Digital Commons Network^™

Ai-Based Digital Image Dietary Assessment Methods Compared To Humans And Ground Truth: A Systematic Review, Eleanor Shonkoff, Kelly Copeland Cara, Xuechen Pei, Mei Chung, Shreyas Kamath, Karen Panetta, Erin Hennessy

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: Human error estimating food intake is a major source of bias in nutrition research. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods may reduce bias, but the overall accuracy of AI estimates is unknown. This study was a systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles comparing fully automated AI-based (e.g. deep learning) methods of dietary assessment from digital images to human assessors and ground truth (e.g. doubly labelled water).

Materials and Methods: Literature was searched through May 2023 in four electronic databases plus reference mining. Eligible articles reported AI estimated volume, energy, or nutrients. Independent investigators screened articles and extracted data. Potential sources of …

Beyond Film School: A Producer's Guide To Navigating The Film Industry, Emily Kelly

Honors Thesis

This honors thesis serves as a roadmap for aspiring producers as they navigate the transition from film school to the film industry, pulling insights from seasoned producers in the industry. It breaks down a producer’s journey into four key steps: identifying producing preferences, mastering the concept of pitching, balancing work and personal life, and solving financial challenges. The paper concludes with an important reminder to stay true to yourself in this new phase of life.

Evaluating Strategic Leadership Development Programs, Felicia Littlejohn

Instructional Design Capstones Collection

Companies that lack an in-depth understanding of leadership development program evaluation may invest in a program that achieves suboptimal results. However, there is no generally prescribed framework for the evaluation of leadership development programs. Thus, the purpose of this action research paper is to provide the basis for vetting leadership development programs based on their organizational fit and investment value, training methodologies, workplace development approaches, coaching and development support, and targeted business outcomes.

Enhancing Self-Awareness And Interpersonal Communication: A Study Of The Enneagram System And College Students Within Career Development Contexts, Eva Grace Lizarraga

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

By combining a theoretical framework and existing research to the results of an original study, the Enneagram system and its impact on the self-awareness and self-perceived interpersonal communication among college students is analyzed. Conducted within the context of a Communication Studies Senior Capstone class focused on curriculum for career development, the study examines the Enneagram Assessment experience of 18 students at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas. The effectiveness of the assigned Enneagram Assessment was evaluated through the students' feedback, specifically in regards to their self-perceptions and understanding of their own communication styles. Results revealed that most students found the …

Abstinence Restores Cardiac Function In Mice With Established Alcohol-Induced Cardiomyopathy, Joshua M. Edavettal, Nicholas R. Harris, Sarah E. Cohen, Janos Paloczi, Bysani Chandrasekar, Jason D. Gardner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy (ACM) has a poor prognosis with up to a 50% chance of death within four years of diagnosis. There are limited studies investigating the potential of abstinence for promoting repair after alcohol-induced cardiac damage, particularly in a controlled preclinical study design. Here, we developed an exposure protocol that led to significant decreases in cardiac function in C57BL6/J mice within 30 days; dP/dt max decreased in the mice fed alcohol for 30 days (8054 ± 664.5 mmHg/s compared to control mice: 11,188 ± 724.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01), and the dP/dt min decreased, as well (−7711 ± 561 mmHg/s compared to control mice: −10,147 ± 448.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01). Quantitative PCR was used to investigate inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers, while histology was used to depict overt changes in cardiac fibrosis. We observed a complete recovery of function after abstinence (dP/dt max increased from 8054 ± 664 mmHg/s at 30 days to 11,967 ± 449 mmHg/s after abstinence, p < 0.01); further, both inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers decreased after abstinence. These results lay the groundwork for future investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying recovery from alcohol-induced damage in the heart.

Behind Russia’S Invasion Of Ukraine: The Clash Of Different Mode Of Capitalism, Nandito Oktaviano, Agussalim Burhanuddin

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This research aims to analyse Russian foreign policy toward Ukraine from 2014 to 2022. It uses a dual logical plural approach from Marxist IR Theory. This approach greatly emphasises the importance of two systemic logics, namely capitalism and geopolitics. Since this approach is used in the realm of foreign policy analysis, contextualisation of the level analysis is needed. In this case, the dual logical plural approach proposes a distinctive description of these levels of analysis. International condition refers to the imperialism of the present world order, domestic factor refers to the development of state capitalism, and actors refer to the …

