Digital Commons Network^™

Approximation And Learning-Based Algorithms For Influence Maximization In Multilayer Social Networks, Xueqin Chang, Ruize Liu, Qing Liu, Baihua Zheng, Yunjun Gao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Motivated by the observation that users in the real world often engage across multiple social networks simultaneously, we study the problem of influence maximization in multilayer social networks (Mlim), aiming to select a small set of nodes that maximizes the total influence spread across all layers. To this end, we introduce a hybrid propagation model that jointly captures layer-specific diffusion dynamics and probabilistic cross-layer propagation. Based on this model, we formally define the Mlim problem and establish its NP-hardness, monotonicity, and submodularity. To address the Mlim problem, we first propose a greedy baseline Mlim-Greedy, which achieves a (1-1/e) approximation. Since …

Audeter: A Large-Scale Dataset For Deepfake Audio Detection In Open Worlds, Qizhou Wang, Hanxun Huang, Guansong Pang, Sarah Erfani, Christopher Leckie

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Speech synthesis systems can now produce highly realistic vocalisations that pose significant authenticity challenges. Despite substantial progress in deepfake detection models, their real-world effectiveness is often undermined by evolving distribution shifts between training and test data, driven by the complexity of human speech and the rapid evolution of synthesis systems. Existing datasets suffer from limited real speech diversity, insufficient coverage of recent synthesis systems, and heterogeneous mixtures of deepfake sources, which hinder systematic evaluation and open-world model training. To address these issues, we introduce AUDETER (AUdio DEepfake TEst Range), a large-scale and highly diverse deepfake audio dataset comprising over 4,500 …

Left: Learnable Fusion Of Tri-View Tokens For Unsupervised Time Series Anomaly Detection, Dezheng Wang, Tong Chen, Guansong Pang, Congyan Chen, Shihua Li, Hongzhi Yin

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As a fundamental data mining task, unsupervised time series anomaly detection (TSAD) aims to build a model for identifying abnormal timestamps without assuming the availability of annotations. A key challenge in unsupervised TSAD is that many anomalies are too subtle to exhibit detectable deviation in any single view (e.g., time domain), and instead manifest as inconsistencies across multiple views like time, frequency, and a mixture of resolutions. However, most cross-view methods rely on feature or score fusion and do not enforce analysis–synthesis consistency, meaning the frequency branch is not required to reconstruct the time signal through an inverse transform, and …

Timeradar: A Domain-Rotatable Foundation Model For Time Series Anomaly Detection, Hui He, Hezhe Qiao, Yutong Chen, Kun Yi, Guansong Pang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Current time series foundation models (TSFMs) primarily focus on learning prevalent and regular patterns within a predefined time or frequency domain to enable supervised downstream tasks (\eg, forecasting). Consequently, they are often ineffective for inherently unsupervised downstream tasks—such as time series anomaly detection (TSAD), which aims to identify rare, irregular patterns. This limitation arises because such abnormal patterns can closely resemble the regular patterns when presented in the same time/frequency domain. To address this issue, we introduce TimeRadar, an innovative TSFM built in a fractional time–frequency domain to support generalist TSAD across diverse unseen datasets. Our key insight is that …

Task-Aligned Haze Removal With Semantic-Aware Fusion And Contrast Self-Correction, Jinbin Wang, Aiping Yang, Guosong Jiang, Wenlong Yu, Dongwei Ren, Qinghua Hu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Adverse haze conditions introduce complex degradations that obscure scene details and distort structural cues critical for object detection, posing persistent challenges for vision‐based sensing systems. Although existing haze removal methods have achieved notable improvements in visual clarity, their optimisation objectives are often misaligned with downstream detection requirements, leading to limited detection performance in real‐world scenarios. To address this issue, this work proposes a task‐aligned weakly supervised haze removal framework, termed Dehaze4Detection, which explicitly aligns low‐level restoration with high‐level detection objectives. The framework incorporates a Semantic‐Aware Multi‐Scale Fusion Module (SMFM) that embeds pixel‐level semantic knowledge into the dehazing process, enabling selective …

When Work Is Not Enough: Food Insecurity Among Employed Latinos Receiving Snap In Massachusetts And The Burden Carried By Latina Women, Phillip Granberry, Rafael M. Pérez Medina, Florita Coto Tristán

Gastón Institute Publications

Across Massachusetts, many SNAP recipients are workers, caregivers, parents, elders, people with disabilities, and families navigating low wages, unstable work schedules, high housing costs, and limited access to wealth building opportunities. Many of these workers held jobs that were labeled “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic: food service, caregiving, cleaning, healthcare support, retail, transportation, construction, and other service sector jobs. Yet the public recognition of their essential labor has not been translated into adequate wages, benefits, or economic security.

