Digital Commons Network^™

Everyday Tracking And Extraordinary Harm: Item Finder Misuse In Digital Coercive Control, Vivian Hocking, Shirley Atkinson, Hai-Van Dang, Nathan Clarke

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

PurposeWhere one in three women worldwide experience some form of intimate partner violence, the rise of technology facilitated abuse means that abusers have increased access and control over their victims. This extension paper aims to examine the threat potential for technology misuse as pertains to item finder devices that make up part of the Internet-of-Things. Item finders have increasingly become the weapon of choice for abusers leveraging technological advantages against their victims.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining digital ethnography with 12 individuals engaged in a participant study to evaluate the misuse potential of Apple AirTag, Chipolo …

2026-04-02 Faculty Senate Newsletter, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate newsletter from April 2, 2026.

An Applied Anthropological Study Of Conflict Reduction: Fostering A Culture Of Safety At A Homeless Service Organization In Portland, Or, Katelyn Champion

Dissertations and Theses

Hygiene 4 All's (H4A) hub of operation provides hygiene services and resources to houseless individuals in Portland, OR. H4A seeks to foster a culture of safety, sanctuary, and welcome. During an internship that took place between February and December, 2025, I studied the organization's policies and practices, with a focus on how their formal and informal processes worked to lessen moments of social friction, escalations, and violent incidents. I apply theory regarding organizational management, practice theory, design, symbolic interactionism, and trauma-informed care to contextualize the research. I employed ethnographic methods, including participant observation, interviews, and document analysis, to identify themes …

Exploring The Ethical And Practical Considerations Of Artificial Intelligence In Real-World Health Care Settings: Stakeholder Focus Group Study, Carmen Wendy Ulizio, Devika Dua, Naya Meenkashi Mukul, Santosh Areti, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Vasiliki Nataly Rahimzadeh

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to transform how we research human disease, diagnose and treat patients, and operate hospitals. However, emerging ethical dilemmas surrounding their design, use, and oversight demand both policy attention and empirical research.

Objective: This study aims to explore current AI development, integration, and use activities across the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world, and identify emerging ethical priorities.

Methods: We conducted a total of 3 qualitative focus groups via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) between May and June 2025 to gauge the perspectives of 19 clinicians, developers, administrators, and patient …

Theory And Applications Of Natural And Nature-Based Solutions In Estuarine Environments, Elizabeth L. Royer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the theory and application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), through three unique case studies. This study explores how the broad and interdisciplinary NbS framework can be applied to mitigate common coastal hazards. This framework considers the environment, economics, and social wellbeing, equally in the design and implementation of a solution. The current paradigm, working against nature, which is commonly seen in more passive approaches to hazard mitigation, like grey infrastructure (e.g. a seawall to protect a shoreline against wave action) does not accommodate the extremely dynamic environment. As perspectives shift to “working with nature” NbS can be …

Depolymerizing F-Actin Accelerates The Exit From Pluripotency To Enhance Stem Cell-Derived Islet Differentiation, Nathaniel J Hogrebe, Mason D Schmidt, Punn Augsornworawat, Sarah E Gale, Mira Shunkarova, Jeffrey R Millman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In this study, we demonstrate that cytoskeletal state at the onset of directed differentiation impacts the exit of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) from pluripotency and downstream lineage specification. In particular, depolymerizing F-actin with latrunculin A (latA) during the first 24 h of definitive endoderm formation facilitates efficient loss of pluripotency and alters Activin/Nodal, BMP, c-Jun, and WNT signaling dynamics. These signaling changes influence downstream patterning of the gut tube, leading to improved pancreatic progenitor identity and decreased expression of markers associated with other endodermal lineages. Continued differentiation generates islets containing a higher percentage of β cells that exhibit improved …

