Digital Commons Network^™

Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Rethinking Court Behaviour And Design, De Maartje Visser

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Using a relational dynamics perspective, this commentary considers how to buttress courts' ability to practice their role as guardians of the constitution. It suggests that we should pay more attention to empowering the general public to provide meaningful social support for courts through constitutional literacy efforts. Such literacy efforts should focus on the place of the court within the separation of powers and the value of judicial independence. At the same time, it may be prudent to redact the list of tasks given to constitutional courts and divest responsibility for some activities to other institutions.

Digital Scholarship Lab Summer 2024 Survey Report, Sean Winslow

Reports and White Papers - Milner Library

During the Summer of 2024, the Digital Scholarship Lab at Milner Library conducted a survey to garner feedback on user interests and needs to help guide the work of the new Digital Scholarship Coordinator, Dr. Sean Winslow, who joined the library in April. The Digital Scholarship Lab opened in August 2023, but many potential users did not know it existed or the specifics of its infrastructure as it relates to their needs.

Old Becoming New Again: A Form-Function And Narrative Analysis Of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 'Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis', Aileen E. Sager

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ralph Vaughan Williams, a leading figure in the early twentieth-century movement to preserve traditional English music, composed Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis as a tribute to his love of Tudor music and English folksong. The piece is based on a psalm setting by Thomas Tallis, known as the Third Mode Melody, which features the Phrygian mode. Vaughan Williams discovered this theme while researching for the new English Hymnal. A brief history of the Tallis theme, along with an exploration of Vaughan Williams' education and early endeavors as a composer, are critical to understanding the Fantasia's historical …

Soundscapes Of The Pillow Book: Creating Music Exploring Pamela Z'S Sonic Landscapes, Asuka Kakitani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pamela Z stands as a pioneering force in contemporary music, seamlessly integrating her roles as a composer, performer, and media artist. Renowned for her innovative approach, she masterfully combines her voice with live electronic processing, sampled sounds, and video elements, crafting a distinctive musical landscape that embodies the forefront of artistic exploration in our time. The primary aim of this thesis is to create “The Pillow Book,” a new musical work inspired by Z's creative process and methods. This work will also incorporate elements of my native language and ancient Japanese text from The Pillow Book, written in 1002 …

A Distinct System For Presidential Succession On Inauguration Day: Getting The Most Out Of Section 3 Of The Twentieth Amendment, Brian C. Kalt

Cardozo Law Review

The current presidential-succession statute uses the same line of succession for every conceivable situation. But there are many different types of potential succession scenarios. Succession need not—and should not—be governed by a one-size-fits-all approach.

Before the Twentieth Amendment was ratified in 1933, the Constitution authorized Congress to provide only for double vacancies during the term, when there already is a President and Vice President. Recognizing this gap, Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment empowered Congress to cover inauguration-day double vacancies: at the outset of a term, when nobody is available to become President or Vice President in the first place. …

Connecting, Serving, And Adapting: Perspectives On The Transition To Adulthood From Latino Young Adults With Asd, Parents, And Providers, Antonio F Pagán, Juliana L Vanderburg, Katherine A Loveland, Ron E Acierno, Thomas D Meyer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advancing interventions and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires understanding that ASD is a lifelong developmental difference. However, little is known about the unique experiences of autistic young adults, parents, and community providers in the Latino community. The purpose of this study was to improve access to inclusive community based setting by identifying and learning about barriers and needs experienced by young adults, parents, and community providers of autistic individuals across the lifespan, but particularly during the transition to adulthood. Ten community providers, eighteen parents of autistic children, and five young adult self-advocates participated in focus groups. …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

Automatic Speech Recognition Models For Pathological Speech: Challenges And Insights, Kesego Mokgosi, Cathy Ennis, Robert Ross

Conference papers

Conversational avatars provide innovative platforms for enhancing therapist-patient interactions in speech therapy by offering real-time feedback. However, the performance of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) models on disordered speech, such as dysarthria and stuttering, remains underexplored. The effectiveness of these systems hinges on the accuracy and processing speed of ASR models when transcribing pathological speech, particularly in real-time scenarios. This study evaluates several pre-trained ASR models, including Whisper-large- v3-turbo, Canary, DistilWhisper, and NVIDIA’s stt-en-fastconformer-ctc-large across three datasets: Common Voice (standard speech), TORGO (dysarthric speech), and UCLASS (stuttered speech). We assess the models using Word Error Rate (WER), Real-Time Factor (RTF), and …

Psychometric Properties And Use Of The Indonesian Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Christiana L. Ticoalu, Samsunuwijati Mar'at, P. Tommy Y. S. Suyasa, Eric A. Storch, Wayne K. Goodman, Steffi Hartanto, Riangga Novrianto, Edo S. Jaya

