Digital Commons Network^™

Redesigning An Intercultural Communication Course To Build Power Skills For An Ai-Augmented Global Economy, Nitin Deckha

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

This case study reports a full redesign of an undergraduate Intercultural Communication seminar in Toronto, repositioning the course to foreground power skills as durable differentiators in an AI-mediated economy. The redesign shifts an asynchronous distance format into a seminar-based model with weekly applied learning, scaffolded assessments, and a four-week COIL partnership with a Turkish university to create authentic intercultural collaboration under real constraints. Students practice creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, decision-making, verbal and nonverbal communication, cross-cultural competence, and self-reflexivity, while also learning to use AI tools in ways that remain accountable to disciplinary standards. Assignments include debates, peer assessment, …

Learning Trajectories Of Online Batch Selection Methods, Luke Green

Theses and Dissertations

Modern deep neural networks achieve strong performance on large-scale datasets, but often require substantial training time. Online batch selection methods seek to reduce this cost by updating models on informative subsets of each batch rather than on all available examples. Recently introduced methods leverage teacher models and report substantial speedups, particularly in noisy-label settings. However, comparisons are often based on the number of epochs required to reach a target test accuracy, a coarse metric that is sensitive to implementation details and may obscure important differences in learning dynamics. In this thesis, we implement several online batch selection methods in a …

Advancing Data Usability, Activity Modeling, And Stability Optimization In Computational Enzyme Design, Spencer Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

A grand challenge of computational biology is to computationally design, in a single pass, a protein sequence that catalyzes an arbitrary chemical reaction at a high rate under specified conditions [1]. This work details advances in three essential areas on the path to that goal: data quality, activity prediction and modeling, and stability optimization. The structure and implementation of the Allotrope Simple Model (a FAIR data format for many scientific instruments) was examined in [2], setting the stage for training deep learning models on high-quality experimental datasets from diverse sources. In [3], the limits of physics-based and deep learning tools …

Beyond Single Images: A Comprehensive Benchmark For Album-Level Vision-Language Understanding, Shawn Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic album organization has been studied extensively over the past decades due to significant progress in digital photography. Recent Vision-Language Models (VLMs) have shown strong performance on multi-image understanding, making them natural candidates for automating album organization workflows. While VLMs’ abilities in multi-image understanding have been widely studied, their performance on album organization remains underexplored. To bridge this gap, we introduce AlbumBench, the first comprehensive benchmark for automatic album organization. Specifically, we (1) define album organization tasks as photo selection for album-specific user objectives, photo rating according to how well user intents are fulfilled, and album-specific photo grouping given a …

Long-Term Monitoring Of The Optical Performance Of The Primary Mirrors At The Coihueco And Loma Amarilla Sites Of The Pierre Auger Observatory, A. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, M. Ahmed, I. Allekotte, K. Almeida Cheminant, B. Fick, K. Nguyen, D. Nitz, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper presents the results of an optical performance monitoring campaign for the primary mirrors installed in fluorescence telescopes at the Coihueco and Loma Amarilla sites at the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. Since the end of 2003, this effort has developed into a unique long-term dataset that addresses the performance of the primary mirrors. We have focused on the scattering characteristics and specular reflectance of mirror segments, as well as their evolution over several years of operation. Despite being housed in climate-controlled buildings, dust accumulation, impurities, and natural aging — such as oxidation or other chemical or physical degradation …

English For Speakers Of Other Languages Program: Compliance Vs Realities Of Practice, Ana Sofia Rodriguez-Oronoz

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This research study examined the misalignment between policy compliance and instructional practice within English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programs in K–12 public education. Although federal and state mandates require equitable access and services for English language learners (ELLs), compliance with these requirements has not consistently resulted in effective classroom practice. The problem of practice focused on how educators interpreted and enacted ESOL policies and the extent to which these practices aligned with the intent of the Multicultural Education, Training, and Advocacy (META) Consent Decree and related accountability frameworks.

