Digital Commons Network^™

A Generative Ai Pipeline For Rare Road Scenario Augmentation From Existing Training Datasets, Debarghya Goswami

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) systems have the potential to transform the transportation ecosystem significantly by improving safety and accessibility. One of the core components of any AV is a real-time object detection system. It helps an AV localize its position in the surrounding environment and perform tasks such as maneuver planning and obstacle detection. To make a deep-learning-based object detection system safe and robust, it must be trained on diverse and rare scenarios that can occur in road conditions. However, it is expensive and time consuming to manually create training datasets containing rare road objects or conditions. Synthetic training data can …

Elementary Reading Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Individualized Instruction, Laura E. Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Second-grade through fourth-grade teachers face challenges associated with implementing individualized reading instruction to address learning differences. A deeper understanding of teachers’ experiences can help inform future educational policies targeting educators who instruct struggling readers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of elementary reading teachers who use individualized instruction to support diverse learners. The study was grounded in Tomlinson’s model of differentiated instruction, which served as the guiding conceptual framework. Using a basic qualitative design, this study’s central research question explored elementary teachers’ experiences with individualized instructional practices. Data were collected through open-ended semistructured interviews with …

Computational Molecular Docking Of Fluorinated Morphine Derivatives For Improved Pain Management, Mirabella Romano, Emily Chen

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The opioid epidemic impacts 60 million people worldwide every year. Morphine, a commonly prescribed opioid, binds to the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) in the body via protonation of its tertiary amino group and the MOR. An unfortunate side effect of this binding process is its non-selectivity in both peripheral and central tissues. While activation within inflamed peripheral tissues results in pain relief, activation within central tissues results in the unwanted and addictive side effects of opioids. Because there is a discrepancy in pH between healthy (central) and inflamed (peripheral) tissue, selective binding within the inflamed tissues could provide pain relief without …

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer For The Removal Of Nutrients From Water: Synthesis, Application, Performance And Limitation, Emmanuella Anang, Abolade Busari

Faculty Publications

Nutrient contamination is a major contributor to eutrophication and water quality degradation worldwide. Conventional treatment technologies often lack selectivity and efficiency in complex aquatic environments, highlighting the need for advanced materials with tailored recognition capabilities. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising adsorbents for nutrient remediation due to their high selectivity, stability and reusability. This review synthesizes recent progress on the synthesis strategies of MIPs. Applications of MIPs in removing phosphate, nitrate and ammonia from water are critically examined, with particular attention to adsorption performance under varying environmental conditions. The limitations of current systems, including modest adsorption capacities, incomplete …

Explainable Ai For Liver Transplant Survival Prediction: Integrating Immunological Mismatch Features, Sourab Shaik

Honors Projects

Liver Transplantations are crucial treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, a persistent deficit of donor organs necessitates maximizing the utility of each available graft to minimize failure rates. We evaluated whether donor–recipient molecular immunogenicity metrics - Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Mismatch Scores (HMS/EMS) and eplet-based counts - improve post–liver-transplant survival prediction. The analytic cohort comprised adult, first time, single-organ deceased-donor transplants drawn from Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients; follow-up was truncated at five years, and the endpoint was all-cause graft failure (earliest of graft failure or death; otherwise, censored). HLA variables were derived via high- resolution conversion and molecular mismatch computations …

Social And Contextual Factors Influencing Hypertension Among Latino Men Living In California, Leslie Ivett Ortega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension remains a critical and often silent public health issue that disproportionately affects Latino men in California. This quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study explored the social and contextual factors influencing hypertension among this vulnerable population. Using the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, which included a sample size of 2,060 participants, the study examined the relationship between hypertension and key variables including primary care utilization, health insurance, smoking, physical activity, mental health, and marital status, while controlling for age, education, and income. Guided by the health belief model, binary logistic regression analyses found health insurance and primary care utilization significantly …

An Examination Of Psychosocial Factors Related To Male Serial Killers, Rachael Elizabeth Tubbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, studies on serial murderers have not concentrated in depth on analyzing what psychosocial factors are or how they could influence a man to become a serial killer. The focus of this qualitative study was on the psychosocial characteristics of male serial killers that are from, and based in, the United States. Using a case study analysis approach, the life course of serial killers in the FGCU Radford Database was analyzed to identify themes of adverse childhood experiences such as physical, emotional, or psychological abuse; abandonment by parent or guardian; limited or no social bonds; witnessing abuse; and signs of …

