Modern Instructional Science, Ai Integrated Pedagogy & Innovation In Higher Education, Yasmeen Ahmed

Presentations and Posters

The rapid evolution of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping teaching, learning, and knowledge production across higher education. This one-day faculty development workshop, Modern Instructional Science, AI-Integrated Pedagogy & Innovation in Higher Education, explores contemporary approaches to designing, delivering, and enhancing student-centered learning experiences in both face-to-face and online environments. The workshop introduces key principles of instructional science, course design, active learning, formative assessment, and learner engagement, supported by established educational theories and evidence-based best practices. Participants examine strategies for developing well-organized, outcome-aligned courses; fostering collaboration and meaningful interaction; and enhancing student success through effective instructional planning …

Barriers To Recommendation Of Integrative Oncology Modalities In Supportive Care: A Mascc/Sio Survey, Alexandre Chan, Dalia Kagramanov, Reem Nasr, Chioma Asuzu, Ting Bao, Yin Ting Cheung, Jung Hye Kwon, Judith Lacey, Richard T. Lee, Maryam Lustberg, Beatrice M. Ohaeri, Santosh Rao, Enrique Soto-Perez-De-Celis, Claudia M. Witt, Ana M. Lopez

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Integrative oncology (IO) modalities aim to improve the quality of life of persons with cancer, including strategies to manage treatment and disease-related symptoms. As evidence increases to include IO in supportive care, interest grows globally. Understanding barriers to IO recommendation is key to facilitating its uptake.

METHODS: Members of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) were invited to complete an online survey in Fall 2023 assessing barriers to IO recommendation on a 5-point scale. Descriptive statistics assessed demographic data and general counts of scaled agreement, while logistic regression analysis …

Reframing The Conversation: Evidence-Based Communication Strategies To Address Parental Vaccine Hesitancy, Azucena Hernandez

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of the literature review is to identify factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy and evaluate evidence-based communication techniques. Effective communication techniques can be implemented in clinical practice to address hesitancy and improve parental attitudes toward vaccination.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify studies examining parental vaccine hesitancy and provider communication strategies. Search terms included vaccine hesitancy, parental attitudes, childhood immunization, communication strategies, motivational interviewing, and vaccination uptake. Peer-reviewed English-language articles published between 2012 and 2025 were reviewed. Seven studies were selected based on relevance, methodological quality, and applicability …

Principles Of Sociopolitical Competency In Psychological Practice, Research, And Teaching, Richard E. Redding, Nina C. Silander

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Research shows that sociopolitical attitudes and values (SPAVs) often play an important role in people’s personal and social identity, life choices, psychological and behavioral functioning, and interpersonal relationships (including those between psychologists and their clients). Thus, SPAVs are frequently relevant to the work that psychologists do, whether as clinicians, researchers, or educators. After reviewing the research on the impact of SPAVs on people’s lives and relationships, we provide a set of evidence-based principles for effectively addressing SPAVs in clinical practice, psychological research, education and professional training, and professional ethics.

The Intervention Design Specialist Program As A Tier Iii Support In Elementary Schools: An Explanatory Case Study, Kevin G. Spaulding

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

This explanatory qualitative case study explored how the Intervention Design Specialist (IDS) program functions as a Tier III behavioral intervention within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework in elementary schools in Francis County Public Schools. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, the study examined stakeholders’ perceptions of the program’s purpose, implementation, influence on students with intensive behavioral needs, impact on classroom and school climate, and the factors that supported or challenged successful implementation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations of classroom interventions and team meetings, and review of program records. Data were analyzed using an inductive, iterative coding process …

Aoc & Buttigieg Lead Dem Field, Vance & Rubio Lead Gop Field In 2028 New Hampshire Presidential Primaries 7/22/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez heads the field of prospective Democratic candidates in the 2028 New Hampshire presidential primary, followed closely by former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Ocasio-Cortez draws much of her support from self-described socialists and progressives, while support for Buttigieg is spread about evenly among progressives, liberals, and moderates. Vice President JD Vance continues to lead on the Republican side, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio has closed the gap significantly over the past few months. Vance's support comes mainly from conservatives while Rubio gets more of his support from moderates and libertarians. Two-thirds of likely Republican …

Airport Coopetition And Spatial Heterogeneity In China: A Two-Regime Spatial Econometric Analysis, Zhen Wu, Polin Lai, Saeyeon Roh, Jeong Hugh Han

