Digital Commons Network^™

Sprinql : Sub-Optimal Demonstrations Driven Offline Imitation Learning, Minh Huy Hoang, Tien Mai, Pradeep Varakantham

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We focus on offline imitation learning (IL), which aims to mimic an expert's behavior using demonstrations without any interaction with the environment. One of the main challenges in offline IL is the limited support of expert demonstrations, which typically cover only a small fraction of the state-action space. While it may not be feasible to obtain numerous expert demonstrations, it is often possible to gather a larger set of sub-optimal demonstrations. For example, in treatment optimization problems, there are varying levels of doctor treatments available for different chronic conditions. These range from treatment specialists and experienced general practitioners to less …

Self-Supervised Fine-Tuning For Neural Expert Finding, Budhitama Subagdja, Dan Sanchari, Ah-Hwee Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Expert finding systems allow ones to find individuals who have expertise in specific fields or domains. Traditional expert finding are mostly based on topic modeling or keyword search methods that are limited in their capability to encode contextual knowledge from natural language. To address the limitation, this paper presents Neural Expert Finder (NEF), a novel method that takes a transfer learning approach based on transformer encoder networks to leverage the rich seman-tic and syntactic patterns of language encoded in pre-trained language models (PLMs). We propose a self-supervised learning approach utilizing contrastive training using both positive and automatically generated negative samples …

Replay-And-Forget-Free Graph Class-Incremental Learning: A Task Profiling And Prompting Approach, Chaoxi Niu, Guansong Pang, Ling Chen, Bing Liu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Class-incremental learning (CIL) aims to continually learn a sequence of tasks, with each task consisting of a set of unique classes. Graph CIL (GCIL) follows the same setting but needs to deal with graph tasks (e.g., node classification in a graph). The key characteristic of CIL lies in the absence of task identifiers (IDs) during inference, which causes a significant challenge in separating classes from different tasks (i.e., inter-task class separation). Being able to accurately predict the task IDs can help address this issue, but it is a challenging problem. In this paper, we show theoretically that accurate task ID …

Gtree: Gpu-Friendly Privacy-Preserving Decision Tree Training And Inference, Qifan Wang, Shujie Cui, Lei Zhou, Ye Dong, Jianli Bai, Yun Sing Koh, Giovanni Russello

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Outsourcing Decision tree (DT) training and inference to cloud platforms raises privacy concerns. Recent Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC)-based methods are hindered by heavy overhead. Few recent studies explored GPUs to improve MPC-protected deep learning, yet integrating GPUs into MPC-protected DT with massive data-dependent operations remains challenging, raising question: can MPC-protected DT training and inference fully leverage GPUs for optimal performance?We present GTree, the first scheme that exploits GPU to accelerate MPC-protected secure DT training and inference. GTree is built across 3 parties who jointly perform DT training and inference with GPUs. GTree is secure against semi-honest adversaries, ensuring that no …

Lilac: Log Parsing Using Llms With Adaptive Parsing Cache, Zhihan Jiang, Jinyang Liu, Zhuangbin Chen, Yichen Li, Junjie Huang, Yintong Huo, Pinjia He, Jiazhen Gu, R. Michael Lyu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Log parsing transforms log messages into structured formats, serving as the prerequisite step for various log analysis tasks. Although a variety of log parsing approaches have been proposed, their performance on complicated log data remains compromised due to the use of human-crafted rules or learning-based models with limited training data. The recent emergence of powerful large language models (LLMs) demonstrates their vast pre-trained knowledge related to code and logging, making it promising to apply LLMs for log parsing. However, their lack of specialized log parsing capabilities currently hinders their parsing accuracy. Moreover, the inherent inconsistent answers, as well as the …

From A Timeline Contact Graph To Close Contact Tracing And Infection Diffusion Intervention, Yipeng Zhang, Zhifeng Bao, Yuchen Li, Baihua Zheng, Xiaoli Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper proposes a novel graph structure to address the problems of information spreading in a real-world, frequently updating graph, with two main contributions at hand: accurately tracing infection diffusion according to fine-grained user movements and finding vulnerable vertices under the virus immunization scenario to mitigate infection diffusion. Unlike previous work that primarily predicts the long-term epidemic trend at the census level, this study aims to intervene in the short-term at the individual level. Therefore, two downstream tasks are formulated to illustrate practicalities: Epidemic Mitigating in Public Area problem (EMA) and Epidemic Maximized Spread in Public Area problem (ESA), where …

