Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Into Network Analyses Of Motor Behavior, Brain-Computer Interface Control, Arousal States, And An Ischemic Lesion Model, Shashank Anand

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Network-level modelling of neural function incorporates activity in specific brain regions along with a measure of the interactions between these regions (“connectivity”). Connectivity can be assessed through several means, for example through tractography (structural connectivity) or correlated temporal evolution of neural activity (functional connectivity). These analyses have provided valuable insight into several aspects of brain function, such as top-down control, memory, and navigation. This work focuses on studying neural activity within and between several brain regions across different brain states: namely, during motor actions, sensory perception, brain-computer interface engagement, task-free fluctuations in arousal state, and ischemic injury. High gamma (70-170 …

Understanding And Defending Large-Scale Networked Systems: From Wi-Fi Localization To Provenance- Based Intrusion Detection, Xiao Han

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern networked systems increasingly depend on wireless sensing and large-scale telemetry to provide critical services and maintain security. However, many of these systems function as black boxes or encounter significant scalability limitations, which leave them vulnerable to sophisticated adversaries. In this dissertation, I present my research on enhancing the security and efficiency of networked systems through measurement-driven vulnerability analysis and the design of scalable defense mechanisms.

First, I present my research on the security and privacy risks of Wi-Fi–based localization services. Although location spoofing attacks against Wi-Fi positioning systems have been studied for over a decade, constructing practical attacks in …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2022 Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Sampling: Bres No. 16 Site Evaluation Summary Report, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Prospects Of Car T-Cell Therapies In Changing The Therapeutic Algorithm Of Neurologic Autoimmunities, Marinos C. Dalakas

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

T cells, genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T), successfully used in hemato-oncologic malignancies, are showing promising and sustained benefits in refractory autoimmune neurological diseases, including Myasthenia Gravis, stiff-person syndrome, neuromyelitis optica, myositis, autoimmune neuropathies, and multiple sclerosis. Several reported patients with a steadily progressive disease and evolving disability unresponsive to available therapies, including rituximab and new biologics, after 2-3 months of treatment with CARs targeting CD19-positive, antibody-secreting, long-lived plasma cells, and plasmablasts exhibit impressive, long-lasting, and drug-free clinical improvements with the potential for immune reset shifting immunity to a healthy state without the need for continuing more …

Toward A Didactical Phenomenology For The Completeness Axiom, Sean Larsen, Tenchita Alzaga Elizondo, Kristen Vroom, Stephen Strand Ii

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The study is part of an instructional design project focused on introductory real analysis. The goal of the project is to develop a theoretically grounded and empirically supported instructional approach that builds on students’ experiences in the calculus sequence to engage them in the reinvention of the rigorous foundations of the calculus. An essential aspect of this foundation is the completeness of the real numbers. Drawing on the didactical phenomenology heuristic from the theory of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME), we conducted an iterative instructional design study focused on the completeness axiom. The work proceeded in two phases. First, we conducted …

20260316: College Of Education, 1923-1990, College Of Education And Professional Development

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University from 1923-1990. Items were received in the 1990s and were processed in 2026 and include notable information from the College of Ed. Items include a Curriculum Analysis Report for various departments on campus; correspondence from various deans and faculty on campus; the Autism Center in 1984; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education reports from the 1970s; and information on The Schools of Fayette County, WV. Please download the finding aid for more information.

Lifestyle Intervention Therapy Modulates Global Dna Methylation And Adipogenic Gene Expression In Severely Obese Hypogonadal Men, Siresha Bathina, Virginia Fuenmayor Lopez, Mia Prado, Salina Biene Teo, Dennis T Villareal, Rui Chen, Clifford Qualls, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that lifestyle intervention (LSI) therapies involving diet and exercise can modulate DNA methylation; however, whether this occurs in severely obese hypogonadal men undergoing weight loss from diet and exercise remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of weight loss from diet and exercise on global DNA methylation as well as on the mRNA expression of specific demethylation enzymes, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B—in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and DNA methylation markers in DNA of severely obese hypogonadal men. This is a secondary analysis of samples of severely obese (body …

