Digital Commons Network^™

Global Leaders Must Be Systems Thinkers. This Is A Problem. What To Do About It., Larry M. Starr, Phd

School of Business Faculty Papers

Two cognitive approaches are described about how people including global organizational leaders understand, formulate and try to intervene and solve problems. The prevailing, conventional approach is based on analytic thinking, established 400 years ago. A second approach is systemic thinking which is less than 100 years old, and unlikely to be taught, learned or applied. Increasing evidence about the nature of problems experienced by global leaders is that the context in which problems are occurring is volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous and hyperconnected (VUCAH). While analytic thinking, methods and tools are appropriate and effective for problems in contexts that are stable, …

Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2025 Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Dated February 14, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Multiple, Not Single, Recipient Muscle Tendon Transfers Produce Well-Coordinated Thumb-Tip Movement In Lateral Pinch Grasp: A Simulation Study With Application To Restoration Of Improved Grasp After Tetraplegia, Cole Smith , '23, Joseph D. Towles

Engineering Faculty Works

Introduction: Tendon transfer surgeries that engage the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) muscle are commonly performed to enable lateral pinch grasp in persons with tetraplegia. Functional outcomes, however, have been mixed. This may be the case, in part, because the FPL produces hyperflexion at the interphalangeal (IP) joint and radial deviation at the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. Therefore, the goal of this simulation study was to investigate whether small groups of muscles could produce movement with less IP joint hyperflexion and CMC joint ab/adduction than the FPL produces during lateral pinch grasp. Methods: We adapted a published, open-source computational musculoskeletal model of …

A Reliable And Efficient Detection Pipeline For Rodent Ultrasonic Vocalizations, Sabah Shahnoor Anis, Devin Mark Kellis, Kris Ford Kaigler, Marlene A. Wilson, Christian O'Reilly

Faculty Publications

Analyzing ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) is crucial for understanding rodents' affective states and social behaviors, but the manual analysis is time-consuming and prone to errors. Automated USV detection systems have been developed to address these challenges. Yet, these systems often rely on machine learning and fail to generalize effectively to new datasets. To tackle these shortcomings, we introduce ContourUSV, an efficient automated system for detecting USVs from audio recordings. Our pipeline includes spectrogram generation, cleaning, pre-processing, contour detection, post-processing, and evaluation against manual annotations. To ensure robustness and reliability, we compared ContourUSV with three state-of-the-art systems using an existing open-access USV …

Deep Jansen-Rit Parameter Inference For Model-Driven Analysis Of Brain Activity, Deepa Tilwani, Christian O'Reilly

Faculty Publications

Accurately modeling effective connectivity (EC) is critical for understanding how the brain processes and integrates sensory information. Yet, it remains a formidable challenge due to complex neural dynamics and noisy measurements such as those obtained from the electroencephalogram (EEG). Model-driven EC infers local (within a brain region) and global (between brain regions) EC parameters by fitting a generative model of neural activity onto experimental data. This approach offers a promising route for various applications, including investigating neurodevel- opmental disorders. However, current approaches fail to scale to whole-brain analyses and are highly noise-sensitive. In this work, we employ three deep-learning architectures—a …

Learning Parent Strategies: A Trajectory-Based Approach To Analyzing Parent Child Interactions With Llms, Chelsea Joe

Computer Science Senior Theses

Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated their ability to leverage its immense world knowledge to excel in traditional reinforcement learning tasks. Building on these capabilities, we introduce a framework that uses LLMs to learn from human behavior video data and generate insights that serve as guidelines for predicting how individuals are likely to act. Our framework focuses on parent- child dialogic reading, with an emphasis on understanding each parent’s unique parenting strategies. The system identifies meaningful interaction episodes within analyzed video data. The learning component of the framework utilizes a long-term memory system, which stores and retrieves …

Review Of “Homecoming And “Finale” By The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Niccolo Rocamora Vitug

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

No abstract provided.

