Digital Commons Network^™

Suspicious Activity Recognition Using Computer Vision, Chaitanya Krishna Karanam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This culminating experience project explored innovative methods for enhancing anomaly detection in video surveillance systems, a vital concern for public safety and security management. The research questions addressed were: Q1) What emergent approaches in Activity-based Human Action Recognition (AbHAR) lead to significant advancements in surveillance technology driven by human cognition? Q2) How can the processing and detection phases of video monitoring systems be optimized for improved efficiency? Q3) What are the advantages of ensemble approaches over individual algorithms in enhancing the robustness and accuracy of anomaly detection systems in video surveillance?

The findings were: (Q1), That deep learning methodologies, particularly …

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vidhya Lakshmi Jeevarathinam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis requires an integrative approach that combines behavioral, biomedical, and computational methodologies for enhanced accuracy. This study introduces a comprehensive framework that employs machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques alongside linear regression to model relationships between behavioral traits, biomedical markers, and ASD likelihood. Behavioral inputs, such as social interaction patterns, repetitive behaviors, and communication characteristics, are analyzed using linear regression to identify significant predictors of ASD. Simultaneously, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained on image datasets to detect visual cues, such as facial expressions, associated with ASD. Advanced techniques, including transfer learning and …

Cognitive Differences In Parkinson’S Disease With Amyloid Positivity And Negativity, Kenya Luna

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In Parkinson’s Disease (PD), research has shifted to investigate how biomarkers commonly seen in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), such as amyloid beta (AB), may be associated with cognitive functioning in PD. AB is considered a reliable biomarker for AD pathology, however in PD there is a lacking biomarker that can accurately reflect severity of cognitive impairment. AD research has shown an association between low AB and cognitive decline, but the data in PD has mixed results. Most studies that analyze cognitive decline and biomarkers do not use a cutoff level and the few that do have a threshold vary greatly in …

The Effect Of Gender Beliefs On Self-Determined Motivation As Measured By Organizational Citizenship Behaviors And Workplace Deviant Behaviors, Ryan Jaramillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Employees are gauged by their motivation to complete their required job responsibilities, as losses in motivation can result in losses to organizations. Understanding motivation is necessary to achieving beneficial organizational outcomes such as organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) while reducing detrimental employee outcomes such as workplace deviant behaviors (WDBs). To this end, the present study analyzes motivation not through a dichotomy of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, but through a spectrum of self-determination for its relationship to employee behaviors. Gender is a potential moderator that can have important moderating effects between motivation and subsequent outcomes in the workplace. The purpose of this …

The Impact Of Benevolent Sexism On Evaluations Of Female Leaders, Daniella A. Lockhart

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of benevolent sexism beliefs on evaluations of female leadership candidates in hiring decisions, as well as the moderating effects of occupational gender composition and the gender of the comparison candidate. While seemingly positive, benevolent sexism subtly reinforces traditional gender roles by portraying women as warm but less competent, particularly in leadership roles where competence is crucial. The data in this study was collected from 146 participants via an online questionnaire using MTurk and snowball sampling. Aligning with previous research on gender bias, results indicated that benevolent sexism negatively impacts perceptions of competence and warmth, especially …

The Exploration Of Modern Life And Nature: A Public Relations Campaign Plan For Community Artists, David Mitchell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Art can unite individuals and foster a sense of community. When art is accessible, it can act as a meeting place for individuals to connect and share their experiences. It may also generate economic opportunities for artists and communities. In this scholarly document, I briefly discussed how artists, particularly community artists, use visual arts to create connections within communities and to preserve cultures. Further, I discussed the lack of research on public relations in the art field and the importance that public relations holds for visual arts. I explained the critical role my public relations plan and non-profit art organization …

Unraveling Phytosulfokine Trafficking In Arabidopsis Thaliana Using Fiber-Optic Fluorescence Microscopy, Issaka Obuaba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As sessile organisms, plants manage stress through complex signaling networks involving phytohormones such as phytosulfokine (PSK). PSK, a disulfated pentapeptide, regulates plant growth, development, and stress responses by interacting with specific PSK receptors (PSKRs). In this study, we explored the trafficking dynamics of PSK, its post-application fate, and the synthesis of an analog. We administered both native PSK and a fluorescent version tagged with TAMRA (5(6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine) to various Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes, including wild type, a PSKR-deficient mutant, and a strain overexpressing PSKR1 tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) over the wild-type background. Fiber-optic fluorescence microscopy revealed that receptor presence influences …