Picaso 4.0: Clouds And Photochemistry In Climate Models Of Brown Dwarfs And Exoplanets, James Mang, Natasha E. Batalha, Caroline V. Morley, Nicholas F. Wogan, Sagnick Mukherjee, Channon Visscher, Mark S. Marley, Jonathan J. Fortney, Katy L. Chubb, Peter Gao, Isaac Malsky

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

We present a major update to the open-source atmospheric modeling package PICASO, designed for simulating the thermal structure and spectra of hydrogen-rich atmospheres of brown dwarfs and exoplanets. This release, PICASO 4.0, expands upon the existing radiative-convective equilibrium model framework by incorporating several new capabilities. Key additions include the integration of Virga for self-consistent cloud modeling, new flexible treatments for rainout and cold trapping of volatile species, and support for photochemistry. We also introduce a parameterized energy injection scheme to simulate additional external or internal heating processes. These features are motivated by lessons from recent JWST observations that reveal the …

Seeds Of Change - Building Community And Resilience With Plant Guilds, Roslynn Mccann, Liliane Dionne, Kevin White

All Current Publications

The goals of this Grade 6 living systems/biodiversity curriculum are to highlight Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) contributions to science, technology, and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on relational worldviews, permaculture practices, and respect for Mother Earth. Students will conduct plant experiments, learn Indigenous stories, make corn husk dolls, create a recipe, and enjoy eating their soup creation.

Effect Of Al Content On Microstructure, Microhardness And Corrosion Resistance Of Spark Plasma Sintered Ticunisi-Al High Entropy Alloy, Basiru Philip Aramide, Tamba Jamiru, Taoreed Adesola Adegbola, Thomas Ayorinde, Fatai Olufemi Aramide, Abimbola Patricia Idowu Popoola

Engineering and Technology Journal

Aluminum-based high-entropy alloys have been of interest owing to their potential for improved mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. In this research, TiCuNiSi_xAl high-entropy alloys (x = 0.5–1.7 at.%) were synthesized using spark plasma sintering at a temperature of 600 °C and a pressure of 40 MPa to examine the effects of incremental aluminum addition on the densification behavior, microstructure, microhardness, and corrosion resistance in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution. With the increase in Al content, there was an acceleration of the transition from porous, weakly bonded microstructures to more compact multiphase microstructures, resulting in an improvement …

Extraction And Application Of Biopolymer (Chitosan) From The Waste Of Iraqi Agricultural Crop (Mushroom), Ruaa A. Salman, Wisam K. Hamdan, Hussain A. Jaber

Engineering and Technology Journal

The current work extracted the chitosan from the waste of mushroom crops for the first time in Iraq. The chemical process was adopted for demineralization with 2M HCl, deproteinization with 2M NaOH, and decolorization. Also, the refluxing process with 60% NaOH for chitin was applied. The XRD result shows two peaks around 2θ =10° and 20°, indicating the ordered crystalline structure of chitosan. The FT-IR spectrum showed specific bands of chitosan at 3327.97, 2918.71, and 1645.95 cm^-1. Also, the FE-SEM results show a smooth, dense, and non-porous surface. The viability results on white blood cells (WBCs) show the …

Effect Of Forming Angle On Hardness And Thinning Ratio Of Similar And Dissimilar Butt-Welded Joints In Spif, Abbas A. Hussein, Ali H. Al-Helli, Ayad M. Takhakh

Engineering and Technology Journal

The welding of different Aluminum sheets are useful in applications like fan blades, chemical equipment, and naval structures where different regions of a part have different requirements. One of the most famous ways to weld aluminum sheets was friction stir welding method which is difficult to control due to its many variables; so, the novelty of this work is to weld the aluminum sheets by laser technique which distinguishes by speed and ease of implementation and then forming the welded sheets by single point incremental forming Which has not been addressed by any study so far. The aim of …

Experimental And Statistical Optimization Of Engineered Cementitious Composites For Underwater Concrete, Zainab M. Al-Selmi, Basil S. Al-Shathr

