Digital Commons Network^™

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Dr_D1 Report Fy2023 - Database Search And Item Usage, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report DR_D1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. The DR_D1 report is defined as "Database Search and Item Usage." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

Searches Automated - 101,532

Searches Federated - 10,516

Searches Regular - 1,059,387

Total Item Investigations - 519,728

Total Item Requests - 219,645

Life Review Workbook, Iris Garcia Estrada

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice is a not for profit organization that provides a wide range of home health care services in the Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and South Santa Clara counties. VNA & Hospice is a specialized sort of care for people facing a terminal disease, their families, and caregivers. VNA Volunteers, who volunteer their time to help others, are an important part of the agency's staff. Caregiver burnout is often the result of devoting considerable time and energy when caring for a loved one that is in hospice, and not allowing oneself to rest. The …

Improving Self-Regulation In First Graders, Areli Santiago Perez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on the development of self-regulation skills in a first grade class. Self-regulation is an individual's capacity to comprehend and control their behaviors, emotions, and thoughts (Bockmann & Yu, 2022). Self-regulation abilities influence a child's academic performance. For example, some school age children get easily distracted from one activity to another, struggle to follow directions, and find it difficult to regulate their feelings, which can seriously create difficulties in their learning capabilities. Therefore , there is a need for self-regulation strategies to be taught to young school age children. By improved emotional control, students with higher self-regulation …

Language Influences Younger Generations: Social Media Affects Students In More Ways Than One, Charlie Torrecillas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Social Media has many positive effects but can also have many negative effects. Social Media is targeted more towards a younger audience. With social media being targeted to a younger audience, this can also affect their language and communication skills as well as their mental health. The purpose of this paper is to look at the effects social media can have with regards to language and communication. The paper also highlight mental health and how language, communication and mental health are connected. This paper is more focused on looking at the effects it has on students within the United States, …

Patient, Provider, And Interpreter Perspectives On Interpreter Modality And Barriers To Interpreter Use In A Pediatric Inpatient Setting, Brooklyn Leitch

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

There are a growing number of patients and families in the United States who use a language other than English (LOE). Standard of care for best patient outcomes requires that these families receive professional interpretation for every encounter, preferably in the interpreter modality that they are most comfortable with and that provides the best communication. Unfortunately, they often do not receive this. Objectives of this research include learning how interpreter services are selected and used as well as which modality (in-person, video, or phone) is preferred by patients and families, providers, and interpreters. We aim to better understand the experiences …

Cortical Tracking Of Syntax In Post-Stroke Aphasia: An Eeg Investigation Of Disrupted Sentence Comprehension, Matthew Blake Rafferty

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Purpose. People with aphasia following stroke commonly exhibit marked difficulties in sentence comprehension, referred to as receptive agrammatism. However, theories of receptive agrammatism differ in their assumptions regarding the underlying mechanisms of impairment. Representation-based theories ascribe receptive agrammatism to a loss of grammatical knowledge. Processing-based theories suggest that individuals with receptive agrammatism have intact grammatical knowledge but may possess insufficient neurocognitive resources to apply this knowledge within cognitively demanding contexts. In this study, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate whether these perspectives may be disambiguated by the neural activity profiles of people with aphasia during comprehension. For this purpose, we …

The Importance Of Teaching Social-Emotional Skills To Young Children, Stephanie Valdez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

My capstone project enhances the social-emotional skills of preschool children, which are fundamental for relationships, emotional management, and empathy. Children lacking these skills may struggle in learning, behavior, and socializing when they progress to elementary school. Studies have shown that social-emotional competence and cognitive competence are critical predictors of academic accomplishment (Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Benefits: Implications for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Core Elements, n.d.). Children in preschool who lack these skills may experience difficulties in learning, behavior, and socializing as they progress to elementary school (Amy Morin, 2019). A significant issue arises when children encounter obstacles …

The Lawlessness Of Sackett V. Epa, William W. Buzbee

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Agenda (12-1-2023), Associated Students, Incorporated

Associated Students, Incorporated records

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Incidence Of Specific Learning Disability: A Quantitative Study, Nora Nevarez

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study used a linear regression model to determine if a relationship exists between one independent variable (i.e., Socioeconomic Status) and one dependent variable (i.e., Specific Learning Disabilities). State level data was collected from publicly available databases in the State of Texas that delineate the percentage of students diagnosed with and placed in special education under the umbrella of Specific Learning Disabilities. These percentages were aggregated into the 20 Texas Educational Regional Service Centers. Additionally, national data was collected from publicly available databases listing the percentage of students at or under the age of 18 years old …

