Digital Commons Network^™

Domain-Specific Aspect Extraction For Product Design, Divyam Sobti, Mahima Agumbe Suresh, Cristina Tortora, Vimal Viswanathan

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

As technology advances, computers become increasingly proficient at interpreting and translating human language into machine-understandable text. With the help of algorithms in natural language processing (NLP), machines can now translate textual data. These algorithms help identify and extract specific text components known as aspects. The aspects represent specific attributes or topics within textual data. For instance, if a product review states, “This phone has good battery life but poor camera quality, " and attributes like 'battery life' and 'camera quality' represent aspects in the text. Aspect extraction is a pivotal process involving identifying and isolating key features or topics within …

The Normalization Of Clandestine Graves In Mexico, Alejandra Vela

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Clandestine graves are increasing at an alarming rate in Mexico, as cartels fight for dominance over the wealthiest territories. Those who fall victim to cartels are brutally tortured into submission or are murdered and disposed of. These graves are the preferred method of body disposal by the cartels. By disposing of various victims in hidden locations, the cartels seek to erase the existence of these individuals. Victims are reduced to only bone fragments and ash. Friends and family of those who have gone missing have created a large search organization, Madres Buscadoras, to combat the helplessness of authorities. Madres Buscadoras …

Identity And The Russian-Ukrainian War: Evidence From The American Community Survey, Matthew Holian, Oleh Wolowyna

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to significant changes in ethnic identity and language preferences among U.S. residents. We observe an 18.9% increase in U.S.-born individuals identifying as ethnic Ukrainian from 2021 to 2022 and a 6.8% decrease for U.S.-born ethnic Russians, which cannot be attributed to prior trends or sampling variation. The changes among Ukrainians were more pronounced among college graduates and those living in Democratic-leaning counties. We document an increase in the use of the Ukrainian language among Ukrainian immigrants, which cannot be explained by prior trends or immigration patterns. We test for labor market discrimination, …

Cross Cultural Mentoring: Including Diversity Awareness Strategies Into Healthcare Leadership Mentor Curriculum To Support Career Advancement Of Underrepresented Racial And Ethnic Groups, Deidra R. Burris

Doctoral Projects

Background: Mentoring programs in healthcare organizations can establish clear pathways for advancement through various management and leadership levels to senior-level positions. While mentoring develops leaders, many healthcare organizations do not offer mentoring programs that address unique issues experienced by members of racially and ethnically underrepresented groups. A study was conducted using a single-group, repeated-measures design to assess the impact of an intervention aimed at improving mentor attitudes, behaviors, and confidence regarding cultural awareness in the mentoring relationships of healthcare leaders. Methods: The study was conducted in a large California healthcare organization. The Cultural Diversity Awareness related to Race/Ethnicity (CDA-R/E) subscales …

What Is The Impact Of An Education Program Designed To Remove The Healthcare Professional As A Barrier To Care For The Transgender And Gender Diverse Community?, Richard D. Dansereau

Doctoral Projects

Healthcare disparities disproportionately affect transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals, often due to implicit biases among healthcare providers. This study examines the impact of an educational intervention designed to address these biases and improve care for TGD patients. Using the Biased Care Model as a guiding framework, the intervention targeted three critical phases of bias: pre-visit assumptions, in-visit interactions, and post-visit decisions. Conducted in the intensive care unit of a mid-sized hospital in Northern California, the study employed a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design involving multidisciplinary healthcare workers. Participants completed a modified Jefferson Scale of Empathy survey to assess changes in cognitive and …

Artificial Intelligence In Modern Game Development, Karan Raval

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Artificial intelligence has transformed the landscape of game development in ways early pioneers could only imagine. In my project I explore four major phases of AI evolution: classical AI methods, the rise of machine learning, the advent of transformer architectures, and a spirited debate about whether transformers truly think. To illustrate these shifts I use examples like MYCIN, which helped doctors decide treatments, and Deep Blue, which beat a world chess champion. You’ve probably lost track of time exploring an open world that adapts to your choices, right? That sense of immersion is powered by AI behind the scenes. From …

Assessing Perceived Safety Of Non Motorized Travel With Virtual Reality, Vahid Balali, Sahand Fathi

Mineta Transportation Institute

Cycling is increasingly advocated as a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation, as reflected in both scholarly literature and policy initiatives. Nonetheless, the escalation in bicyclist crash fatalities underscores deficiencies in extant roadway designs that inadequately safeguard these vulnerable users. A persistent challenge in the examination of bicyclist safety, behavior, and comfort is the paucity of comprehensive cycling data. To enhance understanding of cyclists' behavioral and physiological responses safely and efficiently, this investigation utilizes a bicycle simulator within an immersive virtual environment (IVE). Off-the-shelf sensors are employed to evaluate cyclists' performance metrics (speed and lane position) and physiological responses …