Plymouth Business School

The development of aeronautical infrastructure and the rise of low-cost carriers have substantially increased the demand for air travel. Moreover, airport development is shaped by spatial heterogeneity factors such as environmental conditions, regulatory frameworks, and socioeconomic variables, which complicate coopetitive interactions within the aviation network. To examine these phenomena, a dual-regime spatial econometric model utilizing different spatial weight matrices has been constructed. The model captures asymmetries in airport coopetition by analyzing variations in spatial autoregressive coefficients across regimes and identifies the spatial heterogeneity factors that drive these asymmetric relationships. Analyzing data from 48 major Chinese airports over 22 years reveals …

Between Tradition And Profession: Intersectionality Of Javanese Women Journalists In Surakarta’S Newsroom, Rahman Hakim, Vanggi Eka Riski

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

Javanese female journalists in Surakarta navigate the simultaneous pressures of professional journalism and deeply internalised Javanese cultural values such as nrimo (acceptance of one’s circumstances), andhap asor (humble and deferential conduct), and tepa selira (attentiveness to the feeling of others). These values shape their everyday conduct in the newsroom yet often remain unacknowledged in existing literature. Combining Intersectionality Theory, Face-Negotiation Theory (Ting-Toomey), and Self Theory (Rogers) as complementary frameworks, this qualitative study adopts a constructivist paradigm and employ phenomenological method to explore how female journalists make sense of the intersection between gender norms and local cultural values. Data were collected …

Cultural Traits May Replace Human Mobility Data In Forecasting Covid-19 Mortality: A Deep Learning Approach, Saif Abbas, Tamer Oraby, Michael G. Tyshenko, Samit Bhattacharyya

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for accurate epidemic forecasting to support public health decision-making. Most existing approaches depend heavily on human mobility data, while largely neglecting population behavior shaped by socio-cultural norms. In this study, we analyze daily COVID-19 mortality and Google mobility data from 72 countries during the first 130 d of the pandemic, a period characterized by high uncertainty and behavioral heterogeneity. In particular, we examine whether Hofstede’s country-level cultural dimensions can serve as latent behavioral forecasters of mortality in lieu of dynamic mobility indicators. Using 100 d for training and 30 d for forecasting, we employ …

Getting Tolkien Right: Middle-Earth In The National Review, Craig Franson

Journal of Tolkien Research

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings entered Anglo-American popular consciousness as an emblem of 1960s, leftist youth culture, but the novel slowly gained currency across the political right. In the U.S., conservative intellectuals published book notes and articles on Tolkien’s writing in their movement’s leading journals, gradually habituating their readers to seeing the once-obscure English fantasist as a canonical writer for American conservatism. The most prominent of these journals was William F. Buckley’s National Review, which recurrently promoted Tolkien’s writing and offered a distinctly partisan interpretation of his texts. This paper offers a partial outline of the conservative …

The Edge-Distinguishing Game, Nathaniel Benjamin, Elisa Benthem, Cooper Burkel, Marissa E. Chesser, Mike Janssen

Communications on Number Theory and Combinatorial Theory

In this paper, we introduce a graph coloring game called the Edge-Distinguishing Game (EDGe). The edge-distinguishing chromatic number of a graph is used to determine the moves each player can make. We determine which player has a winning strategy for particular graphs and graph families. Additionally, utilizing principles from game theory as well as previous work on a computational solution for the Game of Cycles.

Deutsche Musik: Exploring German Identity Through Music, Selah A. Thompson

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

While Germany is recognized as the fourth-largest music market in the world,music has a complex role within the construction of German national andcultural identity. Tracing musical history back to the 12th century with theMinnesinger, to the great classical composers like Bach and Beethoven andinto the 20th and 21st centuries with German heavy metal groups like theScorpions, Germany's historical roots are heavily intertwined with music.Many historical events in Germany have featured music as a prominentcatalyst, such as the Swing counterculture during the Nazi regime to theresilience of the East German pop scene. This study traces the complex andrich history of music …

How Do Different Receptor Targets In Glioblastoma Differentially Shape The Tumor Microenvironment And Influence Tumor Progression And Therapeutic Response?, Vedant A. Patel, Rohit V. Borra, Andrew P. Thomas, Emily Berger

