different recognized “cognitive” transfer theories might help explain and synergize three aspects of cybersecurity education. These include teaching and training in diverse settings, assessing learning formatively & summatively, and testing & measuring achievement, proficiency, & readiness. We excluded newer sociocultural theories and their implications for inclusion as we explore those theories elsewhere. We first summarized the history of cybersecurity education and proficiency standards considering transfer theories. We then explored each theory and reviewed the most relevant cybersecurity education …

Discourse- And Lesion-Based Aphasia Quotient Estimation Using Machine Learning, Nicholas Riccardi, Satvik Nelakuditi, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Chris Rorden, Julius Fridriksson, Rutvik H. Desai

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Discourse is a fundamentally important aspect of communication, and discourse production provides a wealth of information about linguistic ability. Aphasia commonly affects, in multiple ways, the ability to produce discourse. Comprehensive aphasia assessments such as the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R) are time- and resource-intensive. We examined whether discourse measures can be used to estimate WAB-R Aphasia Quotient (AQ), and whether this can serve as an ecologically valid, less resource-intensive measure. We used features extracted from discourse tasks using three AphasiaBank prompts involving expositional (picture description), story narrative, and procedural discourse. These features were used to train a machine learning model …

Bv2trs Appraiser Model: Enforcing Bharat Version2 In Tree Soft Modelling For Appraising E-Mobility Hurdles, Mona Mohamed, Florentin Smarandache, Michael Voskoglou

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Electric vehicles (EVs) are being introduced to lessen greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollution, and reliance on fossil fuels. As a result of the government's aggressive promotion of EVs and rising environmental consciousness, EVs are quickly rising to the top of the low-carbon transportation market. Several viewpoints suggested that shifting to electric vehicles has been seen as a potential way to achieve sustainable mobility. Nevertheless, many studies discussed the obstacles and hurdles that obstruct the embracing of various electric-mobility (E-mobility) as EVs and electric-scooters (E-scooters) as eco-friendly means. Herein, we discussed these hurdles and determined them through surveys for prior …

Mourning The Planet And Signs Of Hope: The Role Of Grief And Resilience In How Students Understand Climate Change, Zachary C. Wooten, Jocelyn Brown

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Professor Zachary Wooten (Honors College) and Jocelyn Brown '23 present "Mourning the Planet and Signs of Hope: The Role of Grief and Resilience in How Students Understand Climate Change"

Advancing Text Summarization And Classification: Deep Insights From Transformer-Based Statistical Learning, Kun Bu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a part of human's daily life nowadays. Machine Learning (ML) as one aspect from AI has been rapidly developing during the past two decades, especially from the statistical learning approaches, which emphasized the use of probability and statistics to model data, such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) for classification and regression tasks to the ensemble learning techniques, such as Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), and stacking. Ensemble learning has evolved into a pivotal concept in contemporary machine learning, empowering practitioners to amalgamate multiple models to enhance generalization, accuracy, and robustness. As the field of machine …

Navigating The Maze: The Role Of Pre-Enrollment Socio-Cultural And Institutional Factors In Higher Education In The Age Of Ai, Emily Barnes, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This article explores the complex interplay between pre-enrollment socio-cultural and institutional factors and their impact on the higher education landscape. It challenges traditional metrics of academic achievement, presenting a nuanced perspective on student success that emphasizes the importance of socio-economic backgrounds, cultural capital, and K-12 education quality. The analysis extends to the significant role of institutional attributes in shaping student readiness and decision-making processes. The study advocates for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven assessments by higher education institutions to cater to the diverse needs of the student body, promoting an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Anchored in an extensive …

Rethinking Plagiarism In The Era Of Generative Ai, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, has precipitated a paradigm shift in the realms of academic writing, plagiarism, and intellectual property. This article explores the evolving landscape of English composition courses, traditionally designed to develop critical thinking through writing. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into the academic sphere, it necessitates a reevaluation of originality in writing, the purpose of learning research and writing, and the frameworks governing intellectual property (IP) and plagiarism. The paper commences with a statistical analysis contrasting the actual use of LLMs in academic dishonesty with educator …

Does The ”Freshman 15” Exist?, Peyton Albritton

Mathematics Senior Capstone Papers

This experiment was performed to determine whether the environmental changes of adapting from high school to college impact a student’s weight. Using a Google form, we collected data from 58 college students in two Psychology 102 classes, with ages ranging from seventeen to twenty-two. The students were asked a series of questions regarding their age and gender, as well as their eating, sleeping, and activity habit changes. Data was analyzed using hypothesis testing and a t-test.