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Presently, in Indonesia, the lack of a validated measure for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) hinders diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The current study evaluated the reliability, validity, and optimal cut-off score of the Indonesian Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (FOCI) in predicting OCD presence. The participants included 384 adults: 157 with OCD, 80 case controls with anxiety or mood disorders, and 147 healthy controls. Assessments were conducted using FOCI, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Test–retest reliability of the FOCI was evaluated for over 2 weeks in 30 OCD patients. The internal consistency within OCD samples for the FOCI …

Reevo: Large Language Models As Hyper-Heuristics With Reflective Evolution, Haoran Ye, Jiarui Wang, Zhiguang Cao, Federico Berto, Chuanbo Hua, Haeyeon Kim, Jinkyoo Park, Guojie Song

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The omnipresence of NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems (COPs) compels domain experts to engage in trial-and-error heuristic design process. The long-standing endeavor of design automation has gained new momentum with the rise of large language models (LLMs). This paper introduces Language Hyper-Heuristics (LHHs), an emerging variant of Hyper-Heuristics that leverages LLMs for heuristic generation, featuring minimal manual intervention and open-ended heuristic spaces. To empower LHHs, we present Reflective Evolution (ReEvo), a generic searching framework that emulates the reflective design approach of human experts while far surpassing human capabilities with its scalable LLM inference, Internet-scale domain knowledge, and powerful evolutionary search. Evaluations …

Comparative Analysis Of Multi-Criteria Techniques In Neutrosophic Environment And Their Applications To Economic Condition Assessment, Asmaa Elsayed, Mai Mohamed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In economic decision-making, the challenge of evaluating multiple, often conflicting criteria necessitates advanced Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques. Traditional methods can struggle with the inherent uncertainty, ambiguity, and imprecision of real-world data. This paper addresses these challenges by investigating the effectiveness of various MCDM techniques within neutrosophic environments, with a particular focus on the Criteria-wise Alternatives Ranking and Correlation Analysis for Composite Scoring (CARCACS) method. Neutrosophic sets, which incorporate truth, falsity, and indeterminacy, provide a robust framework for addressing the vagueness and inconsistencies found in economic indicators such as GDP growth, employment levels, inflation rates, trade balances, investment activity, and government …

Introduction 16(5) 2024: Special Issue: Conceptualizing Micro-Level Narratives In Thematic Constructs Of Internationalization

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

16(5) Special Issue 2024, Rosalind Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The JCIHE 16(5) 2024 Special Issue Conceptualizing Micro-Level Narratives in Thematic Constructs of Internationalization with Special Guest editors: Fakunle Omolabake & Fiona Hunter. The articles in this issue examine the micro-level dimension in the internationalization of higher education (IHE), that is situated at the individual level. While of importance, the micro level of IHE has been under-studied.

Full Issue 16(5) Special Issue

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Insights From Glocal Educators: Unveiling The Transformative Journeys Of Educational Developers, A Eltayb, J Valcke

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Academic Voices: Continuing Professional Development For Teaching In Internationalized Classrooms, Lucie Weissova, Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans, Darko Pantelic

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Lived Experience Of Internationally Mobile Students: A Longitudinal Study, Megan M. Siczek

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Policy And Practice Of Internationalization In The Global-South: African International Students’ Experiences In South Africa During Covid-19, Patience Mukwambo, Faith Mkwananzi, Winter Seshoka

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Task-Based Language Assessment In English Language Learning And Learner Autonomy Enhancement In An Efl High School Context In The Uae, Eman Yousef Mahmoud

Dissertations

Assessment plays an integral role in education, incorporating various types that serve multiple purposes. In language education, the proper integration of formative assessment practices, such as Task-Based Language Assessment (TBLA), is crucial to improve students’ language learning. This study explores the impact of implementing TBLA in an English as a foreign language (EFL) high school context on language learning. It also investigates whether and to what extent TBLA application promotes Learner Autonomy (LA). Furthermore, this study examines the teacher’s and students’ perceptions of the intervention and its impact on linguistic and non-linguistic skills. The study used an experimental mixed methods …

Improving Communication Between Providers And Patients During Pediatric Cancer Care, Yuritza Arciga

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Listen First Survivorship project explores the communication barriers faced by young adults and their families during cancer treatment. The project focuses on identifying communication gaps and developing strategies to better support Jacob’s Heart's young adult cancer survivors. This project was implemented by Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services and Dr. Stephanie Smith of the Pediatric Oncology department at Stanford Children’s Hospital. The participants described feeling overwhelmed with too much information and not enough answers to their questions during their appointments. Through qualitative interviews and focus groups, key findings revealed that young adults experienced significant gaps in knowledge due to …

Active Transportation Term Guide, Kalonni Steib

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Monterey County Health Department, through its Planning, Evaluation, and Policy (PEP) Department, is dedicated to promoting health equity by implementing strategic plans, aligning performance standards with national accreditation, and addressing social and environmental policies. Serving underserved and unincorporated communities, PEP focuses on overcoming language barriers in Monterey County, which has a significant Hispanic and Latino population. This project aimed to develop a bilingual glossary of active transportation terms to enhance communication between the community and government agencies. Implemented over three to six months, the glossary was piloted for feedback and updates. The project successfully identified key transportation terms and …