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive brain tumors, with a median survival of approximately 15 months despite treatment and a recurrence rate near 90%. Therapeutic failure is largely driven by an immunosuppressive and therapy-resistant tumor microenvironment (TME). GBM progression depends on dysregulated receptor-mediated signaling pathways that regulate angiogenesis, immune evasion, stemness, metabolic adaptation, and phenotypic transition. Although targeting individual receptors has been explored, outcomes remain limited. This literature review evaluates how targeting receptor-mediated pathways—including neuromodulatory targets such as mGluR3—affects the TME and therapeutic response. It also compares the effectiveness of single versus multi-receptor targeting strategies. A PubMed search …

Leveraging Computer Vision-Based Hand Tracking In Smartphone Xr Exposure Scenarios To Enable Controller-Free Interaction, Alex C. Lim, Trang Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Extended reality (XR) has emerged as an effective and convenient solution for broadening accessibility to exposure therapy. Smartphone-based XR, though cost-effective, is often constrained by limited interactivity, engendering a passive experience that can compromise the user-immersion and treatment efficacy. To address this limitation, this study presents a novel computer vision–based hand-tracking approach using Google MediaPipe, integrated within a stereoscopic smartphone-based XR system to enable real-time, controller-free interaction in a dog-fetch scenario. Hand landmark coordinates derived from MediaPipe are algorithmically adjusted based on changes in inter-knuckle distances during anterior/posterior movement to approximate depth, at which point interactive spheres are overlayed to …

Sustainable City Design And Policy Impacts: Mental, Health, Productivity, And Quality Of Life, Sawyer B. Bowman

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

As corporations grow larger and consolidate more assets, both human and material, the importance of sustainability in workplace efforts has never been greater. Firms have excised impact over their communities and those employed by said firms, making decisions regarding green operations, triple bottom line considerations, and other sustainable business practices highly needed for the continued operation of firms. As these practices are costly both in the monetary and temporal sense of reality, many firms tend to place sustainability lower on the list of importance as compared to concepts such as productivity or profitability. Based on surveys and interviews with firms …

Business Incubation And The Role That It Plays In The Future Economic And Financial Success Of Small Island Developing States, Warren Watkins

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a unique blend of economic vulnerabilities and untapped potential, often stemming from their heavy reliance on tourism and limited diversification. This thesis explores how business incubation can serve as a strategic mechanism for fostering sustainable economic and financial growth within these nations. Through a comparative analysis of established models in countries such as Singapore, Japan, and Chile, alongside emerging initiatives in Caribbean SIDS, this research identifies the pathways through which foreign investment, education, and technology can jointly stimulate entrepreneurial development. Findings indicate that while foreign partnerships remain essential in the early stages of incubation, …

Seniorsafe Ai: Developing An Ai-Powered Chatbot To Support Older Adults Who Are Victims Of Cybercrime, Lovisa Gunnlaugsdottir, Dontavious Ellis, Isabelle Christensen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Senior citizens are disproportionately targeted by cybercrime, yet many lack accessible resources for prevention and recovery. The SeniorSafeAI project explores how large language model (LLM) chatbots can provide reliable guidance to older adults experiencing or at risk of online fraud. We developed a chatbot trained on a “ground truth” dataset consisting of 589 question–answer pairs covering common cybercrime categories affecting seniors, including identity theft, romance scams, investment fraud, and fake tech support scams. Undergraduate researchers played a central role in constructing this dataset by identifying evidence-based sources and drafting responses grounded in government reports, academic research, and cybersecurity best practices. …

Telemedicine Vs. In-Person Oncology Care During Covid-19, Sarah C. Widlak, Genelle Leo, Moksh Patel, Hailey Menias, Ariadna Coa, Serena Bhaskar

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare rapidly shifted towards telemedicine, raising questions about its efficacy. Although there is limited research, it is critical to understand how telemedicine affected oncology patients during the pandemic to improve patient care and experiences post-pandemic. This review addresses this gap by evaluating how telemedicine use among adult oncology patients during the pandemic compares with in-person visits regarding quality of care and patient satisfaction. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, mainly PubMed, using keywords related to telemedicine, cancer, and COVID-19. The search yielded 106 unique articles, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Two rounds …

The Effect Of Distraction On Emotion-Based Communication Behaviors, Twisha Nadella