Protecting Global Health Partnerships In The Era Of Destructive Nationalism, Maya Adam, Desiree Labeaud, Nokwanele Mbewu, Jennifer Gates, Randall Waechter, Mercy Borbor-Cordova, Lydiah Kibe, Sonia Alvarez, Annie Dori, Anil Bilimale, Meggie Mwoka, Jessica Deffler, Michele Spring, Avriel Diaz, Rachael Farquhar, Willy Dunbar, Comfort Phiri, Valerie Luzadis, Nicole Redvers, Cristina Alonso, Rosemary Rochford, Rachel Lowe, Kareem Coomansingh, Moses Laman, Rebeca Sultana, Sadie Ryan, Amaya Bustinduy, Anita Hargrave-Bouagnon, Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez, Zebedee Kerry, Trevor Kelebi, Samuel Mcewen, Leanne Robinson, Maritza Salazar Campo, Till Bärnighausen

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Re-Framing The Master Narratives Of Learning Dis/Abilities Through An Emotion And Intersectional Lens, David I. Hernández-Saca

Faculty Publications

In this conceptual framework paper, I critically chronicle the historiography, policy, and scientific literatures of learning disabilities (ld) and provide a conceptual framework for reframing these as master narratives. I defined master narratives as the pre-existent sociocultural forms of interpretation. I interrogated the a) cultural-historical; b) the federal definition of ld within idea, c) the educational-professional academic and focused on, the d) social and emotional literature of ld. The master narratives from these literatures included: a) ld as a boy who struggles with reading, ld as a symbolic complex, and the legacy of the term "feebleminded", d) assumptions about learning, …

The Art Of Craft: An Inquiry Into The Illusion Of Difference, Abigail Cancel

Honors Theses

The art of craft: an inquiry into the illusion of difference is an exploration of why art and craft have been historically separated and the ways in which this idea pervades into the modern world. It touches on the importance of art to society overall, as well as the undeniable significance of craft to the art world.

Czy Konsumenci Potrzebują Pewności Prawa?, Helena Kordasiewicz

internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation)

Certainty in law is a commonly used expression, but attempts to find its definition may turn out fruitless. It appears in scientific articles, goals of legislation and case law, but those use instances are not always coherent. This study aims to describe certainty in law, based on how it is interpreted in European case law, studies on legal certainty, and contract theory. At first, examples from judgments of the highest courts, in which predictability of economic relations and legal certainty occur, will be presented along with the potential dangers of improperly differentiating between the two. In the second part, a …

Ai Foundations And Applications: Summary Of A Panel Discussion At Loyola University Chicago, George K. Thiruvathukal, Dmitry Dligach, Shilpika, Michael B. Burns, Joseph Vukov, Fraser Turner, Mary Usher

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This document summarizes the panel discussion titled "AI Foundations and Applications," held at Loyola University Chicago as part of the "Forum on Global Affairs: Artificial Intelligence in a Globalized World" series. The panel brought together interdisciplinary experts to discuss the foundational aspects of artificial intelligence (AI), its applications, ethical considerations, and implications for education and society.

Bringing Different Disciplines And Competitions In Your Classroom, Eric Chan-Tin, Mohammed Abuhamad

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

It is well-known that cybersecurity does not belong only to computer science/engineering. Other disciplines such as Psychology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Political Science can have a great impact in cybersecurity research and education. Students taking only courses are at a disadvantage and should be encouraged to participate in cybersecurity competitions to obtain real-world skills. This lightning talk will look at incorporating two aspects in an interdisciplinary cybersecurity program/curriculum: 1) different disciplines and majors such as Psychology, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Sociology into the cybersecurity program; and 2) including cybersecurity competitions as an integral part of the cybersecurity classroom and curriculum. …

Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Unreclaimed Sites Ur-03 Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) (Dated January 27, 2025)., Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Identifying The Human Olfactory And Chemosignaling Neural Networks Using Event Related Fmri And Graph Theory, Saideh Ferdowsi, Tom Foulsham, Alireza Rahmani, Dimitri Ognibene, Luca Citi, Wen Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aims to characterize and compare the functional neural networks associated with different olfactory stimuli, including air, non-social odours, and human body odours. We introduce a novel processing pipeline based on event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and graph theory for network identification. To ensure the stability and small worldness of the characterized networks, we conduct statistical validations, network modularity assessments, and robustness measurement against local attacks. The key hypothesis is that human body odours (so-called social odours) and non-social odours engage distinct neural networks, particularly in regions responsible for social processing. We found that the posterior medial orbitofrontal …

Topics In Knot, Quandle, And Quiver Theory, Brooke Jones

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the algebraic and combinatorial structures arising from the study of knot theory through the lens of quandles, their colorings, and associated quiver and ring constructions. It is organized around three central themes: the analysis of quandle coloring quivers for torus links, the development of polynomial invariants and quiver invariants for stuck knots and links, and the algebraic and graphical study of quandle rings. The first chapter begins with an introduction to relevant concepts throughout the dissertation.

