Digital Commons Network^™

The Difficulty With Setting A Standard Based On Difficulty: The Role Of Validity In Determining Assessment Standards., Steven Burr, Daniel Zahra, Iain M Robinson

Peninsula Medical School

When setting standards for high-stakes assessments, it is necessary to be clear whether the primary criterion should be importance or difficulty. While standard setting practices frequently rely on the difficulty to determine passing or failing thresholds, this can undermine the intended inferences and uses of assessments. Standard setting based on difficulty conflates importance with subjective perceptions of difficulty, misguiding decisions about what candidates need to demonstrate for safe and effective practice. We explore several reasons why difficulty does not align with the aims of assessment and how prioritising importance can better reflect the intended uses and inferences of a test. …

Awe Only At What You See, Thomas Marinelli

Philosophy Student Scholarship

The sublime, as developed by Immanuel Kant in Critique of Judgment and later framed and deconstructed by Jacques Derrida in The Truth in Painting, is much like admiring a view—standing before the ocean, seeing nothing but an endless expanse of water stretching beyond the horizon. Yet this vastness is only visible through the lens of our own perception. Imagine being placed in the middle of that ocean, surrounded by nothing: a sensation of weight, anxiety, perhaps even freedom and clarity, might emerge—a powerful emotion never before felt. That situation itself is not the sublime; rather, it is the feeling, the …

Gnsi Decision Brief: The Three-Body Trap: The New Geometry Of Nuclear Deterrence, Seong-Hyon Lee

GNSI Decision Briefs

In the astrophysics of orbital mechanics, the “Two-Body Problem” – predicting the gravitational interaction between two objects, such as the Earth and the Moon – is mathematically solvable. The system is stable, the orbits are predictable, and the variables are calculable. However, if a third independent object of sufficient mass is introduced, the system becomes non-linear and highly unpredictable. As proven by mathematician Henri Poincaré in 1887, no single formula can solve for long-term stability in a three-body system. For eight decades, since the dawn of the nuclear age, global security operated on “Two-Body” physics. The United States and the …

Analyzing Methods To Support Students Left Behind In Colorado Primary/Secondary Schools, Grace Hudson

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

In the United States, there has been an increase of deportations, since 2024, of undocumented immigrants. This has disproportionally affected Mexicans and others from Latin American countries (Dreby 2012) due to them being the largest group of undocumented people in the United States. One effect of these deportations is an increase in children that are left in the United States while their parent(s) are in detention or have been deported. Some of these children are in mixed-status families, which means that the child has a different citizenship status than their parents or other members in their family, which allows for …

Addressing The Problems Of Data Variations, Quality, And Scarcity In Training Deep Neural Networks, Jian Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The performance of deep neural networks (DNNs) is strongly influenced by the characteristics and quality of the underlying datasets. This Ph.D. dissertation addresses three pervasive data challenges-imbalance, quality degradation, and scarcity-that commonly hinder the effectiveness of DNNs in computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP) applications.

Class imbalance remains one of the most frequent causes of degraded model generalization. While Focal Loss effectively mitigates inter-class imbalance by assigning higher weights to minority classes, it struggles with intra-class imbalance, particularly in video datasets where longer clips dominate feature representation. To address this, I implement and utilize …

Critical Roles And Critical Rolls: A Frame-Analytical Perspective Of Self-Making, Safe Spaces, And Worldbuilding In Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Cal Quayle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many gamers prefer to play tabletop roleplaying games, or TTRPGs, in order to a) join a community, and b) tell a story collaboratively with friends and acquaintances. This thesis discusses selfhood-making, safe spaces, and allegory in imaginary worlds from the perspective of Erving Goff man’s frame analysis. It relies on a theoretical framework of imagined communities, the magic circle, and subcreation. This research culminated in the understanding that people play TTRPGs for a variety of reasons - collaborative storytelling and exercising critical thinking skills, but respondents overwhelmingly reported that they enjoyed the ability to socialize with friends and strangers, and …

