Digital Commons Network^™

Adventures In Celestial Navigation, Philip Gerard

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Gradient-Based Explainability For Functional Neural Networks Via Differentiable Layers, Aniruddha Rao, Chetan Sharma, Chenyin Gao, Fernando Rodriguez Silva Santisteban

Defensive Publications Series

A system and method are described related to the interpretability of predictive models, such as functional neural networks (FNNs), that can operate on continuous data. For some FNNs, certain explainability techniques may be less effective as they can involve discretizing an input signal, which may result in a loss of functional information. The disclosed technology can integrate custom, differentiable functional layers, such as basis expansion or inner product layers, within the neural network architecture. This design can preserve a differentiable path from a model's output to the original functional input, which may enable the application of gradient-based attribution methods. This …

Testimony Of Professor Zalman Rothschild Before The House Subcommittee On Early Childhood, Elementary, And Secondary Education Regarding Mahmoud V. Taylor, Zalman Rothschild

Testimony

On February 10, 2026, Professor Zalman Rothschild, Horn Family Distinguished Research Scholar in Law and Religion at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, testified before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. His testimony addressed the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor and its implications for parental rights, religious liberty, public education, vaccination mandates, and compulsory schooling.

Professor Rothschild situates Mahmoud within the broader constitutional tradition shaped by Pierce v. Society of Sisters, West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, and Wisconsin v. Yoder …

Curriculum Materials Cataloged For Browsing, Michelle Emanuel

Library Publications

When the University of Mississippi Libraries acquired a collection of state-adopted school textbooks for K-12 from its School of Education, a decision was made to catalog the collection for browsing to anticipate the needs of its primary users, both “in service” and “pre-service” teachers. The textbooks would be grouped according to their grade level, and cuttered by subject area, instead of being classed according to its subject area. As the collection would be integrated into the regular circulating collection, and not into a curriculum materials center, issues arose for both technical services and access services throughout the process, from cataloging …

Hiding Behind A Curtain Of Dust: Gas And Dust Properties Of An Ultra-Luminous Strongly-Lensed Z = 3.75 Galaxy Behind The Milky Way Disc, Belén Alcalde Pampliega, Kevin C. Harrington, Aristeidis Amvrosiadis, Manuel Aravena, Min S. Yun, Hugo Messias, Antonio Hernán-Caballero, Leindert Boogaard, Axel Weiß, Benjamin Beauchesne, Alejandro Santamaría-Miranda, Monica Ivette Rodriguez, Eric Jiménez-Andrade, Manuel Solimano, James Lowenthal, Patrick Kamieneski, Q. Daniel Wang, Chentao Yang, Amit Vishwas, Pascale Hibon, Brenda Frye, Jorge González-Lopez, Yiqing Song, Meghana Killi

Astronomy: Faculty Publications

We present a detailed analysis of J154506, a strongly lensed submillimetre galaxy (SMG) behind the Lupus-I molecular cloud, and a characterisation of its physical properties using a combination of new and archival data, including VLT/MUSE and FORS2 optical data. We identify two high-significance (S/N >5) emission lines at 97.0 and 145.5 GHz, corresponding to CO(4-3) and CO(6-5), respectively, in spectral scans from the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) and the Large Millimetre Telescope (LMT), as well as the [CII] 158 µm fine-structure line at 400 GHz observed with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). These detections yield a spectroscopic redshift of …

Preventing Burnout In School-Based Behavioral Health Clinicians: Organizational Strategies For Mitigating Work-Related Mental Health Impairment, Virginia W. Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This is a qualitative case study on Organization X that used the Baldrige Framework to investigate employee burnout, a growing concern associated with staff turnover, reduced job satisfaction, depression, and disengagement. The goal was to examine how organizational leaders assess the effectiveness of burnout prevention strategies, identify organizational factors and leadership practices that either mitigate or increase burnout, and discover key factors that contribute to burnout. Semi-structured interviews, guided by the Baldrige Framework, were conducted with three leaders at Organization X. The themes resulting from interviews included burnout, open-ended communication, team cohesion, real-time protection, ethical leadership and authenticity, restoring norms, …