Does The Transit Industry Understand The Risks Of Cybersecurity And Are The Risks Being Appropriately Prioritized?, Scott F. Belcher, Terri Belcher, James Grimes, Lusa Holmstrom, Andy Souders

Mineta Transportation Institute

The intent of this study is to assess the readiness, resourcing, and capabilities of public transit agencies to detect, identify, be protected from, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats. This study is an update of the 2020 Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) study, “Is the Transit Industry Prepared for the Cyber Revolution? Policy Recommendations to Enhance Surface Transit Cyber Preparedness.” In the previous study, the authors found that the transit industry was ill-prepared for cybersecurity attacks. Unfortunately, after four years and the development of new, and often free, resources, the situation has not markedly improved. In fact, this …

Finding Bert Errors By Clustering Activation Vectors, William B. Andreopoulos, Dominic Lopez, Carlos Rojas, Vedashree P. Bhandare

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The non-linear nature of deep neural networks makes it difficult to interpret the reason behind their output, thus reducing verifiability of the system where these models are applied. Understanding the patterns between activation vectors and predictions could give insight as to erroneous classifications and how to identify them. This paper explains a systematic approach to identifying the clusters with the most misclassifications or false label annotations. For this research, we extracted the activation vectors from a deep learning model, DNABERT, and visualized them using t-SNE to decode the reason behind the results that are produced. We applied K-means in a …

Temporal Reversibility Of Reactive Systems Out Of Equilibrium: Molecular Dynamics Simulation, O. Politano, Alejandro L. Garcia, F. Baras, M. Malek Mansour

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy production in macroscopic systems is non-negative, reaching zero only at thermodynamic equilibrium. As a corollary, this implies that the state trajectory of macroscopic systems is inherently time-irreversible under out-of-equilibrium conditions. However, over the past half-century, various studies have shown that this principle does not universally apply to the composition sample paths of certain isothermal reactive systems. Theoretical frameworks leading to this surprising observation primarily focus on perfectly homogeneous systems (often referred to as zero-dimensional systems), which inherently exclude the effects of local fluctuations. This oversimplification may account for the paradoxical theoretical predictions. …

Aircraft Routing And Crew Pairing Solutions: Robust Integrated Model Based On Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, Chengjin Ding, Yuzhen Guo, Jianlin Jiang, Wenbin Wei, Weiwei Wu

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Every year, airlines invest considerable resources in recovering from irregular operations caused by delays and disruptions to aircraft and crew. Consequently, the need to reschedule aircraft and crew to better address these problems has become pressing. The airline scheduling problem comprises two stages—that is, the Aircraft-Routing Problem (ARP) and the Crew-Pairing Problem (CPP). While the ARP and CPP have traditionally been solved sequentially, such an approach fails to capture their interdependencies, often compromising the robustness of aircraft and crew schedules in the face of disruptions. However, existing integrated ARP and CPP models often apply static rules for buffer time allocation, …

Early Detection Of Lameness In Dairy Cattle Using Activity Data, Image Analysis, Ai And Ml - An Approach For Improved Animal Welfare And Economic Impact, Chandrasekar Vuppalapati, Anitha Ilapakurti, Sandhya Vissapragada, Sriya Vuppalapati, Sharat Kedari, Santosh Kedari, Jaya Vuppalapati

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The economic burden of lameness in dairy cattle is a significant challenge facing the worldwide dairy industry. Studies suggest that it can cost the industry billions of dollars annually, with the exact cost varying by region. In the United States, the cost of lameness is estimated to be approximately $2 billion per year, while in the United Kingdom, it is around £200 million per year. These costs include lost milk production, decreased fertility, and treatment expenses. The impact of lameness on dairy cattle is far-reaching, posing a significant economic burden on farmers and countries and affecting animal welfare, milk production, …

Spartan Daily, April 16, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 33

Artificial Intelligence In Special Libraries In Africa For Selective Dissemination Of Information: Any Need?, Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study applied a descriptive survey design with a sampled population of 48 special librarians selected through purposive sampling techniques from 24 special libraries in Africa. The study was guided by four research objectives. The main instrument used for data collection was a 4 point scaled questionnaires scaled in that 1 = “strongly disagree” and 4 = “strongly agree”. The instrument was validated by three experts in measurement and evaluation from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria and further subjected to internal consistency test using Cronbach’s alpha. Result was coefficient α=.80 showing that the instrument was reliable. Data administration and …

Perspectives On Gaming Throughout The Years, Noh Fekre

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Video games are a lot younger of an art form compared to other mediums like books or movies which means how they fit into our culture isn’t really set in stone yet. They have existed for a while but got their first big boom through arcades and home consoles. I want to look at how video games present themselves differently to other mediums and how that might have affected their perception amongst the general populace while also looking at how that perception has changed over time due to how games have changed themselves.