Digital Storytelling Strategies For Viewer Engagement: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Youtube Videos By Nonprofit Healthcare Organizations, Maame Aba Afful

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As reliance on digital media and social media platforms such as YouTube increases, health organizations infuse rhetorical strategies to create memorable and impactful health-related videos to raise awareness and attract support. Nonprofit healthcare organizations use digital storytelling to communicate their impact. In this study, I conduct a rhetorical analysis of five digital storytelling videos shared on the YouTube pages of nonprofit healthcare organizations to: identify how the videos leverage rhetorical appeals, point-of-view (POV), and metadata; and discuss how such strategies might influence viewer engagement or brand objectives. My findings suggest that nonprofit healthcare organizations integrate positive and negative emotional appeals …

Growing Industry-University Partnerships: Virtual Workshop On Industry Sponsored Research, Mark Stone, Santosh K. Pitla

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

The Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) hosted a virtual workshop on developing capacity for industry-sponsored research (ISR). This dynamic event brought together faculty, researchers, industry leaders, and students to explore innovative strategies for advancing ISR.

The workshop addressed four key themes: (1) fostering sustainable industry-academic partnerships; (2) tackling intellectual property (IP) challenges; (3) building institutional and individual capacity for ISR, and (4) empowering students as critical contributors to industry research. Through expert-led presentations, an engaging panel discussion, and interactive brainstorming sessions, participants identified actionable steps and articulated a vision for the future of …

Elevated Levels Of Cd56+ T Cells, Cd16+ Cd56+ T Cells, And Cd56dim Nk Cells In Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Seropositive Healthy Individuals, Mazen Almehmadi, Mamdouh Allahyani, Abdulelah Aljuaid, Meshari A. Alsuwat, Mustafa Halawi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To investigate the numbers of natural killer (NK) cells, CD56+ T-cells and CD56- T cells, and the levels ofCD16 in healthy individuals seropositive for herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1). Specifically, it seeks to measure the levels of these cells to learn about the possible immunological significance during HSV-1 seropositive status. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional research design to examine the levels of CD56+ T-cells and CD16+ among individuals seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in Taif city. A total of 112 participants were enrolled, with HSV-1 serostatus determined via ELISA, and cellular evaluation conducted using …

Rising Epidemiological Trends In Prevalence And Mortality Of Mpox: Global Insights And Analysis, Muhammad Os. Meo, Muhammad Zs. Meo, Isra M. Khan, Muhammad As. Butt, Adnan M. Usmani, Sultan A. Meo

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the global epidemiological trends in the prevalence and mortality due to mpox in various regions worldwide. Methods: In this cross-sectional study the data about mpox outbreak were recorded by the “World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and GSAID” from August 2023 to August 2024, analyzing the epidemiological trends from different countries worldwide. Results: The total number of mpox cases has reached 99,518 (95,196 cases from 115 countries that have not historically reported mpox; and 4,322 cases from 07 states that have traditionally reported mpox), from a total of 122 countries. The top 10 countries …

Isotretinoin-Induced Epistaxis Among Acne Vulgaris Patients: A Cross Sectional Study From Saudi Arabia, Hanan Ibrahim Almuzaini, Ali Saeed Alamri, Razan Ibrahim Almuzaini

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of isotretinoin-related epistaxis, among patients of acne vulgaris. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 230 Saudi patients who received isotretinoin for treatment of acne vulgaris, was included in the study. An online questionnaire was used to collect data regarding demographics and treatment-related adverse events. Results: The prevalence of isotretinoin-induced epistaxis was found to be 45.2%, which was a 5-fold increase in epistaxis, versus baseline. Epistaxis was reported by 90% patients who had a prior history of nasal bleeding. Patients with ‘obstructed nose’, reported a prevalence of 68.8%. The large majority of patients had …

