Digital Commons Network^™

Is This Your Final Destination? Created Steppingstone Paths Differ Depending On Whether Paths Terminate Or Continue, Jeffrey B. Wagman, Will Ervin, Maisha Tahsin Orthy, Arghya Kashyap, Thomas A. Stoffregen

Faculty Publications – Psychology

In the ecological approach to perceiving and acting, affordances are emergent, higher-order relationships between animals and their environment. Accordingly, studies have shown that affordances are perceived ‘as such’ rather than as combinations of lower-order constituents of that affordance. We investigated whether affordances are created in the same way. Participants used circular rubber mats to create steppingstone paths from Mat A to Mat B (in the ‘Stop-at-B’ condition) and from Mat A to Mat B to Mat C (in the ‘Continue-to-C’ condition). We derived and analyzed sets of variables related to gap distance, path trajectory, and path variability. Consistent with our …

Digitized Asic (Adaptation, Standardization, Integration, And Compliance) Framework: An Innovation For Optimizing Technologies And Innovations For Medical And Higher Education., Joshua Owolabi

PCOM Scholarly Works

This article serves several specific purposes: Presenting transferable information on transforming innovative ideas into educational products with practical applications; showcasing a digitized version of a leading innovation aimed at optimizing technologies and innovations in medical education, health professions education, and higher education; advancing an evidence-based approach to integrating innovations into educational ecosystems and promoting education through innovations and technologies. A 10-step approach to developing the ASIC framework (ASIC stands for Adaptation, Standardization, Integration, and Compliance) is presented, with explanations and illustrations of the processes and activities involved. Empirical evidence and sound principles are provided in support of activities to assure …

A Holistic Approach To Treatment Of Rosacea During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review, Emily Garelick, Margaret Hurley, Lauren Noto-Bell, Stefanie Cubelli

PCOM Scholarly Works

Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that is commonly exacerbated during pregnancy. Many patients suffer from emotional distress as a result of their rosacea, but the standard treatment options can cause harm to a developing fetus.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE using the keywords “rosacea,” “pregnancy,” “treatment,” “holistic,” “edema, and “osteopathic manipulative treatment” (OMT). 113 papers were extracted and screened to determine eligibility based on inclusion criteria: primary sources, rosacea diagnosis, and documented treatment. Those that did not meet criteria were excluded and 20 papers remained for this review.

Results: The 20 included …

Effects Of Ionophore And Yeast Addition To The Diet On Starch Digestion And Rumen Andblood Parameters In Sheep With Subacute Rumen Acidosis, Şevket Evci̇, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Gökhan Şen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the prevention of acidosis in ruminants, which causes yield and financial losses, and toevaluate the effects of feed additives on starch digestion. Four male Bafra yearling lambs with cannulated rumens were used in a 60-daystudy. Each lamb underwent 10 days of adaptation to a ration and 5 days of sampling for four different rations including a control ration(CR), monensin ration (MR), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ration (SR), and a ration with the combination of monensin and Saccharomycescerevisiae (MSR). The experiment followed a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Dry matter intake and digestion rates were recorded as 2404 …

European Air Pollution And The Proposed Timelines Of Implementing The World Health Organization 2021 Air Quality Guidelines Ca3., Lukia Hartin

ICT

This research examines Ireland’s air pollution trends and evaluates whether current reductions in PM2.5, PM10, and NO₂ are sufficient to meet the WHO 2021 Air Quality Guidelines by 2040. Using four years of EPA-validated pollutant data (2020–2023), alongside Building Energy Rating (BER) and national transport datasets, the study applies the CRISP-DM methodology to guide analysis, preprocessing, modelling, and evaluation. Extensive data cleaning and alignment were required due to inconsistent station coverage, varying formats, and missing values. Forecasting models—including Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, SVR, and linear regression—were assessed using MSE, R², and trend significance to project pollutant levels across different Irish …