Locating Vehicles Within Parking Facilities, Daniel Adam

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes a computing device (e.g., processing service, mobile phone, wearable device, smart device, vehicle, etc.) that aids in vehicle retrieval by collecting inertial, visual, and environmental data to guide a user to a parked vehicle within complex, multi-level parking structures. For instance, the computing device may utilize a multi-sensor fusion approach to integrate data from mobile computing device components such as barometric sensors, tilt sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, etc., and data from additional computing devices such as cameras, vehicles, charging ports, barriers, etc., to determine parked locations of vehicles. Further, the computing device may utilize the multi-sensor fusion …

A Hybrid System For Multi-Stage Generation Of Contextual Translation Variants, Leonid Kuligin, Thomas Zettl

Defensive Publications Series

Some automated translation systems may be limited by producing a single, high-probability output, which can lack the linguistic diversity beneficial for certain applications. A hybrid, multi-stage workflow can generate multiple contextual translation variants by utilizing a probabilistic generative model, such as a large language model, to produce an initial set of translation candidates based on specified constraints. These candidates may then be programmatically refined, rated for quality, and deduplicated using deterministic and semantic techniques. By producing a curated list of distinct translation options instead of one output, this process can provide broader linguistic coverage to improve the performance of dependent …

Telemetry And Identity Chip Passport Protocol For Modular Storage Devices, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a telemetry and identity architecture for storage devices designed to facilitate hardware modularity, component-level flexibility, and streamlined data recovery. By decoupling a logic controller from the storage media and utilizing a dedicated non-volatile chip on the media module, the system enables seamless pairing and replacement of hardware components without the risk of data corruption. This dedicated chip functions as a hardware abstraction layer, storing specific metadata that allows a logic module to adopt and operate the media by understanding its unique physical characteristics. The architecture ensures data integrity and accessibility through a secure communication protocol and persistent …

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Physical Design Convergence Cockpit, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The design of modern semiconductors face challenges with numerous parallel place and route runs triggered by continuous updates, which are utilized to achieve quality of results and power, performance, and area convergence. The described technology introduces an artificial intelligence-assisted physical design convergence cockpit, which operates as a multi-agent system powered by large language models and retrieval-augmented generation engines. This system acts as an autonomous orchestrator that monitors design repositories, intelligently launches and tracks electronic design automation flows, performs real-time failure triage by parsing log files, and executes self-healing design closures by generating corrective scripts. The system features a modular architecture …

Symmetry-Aware Optimization Framework For Network Topology And Collective Algorithm Co-Design, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The technology relates to a software framework providing for the simultaneous co-design of network topologies and collective communication algorithms in distributed computing environments. The software framework utilizes a graph-theory-based model to represent computing nodes and physical communication links, encoding hardware and software parameters into a solver-readable mathematical formulation. By applying combinatorial optimization solvers, the software framework identifies highly efficient physical cabling schemas and corresponding algorithmic routing schedules. To handle highly complex search spaces, the approach leverages graph automorphisms and symmetries in collective operations to significantly reduce the combinatorial search space. This enables the generation of tailored interconnect architectures and message-passing …

Judicial Legacy, Presidential Controversy: Ronald Reagan’S Appointment Of Sandra Day O’Connor, Katie Cassady

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Concepts Of Nationality And Ethnicity Within America, Katrina Jorquez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Energy, Computation, And The Nuclear Renaissance: Material Foundations Of The Data Economy, Apolo Fernandez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Fostering Ubuntu In Countering The Spread Of Terrorist Ideologies In Africa: A Case Study Of The East African Community (Eac), Paul Aginnah

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

China's Rise, Alethia Jones

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Assisted Suicide And The Absolute: Autonomy Or God’S Word?, Venture Ciccarelli

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Beyond Therapy Culture: Solutions For Our Digital Hubris, Spiritual Bankruptcy, And The Moral Imperative Of Humility, Giancarlo Newsome, Andrew Bibb, Merrick Davis

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Invisgrid: Invisible Ai Embeddings In Human-Machine Collaboration For Smart Grid Energy Optimization, Nikunj Doshi, Kavach Shah, Shikhar Patel