Engineering and Technology Journal

The performance of concrete placed in underwater environments is often compromised by washout, reduced workability, and inadequate mechanical properties, while the application of engineered cementitious composites under underwater casting conditions has not yet been systematically investigated. This study addresses this research gap through an experimental and statistical evaluation of engineered cementitious composites for underwater concrete, focusing on the combined effects of anti-washout admixture and polyvinyl alcohol fibers. Six mixtures were tested under submerged conditions with anti-washout admixture dosages ranging from 0.7% to 1.1% and fiber contents between 1.5% and 1.75%. The experimental program evaluated fresh-state properties, including slump flow and …

Exploring The Interplay Of Plastic Hinge Behavior And Soil-Structure Interaction In Frame Structures: Analytical Study, Mouhammed J. Lafta, Mohammed J. Hamood, Qais A. Hasan, Mohammed Y. Fattah

Engineering and Technology Journal

This paper presents a critical synthesis of research on the combined influence of plastic hinge behavior and soil–structure interaction (SSI) on the seismic response of frame structures. Unlike prior reviews that treat these topics separately, the study integrates experimental and numerical evidence to identify how SSI alters hinge formation, drift demand, and energy dissipation, and how hinge modeling assumptions affect soil–foundation response. The reviewed literature (2010–2022) shows a clear growth in publications over time and a dominant reliance on analytical and numerical investigations relative to purely experimental work. A quantitative categorization of the surveyed studies indicates that modeling-focused approaches represent …

Fulfilling Higher Education’S Responsibility To Students And Democracy In A Challenging Political Environment, Abraham Goldberg, Dena Pastor, Kayla Dixon

International Journal on Responsibility

The American Association of Colleges and Universities and more than 70 higher education organizations have expressed their shared commitment to making civic inquiry and democratic engagement central to undergraduate education. A framework emphasizing the development of skills to address public issues through courses and practical experiences accompanied their prominent call. Yet, campuses currently are facing increases in educational gag orders and institutional policies aimed at limiting discussion of DEI topics and political protests. Although attacks on free speech would seem to conflict with efforts to prepare students for democracy, there has been little scholarly attention on what students know about …

Nashville Versus Hollywood: Bridgeport Music's Existential Threat To Live Music Albums, W. Kirk Wolff

Florida Entertainment and Sports Law Review

The Sixth Circuit’s decision in Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Dimension Films, which eliminated the de minimis exception for sound recording copyrights, has transformed copyright law into a potential weapon for suppressing artistic expression. By adopting a rigid per se infringement standard, the decision empowers bad actors to exploit copyright law against live music recordings, a uniquely vulnerable and culturally significant medium. Under this standard, even the inadvertent inclusion of an imperceptible sound fragment in a live recording—such as a stray copyrighted ringtone or background music at a festival—constitutes actionable infringement, creating significant legal risks for artists and producers. While …

New Flames, Old Irons: A Striking Analysis Of Florida's Gaming Compact With The Seminole Tribe, Zen Rizzuto-Flancbaum

Florida Entertainment and Sports Law Review

This Comment analyzes Florida’s gaming compact (the Compact) with the Seminole Tribe, focusing on the legality of allowing online sports betting under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The Compact permits the Seminole Tribe to offer statewide online sports betting by “deeming” all bets placed in Florida as occurring on tribal lands, where the Seminole betting servers are located. This Comment argues that such an interpretation stretches the plain meaning of “Indian lands” in IGRA, which traditionally refers to physical land within reservations. Notably, the Ninth Circuit and the D.C. Circuit have seemingly contradictory opinions on this issue. This Comment …

Professionalizing Esports, Becky Harris, Tavis Sartin

Florida Entertainment and Sports Law Review

As millions of dollars, euros, yen, and won continue to pour into the esports industry, esports has not been spared from the same challenges facing traditional competitive sports. While traditional sports leagues had the space to develop over decades, esports, by contrast, have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity and swift adoption by gamers and fans alike. The accelerated acceptance and adoption of esports means that the esports industry has been experiencing “growing pains” much like traditional sports leagues—as well as other issues endemic to esports—at a much earlier stage. Addressing these issues necessitates an unbiased and candid examination of …

Seasonal Dynamics And Trends Of Environmental Conditions In Lake Louise, Georgia, Daniel Kwawuvi, James A. Nienow