Brief Insights: Learning, Leading, And Growing Together: Highlights From A Multilingual Learner And Mathematics Focused Research, Practice, Policy Partnership, Elvira G. Armas, Ed.D., Magaly Lavadenz, Ph.D., Kaivan Yuen, Ed.D., Miguel Valencia

Education and Policy Briefs

Building on a longstanding partnership, the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) at Loyola Marymount University and Montebello Unified School District (MUSD) expanded their Research, Practice, Policy Partnership (RPPP) to examine Spanish academic oral language development among TK–5 Dual Language Immersion students engaged in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) in mathematics. Teacher-researchers analyzed video samples of students explaining their mathematical reasoning using a rubric aligned with the California Spanish Language Development Standards.

Findings demonstrate meaningful growth in students’ Spanish academic oral language across the school year, particularly in their ability to support opinions and select language resources to communicate mathematical …

Hvi-Cidnet+: Beyond Extreme Darkness For Low-Light Image Enhancement, Kangbiao Shi, Xiaowen Ma, Yixu Feng, Tao Hu, Peng Wu, Guansong Pang, Qingsen Yan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Low-Light Image Enhancement (LLIE) aims to recover visually pleasing content and details from degraded low-light images. However, existing RGB-based methods often suffer from color bias and brightness artifacts due to inherent high color sensitivity. Although the HSV color space can decouple brightness and color, it introduces noticeable red and black noise artifacts. To address these challenges, we adopt the Horizontal/Vertical-Intensity (HVI) color space for LLIE, which is defined by the HV color map and learnable intensity. The former enforces small distances for red coordinates to alleviate red noise artifacts, while the latter adaptively compresses low-light regions to suppress black noise …

Charleston's Cottages: A Comprehensive Study Of Freedman's Cottages In Charleston, South Carolina, Hamzah C. Jule

All Theses

The freedman’s cottage is a distinct vernacular building type in Charleston, South Carolina. Though it is recognized for its historical significance, the freedman’s cottage remains one of the most understudied building typologies in Charleston. This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the freedman’s cottage, possible origins, chronology, material composition, geographic distribution, and architectural expressions. Identified by its architectural form – a one-story, pen-style, dwelling spanning one room wide and two rooms deep; adorned with a Charleston piazza – this vernacular architecture has decorated the Charleston landscape since. The freedman’s cottage has undergone numerous changes throughout its history, though final iterations …

Understanding What Works In Disseminating Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, Sumanth Kumbargere Nagraj, Tandekile Lubelwana Hafver, Valerie Reinthaler, Stijn Van De Velde, Carlos Zaror, Yan Jiao Shen, Susan Banda, Talitha Mpando, Gertrude Kunje, Suzgika Lakudzala, Ameer Hohlfeld, Emmanuel Effa, Denny Mabetha, Thomas Agoritsas, Per Olav Vandvik, Nicolas Delvaux

Peninsula Dental School

Objective To identify the barriers and facilitators that influence the dissemination of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and to explore the perceived usefulness, practical utility, expectations, and unmet needs of end users in relation to current dissemination strategies. Methods This qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) is a part of mixed-methods evidence synthesis. We searched literature from MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Epistemonikos, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Medical Guidelines Clearing house on January 30, 2025. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal of the included studies were done by at least two authors independently and in duplicate. We …

Towards Confucian Economic Democracy: A Relational Alternative To Possessive Individualism, Sor-Hoon Tan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This article offers a Confucian conception of ownership and a different approach to equality based on a concept of relational person that could provide an alternative philosophical framework for economic democracy. The Confucian concept of nonexclusive and nonabsolute co-ownership, conditional on owners fulfilling their social responsibilities and sustained in networks of relationships mitigates the drive to appropriation and resistance to redistribution even without formalizing legal rights of equal ownership. Confucian texts’ condemnation of wide disparities between rich and poor corresponds with distributive ideas that balance equal satisfaction of needs with merit-based incentives for productivity constrained by social harmony. Without advocating …

