Digital Commons Network^™

Spikerff: Learning Forward With Layer-Local Plasticity And Semi-Hard Negatives, Karthik Tumkur Kumar

Theses

Effective contrastive learning relies on choosing useful, informative "hard" negative samples. Current hard negative sampling methods designed for traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs) are, in general, computationally costly and are ill-suited to account for the temporal structure relevant to neuromorphic data. To tackle these issues, in this work, we formulate a similarity-guided semi-hard negative sampling strategy for neuromorphic computing based on spiking neural networks (SNNs). We propose SpikeRFF (Spiking Recurrent Forward-Forward), a gradient-free and unsupervised recurrent spiking framework that combines layer-local Forward-Forward learning with semi-hard negative selection and temporally structured negative construction. Positive samples are encouraged to produce high goodness, …

Highly Confident But Slightly Uncertain: A Long Overdue Reinvention Of The School Scientific Method, Teaching - Volume 4, Stephen Demeo

Publications and Research

In Volume 4, the last book of the series, I continue the argument for greater parity between conceptual knowledge—the "what" of science—and methodological knowledge—the "how" of science—but in the context of teacher instruction. To this end, two literature reviews are presented: One on how students build confidence, specifically regarding the reliability or consistency of measurement or results, and the other on scientific uncertainty. Research studies focusing on student misconceptions are summarized and organized from the elementary to the college level. These literature reviews describe invaluable ways for teachers to improve their instruction, while providing examples of experiments that can be …

What’S Kept, Caitlin Smith

Theses

This thesis examines the collective psychological aftermath of de-industrialization in a rust belt city, processed through perspectives of nostalgia and betrayal. By reframing childhood memories of instability and inherited narratives, a framework is established for investigating the modalities through which love and attachment may obscure entangled harm, and how grief operates across both collective and personal registers. Found objects are situated as sites of projection where memories are abstracted and reconstituted. The processes of decay and weathering serve as analogues for psychological trauma, reframing deterioration as an inevitable and generative condition. Natural elements act as metaphors for neutrality, challenging imposed …

Physical Drivers Of Pismo Clam (Tivela Stultorum) Populations At The Northern Range Edge In Monterey Bay, California, Olivia M. Beaudoin

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Environmental factors and physiological tolerances shape species abundance and distribution across their geographic ranges. Species inhabiting coastal systems are subject to a range of conditions driven by both geology and oceanography. For example, infaunal organisms are influenced by sediment characteristics and beach morphology, nearshore wave dynamics, and sea surface temperature (SST). An infaunal resident of the sandy beach intertidal, the Pismo clam (Tivela stultorum), was once a valuable commercial resource along the California coast, ranging from Santa Cruz County, CA to Magdalena Bay, BCS, Mexico. Pismo clams experienced considerable population declines due to overexploitation in the early 20th century. Populations …

Resilience In Restoration: Investigating The Thermal Tolerance Of Galapagos Corals During El Niño, Ava Besecker

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Rising sea surface temperatures have driven widespread coral bleaching and mortality, yet some corals persist through repeated marine heatwaves. In the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), extreme conditions provide a natural laboratory for studying resilience, and some corals have persisted even after declines due to repeat El Niño-driven mortality events. This study investigates drivers of coral resilience by fate-tracking three dominant genera in the ETP at a restoration site on Isabela Island, Galapagos during a natural warming event. I evaluated how algal symbiont community composition, genetic lineage, temperature, and site-specific environmental conditions interacted to shape coral growth, bleaching, and survival before, …

Distinct Regulatory Dna Methylation Signatures Across Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, And Neurological Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19, Syed Ilyas Munzir, Daniel B. Hier, Michael D. Carrithers

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Our prior epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) on multiple sclerosis (MS) identified myeloid-associated methylation signatures and an association with enhancer regions. Here we compared differential DNA methylation across three central nervous system inflammatory disorders: MS, neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and neurologic post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (neuro-PASC). Methods: Whole-blood DNA was profiled on Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays. Analyses included EWAS at the CpG level, differentially methylation region (DMR) analysis, and gene regulatory-element enrichment using Locus Overlap Analysis (LOLA). Limma linear models were adjusted for race, EPIC array version, age, sex, disease-modifying treatment class, and blood cell composition. Results: All three diseases were associated …