Georgia Journal of Science

Lakes are important aquatic ecosystems that are extensively influenced by seasonal variations. In this study we investigate the seasonal dynamics and trends of three environmental variables, water temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO), in Lake Louise, a sinkhole lake located in southern Georgia. These variables were measured in-situ along a depth profile from January 27, 2024 to January 17, 2025. We also accessed archived data from field campaigns in 2003, 2004, and 2017 in order to test whether a recent increase in the number of hurricanes impacting the region, five since August, 2017, may have significantly altered the seasonal dynamics …

Revisiting A Service-Learning Component In Aac Coursework: Design, Logistics, And Practical Challenges, Juhi Kidwai, Mohammad Al Rjoob, Maria Claudia Franca, Valerie E. Boyer

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

This scholarly teaching manuscript describes the design, implementation, and challenges of integrating a service-learning component into a graduate-level augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) course within a Communication Disorders and Sciences (CDS) program. The project sought to bridge academic instruction with real-world application while addressing unmet service needs in local schools. The 16-week course was divided into an eight-week didactic phase followed by an eight-week field-based practicum. Graduate students were paired with school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in a rural, midwestern special education cooperative district, to support children using AAC. Implementation included a pre-semester needs assessment, collaborative student–SLP matching, structured orientation, weekly …

From Answers To Understanding: Bridging The Gap Between Multiple-Choice And Open-Ended Questions, Kathleen A. Siren

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Assessment is central to effective teaching, and the structure of exam questions significantly influences both learning and instruction. Multiple-choice (MCQ) and short-answer (SAQ) questions are widely used and frequently studied, each offering distinct advantages and limitations for formative and summative assessment. This study examined a modified multiple-choice format, multiple-choice questions with explanation (MCQwE), for which students selected an answer and briefly explained their reasoning. Designed to combine the efficiency of MCQs with the diagnostic value of open-ended responses, MCQwE were implemented in an undergraduate speech science course and compared to traditional MCQs and SAQs in terms of student performance. Findings …

Numerical Simulations For Determining Resistance, Trim, And Sinkage Characteristics Of A Tugboat, Utku Cem Karabulut

Seatific Journal

A detailed numerical investigation of the calm-water hydrodynamic performance of an azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugboat is presented. Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulations are performed to predict the total resistance, trim, and sinkage over a wide range of Froude numbers at model scale. The free-surface flow is captured using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method with a high-resolution interface capturing scheme, while turbulence effects are modeled using the SST k–ω formulation. To account for dynamic hull response, the vessel is allowed to move freely in heave and pitch through a Dynamic Fluid Body Interaction (DFBI) approach. A systematic mesh and …

Online Recruitment For Interview Participants Impacted By The Criminal Legal System, Sarah Lageson, Carolina R. Caliman, Elsa Chen, Ericka Adams

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"As technology has altered communication, qualitative criminologists have turned to digital spaces for a cost-effective approach to recruit participants who have been impacted by the criminal legal system. This paper analyzes the limits and benefits of online recruitment, detailing our experience recruiting 93 interviewees online for a qualitative study of criminal record expungement. We compare three approaches: social media advertisements, Amazon’s crowdsourced MTurk platform, and the opt-in survey platform Prolific, and analyze the financial and labor costs associated with each. We detail our experience individually screening 685 interested participants to obtain 86 qualitative interviews suitable for analysis. Our experience shows …

Fragmented Responses: Variability In Law Enforcement And Prosecutorial Approaches To Sexual Assault Cases, Veronica Gonzalez

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Sexual assault (SA) remains a pervasive issue in the United States, marked by low reporting rates, inconsistent investigations, and limited convictions. In response, researchers and practitioners have promoted a range of best practices aimed at improving law enforcement and prosecutorial responses. This qualitative study draws on interviews with 13 law enforcement agencies and 12 prosecutors' offices to explore how recommended practices—such as victim advocacy, specialized units, interagency collaboration, and case reviews—are interpreted and operationalized in the field. Findings reveal substantial variability, shaped not only by resource availability but also by leadership priorities, organizational culture, and the ambiguity of guidance documents. …

