Digital Commons Network^™

Infrared Image Generation Method Based On Improved Cyclegan, Qiqi Jin, Xiang Zhang, Li Gao, Lin Zhang, Junliang Yan, Peiyao Li

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the problems in current infrared image generation such as insufficient contrast between target and scene, excessively large discrepancies from real scenes, indistinct thermal source features, and great difficulty in constructing measured infrared image datasets, an improved CycleGAN-based infrared image generation method was proposed. By optimizing the network structure of the generator and adding a non-local module and a CBAM convolutional attention mechanism into the generator, the extraction capability of CycleGAN for infrared features was enhanced, enabling the network to capture the subtle features of targets more accurately; a perceptual loss function was introduced to improve the detail …

Uab Libraries News, 08/09 2026, Uab Libraries

UAB Libraries News

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Sustainable 3d Store Design On Consumer Online Shopping Behavior, Sophie G. Roussel

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sustainability has become a significant factor in shaping consumer shopping habits. Companies are implementing 3D store designs to provide a more immersive and interactive experience. Further study is needed to investigate whether a sustainable, green-focused 3D storefront shifts consumers’ satisfaction with online shopping and their intention to buy products from a sustainable store. This study seeks to fill the research gap by examining how sustainable 3D store design influences consumer shopping behavior. Specifically, three distinct 3D store mockups were developed using Visual Retailing (VR) technology. The same number of visually appealing features, products, and store layouts was used to make …

A Brand With A Brand: Constructing Lived-In Identity In Kylie Cosmetics And Khy, Nicole Obiukwu

Communications and Digital Media Theses

Celebrity-owned brands benefit from the visibility and recognition of their founders, but celebrity ownership alone does not necessarily establish authenticity. This study examines how celebrity-owned brands communicate authenticity through a comparative case study of Kylie Jenner’s Kylie Cosmetics and KHY. Using directed content analysis, 75 Instagram posts from Kylie Cosmetics, KHY, and Jenner’s personal account were analyzed alongside relevant contextual materials. The analysis focused on four dimensions identified through existing literature: Consistency of Self, Evidence of Use, Environmental Alignment, and Evolution Over Time. Findings showed that Kylie Cosmetics demonstrated greater accumulated continuity with Jenner’s established public identity, drawing on shared …

Deferred Understandings: A Critical Content Analysis Of Representations Of War In Picturebooks, Heeyoung Kim, Jongsun Wee

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article reports on a study that examined eight picturebooks published since 2021 that portray contemporary wars, exploring picturebooks’ potential role in shaping children’s understandings of armed conflict. It investigated how these texts present historical context and construct representations of war. The authors’ analysis focuses on three key elements: the causes of war, depictions of wartime scenes, and the resolutions of war. The findings indicate that the picturebooks portray war realistically through textual and visual narratives, illustrating how war disrupts the child protagonist’s everyday life. However, the books rarely address the underlying causes of war. This study suggests that teachers …

Effective Traffic Routing Under Disastrous Events Through Machine Learning, Eric Itemuagbor

All Theses

Disastrous events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods routinely disrupt transportation networks, preventing emergency response, evacuation, and the delivery of critical supplies. Conventional optimization-based routing methods offer strong theoretical guarantees but cannot scale and are often too slow to support time-sensitive decision-making during a disaster, while prior machine learning approaches to disaster routing have largely prioritized prediction accuracy over inference speed and data efficiency. This thesis investigated whether lightweight machine learning models can deliver both competitive routing accuracy and superior inference speed when trained on limited data, addressing a practical gap between existing research and real-world deployment needs.

The road …

Land And Language At St. Joseph’S Indian Industrial School And Beyond, Ciera R. Tucker

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the impacts of the Indian boarding school era on Menominee people through using St. Joseph’s Indian Industrial School in Keshena, Wisconsin, as a focal point of study. Through analyzing the social and political contexts of the school, oral texts from St. Joseph’s survivors, and contemporary popular culture texts, this thesis examines the intergenerational impacts of the boarding school era on Menominee people and Indigenous people in general. I employ Indigenous methodologies from Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Anishinaabe), Kathleen Absolon (Anishinaabe), and Shawn Wilson (Cree) to ground my approach to research and engagement with survivor testimonies. Further, I draw …

Investigation Of A Novel Behavioral Assessment Of Challenging Behavior In The Context Of Medical Necessity And Disability Theory, Madison S. Walker