Narratives Of Sexual Self-Esteem As A Domain Of Sexual Well-Being In Cisgender Women’S Long-Term Intimate Relationships, Lisa Criswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only within the last few decades has female sexual health become a topic of focus for researchers and practitioners to begin focusing on, leading to a gap in research between female sexual health and male sexual health. This has led to lack of knowledge and understanding on female sexual dysfunction and how interventions can effectively address it. An identified gap in knowledge of female sexual health and self-esteem is the lack of understanding of female narratives. This study was developed with the purpose of filling that gap and addressing domains within sexual health and self-esteem through exploration of the narratives …

Hidden Threats In Water: The Global Rise Of Emerging Contaminants, Baljit Singh, Abhijnan Bhat, Gayathree Thenuwara, Kamna Ravi, Azza Silotry Naik, Christine O’Connor, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The general spread of water safety awareness and enforcement often masks the escalating risks of emerging contaminants (ECs) that evade standard detection and monitoring techniques. Traditional monitoring infrastructures depend heavily on localized laboratory-based testing, which is expensive, time-consuming, and reliant on specialized infrastructure and skilled personnel. While specific types of ECs and detection technologies have been examined in numerous studies, a significant gap remains in compiling and commenting on this information in a concise framework that incorporates global impact and monitoring strategies. We aimed to compile and highlight the impact ECs have on global water safety and how advanced sensor …

Influence And Excess: A Study Of Alcohol’S Governmental, Societal, Biochemical, And Enzymatic Impact In The U.S And Other Countries Around The World, Thomas W. Snider

Senior Honors Theses

The conduct of the thesis is to explore the intricacies of alcohol consumption. The thesis will outline the history of alcohol and the societal pressures and conduct of drinking with relation to the government. After the history of alcohol has been defined, the thesis will move into the chemistry portion, delineating the absorption, digestion, metabolism, and excretion of alcohol. This is the portion of the thesis that will contain the quantitative data and source material as much research has already been conducted regarding these components of alcohol consumption. The condition of the research is that the data will be collected …

Exploring The Potential Of Martian Agriculture: Assessing Viability And Nutritional Composition Of Plants Cultivated In Martian Regolith, Abigail Ross

Honors Theses

In addition to sunlight and water, plants can utilize a small number of nutrients from the soil to biosynthesize all the materials that are needed for growth and development. However, plants require an environment where they are able to obtain those nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and nitrogen. Environmental factors determine the types and accessibility of nutrients available to plants. Plants then take up these nutrients from the soil to aid in biological mechanisms and the synthesis of important molecules needed for growth and development. Ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, is a vital molecule that is …

Young Adults' Experiences With Text Messaging Intervention For E-Cigarette Cessation In Rural Areas, Redson Biswick Machongo, Vipavee Thongpriwan, Seok Hyun Gwon, Devon Noonan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS, commonly known as e-cigarettes) use has increased rapidly among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural communities. E-cigarette use is a higher risk factor for both cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Addressing the disturbing rates of e-cigarette use in YAs requires cessation resources to be available and accessible. Regrettably, rural community residents have limited access to cessation resources. The purpose of this study was to explore YAs' perceptions and experiences engaging in text-message intervention to assist with vaping cessation effectively.

Methods: A qualitative investigation with individual interviews was conducted. Participants (n = 8) were from …

Integrating Synaptic Transistors With Perovskite Photodetectors For Neuromorphic Applications, Sydney Zhu, Shuoyan Liu, Yiheng Zhang

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

The convergence of neuromorphic electronics and optoelectronic materials offers a pathway toward next-generation artificial vision systems. Synaptic transistors, which emulate the adaptive plasticity of biological synapses, can process information in an energy-efficient and parallel fashion. Perovskite photodetectors, on the other hand, provide tunable band gaps, high responsivity, and facile fabrication, making them excellent candidates for light sensing. Integrating these two device classes enables direct photoresponsive computation, where optical signals are not only detected but also weighted, filtered, and stored in a single element. My research explores the electrical and optical coupling mechanisms in such hybrid devices, examining how ion migration, …