Emerging Trends And Challenges In International Student Research: A Content Analysis Of Recent Dissertations (2022–2024), Krishna Bista, Oluwasegun Adesola Oladipo, Lin Ge, Tian Qin

Health Care Administration Faculty Research

This study presents a content analysis of 470 doctoral dissertations published between 2022 and 2024, examining emerging trends, theoretical frameworks, and research approaches related to international students. Using a qualitative content analysis approach and descriptive statistics, the study systematically analyzed the dissertations to identify recurring themes and issues. The key themes identified include teaching and learning; academic practices; acculturation and intercultural competence; career development and leadership; experiences and challenges; mobility and policy contexts; social diversity and inclusion; institutional support; and well-being. The findings show a predominant use of qualitative methods, a concentration on U.S.-based contexts, and a strong disciplinary focus …

Impact Of Incentive Policies On Mathematics And Science Teachers’ Retention In Guyana’S Rural Secondary Schools, Verna Adrian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on teacher retention in rural areas highlights persistent challenges, including geographic isolation, limited resources, and inadequate support. Studies have shown that financial incentives are critical for sustaining teacher retention, but a gap in the literature exists as to what specific non-financial challenges may also be important in influencing teachers’ long-term commitment. To address the social problem of teacher retention in rural secondary schools in Guyana, this study assessed the effectiveness of incentive policies in retaining teachers across four selected regions facing unique challenges. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The purpose of this …

Hyperdensity On Head Ct—An Imaging Review, Ramsis Benjamin, Christian Menard, Erik Larson

School of Medicine Publications

The 3D images derived from non-contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) scans provide a glimpse into the intra- and extracranial structures, based on the ability of electromagnetic X-rays to penetrate through various tissue densities. The gray matter, for example, possesses a higher density than the white matter, absorbs more X-rays, allows less penetration (attenuation), and thus has larger Hounsfield units (HU), the mathematical value of attenuation coefficient. The CT scanner’s wide availability and ease of use allow for quick assessment of acute neurosurgical abnormalities, such as hemorrhages, mass effect, hydrocephalus, and traumatic injuries. An attenuation value of +60 to +90 HU generally …

Augustine’S Account Of His Personal Conversion To God In The Confessions (Part I), Thomas Sherman

Landas

This essay reads St. Augustine’s Confessions as a deeply personal account of conversion to God encompassing intellectual, moral, and affective dimensions. Grace leads Augustine to recognize the truth of the Catholic faith, embrace it in his choices, and experience the joy that strengthens him to live according to it. His conversion culminates in his decision to receive baptism and pursue a life ordered by love of God. This first of two installments examines Augustine’s understanding of intellectual, moral, and emotional conversion across his writings, then traces his intellectual journey from Manichaeism and Academic skepticism toward the truth of the Catholic …

Myth As A Bridge Between Science And Religion In The Timaeus, Earl A. P. Valdez

Landas

This paper examines the value of myth and mythmaking in Plato’s worldview, focusing on the creation myth in the Timaeus. It argues that myth and mythmaking ultimately connect religion and science by integrating the why and how of reality. Through narration and interpretation, myth legitimizes reality while generating new knowledge and insight. This process reveals how Greek beliefs about themselves and the world were closely intertwined with explanations of how things work. The paper concludes that myths function as bearers of meaning within the classical worldview. This perspective invites renewed reflection on myths and the ways their enduring narratives …

Academic Senate - Agenda, 02/10/2026, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Curricular Changes Proposed For 2025-2027 Morris Catalog, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Ai Scribe Use In Residency Training: A Call For Specialty Society Guidance In Graduate Medical Education, Julia A. Giordano, Elizabeth Jones