Assessing The Usability And Feasibility Of Digital Assistant Tools For Direct Support Professionals: Participatory Design And Pilot-Testing, Patrice Dolhonde Tremoulet, Andrea Lobo, Christina A. Simmons, Ganesh Baliga, Matthew Brady

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Background: The United States is experiencing a direct support professional (DSP) crisis, with demand far exceeding supply. Although generating documentation is a critical responsibility, it is one of the most wearisome aspects of DSPs’ jobs. Technology that enables DSPs to log informal time-stamped notes throughout their shift could help reduce the burden of end-of-shift documentation and increase job satisfaction, which in turn could improve the quality of life of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) whom DSPs support. However, DSPs, with varied ages, levels of education, and comfort using technology, are not likely to adopt tools that detract …

White-Fronted Capuchins (Cebus Albifrons Aequatorialis) In La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve: A Study Of Aggressive Behaviors In Response To Human Presence, Marin Lynch

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons aequatorialis, is a critically endangered primate species native to Ecuador and northern Peru. Their population consists of only a handful of surviving troops spread out across this region. One surviving population exists in La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve in Ecuador. This reserve serves as an education and volunteer site for dozens of international travelers every year. I studied the effect of the presence of humans and the lodging they have constructed. Specifically, I investigated the effect on behavior of the proximity of the troops alpha male to manmade structures in the reserve. I …

Statistics Pedagogy: Modernizing Introductory College Statistics Courses For Students With Non-Stem Majors, Samantha Hazan

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

With the growing role of technology in society, statistics and statistical literacy have become ever more important. In reaction to this, many colleges now require students, regardless of major, to take an introductory statistics course. The intention behind this is to create a workforce of people who are capable of reasoning about statistics. While good intentioned, preliminary research suggests that current statistics curriculum is not effective in instilling the necessary skills to achieve statistical literacy, particularly for students not majoring in a STEM field. For this reason, this thesis looks to empirically evaluate how the disjuncture between teaching statistics and …

2024- The Twenty-Eighth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 28th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 17-19, 2024. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Shall We Place More Advanced Students In A Separate Class?, Shahnaz Shahbazova, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In every class, we have students who are more advanced and students who are more behind. From this viewpoint, it seems reasonable to place more advanced students in a separate class. This should help advanced students progress faster, and it should help other students as well, since the teachers in the remaining class can better attend to their needs. However, empirically, this does not work: when we form a separate class, the overall amount of gained knowledge decreases. In this paper, we provide a possible explanation for this seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon.

Increased Perceived Confidence In Professional Role Skills Among Undergraduate Dietetic Students Following Simulation-Based Learning Experiences, Makenzie Barr-Porter, Elizabeth Combs, Lauren Batey, Dawn Brewer, Aaron Kyle Schwartz, Tammy Stephenson

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Simulation-based learning experiences (SBLEs) are effective for teaching healthcare students clinical and communication skills. The current study assessed self-perceived clinical and communication confidence among dietetics students completing a series of four SBLEs (3 group, 1 individual) across nine months. Dietetics students were recruited in February 2023 prior to their first SBLE. Simultaneously through the academic year, students completed clinical and communication courses. Students were invited to complete an online, anonymous self-reported survey regarding confidence with nutrition care and communication prior to their first SBLE (Time 1), prior to their third SBLE (Time 2), and following their final SBLE (Time 3). …

A New Canvas Of Learning: Enhancing Formal Analysis Skills In Ap Art History Through Ai-Generated Islamic Art, Krista Carpino, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study explores the use of AI art generators to enhance formal analysis skills in AP Art History students, with a focus on Islamic Art and Architecture. Students, often entering the course with high academic achievements, find the unique challenge of articulating detailed visual descriptions of artworks. The study’s approach involves using AI image-generation websites, like wepik.com, where students create AI images resembling Islamic artworks studied in class. This method aims to refine their descriptive skills, focusing on visual evidence rather than relying on identifying details. The choice of Islamic Art, markedly different from other historical periods covered in the …

Community Opinions On Environmental Action On Isla Porvenir And Whichub Walla In The Guna Yala Comarca, Sofia Houts

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Guna Yala Comarca is the autonomous, self-governed territory of the Guna people, one of seven Indigenous groups in Panama. The Comarca is located on Panama’s eastern Caribbean coast and includes 365 coral islands. Forty nine Guna communities and roughly 32,000 individuals live in the territory. The Guna General Congress is the highest authority, and each community has a local congress. As a low-lying coastal region, Guna Yala is especially vulnerable to climate change and is already impacted by sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and changing precipitation patterns. Sub-national, national, and international forms of governance and environmental action are crucial …

Community Knowledge Of Shark Ecology, Abundance, And Species Composition In Wichubwala, Nalunega, And Porvenir Communities In The Guna Yala Comarca, Panamá, Kayley Jane Porter

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Sharks play a critical role in marine ecosystems as apex predators that exert top-down control of lower trophic levels. In recent decades, global shark populations have declined to unprecedented levels, triggering a cascade effect that threatens ecosystem functioning and, therefore, coastal community livelihoods that rely on marine resources for food and income. It is known that shark populations are vulnerable and on the decline due to anthropogenic stressors such as fishing and coastal development, but shark species composition and abundance are difficult to monitor due to the evasive nature of sharks, the often remote and inaccessible location of certain shark …

Exploring The Medicalization Of Menstruation: Analyzing Menstrual Hygiene Initiatives By Igos, Non-Profits And National Government In Switzerland, Victoria Wright

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Menstrual health serves as a critical indicator of reproductive health. It is pivotal in achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to women's and girls' comfort, agency, participation, safety, well-being, and dignity (Loughnan et al., 2020). This research investigates the medicalization of menstruation in Switzerland through a mixed-methods approach examining the strategies and roles of key stakeholders such as the WHO, local government initiatives, and NGOs in shaping the landscape of menstrual medicalization.