In the second chapter, we classify quandle coloring quivers of torus links using dihedral quandles. We describe these quivers as weighted …

65 - Evaluating Drone-Based Stem Camps For Enhanced Engagement And Sel Development, David Morgan

Undergraduate Research Symposium

STEM camps are programs designed to promote exposure to learning associated with science, technology, engineering, and math educational outcomes. However, there is a significant gap in participation for Black and Brown individuals in STEM careers. This study seeks to understand how STEM programs during out-of-school time may support students from underrepresented communities and foster future interest in STEM-related careers. This study employs a retrospective qualitative research design investigating program participation in a week-long STEM camp in Hampton, Virginia. Thirty middle and high school students participated in the curriculum, technical drone skills, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and social awareness. These findings …

48 - Improving Worship Experience: A Secure Application For Generating Worship Questions Using Ai, Hind Aldabagh, Rhys Ferris

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Improving worship Experience: A Secure application for generating worship questions using AI

Rhys Ferris

Under the direction of Hind Aldabagh, School of Cybersecurity

Generating discussion questions for family worship time during the week based on sermon notes presents an innovative and helpful tool to assist pastors in developing worship questions. Instead of using ChatGPT, hosting a small AI model with Mistral provides an alternative solution that better suits our project.

Using prompt engineering, a custom prompt was created within the statement of faith to guide the AI in reading the text file of the sermon notes. The front end consists …

47 - Enhancing Patient Experience: A Secure Self-Service Kiosk For Prescription Status In Pharmacies, Raneem Alarian

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Creating secure and dependable pharmacy kiosk systems is essential for improving both patient satisfaction and the overall efficiency of pharmacy operations. Patients often experience frustration due to long wait times at the pharmacy counter, especially when prescriptions are not ready. As a licensed pharmacy technician, I have witnessed this issue firsthand, which led me to develop a software solution developed to improve pharmacy workflow. This project focuses on the design and execution of a client-server application for a self-service pharmacy kiosk, enabling patients to securely check the status of their prescriptions before they reach the counter. Developed using Visual Studio …

Predicting Capture And Survival Probabilities Of The Arizona Tiger Salamander: A Comparison Of Capture-Recapture Models, Brittney Nelson

Scholars Week

Capture-recapture models are essential tools for estimating population dynamics in ecological studies. A fundamental component of these models is the capture history matrix, which records individual detection over time and serves as the basis for estimating survival and capture probabilities. This presentation explores three statistical approaches to these estimations: the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model, the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for CJS, and the Bayesian CJS model. The CJS model provides a likelihood-based framework for estimation, and the HMM CJS incorporates latent states into the model to account for uncertainty in detection. The Bayesian CJS extends this same analysis by integrating prior …

Depth Patterns Of Redear Sunfish Lepomis Microlophus In Kentucky Lake, Justin Graben

Scholars Week

Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus are a highly sought sportfish known for their size potential, but their ecological behavior in large reservoirs remain poorly understood. In this study, we looked at how Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus move vertically in Kentucky Lake. We used acoustic tags with depth sensors to measure the movement of Redear Sunfish both diurnally and seasonally within Kentucky Lake.

During the day, Redear Sunfish occupied significantly deeper waters compared to dawn, dusk, and night (p < 0.0001.). Many fish, including the species in the Lepomis genus, may have a preference for specific light levels for optimal foraging and predation avoidance, even if predation is not the primary concern at larger sizes. This daily pattern was consistent through most seasons, except on average the fish were deeper during the winter season (p < 0.0001).

Understanding the movement patterns of Redear Sunfish is essential for effective species management, especially as their popularity grows and they potentially compete with …

Microcanonical Analysis Of Semiflexible Homopolymers With Variable Bending Potential Width, Michael Gray

Scholars Week

I have developed an algorithm for finding phase transition in microcanonical data of simulations of homopolymers. These simulations model the behavior of homopolymers in an array of different conditions. This algorithm is generalized and can be applied to a variety of different systems. It works by taking repeated derivatives of the microcanonical entropy of the system and applying several filters, whose parameters are tuned algorithmically as well. Identification of phase transitions allows for the construction of a phase diagram.