Bridging Professional Development Gaps In Pacrao Through Gamification, Chad Everett Saunders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which a gamified professional development platform can foster skill development, knowledge application, and engagement among members of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO). Grounded in the principles of humanism (Rogers, 1969) and andragogy (Knowles, 1990), and operationalized through gamification (Kapp, 2012), this study evaluated whether game-based mechanics aligned with adult learners’ professional development needs within a geographically dispersed regional association. To address these constraints, a prototype gamified platform, PACRAO University, was developed to provide a flexible, self-paced, and contextually relevant learning environment. Using a quantitative, within-subjects repeated measures design, …

Social Control And Neglect At A Crossroads: Unpacking The Interactive Effects Of Residential Segregation And Violence On Pretrial Detention, Paige Vaughn, Joshua H. Williams

Faculty Publications

Racial segregation and violent crime are both important predictors of jurisdiction-level criminal justice outcomes, yet little research has examined their influences on front-end detention patterns and how they may interact to shape local punishment practices. The current study uses official sources and Vera Institute of Justice data spanning 1496 decennial county-years (374 counties from 1980 to 2010) to examine the independent and combined effects of county-level racial segregation and violent crime on pretrial detention rates. Drawing on group threat and minority neglect arguments, we find that high segregation levels are associated with neglect, especially in violent areas. Reduced segregation between …

Subsistence And Settlement In Northwest Florida During The Late Archaic-Early Woodland Transition (3500 Bc Through Ad 300), Kerri A. Klein

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research presents quantitative and qualitative data on subsistence and cultural transitions in a warm-temperate area of northwest Florida during the Late Archaic-Early Woodland transition (from about 3500 – AD 300). By completing an inventory of the faunal assemblages from two shell middens, I was able to evaluate resource selection and use both within and between sites. Results suggest that site inhabitants utilized consistent resources, despite any documented or potential climatic and ecological change which occurred. Radiocarbon dating establishes the timelines for both Sam’s Creek Cutoff (8FR754), a single-component Late Archaic campsite, and Depot Creek (8GU56), which has a Late …

Adaptations Of Collaborative/Therapeutic Assessment With Survivors Of Torture: Clinical Insights From Shareback Conversations, Samantha Correa

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Survivors of Torture (SoT) experience disproportionately high rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety (Steel et al., 2009). Many SoT treatment programs use brief assessments to monitor symptoms (McFarlane & Kaplan, 2012). However, research on integrating feedback into treatment had been limited until Colpas et al.'s 2024 study on Sharebacks, a novel approach where clients review their progress with their clinician in structured feedback sessions. Given the therapeutic potential of assessment feedback (Tarocchi et al., 2013; Smith & George, 2012; Poston & Hanson, 2010) and Colpas et al.'s findings on Sharebacks' importance, this study explores how practitioners can most effectively incorporate …

Secureai: Toward Experiential Security And Privacy Training For Ai Practitioners, Mujtaba Nazari, Eric Chan-Tin, Loretta Stalans, Mohammed Abuhamad

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across industries has outpaced security and privacy training for AI practitioners. This paper presents methods, modules, and findings from an experiential training program designed to address security and privacy challenges in AI systems development and deployment. We conducted two program iterations: a comprehensive 12-workshop series (May-October 2024) and a condensed 6-workshop format (January-February 2025). The program combined expert-led panel sessions with hands-on laboratory activities, engaging 78 participants from diverse professional backgrounds. Evaluation through pre- and post-evaluation surveys and qualitative observations revealed improvements in cybersecurity knowledge and AI security awareness. Participants demonstrated enhanced ability to …

Analogy2kg: An Automatic Pipeline For Deriving Knowledge Graphs From Long-Text Analogies, Kara Combs, Lance E. Champagne, Bruce A. Cox, Christine M. Schubert Kabban, Trevor Bihl, Grace Lemming

Faculty Publications

Analogical reasoning is an increasingly popular, lightweight solution to enable large language model (LLM)-level reasoning without computational complexity. Still, it has yet to be adopted due to its reliance on strictly hand-formatted data. Therefore, we propose Analogy2KG (“Analogy to Knowledge Graph”), as an automatic pipeline that transforms text into a KG format via a fine-tuned version of information extraction (IE) algorithms for long-text analogies. The need to verify that the complex underlying analogical structure of the data is maintained was done via paired samples tests in the creation and validation of this pipeline. Graph density was used to evaluate the …