Inflammation Associated With Obesity, Aging, And Amyloid Burden In Adults With Down Syndrome, Victoria L. Fleming-Batayneh, Brian C. Helsel, Lauren T. Ptomey, Benjamin L. Handen, Mark Mapstone, Melissa Petersen, Sharon J. Krinsky-Mchale, Christy L. Hom, Davneet Minhas, Weiquan Luo, Charles Laymon, Joseph H. Lee, Annie Cohen, Beau M. Ances, Adam M. Brickman, Margaret Pulsifer, H. Diana Rosas, Florencia Lai, Shahid H. Zaman, Elizabeth Head, Dana Tudorascu, Julie Price, Fredrick Schmitt, Bradley T. Christian, Ozioma Okonkwo, Sigan L. Hartley, Beau M. Ances, Howard F. Andrews, Karen Bell, Rasmus M. Birn, Adam M. Brickman

Neurology Faculty Publications

Objective: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) often show elevated systemic inflammation, but the association with obesity, aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is not well understood. Methods: Data were drawn from 188 nondemented adults with DS participating in the Alzheimer Biomarkers Consortium-DS (ABC-DS). Participants completed clinical assessments, blood draws, and neuroimaging. Plasma biomarkers included indicators of general, pro-, and anti-inflammation. Mixed linear models tested associations between BMI, age, PET-measured amyloid burden, and inflammatory biomarkers, adjusting for sex, trisomy type, and collection site. False discovery rate correction was applied. Results: The majority of the participants met criteria for obesity. Higher BMI …

Vegf-A Mediates Red Light-Induced Enos Expression In Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells, Iman Zuberi, Helen Brown, Nicole Lohr

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Summer Expo Poster Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences

Addressing Homelessness As A Key Risk Factor For Overdose Deaths In King County, Washington, Catherine Mutti-Driscoll

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement:

In this portfolio, I identify prevention strategies that address the nested problems of overdose deaths and homelessness in King County, Washington. By examining how housing instability, substance abuse, structural racism, and gaps in coordinated care intersect, this paper advocates for a responsive prevention approach that combines evidence-based substance abuse strategies, phased housing approaches, and culturally responsive care.

Significant Findings:

While recent harm reduction measures have improved overdose death rates in King County, unhoused individuals continue to account for 50% of the county’s still concerning fatal overdose numbers. Data shows that historical racism in King County also shapes who …

Preventing Mental Health Issues In Children And Adolescents With Learning Disabilities, Laura Barrett

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this social change portfolio is to prevent mental health issues in children and adolescents with learning disabilities in the state of Utah.

Significant Findings: Children and adolescents with learning disabilities (LDs) in Utah face elevated risks of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and related difficulties stemming from chronic academic frustration and social challenges, yet substantial service gaps for this vulnerable population exist. Approximately 58% of children needing mental health care in Utah do not receive any, and only about half of the estimated 58,000 students diagnosed with LDs have specialized educational supports such as individualized education …

Donor-Derived Cell-Free Dna As A Prognostic Biomarker After Heart Transplantation: The Define-Ht Study, Palak Shah, Paul J. Kim, Kelly H. Schlendorf, David A. Baran, Monica M. Colvin, Adam D. Devore, Howard Eisen, Kambiz Ghafourian, Michael M. Givertz, Eileen Hsich, Jaime L. W. Kennedy, Evan P. Kransdorf, Jose N. Nativi-Nicolau, Jignesh Patel, Eleni Tseliou, Omar Wever-Pinzon, Andrew Doud, Michelle S. Bloom, Sandra A. Carey, Navchetan Kaur, D Giovanni Biagini, Kyle E. Marshall, Michael Olympios, Mandeep R. Mehra, Josef Stehlik

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Measurement of donor-derived cell-free DNA fraction (dd-cfDNA%) and donor quantity score (DQS) is a noninvasive biomarker of acute rejection in heart transplantation (HT). Its prognostic value beyond histopathology remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate associations between donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and clinically meaningful outcomes using a composite endpoint of treated rejection, graft dysfunction, retransplantation, or death within 1 year post-HT.