Survival Of The Smartest? The Evolutionary Ecology Of Cognition In Anolis Lizards, Mahaut V. Sorlin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and decision-making are integral to an organism’s fitness, allowing to integrate cues from its environment and adjust its behavior accordingly. Historically, cognitive abilities were thought to have evolved according to a Scala Naturae design—an idea that has since been disproven—which suggested that complex cognitive abilities were exclusive to “higher” taxa. This perspective has created significant phylogenetic gaps in our understanding of cognitive evolution. In this dissertation I aimed to address this issue by investigating the evolution of cognition in reptiles, focusing on the green (Anolis carolinensis) and the brown anole (Anolis …

Deep Learning Approach For Accurate Segmentation Of Oil Spills In Marine Systems, Mohamed Elsheref

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Oil spills present critical environmental hazards, threatening marine ecosystems and necessitating fast, accurate detection for effective mitigation. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery has been instrumental in detecting oil spills, but manual interpretation is often inefficient and prone to errors. This study addresses the limitations of manual methods by proposing a deep learning approach for automated oil spill detection and segmentation.

Utilizing a novel transfer learning-based semantic segmentation model, this research focuses on detecting oil slicks on the sea surface with higher accuracy and efficiency. The model leverages pre-trained networks and incorporates U-Net variants, including UNet++ and MultiResUNet, to optimize spatial …

Colonizing By Contract, Emmanuel H. Arnaud

Articles

Since 1898, Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States, meaning that Congress wields plenary power over the Island. Although scholars have highlighted the history and some modern manifestations of this power, conversations about how plenary power affects the territories have largely ignored constitutional criminal procedure.

This Article is the first to center the territory’s criminal legal system within the broader debate over the exercise of plenary power. In doing so, it fills significant gaps in the constitutional and criminal law literature on the territories by uncovering how the federal government’s plenary power affects local criminal adjudication. This …

On The Advantages Of Hierarchical Bayesian Regression For Cognitive Control Studies: A Case Study With The Dmcc Task Battery, Thomas Dudey

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Arising from the so-called 'replication crisis' in the experimental psychology literature, there has been a growing call to reassess whether specific analytic practices might lead to the improved accuracy and precision of given findings. This issue is explored here, through a case-study examination of two previously collected datasets (Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control [DMCC] task battery), used to illustrate some of the unique advantages afforded by Hierarchical Bayesian Regression (HBR) models as a potentially more rigorous analytic approach to statistical inference. The goal is not to provide a definitive argument for the HBR approach relative to other available computational methods, …

A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study Of The U.S. Army’S Performance Evaluation Process And Its Impact On Minority Groups: Bias, Diversity, And Military Readiness, Laterrious Starks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes the impact of the U.S. Army’s Officer Evaluation Report process on minority groups. Through a constructivist grounded theory framework, this research unravels the dynamics that influence performance evaluations and examines the Army’s ability to be a developmental organization. As the military sharpens its focus on identifying near-peer threats and updating the National Defense Strategy for large-scale combat operations, diversity and inclusivity policies are increasingly recognized as fundamental to military readiness. This study uncovers disparities that emerge from the organizational practices within the Officer Evaluation Report process. The finding highlights the implications for minority groups and the systemic …

Leadership Emergence And Factors Preventing Emergence Of Elders In The Churches Of Christ In The Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, Francis Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the persistent absence of formally appointed elders in five Churches of Christ within Teshie in the Ledzokuku municipal assembly, Ghana, despite these congregations’ existence for over two decades. The research seeks to critically examine the factors contributing to the inability of long-serving leaders to align with biblical qualifications. Utilizing a case study methodology, the research examines leadership emergence within the congregations, exploring the discrepancy between tenure and adherence to scriptural standards, and emphasizing the causes and implications for leadership effectiveness and spiritual integrity that facilitate or obstruct the ordination of elders. The study employs a qualitative research …