Silent Reactivation Of Varicella Zoster Virus In Hemodialysis Patients.: A Management Dilemma, Bandar A. Suliman, Hassan T. Alhazmi, Hamzah A. Alamri, Ahmed A. Aljuhani, Mohammed S. Younis, Khalid H. Mahallawi, Fayez H. Alsehli, Ibrahim T. Alomani, Bashayer A. Almoutairi, Yasser S. Asar, Mohammed A. Alkhaily, Walaa A. Momena, Waleed H. Mahallawi

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antibodies among hemodialysis patients (HDP). Additionally, the presence of VZV viral DNA has been investigated for possible reactivation status. Methods: Sera from 265 individuals were collected and tested. The study was carried out from November 2023 to February 2024. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was accomplished to determine the VZV IgG and IgM antibody levels. The viral DNA was tested by qPCR. Results: We found a significantly higher proportion of Host defense peptides (HDP) have positive antibody levels compared to healthy controls (HC) (92.0% of HDP …

Interactive Known-Item Search In Large Video Corpora, Zhixin Ma

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The surge in video volume makes it challenging to locate a specific target with a single query using automatic video retrieval systems. The interactive video retrieval offers a solution by enabling users to iteratively refine a search. Nevertheless, existing systems often present users with an overwhelming number of similar videos, which can lead to mental fatigue while inspecting results and increase difficulty in providing feedback. This dissertation studies known-item video search and addresses four key challenges. First and foremost, as the link between users and the system, the interaction must be both efficient and effective. To ensure effectiveness, the user’s …

Unravel The University-Enterprise Research Collaboration: Evidence From Multiple Cases, Lihua Luo

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This study elucidates the pivotal determinants of industry-university research collaboration within the chemical industry and delineates its operational modalities, which can offer valuable insights for pertinent theoretical research and practical applications. By employing grounded theory, an in-depth qualitative analysis of several collaborative cases between chemical enterprises and higher education institutions was conducted, which culminated in the construction of a theoretical model for industry–university research collaboration. The findings reveal that the government plays a significant intermediary role in industry–university partnerships by facilitating the smooth progression and commercialization of collaborative endeavors through policy support, financial subsidies, and performance evaluation.

Moreover, the complementarity …

Political Embeddedness And Organizational Resilience: Empirical Investigation And Theorisation Of Institutional Translation Mechanisms In Chinese Private Enterprises, Shuai Shao

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

China is governed by the Communist Party of China (CPC), which embodies the nation's core values, mission, and ideological framework. The CPC organization embeddedness represents a distinctive governance arrangement, reflecting the state's Political Integration Imperatives. In the context of significant external shocks such as Covid-19, how does this political embeddedness influence private enterprises' organizational resilience - specifically their capacity to withstand disruptions and their ability to recover? What are the underlying mechanisms driving these effects?

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate how CPC organization embeddedness shapes organizational resilience within China's unique institutional context, and the mechanisms through which …

Facilitate The Awesome:Creating Capacity For Teen Programs In Youth Development, Michael L. Wallace, Ashley M. Hall, Gary Frank Varrella, Pamela Watson, Kelly Anne Stewart, Brian Brandt

Journal of Youth Development

A critical need exists for adults who are properly prepared to meaningfully engage with adolescents. While utilizing teens in leadership and teaching roles has been gaining popularity and application, a developmental and skills-based approach for improving “trusted adult” capacity to engage with adolescents has not been comprehensively addressed in other programs or curricula. The “Facilitate the Awesome” short course focuses on advancing adult knowledge and skills related to supporting the physical, emotional, and social needs of adolescents. In an evaluation of 113 participants statistical significance was established for all the learning variables tested, using a sign test and estimated effect …

Examining The Activity-Related Correlates Of Latine Parent Support Of Adolescents In Organized Afterschool Activities, Fuko Kiyama, Sandra Simpkins

Journal of Youth Development

Objective: This study examined the relations between Latine parent perceptions of their seventh grade adolescents’ organized afterschool activity and their support of adolescents’ participation in these organized afterschool activities; and, whether these relations varied based on the organized afterschool activity’s ethnic cultural features.

