Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting True Attributes Of Retailer Data, Abby Willard

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) retail, understanding the true values of various factors influencing sales performance is paramount for strategic decision-making and effective resource allocation. In ensuring accuracy of data points, the CatBoost model is utilized, a state-of-the-art gradient boosting technique, to predict the true attribution values of datasets sourced from CPG industry retailers.

By leveraging CatBoost’s inherent capabilities to handle categorical data and its robustness against overfitting, the models are optimized to accurately predict the true attribution values for various items. The performance of the CatBoost models is evaluated through rigorous cross-validation techniques and compared …

Concurrent Processing Of Retail Data In Python To Optimize Runtime, Bobby Slavin

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the application of multiprocessing and multithreading techniques in Python to optimize runtime efficiency on the analysis of retail data. As the retail data processed by a program increases, so does the runtime of the program. If you are performing this processing using only a single core, even a gigabyte of data can potentially take upwards to half an hour to finish processing, while larger datasets of 100 GB or more could take days, heavily limiting the amount of retail data that can be processed in a reasonable amount of time. By employing multithreading and multiprocessing architectures in …

The Importance Of Text Representation For Neural Networks Through Natural Language Processing Techniques, William Parsley

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Text representation is a fundamental aspect of natural language processing (NLP) when it comes to the performance of neural networks. Free-form text fields are being utilized in more and more industries. Anything from a description of an item on a web store to tracking service events to military-grade aircraft is being collected in free-form text. The goal of the thesis is to highlight best practices and discuss trends in data to prepare text for a neural network. It will demonstrate various techniques for representing free-form text in the context of neural networks, focusing on data preparation decisions, embedding techniques, and …

Examining The Impact Of Customer Rfp Characteristics On Award Compliance, Laasya Ravipati

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the context of intermodal transportation, understanding the dynamics of award compliance holds significant importance for operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. Award compliance refers to the percentage of awarded freight volume that is realized, indicating the extent to which contractual agreements are fulfilled. This analysis delves into the intricate relationship between customer characteristics and award compliance, aiming to provide valuable insights into the variability and predictability of compliance rates. By analyzing Request for Pricing (RFP) data and primary awarded freight volumes, the study seeks to address the need for more accurate volume estimations, crucial for sales planning, revenue projections, and …

Examining Award Compliance To Inform Resource Allocation, Jacob Haarala

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project focuses on JB Hunt Transport Inc's intermodal business unit (JBI) by focusing on the challenges associated with Published Pricing and Contractual Pricing. The primary issue revolves around the variance between the awarded freight volumes in Requests for Pricing (RFPs) and the actual volumes realized when the freight is shipped. This discrepancy poses challenges for effective sales planning, revenue goals, and optimal freight network management within JBI. Reporting tools, such as PowerBI, are currently used by JBI to provide insights into award compliance on a weekly basis. However, our goal with this project was to provide a deeper understanding …

Side Channel Detection Of Pc Rootkits Using Nonlinear Phase Space, Rebecca Clark

Honors Theses

Cyberattacks are increasing in size and scope yearly, and the most effective and common means of attack is through malicious software executed on target devices of interest. Malware threats vary widely in terms of behavior and impact and, thus, effective methods of detection are constantly being sought from the academic research community to offset both volume and complexity. Rootkits are malware that represent a highly feared threat because they can change operating system integrity and alter otherwise normally functioning software. Although normal methods of detection that are based on signatures of known malware code are the standard line of defense, …

Ethical Imperatives And Challenges: Review Of The Use Of Machine Learning For Predictive Analytics In Higher Education, Emily Barnes, James Hutson, Karriem Perry

Faculty Scholarship

The escalating integration of machine learning (ML) in higher education necessitates a critical examination of its ethical implications. This article conducts a comprehensive review of the application of ML for predictive analytics within higher education institutions (HEIs), emphasizing the technology's potential to enhance student outcomes and operational efficiency. The study identifies significant ethical concerns, such as data privacy, informed consent, transparency, and accountability, that arise from the use of ML. Through a detailed analysis of current practices, this review underscores the need for HEIs to develop robust ethical frameworks and technological infrastructures to navigate these challenges effectively. The findings reveal …

Exploring The Efficacy Of Using An Online Survey To Measure Functional Literacy Among College Students, Emily Jane Dever

Dissertations

This research study was conducted to examine the efficacy of using an online survey to assess the literacy proficiency of college students in an area of the United States with historically low socioeconomic status. Two research questions were written to guide the study:

R1. What is the factor structure of the Online Collegiate Literacy Scale?

R2. What relationship exists between literacy and college students from areas of the United States with a high concentration of poverty?