“Ojala Que Llueva: Free Trade's Ripple Effect On Rice Farming In El Cibao, Dominican Republic", Arismendis Altagracia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Globalization has had a tremendous effect on agricultural communities. This study aims to understand Dominican rice farmers' methods of production, their impact on the Dominican economy, and the public health of those involved in production. Some concerns are how mass rice production affects the environment, public health, and the state's economy. The rice industry in the Dominican Republic is one of the most essential sectors due to its cultural and dietary significance. Rice contributes a substantial amount to the diet of Dominicans; its production process and nutritional profile is associated with health problems that burden an already strained public health …

Analysis Of The Patterns And Features Importance In Predicting Demand For Sustainable Urban Mobility. A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models Using The Dublin Bikes Dataset., Wojciech Sochanski

ICT

This study explores the application of machine learning models to predict demand in the Dublin bike-sharing scheme. A comprehensive literature review examines prior work on sustainable urban mobility, the evolution of bike-sharing schemes, the application of machine learning in predictive analytics and relevant case studies. Secondary data were gathered from publicly available sources, pre-processed and merged into a single, unified dataset. Exploratory data analysis was conducted before preparing the data for modelling to assess the data quality, with a focus on missing values.

Four predictive machine learning models – Linear Regression (LR), Decision Tree (CART), Random Forest (RF) and Gradient …

Conversion Of Orange Waste To Chemically Modified Activated Carbon Adsorbent Materials For Aqueous Phase Phosphate Removal, Sierra Mugan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus pollution in surface waters drives harmful algal blooms, creating ecological, public health, and economic risks. This study examined citrus processing waste as a sustainable, low-cost precursor for producing chemically modified adsorbents for phosphorus removal. Orange waste was pyrolyzed, resulting in a carbon-rich material with low ash content, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. The material was modified using lanthanum chloride, iron (III) chloride, and calcium chloride at varying mass ratios and screened under standard conditions (1 mg P/L, 1 g/L dosage, 24-hour contact time). Lanthanum- and iron-modified samples demonstrated the best removal efficiencies and underwent further evaluation. The lanthanum-modified sample …

Structural And Dynamic Analysis Of Tapered Mast Bladeless Wind Turbines Using Fea And Cfd For Renewable Energy Generation, A. Pradeep, Raman Kumar, P. S. Satheesh Kumar, Nagaraj Patil, Vijayakumar Sivasundar, P. Vijaya Kumar, Selvaraj Manickam, Debasish Shit

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The present analysis investigates the possibility of using a tapered mast profile for bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) to enhance the function of extracting wind energy through the phenomenon of vortex-induced vibrations. Conventional HAWTs which remain the most efficient are however, costly in maintenance, mechanically complicated and rather unfavourable to the environment. To overcome these challenges a prototype BWT with a 0.6 m tapered mast was developed for the currents using mild steel and hollow square steel sections. Wind tunnels were also used to compare stress distribution, structural deformation and vane vortex shedding for the building at different wind speeds. The …

Low-Cost High Performance Sustainable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based On Laboratory Waste, Archana Panda, Kunal Kumar Das, Kushal Ruthvik Kaja, Venkataramana Gandi, Sunit Gourav Mohanty, Basanta Kumar Panigrahi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The production of waste materials in laboratories is an unavoidable consequence of diverse experiments and activities. These materials can range from chemicals, solvents, and biological samples to electronic components, glassware, and plastics. Typically, this waste is classified into hazardous and non-hazardous categories, requiring careful disposal to avoid environmental and health risks. These can be repurposed for energy harvesting methods, such as using polymers in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) or recycling metallic waste for electrodes. This approach reduces waste while advancing sustainable energy solutions. This technique demonstrates remarkable efficiency in utilizing diverse waste materials to transform various forms of mechanical energy into …

Synergistic Effects Of Co-Ni Nanoalloys On Sio2@Tio2: A Novel Approach To Photocatalytic Tetracycline Degradation, Pratyush Kumar Sahu, Alaka Rath, Aslisha Champati, Ashish Madual, Pravat Manjari Mishra, Abanti Pradhan, Brundabana Naik

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

To develop a cost-effective alternative to noble metal catalysts for photocatalysis, we synthesized a series of bimetallic Co-Ni nanoalloys on core-shelled SiO2@TiO2 nanostructures via a chemical reduction approach. The research demonstrates the photocatalytic behaviour of the Co-Ni alloy-enhanced SiO2@TiO2 (ST-Co, Ni) hybrid nanocatalyst, focusing on its crystalline structures, morphological shapes, chemical conditions, and optical properties, utilizing techniques such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and electrochemical analysis. The catalyst was evaluated for its effectiveness in degrading tetracycline, an overused antibiotic that persists in aquatic environments and is known for …

