Digital Commons Network^™

Computerized Adaptive Receptive Vocabulary Assessment Tool : An Experimental Study With Vietnamese Efl Learners, Bui Thi Kim Phuong, Nguyen Quy Thanh, Le Thai Hung, Nguyen Thai Ha

PASAA

No abstract provided.

Extracting Social Network Model Parameters From Social Science Literature, Isaac Batts

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

When looking at computer modeling of social situations, much of the social science literature does not include ready-to-use statistics or parameters to be included in a social model. I explore studies related to speaking about racism (and other forms of bias), and interventions designed to diminish the occurrence of biased behavior, and use those readings to synthesize plausible parameters for a social computer model.

Tension Control And Interproximation Techniques Forshape Design And Rgb-Depth Segmentation Reconstruction And Modeling, Anastasia Kazadi

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Human eyes possess remarkable capabilities to perceive and interpret a wealth of information about our environment; from discerning colors and depths to identifying object boundaries and navigating obstacles, our eyes serve as invaluable guides in our daily lives. Ongoing research in the fields of computer vision and computer graphics continuously explore the ways to replicate extraordinary human vision abilities in order to develop systems and frameworks which would enable computers to capture, analyze, and act upon discerned information. In this context, this dissertation seeks to investigate and automate various shape control and data processing techniques for 3D modeling and shape …

Detecting And Recovering From Player Preference Shifts In A Player Modeled Experience Management Environment, Anton Vinogradov

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

An important challenge in game design is understanding and maintaining player engagement. This is particularly crucial in both entertainment and educational games, where the player's commitment to the game directly impacts their experience and learning outcomes. However, quantifying engagement proves challenging due to the diverse interests of players. This dilemma is addressed through adaptive game design techniques where the game world is personalized to suit player preferences. In computer games, this personalization is facilitated through Experience Management and Player Modeling, where an intelligent agent gathers information on the player, including their preferences and actions, and takes actions to modify the …

Finding Hierarchies To Improve Learning In Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning, Roy Mobley

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is an approach to allowing computer agents to try and learn how to solve problems by learning what actions are best to take in a given situation. RL is effective for learning what to do in an environment, but as the problem grows larger, the amount of information needed grows exponentially, making RL less effective on complex problems. A big challenge, often called the curse of dimensionality, is that the number of states and possible number of actions in an environment can grow too large to sufficiently test every possible combination of state and action. One method …

Integrating Art And Ai: Evaluating The Educational Impact Of Ai Tools In Digital Art History Learning, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study delves into the burgeoning intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and art history education, an area that has been relatively unexplored. The research focuses on how AI art generators impact learning outcomes in art history for both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Ancient Art courses, covering eras from ancient Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes AI-generated artworks, reflective essays, and survey responses to assess how these generative tools influence students’ comprehension, engagement, and creative interpretation of historical artworks. The study reveals that the use of AI tools in art history not …

Biology News 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Biology.

Biology News

Contents:

Letter from the Department Head --- 2
Bolton Award Winner --- 3
Goldwater Scholarship Winner --- 3
Purple and Old Gold Award Winner --- 3
Faculty News Roundup --- 4
New Hires --- 6
UNI Botanical Center --- 7
Alumni Information Request --- 7
Support Our Programs --- 8
Floyd Fellowship Award Winner --- 8

Does Blended Learning Improve Student Grades? A Quasi-Experimental Study

Journal of Economics and Finance Education

This study evaluates the impact of blended learning on student performance using a differences-in-differences method. In a controlled experiment with two classes, each having two sections, all sections initially used face-to-face teaching. After midterm 1, one section from each class transitioned to blended learning. The differences-in differences method analyzed students' performance on both midterms, with midterm 2 covering material taught through blended learning in the treatment group. Results indicate a non-significant increase in midterm 2 grades for the treatment group.

A Survey Of Strongyle Nematodes In New England Dairy Goats, D.J. Richardson, E.M. Wray, D. Watters, U. Hanif, E. Jalbert, E. Thompson, G. Trajkovic, A.R. Sirois, N. Pilotte

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The paucity of information concerning the occurrence of strongyle nematodes in New England dairy goats prompted a survey of 241 dairy goats from throughout New England. Of the 241 goats examined using the McMaster technique, 104 (42.7%) were infected with strongyles with a mean intensity (+ SE) of 369.7 + 45.8 eggs per gram. Subsequent molecular examination of 50 random samples from these goats revealed a prevalence of 88% infection specifically with Haemonchus contortus. Haemonchus contortus is the most important internal parasite of sheep and goats, exerting a crushing economic burden on the livestock industry worldwide due to lowered milk …

Bat Versus Ant: The First Report Of Evening Bat/Ant Interaction In Arkansas, J.D. Wilhide, D.B. Sasse, R.P. Kelso

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

This paper documents the first reported occurrence of bat/ant agonistic interaction in Arkansas and the second report involving Evening Bats (Nycticeius humeralis). An adult male Evening Bat was captured during a presence / absence mist net survey along Highway 412 in Black Rock, Lawrence County, Arkansas on 4 June 2023. The bat weighed 12.0 g and had a forearm length of 36.94 mm which is in the midrange for evening bats in Arkansas (Sealander and Heidt 1990). The evening bat had two ant head capsules attached to its right cheek and at the tip of the lower lip (Fig. 1).