All NMU Master's Theses

Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities often engage in challenging behaviors that interfere with daily functioning and community participation. Many standardized assessments focus on indirect, descriptive measurements that emphasize frequency, while providing limited information about medical severity, ongoing management strategies, and functional outcomes. This misalignment may limit the clinical utility of assessments, as scores may not consistently align with medical necessity criteria or arguments supporting the maintenance of current treatments. The first study extends on Reyes-Martín et al. (2022), which reviewed 24 assessments of challenging behaviors, by further evaluating assessment characteristics relevant to clinical decision-making and treatment justification. Findings highlight variability across …

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Chest Radiograph Interpretation For Tuberculosis Screening In Rural Health Units In The Philippines, Harold Henrison C. Chiu, Bryan Christopher C. Lao, Gloanne C. Adolor

Graduate School of Business Publications

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health burden in the Philippines, where diagnostic delays are amplified by limited radiology capacity in rural health units (RHUs) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest radiograph interpretation may shorten the screening pathway and reduce reliance on scarce specialist readers. However, its economic value for RHUbased tuberculosis screening has not been fully evaluated.
Methods: We developed a decision-tree cost-effectiveness model in Microsoft Excel 365 to compare AI-assisted chest radiograph interpretation with conventional manual radiologist or teleradiology interpretation among a theoretical annual cohort of 1,000 presumptive tuberculosis …

Developing A Resilient Park For Palisade State Park: A Model For Intermountain West State Parks, Hirone T. Warner

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Palisade State Park in central Utah is a cherished natural resource, offering diverse recreational opportunities and serving as an important ecological habitat. However, the park faces increasing challenges due to increasing visitation and the impacts of climate change. This thesis presents a strategic master plan for Palisade State Park, designed to guide its development over the next 20 years.

Recognizing the need for a sustainable approach, this project adopts a participatory method, involving park users, residents, and environmental experts in the planning process. The goal is to create a master plan that not only addresses the park’s immediate needs but …

The Long Arc Of Global Citizenship: Historical Foundations, Modern Challenges, And Institutional Innovation At Rollins College, Wenxian Zhang

Faculty Publications

The concept of global citizenship can be traced back to the Greek and Roman periods in Western civilization, as well as to ancient Eastern philosophies. Representing both a prescriptive ideal and an aspirational faith in humanity, the notion is closely linked to the historical development of cosmopolitanism, transnationalism, and transnationality. This study first reviews the rich historical roots and core values of global citizenship, along with the growing need for global citizenship education in the modern era. It then highlights several influential individuals who strongly championed its principles, including theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein and internationalist and …

Exploring Factors Related To Retention Of Young Soccer Officials, Jacob K. Tingle, Lynn L. Ridinger, David J. Hancock, Joseph Foran, Lucas Ribeiro

School of Business Faculty Research

Purpose/Rationale

The purpose of this study was to examine factors (needs and motivations) that contribute to retention of young soccer officials.

Design/Methodology/Approach

An online survey was distributed to soccer referees who received their first USSF officiating license as a juvenile.

Findings:

Correlational and regression analyses yielded five key findings: (1) Self-Determination Theory (SDT) principles are salient to retention; (2) Intrinsic Motivation and Sense of Community significantly impact retention; (3) variables across scales were highly correlated and had large effect sizes; (4) findings were similar across demographic variables; and (5) small increases to Relatedness and Choice had a large impact on …

Evaluation Of General Voronoi Diagram Decomposition For Harmonic Fields In Navigation Of Dynamic Environments, Franco Abullarade

Master's Theses

Harmonic potential fields provide provably minimum-free navigation, but any change to the workspace geometry invalidates the field and forces a costly global recomputation, typically restricting them to static environments. This thesis extends the harmonic map framework of Vlantis et al., which maps the free workspace onto a unit disk and uses an atlas of per-region transformations, to dynamic indoor settings. First, we replace their manually annotated room partition with an automatic decomposition based on the Generalized Voronoi Diagram, allowing the atlas to be built from an arbitrary occupancy grid in an automated way. Second, we introduce a localized repair procedure …

Final Report, Luke Murphy

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

No abstract provided.

Advancing Sdg 9 Through Ai-Powered Waste Diversion, Ally Murphy

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Bidisperse Gold Nanoparticles On Near-Infrared Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Sers) In Quick-Freezing-Induced Gold Nanoparticle Aggregates (Qfiaas), Elissa M. Dojka

Forensic Science Master's Projects

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregates formed via rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen exhibit strong near-infrared (NIR) plasmonic coupling. These quick-freezing-induced AuNP aggregates (QFIAAs) form moderately sized, colloidally stable structures that remain suspended for over three months, supporting a variety of analytical applications. Mechanistically, QFIAA formation arises from the confinement of nanoparticles and ions within advancing ice grain boundaries during freeze-concentration. This mechanical crowding promotes extreme physical proximity while simultaneously elevating local ionic strength, which screens electrostatic barriers to drive the assembly of dense, tightly coupled plasmonic networks.