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

AI advisory tools for smart grid management face a persistent and widely recognized problem. Operators frequently ignore recommendations surfaced through separate AI dashboard panels. This rejection arises from alert fatigue induced by disrupted SCADA workflows and heightened cognitive load. Operators managing complex real-time systems already carry a substantial mental burden throughout their shifts. Adding a new panel to monitor compounds that burden rather than alleviating it meaningfully. This paper proposes invisible AI, a paradigm that resolves this adoption problem differently. Instead of introducing new interface components, AI intelligence is embedded into existing visual elements. We present InvisGrid, which fine-tunes a …

Direct Energy Cascade Of 2d Quantum Turbulence In Supersolids, Lukas Farthing

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

The non-equilibrium turbulent response of periodically driven three-dimensional ultracold dipolar gases is induced by an external time-dependent ring potential. To model this system and monitor its non-equilibrium quantum dynamics, we invoke an extended Gross-Pitaevskii framework containing the first-order quantum correction to the mean-field energy functional. The shape of the external perturbing potential is chosen to trigger angular roton excitations, driving the supersolid configuration out of equilibrium and attaining a turbulent state. Following the generation of shallow vortical defects in the bulk, a direct cascade front manifests, transporting energy from larger to smaller length scales. This leads to a non-equilibrium quasi-steady …

Triple Active Bridge Implementation And Control, Nehemiah Milton

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

The Triple Active Bridge (TAB) is a three-port power converter that allows power flow in both directions with galvanic isolation. This has a wide range of applications, like high-frequency DC-DC conversion, electric vehicles, microgrids and renewable energy systems. To control the TAB during operation, two phase shift parameters between the bridges are adjusted. In this presentation, I will showcase the software and simulation optimizations which extend previous work by reproducing hardware results which align with simulations. I will also go over the knowledge I’ve gained and the skills acquired through this project.

Vertical Equity Skagit Style, Danny Hagen

GIS/ValuationTechnologies Conference 2026

Vertical equity is one of the most important — and least understood — measures of fairness in property tax systems. While horizontal equity ensures that similar properties are assessed similarly, vertical equity asks whether assessments remain fair across value tiers. This session explores how assessors can measure, monitor, and improve vertical equity using ratio studies, statistical tools, and intentional practices. Drawing on Skagit County’s recent successes, including state-validated results and the use of the Lincoln Institute’s Vertical Equity App, attendees will see how modeling, training, and data accuracy can produce measurable improvements in fairness. We’ll also examine national research, local …

Building A Successful And Innovative Mass Appraisal Modeling Team Part 2, Jennifer Rearich Mas, Cae, Res

GIS/ValuationTechnologies Conference 2026

This presentation, Part 2 to the 2023 Presentation with the same title, delves into the management of Maricopa County’s mass appraisal modeling team. It is a deeper dive into training, remote work, and project management aspects. The management of valuation modelers presents unique challenges due to the project-based nature of their work, which contrasts with the production-focused tasks of appraisers or GIS technicians. Training is a critical aspect to the success of a modeling team given the specific skill sets required. In the past two years, we have developed a training library and will discuss our ongoing efforts to meticulously …

The Rise Of Quasi-Law: Administrative Governance And The Erosion Of America’S Constitutional Order, Lawrence Berdan

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Contemplative Absence: Sacred Experience In Abbas Kiarostami’S The Wind Will Carry Us And The Aesthetics Of Slow Cinema, Hessam Abedini

Journal of Religion & Film

This article examines how Abbas Kiarostami’s The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) creates sacred experience through systematic absence within contemporary slow cinema aesthetics. While previous scholarship has focused on religious content in spiritual cinema, this analysis demonstrates how formal techniques—particularly strategic concealment and extended duration—generate contemplative states without explicit religious references. Drawing on Paul Schrader’s transcendental style theory and recent slow cinema scholarship, the article traces how Kiarostami adapts Persian poetic traditions, particularly concepts of pardeh (veiling) and the interplay between bāṭin (hidden) and ẓāhir (manifest), to create meaning through what remains unseen. The dying woman who never appears, the …