Optimization Of Contact Time, Adsorbent Dosage, And Initial Ph For Methylene Blue Removal In Aqueous Solution Using Citrus Aurantium Peels, John Rich M. Adorna, Maria Carmela M. Lajara, Aldrin James F. Tolentino, Hiromi O. Yazaki

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

The growing contamination caused by the dye and textile industries has generated serious environmental issues due to the release of chemically synthesized dyes such as methylene blue (MB), which are toxic and resistant to biodegradation. This study examines the impact of contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial pH on the removal efficiency of MB using Citrus aurantium peels as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent. The Box-Behnken design methodology was employed to identify optimal conditions for maximum removal. The research consisted of 15 experiments to determine the adsorption capacity under various conditions. Results showed that the removal efficiency was highest …

Into The Spectrum: Investigating The Range Of Color Vision In The Foraging Behavior Of Diacamma Rugosum (Asian Bullet Ants), Manjho Aron R. Broniola, Ethan Jay O. Dayandante, Patricia Erin D. Sotto, Lawrence P. Belo

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress Conference Proceedings

Ants showcase that size does not always matter. Through their small stature, they continue surviving in the land they live in, continuously being resourceful for their colony. Each ant serves their purpose of building, hunting, and growing their colony. They used their heightened senses to communicate danger, routes, and food sources from which they could contribute to the colony. Typically done via pheromones, also known as their “scent.” Previous studies have raised the preference of other ant species to be colors of short wavelengths. Now, this study deals with the ethology of ants, specifically regarding their foraging behavior, raising the …

Congress's Mistaken Ip Power And Our Hybrid Constitutionalism, Barry P. Mcdonald

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Tale Of Two Landlords, Christopher J. Ryan Jr.

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Domestic Guestworkers: A Call To End The H-2b Program And Empower American Workers, Preston Huennekens

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Federal Prosecution In The Shadows Of Constitutional Immunity, J. Richard Broughton

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Somebody's Watching Me: Modern Abusers Use Modern Methods Of Control, Savannah Molyneaux

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Happy Belated Iep: How A Notice Of Procedural Safeguards Fails Children With Specific Learning Disabilities, Chrystal Clodomir

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Pericardial Effusion Case Study, Carly Pt Needham Mrs.

Undergraduate Project Award

This project is a Case Study, which will be submitted to the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JDMS) by the end of this quarter. During clinical hours in the Fall Quarter of 2024, this project required my choosing of a patient and their pathology to be the case that I would study and research. Once the patient and pathology was chosen, I was required to create a powerpoint and present it to my peers. This assignment was then detailed and researched further in depth during the Winter Quarter of 2024, in which I then re-presented to the class. From this …

Leiomyoma- A Case Report, Alyssa B. Ortiz

Undergraduate Project Award

General Ultrasound Case Report

Optimizing Clutch Performance In Euroleague Basketball: A Data-Driven Analysis Of Late-Game Decision-Making, Panagiotis F. Foteinakis, Stefania P. Pavlidou, Athanasios Chatzinikolaou, Nikolaos Stavropoulos, Maria Michalopoulou

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Decision-making during late-game possessions in basketball is considered one of the most essential aspects of winning a game. This study examined key determinants of late-game shot-making success in closely contested EuroLeague basketball matches, aiming to optimize offensive decision-making in clutch situations. Material and Methods: An observational analysis from the last two minutes of 83 EuroLeague games recorded 471 clutch shot attempts. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses assessed the impact of offense time, shot range, defensive pressure, game status, and offensive tactical strategies on shot success. Results: The results showed that paint clutch shots (63.9% success) were significantly more effective …

Campus Coverage: How Biden's Title Ix Regulations Threaten Free Speech, Academic Freedom, And University Liability, Alex Drury

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Co-Working With Machines: How Service Robots Shape Frontline Employee Experiences And Well-Being, Cynthia Mejia, Hannah A. Crandell, Emily Broker, Mindy Shoss

Rosen Research Review

The research by Mejia, Crandell, Broker, and Shoss reveals the complex realities faced by restaurant workers navigating the rise of service robots. Through in-depth interviews with 42 frontline employees, the study uncovers how robot adoption affects collaboration, productivity, emotional well-being, and perceptions of job security. While robots reduce physical strain and offer entertainment value, they also spark frustration, resentment, and fears of displacement. This research offers hospitality leaders a human-centered roadmap for integrating service robots in ways that support—not replace—the workforce.