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used for documentation purposes in clinical practice, yet guidance for resident use is limited. Given the substantial documentation burden on medical trainees, AI-powered scribing tools may offer benefits, but their integration into residency training raises educational, supervisory, and patient safety considerations. This study aimed to assess the availability of resident-specific guidance on AI scribe use from major medical and specialty organizations and to summarize current evidence on AI scribes in residency. We reviewed five major medical and specialty society websites (AAD, AMA, ACGME, AAMC, ABMS) via website searches and direct emails and conducted a PubMed …

Probing Intraplate Lithospheric Architecture: Magnetotelluric Imaging Of The Crust And Upper Mantle Across The New Madrid Seismic Zone, Mississippi Embayment, And Alabama-Oklahoma Lineament, Kaushik Sarker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study presents a broadband magnetotelluric (MT) investigation of crustal resistivity structure beneath the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), aimed at identifying conductive features that may control present-day intraplate seismicity. Because electrical resistivity is sensitive to fluid content, temperature, and rock fabric, it provides indirect constraints on crustal strength and deformation processes, which influence fault reactivation and earthquake occurrence. We collected MT data along a profile spanning the Axial and Reelfoot faults to image subsurface conductivity contrasts associated with these active fault zones. We conducted a broadband magnetotelluric (MT) survey from December 2021 to March 2023 across five profiles- spanning …

Long-Range Fit: A Software Package For The Representation And Study Of Long-Range Molecular Interactions, Adrian L. Batista-Planas, Ernesto Quintas-Sánchez, Richard Dawes

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Describing intermolecular forces is fundamental to modeling and predicting the behavior of molecular systems. In particular, long-range molecular interactions with electrostatic, induction, and dispersion as the main components play a critical role, especially for low-temperature and low-density regimes. Long-range interactions are often described through perturbation theory, representing the electronic charge distribution via a multipolar series of the moments and polarizability tensors corresponding to each molecule. However, while the theory is well established, obtaining the resulting analytical expressions (and their practical implementation) constitutes a highly complex and system-dependent task. To address this challenge, we developed long-range-fit (LRF), an interactive and user-friendly …

Chemical Control Strategies For Poa Annua In Managed Turfgrass Systems, James D. Mccurdy, Rebecca G. Bowling, Aaron J. Patton, Edicarlos B. De Castro, James T. Brosnan, David E. Ervin, Shawn D. Askew, Clebson G. Goncalves, Matthew T. Elmore, J. Scott Mcelroy, Multiple Additional Authors

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Poa annua L. is a widespread and persistent weed in managed turfgrass systems, exhibiting both annual and short-lived perennial growth habits. Effective management requires an integrated approach, with chemical herbicides remaining a primary tool. This review outlines the current landscape of chemical control strategies, including pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide options, plant growth regulators, and emerging chemistries. Herbicide resistance in Poa annua continues to pose a significant challenge, with confirmed cases spanning multiple modes of action. Consequently, sustainable management depends on rotating herbicide classes, using mixtures and sequences of treatments, and integrating nonchemical tactics.

Discovery Of Horsfieldia Macrothyrsa Bioactives With Cytotoxic Effects On Breast Cancer Cells Through In Vitro And Docking Analyses, Megawati Megawati, Akhmad Darmawan, Agus Budiawan Naro Putra, Kartika Dyah Palupi, Marissa Angelina, Ahmad Randy, Siska Andrina Kusumastuti, Faris Hermawan, Sumi Hudiyono

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and biological activities of Horsfieldia macrothyrsa leaves to identify their bioactive compounds. Methanol extracts were fractionated using n-hexane and ethyl acetate, followed by silica gel column chromatography with a stepwise polarity gradient. From 100 g of powdered leaves, three major    compounds were successfully isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction: 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)dodecan-1-one (1), sesamin (2), and β-sitosterol (3). Their chemical structures were confirmed using UV, IR, LC–MS/MS, and NMR  spectroscopy. Biological activities of the fractions and isolates were evaluated through DPPH antioxidant assays, α-glucosidase inhibition for antidiabetic activity, MTT …

Data Management Plans For Grant Proposals, Rubab Shahzad

Day Family Research Lab Workshop Series

Fundamentals of research data management and how to create effective Data Management Plans (DMPs) and Data Management Sharing Plans (DMSP)