When The Best-Fit Model Is Not Best: The Glass Slipper Fallacy And Latent Growth Mixture Modelling, Jonathan L. Chia, Markus Wettstein, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Despite the use of latent growth mixture modelling (LGMM) to study longitudinal changes, existing practices may inadvertently impede this very investigation. Although subgroup trajectories may theoretically differ in their structure (e.g., some subgroups being linear, some curvilinear), the current convention advocates overreliance on the baseline model to derive subsequent profile trajectories, which may obscure these structural differences. In this article, we provide a brief description of extant LGMM practices, after which we explicate the pitfalls of the current approach. Finally, we provide a principled approach for LGMM research moving forward. Specifically, we recommend specifying a set of theoretically plausible models …

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Forensic Psychology: An Umbrella Review Of Potentials And Pitfalls, Ysabel Thereze Ang Guevarra, Nur Eva Alisha Binte Mohamed Hisham, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly embedded within forensic psychological practice, shaping how criminal risk, legal responsibility and public safety are assessed. AI tools are now used in recidivism prediction, behavioural analysis, deception detection and investigative support, high-stakes domains where errors can have profound consequences. Despite this rapid adoption, the existing literature remains fragmented, with most reviews confined to narrow subdomains and offering limited integrated synthesis of AI′s broader role in forensic psychology. Thus, this umbrella review addresses this gap by synthesising findings from 43 reviews obtained from five major databases, namely EBSCOhost ERIC, EBSCOhost PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus and Web …

Caring With Ai: The Efficacy Of A Customised Chatgpt-Delivered Self-Compassion Intervention On College Students' Well-Being And Academic Functioning, Tracy Xi Chen, Chi-Ying Cheng, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

College students face various challenges, including academic pressure, social stress, and the transition into adulthood, which can lead to increased anxiety and other mental health issues. By recognizing personal struggles as part of a shared human experience and responding with kindness, self-compassion serves as a powerful strategy for enhancing resilience, facilitating better well-being and performance outcomes. Although effective, Compassion-Focused Therapy often requires substantial resources and time, limiting its applicability to college students. To overcome these barriers, the current study designed and evaluated Your Self-Compassion Companion, a ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot intervention grounded in self-compassion theory and delivered over three weekly 20-min …

Transnational Social Protections And The Market: Seeking Support From The Global Cruise Industry, Yasmin Y. Ortiga

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Migration studies have mostly portrayed employers as paternalistic or exploitative, creating the very conditions that make migrants’ lives insecure and unstable. This paper challenges this view by showing how the market can also be an unlikely source of protections, where extractive work conditions co-exist with a certain degree of social support. Drawing on interviews with 45 Filipino cruise workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, I discuss how migrants used a logic of employee rights to claim benefits such as food, housing and insurance. Cruise lines willingly provided such protections, but only while workers maintained active contracts onboard their ships. Rather than …

Gender And Professional Identities In Businesswomen’S Negotiation, Chi-Ying Cheng, Amy J. Lim, Yi Wen Tan, Fiona Lee

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Gender roles and expectations for women have been shown to account for why women tend to negotiate ineffectively in business settings. Drawing from the psychological literature on multiple identities, this paper examines how individual differences in perceived compatibility between gender and professional identities–captured by the construct Gender-Professional Identity Integration (G-PII)–shape businesswomen’s negotiation behaviors. Two studies examined how G-PII interacts with identity cues and cue valence to influence negotiation outcomes. We found that those who perceived their gender and professional identities as compatible (high G-PII) exhibited an “assimilation” effect–they negotiate more effectively when their professional identity was primed by professional identity …

The Ambivalent Wisdom Of Moral Disgust, Brandon Yip

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper has two aims. First, to provide a positive account of moral disgust. I suggest that moral disgust is a response to acts that are socially corrosive, namely, acts that undermine the normative structure to which an agent is attuned. I support this analysis with two lines of evidence: (1) moral disgust serves the important function of guarding normative structures from socially corrosive actions and (2) the analysis provides an illuminating explanation of moral disgust in a wide variety of cases. The secondary aim of this paper is to probe the normative implications of my positive account. I suggest …

Lessons Learned From The Adrenalin Load Disaggregation Challenge, András Balázs Tolnai, Zheng Ma, Igor Sartori, Clayton Miller, Stephen White, Matt Amos, Gustaf Bengtsson, Akram Hameed, Nørregaard Bo Jørgensen