How Can A Cloud Computing It Framework Be Created And Applied Effectively In The Online Printing Industry?, Stefan Meissner

Dissertations

This research aims to design a cloud computing IT framework for the online printing industry based on a detailed literature review, the development of proof of concepts (PoC), and the conduction of a focus group. The framework can be adopted by the online printing industry or by vendors of print-specific applications to optimize their products for the online printing industry. The author has been working in the online printing process optimization and automation since 2007. During this time, he got deep insight into many industry-specific applications, their architectural design, and their challenges being used in the context of online printing. …

Subvert The Dominant Paradigm: Reimagining Academic Library Hiring Processes, Xan Arch, Isaac P. Gilman

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

For libraries dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is crucial to address firmly-held traditions about “correct” hiring practices. This work of revising traditional practices can be a fraught process, as different stakeholders often hold strong opinions about how best to evaluate candidates and conduct successful searches. To move our two academic libraries toward more inclusive hiring practices, we each led internal processes to entirely revise our hiring manuals. We will discuss the challenges and core issues addressed through this work, and the resulting principles that we believe will result in a more equitable, transparent, and candidate-friendly process.

Berglund–Hübsch Transpose Rule And Sasakian Geometry, Ralph R. Gomez

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

We apply the Berglund–Hübsch transpose rule from BHK mirror symmetry to show that to an n−1-dimensional Calabi–Yau orbifold in weighted projective space defined by an invertible polynomial, we can associate four (possibly) distinct Sasaki manifolds of dimension 2n+1 which are n−1-connected and admit a metric of positive Ricci curvature. We apply this theorem to show that for a given K3 orbifold, there exist four seven-dimensional Sasakian manifolds of positive Ricci curvature, two of which are actually Sasaki–Einstein.

Predicting Household Expenditure Using Machine Learning Techniques : A Case Of Cambodia, Nattapong Puttanapong, Siphat Lim

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study aimed to predict household expenditure using a combination of survey and geospatial data. A web-based application operating on the Google Earth Engine platform has been specifically developed for this research, providing a set of satellite-based indicators. These data were spatially averaged at the district level and integrated with household nonfood expenditures, a proxy of socioeconomic conditions, derived from the World Bank’s 2019 Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS). Four machine learning algorithms were applied. By using root mean square error as the goodness-of-fit criterion, a random forest algorithm yielded the highest forecasting precision, followed by support vector machine, neural …

108, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 108 - peridotite - igneous rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/108-de2d9c9cc2b1434b981d025a7e9fb2fc

Weed Seed Wizard Scenario - Glyphosate Resistance In Barnyard Grass In Goondiwindi, Queensland, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity research reports

The Weed Seed Wizard is a national collaborative project that uses paddock management information to predict weed emergence and crop losses now and in the future.

The Weed Seed Wizard is a computer simulation tool that:

• applies to all Australian grain growing areas

• helps growers understand and manage weed seedbanks on their farms

• uses farm management records to simulate how different crop rotations, weed control techniques, irrigation, grazing and harvest management tactics can affect weed numbers, the weed seedbank and yields

• uses farm-specific management and site-specific weather

• is multi-species

See www.dpird.wa.gov.au for further information on Weed Seed Wizard.

This Queensland …

The Effects Of Sat And Act Scores On State Education Spending: A Study Of Scores And Per-Pupil Spending Over Time 2005-2020, Cade Herrmann

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

State education spending for K-12 students is an essential component of the state and local government fiscal budget, and in the United States, education spending varies by state, with some states spending much more than others. The SAT and ACT standardized tests have been in use since the early to mid twentieth century and have long been the standard testing metric for college admissions. In the past twenty years, many states have begun requiring their students to take one of these tests as a graduation requirement. With half of states now requiring one of these standardized tests, it seems that …

Machine Learning For Automated Sand Transport Monitoring In A Pipeline Using Distributed Acoustic Sensor Data, Harrison Gietz, Jyotsna Sharma, Mayank Tyagi

Faculty Publications

Uncontrolled sand production presents a substantial challenge to wellbore and pipeline integrity and efficiency of hydrocarbon production operations, often leading to equipment damage and compromised productivity. Traditional sand detection methods on the surface alert operators to sanding issues, but they are often a lagging indicator of downhole sanding events and do not provide precise identification of the problematic reservoir zones. Addressing this limitation, this study harnesses a combination of efficient signal processing and machine learning (ML) to analyze data from optical-fiber-based distributed acoustic sensors (DASs), thus serving as the first instance (to the authors' knowledge) of an automated and real-time …