A qualitative research design was used to explore educators’ perceptions …

Using Galex Uv Excess To Search For Metal-Poor Halo Stars, Chase L. Smith, Maxwell Moe, Megan Frank, Raven Cilley, Javier Fregoso, Alexander Gleason, Grace Nelson, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Metal-poor solar-type stars display a significant reduction in metal-line blanketing at short wavelengths, leading to an excess of near-ultraviolet (NUV) flux compared to their metal-rich counterparts. We utilize Galaxy Evolution Explorer Satellite (GALEX) NUV and Gaia DR3 photometry along with ground-based spectroscopy to establish a correlation between NUV excess and [Fe/H]. We construct a sample of 492 solar-type (F5-G9) halo stars with NUV excess and measured metallicities. We perform our own observations with the KOSMOS spectrograph at Apache Point Observatory’s 3.5 m telescope to measure the abundances of 13 halo stars, 11 of which did not have previous metallicity measurements. …

An Evaluation Of The Leader In Me Program’S Influence On Time And Project Management In Secondary Pbl Classrooms, Tiffany L. Brandenburg

Education Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods evaluation examined the implementation of the Leader in Me (LIM) framework and its relationship to secondary students’ time and project management skills within project-based learning (PBL) environments. Conducted across Grades 6–12 in a public charter school district, the study analyzed teacher surveys, student reflections, classroom observations, and Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) data to evaluate perceptions and implementation patterns related to student self-management practices. Findings indicated variability in LIM implementation across classrooms and inconsistencies in how leadership and organizational practices were integrated into daily instruction. Teachers frequently reported challenges related to students’ planning, prioritization, and task management skills, while …

The Other Side Of Peruvian Private Pension System, Paolo Daniel Jara

Journal of New Finance

Between 2020 and 2025, Peru's Congress authorized eight extraordinary withdrawal rounds from the Private Pension System (SPP), liquidating USD 38 billion. This paper argues that the trajectory is the empirical convergence of two analytically distinct failures. The first, from below, reflects the mismatch between the system's behavioral assumptions and a heterogeneous, predominantly informal workforce. The second, from above, reflects short-cycle electoral incentives, institutional asymmetry between Congress and the regulator, and slippery-slope dynamics. The paper proposes a reform combining free disposal of pension funds with individual fiscal responsibility, mediated by a binding waiver of the state-funded solidarity pension.

Ecological Insights From Field And Laboratory Studies Of Akashiwo Sanguinea, Alexis L. Pasulka, Matthew J. Harke, Jaden Hansen, Ryan K. Walter, Eva Kokkino

Physics

Blooms of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea occur in coastal ecosystems worldwide and can have significant ecological consequences. Along the central California coast, long-term oceanographic and harmful algal bloom observations indicate that A. sanguinea has exhibited seasonal blooms since approximately 2017, coinciding with negative upwelling anomalies and warm, stratified conditions characteristic of late summer and early fall. In laboratory experiments, three A. sanguinea strains isolated from different sites and/or environmental conditions along the central California coast exhibited variation in growth rates, temperature sensitivity, and transcriptional responses. Under the conditions tested in this study, one strain exhibiting higher maximum growth rates and …

Digraph And Graph Of Regular Rings With Some Properties, Shahla Moayad Kaleel, Haitham Nashwan Mohammed, Ahmad Mohammed Alghamdi, Ahmed Mohammed Ali, Eman Sultan Almotairi

Baghdad Science Journal

During this century, a new research trend has emerged wherein algebraic concepts are combined with graph theory, such as zero divisors, clean rings, ideals, and regular rings. Continuing this trajectory, the regular ring graph has been studied in two forms: the undirected graph and the directed graph. The vertex set consists of all regular elements in the ring ℜ, denoted by ℜ(ℜ), where the undirected graph is denoted by Γ(ℜ(ℜ)) and the directed graph by Ψ(ℜ(ℜ)). This study focuses on the rings Z_n, where n = q, q², or 2q, and q is a prime number. In …

To What Extent Could Quantum Computing Pose A Threat To Global Modern Data Security?, Aniket Maheshwari