Meeting Students’ Needs To Improve Motivation And Higher Academic Achievement In Rio Grande Valley Schools, Tanya Jessica Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

Educational systems are to prepare students for future success in our ever-changing world. Administrators must realize that before a student is willing to learn, crucial needs must be met, especially in low-socioeconomic areas such as the Rio Grande Valley. Some basic needs consist of food and shelter, which are vital for survival. Other needs deal with one’s social and emotional needs that support a child's safety, sense of belonging, and their self-esteem. In this study, focus groups were conducted with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student participants that gathered the phenomenon of their experiences and their fulfillment of needs …

Analyzing How Resiliency, Family Support, And The College Assistance Migrant Program (Camp) Contribute To Latina/O/X Migrant Farmworker Students' Ability At A South Texas Hsi To Continue Into The Second Year Of Study And To Degree Completion, Angelica Yvette Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to identify the primary difficulties Latina/o/x migrant farmworker students face compared to non-migrant farmworker students regarding completing higher education and how they can overcome those barriers. Latina/o/x migrant farmworker students experience educational inequity that affects their potential to continue into higher education successfully. Although there is extensive research that analyzes the CAMP program effectiveness, migrant farm-worker students experiences, and the difficulties faced by migrant farmworker students in education, there is a gap in the literature that focuses on migrant farmworker students and their success in …

The Importance Of Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Development In Principal Efficacy, Lorine Olivarez Bazan

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, public schools have seen an increase in obstacles and challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and school leaders have had to pivot and adjust to meet these ever-changing demands (McLeod & Dulsky, 2021). Principals in today’s schools have had to discover new and innovative ways to successfully lead, motivate and support their school communities. This emerging leadership includes the leader’s ability to utilize emotional intelligence and leadership skills effectively and intentionally.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to take a deeper look at investigating the school principal’s utilization of emotional intelligence and effective leadership skills. This …

Level Of Opportunity For Translanguaging In A One-Way Dual Language Program, Cristina Flores

Theses and Dissertations

In the context of language diversity in schools, this research underscores the persistence of monolingual academic standards despite linguistic variety. Bilingual education, historically intertwined with sociopolitical agendas aligning with dominant societal power structures, necessitates a paradigm shift. Bilingual educators must empower students to utilize their complete linguistic repertoire, fostering creative language expression through translanguaging (Sánchez et al., 2018, p.13). This approach challenges superficial language norms, potentially deviating from the standard language codified by a powerful central group.

The study delves into the types of language practices teachers permit, promote, or prohibit and examines teachers' perceptions regarding the constraints of a …

Examining The Increasing Prevalence Of Academic Dishonesty: An Investigation Of Students’ Perceptions Of Academic Integrity In Higher Education, Luis Angel Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

A primary concern in academic institutions is the high frequency of academic dishonesty among students. Concerns surrounding this issue negatively affect the institution’s reputation and the acquisition of external funding. The purpose of this research was to explore the increasing prevalence of academic dishonesty at higher education institutions. Furthermore, the aim of the study is to investigate the frequency of students engaging in academic dishonesty, reasons for academic dishonesty, and awareness of academic dishonesty. Increasing awareness, prevention, and education regarding academic dishonesty can bring a positive environment to students in higher education. The participants were students enrolled in The University …

The Impacts Of Caregiving And Social Support On Stress For Multiple Sclerosis: A Study On Informal Caregivers, Jacqueline Mercado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present quantitative study was to gain an increased understanding of the impacts of caregiving and social support on stress for unpaid informal caregivers of persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Caregiving for MS can be rewarding yet stressful. Informal caregivers are the primary source of ongoing home care for family members or friends with MS. Due to the complexity of care, caregivers are especially vulnerable to higher strain as they often feel unprepared for this role. This study examined perceived social support and demographic variables on caregivers' stress to gain insight into mediating caregiver psychosocial challenges. …

A Victim No More: An Arts-Based Autoethnographic Inquiry, Richard D. Edmonson

Theses and Dissertations

Heteronormative culture and curriculum have traditionally prevailed within the college classroom (MacGillivray, 2000). Many LGBTQQIA+ students still find challenges regarding acceptance and integration which may impact their learning experiences (Nodin 2022). Addressing heteronormative curriculum and pedagogy includes discussing the relevance of LGBTQQIA+ inclusivity, visibility, and histories. For schools to become safe and welcoming environments for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and for the negative consequences of heterosexism to diminish for all, homophobia, heterosexism, heteronormativity, and heterosexual privilege must all be explicitly addressed and interrogated in students’ learning (Nunn & Bolt, 2015). One of the ways to do this and ameliorate …