When Customers Collide Online: The Hidden Power Of Approval In Digital Service Failures, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang, Bobbie Rathjens, Sean Mcginley

Rosen Research Review

The research by Wei, Zhang, Rathjens, and McGinley reveals a surprising twist in how restaurant customers respond to online interactions after a service failure. When fellow customers chime in—either with support or mockery—their comments can dramatically shape how the original complainant feels, engages, and judges fairness. But the real game-changer? Whether the customer craves approval. Those with low need for approval react strongly to the tone of others’ comments, while high-approval seekers remain emotionally steady. This study uncovers the psychological undercurrents of electronic customerto- customer interaction (eCCI), offering fresh insights into empathy, justice, and digital engagement in hospitality.

Putting Humanity First In Service Robotics: For Me, Robotics Is About Giving Hospitality Teams The Breathing Room To Care More Deeply For People., Manuel Rivera, Cynthia Mejia

Rosen Research Review

In an engaging conversation with Juan Higueros, Co-Founder and COO of Bear Robotics, we explore his vision for human-centered robotics and how technology can empower hospitality teams to deliver deeper, more meaningful guest experiences.

Boarding By Biometrics: How Smart Technology Is Reshaping Passenger Experience, Xiaoting Chi, Frank Badu-Baiden, Seongseop (Sam) Kim, Junwei Cao, Elena-Nicoleta Untaru, Heekyoung Jung, Heesup Han

Rosen Research Review

The research by Chi, Badu-Baiden, Kim, Cao, Untaru, Jung, and Han explores how biometric boarding transforms airline travel. Using technology acceptance, agenda setting, and behavioral reasoning theories, the study reveals how ease of use, usefulness, media exposure, and attitudes shape adoption. Findings stress convenience, engagement, and targeted communication, with age and gender influencing responses. For airport managers and designers, the research offers practical strategies for secure, efficient, and passenger-centered boarding systems.

Successful Treatment Of Juvenile Sterile Granulomatous Dermatitis And Lymphadenitis In A Pomeranian Aged 5 Months Using Topical Hydrocortisone Aceponate And Systemic Antibiotic, Nutjira Sawatmongkol, Sirada Tayayouth, Suttiwee Chermprapai

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A 5-month-old intact male Pomeranian puppy was presented with a 2-week history of acutely swollen face, eyelids, lips, and muzzle. A physical examination revealed focal alopecia, folliculitis, and erythema on the muzzle, periocular, and perianal areas; crusts were also found around the muzzle. The puppy received monthly oral afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime. No ectoparasite was observed based on a trichogram test. Skin cytology revealed intracellular cocci and neutrophils. A skin biopsy taken from the muzzle revealed pyogranulomatous perifollicular dermatitis with epidermal spongiosis, intraepidermal pustules, and a superficial crust. This condition was diagnosed as juvenile cellulitis on the basis of age, …

Educating For Responsible Ai Governance - Building Interdisciplinary Frameworks For The Management Of Artificial Intelligence, Grace Eboh

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prevalent across industries, there is a critical need for educational programs that teach effective AI governance and management. This article examines how educational institutions can develop comprehensive curricula to prepare professionals for the complex challenges of overseeing AI systems responsibly. It analyzes current gaps in AI governance education, proposes frameworks for curriculum design, and identifies key competencies required for effective AI stewardship. The findings suggest that successful AI governance education must adopt an interdisciplinary approach that integrates technical literacy, policy understanding, ethical reasoning, and organizational management.