Game With Math: Prime Climb, Dominick Marshall, Rachel Harrington

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

Intelligent Capabilities Of Traditional Knowledge Organization Methods, Xinning Su

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]By analyzing the system and rules of traditional knowledge organization methods, the intelligent capabilities of traditional knowledge organization methods are refined and integrated into artificial intelligence（AI） technology, to enhance the precision and efficiency of AI in information processing. [Method/process]This paper reviews the development of knowledge organization and analyses the inherit structure and mechanisms of traditional knowledge organization methods. [Result/conclusion]Research suggests that over centuries of development and evolution, knowledge organization has gained the ability to reflect knowledge systems and disciplinary systems across different disciplines from diverse perspectives, establish semantic relations from diverse knowledge associations, and associate and integrate knowledge of different …

Network Download Index: An Alternative Solution To Lagging Citation Indicators, Liping Yu, Meihua Huang

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]As early as 1996, Garfield proposed the idea of using web downloads instead of citations for journal evaluation to improve timeliness, but the progress of its application needs to be improved. [Method/process]In this paper, we theoretically analyzed the reasons for this phenomenon, and analyzed the prerequisites for the download index to be used for journal evaluation starting from the connotation of download volume, and then comprehensively analyzed the relationship between download volume and citation based on panel data model, BP neural network and regression analysis, and proposed three evaluation indexes, immediate annual download factor, next year download factor and cumulative …

2024 Conference On Undergraduate Research And Engagement Program Guide, Oseel

CURE Proceedings

Full program for the 2024 Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement with full listing of sessions presented.

Leak (2021) By Kate Reed Petty, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Megan Jane Laverty

Middle Grades Books

Aspiring 12-year-old journalist Ruth is looking for her next big story when she and her friend Jonathan discover dead fish and strange black slime at the lake near their town. Through a frustrating, risky, and sometimes funny journey, she learns about scientific and journalistic objectivity and the importance of both - and of community support - in environmental activism.

Wolves Of Yellowstone (2022) By Catherine Barr, Samantha Piede

Middle Grades Books

When wolves were eliminated from Yellowstone National Park in the early 20th century, the park's ecosystem began to deteriorate, leading to elk overpopulation, overgrazing, and environmental collapse. The degradation of the park spawned a rewilding project, in which wolves from Canadian packs were reintroduced to the park. The process and effects of this rewilding is captured in Catherine Barr's The Wolves of Yellowstone, which takes on the philosophical complexity of not only ecological interconnection, but the ethical complications involved trying to restore a species that is not universally lauded by locals.

The Computational Search For Unidentified Central Configurations Of The Newtonian N-Body Problem, Hannah G. Havel

CURE Proceedings

The N-body problem is a field of study in mathematics and physics that involves predicting the motion of particles moving under their mutual gravitational attraction. It is vital in celestial mechanics, such as planning collision-free satellite orbit trajectories. When beginning to understand the N-body problem, we can start by looking at equal masses of these particles or celestial bodies. As particles move, their position and velocity change, both energy and angular momentum are conserved. Sets of constant energy and angular momentum, known as integral manifolds, are higher-dimensional figures that represent constraints of movement to a system. Integral manifolds are described …

(Wp 2024-01) Douglass North, New Institutional Economics, And Complexity Theory, John B. Davis, Mauro Boianovsky

Economics Working Papers

Douglass North was central to the emergence of New Institutional Economics. Less well known are his later writings where he became interested in complexity theory. He attended the second economics complexity conference at the Santa Fe Institute in 1996 on how the economy functions as a complex adaptive system, and in his 2005 Understanding the Process of Economic Change incorporated this thinking into his argument that market systems depend on how institutions evolve. North also emphasized in the 2005 book the role belief played in evolutionary processes, and drew on cognitive science, especially the famous ‘scaffolding’ idea of cognitive scientist …

Quick Guide To Aquatic Weeds Of Oregon, Gabriel E. Campbell, Ashley Newcomb, Jacob Rose

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

This document contains a quick, non-technical, pictured-based field guide to aquatic weed species in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. It contains approximately 50 common, newly emerging, and watch list exotic weeds and common native look-alike plants. The intended audience for this guide includes weed professionals, restoration practitioners, land managers, professional botanists, and amateur naturalists.

Tennessee Educator Survey 2024 Overview, Tennessee. Department Of Education.

Tennessee Educator Survey

No abstract provided.

Pacific Writing: College Writing For Pacific's Core 2 Seminar, Eric Sonstroem

Pacific Open Texts

Core 2 is Pacific's new reading, critical thinking, and writing-instruction seminar for first- or second-year students. All sections will include some common elements, like reading long-form narrative prose and writing instruction, and all sections will feature expository, thesis-driven writing in response to the course readings. Sections are taught by a variety of faculty from across the university.

Students For Fair Admissions Sends Us Bakke To The Drawing Board For Race- Conscious Affirmative Action In Higher Education, Monica Teixeira De Sousa

Roger Williams University Law Review

No abstract provided.