Intentional Discipleship: Implementing A Theology Of Discipleship For Spiritual Growth, Sheina L. Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the greatest needs for the church today is to equip believers to become biblically informed, fully developed disciples so that they are prepared to carry out the mission of Christ. Without fully understanding mature discipleship practices, believers cannot fulfill the Great Commission to “go, teach and baptize” to make other disciples. The failure to understand and teach these practices has led to complacency, lack of interest, and the inability to become disciples among long-term church laity. This dissertation implemented biblical discipleship teachings and practices in a local church through a Sunday School curriculum and was evaluated through participant …

Demonstration Of A Hybrid Electroabsorption Modulator/Photovoltaic Device For Space-Based Free Space Optical Communication And Power Generation, Emily Kessler-Lewis

Theses

The emergence of proliferated low-Earth orbit (pLEO) constellations using small satellites has resulted in significant interest in lowering the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of mission critical subsystems. III-V semiconductors are the class of materials typically used for photovoltaic (PV) arrays for satellites due to their exceptional efficiencies of upwards of 35 % and ability to be made thin, flexible, and lightweight. This is contrasted with the high SWaP communication system, which utilizes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver in order to communicate with a ground station. A lower SWaP alternative to the RF transceiver is to transmit data using free …

Assessment Of The Omni-Channel Adoption For The Management Of Emergence Technologies In Food Retailing During And After The Era Of Covid-19, Esraa Bukhari

Dissertations and Theses

Using E-commerce has become crucial for retailers, specifically in the food business; the Food industry is one of the essential drivers of economies in the world. In and after the era of COVID-19, as technology advances, there is a need to apply an omnichannel strategy. In response, this research aims to develop a decision focus assessing Omni-channeled adoption for the management of emerging technologies in food retailing during and after the era of COVID-19 to evaluate the omnichannel capabilities of food organizations. This establishes a decision model to fill the research gap to succeed and stay competitive in the food …

Ai In Higher Education And Research, Leo Lo, Laura J. Hall

Biomedical Informatics Seminar Series (BioMISS)

Description:

Artificial Intelligence holds great promise for higher education from helping students learn more efficiently to entering the job market better prepared for the future. It’s also transforming the way in which faculty conduct research. This session of the BioMISS seminar series will focus on AI trends and explore application in research.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn about how generative AI is being integrated into higher education, with some specific examples from initiatives at the University of New Mexico (UNM).
2. Gain a greater understanding of generative AI capabilities and limitations.
3. Insight into the importance of critically assessing information produced by AI …

Measuring Gas Discharge In Contact Electrification, Hongcheng Tao, James Gibert

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Contact electrification in a gas medium is usually followed by partial surface charge dissipation caused by dielectric breakdown of the gas triggered during separation of the surfaces. It is widely assumed that such discharge obeys the classical Paschen’s law, which describes the general dependence of the breakdown voltage on the product of gas pressure and gap distance. However, quantification of this relationship in contact electrification involving insulators is impeded by challenges in nondestructive in situ measurement of the gap voltage. The present work implements an electrode-free strategy for capturing discrete discharge events by monitoring the gap voltage via Coulomb force, …

The Montclarion, December 7, 2023, The Montclarion

The Montclarion

Student Newspaper of Montclair State University

Revolutionizing The Stage: The Impact Of The Revolving Stage In 'Hamilton', Amanda L. Padilla

Publications and Research

This research delves into the captivating features of the revolving stage in the Broadway musical "Hamilton," examining both its significance in modern theater for the American Revolution, dynamically mirroring the ever-evolving political landscapes of the time. Focusing on design and engineering, the study sheds light on the motor-driven control of the central pivot point, enabling a unique 360-degree view that significantly heightens audience immersion. The research underscores the stage's role in enhancing visual clarity, unraveling complex scenes, and enriching the comprehension of choreography and narratives. Beyond its narrative function, the revolving stage plays a pivotal role in shaping the visual …

Executive Functioning And Self-Regulation Learning In The Early Childhood Years, A Calming Safe Space To Support The Emotional Development Of Young Children., Amy Strunc

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers often serve as a resource for classroom teachers, assistants, parents, paraprofessionals, and administration seeking behavioral guidance. Children need to be equipped with strategies to regulate their emotions before they reach the point of outbursts, elopement, shutdowns, or aggressive behavior. Classroom calm-down spaces are essential for all children to take a break and practice self-regulation, initially learning through co-regulation with teachers. This project aims to provide a framework for providing explicit instruction to children to manage their emotions at the earliest signs of dysregulation, enabling them to remain in the learning zone. The project also …

Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales In The United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Analysis From 2010 To 2021, Jens Thomsen, Najiba M. Abdulrazzaq, The Uae Amr Surveillance Consortium, Dean B. Everett, Godfred Antony Menezes, Abiola Senok, Carole Ayoub Moubareck

All Works

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are spreading in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where their dissemination is facilitated by international travel, trade, and tourism. The objective of this study is to describe the longitudinal changes of CRE as reported by the national AMR surveillance system of the UAE. In this study, we retrospectively describe CRE isolated from 317 surveillance sites, including 87 hospitals and 230 centers/clinics from 2010 to 2021. The associated clinical, demographic, and microbiological characteristics are presented by relying on the UAE national AMR surveillance program. Data was analyzed using WHONET microbiology laboratory database software (http://www.whonet.org). A total of 14,593 …

Analysis And Simulation Of Nuclear Thermal Energy Storage Systems For Increasing Grid Stability, Jaron Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

With the growing capacity of renewable energy production sources, nuclear energy, once a mainstay of power generation, faces challenges due to its limited adaptability to fluctuating energy demands. This inherent rigidity makes it less desirable than the more flexible renewable sources. However, integrating thermal energy storage (TES) systems offers a promising avenue, enabling nuclear power plants (NPPs) to enhance their operational flexibility and remain competitive in an evolving renewable market. A comprehensive ranking methodology has been introduced, delineating the criteria and processes to determine the most synergistic TES/NPP design couplings. This methodology considers the unique characteristics of both current and …

Laii Open House: Zine And Podcast Release Party, Latin American And Iberian Institute

LAII Events

Join us as we celebrate the end of the semester. Some of our LAS students will present their final projects and food will be served!

Net Present Value And Payback Period: An Analysis, Ezekiel Cotter

Honors Theses

Capital budgeting is essential for the long-term success of a business. A firm must make the correct decisions when investing capital in projects. If firms do not make the correct decision, it will lead to investing in projects that do not add value to the firm, and it may also decrease the firm’s value. Multiple capital budgeting techniques exist to varying degrees of use. These techniques include Accounting Rate of Return, Internal Rate of Return, Modified Rate of Return, Payback Period, Discounted Payback Period, and Net Present Value. There is widespread research that spans decades of literature on which capital …

Expressions Of Femininity In Fantasy Settings, Samantha Schultz

Honors Theses

Expressions of Femininity in Fantasy Settings is a Creative Writing Thesis focused on examining different ways femininity is expressed in fantastical settings. These fantastical settings include societies that are both different and similar to our own, with fantasy elements present. The stories include a matriarchal, dragon riding society that thrives off the pressure faced by both sides to keep the present system intact. A purportedly gender-neutral society that allows young people to choose their gender presentation when they come of age, as well as the consequences and benefits that come along with it. And a patriarchal society, zoomed in to …

Violence Against Healthcare Workers, Nichole Osgood

Honors Theses

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at work (US Department of Labor, 2023). There are a handful of different types of workplace violence that include but are not limited to physical violence, verbal abuse and threats, sexual harassment, and psychological trauma (US Department of Labor, 2023). Workplace violence, a multifaceted phenomenon, is not a new concern, but its pervasiveness and intensity in healthcare settings have reached alarming proportions in recent years. In a meta-analysis, it was noted that workplace violence against healthcare workers of any kind was …

Safe Patient Care Act Advocation, Julia Rhodes

Honors Theses

This paper discusses advocating for the Safe Patient Care Act and how it affects people in society. This topic is very relevant because it affects a vast majority of people including nurses, patients, and the healthcare systems as a whole. Methods used to advocate for this bill include grass roots activism, composing and presenting speeches, scheduling and attending meetings, presenting to different nursing school cohorts, collaborating with the Michigan Nurses Association, and participating in hearings held by the Michigan House of Representatives. Results consisted of positive feedback from representatives and their word to vote for the Safe Patient Care Act. …

Optimal Stopping And Related Topics, Jackson Scott Hebner

Honors Scholar Theses

Suppose we are observing a randomly evolving system and have the ability to freeze it at any time. If we want to maximize some function of the state of the system, how can we determine the best time to freeze the system based on observations only up until the present moment? That is, without seeing the future, how can we form a rule for stopping the system such that we optimize the expected value of the function of interest to us? This is an informal statement of the concept of optimal stopping, a topic with deep theory and numerous applications. …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 25 - December 7, 2023

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 25 - December 7, 2023. 24 pages.