Teaching Performance Of Physical Education Teachers In Urban And Rural Areas Malang From An Anthropological Perspective: A Comparative Study, Lokananta Teguh Hari Wiguno, Febrita Paulina Heynoek, Fajar Raya Ferdinal Kusuma Bakti, Rama Kurniawan, Cahyo Nugroho Sigit, Vania Putri Hariyoko

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Teacher performance assessments in rural and urban areas are crucial to ensuring equitable education quality across a region. In urban areas, teaching performance assessments can help teachers provide information related to their ability to adapt to technological demands, curriculum, and high community expectations. Meanwhile, in rural areas, teaching performance assessment serves to identify limitations, improve competence, and encourage equitable access to education. The method used was mixed methods with a convergent parallel design. The sampling technique used was convenience sampling, involving 21 physical education teachers in Malang City and 21 physical education teachers in Malang Regency. The results of the …

Solitary Confinement In The U.S. Prison System, Fiona Gleeson

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Potential Mediators In The Relationship Between Racial Identity And Neuropsychological Performance In A Retired Nfl Cohort, Claire Stafford, Charles Golden, Ryan Bennett

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Historically, Black Americans have consistently performed more poorly than White Americans on various neuropsychological tests, with debates surrounding the causes of these differences ranging from genetic to societal factors. These differences have been documented across various cognitive domains, including memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. Findings from previous research suggest that individuals with higher levels of education and stable marital relationships tend to exhibit better cognitive functioning, while certain football positions are linked to differences in cognitive abilities. However, the specific effects of these factors on neuropsychological performance require further investigation. The present archival study was derived from a …

Exceptional Variety Of Baryte-Celestine-Series Speleothems In Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico, Usa), Max Wisshak, Johannes Birkenstock, Andrea Schröder-Ritzrau, Norbert Frank, Hazel A. Barton, Harvey R. Duchene

International Journal of Speleology

An inventory of speleothems primarily composed of the closely related sulfate minerals baryte (BaSO₄) and celestine (SrSO₄) in Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico, USA) has revealed an extraordinary variety. This includes subaerial stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, coralloids, wall crusts, floor crystals, snow, frostwork, and subaqueous pool crystals. Large baryte and celestine crystals have also been documented in hydrothermal veins in the host rock, predating the cave and truncated when intersected by it. The respective carbonate mineral phases witherite (BaCO₃) and strontianite (SrCO₃), in contrast, were found to be rare in the studied speleothem samples, …

Reality Distortion Attacks On Autonomous Security Agents: Manipulating Internal World Models In Ai Defenders, Pranav Bhatanagar Mr

Defensive Publications Series

Autonomous artificial intelligence systems are increasingly deployed as primary defenders in modern cybersecurity environments. These systems rely on internal world models to interpret network behavior, assess threats, and guide automated response. While existing research has focused extensively on attacks that manipulate inputs, outputs, and learning processes, limited attention has been given to threats that target internal perception. This paper introduces Reality Distortion Attacks, a novel class of adversarial strategies that manipulate how autonomous security agents model and understand their operational environment. Rather than inducing immediate misclassification, these attacks gradually reshape situational awareness by influencing sensor inputs, feedback mechanisms, contextual signals, …

Interpretation Attacks: Exploiting How Ai Explains And Justifies Decisions (Turning Explainability Itself Into An Attack Surface), Pranav Bhatanagar Mr

Defensive Publications Series

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) systems are widely promoted as mechanisms for increasing transparency, trust, and accountability in automated decision-making. By providing human-readable explanations for model outputs, these systems are intended to support oversight, regulatory compliance, and informed human judgment. However, the growing reliance on automated explanations has created a previously overlooked security risk: the explanations themselves can be manipulated, exploited, and weaponized. This paper introduces Interpretation Attacks, a class of adversarial strategies that target how AI systems generate, present, and justify their decisions. Rather than manipulating model predictions directly, these attacks exploit the interpretability layer to influence human perception, distort …