Jeremiah And Falsehood, Ernesto A Guajardo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes that falsehood within Jeremiah is the culminating socio- theological development of a string of habitual and willful degradations done to Judah’s agency by its collective religious and public parties. Jeremiah’s inherent historical context being imbedded within the ancient Near East, and his intentional cross-comparison of Judah’s prophets with that of Samaria, calls for a reconsideration of Jeremiah’s standard reading to one that includes non-Israelite divination, prophecy, and ideas on the divine presence. Judah’s prophets and priests are specifically mentioned repeatedly throughout the text as being the encouragers of and sustainers of Judah’s idolatry, immoral behavior, false prophecy, …

Leading The Charge: A Case Study On The Leadership Behaviors Of Education Leaders At Title I Campuses In Texas Prisons, Ashley Mckelvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Each year, eligible schools across the nation receive Title I grant funds through the Elementary and Secondary Act. These funds, justified in pursuit of social justice and educational equity, serve to provide supplemental education services to neglected and delinquent students. While the majority of the awarded schools operate within the traditional school setting, a very small number of schools in the United States operate within the correctional setting. These schools receive Title I Part D Subpart 1 funds. Consequently, most of the guidance pertains to best practices within traditional public schools, which provides no provision on the appropriate use of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic First-Generation High School Graduates Who Do Not Pursue Higher Education, Amanda J. Arrambide

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study identified why only 47% of Hispanic first-generation students
/="/">pursue college after high school graduation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the high
/="/">school graduate enrollment rate was down about 4% compared to the 66.2% rate in October
/="/">2019. The data collection and analysis procedures included qualitative interviews over Zoom
/="/">with the participants, with recording devices. High schools should provide opportunities for
/="/">students to explore various career paths through internships, job shadowing, career fairs, and
/="/">vocational training programs. This helps students make informed decisions about their college
/="/">major and career goals. …

Will Bruen Kill Cops?, Peter N. Salib, Guha Krishnamurthi

Fordham Law Review Online

Criminal procedure is a balancing act. On one hand, it must allow law enforcement officers to protect the public and themselves. On the other hand, criminal procedure must safeguard citizens’ individual constitutional rights—privacy, physical liberty, and bodily integrity. And now, the right to bear arms.

There is a serious tension here. Landmark Fourth Amendment cases like Terry v. Ohio, Pennsylvania v. Mimms, and Chimel v. California give the police wide latitude to seize firearms on the assumption that guns are dangerous. But these doctrines largely evolved before the Second Amendment’s ascendance. In District of Columbia v. Heller, …

Between Africa And The Abyss: Globalization, Media, And The Invisibility Of A Continent, Julie A. Silva, Elvin K. Wyly

The Geographical Bulletin

Mass communication, perception, and mental maps are pervasive themes in human geography. Yet the role of globalization on our collective mental maps remains poorly understood, raising critical questions of theory and policy as flows of capital, people, and ideas continue to blur the boundaries between local and international events. This paper analyzes these themes in the context of subSaharan Africa, focusing specifically on the civil war in Sierra Leone. The nature of armed conflict in Africa has evolved considerably in recent decades, and the globalization of Western media has altered the way the region has been portrayed. As publishers, editors, …

Accidents

Appalachia

No abstract provided.

Letters

Appalachia

No abstract provided.

Alpina

Appalachia

No abstract provided.

Accidents

Appalachia

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Infantry Tactics During The American Civil War, David S. Stieghan

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

During the American Civil War, the fielding of new weapons technology resulted in an evolution of Infantry tactics and experiments in unit organizations in reaction to the changes in the increased range, accuracy and the rapidity of fire of improved small arms. While recent scholarship examines the introduction of the increasingly lethal rifles issued during the war, most authors suppose that their deadly impact resulted in the stagnation of maneuver and prolonged what should have been a short conflict. The widespread conclusion of many scholars is that the leaders on both sides did not anticipate the changes wrought by more …

An Analysis Of The Second Battle Of Fort Fisher, Tanner Port

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

In the closing stages of the American Civil War, the Union seizure of Fort Fisher (guarding Wilmington, North Carolina) in January 1865 was a key operation sealing the defeat of the Confederacy. The operation is worthy of study by modern military officers, as it was a prime example of the coordination of land and naval forces in an amphibious operation.