When The Audience Takes The Controller: How Streaming Is Changing The Way We Play Games, Lea Wilhelmer

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

For decades, video games have been understood as solitary experiences. A player would sit alone or with a small group, controller in hand, navigating digital worlds where every action, decision, and outcome was shaped by their own input. At its core, gaming was personal. The lines between the audience and player were clearly drawn. The player was the one actively involved in the game, while everyone else was an observer, watching from the sidelines. This traditional model has seen significant transformation in the last decade, as the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and other similar services radically …

Redefining Fun: How Realism And Effort Engage Players In Video Games, Marsel Abdullin

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In the current era of video game development, the gaming industry frequently pursues instant gratification, creating a landscape for immediate and empowering rewards. Current trends clearly show that experiences allow players to become superhuman or extraordinary beings with very little difficulty, satisfying a common desire for escapism and power. This suggests that “fun” is commonly associated with ease, speed, and constant positive feedback. However, my counter-argument is the emergence of games such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Red Dead Redemption 2. These games operate with a different game design and philosophy. In fact, they embrace slowness, hardship, and the detailed …

The Evolution Of Video Game Collectibles And Marketplaces, Leland Lee

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Digital Collectibles such as weapon skins, avatar skins, emotes, and in-game art were created as a playful surprise for the video game experience. Many years later, it has produced a multibillion-dollar economy in the gaming industry and is also responsible for the high demand for intriguing in-game collectibles. Although these cosmetic features were initially meant for looks, they have evolved into something of actual value that has completely changed the landscape of games and how they are played. As a result, this has created an intricate environment where players are able to buy, trade, and sell in-game collectibles in both …

Nothing Is Off Limits, But Not Everything Is Done Right: Exploring Ineffability, Alejandro Maciel

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Games are capable of addressing absolutely anything. No topic is too big, too controversial, or too emotional. but not everything is done well; the problem isn't the subject, it's always the delivery. When the developers approach heavy topics without care, they risk doing harm. bwhen they do their research and consult communities and write with purpose, the result can be transformative. Representation, when handled with attention, isn't political correctness; it's simply good storytelling. it's how games become more than entertainment. They become tools for empathy, education, and more valuable connections

The Cost Of Creative Freedom: Comparing Aaa And Indie Game Development, Andrei Morgunov

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

The independent development model provides developers with creative freedom and personal fulfillment because it enables them to learn through hands-on experience while creating distinctive experiences and developing diverse skills. It provides them with both long-term ownership of their work and the chance to achieve remarkable success through their own efforts while allowing them to maintain direct communication with players who appreciate their creative output. The choice between AAA and indie depends on individual career goals, but developers who view games as more than just products of entertainment can find greater meaning in the indie path, Long-term triple-A developers who want …

Latent Active Transportation Methodology, Maria Chierichetti, Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki

Mineta Transportation Institute

Understanding and estimating latent demand for active transportation, such as walking and cycling, is essential for designing infrastructure and policies that promote sustainable mobility. Unlike traditional demand models that focus on observed trips, latent demand estimation seeks to quantify the unrealized potential for active travel due to barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, or lack of connectivity. This study develops a comprehensive latent demand model tailored for California, integrating geospatial analysis and multimodal accessibility assessments. The methodology employs a GIS-based corridor analysis approach, utilizing spatial accessibility metrics and distance decay functions to evaluate potential demand. It incorporates employment and …

Fuel Cell System Development For Heavy Duty Vehicles, Yu Yang, Hen-Geul Yeh, Bryan Aguirre

Mineta Transportation Institute

As California advances its ambitious goals for transportation electrification to combat climate change, hydrogen-powered fuel cells are emerging as a viable solution for overcoming the challenges of heavy-duty vehicles, offering an efficient alternative to lithium-ion batteries because they produce minimal chemical, thermal, and carbon emissions. One type of hydrogen fuel cell technology called proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) has garnered the most attention due to its distinct advantages, including relatively low operating temperatures (60–80 °C) and reliable performance at high current densities. However, despite their promise, PEMFCs face challenges, including in optimizing stack power output and safety concerns. To …

