Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Fisheries Observer Program Of Guyana’S Seabob Trawl Fishery : Insights Into Scientific Aspects And Onboard Working Conditions, Kadesha Shawyana Nedd

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Ai-Powered Learning Loop In Higher Education, Oualid Abidi, Vladimir Dzenopoljac, Aleksandra Dzenopoljac

All Works

Purpose – This study examines how generative AI tools affect business students’ academic performance by investigating whether flexible AI policies promote deeper learning, enhance self-efficacy and facilitate tacit knowledge acquisition in a Middle Eastern context, while ensuring efficiency and academic integrity. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative, exploratory study observed 20 final-year business students in Kuwait during five in-class activities using generative AI tools. Semi-structured interviews complemented the researcher’s observations. Thematic analysis revealed patterns in benefits, challenges and learning processes, leading to the development of the AI-powered learning loop framework to explain academic performance outcomes. Findings – The study indicates that generative …

Ai Companions And The Lessons Of Family Law, Clare Huntington

Faculty Scholarship

Virtual friends and lovers powered by artificial intelligence are rapidly moving to the center of our emotional and social lives. Millions of people turn to AI companions every day for conversation, romance, sexual intimacy, therapy, and education. AI companionship holds promise, potentially reducing loneliness, supporting people without access to mental health treatment, helping students learn, and offering a judgment-free space for sensitive conversations. But AI companionship also raises significant concerns. The technology's addictiveness may exacerbate loneliness and can undermine human relationships. Therapy bots may prove more harmful than helpful. AI companions can be emotionally abusive. And their access to the …

Instructors’ Strategies In Creating And Implementing Constructivist Llm-Based Learning Activities, Emily Aurelia, Shun Yi Yeo, Michelle Lui, Effie Lai-Chong Law, Anthony Tang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly being integrated into educational settings, enabling more adoption of constructivist teaching and learning approaches in classrooms. This paper explores the strategies instructors are currently using to incorporate LLMs into learning activities that align with constructivist principles, which emphasize that learners actively construct their own knowledge. Through interviews with nine instructors who have designed eleven distinct LLM-based activities and using reflexive thematic analysis, this study identifies various types of learning activities with respect to four different aspects of the constructivist learning theory. The strategies employed and challenges faced to foster constructivist student-LLM interaction were also …

Towards Goal-Oriented Intelligent Tutoring Systems In Online Education, Yang Deng, Zifeng Ren, An Zhang, Tat-Seng Chua

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Interactive Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) enhance the learning experience in online education byfostering effective learning through interactive problem-solving. However, many current ITS models do notfully incorporate proactive engagement strategies that optimize educational resources through thoughtfulplanning and assessment. In this work, we propose a novel and practical task of Goal-oriented IntelligentTutoring Systems (GITS), designed to help students achieve proficiency in specific concepts through a tailoredsequence of exercises and evaluations. We introduce a novel graph-based reinforcement learning framework,named Planning-Assessment-Interaction (PAI), to tackle the challenges of goal-oriented policy learningwithin GITS. This framework utilizes cognitive structure information to refine state representation andguide the selection …

Intentionframe: A Semi-Structured, Multi-Aspect Framework For Fine-Grained Conversational Intention Understanding, Zailong Tian, Zhuoheng Han, Lizi Liao, Lizi Liao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Understanding user intentions in multi-turn dialogues is critical for conversational AI, yet existing approaches—relying on rigid slot-value structures or unstructured free-text—fail to fully capture conversational complexity. In this paper, we propose IntentionFrame, a semi-structured framework inspired by psychological and cognitive intention theories, which organizes conversational intents into four interrelated aspects: situation, emotion, action, and knowledge. This design not only retains interpretability but also provides LLMs with a rich context to accurately parse and respond to nuanced user inputs. To efficiently scale IntentionFrame annotations, we introduce a Weakly-supervised Reinforced Generation (WeRG) method that leverages a small set of high-quality human annotations …

How Fair Workweek Laws Affect Labor Markets: A New York City Case Study, Joseph Pickens, Aaron Sojourner

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

If Sustainable Living Is Our Goal, Complexability Should Be Our Game: Playing Between Simplicity And Complexity​, Tim Lutz

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Tim Lutz, Earth and Space Sciences Emeritus, presents "If sustainable living is our goal, complexability should be our game: Playing between simplicity and complexity".