From Research To Practice: Considering Context And The Teacher As Theorist, Maria Chona S. Lin

Kritika Kultura

Language pedagogy has drawn on various disciplines to inform it, one of which is Second Language Acquisition (SLA). However, while considerable developments in SLA have generated more confidence in it, there are still those among SLA researchers who have been reticent in applying results of their research to language pedagogy. Perhaps the problematic relationship between theory and practice and between specialists and teachers need not in principle be oppositional, if we have a greater understanding of the complex nature of the language classroom, as Prabhu has suggested in “The Dynamics of the Language Lesson” (TESOL 1992). In this paper, I …

Popular As Political Culture: The Fatherland, Nationalist Films, And Modernity In South Korea, Taiwan, And The Philippines, Rolando B. Tolentino

Kritika Kultura

The experience of modernity results from the emergent social relations formed in liberalized market economies, which also posit as sites of newer forms of pain and suffering as especially experienced by those in the margins. As national economies undergo liberalization to survive in globalization, so are their political structures reshaped to become conducive to transnational capital. The essay discusses the relationship of the state and civil society in a postcolonial national setting, looking into their operations and parameters in the South Korean film A Single Spark. The analysis of the effects of the state and civil society in issues of …

Evaluating The Effect Of Chemotherapy Notch1 Gene Expression In Patients With Prostate Cancer, Mustafa S. Khudhur, Ali Adil Majeed

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

This study was conducted on 50 cases of prostate cancer patients and 20 apparently healthy. The study analyzed the distribution of prostate cancer (PC) patients across various categories. Significant differences were observed in group grades, Gleason scores, cell grades, stages, and dose names. The mean age of the patient cohort was 67.84 years with a median diagnosis time of 7 years. Laboratory assays including measurements of red blood cells count, platelet count, white blood cells count, and prostate specific antigene levels. The mean total chemotherapy dose received by patients was 1708.28. Significant differences were found in the distribution of group …

Why Teach Philosophy In A World Dominated By Science?, Stephan Millet

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

The significant benefits children gain from doing Philosophy together in the classroom are increasingly well-documented and include enhanced social skills, statistically significant improvement of measured cognitive abilities, and better performance in English, science, mathematics and computers. However, the present day emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects across Western schools is correlated with a decline in the relative importance given to Humanities, Philosophy included. This paper explores the reasons why teaching children to do Philosophy, and to do it collaboratively, is vitally important to the moral and intellectual health of future generations. In doing so, it notes also …

Public Reason And A Pedagogy For Reasonableness, Zosimo E. Lee

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas have undertaken a conversation on the meaning and significance of ‘public reason.’ This paper seeks out the main features of this conversation, and contends that the idea of the ‘community of inquiry’ in Philosophy for Children can respond to some of the concerns raised, as part of deliberative practice. Finally, it argues that for public reason to be created it is imperative that there be a pedagogy for reasonableness, following Matthew Lipman.

Multidimensional Thinking In A Community Of Inquiry Vs Critical Thinking, Farzaneh Shahrtash

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

John Dewey’s most basic assumption was that learning improves to the degree that it arises out of the process of reflection. Dewey initially used the terms ‘critical thinking’ and ‘reflective thinking’ interchangeably by putting critical thinking as the main part of reflection. As time went on, terminologies concerning reflection proliferated, spawning a host of synonyms such as “Critical Thinking,” (CT) “Problem Solving,” “Inquiry” and “Higher Order Thinking” (HOT). Reflective thinking now refers to the whole process of thinking, while critical thinking is simply a type of thinking accompanied by creative thinking. The “Community of Inquiry” (COI) however, is both cognitive …

Teaching Philosophy In Manila, Roque J. Ferriols

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

In this talk, Fr. Roque J. Ferriols, S.J. shares some reflections from his experiences in teaching philosophy for almost fifty years in what he describes as a “small corner of Manila”. Teaching philosophy, for him, involves creating an atmosphere, an environment which allows students to see things they could not see before--things that the teacher may not even have seen before. That is why a teacher must have the courage to learn from the students and the patience to cultivate a kind of silence enabling them to move from the world of pure ideas to the world of what is …