This study investigates the plasmonic and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) behavior of bidisperse QFIAA …

Analysis Of Terpenes In Cannabis Flowers Using Gas Chromatography Via Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction (Hs-Spme), Hannah I. Bergner

Forensic Science Master's Projects

As cannabis commercialization grows, rigorous profiling of cannabinoids, terpenes, and chemical contaminants is legally required for industry standardization and consumer safety. Terpenes are highly volatile components that dictate the unique aromatic profiles and therapeutic properties of cannabis via receptor pathways. This project focused on a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector/mass selective detector (GC-FID/MSD) combined with headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) sampling to analyze terpenes present in four cannabis samples. Cannabis samples were tightly sealed in vials (10 mL) and heated to vaporize terpenes in the headspace above the samples, followed by the extraction of the vaporized terpenes using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated SPME …

Performing The Self Online: Gender, Identity, And Power In Content Economies, Sergio Germade Ii

Theses & ETDs

This study examines how identity is performed and stabilized within digital platform environments, where visibility becomes central to how the self is recognized and sustained. Drawing on a framework that treats identity as relational, performative, and shaped by algorithmic systems of attention, the study approaches digital selfhood not as a fixed expression of belief, but as an ongoing performance shaped by recognition, engagement, and repetition. Using a comparative case analysis of six creator archetypes across competing ideological orientations and gendered pairings, the study analyzes patterns of self-presentation, audience response, and engagement on YouTube. Through cross-case comparison, the findings show that …

The Difference In Social Media Coverage For Male And Female Athletes, Amanda Thomas

Communications and Digital Media Theses

Pulling back the curtain on the reality women athletes face when it comes to their social media coverage. Sports have been male-dominated since the start, but over the years women have become more and more involved in sports as they have their own teams and even sports. However, this issue lies with the overall support and coverage they are receiving from well-known Sports coverage networks. For this study, I looked at social media posts from ESPN, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports focused on the sports of Basketball, Baseball/Softball, and Tennis. In doing this study, I analyzed how many posts men …

The Effects Of An Educational Intervention To Enhance Knowledge And Awareness Of The Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among College Students, Darcy Yates

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose

The DNP student implemented a single group pretest-postest design underpinned by the Health Belief Model to address the PICOT question: Among a purposive sample of college students at a mid-west college (Population) to what degree does participation in an evidence-based intervention providing information about STIs (Intervention), compared with before that intervention (Comparison), result in to an increase in knowledge and awareness regarding STI infections and associated risks and treatment options (Outcomes) over a six-week period (Time)?

Methods

The pretest and postest scores of 15 students for the 27 items in the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) were evaluated. …

Designing By Chance: Controlled Randomness As A Generative And Constructible Strategy For Architectural Façade Composition—A Case Study, Maruan Halabi

All Works

Façade design has long oscillated between repetitive order and visual disorder, and computational tools now make controlled irregularity easy to generate but hard to build; comparatively few studies follow a stochastic envelope from algorithm to a completed building. This paper examines controlled randomness as a deliberate, constructible strategy for façade composition. A parametric Grasshopper workflow erodes a square grid of wall modules through a seeded random-reduction rule—a deterministic, rule-based procedure that uses no machine learning or artificial intelligence—whose intensity increases up the building, producing a depth-modulated, quarry-like relief realized with one ordinary product—40 × 20 cm concrete blocks in four …

A Post-Incarceration Syndrome And Its Impact On Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: A Quantitative Examination Of In-Prison Services And Community Reentry Resources In New York City, Jorge Antonio Diaz

Education Doctoral

The United States incarcerates more individuals than any other nation, yet the effects ofincarceration remain underexamined in quantitative research. Although qualitative research has documented the traumatic sequelae of confinement, including post-incarceration syndrome (PICS), limited work has assessed the perceived adequacy of services available during incarceration, community reentry, and parole supervision. This study addresses that gap through a non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative design. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 31 formerly incarcerated adults using a 40-item researcher-developed tool, the Post-Incarceration Services Assessment Survey (PISAS), which examined perceived adequacy of in-prison coping services, community-based reentry resources, and parole officer support. …

Hkc10 - Disasters, Labor Migration, And Migrant Downgrading: Evidence From Typhoons In The Philippines, Emir Murathanoglu

Oberlin College Kasper Economics and Business Working Paper Series

I study how typhoons affect international labor migration from Philippine municipalities using administrative data on the universe of new migrant contracts. Typhoons increase out-migration for up to three years, but simultaneously shift migrants toward lower-paying occupations and destinations. Average migrant cohort wages fall by 0.27– 0.41% for each 1% typhoon-induced increase in migration. This fall is not explained by observable selection, as typhoon-induced migrants have higher educational attainment. These patterns are consistent with a simple migration search model, where worsening origin conditions incentivize potential migrants to search and leave for lower-paying overseas contracts. Despite this downgrading, back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest 16–19% …