Optimization And Characterization Of Carrageenan/Alginate Ratio And Seaweed Waste To Develop Composite Bioplastics From Kappaphycus Alvarezii, Ali Ridlo, Retno Hartati, Agus Sabdono

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Carrageenan and alginate, derived from seaweed, offer potential as alternatives to traditional plastics. This study aims to assess the properties of biodegradable bioplastics made from a composite of carrageenan, alginate, and waste from K. alvarezii seaweed carrageenan extraction. A mixture of carrageenan and alginate was added with a ratio of 4:6 and K. alvarezii extraction waste 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 % waste concentration,  in the carrageenan-alginate-waste mixture. The process involves blending carrageenan, alginate, waste, glycerol, and distilled water until uniform at 90o C and 1000 rpm for 45 minutes, followed by molding, immersion in a 4% CaCl2 solution, …

Green-Synthesized Yttrium-Doped Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising Optical Material, Sasmita Sarangi, Nibedita Nayak, Binita Nanda, Tapas Sahoo

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This work focuses on the green synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of yttrium-doped cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles. A green approach was adopted using Acacia concinna fruit extract as surfactant and stabilizing agent. Their structural, morphological, and physical-chemical properties were characterized using different analytical techniques, like XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, PL, Raman, UV-Visible Spectroscopy. XRD study validated the structure of cubic fluorite-type structure of CeO2 nanoparticles, with the average crystallite size ranging between 7-15 nm. Raman spectroscopy validated this structure with F2g band observed at 463 cm−1. FESEM images showed irregular spherical morphologies with grain sizes in the range of 50-60 nm. …

An Integrative Bioinformatics Approach To Investigating Timp3 And Immune Cell Infiltration: Prognostic And Clinicopathological Implications, Neelam Bhola, Amit K. Jaiswal, Daman Saluja

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) serves as a prominent endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), playing a crucial role in inhibiting metastasis, and angiogenesis. However, its exact contributions to colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unidentified. We aimed to ascertain the prognostic significance of TIMP3 in CRC patients through a bioinformatic approach. GEPIA, UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter, LinkedOmics, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, TIMER, TISIDB, the ScTIME database, TISMO, TIDE, CAMOIP, and TISCH2 were employed to comprehensively analyze the differential expression, prognostic value, genetic alterations, signaling pathways, immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment (TME) and associated genes of TIMP3 in CRC patients. Compared to adjacent …

Dogs Emotion System, Muhammad Anas Baig

ICT

For our capstone project, we built a machine learning model that can look at pictures of dogs and figure out how they’re feeling, like if they’re happy, sad, or just chill. The idea came from how important pets are in people’s lives these days and how cool it would be to actually understand their emotions better using tech. This system will allow users to upload images of dogs, which are then analysed by a trained model to classify the dog's emotional states such as happy, sad, or neutral. We followed the CRISP-DM process to build it, which basically means we …

A Comparative Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients And Difference Files For Audio Effect Identification Using Convolutional Recurrent Neural Networks., Patrick Sneyd

ICT

The field of Music information retrieval (MIR) is concerned with computational systems which help humans better make sense of the processing, searching, organizing, and accessing of music-related data and takes in disciplines such as music theory, computer science, psychology, neuroscience, library science, electrical engineering and machine learning. MIR processes relating to audio classification have applications in fields such as speech recognition, automatic bandwidth allocation and Audio Database Indexing which is especially of relevance to large audio collections in broadcasting facilities, the movie industry or music content providers.