METHODS: The DEFINE-HT (Development of Noninvasive Cell-free DNA to Supplant Invasive Biopsy in Heart Transplantation) was a prospective, observational study following adult HT recipients at 10 U.S. centers for 1-year post-HT; blood was collected for dd-cfDNA testing …

Fluoroquinolone Use And Risk Of Pneumothorax In Adults Hospitalized With Community Acquired Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Steven Yi B. S., Saurav Sumughan B.S., Jessica Cobb M. D., Erika J. Yoo

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between fluoroquinolone exposure and pneumothorax risk in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX US Collaborative Network. We defined two mutually exclusive cohorts of hospitalized adults based on exposure to antibiotic classes commonly used to treat community acquired pneumonia: fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ofloxacin) versus nonfluoroquinolone (amoxicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and doxycycline). Patients with connective tissue disorders were excluded. The primary outcome was the occurrence of pneumothorax within 60 days. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for demographics, …

Evaluating Variety- And Market-Class-Specific Effects Of Dietary Pulses On Human Health, Jiayu Tang

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While pulses are globally recognized for their high levels of dietary fibers, protein, and polyphenols, research often focuses on characterizing the physiological effects of a single variety. This approach overlooks the substantial genetic and compositional diversity that exists across pulse varieties and individual market classes, which can differ extensively in nutrient content and structure. These compositional differences have the potential to produce distinct physiological and microbial responses in humans, yet variety- and market-class-specific effects remain poorly characterized.

This thesis uses two complementary research methodologies to investigate the health-relevant effects of different pulse varieties and market classes, providing foundational knowledge to …

Enhancing New Mother's Mental Health And Confidence After Discharge, Breana De La Cruz

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

New mothers lack guidance, education and resources for common postpartum complications resulting in a decreased overall wellbeing in the postpartum period.

Toward Intentional Praxis: A Design Thinking Multi-Case Study Of Cognitive-Constructive Toolkit Implementation In An Elementary Professional Learning Community, Azam Nathaniel

Dissertations

Among several learning theories that were dynamic and constantly evolving with time, cognitive and constructive theories were predominant in the field of education. However, these theories often included overlapping and contrasting concepts, contributing to confusion in terminology among teachers and limited explicit use in instructional practice. Within the context of K-12 education, teachers demonstrated conceptual awareness of cognitive and constructive learning theories; however, the theories were not a part of day-to-day conversations and were minimally identified in practice. Instead, the theories were implicitly applied as teachers balanced competing professional responsibilities, including daily routines, syllabus requirements, district standards, new initiatives, differentiated …

Production Country Origin Impact On Soybean Oil Quality, Huazhen Liu, Micah Pope, Todd Doehring, Pradeep Kachroo, David Hildebrand

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Previous studies have suggested variability in soybean oil quality depending on geographic origin of the soybeans. In this study, 1035 crude degummed soybean oil (raw oil unrefined except for degumming) samples collected from vessels and crushers over five harvest years (2020–2024) were analyzed for 11 key quality attributes. Soybean oil samples were sourced from soybeans that originated from the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. The results indicate that US-grown soybeans consistently produce the highest-quality oil, characterized by the lowest free fatty acid (FFA) levels and lowest neutral oil loss (NOL). Oils from US soybeans also exhibited the highest iodine values. …

Root Chemistry Effects On Soil Organic Matter Fractions Persist In Topsoil And Subsoil Of A Well-Drained Alfisol, Brian Rinehart, Justin Allen, Joeri Kaal, Dave Mcnear, Hanna Poffenbarger

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Subsoils have been identified as a potential target for building soil C stocks, given the older age and slower cycling of organic matter at depth. Plant roots deliver C deep into the soil profile, but there is limited experimental evidence as to which root traits are most effective at increasing subsoil C. To that end, we conducted a 13C natural abundance study to trace C from roots of differing quality into organic matter fractions in a shallow and deep soil layer of an Alfisol in Lexington, KY. The roots of four species were packed into nylon-wrapped tubes with soil and …