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Crowdsourced data science competitions have emerged as a powerful mechanism for advancing research in energy informatics, offering scalable pathways for developing machine learning solutions that enhance energy efficiency and smart building operations. The ADRENALIN Load Disaggregation Challenge addressed a central problem in energy analytics—non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) of heating and cooling loads in commercial buildings—while emphasizing the importance of model generalization across different buildings. This paper presents a comprehensive reflection on the lessons learned from organizing and executing the ADRENALIN competition, including technical insights, organizational challenges, and recommendations for future energy data challenges. In addition to the ADRENALIN case, a …

Misplay Or Malice? Players’ Interpretations Of Poor Gameplay In Competitive Team-Based Multiplayer Online Games, Valerie Yu, Benjamin H. Detenber, Sonny Rosenthal

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Research on perceptions of gaming toxicity has focused on its verbal forms, while gameplay-related forms remain relatively understudied. Furthermore, assessments of gameplay actions as toxic may depend on situational considerations. The present study used a controlled experiment to examine player interpretations of gameplay sabotage using pre-recorded gameplay scenarios from the game, League of Legends. We found that the presence of gameplay sabotage elicited stronger negative emotions and triggered greater player-reported intentions to retaliate and correct the offending player than in comparable instances of unintentional poor gameplay. Further exploratory analyses suggested that participants rated poor gameplay as less acceptable in more …

The Effects Of Working With Unidentified Migrant Remains: Caregiving, Border Security, And Human Rights On The U.S.–Mexico Border, Jennifer Delaine Huddleston

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores how migrant death and the handling of unidentified remains operate within U.S. border governance, focusing on caregivers, forensic anthropologists, and volunteer search-and-recovery teams who recover, document, and try to identify the dead along the U.S.–Mexico border. Using classic grounded theory and reflexive visual ethnography, the study includes interviews, field observations, and documentary photography conducted in South Texas, covering Brooks, Maverick, and Webb Counties.

Instead of viewing migrant deaths as accidental humanitarian tragedies, this dissertation situates caregivers’ daily work within a historical trajectory of deterrence-based border policies, from Prevention Through Deterrence to modern state-led enforcement regimes. It demonstrates …

'We Will Be Here': Modeling Hunting Community Narratives In Avanersuaq, Greenland, Talor Stone

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The Inughuit, a small Indigenous population in Northwest Greenland with a rich history of subsistence hunting in one of Earth’s harshest environments, have long been portrayed in Western media and academic literature as symbols of vulnerability and resilience, often depicted more as icons of climate change and a culture under threat than as actual people with hopes and aspirations. Indigenous voices are strikingly absent from these Western accounts.

As the Arctic gains prominence amid rapid growth in climate discourse, regional geopolitics, and tourism, the implications of these representations become increasingly significant. When Western crisis narratives dominate discourse and shape regulatory …

Praise That Empowers: Training Preschool Teachers To Linguistically Adapt Behavior-Specific Praise For Hispanic Students, Claudia Abril Ochoa

Dissertations

Children’s engagement in early ages is critical for promoting behavioral, academic, and social-emotional outcomes. However, engagement in classroom activities may be difficult for young children who have not mastered the primary language used in early childhood education settings (i.e., English). Research regarding engagement in English Language Learners (ELLs) in preschool settings, as well as cultural and/or linguistic adaptations of classroom interventions to serve this population is limited. Behavior-specific praise (BSP) has been an effective strategy to improve behavior in preschool classrooms. The current study used a multiple-baseline design across three Head-Start teachers to test the efficacy of in situ training …

Self-Managed Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Post-Treatment Upper Limb Dysfunction Rehabilition Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review, Jinqiu Li, Jing Yu (Benjamin) Tan, Tao Wang, Haiying Wang, Mengyuan Li, Sita Sharma, Linda Deravin, Daniel Terry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to identify commonly utilised self-managed non-pharmacological interventions for managing post-treatment ULD among breast cancer survivors, evaluate their effectiveness and safety, and identify the research gaps for future studies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and eight English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) were searched from their inception to 30 September 2025. Google and ResearchGate were also searched to identify any additional eligible studies. Narrative synthesis was used for data analysis. Risk of Bias version 2 was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: 5972 studies …

Ephemeral To Empowered? International Comparison Of Women’S Participation In Web Series Production, 2012–2019, Nicola Evans, Marion Mccutcheon, Emilia King, Joel Bassaget, Steinar Ellingsen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Women are significantly underrepresented in above-the-line roles in film and television, but anecdotal evidence suggests they are gravitating to web series. To explore this, the authors built the largest known international archive of web series released during 2012–2019 and analysed women’s participation. In the top five web series producing countries in the West, women achieved or approached parity with men in producing, directing and writing, but not cinematography. Do achievements in low-budget, transitory media count for anything? Drawing on ephemeral media scholarship, we discuss the potential of such forms to disturb entrenched patterns of gender discrimination in screen industries worldwide.