Connected Automated Vehicles As Emergent Control Agents: Reinforcement Learning For Cooperative Traffic Control In Urban Networks, Ayomide Afolabi, Duleep Rathgamage Don, Mahyar Amirgholy

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Traffic congestion continues to pose a significant challenge, particularly in urban areas characterized by large populations and increasing vehicle ownership. Despite the implementation of various traffic management systems to address this issue, there remains substantial potential to introduce more advanced, intelligent and data-driven traffic management systems. These systems could further mitigate traffic congestion when integrated with existing measures. In this paper, we propose a reinforcement learning-based system (CAVRLS) that uses connected automated vehicles (CAVs) in mixed traffic environments to enable real-time centralized cooperative traffic control with the aim of reducing congestion in an inner congested network encircled by an outer …

Voice-Controlled Unmanned Aerial System Using A Fine-Tuned Small Language Model For Real-Time Command Parsing, Owais Ahmed, Joseph Stanziano, Ram Sudharsanan, Raj Kondragunta, Adeel Khalid

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

This paper presents the concept and architectural design of a voice-controlled Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that leverages a fine-tuned Small Language Model (SLM) to convert natural language voice commands into structured MAVLink flight instructions in real time. A custom quadcopter platform has been designed and assembled with a Pixhawk flight controller, and a web-based interface has been developed to integrate browser-based speech recognition with on-device SLM inference. We describe a systematic evaluation methodology for five candidate SLMs spanning encoder-decoder and decoder-only architectures, a custom dataset of 5,450 labeled drone command samples covering 11 operational command types and an unknown rejection …

Xagentmaint: Explainable Agentic Systems For Predictive Maintenance In Industrial Digital Twin Environments, Shikhar Patel, Sankeerth Adisha

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Predictive maintenance in manufacturing demands more than accurate failure forecasting. Maintenance engineers require transparent and auditable decision rationale to act confidently. Industrial digital twin environments produce rich and continuous streams of sensor data. Existing AI models typically surface only numerical anomaly scores without contextual explanation. This paper presents XAgentMaint, an explainable agentic AI framework for predictive maintenance. The system integrates a Retrieval-Augmented Generation knowledge base with a ReAct reasoning agent. An XGBoost failure classifier serves as the core prediction component throughout the pipeline. All three components are evaluated on the NASA CMAPSS turbofan degradation dataset across all four sub-datasets (FD001-FD004), …

Restorative Literacy: Designing Human-Centered Learning In Technological Times, Camille O'Quin

Research Days

As educational environments increasingly integrate artificial intelligence and automated instructional tools, important questions emerge about what must remain distinctly human in teaching and learning. This presentation introduces Beyond the Margins (BTM): Restorative Literacy for Rising Voices, an interdisciplinary initiative that reimagines literacy instruction through relational, justice-centered practice in technological times.   Grounded in the Restorative Literacy framework, BTM integrates structured literacy instruction, narrative identity development, restorative dialogue, and interdisciplinary collaboration across speech-language pathology, social work, counseling, psychology, and special education. Implemented with justice-involved adolescents, the model positions reading and writing not only as academic skills but as pathways to voice, belonging, …

Importance Of Patient-Provider Concordance And Sickle Cell Disease, Hamza Atiq Shaikh, Shivank Lattupally, Stavya Gupta

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States, with a disproportionate impact on African American communities. The disease is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells that restrict blood flow, leading to chronic pain, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. While medical advances such as hydroxyurea therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and emerging gene therapies have improved disease management, many patients continue to experience barriers in receiving effective and equitable care. One factor that may influence patient outcomes is patient-provider concordance, defined as shared characteristics such …