To Protect And To Serve? A Phenomenological Exploration Of Interactions Between Black Transgender Women And Law Enforcement In The Midwest, Anthony Banks, Kelli E. Canada, Erin L. Robinson, Mansoo Yu, Lynn Mie Itagaki

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Current research indicates transgender women of color are experiencing what is being referred to as an “epidemic of violence.” Law enforcement personnel are in a unique position to mitigate this violence among transgender women of color, however past research shows that law enforcement may in some instances perpetuate already existing violence with this population instead of preventing and intervening in these situations. This study aimed to add to the limited research by using an intersectional theoretical framework to better understand these interactions. Research questions were answered using a phenomenological research design. Data from 36 semi-structured interviews with Black transgender women …

"This Is Not A Scam!": Assessment Of An Awareness Raising Program Tackling Older Adults' Scam Victimization In A Multi-Method Study, Katalin Parti, Pamela Teaster, Susanna Rinehart, Charles Dye

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Interactive theatre has long been used to educate and empower communities and prevent crime across all age groups. Although older populations are disproportionately victimized through fraudulent online schemes, effective educational interventions, like interactive theatre, have not been utilized to increase crime awareness. This paper describes an explorational research project, analyzing the results of a theatre-based fraud awareness program aimed towards educating victims and their communities about scams targeting older people. The study employs a mixed-method research design to examine program impact. In applying multifaceted tools of data collection, such as survey, participant observation, and follow-up interviews, the research team identified …

Aging On Parole: A Thematic Analysis Of The Parole Officer’S Perspective, Angela Murolo

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"A growing proportion of people leaving prison are over 50 years old and will live at least temporarily under the supervision of a parole officer. While recidivism rates are lower for older people, there are physical, mental, and societal challenges that accompany advancing age that make successful reentry and reintegration a challenging experience compared to their younger counterparts. This presents novel challenges for parole officers who are tasked with supervising and counseling elderly people on parole. Surveys containing closed and open-ended questions were administered to N=25 parole officers to understand the differences in working with, counseling, and supervising older and …

Charisma As A Branch Outcome: A Structural Account Of Constraint-Driven Correction, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

Communication across cognitive layers requires translation. Agents operating under strong layer foregrounding interpret other-layer signals by converting them into their own layer's representational format. In Empathic-modulation-foregrounded (EF) processing, translation terminates once a socially interpretable result is achieved. In Core-foregrounded (CF) processing, translation preserves structural constraints, and processing continues when those constraints are not satisfied. Extreme CF cognition produces two distinct types of mismatch: incoming signals from the Modulation layer fail to satisfy Core constraints, and Core-generated outputs are structurally distorted when interpreted through EF processing. Both mismatches trigger correction attempts. Because the surrounding social environment operates through Modulation-layer communication, correction …

Cognitive Interaction Architecture: A Structural Account Of Mode-Specific Problems And Design Responses In Ai Interaction, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

Contemporary conversational AI is optimized for a single interaction mode: the continuous, engagement-driven dialogue characteristic of Empathic-modulationforegrounded (EF) processing in social contexts. This optimization is not neutral. It produces structural mismatches when users operate under different cognitive configurations or pursue different task types. This paper analyzes four interaction cases generated by the cross-product of cognitive configuration (Core-foregrounded / Empathic-modulation-foregrounded) and task type (conversational / research). For each case, it identifies the structural problems produced by the current single-architecture approach and proposes mode-specific design responses. The analysis draws on prior work in this series on Emotional Branch Termination, termination of conceptual …

What Love Is: A Structural Account Through Core/Modulation Architecture, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

The distinction between romantic love and love has been sensed across cultures and historical periods but has rarely been structurally specified. This paper applies the Core/Modulation two-layer framework to provide the first structural account of this distinction. Romantic love and reproductive drive are re-described as outputs of the Modulation layer's species optimization program. Love is re-described as a function of Core processing: the maintenance of another's recomputable state. Existing literature on love—Fromm, C.S. Lewis— is re-read as intuitive description of this structural distinction. The paper further demonstrates that the conflation of "loving" and "protecting" is the structural origin of war, …