A literacy measure was created and evaluated in three steps: writing and pretest by subject matter experts; pilot test; and data collection and data …

Students' Assessed Knowledge Of Preparation For The Workplace Based On Professional Development Competencies In Higher Education, Sophia M. Powell

Dissertations (2016-Present)

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of college students regarding their knowledge of professional development competencies by classification and area of academic study. The study sought to answer the following questions: 1) was there a difference in the perception of college students towards professional development competencies (overall career readiness, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, and career & self-development) based on classification? and 2) was there a difference in the perception of college students towards professional development competencies (overall career readiness, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, and career & self-development) based on areas of academic study? This study used …

Chemical Analysis Of Hemp-Infused Supplements Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Julie A. Milbrand

Forensic Science Master's Projects

Hemp and marijuana consumption in the United States can be dated back many centuries as being an essential component of the medicinal, industrial, and recreational markets while maintaining its extremely controversial status amongst the scientific and political communities. While researchers suggest that the plant in which both hemp and marijuana are derived from, Cannabis Satvia, contains more than 600 chemicals, the vast majority of research has been conducted on cannabinoids, which account for about 60 of them. Major phytochemicals from cannabis include its psychoactive agent, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and many others. Employing the use …

Synthesis And Structure Of Curaxin Analogs, Elizabeth E. Brown

Forensic Science Master's Projects

Curaxins are small molecules that have demonstrated anti-cancer activity through the activation of p53 and inhibition of nuclear factor-kB. Curaxins interfere with DNA-histone interactions, impeding DNA repair and inducing chromatin destabilization. This leads to apoptosis through alterations in spatial genome organization and oncogene expression. The results are due to DNA binding activity. A team of researchers, including a Roswell Park Cancer Institute group, discovered these molecules. This project aims to synthesize a diverse library of novel analogs of curaxin through a modified literature protocol to enhance the chemotherapeutic potency while minimizing non-specific cytotoxicity. N-alkylation of diacetyl carbazole followed by saponification …

Simulacra Alligoría Spílaio Socráti A Reconsideration Of The Allegory Of Socrates Cave: Game-Based Theory In Inclusive Higher Education, Barry Karrh

Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the use of Game Based Learning (GBL) and Game Based Pedagogy (GBP) implemented in higher education and considers what effects may be measured on retention and learning.

Using the allegory of Socrates Cave, a story which challenges how learners’ perspectives differ according to each individual’s unique understanding, this study considered how participants reacted in similar scenarios during ‘serious games’ implemented in college level classes to reinforce and review material before testing. This study used a pre- and post-test model to assess the difference games used as an intervention had on short-term retention. The final credential scores of …

Design, Synthesis, And Optimization Of Allosteric Inhibitors Of Hiv-1 Integrase, Krunal H. Patel

Dissertations

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remains a global health crisis, necessitating the development of innovative antiviral strategies. During the integration step, HIV-1 integrase (IN) interacts with viral DNA and the cellular cofactor LEDGF/p75 to effectively integrate the reverse transcript into the host chromatin. Recently, a novel class of antiretroviral agents called Allosteric Inhibitors of HIV-1 Integrase (ALLINI) compounds has emerged as a promising avenue in the fight against HIV-1. While originally designed to inhibit IN-LEDGF/p75 interactions, these compounds have been shown to also impact late-stage viral maturation severely through IN multimerization. Induction of IN multimerization interferes with …

Exploring The Mathematics Identities Of Urban Teacher Residents Using A Trauma-Informed Framework., Samantha Morris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Urban Teacher Residency (UTR) models prepare teachers to specialize in urban education. All teacher candidates, including those in UTR programs, have experiences and emotions that shape their mathematics identities. These identities can impact both the residents’ mathematics instruction and the experiences of their students. This study examines how residents’ mathematics identities developed as they participated in a Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (MET) course. To support this development, trauma-informed care (TIC) practices were embedded within the course. Such practices were designed to help residents process and heal from any potential mathematics trauma as they prepared to be teachers. This dissertation study …

Evaluating Novel Approaches For Improving Anadromous Fish Passage In Coastal Rivers, Aaron Bunch

All Dissertations

Few of the world's rivers remain free-flowing for over 1000 km, significantly impacting anadromous fish populations due to dam-induced habitat fragmentation. Three partial migration barriers (low-head dams) on North Carolina's Cape Fear River (USA)—lock and dam 1 (LD1), lock and dam 2 (LD2), and lock and dam 3 (LD3)—impact American shad Alosa sapidissima, Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, and striped bass Morone saxatilis populations. Mitigation strategies to pass fish upstream have included conservation locking, nature-like fishway construction, and environmental flows (e-flows). This study introduced a novel e-flow (dam submergence flow), tested acoustic double-tagging techniques for tracking American …

Statistical Methodologies For Sequential Online Controlled Experiments, Yangyi Li

All Dissertations

Online controlled experiments, primarily used on digital platforms like websites or apps, involve varying certain variables while keeping others constant to determine their effects on specific outcomes. This method allows researchers to compare results with a control group, gaining reliable insights. These experiments have grown popular among companies for assessing product impacts and guiding decision-making.