The findings reveal that while medicalization has brought about progressive changes, including the introduction of menstrual leave policies, it has resulted in a complex regulatory landscape, increased …

Improving Ethics Surrounding Collegiate-Level Hacking Education: Comprehensive Implementation Plan And Affiliation With Peer-Led Initiatives, Shannon O. Morgan

ALL - Honors Theses

The purpose of this research study is to analyze the ethical ramifications of hacking education on the collegiate level in relation to cybersecurity majors and minors. Educators and university officials must take action to prevent the misuse of the information, skills, and knowledge gained from being a student in a cyber-related course. As the dependence on technology rises, it is crucial that future technology professionals are effectively trained and taught the ins and outs of the field to better protect users from becoming a victim of a cyberattack. The outcome of this study is to compile a comprehensive list of …

Reflections About The Academy And Its Centennial, Marco Aldi, Woodward S. Bousquet

Virginia Journal of Science

Brief reflective essays from members of the Virginia Academy of Science were solicited as part of the Academy's centennial commemoration in 2023. The essays received demonstrate the many and varied ways in which the Academy has fostered collegiality, encouraged research, supported science education, and shaped the course of science in Virginia during the organization's 100-year history.

Historical Trends In The Astronomy, Math, And Physics Section Of The Virginia Academy Of Science, Joseph D. Rudmin

Virginia Journal of Science

A brief history of the Astronomy, Math, and Physics section of the Virginia Academy of Science is presented, noting trends in participation and content.

Characterizing And Developing Chemistry Students’ Data Analysis And Interpretation Of Chemical Data, Stephanie A. Berg

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

All chemistry students must develop competency in analyzing and making sense of data. However, there are many difficulties that chemistry students may experience while analyzing data. Many students may not use relevant prior knowledge to aid in making sense of data, or they may not form conclusions using all the data provided. Additionally, prior knowledge seems to influence one’s data analysis, but little is known about how students use it to make sense of data. Thus, I interviewed undergraduate students as they analyzed graphical data for a task and characterized how they used their prior knowledge throughout. My findings suggest …

Establishing Practical Equivalence Of Factor Loadings In Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Christopher Edward Shank

Dissertations

This dissertation compares the performance of equivalence test (EQT) and null hypothesis test (NHT) procedures for identifying invariant and noninvariant factor loadings under a range of experimental manipulations. EQT is the statistically appropriate approach when the research goal is to find evidence of group similarity rather than group difference; despite this, the conventional approach to measurement invariance analysis relies upon NHT. EQT has proved effective for invariance detection using global model-data fit statistics in simulated and real-world data (Counsell et al., 2020) but its use in partial measurement invariance (PMI) analysis for evaluation of factor loading differences between groups has …

Advanced Machine Learning Approaches For Predicting Mental Health Disorders Following Long Covid Diagnosis, Manoj Purohit

Master's Theses (2009 -)

After the global spread of COVID-19, the enduring effects of Long COVID and its health implications have emerged as a significant global issue, affecting people worldwide. The lingering symptoms post a COVID-19 infection can significantly affect individuals who had previously contracted the virus, exerting considerable influence over their mental well-being. Prolonged recuperation associated with Long COVID has been connected with the emergence of symptoms such as depression and anxiety, all of which can have adverse effects on emotional health. This project delves into an in-depth analysis of healthcare data pertaining to Long COVID from the Froedtert Health (FH) Medical System …

Let’S Move! Benefits Of Exercise Compared To Ssris (Escitalopram) For The Management Of Depression: Research From 2020 And Beyond, Brianna Droessler-Aschliman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Purpose: Determine the effectiveness of exercise as either monotherapy or in combination with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for the management of major depressive disorder.

• Studies gathered for this review came from the following databases: PubMed, SpringerLink, Academic Search Ultimate, Academic Search Complete, and CINAHL.

• Review of current research that was completed between the years 2020-2023 that consisted of either clinical trials, RCTs, or meta-analysis. • Upon completion of the literature review: exercise is equivocal to SSRIs as a treatment option. While this is a significant finding, the benefits of exercises are more consistent in those that …

2024 Research Day Program, Lincoln Memorial University

Research Day

This program contains abstracts and presentation summaries from LMU's 2024 Annual Research Day conference.