The Effects Of Avatar Human-Likeness On Psychological Closeness In Virtual-Reality, Rebecca L. Chae, Hyojin Lee, Eunsoo Kim

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This research explores the impact of avatar human-likeness on psychological closeness and its downstream consequences in virtual-reality work and learning environments. Study 1 suggests that people feel greater psychological closeness to more (vs. less) humanlike avatars. Study 2 applies machine learning to virtual-reality recordings and shows that people physically move closer to more (vs. less) humanlike avatars. Study 3 extends these findings by showing that avatar human-likeness positively influences attitudes toward adopting virtual-reality in education. Finally, Study 4 shows that enhanced psychological closeness to humanlike avatars promotes trust in instructors, leading to more favorable attitudes toward virtual experience. Two additional …

Spartan Daily, March 20, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 25

Introduction, Special Issue On Pandemic Secrecy: The Covid Origin Story And Pandemic Risk Society, Susan Maret

Secrecy and Society

No abstract provided.

Smart Highway Construction Site Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence, Mehran Mazari, Yahaira Nava-Gonzalez, Ly Jacky N. Nhiayi, Mohamad H. Saleh

Mineta Transportation Institute

Construction is a large sector of the economy and plays a significant role in creating economic growth and national development,and construction of transportation infrastructure is critical. This project developed a method to detect, classify, monitor, and track objects during the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure by using artificial intelligence and a deep learning approach. This study evaluated the performance of AI and deep learning algorithms to compare their performance in detecting and classifying the equipment in various construction scenes. Our goal was to find the optimized balance between the model capabilities in object detection and memory processing requirements. …

Renewable Electricity Management Cloud System For Smart Communities Using Advanced Machine Learning, Yukta Mehta, Vincent Lo, Vijen Mehta, Kunal Agrawal, Charan Teja Madabathula, Eugene Chang, Jerry Gao

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Based on the renewable energy assessment in 2023, it was found that only 21% of total electricity is generated using renewable sources. As the global demand for electricity rises in the AI world, the need for electricity management will increase and must be optimized. Based on research, many companies are working on green AI electricity management, but few companies are working on predicting shortages. To identify the rising electricity demand, predict the shortage, and to bring attention to consumption, this study focuses on the optimization of solar electricity generation, tracking its consumption, and forecasting the electricity shortages well in advance. …

Transformers As Transducers, Lena Strobl, Dana Angluin, David Chiang, Jonathan Rawski, Ashish Sabharwal

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We study the sequence-to-sequence mapping capacity of transformers by relating them to finite transducers, and find that they can express surprisingly large classes of (total functional) transductions. We do so using variants of RASP, a programming language designed to help people “think like transformers,” as an intermediate representation. We extend the existing Boolean variant B-RASP to sequence-to-sequence transductions and show that it computes exactly the first-order rational transductions (such as string rotation). Then, we introduce two new extensions. B-RASP[pos] enables calculations on positions (such as copying the first half of a string) and contains all first-order regular transductions. S-RASP adds …

Library And Information Science Research; A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis From 2014 To 2023, Khalid Alfouzan, Ikram Ul Haq, Ata Ur Rehman, Gulnaz Elahi, Faisal Shahzad

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Aim: The purpose of this study is to the highlight research growth in Library and Information Science (LIS) for the last decade (2014-2023) at the global level as indexed in the Scopus database.

Methodology: The retrospective research approach has been used on the dataset retrieved from the Scopus database. We used the “advanced document search” technique, selected the targeted period and typed the “Library and Information Sciences”. We chose only “Article” and “Review” from the document type filter and English from the language filter. The selected bibliometric properties were analyzed and tabular demonstrations of the periodic growth with …

Perceived Flexibility And Benefits As Determinants Of Cloud Computing Adoption By Academic Libraries In South-West, Nigeria, Adeniyi Isaiah Kayode, Sunday Adebisi Oguntayo Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Goal: This study has examined perceived flexibility and benefits as determinants of cloud computing adoption by academic libraries in South-West, Nigeria

Methodology: This study used interviews for gathered data in a strictly qualitative manner. The system librarians in South-West Nigerian university libraries were the intended audience. Twenty (20) system librarians employed in the ICT department of nine (9) university libraries in South-West Nigeria made up the sample. There were five research questions formulated and answered.

Findings/Results: System librarians acknowledge the benefits of cloud computing adoption in academic libraries. To overcome these challenges, meticulous strategic planning is required