Communicating Development For Adults With Developmental Disabilities, Ruby Mandujano

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) often face significant communication barriers that hinder their ability to express needs, access essential services, and engage fully in social, vocational, and healthcare settings. This paper explores how American Sign Language (ASL) can effectively reduce these communication barriers and promote self-advocacy among adults with developmental disabilities. The Gateway Center of Monterey County, an agency serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 18 and over, provides a model of communication support by incorporating ASL into its programs. Although Gateway serves only a tiny percentage of the larger population of adults with intellectual and …

Identifying Gaps: Mixtec Parents’ Experiences Within The Salinas Union High School District, Daniela Maldonado Prudencio

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Salinas Union High School District has identified low academic performance among Mixtec-speaking students as a significant issue. Since these students are learning English and Spanish simultaneously, they often face language barriers that affect their academic progress. The school system lacks culturally relevant systems and practices to support their unique needs. This gap also leads to limited parental engagement, as Mixtec-speaking parents struggle to navigate the school system further impacting student’s success. Low graduation rates, limited access to higher education, and limited career opportunities are some of the outcomes. In response, Salinas Union High School Pupil and Personnel Services worked …

Unified Generative And Discriminative Training For Multi-Modal Large Language Models, Wei Chow, Juncheng Li, Kaihang Pan, Qifan Yu, Hao Fei, Zhiqi Ge, Shuai Yang, Siliang Teng, Hanwang Zhang, Qianru Sun

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent times, Vision-Language Models (VLMs) have been trained under two predominant paradigms. Generative training has enabled Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs) to tackle various complex tasks, yet issues such as hallucinations and weak object discrimination persist. Discriminative training, exemplified by models like CLIP, excels in zero-shot image-text classification and retrieval, yet struggles with complex scenarios requiring fine-grained semantic differentiation. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a unified approach that integrates the strengths of both paradigms. Considering interleaved image-text sequences as the general format of input samples, we introduce a structure-induced training strategy that imposes semantic relationships between input …

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 …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Business Higher Education: A Focus Group Study, Xuenan Huo, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This research investigates the opportunities and challenges of integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into business higher education, drawing insights from an asynchronous focus group research study with doctoral students who serve dual roles as both learners and educators. Key opportunities identified through thematic analysis include knowledge acquisition, intelligent co-ideation, supportive augmentation, and personalized learning. Challenges identified include AI trustworthiness, cognitive dependency, human value, policy and instruction, assessment integrity, and identity management. This study clarifies GenAI’s specific role in business education and provides practical insights for effectively integrating GenAI to enhance learning outcomes and address emerging challenges. An analysis theory on …

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach Based On Correlation Coefficient For Multi-Polar Interval-Valued Neutrosophic Soft Set, Hamza Naveed, Saalam Ali

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

The correlation coefficient between two factors is crucial in statistical computation, indicating the extent and evolution of the appropriate link. The precision of applicability evaluations frequently relies on the thoroughness and caliber of data obtained from a certain dataset. Statistical research sometimes entails data marked by intrinsic trade-offs and uncertainty. This study seeks to present m-polar interval-valued neutrosophic soft sets (mPIVNSSs) through the integration of m-polar fuzzy sets with interval-valued neutrosophic soft sets. The suggested mPIVNSS structure is a significantly generalized version of m-polar neutrosophic soft sets and serves as a substantial extension of interval-valued neutrosophic soft sets. In this …

Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency, Amy Draper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high

schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS

model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured

interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical

coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational

success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’

descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges

they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined …

Benefits Of Teaching Pre-Literacy In Waldorf Education In Early Childhood, April Guerrero

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the benefits of teaching pre-literacy in Waldorf education in early childhood. In Waldorf Education, literacy development incorporates differentiated instructions that fosters cognitive and social emotional learning of their students. Through the use of literature review and several teachers in various grades of Waldorf schools, the result findings revealed that pedagogical practices around literacy instructions promote critical thinking skills, nurtures children’s creative expression, and imagination. Literacy curriculum in Waldorf schools allows students to create tangible evidence of self-expressions and communication skills. Given its emphasis on holistic curriculum, it allows teachers to engage with their diverse …

Examining The Impact Of Eds And Meds Anchor Institutions On Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Case Study On University Medical Center New Orleans, Samuel P. Firmin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how the University Medical Center New Orleans (UMCNO), a major Eds and Meds anchor institution, has contributed to the well-being outcomes of surrounding communities within the New Orleans BioDistrict since its opening in 2015. Eds and Meds institutions often have mixed impacts on their local communities, and little research has focused on their effects in the Deep South, particularly in New Orleans, a region with pronounced socioeconomic disparities. This study aimed to address this research gap by investigating the following question: to what extent does UMCNO's Community Health Needs Assessments align with …