Sweet Potato Gene Clusters Control Anthocyanin Biosynthesis And Leaf Morphology, Dong An, Tiechen Shen, Shiyu Wu, Yanshen Li, Weijuan Fan, Mengxiao Yan, Yinghui Meng, Xinyi Wang, Ximing Xu, Zunfu Lv, Ling Yuan, Jun Yang, Guoquan Lu, Hongxia Wang

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) exhibits diversity in pigmentation and leaf morphology, yet the genetic architecture and regulatory organisation underlying these traits remain poorly resolved, particularly with respect to organ-specific control. We hypothesised that phenotypic variation is governed by clustered genetic modules comprising regulatory and structural genes operating in an organ-specific manner. To test this, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using 4.6 million SNPs across 260 diverse accessions, integrated with transcriptomic, haplotype and functional analyses. GWAS identified two tandem clusters of MYB transcription factors on chromosome 5 as the primary regulators of leaf anthocyanin accumulation. Expression profiling, heterologous expression and …

Karmic Theodicies, Justin Mooney

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The 1c2 Reference Filtered Cigar To The 1r6f Reference Filtered Cigarette, Amrita Machwe, Samuel B. Clark, Halle Harned, Tanvi Sawardekar, Stacey A. Slone, Huihua Ji, David K. Orren

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Introduction: Filtered cigars are a class of tobacco products that can be consumed similarly as conventional cigarettes. Here we have compared tobacco smoke condensates prepared from the 1C2 reference filtered cigar with those from the 1R6F reference cigarette with respect to effects on cell proliferation and viability and AhR-mediated gene expression. Methods: Tobacco smoke condensates were prepared using ISO, Health Canada Intense (HCI) or Cigar Smoking (CSR) regimens and certain HPHCs were measured. Cell proliferation and viability assays were performed on immortalized human bronchial or oral epithelial cell lines. AHR-mediated gene expression was measured using a mouse hepatoma cell line …

Life After Divorce: Effects Of Joint Custody On Parents And Children, Stella Canessa, Gordon B. Dahl, Anna Hasselqvist, Costas Meghir, Susan Niknami, Mårten Palme, Helmut Rainer, Olof Rosenqvist, Pengpeng Xiao

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Divorce reshapes family life, yet little is known about one of its most consequential features: the allocation of child custody. We study the impact of joint versus sole custody on both parents and children using rich administrative data from Sweden linked to over 25 years of newly-collected court custody rulings. To address selection concerns, we exploit random assignment of custody disputes to judges who differ sharply in their propensity to grant joint custody. For fathers, joint custody substantially raises earnings and improves mental health, consistent with sustained paternal involvement enhancing labor market attachment and psychological well-being. In contrast, there are …

Ms4 Swmpp 2026, John Kay

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit

Stormwater discharges from Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico (SNL/NM) are eligible for coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. This Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) was prepared by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS) for the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Sandia Field Office (SFO), owner of SNL/NM, located in Albuquerque, NM.

Career Pathways Program Annual Report For Ay 2025/26, Wie Yusuf

Career Pathways

Career Pathways launched in August 2017 as the university-wide initiative to provide career and professional development to graduate students. It encompasses both the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) and the Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) Certificates. The Preparing Future Faculty Certificate was established in 2007, while the Preparing Future Professionals Certificate was launched in 2017, concurrently with the introduction of Career Pathways. The Career Pathways program prepares graduate students for a successful transition into thriving careers. With the PFP Certificate, the emphasis has been on addressing the existing gap in career and professional development for master’s and doctoral students with career plans …

Risk Of Fracture Following Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors In Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer, Grace Lu-Yao, Nikita Nikita, Scott W. Keith, Krupa Gandhi, Amy L. Shaver, Swapnil Sharma, Christina Steinbock-Malfer, Hushan Yang, Christopher Yang, Kevin K. Zarrabi, Stephen J. Freedland, William K. Kelly

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: This population-based study aimed to quantify fracture risk after androgen receptor pathway inhibitors in advanced prostate cancer patients by preexisting health conditions.