Safety And Effectiveness Of Behavioural Activation For Chronic Pain: A Protocol For A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Fangyuan Zheng, Laura Hynes, Richard J. Gray, Irene Ngune, Jacqueline Sin, Martin Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Chronic pain is a prevalent and complex condition associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social burden. Behavioural activation (BA), a structured psychological intervention originally developed for depression, may be relevant to chronic pain through its focus on reducing behavioural avoidance and increasing engagement in meaningful activities. Although BA has been applied in studies involving people with chronic pain, the safety and effectiveness of BA in this population have not been comprehensively synthesised. This systematic review and meta-analysis will examine the safety and effectiveness of BA for people with chronic pain.

Global Disparities In Neurosurgical Literature: A Narrative Review Of Underrepresentation Of Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Pathways To Research Equity, Tirath Patel, Naveed Ahmad, Abbas Hussain, Bisma Faraz, Amna Binte Naeem, Urooj Sheraz, Laiba Noor, Saleha Khan, Muhammad Seerat Ali, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

The global neurosurgical literature is dominated by high-income countries, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) contributing minimally despite bearing the most significant share of the neurosurgical disease burden. Underrepresentation limits equitable knowledge dissemination and the relevance of guidelines. The objective of this review was to assess neurosurgical publication disparities, identify deterrents to LMIC participation, and outline initiatives that foster equity and inclusion in research. This narrative review synthesized evidence on global disparities in neurosurgical literature through a structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2010–2025). Eligible studies examined research output, authorship trends, publication barriers, or equity initiatives. Findings mapped …

Engagement Of Understudied Populations As Community Change: The South Texas Adrc Model, Gladys E. Maestre, Neela K. Patel, Rosa V. Pirela, Robin C. Hilsabeck, Kendra Stine, Neyra García, Roberto Reyes, Omar Oropeza, Cristian Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Ney Alliey Rodriguez

School of Medicine Publications

Many populations experiencing the highest burdens of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias remain understudied, in part because traditional recruitment and retention models are insufficient to support sustained engagement. The Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core (OREC) of the South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center reconceptualized participant recruitment as a long-term system change in a Hispanic-majority, urban–rural region. OREC institutionalizes shared power through community advisory governance, aligns research protocols with local lived realities (through patient navigators, community health workers/promotores, and decentralized access points), and employs a data-driven feedback loop for continuous improvement. In 1 year, 46 outreach events touched 10,134 individuals (71% …

Validation Of A Portable Electrochemical Sensor For Real-Time Soil Nitrate Monitoring In Cotton Rhizosphere, Mohammad Solaiman, Elvis D. Sangmen, Ali Reza Galib, Tushar C. Sarker, Anil C. Somenahally, Shawana Tabassum

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil nitrate (NO3) exhibits rapid spatial and temporal variability that conventional point-sampling methods cannot effectively capture, limiting timely nutrient management and plant stress detection. This study aimed to validate a low-cost, threedimensional- printed electrochemical NO3 sensor for continuous in-soil monitoring and to evaluate whether sensor-derived NO3 dynamics reflect plant physiological responses. For this purpose, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. The sensor was evaluated in two sequential phases: an initial calibration phase to characterize sensor response across a broad NO3 concentration range, followed by a validation phase in the cotton plant rhizosphere. In the …

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Treatment Alternatives For Syphilis, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Critically Appraised Topics

No abstract provided.

Isolated Lesser Trochanter Fractures In Adults: A Systematic Review Of Malignant, Infectious, And Benign Etiologies, Max Deneroff, Ethan J. Sack, Austin Khau, Zubair Mohammed, Chadi Ellaham, Jared W. Nichols

Student Publications

Isolated lesser trochanter (LT) fractures are uncommon in adults and may be the first clue to an underlying pathologic process. In contrast to adolescent apophyseal avulsions, the same finding in a skeletally mature patient has been linked to metastatic disease, primary bone tumors, hematologic malignancy, infection, and, less often, benign traumatic, stress-related, osteoporotic, or metabolic causes. This review examined the malignant, infectious, and benign etiologies, diagnostic pathways, treatments, and outcomes that have been reported in adults aged 18 years or older presenting with a radiographically isolated LT fracture or avulsion fracture. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for English-language case …