Perfectionism And Discrimination In The Workplace, Kyla Simone Baldonado

Theses & ETDs

Work engagement has been found to relate to both workplace discrimination and employee perfectionism. Building on earlier research, the current study investigated correlations between work engagement, sexual discrimination, racial discrimination, perfectionistic strivings, and perfectionistic concerns. A total of 430 participants responded to an online questionnaire about their personal and interpersonal experiences at work. Work engagement correlated positively to perfectionistic strivings, but negatively to perfectionistic concerns and racial discrimination. Work engagement correlated negatively to sex discrimination but only in the women participants. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that perfectionism did not moderate the relationship between racial discrimination and work engagement. It did, …

Brainerd Junior High Adaptive Reuse: Transitional Living For Foster Care Graduates, Gavin J. Watson

Honors Theses

Brainerd Junior High is being reused as a transitional living and working facility for foster care age-outs in need of assistance as they learn skills of independence and confidence. The first floor serves the community of Brainerd with a variety of commercial spaces, offering the graduates onsite places for employment. The upper levels serve as studio and 1 bedroom apartments for 24 residents, with shared laundry and community building spaces.

Adaptive Reuse Of Brainerd Junior High: Creating Third Spaces, Nathan S. Shevick

Honors Theses

This thesis project explores how the transformation of a local building in the community can bring people together through adaptive reuse. The Brainerd Junior High School was built in 1930 and designed by Chattanoogan architect R.H. Hunt, who has designed many significant buildings in the area such as the Medical Arts Building, 2nd Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mountain Hotel (Carter Hall, Covenant College), Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Auditorium, the Chattanooga Bank Building, and many other beloved buildings in the area. The Brainerd Junior High School building was expanded in 1956 and 1959 and changed ownership and became the magnet school, 21st …

Role Of Libraries In Promoting Sustainable Development: A Thematic Literature Review, Ayushi Soni, Dr. Ritu Singh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Sustainable development is a priority worldwide and is driving institutions in different sectors to be environmentally, socially and economically responsible. Libraries have also taken action on the topic of sustainability, including greening, sustainable service, digital transformation and support for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The library's contribution to Sustainable Development is explored in this study by reviewing the literature on the topic from 2020 to 2025. Scholarly databases were searched for literature and analysed to find key trends and themes on sustainability in libraries. Five thematic areas were identified during the review process: Sustainable resources and services, Sustainable library practices, ICT …

All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality In Gambling Disorder: Evidence From A Nation-Wide Matched And Sibling Cohort Study In Taiwan, Yang-Chieh Brian Chen, Chih-Wei Hsu, Liang-Jen Wang, Mu-Hong Chen, Yao-Hsu Yang, Chih-Sung Liang, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background and aims: Gambling disorder (GD) has been linked to suicidal ideation and suicide deaths; however, evidence on all-cause and cause-specific mortality-particularly in Asian populations-remains limited. Using a retrospective cohort study based on nationwide matched and sibling cohort, we investigated all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk in patients with GD.

Design, setting and participants: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 2000-2022 data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. A cohort of 961 individuals diagnosed with GD was identified. An age- and sex-matched control cohort (n = 3,844) and an unaffected sibling cohort (n = 675) were constructed. Cumulative survival …

Environmental Psychology In Historic Preservation, Eva Kindall

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the adaptive reuse of the historic Brainerd Junior High School in Chattanooga, TN, as a catalyst for community revitalization. Initially built in 1930, the building served generations of students for 75 years. Currently, the main building is closed, while the additional buildings serve as the Midtown Community Center. Its architectural character, accessible location, and nostalgia present an opportunity to reimagine its role in the current economy. Adaptive reuse offers more than architectural preservation, but is a strategy to address urban challenges such as housing affordability, lack of amenity access, and cultural erasure. Through this project, the aim …

Genetic Regulation Of Uterine Organogenesis, Diana A. Machado

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

In eutherian and marsupial mammals, the site of embryo implantation and gestation is the uterus. The precursor tissue of the uterus, oviducts, cervix, and upper vagina is the Müllerian duct epithelium and its adjacent mesenchyme. Morphological uterine variation between species is established during embryogenesis by species-specific differences in Müllerian duct fusion at the midline, growth, and differentiation. For example, laboratory mice have a bipartite uterus with two uterine horns and a single cervix, whereas humans have a simplex uterus with a single chamber and single cervix. In humans, variations in the fusion process can alter typical uterine morphology, correlating with …