Background: Although parent support bolsters adolescents’ success in multiple contexts, including organized afterschool activities, we know little about what promotes parent support. Method: Using data on Latine parent perceptions (N = 143) of their support (17 items), of organized afterschool activities (8 items) and ethnic cultural features (7 items), linear regression models were used to evaluate the …

Mental Health Services In A Camp Setting: Choices, Challenges, Change, Johnathan Meier, Erinn J. Victory, Rebecca I. Laquaglia, Matthew J. Kasopsky, Jeongwi An, Gabriella R. Johnson, Andrew D. Mendonsa, Stephanie Mcwilliams

Journal of Youth Development

The prevalence of mental health issues among youth, with nearly half meeting diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder and suicide being a leading cause of death, underscores the urgency for effective intervention (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Summer camps, hosting millions of children annually, are urged by the American Camp Association to establish mental health support, ranging from trained counselors to licensed therapists (ACA, 2009; 2022). At the 2023 National Scout Jamboree, mental health services were offered for the first time. During the Jamboree, 82 participants received individual or group mental health services in the Mental Health Clinic. …

From “At-Risk” To “Aspiring” Youth:Locating Positive Youth Development In Kenya, Kennedy Karani Onyiko, Justine Amadi Orucho, Lawrence Asige, Dennis Omuse Obushe, Aden Ang'aba Esokomi, Faith Inyele Olita, Simon Kitiyo

Journal of Youth Development

The youth population bulge in Kenya comes with so many challenges such as poverty, gender inequalities, political inequities, the absence of adequate health and medical resources, low educational attainment, homelessness, increased involvement in violence, drugs, and alcohol, poor physical and mental health, a lack of key life skills, premature sexual involvement. Using inductive or “bottom up” thematic analysis, we explored experiences of the youth aged 18-34 (n=36), youth workers (n=26) and administrators of youth programs (n=22) on existing youth development programs and their alignment to the positive youth development principles. Six key findings from the study sufficed as follows: (1) …

The Association Between Sports Camp Participation And Perceivedcompetence And Independence Among Visually Impaired Youth, Mary A. Keene, Justin Haegele, Xihe Zhu

Journal of Youth Development

Research on sport camps for visually impaired youth is limited. The purposes of this study were to examine if visually impaired campers’ self-perception of their perceived competence and independence changed as a result of attending a one-week sports camp. Forty visually impaired campers ranging from 10-15 years of age, who attended a one-week sports camp, completed a survey study from two outcome measures of the American Camp Association Youth Outcomes Battery. A bivariate correlation analysis and descriptive analyses were conducted. The campers reported relatively high levels of perceived competence (5.48 ± .57) and moderate levels of perceived independence (4.94 ± …

Resilience And Grit: What They Are And Why They Matter For Youth Development Professional, Christine Wood, Claire Sponseller, Saundra Wever Frerichs, Mark W. Demorra

Journal of Youth Development

The challenges faced by youth can hinder them from reaching their full potential or help them grow and develop as they overcome their challenges. Grit and resilience provide young people with the skills, confidence, and perseverance to overcome challenges, pursue their goals and thrive. In this article, the authors examine the complex constructs that make up resilience and grit, draw connections to positive youth development practices, and propose a model of how these constructs can be enacted by youth development professionals in their work. The article offers specific educational practices that can support young people in developing the skills and …

The Poor As Theologians, Jorge Costadoat

Vincentian Studies

Jorge Costadoat presents a brief history of liberation theology, which originated in Latin America and the Caribbean. God incarnated himself as a poor person and speaks through them and their experiences. For these reasons, the poor “evangelize the Church,” and belief in the preferential option for the poor is part of what defines Christianity. Opting for the poor means improving their earthly condition as well as acknowledging the way they should be privileged in the Church. Costadoat agrees with Carlos Mesters, who says theology is meant not “to interpret the Bible but to interpret life with the help of the …

Beyond Charity: The Development Of The Mission Of The Daughters Of Charity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Theresa Eke