Cybersecurity In Higher Education Institutions: Awareness, Policy, And Experience On Employee Behaviour, Abdullahi Abiodun Yusuf, Adriana A. Steyn

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The digital transformation of higher education institutions (HEIs) has introduced unprecedented connectivity and operational efficiency, but it has also heightened their exposure to cyber threats. South African HEIs, in particular, face increasing vulnerability due to their reliance on technology, openness, and diverse user communities. This study examines the influence of the institutional cybersecurity environment on employee cybersecurity-compliant behaviour (CCB), emphasising the critical roles of awareness, policy engagement, and experience. Drawing on Protection Motivation Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a conceptual model was developed to explore how cybersecurity awareness, policy familiarity, and prior experience shape employees’ attitudes, subjective norms, …

Equal Chances Or Fewer Victims? Moral Judgments In Autonomous Vehicle Dilemmas, Alexander Matros, Eren Bilen, Leonid Matros

Faculty Publications

We examine the moral dilemma of how autonomous vehicles (AVs) should be programmed to act in unavoidable crash scenarios involving trade-offs between saving one life and saving many. We report results from three experimental studies that investigate individuals’ preferences over alternative AV decision rules in stylized crash scenarios. Across designs, we find robust support for a probabilistic decision rule that assigns passengers and pedestrians equal ex ante chances of survival (a 50:50 rule). This preference persists across different framings and remains salient even when additional probabilistic options are introduced.

Motivating Passion And Purpose In Grade Six Students Through Game-Based Learning, Violet H. Harada, Patricia Louis

Learning Hub

This article examines how a sixth-grade pathways course at Kamehameha Schools in Hawai‘i leveraged Game-Based Learning (GBL) and Indigenous knowledge to foster student agency, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Designed and taught by school librarian Patricia Louis with support from a multidisciplinary instructional team, the Nā Lawai‘a Hawai‘i (Fishing, Hawaiian Style) elective engaged students in researching the ‘Ama‘ama (Hawaiian striped mullet) and the ecological challenges it faces, then translating their learning into the design of a board game, ‘Ama‘ama Escape. Grounded in constructivist, learning-by-making principles, the course guided students through an iterative design process that included inquiry, collaboration, prototyping, and playtesting. …

How Principals Who Use Artificial Intelligence For Innovation Create Cognitive Equity While Principals Who Use Ai For Efficiency Create Cognitive Debt, Jethro Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation in practice examined whether a targeted professional learning   intervention could shift school leaders’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) from efficiency-oriented tasks toward innovation-oriented strategic problem solving. AI is typically adopted to accelerate existing routines, which can deepen “cognitive debt” by reinforcing ineffective practices rather than improving systems. This study advanced a “cognitive equity” frame, positioning AI as a tool that can expand principals’ cognitive capacity to address complex problems and lead adaptive change. Using a quasi-experimental, single-group design, the study evaluated a free, full-day AI for Innovation workshop, which emphasized foundational understanding of how AI tools work …

A Theoretical Investigation Of The Linear And Nonlinear Optical Responses Of Scandium- And Yttrium-Doped (Sub-Nm) Ag And Au Clusters, Munish Sharma, Mukesh Jakhar, Ravindra Pandey, Shashi P. Karna

Michigan Tech Publications

We investigate the linear and nonlinear optical properties of (sub-nm) Ag6 and Au6 clusters doped with Sc and Y using time-dependent density functional theory. Both parent clusters have D3h ground-state geometries but exhibit noticeably different electronic structures; scalar-relativistic corrections in Au6 induce significant s-d hybridization, resulting in larger HOMO-LUMO gaps and reduced one-photon absorption (OPA) cross-sections compared to Ag6. Two-photon absorption (TPA) peaks in the UV region show resonance enhancement via coupling with OPA-active states, with Ag6 having larger cross-sections than Au6. Doping with Sc and Y modifies the optical responses by breaking configurational symmetry and lifting HOMO degeneracies. ScAg5 …