If Sustainable Living Is Our Goal, Complexability Should Be Our Game: Playing Between Simplicity And Complexity, Tim Lutz

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Tim Lutz, Earth and Space Sciences Emeritus, presents "If sustainable living is our goal, complexability should be our game: Playing between simplicity and complexity"

Mosquito Classification And Explainability From Image Data Via Deep Learning Techniques, Farhat Binte Azam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth, responsible for more human deaths annually than any other species. Mosquito-borne illnesses continue to pose severe risks to global health. In 2015 alone, there were an estimated 214 million malaria cases worldwide. Similarly, a 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Puerto Rico’s Department of Health received over 62,500 suspected cases of Zika, with 29,345 confirmed positive cases. In 2019, Southeast Asia experienced its worst dengue outbreak in recorded history. Of the approximately 4,500 mosquito species distributed across 34 genera, …

Italian Mathematics Prison Teachers’ Perspective On The Teaching/Learning Of Mathematics In Prison School, Andrea Maffia, Luca Decembrotto, Chiara Giberti, Federica Mennuni, Gabriella Pocalana, Silvia Regola, Agnese Telloni

Journal of Prison Education Research

Teaching in the prison context is characterized by a high complexity level; it is a multifaced activity influenced by several factors depending on the specific context. We present a preliminary but overall picture of schooling in Italian prisons by considering teachers’ reflections regarding their experiences in teaching mathematics in correctional facilities. To address the gap in the current literature on this issue, we conducted a SWOT analysis on the reflection provided by a group of nine Italian mathematics teachers who teach in different prisons and with different experiences and backgrounds. Their reflection allowed us to identify and describe six theory-driven …

Fahp-Topsis Model In Ranking Critical Success Factors Of E-Learning: A Comparative Analysis Of Normalization Methods, Judith R. Pande, David Koloseni, Septimi Kitta

Tanzania Journal of Science

The teaching and learning process has become effective and explicit due to the progressive development of e-learning. This has significantly transformed the education framework. As a result, evaluating the usefulness of e-learning requires a detailed understanding of the critical success factors that impact the success of e-learning environments. This study ranked these factors using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making techniques. Specifically, the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process was used to determine the weight of each factor, while the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution was used to rank the factors of e-learning. The study also examined and compared four normalization …

14th International Conference On Business, Technology And Innovation 2025, University For Business And Technology - Ubt

UBT International Conference

Welcome to IC – UBT 2025

UBT Annual International Conference is the 14th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make …

2025 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Jaime Pedigo, Jennifer Smith, Patty Watson, Heather Wohltman, Amanda Wolf

Programs

Each year, Eastern Illinois University proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our faculty in research, creativity, and engagement. This collection of accomplishments reflects the dedication of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the continual pursuit of knowledge. Many of these successes were made possible through meaningful collaboration with our students, who contribute as co-authors, research assistants, and partners in bringing ideas to life. Some of these professional milestones represent years of effort, demonstrating remarkable persistence and determination. We offer our heartfelt congratulations on this wide range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, colleges, and the University as …

Myfoodrx: A Personalized Food-As-Medicine Mhealth Application For Food-Insecure Adults With Chronic Conditions, Jay Hiteshkumar Jariwala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity (FI) remains a persistent public health challenge in the United States, disproportionately affecting underserved populations and contributing to higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Traditional Food-as-Medicine programs have emerged as promising interventions, but often follow a generalized, non-personalized approach that limits long-term effectiveness, especially among diverse, high-risk communities. This thesis presents MyFoodRx, a personalized mobile health (mHealth) application designed to address the intersection of food insecurity and chronic disease through tailored nutritional guidance, real-time pantry integration, and adaptive educational content.

Developed through a User-Centered Design (UCD) process, MyFoodRx leverages a modular client–server architecture, …

The Orange Glow In The Sunshine State: Three Visions Of Plato In Florida (1970-1990), Ryan Mcgahan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The PLATO network, a collection of mainframe computers, terminals, and educational software, has received an increasing amount of scholarly attention in the last decade as a social precursor to the modern internet. Existing histories have neglected to investigate the ways in which PLATO and its related business enterprise worked to accelerate the shift in university governance away from classical liberal ideas centering the public good and towards a more profit-centered neoliberal rationality. By tracing the rise of PLATO in Florida universities, this paper argues that PLATO aided and was aided by the shifting priorities of American universities in the 1970s …

An Empirical Investigation Into The Effect Of Brain Drain “Japa Syndrome” On Agile Practitioners Developing Healthcare Information Systems Software In Nigeria, Yazidu Buba Salihu, Julian M. Bass, Gloria E. Iyawa

Communications of the IIMA

Within the software engineering context, agile approaches encourage customer collaboration, iterative development, and flexibility. However, the mass exodus of highly skilled professionals, known as the “brain drain” or "Japa Syndrome," has emerged as a significant challenge, especially in Nigeria. This phenomenon has particularly impacted agile software development practitioners by undermining project continuity, knowledge transfer, and team dynamics. This study empirically examines the effect of brain drain, “Japa Syndrome,” on agile practitioners developing healthcare information systems software in Nigeria. It employed a qualitative, multi-method approach to gather empirical data from 13 agile practitioners in Nigeria’s healthcare information systems sector. The study …