Spartan Daily, December 03, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 41

How Does The Intersectionality Of Race, Gender, And Organizational Culture Influence The Utilization And Consequences Of Code-Switching Among Black Men In Executive-Level Positions Within Nonprofit Settings?, Lepra George

Dissertations (1934 -)

Black men in executive roles within U.S. nonprofit organizations lead under racialized and gendered expectations that shape when and how they are perceived as leader-like. This qualitative study examines how these leaders interpret their lived experiences of code-switching, across speech and broader self-presentation, within White-normed nonprofit cultures. Guided by intersectionality and informed by impression-management theory, the study employed an interpretivist, phenomenological design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six Black male executives. Four themes emerged: (1) Black Male Leaders Consciously Navigate Authentic Identity, balancing cultural self-expression with perceived professionalism; (2) Confronting the Race–Gender Double Bind in …

Dopaminergic Regulation Of Aversive Motivation, Elaine M. Grafelman

Dissertations (1934 -)

We all experience adversity in our lives, and we must be able to effectively respond to these challenges in order to thrive. One way to respond to stressors is to change one’s behavior to cope with the stress. This can include escaping or avoiding the stressor, focusing effort to diminish the effect of the stressor, or other coping strategies such as drug use. In fact, stress is one of the principal triggers of relapse for those in the abstinence phase of a substance use disorder and it exacerbates a variety of other disorders. Therefore, it is critical to understand the …

Do Algal Endosymbiont Communities In Coral Outplants Change Over Time? A Spatio-Temporal Analysis Of Algal Symbionts In A South Florida Coral Restoration Experiment, Milena Nesic

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly frequent marine heatwaves and bleaching events threaten the persistence of corals on Florida’s Reefs. Active restoration through outplanting is being implemented across multiple species and regions, yet its effectiveness under rising thermal stress remains uncertain. We analyzed Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 sequence data from outplants of three coral species, Pseudodiploria clivosa, Montastraea cavernosa, and Orbicella faveolata, sampled before (2023) and after (2024) a mass bleaching event. Multivariate analyses revealed species-specific yet regionally divergent trends: southern restoration regions exhibited pronounced shifts toward thermotolerant Durusdinium, while northern regions remained comparatively stable. Although fine-scale ITS2 variation contributed to community heterogeneity, genus-level shifts …

Unconventional Binding Of Calmodulin To Chk2 Kinase Inhibits Catalytic Activity, Christopher R Horne, Tingting Wang, Samuel N Young, Toby A Dite, Hunter G Nyvall, Sushant Suresh, Katherine A Davies, Abner Gonzalez Castro, Vineet Vaibhav, Lucy J Mather, Laura F Dagley, Matthew J Belousoff, Gerard Manning, Anthony R Means, John E Burke, Janni Petersen, John W Scott, James M Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calmodulin (CaM) serves an essential role in eukaryotic cells as a Ca2+ sensor. Ca2+ binding leads to conformation changes in CaM that enable engagement of a repertoire of enzymes and the regulation of their catalytic activities. Classically, Ca2+-CaM binds to an inhibitory pseudosubstrate sequence C-terminal to the kinase domain in members of the Ca2+-CaM-dependent protein kinase (CAMK) family and relieves inhibition to promote catalytic activity. Here, we report an unexpected mechanism by which CaM can bind CHK2 kinase to inhibit its kinase activity. Using biochemical, biophysical and structural mass spectrometry, we identify a direct interaction of Ca2+-CaM with the CHK2 …

Operationalizing Passive Sensors Into Scalable, Reproducible, Neurobehavioral Digital Markers For Alzheimer's Disease: Lessons Learned Over 10 Years, Ganesh M Babulal, Matthew Blake, Chen Chen, Yiqi Zhu, Subrata Pal, David C Brown

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

From Embodiment To Entanglement: Refiguring Symbiosis In Human–Computer Interaction, Sang-Won Leigh