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

As technology becomes increasingly integrated in daily activities, there are growing concerns for the effects of multi-tasking within the workplace. It is important to consider how communication efficiency may be impacted by dual-task situations. Therefore, understanding the potential outcomes that distraction may have on language production is valuable in determining optimal working conditions for effective use of emotional communication. This dual-task study was designed to understand the effects of distraction on emotion-based communication behavior. A driving task was utilized as the means of distraction in this experiment, while the concurrent negotiation task was analyzed to understand how emotional language was …

Crossing The Quality Communication Chasm Among Inpatients, Julie Gaurang Patel, Jacob Aiden Boyle, Lauren Reilly Mcconnell, Lauren Rae Selent, Joshua Refaat Gerges

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Identifying the most effective approach to enhancing service quality and patient satisfaction may be challenging for providers. Efficient communication between healthcare providers and patients is frequently mentioned as a fundamental element of favorable patient experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine patient satisfaction regarding ‘interpersonal communication’ within a multi-hospital system.  A quantitative, causal-comparative design was used to identify differences across groups. The independent variable was the floor the patient was admitted to. The dependent variables were the patients' responses to satisfaction survey questions including: 1) Friendliness of hospital staff; 2) Explanations provided in a way patients could easily …

Reducing Expenses Through Digital Innovation Among Medicare Advantage Plans, Stanley Y. Huang, Jada N. Faircloth, Lauren R. Selent, Lauren R. Mcconnell

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The United States healthcare system is approaching unsustainable cost levels. Within the next ten years Medicare Advantage plans face potential insolvency. Medicare Advantage plans are expanding, and many receive priority over patient care and physician payments yet operating without meaningful accountability. Many of these rising costs affect quality and lead to increased overhead expenses. 1, 2 The purpose of this project was to examine whether replacing traditional methods with safe, timely, and HIPAA-compliant digital innovation would lower cost and maximize outcomes. A quantitative, causal- comparative design was used to identify differences across groups. The independent variable was fiscal year, and …

Leveraging Healthcare Providers Responsiveness To Patient Needs, Kevin R. Garcia, Lauren R. Mcconnell, Lauren R. Selent

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Patient satisfaction is viewed as a vital key driver that holds significant importance for healthcare leaders. The healthcare arena is continually evolving and marked by advancements in medical technologies with emphasis on patient-centered care. The patient experience is recognized as the drivers of healthcare quality.1 The purpose of this study was to examine patients’ perceptions of ‘timeliness’ by clinical unit. A quantitative, causal-comparative design was used to identify differences across groups. The independent variable was the clinical unit to which the patient was assigned. The dependent variables were the patients responses to survey questions including: 1) Pain medication administered timely; …

Benefits Of Art Therapy On Quality Of Life In Middle Aged Women With Gynecological And/Or Breast Cancer, Rylee N. Diehl, Iman Ahmed, Piper S. Bell, Lamya Moore, Giada Anastasi, Constanza Bravo Rodriguez, Taylor Edmondson

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Art therapy involves the use of art representations in clinical and mental health care. Art mediums such as painting, dance, and movement can be interventions for diagnoses such as gynecological or breast cancer (GBC). GBC incidence is highest among women 45-65, and art therapy has shown potential to improve their quality of life (QoL). Art therapy’s impact on QoL is often assessed by measuring physical and mental health, coping and adjustment capabilities, healthcare relationships, and social life. Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted with an initial 181 articles extracted from multiple journals of psychology. A final selection …

Ai-Enabled Food As Medicine In Hospitality: Children’S Wellness Menus, Guest Perceptions, And Service Design, Isabella Fonte

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Dietary management plays a crucial role in alleviating symptoms of chronic health conditions, yet accessible, credible resources remain underutilized. This project focuses on collecting and standardizing online recipes designed to support individuals managing ailments through nutrition, emphasizing that these recipes provide foundational dietary guidance rather than curative solutions. For instance, recipes targeting heart disease consistently prioritize whole grains, low-fat proteins, and vegetables, offering structured starting points for those navigating dietary changes. Our methodology involves identifying credible sources that meet specific criteria: nutrition information, dietary tags, serving sizes, preparation and cooking times, and detailed instructions to name a few. Selected recipes …

Reimagining Academic Editorial Procedure For Creative Novel Publishing: Press Of Rebellious Origins And Imagination’S Manuscript Process, Suravi Gurung