School Nurses And The Sexual Health And Education Of Public-School Students In Tennessee, Amy Wake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tennesseans have been experiencing increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases since the year 2000. Those rates are highest among those 15- to 24-year-olds. At the same time, Tennessee policy requires the teaching of abstinence as the primary form of sexual health education and emphasized the use of abstinence-only curriculum. The school nurse represents an available resource in the Tennessee public schools. The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore, describe, and interpret the perceptions and experiences of public-school nurses from rural, suburban, and urban areas of Tennessee related to the sexual health and sexual health education of students. School …

A Word Of Warning: Educational Activists And Public Instruction Conspiracy Theories, David Philip San Juan

Dissertations

By utilizing a qualitative approach of educational criticism and connoisseurship, the purpose of this study was to explore the intentions and motivations, processes and strategies, and implications and outcomes of educational activists that work to expose and/or debunk a public instruction conspiracy theory. Data were collected through the interviews and observations of four participants that were educational activists that had worked to expose and/or debunk a public instruction conspiracy theory. Their related literature and artifacts such as various online and traditional publications, social media posts, and audiovisual materials were also collected and transcribed. Data were analyzed with numerous rounds of …

Exploring Teachers’ Reflections And Narratives Of Negative Language, Maya Khemlani David, Ameer Ali, Francisco Perlas Dumanig, Muhammad Hassan Abbasi

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

Language is used to communicate and express feelings and emotions. In the teaching context, teachers use language to share knowledge and information with students. Teachers’ use of negative language, such as duffer, stupid, and lazy, may result in students feeling mistreated, discouraged, and worthless. Such language can also negatively affect students’ cognitive processes, feelings, and emotions and blunt their curiosity, and their interest in performing better may be reduced. Although much of the previous research has demonstrated the cause-effect relation between negative teacher talk and students’ unsatisfactory performance, none of the studies, to the best of our knowledge, explored teachers’ …

Automated Medical Notes Labelling And Classification Using Machine Learning, Akhil Prabhakar Thota

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The amount of data generated in medical records, especially in a modern context, is growing significantly. As the amount of data grows, it is very useful to classify the data into relevant classes for further interventions. Different methods that are not automated are very time-consuming and require manual effort have been tried for this before.

Recently deep learning has been used for this task but due to the complexity of the dataset, specifically due to inter-class similarities in the dataset and specific terminology having different meanings in medical contexts has caused significant problems in having a definitive approach to medical …

Administrators’ Perceptions Of Alternatives To Suspension In Virginia Urban Public Schools, Hayley Poland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of the use of alternatives to suspension of high school administrators in Virginia urban public schools. The phenomenological research design allowed better understanding of the participant’s view and perception of their use of alternatives to suspension. While there is research focusing on the use of alternatives to suspension, there has been little research in Virginia urban public schools on the perceptions of administrators on the use of alternatives to suspension. The framework this research study utilized to focus the data analysis was Social Learning Theory.

Data collection strategies included …

Buffering The Negative Impacts Of Age Diversity On Company Performance And Innovation: The Roles Of Knowledge Transfer And Environmental Uncertainty, Tiecheng Xu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) era has resulted in significant uncertainty in the global economy, while deglobalization in international politics and economics, and the interweaving of old and new contradictions, have presented substantial challenges to businesses. On the other hand, aging is a crucial issue that China and the world at large are currently facing. It is essential to study the relationship between employee age structure and enterprise performance.

Different researchers have provided empirical analyses of the effects of age diversity on organizational performance and innovation, but the conclusions are not consistent. According to the research in this paper, …

The Role Of Muslim Communities In Easing The Challenges For Young U.S. Muslim Immigrant Children’S School Outcomes, Ghada Kassir

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

American Muslims have increasingly experienced Islamophobia-related discrimination and stereotypes, including unjust accusations of violence, hatred, and terrorism, especially since 9/11. This study investigates the experience of Muslim immigrants in the U.S. and its impact on their children’s school outcomes. Using the theoretical frameworks of segmented assimilation, acculturation, social identity theory, and critical race theory, post-9/11 Muslim immigrants and their elementary school children are the focus of this study. Specifically, this study examines the associations among the following constructs: Muslim identity, culture and traditions, community connectedness, and children's school outcomes. This study hypothesized that there is a negative correlation between Muslim …

Llm-Adapters: An Adapter Family For Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning Of Large Language Models, Zhiqiang Hu, Lei Wang, Yihuai Lan, Wanyu Xu, Ee-Peng Lim, Lidong Bing, Xing Xu, Soujanya Poria, Roy Ka-Wei Lee