This dissertation presents a group Sequential Probability Ratio Testing (group SPRT) algorithm optimized for online experiments to balance sample number and accuracy by minimizing expected costs. It contrasts group SPRT with traditional SPRT under normal distributions, revealing differences in test power, sample size, and cost …

Numerical Simulation Of Laser Induced Elastic Waves In Response To Short And Ultrashort Laser Pulses., Alireza Zarei

All Dissertations

In an era of intensified market competition, the demand for cost-effective, high-quality, high-performance, and reliable products continues to rise. Meeting this demand necessitates the mass production of premium products through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials while ensuring their integrity and safety. In this context, Nondestructive Testing (NDT) techniques emerge as indispensable tools for guaranteeing the integrity, reliability, and safety of products across diverse industries.

Various NDT techniques, including ultrasonic testing, computed tomography, thermography, and acoustic emissions, have long served as cornerstones for inspecting materials and structures. Among these, ultrasonic testing stands out as the most prevalent method, …

An Experimental And Computational Study On The Dynamics Of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines, Stephen Conte

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis conducts preliminary analyses on the estimated performance of a novel Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine at a small-scale through experimental and numerical means. This includes the construction of a wind tunnel in the Complex Fluids Lab at Montclair State University for the simulation and analyses of small-scale prototypes of said VAWT; as well as the utilization of Ansys® 2024 Student Fluent R1 for CFD simulation of scaled single-blade pairs, and potentially full-models of said VAWT.

Patterns In Macrofaunal Abundance And Biodiversity At Sites In The Florida Keys, Cydney Wolff

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Coral reef health in the Florida Keys, USA has been declining in recent years. To gain an understanding of the current state of macrofaunal abundance and biodiversity on these reefs, research was conducted to identify and count the macrofauna colonizing standardized settlement plates at two coral reef sites, one in the middle (Delta Shoal) and one in the lower (Pelican Shoal) Florida Keys. Plates were deployed for a one-month period in June 2023. At each site, the plates were placed at two heights: ocean bottom and 2 m above ocean bottom (two plates per height per site for a total …

Postcolonial Analysis Of Equity In The Ghanaian Education System, Enock Yeboah

Kutztown University Masters Theses

The paper contains information on the Ghana education system. As a product of the system, I will explain the Ghanaian education system's structure in the first part of the paper. In this part of the paper, I explain the Ghanaian education system from early childhood to the tertiary level, the assessment practices used in Ghana, and diversity and inclusion in the education sector of Ghana. I will give a brief overview of all the educational levels in Ghana and the age brackets of all levels. Early childhood education in Ghana starts at birth to age 4, and kindergarten starts at …

Physical Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Abraham Victor Steiner

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the perceptions of physical education teachers regarding the implementation of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CR-S) Education Framework principles within their pedagogy when working with Black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) students. The research sought to understand the challenges and strategies the participants used to implement the CR-S Education Framework.

The research was conducted using a case study approach, focusing on the perceptions of six physical education teachers in an urban school district in Upstate New York. Data were gathered through questionnaires, …

Superintendent Turnover, Student Achievement, And Transformational Leadership In Urban K-12 Schools In New York State: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Emily Wood

Education Doctoral

The persistent achievement disparities across income levels and between White students and students of Black and Hispanic heritage have been a problem faced by the United States education system for decades (Dorn et al., 2020). Transformative superintendent leadership effectively closes the achievement gaps in education (Leithwood, 2010). However, in New York State the average length of superintendency is 3 years and the superintendent's consistent turnover negatively affects school districts (Alsbury, 2008; DuFour & Marzano, 2011; Whitt, et al., 2015). Districts do not see district-wide improvement in teaching and learning without the substantial, consistent engagement of the district central office (Seashore …

Choreographing The Rhythms Of Observation: Dynamics For Ranged Observer Bipartite-Unipartite Spatiotemporal (Robust) Networks, Edward A. Holmberg Iv

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Existing network analysis methods struggle to optimize observer placements in dynamic environments with limited visibility. This dissertation introduces the novel ROBUST (Ranged Observer Bipartite-Unipartite SpatioTemporal) framework, offering a significant advancement in modeling, analyzing, and optimizing observer networks within complex spatiotemporal domains. ROBUST leverages a unique bipartite-unipartite approach, distinguishing between observer and observable entities while incorporating spatial constraints and temporal dynamics.