These indexing aspects of MIR have been applied to classifying audio into musical …

Fictional Prophecies: How Kazuo Ishiguro’S Never Let Me Go And Olivia Wilde’S Don’T Worry Darling Foreshadow The Threats Of Biotech And Metaverse Realities, Taylor Pack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis intends to embrace conversations about technological advancements and create space for examining the ways in which popular technologies of the 2020s are the beginning of a dangerous future for marginalized bodies if gone unchecked and under-regulated. This paper investigates the ways in which modern forms of technology are at risk of mimicking the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and the film Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde dystopias and argues the need for more conscious consumerism of technology and media alike to acknowledge the ways in which the control of women’s bodies is a …

Oasis, Parinaz Moghadampour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This exhibition is about the media, the mesmerizing effects of tech-driven advertisements and their impact on consumerism, and global disasters as the consequences of this phenomenon. This is a critique of technology's immense expansion of advertising's reach. With the advent of the Internet, social media, and mobile devices, advertisers reach a global audience instantly. Using algorithms, digital advertising platforms allow precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and online behavior. This means that advertisements can be tailored to specific audiences, increasing the chances of reaching the right consumers with the right message. Michel Foucault, the prominent French philosopher and social theorist, …

Human-Ai Interaction In Driving Behavior Analysis: Machine Learning And Pattern Mining For The Unobtrusive Cognitive Assessment, Sonia Moshfeghi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Creating unobtrusive, intelligent sensing systems that can be embedded into daily life and assess changes in the physical and cognitive functions of people has garnered significant attention. This dissertation presents a data-driven pattern recognition framework that integrates human-AI interaction and machine learning to analyze and quantify cognitive decline in older drivers based on the data stream of their driving data. This study harnesses real in-vehicle sensing data collected from +65 older drivers. Various AI-enabled data analytics modeling techniques are developed and tested to understand the driving patterns of older drivers, the relations between driving data and their cognitive functions, and …

Joy In Teaching: Examining Teachers’ Perceived Experiences Of Choice, Self-Efficacy, And Sense Of Belonging, Shellie Hennings-Donow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher joy is a critical yet often overlooked factor influencing teacher retention, instructional effectiveness, and student outcomes. This study explores how teachers describe their experiences of joy in the workplace, focusing on the roles of choice, self-efficacy, and belonging. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Attribution Theory, this research examines the extent to which teachers’ perceived autonomy, competence, and relational support contribute to teachers’ professional fulfillment. Through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study captures the perceptions of educators across diverse school settings. Findings reveal that teachers experience the highest levels of joy when they have meaningful autonomy …

Exploring Emotional Awareness Through Interactive Design, Mona Gandomkar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research was inspired by my emotional journey after relocating to the United States. Navigating a new culture, language barriers, and unfamiliar routines brought a complex mix of emotions. These experiences led me to begin to better understand and manage my emotional responses. That process revealed the importance of emotional awareness and became the foundation for my exploration into how design can help individuals recognize and engage with their emotions more meaningfully.

Emotions are significant in human life, from social relationships to decision-making. However, many people fail to understand their emotions or how to control them. Individuals experience emotions differently, …

Ethnozoological Insights For Wildlife Conservation: Exploring Past & Present Uses Of Wild Animals Among Kenya’S Ethnic Groups, Anita Zahra Field

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kenya’s conservation efforts lack adequate involvement of local communities, who play a vital role as people who use the natural resources. These communities also have limited access to, and benefits from, these resources, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity. Therefore, I used ethnographic interviews to elicit relational values that can potentially increase understanding between all stakeholders. My objective was to explore the historical and contemporary uses of wild animals among diverse ethnic groups, examining any changes over time and identifying the catalysts driving these shifts. I interviewed 30 individuals from 10 ethnic groups in Laikipia, Samburu, Marsabit, and Kwale counties, …

Predictive And Generative Modeling For Biomedical Data Analytics, Magdalyn E. Elkin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomedical data analytics is a broad interdisciplinary field that has seen vast amounts of data collected with recent technological advancements. Computational studies are required for time and cost-efficient methods to characterize, summarize, and interpret these datasets to advance public health. This thesis presents research studies done with predictive and generative models with regards to subdomains in clinical research, healthcare and bioinformatics. Our research with predictive modeling presents (1) extensive feature engineering methods, ensemble models and feature selection ranking in order to provide data-driven models to evaluate relevant evidence for clinical decision making; and (2) network analysis and unsupervised link prediction …