Vincentian Studies

Theresa Eke recounts the history of the Daughters of Charity’s service in Africa and explains the evolution of their approach to poverty alleviation there. The Daughters learned the importance of knowing the cultures and languages of those they served. At first, they addressed poverty with donations of material goods, but later they empowered the poor, teaching them skills and helping them establish farms and businesses, particularly through helping them to purchase equipment. They learned to listen to what the poor themselves said would help them. They supported high school and university education, especially for women and girls. The Daughters also …

Conservative Management Of A Rare Clinical Phenomenon: Paraspinal Compartment Syndrome - A Review Of Existing Literature., Mark Lagreca, Arash Badragheh, Nathan Jones, Thomas Falconiero, Brian Danshaw

Orthopedic Surgery Resident Research

INTRODUCTION: This review of case series and case reports explores conservative management strategies for paraspinal compartment syndrome (PCS), a rare clinical condition. Extremity compartment syndrome has been shown to be managed most effectively with emergent surgical release of the fascial compartment. Given the rarity of PCS and the paucity of research in the literature, some authors have suggested the possibility of conservative treatment. There has been no study to date that has specifically investigated the cases of non-operative management of PCS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: There are 16 case reports in the literature with 22 cases of PCS treated conservatively. The …

The New Professional: A Guide To Finding A Mentor As A New Dentist, Amrita Patel D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Patel provides guidance for new dentists on finding and maintaining effective mentoring relationships. She emphasizes that mentors can offer valuable guidance during the transition from dental school to clinical practice. The article explains that mentors need not be exclusively dentists and can be found through various channels, including professional associations, dental societies, alumni networks, and social media platforms. It outlines strategies for identifying potential mentors by observing their clinical skills, professionalism, and leadership styles. The piece concludes with practical advice for maintaining productive mentoring relationships, including setting clear expectations, preparing for meetings, and maintaining consistent communication. The article emphasizes …

J Mich Dent Assoc December 2024

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The December issue includes a timely cover feature on evidence supporting community water fluoridation, a clinical feature answering questions on patient dental records, a guest editorial on leadership by former MDA Journal Editor Dr. Bill Chase, and a Back Page article on how a personal touch makes a difference. We also provide our annual 2024 Author/Title Index and regular departments: The New Professional, …

The Effects Of Individual Differences In Working Memory On Trust Recovery, Connie Ku

All Theses

While trust repair is an active area of inquiry, most technology does not have the ability to initiate trust repair. Thus, it is crucial to examine how unaided trust recovery occurs and the factors that could influence it. Prior research has highlighted the potential importance of individual difference factors such as working memory capacity (e.g., Rovira, Pak, McLaughlin, 2017). However, the specific dynamics of unaided trust recovery and how they are influenced by individual differences are unknown. This study examined how working memory (WM) was related to the process of unaided trust recovery. In addition, this study also examined the …

Striking A Balance: Market Shock & Responses In Automotive Components Manufacturing, Emma Lane Mcgahey

All Theses

This thesis examines the effects of extreme market shocks on supply chain dynamics within the automotive industry. Through an analysis of demand data from an automotive manufacturer to its component suppliers (January 2018 to May 2024), the study investigates the relationship between market shocks and supply chain responses, providing insights into how auto components inventory management handles downstream responses to market shocks. With supporting public data—from FRED, BLS, and the U.S. Census Bureau resources—we explore two primary relationships: the impact of market shocks on the Average Standard Deviation of Demand (SDO) and the effect of demand variability on expedited pricing …

Higher Order Bessel Beams Integrated In Time (Hobbit) With Engineered Light Frequencies And Applications In Computational Imaging, Tyler Cramer

All Theses

This thesis presents an adaptive optical system which leverages the frequency shifts from an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) form an array of uniformly spaced frequency diverse beamlets. These beamlets are then spatially transformed (wrapped) into a circular array forming a non-diffracting ring with an unprecedented orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode switching rate of 50Mhz with an OAM range of ±64. Along with frequency diversity, the non-diffracting range of the beams are analyzed 6 Rayleigh ranges of an equivalently sized gaussian beam. Inherent in the frequencies superposed on the AOD are associated relative phases which can be controlled to form sets of …