METHODS: Patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare files who received abiraterone acetate with prednisone or enzalutamide between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020. Health and fracture history were based on claims 1 year before androgen receptor pathway inhibitor with follow-up through December 31, 2020. The main outcome of the study was the cumulative fracture risk after first date of androgen receptor pathway inhibitor. Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model was used to …

Subcutaneous Nodules On The Elbows Of A Teenager, Arman Haveric, Jayci G. Rhein, Jason B. Lee, Shayan Waseh, Sylvia Hsu, Afton R. Metkowski

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Spatially Dissecting Drivers Of Inter-And Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity In Kenyan Breast Cancer, Mustapha Abubakar, Shahin Sayed, Hela Koka, Scott Lawrence, Karun Mutreja, Xing Hua, Petra Lenz, Samuel Anyaso-Samuel, Rosemary Kamau, Beryl Ooro

Pathology, East Africa

Despite growing evidence on the impact of intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) in breast cancer (BC), its biological drivers and clinically relevant mitigation strategies remain poorly characterized, particularly in low-resource settings where spatial profiling is rarely applied. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive, multiplatform spatial profiling study of BC in a Kenyan population. Using the NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler, we quantified 44 protein markers across 707 spatially defined, PanCK-segmented Areas of Illumination (AOIs) from 31 tumors. All tumors exhibited measurable ITH, with one-third showing marked heterogeneity. Sixteen patients exhibited two or more intrinsic subtypes within their tumors, three of …

Mental Health Stigma In Latin American Youth With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Ryan J. Mccarty, Matias Jensen, Elissa Paz Jensen Santa Cruz, Melisa N. Sagarnaga, Pamela Claisse Quiroz, Isabella A. Cruz, Laura D. Seligman, Joseph D. Hovey, Monica E. Ochoa, Nadeen Salhadar

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an impairing mental health condition that affects individuals across the lifespan. Some literature has evaluated mental health stigma in adults with OCD but limited attention has been given to youth, as well as those of Latino ancestry. The present study reported the extent of stigma experiences among Latin American youth with OCD, as well as examined sociodemographic, clinical and psychological correlates. 235 youth with clinician confirmed diagnoses of OCD from 10 North and South American countries completed questionnaires assessing stigma experiences, symptomatology, and functioning. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were also collected. The average OCD stigma response …

Correlation Between Overthinking And Procrastination Behavior Among Nurses, Mona Hassan Abdelaal

Nursing

ABSTRACT Context: A key challenge in understanding internalizing psychological disorders is identifying the cognitive processes that sustain distress and disrupt effective functioning. Recurrent, hard-to-interrupt thinking patterns may interfere with individuals’ ability to initiate and complete intended tasks. Concurrently, individuals may persistently delay necessary actions despite recognizing their negative consequences, indicating a breakdown between intention and behavior. This pattern of delay appears to be associated with seeking short term emotional relief, reduced consideration of future outcomes, and avoidance of prolonged effort. While these issues have been studied independently, their overlapping mechanisms require further investigation. The potential role of repetitive cognitive processes …

Current Trends In Remote Sensing-Based Harmful Algal Bloom Research: A Bibliometric Analysis, Joshua T. Ruiz

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Pangenome Analysis Of Proteus Mirabilis Reveals Lineage-Specific Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles And Discordant Genotype-Phenotype Correlations, Namrata Deka, Aimee L Brauer, Katherine Connerton, Blake M Hanson, Jennifer N Walker, Chelsie E Armbruster

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) impose a large healthcare burden, with escalating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and treatment failure. Proteus mirabilis is an undercharacterized and challenging UTI pathogen due to intrinsic resistance and biofilm formation. To understand P. mirabilis population genomics, we combined pangenome analysis, in silico AMR prediction, and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) across 1,027 P. mirabilis genomes derived from human urine specimens. This revealed a mosaic pangenome driven by extensive accessory genome plasticity. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) identified 213 MLSTs, with only 7% having ≥10 genomes, highlighting strain diversity. AMR gene profiles were largely lineage-specific, with 25% of genomes …