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The success of large language models (LLMs), like GPT-4 and ChatGPT, has led to the development of numerous cost-effective and accessible alternatives that are created by finetuning open-access LLMs with task-specific data (e.g., ChatDoctor) or instruction data (e.g., Alpaca). Among the various fine-tuning methods, adapter-based parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) is undoubtedly one of the most attractive topics, as it only requires fine-tuning a few external parameters instead of the entire LLMs while achieving comparable or even better performance. To enable further research on PEFT methods of LLMs, this paper presents LLMAdapters, an easy-to-use framework that integrates various adapters into LLMs and …

Rome: Evaluating Pre-Trained Vision-Language Models On Reasoning Beyond Visual Common Sense, Kankan Zhou, Eason Lai, Au Wei Bin Yeong, Kyriakos Mouratidis, Jing Jiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Humans possess a strong capability for reasoning beyond common sense. For example, given an unconventional image of a goldfish laying on the table next to an empty fishbowl, a human would effortlessly determine that the fish is not inside the fishbowl. The case, however, may be different for a vision-language model, whose reasoning could gravitate towards the common scenario that the fish is inside the bowl, despite the visual input. In this paper, we introduce a novel probing dataset named ROME (reasoning beyond commonsense knowledge) to evaluate whether the state-of-the-art pre-trained vision-language models have the reasoning capability to correctly interpret …

Robust Prompt Optimization For Large Language Models Against Distribution Shifts, Moxin Li, Wenjie Wang, Fuli Feng, Yixin Cao, Jizhi Zhang, Tat-Seng Chua

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Large Language Model (LLM) has demonstrated significant ability in various Natural Language Processing tasks. However, their effectiveness is highly dependent on the phrasing of the task prompt, leading to research on automatic prompt optimization using labeled task data. We reveal that these prompt optimization techniques are vulnerable to distribution shifts such as subpopulation shifts, which are common for LLMs in real-world scenarios such as customer reviews analysis. In this light, we propose a new problem of robust prompt optimization for LLMs against distribution shifts, which requires the prompt optimized over the labeled source group can simultaneously generalize to an unlabeled …

Molca: Molecular Graph-Language Modeling With Cross-Modal Projector And Uni-Modal Adapter, Zhiyuan Liu, Sihang Li, Yanchen Luo, Hao Fei, Yixin Cao, Kenji Kawaguchi, Xiang Wang, Tat-Seng Chua

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Language Models (LMs) have demonstrated impressive molecule understanding ability on various 1D text-related tasks. However, they inherently lack 2D graph perception — a critical ability of human professionals in comprehending molecules’ topological structures. To bridge this gap, we propose MolCA: Molecular Graph-Language Modeling with Cross-Modal Projector and Uni-Modal Adapter. MolCA enables an LM (i.e., Galactica) to understand both text- and graph-based molecular contents via the cross-modal projector. Specifically, the cross-modal projector is implemented as a QFormer to connect a graph encoder’s representation space and an LM’s text space. Further, MolCA employs a uni-modal adapter (i.e., LoRA) for the LM’s efficient …

Wsdms: Debunk Fake News Via Weakly Supervised Detection Of Misinforming Sentences With Contextualized Social Wisdom, Ruichao Yang, Wei Gao, Jing Ma, Hongzhan Lin, Zhiwei Yang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent years, we witness the explosion of false and unconfirmed information (i.e., rumors) that went viral on social media and shocked the public. Rumors can trigger versatile, mostly controversial stance expressions among social media users. Rumor verification and stance detection are different yet relevant tasks. Fake news debunking primarily focuses on determining the truthfulness of news articles, which oversimplifies the issue as fake news often combines elements of both truth and falsehood. Thus, it becomes crucial to identify specific instances of misinformation within the articles. In this research, we investigate a novel task in the field of fake news …

Disentangling Transformer Language Models As Superposed Topic Models, Jia Peng Lim, Hady Wirawan Lauw

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Topic Modelling is an established research area where the quality of a given topic is measured using coherence metrics. Often, we infer topics from Neural Topic Models (NTM) by interpreting their decoder weights, consisting of top-activated words projected from individual neurons. Transformer-based Language Models (TLM) similarly consist of decoder weights. However, due to its hypothesised superposition properties, the final logits originating from the residual path are considered uninterpretable. Therefore, we posit that we can interpret TLM as superposed NTM by proposing a novel weight-based, model-agnostic and corpus-agnostic approach to search and disentangle decoder-only TLM, potentially mapping individual neurons to multiple …