Impact Of Information Security Awareness Training On Knowledge, Attitude, And Behavior: A K-12 Case Study, Michael S. Robbins, Christopher Robbins

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Abstract— Information security breaches remain a serious threat across all sectors, often exploiting human factors rather than technical flaws. This study examines how a structured Information Security Awareness (ISA) training program influences employees’ knowledge of security policies, attitudes towards those policies, and self-reported security behaviors within a K-12 educational environment. A quantitative pre-test/post-test design was employed with 201 staff members (administrators, teachers, and support personnel) in a public school district. Participants completed the Human Aspects of Information Security Questionnaire (HAIS-Q) before and after undergoing an interactive cybersecurity training program. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in information security knowledge, attitudes, …

Training The Brain: A Machine Learning Approach To Predicting Wellbeing Through Intentional Thought Pattern Modification, Sellappan Palaniappan, Rajasvaran Logeswaran, Kasthuri Subaramaniam, Oras Baker, Bui Ngoc Dung

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

This study provides a quantitative framework for wellbeing outcome prediction through intentional cognitive pattern alteration. We demonstrated 81.67% accurate prediction of wellbeing states, in a three-level classification (Low, Medium, High), using a Random Forest classifier with 16 features from psychological, physiological, and behavioural metrics. Our model singles out the gratitude cultivation (21.3%) and peace duration (23.7%) as the strongest predictors of positive well-being outcomes, which provides empirical support to traditional approaches of cognitive training with empirical evidence. Analysis of 1,000 synthetic cases shows that consistent practice of positive thought patterns over 3-6 months can strongly shift wellbeing states, with key …

Exploring Generative Ai Recommender Systems In E-Commerce: Model, Evaluation Metric, And Comparative Review, Wan-Er Kong, Tong-Ern Tai, Palanichamy Naveen, Kok-Why Ng, Lucia Dwi Krisnawati

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is changing what can be done with Recommender Systems (RS) in e-commerce by allowing much more interactive, situationally aware, and highly tailored experiences for users. The purpose of this paper is to provide overall insight into how GAI, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), and other emerging methods, is affecting the building and running of modern e-commerce RS. This paper classifies generative models into groups based on the type of models used, data modality, and specific domain of application. Their involvement in tasks such as personalized product ranking, content generation, …

User Behaviour Prediction In E-Commerce Using Logistic Regression, Wei-Wen Lee, Noramiza Hashim, Shaymaa Al-Juboori

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

From a psychological perspective, human behaviour reflects underlying thoughts and decision-making patterns, for example, consumer behaviour may correlate with the purchase decisions. In the fast-evolving e-commerce industry, predicting user behaviour is essential for enhancing marketing strategies, improving customer experiences, and increasing sales. However, traditional heuristic (e.g. market basket analysis) approaches to analyse buyer behaviour are often rigid and fail to adapt to complex consumer interactions. This research work develops a predictive model that analyses user behaviour based on data such as historical purchasing patterns and demographic attributes. Based on a review of previous studies, Logistic Regression (LR) is utilized as …

Efficacy Of Teaching At The Right Level Approach Combined With The Problem-Based Learning Model On Science Learning Outcomes At Middle School, Heri Syahputra Azhar Panjaitan, Ryan Dwi Puspita

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research seeks to evaluate the efficacy of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) strategy in conjunction with the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model on the scientific learning outcomes of eighth-grade students at middle school Islam Terpadu Khairul Imam. This research addresses the inadequate scientific problem-solving abilities and science learning outcomes of Indonesian students, necessitating a more interactive and individualized instructional technique. The methodology used is a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group. The sample included two purposively chosen eighth-grade classes: one experimental class (n=25) underwent the TaRL–PBL intervention, whereas the control class (n=25) simply used the lecture approach. …

Development Of Digital Comic Learning Media Based On Mobile Learning On Media: Making Media Materials In Plant Tissue Culture, Sufina Intan Pertiwi, Fauziyah Harahap, Aline Gusti Yolanda Harahap, Marsya Amira Indrawati, Aline Jelita Christiani Simanullang, Yanda Febry Gracea Br Tarigan, Maureen Efriyanti Sitinjak

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

his research was conducted based on student needs analysis, analysis of learner characteristics, and curriculum analysis, namely the lack of visualization and presentation of concepts and the lack of utilization of interactive technology in the learning process on media material and media making in tissue culture for college students. This study intends to develop digital comic media based on mobile learning and making media materials in tissue culture. This research method used research and development (R&D) with the ADDIE model: analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate. The subjects of this study were students of the Department of Biology, Universitas Negeri …