IASDR Conference Series

Human–machine symbiosis has re-emerged in HCI as a promising framework for designing sustained partnerships between humans and machines. While prior work has focused on individual ability, agency, and experience—namely embodiment-centric factors—this paper argues that symbiosis takes shape within entanglement. Through a series of design experiments and student projects, we illustrate how ecological residuals—such as friction, adaptation, and asymmetry—can serve as productive design materials. Our proposed framework synthesizes existing approaches, extending the scope of symbiosis in HCI from bodily integration toward socio-technical interdependence. By situating design configurations not as fixed endpoints but as sites of relational conditioning, this paper refigures human– …

The X_Heal Toolkit: Navigating Temporal And Dynamic Self-Healing Processes In Living Materials, Verindi Vekemans, Stefano Parisi, Fanzhe Zeng, Jun Wu, Elvin Karana

IASDR Conference Series

Self-healing, a remarkable ability of living organisms, is gaining attention in biodesign as a pathway toward sustainability. Applications range from fungi-based repair in packaging to bacterial healing in soft robotics. The expressive, dynamic, and temporal nature of self-healing offers rich design opportunities but also presents challenges due to emergent behaviours and environmental dependencies. Healing may unfold gradually, leave visible traces, or transform material in unpredictable ways, making it difficult to observe, describe, and communicate through existing design tools. This paper introduces a toolkit, namely the X_Heal Toolkit, that enables designers to analyse and characterise self-healing processes. Grounded in frameworks of …

"The Limbs That I Built": Understanding In Co-Creation Human Augmentation Design And User-Driven Testing, Keren Zhang, Kin Wai Michael Siu, Yijia Jiang, Shiyu Liu, Huiyi Zhang

IASDR Conference Series

Current co-creation design research on human augmentation technologies focuses primarily on restoring functions for individuals with disabilities, overlooking the increasing potential demand for augmentation among ordinary users. To bridge this research gap, this study combined speculative design with user co-creation workshops to examine the practical implications and behavioural impacts of supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) on everyday users. Initial questionnaires and interviews (n=42) revealed considerable user interest, particularly regarding upper limb and back augmentations. Based on these insights, we collaboratively developed two prototypes: the 'Mirror Hand', which enhances grasp capabilities by mirroring finger movements, and the 'Third Akimbo', a robotic arm …

Educating For Longevity: The Role Of Immersive Technologies In Service Learning, Sheng-Hung Lee, Joseph Coughlin, Sofie Hodara, Maria Yang

IASDR Conference Series

As education adapts to the realities of a longevity society, new approaches are needed to engage learners in preparing for their long-term futures, particularly around financial well-being. This preliminary study explores how immersive technologies can enhance educational experiences in longevity planning by combining augmented reality (AR) with tangible artifacts, the Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs). We designed and prototyped three longevity coaching experiences—using projection AR, tablet AR, and wearable AR—to investigate their effectiveness in communicating abstract longevity planning concepts. Nine Boston-based participants aged 35–45 engaged in a 30-minute coaching session using one of three AR modalities, followed by reflective feedback captured …

Designing Marine Ranch Complexes For More Than Human-Centered Design: A Reflective Multispecies Systems Framework, Liu Xiang, He Renke, Ji Tie, Shao Binbin, Meng Han

IASDR Conference Series

The Marine Ranch Complex (MRC) is a novel approach to marine fisheries development that has gained significant attention from developed coastal nations worldwide. As a major fishing nation, China attaches great importance to the development of MRC. This study proposes an analytical framework for the sustainable development path of MRC, which is conducive to the efficient conversion of marine resources and the coordinated development of marine ecology in marine pastures. To begin with, the evolution process of the marine ranch concept and the development status of our country are summarized, and the definition of MRC is clarified. We introduce (i) …

Ageism, Loneliness, And The Built Environment: Shaping Older Women's Play In Public Housing Estates, Yi Izzy Jian, Tian Cheng, Wei Xuan Chen, Ka Him Mo

IASDR Conference Series

Play in later life is more than leisure—it is an act of autonomy, resistance, and identity negotiation, especially for older women navigating marginal ity in public housing. Yet, conventional urban design and social programming often fail to recognize its significance. This study investigates how play is interpreted and practiced by 39 female older adults, using semi-structured interviews and network analysis. Findings indicate that socially-driven, self-organized activities such as chatting and volunteering form the core of meaningful play, while procedural barriers and spatial limitations hinder participation in more structured, passive forms. Ageism, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with the built environment further restrict …