Regulation Of The Bidirectional Transport Of Organelles During Synapse Formation, Maintenance, And Plasticity, Kerriann Kathleen Badal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurons are specialized, polarized cells necessary for our function, cognition, and behavior. Moreover, neurons are non-mitotic cells and must be maintained for a lifetime. Within the neuron, organelles, such as mitochondria and lysosome-vesicles (LV), undergo bidirectional transport between the soma and synapses and contribute to neuronal health, energy demand, macromolecule clearance, intracellular signaling, and cell-to-cell communication. Decades of research have revealed the significance of mitochondria and LV during aging, neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and recently, novel implications in neuropsychiatric disorders. While these studies highlight the role of mitochondria and LV during aging and neurological conditions, less is known about the …

Reassessing Pre-Ceramic Mortuary Practices In Florida, John S. Duggan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis synthesizes mortuary practices among Florida’s Paleoindian to Late Archaic populations, from the earliest documented burials to approximately 2,500 BP. While sites like Windover and Little Salt Spring are well-studied, broader burial traditions across the region remain underrepresented. To address this, data from fifteen key sites, chosen for geographic and temporal diversity, were compiled and analyzed. Using an exploratory research design, a descriptive methodological framework was developed to evaluate cemetery types, burial positions, artifact associations, demographic indicators, and spatial orientation. Methodological challenges such as poor preservation, site destruction, and inconsistent documentation are also considered. Findings are contextualized within wider …

Philosophy In Filmmaking: Animation Vs. Live Action, Veronica J. Larson

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Deep Learning Model For Synthetic Vs. Real Image Classification Synthetic Vs. Real Image Classification, Bernardo Gandara, Ignacio Varela

ICT

The advancement of generative AI technologies has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish synthetic images from authentic ones. This capstone project addresses the challenge by developing a binary image classification model using deep learning techniques to differentiate AI-generated images from real photographs. Guided by the CRISP-DM methodology, we employed the DeepGuardDB dataset, consisting of 13,000 balanced image samples, evenly split between real and synthetic sources. We implemented and compared three Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures through transfer learning, standardising input pipelines and integrating custom classification heads. Following a performance evaluation across multiple metrics, the best-performing model was selected for further …

The Effect Of Parental Behavior On The Ontogeny Of The Immune System In The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis), Wyatt Boehm, William Kirkpatrick, Sarah E. Durant

2025 Research Poster Competition

Previous research has explored the trade-offs between growth and immune endpoints in offspring since early development is critical in shaping adult responses to disease. However, an unexplored aspect of immune development is the influence of parental behavior on immune outcomes. I observed parental behavior during early development and its influence on offspring immune condition. To analyze parental behavior during incubation in the Eastern Bluebird, I quantified incubation constancy (percentage of time spent on the nest) and its impact on white blood cell ratios throughout development. Incubation constancy is useful in defining general trends in adult incubation behavior. Here, I have …

Work And Human Vocation In Catholic Social Teaching, Stefan M. Mcdaniel

Journal Articles

From the Article

This essay explores Catholic social teaching on work, focusing on how labor should enable humans to fulfill their vocation through experiences of dominion and communion. Drawing from papal encyclicals and theological anthropology, it examines how work becomes a means for humans to exercise their God-like faculties by intelligently shaping creation (dominion) and building rich relationships (communion). The essay argues that Catholic teaching offers distinctive contributions to contemporary workplace justice movements through its emphasis on two priorities: promoting worker-ownership and supporting family life. Worker-ownership, especially through cooperatives, enables labor to become an exercise of dominion, while family-centered policies …

Parental Rights, Parental Choice, And State Public Education Mandates, Nicole Stelle Garnett

Journal Articles

Pierce v. Society of Sisters and Meyer v. Nebraska were cases about parental rights in general, and parental choice in particular. Both centered on a challenge to a state's legal effort to reduce or eliminate the educational choices available to parents-in the former, by requiring students to attend public schools, in the latter, by requiring instruction in all schools, public and private, be conducted in English. Pierce and Meyer also were about state efforts to forge a homogeneous American citizenry by limiting the educational choices available to parents. As Justice McReynolds observed in Meyer, "The desire of the Legislature to …