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to fundamentally disrupt modern cryptographic systems that underpin global data security. This paper examines the extent to which quantum computing could pose a threat to modern global data security by synthesising existing technical, institutional, and policy-oriented literature. Drawing on a narrative review of scholarly research, industry reports, and government frameworks, the analysis focuses on the implications of quantum algorithms such as Shor’s and Grover’s, which challenge the mathematical foundations of widely used cryptographic schemes. The findings suggest that while quantum computing presents a credible long-term threat to asymmetric encryption …

The Road To Gerontocracy, Juan David Bohorquez Pacateque, Alonso Morales Sánchez Mejorada, Paul Alexander Villegas Muñoz

Journal of New Finance

The purpose of this article is to develop a reform proposal for current pension systems based on a robust political economy approach. The research is documentary, conducting critical analysis of texts and evidence collection from various pension schemes from a public choice perspective to elaborate a comparative institutional analysis. Pension schemes, being influenced by political processes, are susceptible to adopting institutions that are inefficient, so a politically and economically robust reform is proposed. In conclusion, taking into account that pension systems can be co-opted by the political process, it is not sufficient to propose financially sustainable schemes but also ones …

Coefficient Bounds For A New Subclass Of Meromorphic Multivalent Functions With Higher Derivatives Obtained From Bessel Function, Ali Musaddak Delphi

Baghdad Science Journal

The goal of this paper is to introduce a new subclass of meromorphic multivalent functions with higher derivatives inside a punctured open unit disk U*, by generalizing the Bessel function. The method used to derive the new findings on this topic is stated in section two of this paper. The product theorem between two functions and neighborhood properties was obtained using the recently discovered coefficient bounds for the new subclass. In addition, this paper attempted to address an important research gap in the subject of geometric function theory, which is the computational tools for coefficient bounds through the use …

Quasi-Mixing C0-Semigroups And Their Relations With Recurrent C0-Semigroups, Mansooreh Moosapoor, Otmane Benchiheb

Baghdad Science Journal

This article presents and investigates the concept of the quasi-mixing C₀-semigroups. It is proved that the quasi-mixing of an invertible C₀-semigroup is equivalent to the quasi-mixing of its inverse. The quasi-mixing vectors are defined and they are used to prove a sufficient condition for the quasi-mixing. It is established that the quasi-mixing of a C₀-semigroup is equivalent to the quasi-mixing of any of its discretizations. The quasi-mixing of a C₀-semigroup ( T_t )_{t ≥ 0}, as it is demonstrated by this study, implies the quasi-mixing for each operator T …

Evaluation Of Home Loan Candidates Using Energy And Laplacian Energy In Hesitancy Fuzzy Zagreb Matrices, A. Abinaya, G. Deepa

Baghdad Science Journal

A hesitancy fuzzy graph is a type of generalized fuzzy graphs that reflects reluctance or uncertainty in interactions by assigning a variety of potential membership values rather than a single value to each vertex and edge. It offers an adaptable framework for simulating intricate systems with ambiguous, reluctant, or imperfect input. Topological measurements that capture and characterize a graph's structural features are called Zagreb indices, and they are obtained from vertex degrees. Although Zagreb indices and graph energies have been studied for intuitionistic fuzzy graphs, fuzzy graphs, and classical graphs, no work has been done to apply these ideas to …

Approximation In S-Normed Orlicz Spaces, Zainab Abdulmunim Sharba, Hawraa Abbas Almurieb, Samah Alhashemi

Baghdad Science Journal

Orlicz spaces generalize conventional Lebesgue spaces, providing a more flexible framework for analyzing functions. They are essential to functional analysis and related fields, particularly in approximation theory. This paper defines an Orlicz normed space equipped with an S-norm, where S is an outer function that satisfies certain conditions. Introducing norms via the outer function S is a general method that encompasses many cases of norms in Orlicz spaces. The relationship between S-norm and other norms on Orlicz spaces is established through several equivalences. Moreover, moduli of smoothness are of great interest in approximation theory, as they provide criteria …