Implementation Of The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative In Mexico: A Systematic Literature Review Using The Re-Aim Framework, Angela K. Bueno, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Valeria Cruz-Villalba, Natalia Rovelo-Velázquez, Elizabeth C. Rhodes, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global strategy to encourage health facilities to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding by implementing a package of policies and practices known as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Prior studies have found that implementing the Ten Steps has a positive impact on breastfeeding outcomes. Yet, little is known about the implementation of the Ten Steps in Mexico. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the reach, efficacy/effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the Ten Steps in Mexico, using the RE-AIM framework. The systematic literature review included studies …

Investigating The Effects Of Unfused Powder Damping In Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Samuel Hao Teng

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes to fabricate 316L stainless steel beams with pockets of unfused powder for increased damping. Modal testing was completed to compare damping factors of beams with varying pocket geometries as well as number of pockets and pocket location. For the first three bending modes that were tested, an initial damping increase was observed when pocket height is greater than powder diameter. Following the initial increase there is a height threshold, which is mode dependent, that is required to achieve a statistically significant increase in damping.

The Colby Echo (2023-12-07), Colby Coll

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly, 1886-1897; and weekly during the academic year, 1898-present.

Systematic Comparison Of Nonviral Gene Delivery Strategies For Efficient Co-Expression Of Two Transgenes In Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Tyler Kozisek, Luke Samuelson, Andrew Hamann, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are being researched for cell-based therapies due to a host of unique properties, however, genetic modification of hMSCs, accomplished through nonviral gene delivery, could greatly advance their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, expression of multiple transgenes in hMSCs could greatly advance their clinical significance for treatment of multifaceted diseases, as individual transgenes could be expressed that target separate pathogenic drivers of complex diseases. Expressing multiple transgenes can be accomplished by delivering multiple DNA vectors encoding for each transgene, or by delivering a single poly-cistronic vector that encodes for each transgene and accomplishes expression through either use …

Exploring Regular And Turbulent Flow States In Active Nematic Channel Flow Via Exact Coherent Structures And Their Invariant Manifolds, Caleb G. Wagner, Rumayel H. Pallock, Jae Sung Park, Michael M. Norton, Piyush Grover

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

This work is a unified study of stable and unstable steady states of 2D active nematic channel flow using the framework of Exact Coherent Structures (ECSs). ECSs are stationary, periodic, quasiperiodic, or traveling wave solutions of the governing equations that, together with their invariant manifolds, organize the dynamics of nonlinear continuum systems. We extend our earlier work on ECSs in the preturbulent regime by performing a comprehensive study of stable and unstable ECSs for a wide range of activity values spanning the preturbulent and turbulent regimes. In the weakly turbulent regime, we compute more than 200 unstable ECSs that coexist …

Effect Of A Geothermal Heat Pump System On Cooling Residential Buildings In A Hot, Dry Climate, Rania Rushdy Moussa, Ayman H. Mahmoud

Architectural Engineering

ABSTRACT In the last century, electricity demand has doubled due to urban expansion, which has contributed to the formation of more urban heat islands (UHI) and the appearance of environmental hazards such as the global climate change phenomenon. Since residential buildings are considered the main electricity consumer sector in Egypt, they consume up to 42% of total energy consumption, which contributes to increasing temperatures and constitutes UHI in cities. In this context, the research aims to examine the effectiveness of using the closed vertical loop geothermal system (GSHPCV) for cooling residential buildings in a hot, dry climate, such as Cairo, …

Fluorescent Peptide For Detecting Factor Xiiia Activity And Fibrin In Whole Blood Clots Forming Under Flow, Yue Liu, Jennifer Crossen, Timothy J. Stalker, Scott L. Diamond

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Background

During clotting, thrombin generates fibrin monomers and activates plasma-derived transglutaminase factor (F) XIIIa; collagen and thrombin-activated platelets offer thrombin-independent cellular FXIIIa (cFXIIIa) for clotting. Detecting fibrin on collagen and tissue factor surfaces in whole blood clotting typically uses complex reagents like fluorescent fibrinogen or antifibrin antibody.

Objectives

We want to test whether the peptide using the α2- antiplasmin crosslinking mechanism by FXIIIa is a useful tool in both monitoring FXIIIa activity, and visualize and monitor fibrin formation, deposition, and extent of crosslinking within fibrin structures in whole blood clots formed under flow.

Methods

We tested a fluorescent peptide derived …