This research extends spatiotemporal network theory by introducing novel graph-based measures, including myopic degree, spatial closeness centrality, and edge length proportion. These measures, coupled with advanced clustering techniques like Proximal Recurrence, provide insights into network structure, resilience, and the effectiveness …

Modeling Prices In Limit Order Book Using Univariate Hawkes Point Process, Wenqing Jiang

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a time-changed geometric Brownian price model with the univariate Hawkes processes to trace the price changes in a limit order book. Limit order books are the core mechanism for trading in modern financial markets, continuously collecting outstanding buy and sell orders from market participants. The arrival of orders causes fluctuations in prices over time. A Hawkes process is a type of point process that exhibits self-exciting behavior, where the occurrence of one event increases the probability of other events happening in the near future. This makes Hawkes processes well-suited for capturing the clustered arrival patterns of orders …

Modification, Transport, And Sources Of Hydrocarbon Oxidation Products From Groundwater At Crude Oil And Diesel Spill Sites In Minnesota: Unveiling Common “Theems” Via Spectroscopy & Chromatography, Eduardo E. Turcios Valle

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, petroleum-contaminated groundwater from three spill-affected Minnesota sites—two contaminated with crude oil; one with diesel—is investigated to elucidate whether differences in degradation products from different parent oils exist. After spill events, parent molecules from the leaked oil seep underground and undergo microbial degradation over time, transforming into hydrocarbon oxidation products (HOPs), water-soluble contaminants that infiltrate groundwater aquifers, flowing into nearby environments and towns while exhibiting environmental persistence, toxicity to aquatic biota, and potential risks to humans that become exposed. Spectroscopic and chromatographic study of the structural themes and spatial distributions of HOPs reveals preferential degradation of aliphatic (biolabile) …

Spin Disorder Control Of Topological Spin Texture, Hongrui Zhang, Yu-Tsun Shao, Xiang Chen, Binhua Zhang, Tianye Wang, Fanhao Meng, Kun Xu, Peter Meisenheimer, Xianzhe Chen, Xiaoxi Huang, Piush Behera, Sajid Husain, Tiancong Zhu, Hao Pan, Yanli Jia, Nick Settineri, Nathan Giles-Donovan, Zehao He, Andreas Scholl, Alpha N'Diaye, Padraic Shafer, Archana Raja, Changsong Xu, Lane W. Martin, Michael F. Crommie, Jie Yao, Ziqiang Qiu, Arun Majumdar, Laurent Bellaiche, David A. Muller, Robert J. Birgeneau, Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Stabilization of topological spin textures in layered magnets has the potential to drive the development of advanced low-dimensional spintronics devices. However, achieving reliable and flexible manipulation of the topological spin textures beyond skyrmion in a two-dimensional magnet system remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the introduction of magnetic iron atoms between the van der Waals gap of a layered magnet, Fe₃GaTe₂, to modify local anisotropic magnetic interactions. Consequently, we present direct observations of the order-disorder skyrmion lattices transition. In addition, non-trivial topological solitons, such as skyrmioniums and skyrmion bags, are realized at room temperature. Our work highlights …

Class Of 2024 Commencement Program, State University Of New York College At Cortland

Commencement Programs

May Commencement, Undergraduate Ceremony

Dnp Final Report: Resilience Training For Entry-Level Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Students: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Ashley N. Goar

DNP Final Reports

Nursing students have moderate to high levels of stress due to responsibilities, high expectations, course grades, and clinical requirements. The practice problem identified for this evidence-based practice project was that undergraduate nursing students had elevated levels of stress but did not know how to manage it. Multiple interventions have been used to address the problem, including positive thinking, mindfulness, resilience training, and distraction-focused therapies. The PICOT question “Will resilience training (I) for entry-level BSN students (P) affect stress (O) in less than three months (T)?” was developed to guide the systematic search for evidence. Based on the evidence, one hour …

The Post-Pandemic Job Market For Academic Librarians In The Southeast United States, Louise Lowe, J.B. Hill, Jenna Eastwood Hill, Claresta Icasia

Faculty Scholarship

This study examines the state of the post-pandemic academic library job market in the Southeastern region of the United States. This analysis of academic librarian job advertisements collected from 2022 and 2023 reveals that while some new jobs have emerged there is a continued demand for traditional roles, prior work experience and the ALA-accredited master’s degree. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are prominent in job advertisements despite some regional political opposition. Remote work options are limited, signaling a nuanced approach to work modality post-pandemic.

Sports Science: An Entrepreneurial Venture, Nicole J. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

In sports science, ensuring maximum athlete safety and optimizing data utilization are pivotal yet leave room for further work. My project, Unbeaten SafeWare, addresses these critical issues by focusing on two primary concerns: preventing heat-related and cardiac illnesses, which are significant causes of athlete fatalities, and enhancing the transparency and utility of sports data. This initiative involves developing a shirt integrated with sensors to monitor vital signs and an athlete management system to handle data input, storage, analysis, and accessibility for athletes.

The project has advanced through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, which includes biomedical engineering undergraduates, two faculty …