Beyond The Interface: How Dyad Gender Composition Shapes Ux Across Collaborative Scenarios, Mengcai Zhou, Wenjia Shi, Jingxuan Wang, Kenta Ono

IASDR Conference Series

As collaborative digital tools and shared-screen applications proliferate, it has become essential to examine how group dynamics and physical layout jointly influence user experience. In this work, we explored how the combination of spatial setting and gender composition shapes interaction in a two- player digital game. Eleven dyads (22 participants) — composed of female–female, male–male, and mixed-gender pairs — played a self-developed iPad table-tennis game under two contrasting conditions: seated face-to-face at the same table and playing remotely from separate rooms. Following each match, they completed a 21-item questionnaire adapted from the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) to capture perceived engagement …

Embodied Vibrational Methodologies: Exploring Vibration From A Multispecies Perspective In A Co-Created Summercamp, Svenja Keune, Katka Cerna, Asya Ilgün, Anneke Ter Schure, Roland Mühlethaler, Tincuta Heinzel, Kristine Diekman

IASDR Conference Series

The I.N.S.E.C.T. Summer camps are annual gatherings of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners exploring more-than-human perspectives through creative, embodied, and ecological practices. They take place in a scout camp in Hvalsø, Denmark. This area belongs to the Skoldjungernes Land („Land of the Turtles “) National Park where the Bidstrup forest meets the Særløse Overdrev grasslands. The 2024 Summercamp focused on vibration as a sensory and communicative modality shared among humans, plants, and insects. Building on our established methodology of Mapping Ecologies, Critical Making, and Being/Becoming, we adapted our approach to the local context by engaging with insect and plant species involved …

Bridging Innovation And Delivery: A Double-Helix Integration Of Design Thinking And Lean Thinking In Taiwan's Regional Revitalization, Chung-Kai Liao, Ding-Hau Huang

IASDR Conference Series

This study addresses the pervasive "innovation-delivery fracture" phenomenon in Taiwan's regional revitalization policy by proposing a Double-Helix Integration Model that non-linearly interweaves Design Thinking (exploration helix) with Lean Thinking (delivery helix). Through thematic analysis of 31 Taiwan-based publications from 2016–2025, the research identifies four core themes: structural fractures at the policy level including ambiguous central-local government roles and insufficient cross- departmental coordination mechanisms; Design Thinking's excellence in demand insight and co- creation stages, offset by deficiencies in scaling and institution aliz ation; Lean Thinking's potential to strengthen delivery capacity through value stream mapping and PDCA cycles; and a double-helix integration …

A Smart Interaction System For Mandibular Rehabilitation Training, Zixuan Yang, Hyejin Lee, Leheng Chen

IASDR Conference Series

Tempor omandibular disorder (TMD) severely impacts patients' quality of life, while traditional rehabilitation treatments are often costly and lack compliance. Therefore, this study proposes an interactive home-based mandibular rehabilitation training system that integrates force sensing and computer vision. This system monitors mandibular motion and applied pressure in real time, providing patients with visual feedback and guidance. Incorporating self-efficacy theory, it designs personalized training plans to enhance compliance and sustainability. The study first established a medical paradigm centered on autonomous coordinated mandibular movement and resistance training and constructed a self-efficacy-oriented interactive experience model. Technically, a flexible pressure-sensing cuff and the MediaPipe …

A Typological Approach To Innovative Agriculture Design: Enhancing Urban-Rural Interaction, Tangxiang Huo, Jia Ren, Yan Yang, Yinuo Lv, Xiang Liu, Tie Ji, Han Meng

IASDR Conference Series

In recent years, urban-rural interaction and rural revitalization have received increasing attention, particularly in the context of Innovative Agricultural Design (IAD).However, existing IAD cases differ significantly in scale, concept, and development models, making it difficult to formulate design strategies that are adaptive and targeted to different types of practices. To address this issue, this study systematically classifies 83 domestic and international IAD cases and establishes a typo logical framework to reveal their distinct characteristics. Based on a comprehensive indicator system encompassing technological, social, and business innovation dimensions, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and hierarchical clustering are applied to identify four IAD …