Numerical Study Of The Effect Of Embedded Radiation On Fluid Flow And Heat Transfer In A Porous Medium, Shaymaa M. Younus, Iman Al-Obaidi

Baghdad Science Journal

This takes a look at ambitions to investigate the two-dimensional flow pattern of fluids in a conductive medium constrained between two parallel horizontal plates under the influence of embedded radiation. The mathematical model is based entirely on the flow equations, including the continuity, momentum, energy, and diffusion equations. The machine is solved numerically the usage of the specific finite difference approach (ADE) to investigate the conduct of drift, temperature, and mass transfer below radiative outcomes. The study specializes in the impact of key dimensionless parameters, including the Reynolds number, Darcy number, Grashof number, Péclet number, radiation parameter, mixed radiation, and …

Editorial: Plant Responses To Abiotic Stress: Unraveling Complex Mechanisms Through Genomics And Physiology, Mizanur Rahman, Takashi Asaeda, Md Harun Rashid

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Potential For Lunar Interior Science By The Gravitational-Wave Detector Lila, Mark P. Panning, Philippe Lognonné, Teviet Creighton, James Trippe, Volker Quetschke, Josipa Majstorović, Karan Jani

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The laser interferometer lunar antenna (LILA), a concept for measuring sub-Hz gravitational waves on the Moon, would use laser strainmeters to obtain extremely sensitive strain measurements from 1 mHz to 1 Hz. With proposed strain sensitivities, LILA would also be able to measure the normal modes of the Moon from 1–10 mHz at high signal-to-noise ratio. Such measurements would enable significant advances in our understanding of both the spherically symmetric and even 3D deep internal structure of the Moon. Strainmeter measurements may even be able to detect the translational mode of the solid inner core of the Moon at frequencies …

Generation Of Khz-Rate Complex-Structured Liquid Targets For Relativistic Laser–Plasma Interactions, Michael L. Dexter, Stephen J. Hageman, Gregory Ngirmang, Kyle D. Frische, Joseph Snyder, John T. Morrison, Enam A. Chowdury, Anil K. Patnaik

Faculty Publications

With the rise of high repetition rate ultra-intense laser systems, there is a need for solid density targets to study relativistic laser–plasma interactions that can operate at the same repetition rate. Flowing liquid targets are attractive because they are self-replenished, debris free, cost effective and easy to use. Liquid targets have been used for high-repetition rate (up to kHz rate) generation of electrons, protons, x rays, and neutrons by our group and elsewhere. In this Letter, we demonstrate a kHz-rate generation of a variety of dynamically shaped complex-structured targets from the interaction of a 10¹⁶ W/cm² focused laser …

Bayesian Subgroup Learning Of Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics Data, Hou-Cheng Yang, Huimin Li, Guanyu Hu, Qiwei Li

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Recent advancements in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) technologies have enabled the comprehensive molecular and spatial characterization of single cells, providing valuable insights into the cellular organization of tissues. SRT techniques, such as single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based methods (e.g., seqFISH, STARmap) and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based methods (e.g., spatial transcriptomics, 10x Visium), allow for the measurement of gene expression across large populations of cells or tissue spots. These approaches generate high-dimensional data that integrate both molecular profiles and spatial context, which is crucial for understanding tissue structure and function in areas like development, neuroscience, and cancer biology. Identifying spatially variable …

Sequential Triple Treatment Of Recycled Coarse Aggregates: Mechanical, Durability, And Microstructural Performance Of Concrete With Mechanistic Insights, Ashita Singh, Boksun Kim, Harish Panghal, Sandeep Chaudhary

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and high porosity of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) limit their use in structural concrete. A sequential triple-treatment: HCl chemical treatment, mechanical abrasion, and cement slurry coating, was developed to densify the ITZ. Testing 198 specimens across six mix designs (0–100% RCA), TTRCA at 25% and 50% retained 92.1% and 87.3% of compressive strength, 93.6% and 87.7% of flexural strength, and 95.6% and 89.9% of splitting tensile strength versus the NCA control. Resistivity reached 81–91% of control; shrinkageremained 8–18% above control. XRD confirmed reduced Ca(OH)2 content with enhanced C–S–H formation; SEM revealed reduced ITZ porosity. …