Problem-Based Learning Assisted By Augmented Reality On The Respiratory System Topic: A Study Of Students’ Critical Thinking Skills And Learning Motivation, Nyimas Dilviana, Ade Yeti Nuryantini, Sumiyati Sa'adah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model assisted by Augmented Reality (AR) technology regarding the respiratory system in improving students’ critical thinking skills and learning motivation. The research method used was a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest model. The subjects were 30 eleventh-grade students from a public high school in Garut City. Research instruments included a critical thinking test and a learning motivation questionnaire. The results showed a significant improvement in students’ critical thinking scores after the implementation of PBL with AR support. Additionally, learning motivation data analyzed from 16 statement items revealed …

Analyzing Adversarial Strategies And Countermeasures For Cyberbullying Detection, Maddie Juarez, Eldor Abdukhamidov, Manuel Sandoval, Deborah Hall, Mujtaba Nazari, George Thiruvathukal, Tamer Abuhmed, Yasin Silva, Mohammed Abuhamad

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cyberbullying on social networking sites has become more prevalent. Most cyberbullying detection models often lack consideration of adversarial threads, leaving them vulnerable. This study evaluates the resilience of text-based cyberbullying detection models, constrained by limited available datasets, against word-level substitutions and character-level perturbations. We consider well-established ML techniques with real-world data and more recent LLM-based approaches to uncover model weaknesses. The results reveal that adversarial attacks can significantly reduce detection accuracy, e.g., most models are vulnerable to word- and character-level attacks with success rates up to 88% and 44%, respectively. We also find that LLM-based models such as CyberBERT are …

Introductory Chemistry Student Success: Investigating Study Strategies And Evaluating An Informative Utility Value Intervention, Pallavi Nayyar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving retention in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs is essential to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the domestic workforce. To achieve this, it is critical to understand and address the factors that influence student persistence in STEM degrees. Gateway courses such as general chemistry often serve as early barriers to STEM degree completion, with high rates of attrition that impact not only individual students but also institutions and society. Therefore, the aim of this work was to examine and influence the factors that contribute to student withdrawal from introductory chemistry courses in order to promote …

Scientific Authority In The Public Sphere: The Heroic Legacies Of Carl Sagan And Philip Zimbardo, Scott T. Allison

Heroism Science

This article examines the parallel trajectories of Carl Sagan and Philip Zimbardo as scientists who assumed the role of public intellectuals. Their careers highlighted the tensions and opportunities inherent in bridging scholarly research and public engagement. Sagan, an astronomer, popularized the cosmic perspective to promote planetary stewardship, while Zimbardo, a social psychologist, used compelling methodologies to explore the psychological underpinnings of cruelty and heroism. Both were, in their own ways, heroic in their commitment to making science accessible, employing storytelling and mass media to render complex concepts understandable and relevant, thereby expanding the societal relevance of their disciplines. However, their …

Investigating Factors Influencing Organic Chemistry Learners' Explanation Sophistication And Representational Competence, Caroline J. Crowder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research presented in this dissertation has two themes: organic chemistry learners’ written explanations and representational competence. Chapters 3 and 4 explore how organic chemistry learners construct explanations of reaction mechanisms, specifically focusing on electrophile and nucleophile components. Chapter 5 investigates organic chemistry learners’ representational competence skills and the relationship between these skills and their performance in the course.

Understanding reaction mechanisms is critical for success in organic chemistry, yet learners often struggle to reason beyond explicit, surface-level features. Constructed-response prompts that ask learners to explain what is happening in a reaction mechanism and why it occurs can provide insight …

Interdisciplinary Narratives On Artificial Intelligence & Personnel Selection Systems, John Hunter, Melissa Intindola, Neil Boyd, Thiago Serra Azevedo Silva

Faculty Journal Articles

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly and persistently become a daily presence in our lives, and its omnipresence has eclipsed the speed with which scholars can fully assess its efficacy and pitfalls. AI’s ubiquity and the lack of a clear understanding of its implications for humanity has spurred scholars across disciplines to action, and scholars in the field of Human Resource Management (HR) have certainly joined the fray. As scholars with a variety of experience and scholarship across disciplines, we believe that the burgeoning conversation in the HR literature would significantly benefit from a greater presence of interdisciplinary knowledge.

Growth Mindset In The Mathematics Classroom: Studying The Effects Of A Growth Mindset Intervention On High School Students In A Geometry Classroom, Katelyn Strauss

Mathematics Graduate Theses

Having a growth mindset is crucial to being successful in a mathematics classroom. However, many students believe themselves to be either “mathematics people” or “not mathematics people”. When students believe they are not a mathematics person, they are far less likely to engage in material where they face struggles, and thus they miss out on valuable learning. A review of the literature has show that students have been able to shift their mindset from fixed to growth through a series of interventions. I used a unit in Geometry to see how a growth mindset intervention would affect the mindset of …