An Accurate Numerical Method For Impulsively Started Flow Past An Elliptical Cylinder In Nanofluidic Medium, Shumaila Javed

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis presents a numerical study of flow induced by an infinitely long heated circular or elliptical cylinder in a uniform stream 𝑈0 of a viscous, incompressible nanofluid. The study is based on solving the full conservation equations of mass, momentum, and heat. The methodology includes the mathematical formulation of the problem, which suits the initial development of the flow and the large time numerical simulations. For the numerical technique, high-order compact (HOC) scheme is developed for circular and elliptical geometries. The numerical scheme is verified by applying it to the cases of uniform flow past a stationary elliptical cylinder; …

Ai In Academia: Supportive Ally Or Cheating Accomplice?, Ian Offner

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

• The purpose of this study was to investigate student attitudes toward the use of AI for college class work in a variety of domains.
• For some situations, the use of the AI was collaborative. The students would have to utilize their own abilities in conjunction with the AI as a co-intelligence. For some situations, the AI was a dominant agent, requiring little input from the students.

Herbicide Utilization For Regulation Of Botanical Composition Of Grass Swards, A Lackovic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Czechoslovak conditions especially in Slovakia the botan­ical composition of grass swards is for different reasons getting worse and this means the decrease of forage value. As all those swards cannot be improved by complete renovation or by direct strip drilling of productive species into the sward, other possibilities are looked for. One for those is the utilization of herbicides combined with adequate fertilization. Retardation or control of unfavourable species destroy the existing competition which causes the different species succession in the sward. Our aim was to make a positive succession of species in the sward by herbicides utilization and …

Allelopathic Influence Of Certain Pasture Weeds, A E. Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Allelopathy, the direct or indirect effect of one plant on another through the production of chemical compounds that escape into the environment (Rice, 1974) occurs widely in natu­ral plant communities (Gressel and Holm, 1964), and is pos­tulated to be one mechanism by which weeds interfere with crop growth (Gressel and Holm, 1964; Bell and Koeppe, 1962; Muller, 1966). Probably the most significant consequence of allelopathy is the alteration of population densities that affect vegetation patterns in plant communities. The actual and potential roles of allelopathy in agriculture have been exten­sively reviewed (Putman and Duke, 1978; Rice, 1974; Rice, 1979). Generally, …

Economics Of Controlling Weeds Of Permanent Pasture, I Popay, N Barlow

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In general, inedible weeds of permanent pasture reduce pas­ture dry matter available to stock in direct proportion to their cover (Doyle et al., 1984). Translating the effects of weeds on pasture to reductions in animal production is difficult because (i) pasture value can range from zero to the cost of purchased feed (ii) weed effects and pasture value can vary seasonally and interact and (iii) reductions in pasture availability at one time affect later growth (Auld et al., 1987). There have been few direct measurements of effects of pasture weeds on animal pro­ductivity, because of the co.sts involved. However, simulation …

Weed Development In Tropical Sown Pastures, G.E D. Tiley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of artificially sown pastures is relatively recent in the tropics. Grasses and legumes have been evaluated for their value to livestock as well as the more traditional use of resting arable land after cropping. Using the criteria of ease of estab­lishment, production under grazing and botanical stability, a number of species and mixtures were recommended for the humid areas of Uganda (Horrell and Tiley, 1970). Control of weed growth during early establishment and suppression of unsown species subsequently were found to be vital for the success of these tropical ley pastures. The results of monitoring weed development in …

Insect Pests As A Limiting Factor In Green Fodder Production In Lucerne, Their Control And Residual Persistence Of Insecticides, V J. Shivankar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The green fodder production in lucerne suffers serious loss of about 38 % caused by the insect pests like Empoasca sp., Therioaphis maculata Buck, Aphis craccivora Koch and Hypera variabilis Herbst. under the tropical agroclimatic zone of Bundelkhand-India (Shri Ram and Gupta, 1976). Of these H. variabilis is most serious with regular occurrence and world­wide distribution. No work has been reported on the control aspect of these pests in India, except a few on insecticidal evalu­ation (Shri Ram and Gupta, 1975) and the economic injury level of lucerne weevil (Gupta et al., 1982). Need of the studies on the chemical …

Sitona Hispidulus Larvaw As A Stress On Alfalfa Production, A A. Hower, K T. Leath

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sitona weevils are pests of various legumes throughout the world. In the United States, the clover root curculio, S. hispi­dulus (F.) is the major species associated with lucerne (alfalfa) Medicago sativa L. This insect has until recently remained obscure as a pest of this major forage crop. However, a recent trend in premature decline of alfalfa has prompted further investigation of this insect/legume interaction. Godfrey and Yeargan (1987) and Hill et al. (1969) indicated that S. hispi­dulus reduced alfalfa production. While adults S. hispidulus feeding on the foliage is of little consequence, it is the associ­ation of larvae with …