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

My close examination of manuscripting processes based on common ethical practices outlined in “The Handbook of Journal Publishing” (Sally Morris, et al.) explores how academic publishing pipelines are established and the functionality of each stage. This project further inspects internal editorial systems within journals or publishing houses throughout a manuscript’s processing, and how these frameworks can appear through applied analysis, with both text and flowcharts for each stage. “Press of Rebellious Origins and Imagination’s Manuscript Process” is a mock in-house guidebook based on the pre-existing journal of POROI (Project on the Rhetoric of Inquiry at the University of Iowa and …

The Missing Void: Lack Of Pockets In Womenswear And Its Effect On Daily Life, Clare Bolon

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Pockets give power to people who possess them. Yet, an estimated half of the U.S. population —women— frequently wear garments lacking useful pockets. Why? Womenswear is molded by beauty standards. This study brings an anthropological perspective on gender inequality in the U.S. by examining modern clothing and the differences in pocket access by gender. 127 participants were recruited for a mixed methods survey, most from a medium-sized university in the Mountain West region. Survey questions explored the attitudes and experiences of people who wear women’s clothing regarding pockets (or the lack thereof) and its impact on their daily lives. Open-ended …

Proof Of Finetuning Data, Bing-Jyue Chen, Mohammad Mohsen Minaei Bidgoli, Duc Le

Defensive Publications Series

Methods and systems for training or fine-tuning machine learning models (e.g., diffusion models) and generating zero-knowledge proofs are disclosed.  Such zero-knowledge proofs can demonstrate that a machine learning model was trained or fine-tuned using specified data elements (e.g., provided by a client).  A computer system (e.g., a server computer) can receive a request from a client computer to train a machine learning model using specified data elements.  The server computer can use a hash function to generate noise corresponding to the specified data elements, which can be bound to the specified data elements.  The computer system can train or fine-tune …

Caldwell Adaptive Ocular Transport Discovery Platform (Aotdp-1.0) A Modular Open-Hardware Multi-Physics Testbed For Discovering Non-Invasive Posterior Ocular Transport Mechanisms, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Caldwell Adaptive Ocular Transport Discovery Platform (AOTDP-1.0) is an open-hardware experimental research platform designed to investigate, compare, and optimize candidate non-invasive ocular transport mechanisms using standardized laboratory phantom eye models.

The platform does not claim to provide a clinically validated drug-delivery method. Instead, it addresses a fundamental engineering challenge:

How can researchers objectively evaluate competing physical mechanisms for transporting therapeutic agents toward posterior ocular regions without invasive injection approaches?

AOTDP-1.0 provides a modular multi-physics test environment where researchers can independently test and compare:

• acoustic transport methods,

• controlled micro-pressure gradients,

• electromagnetic-assisted approaches,

• optical stimulation concepts,

• fluidic transport mechanisms,

• mechanical interface …

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Civil Discourse: A 3-Part Lesson Plan With Media Literacy Connections, Greg Davis

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

This article presents a three-part lesson plan designed to help students develop civil discourse skills through emotional self-regulation, value exploration, and structured debate. Drawing inspiration from Alaa Al-Musalli’s work on “Unteaching Divisive Argumentation,” the lesson introduces students to the emotional dynamics of disagreement, the ethical diversity that underlies opposing viewpoints, and the practice of respectful argumentation. The culminating activity—a classroom debate over a fictitious local law regulating electric bikes and scooters—invites students to reflect on how tone, listening, and self-awareness affect discourse. Integrating media literacy, the lesson concludes with a discussion of memes and online bias, prompting students to evaluate …

Bridging Solidarity: Mapping Pittsburgh’S Strikes In A Digital And Inclusive Context, Glenna Van Dyke

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Bridging Solidarity is a digital map that fosters exploration of Pittsburgh’s long labor history. This project introduces audiences to fourteen strikes or strike-related conflicts across Allegheny County from the early nineteenth century to today, by combining secondary literature, newspapers, digital and physical archival material, visual media, and historic maps. Hosted in the platform HistoryPin, Bridging Solidarity promotes engagement with strikes across time and space, inspires an appreciation for local places, and highlights many diverging experiences within Pittsburgh’s labor movement. This essay contextualizes my work within three historic subfields: digital humanities, place-based public labor history, and diverse local labor history. First, …