Label-Flip Attack Detection Via Trust-Weighted Aggregation In Federated Learning For Underground Mine Security, Md Sazedur Rahman, Sanjay Madria, Samuel Frimpong

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mining operations are increasingly dependent on autonomous vehicles, robotic drilling systems, and intelligent inspection platforms operating in confined, GPS-denied tunnel environments. These systems rely on distributed perception models to interpret navigation cues, hazard warnings, and environmental signals in real time. While centralized deep learning can enhance model performance, transferring raw operational data across mining sites introduces serious confidentiality and security risks. Federated Learning (FL) offers a privacy-preserving alternative by enabling collaborative model training without sharing local datasets. However, deploying FL in underground mining introduces several critical challenges: (i) Training labels may be modified either maliciously by compromised clients or …

Van Der Waals Interactions Through The Lens Of 2d Materials With Emphasis On Many-Body Effects, Thi Xuan Diem Dang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the long-standing challenge of accurately and efficiently modeling long-range electron correlations, with a particular focus on van der Waals (vdW) interactions. These interactions play an essential role in predicting the structure, stability, and functionality of molecular systems and condensed matter materials. Although Density Functional Theory (DFT) has become a robust cornerstone of computational materials science, traditional formulations of the theory frequently fail to capture dispersive interactions, leading to significant errors in determining interlayer distances, binding energies, and stacking configurations. These limitations become particularly pronounced in layered materials and vdW heterostructures (HSTs), where weak long-range correlations are sensitive …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Site Investigation Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated June 1, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Branding, Catalogs, And Institutional Identity: The Libraries Of Edfu And Alexandria In Historical Perspective, Patrick Roughen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This article examines library catalogs as brand artifacts in the context of two ancient libraries: the Library of Alexandria and the library of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic capital and brand theory, this research argues that the catalogs of these two institutions functioned as early branding instruments. The Pinakes, the catalog of the Library of Alexandria, projected a brand of universal knowledge and intellectual prestige, and the inscribed wall catalog at Edfu reflected a brand focused on sacred authority and the sustaining of cosmic order (Ma'at).  Together, they illustrate two opposing …

Developing An Ecosystem Of Stem Success For Built Environment Scholars, Melanie Villatoro, Hamid Norouzi

Publications and Research

The National Science Foundation S-STEM program at NYC College of Technology (City Tech), Developing an Ecosystem of STEM success for Built Environment Scholars (Award Number 2150432), focuses on supporting and developing scholars in the majors relating to the Built Environment which include Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Environmental Control Technology. The S-STEM program aims to reduce financial barriers for low-income students by providing scholarships. SSTEM scholars are provided with faculty mentors and opportunities to engage in cohort building activities that include field trips, research, workforce internships, and networking sessions. The project began …

Pathways To Green Economy Occupations In Engineering And Construction, Melanie Ekka Villatoro, Ivan L. Guzman, Marzi Azarderakhsh

Publications and Research

The Department of Construction Management and Civil Engineering technology (CMCE) at New York City College of Technology is incorporating curricular modifications to prepare our students to enter “focus occupations,” identified by New York City as critical to the sustainable growth of the Green economy. We offer three degrees in construction management, civil engineering technology and construction engineering technology. The Department was recently selected as part of the 2025 ASEE Engineering for One Planet (EOP) mini grant cohort. The EOP grant provided support for curriculum development to incorporate sustainability focused learning outcomes. The project team used the EOP framework to modify …

Where Evidence-Based Medicine Meets Ai: Promise, Pitfalls, And Practice, Sangil Lee, Joshua Davis, Ken Milne, Christina Shenvi, Lars K. Beattie, Martin Wegman, Laura Melville, Richard D. Shih, Bryan Kane

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.