Digital Commons Network^™

A Retrospective Analysis Of Structured And Semi-Structured Training Program Design For Law Enforcement Recruits, Ian Bonder

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Law enforcement recruits typically complete law enforcement agency (LEA) academy training before assuming sworn-in duty. Tactical strength and conditioning facilitators (TSAC-F) may need to modify program design based on their unique circumstances. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different training program designs in five state-mandated tests (vertical jump [VJ], 1-minute sit-ups and push-ups, 300-meter [300m] sprint, and 2.4-kilometer [2.4km] run) among LEA recruits at a Midwest LEA training academy. De-identified data for 26 LEA recruits (Periodized/Structured Group [PSG; n = 7]) and (Semi-structured Group [SSG; n = 19]) were retrospectively analyzed. Repeated measures ANOVA assessed …

The Intervention Design Specialist Program As A Tier Iii Support In Elementary Schools: An Explanatory Case Study, Kevin G. Spaulding

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

This explanatory qualitative case study explored how the Intervention Design Specialist (IDS) program functions as a Tier III behavioral intervention within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework in elementary schools in Francis County Public Schools. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, the study examined stakeholders’ perceptions of the program’s purpose, implementation, influence on students with intensive behavioral needs, impact on classroom and school climate, and the factors that supported or challenged successful implementation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations of classroom interventions and team meetings, and review of program records. Data were analyzed using an inductive, iterative coding process …

Airport Coopetition And Spatial Heterogeneity In China: A Two-Regime Spatial Econometric Analysis, Zhen Wu, Polin Lai, Saeyeon Roh, Jeong Hugh Han

Plymouth Business School

The development of aeronautical infrastructure and the rise of low-cost carriers have substantially increased the demand for air travel. Moreover, airport development is shaped by spatial heterogeneity factors such as environmental conditions, regulatory frameworks, and socioeconomic variables, which complicate coopetitive interactions within the aviation network. To examine these phenomena, a dual-regime spatial econometric model utilizing different spatial weight matrices has been constructed. The model captures asymmetries in airport coopetition by analyzing variations in spatial autoregressive coefficients across regimes and identifies the spatial heterogeneity factors that drive these asymmetric relationships. Analyzing data from 48 major Chinese airports over 22 years reveals …

Between Tradition And Profession: Intersectionality Of Javanese Women Journalists In Surakarta’S Newsroom, Rahman Hakim, Vanggi Eka Riski

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

Javanese female journalists in Surakarta navigate the simultaneous pressures of professional journalism and deeply internalised Javanese cultural values such as nrimo (acceptance of one’s circumstances), andhap asor (humble and deferential conduct), and tepa selira (attentiveness to the feeling of others). These values shape their everyday conduct in the newsroom yet often remain unacknowledged in existing literature. Combining Intersectionality Theory, Face-Negotiation Theory (Ting-Toomey), and Self Theory (Rogers) as complementary frameworks, this qualitative study adopts a constructivist paradigm and employ phenomenological method to explore how female journalists make sense of the intersection between gender norms and local cultural values. Data were collected …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence In The Indonesian Film Industry, Louisa Christine Hartanto, Patrisia Amanda Pascarina, Cosmas Gatot Haryono

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

This study explores how stakeholders in the Indonesian film industry perceive the emergence and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Framed by Roger's Diffusion of Innovation theory, this study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is positioned as an emergent technological innovation, spreading via communication channels across the film industry's social ecosystem. This approach illuminates how distinct categories of adopters collectively construct the meaning of AI and shape their varied responses to its encroachment on creative labour. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study draws on data from two Focus Group Discussions involving directors, actors, government experts, academics, emerging filmmakers, students, and …

Re: Response To Comment Letter (Dated June 11, 2026) For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft 2025 Butte Reclamation Evaluation System (Bres) Corrective Action Plans For Reclaimed Sites (Dated January 30, 2026), Brandon Warner

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Tile-Based Knot Assembly With Celtic!, Divya Bajaj, Ryan Knobel, Juan Manuel Perez, Rene Reyes, Ramiro Santos, Tim Wylie

Computer Science Faculty Publications

In this paper we focus on the intersection of tile assembling systems, edge-matching puzzles, combinatorial games, and knot construction and identity. As a basis, we utilize the game Celtic!, which is a 2-player board game where the goal of the game is to construct knots where one knot uses more of a player’s pieces than the other player over all knots. All pieces must build off an existing knot and a valid knot must be closed. We consider three variations: a 0-player self-assembly variation that deterministically places pieces to form a closed knot of some length, a 1-player puzzle variation …

A Dynamics Viewpoint On The Approximation Capabilities Of Infinite-Depth Neural Networks, Andreus Brammer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Neural Ordinary differential equations(Neural ODEs) provide a continuous-time framework for learning dynamical systems by representing the evolution of a state variable through a parameterized differential equation. While most existing methods rely on numerical time stepping methods during training such as RK4, this work investigates an alternate spectral framework where both the solution and the time-dependent network parameters are represented by global polynomial expressions.

Two methods are employed: the first uses Taylor series representations, and the second approach uses Chebyshev polynomial expansions together with fast spectral transforms and efficient polynomial multiplication techniques. In each formulation, the Neural ODE is transformed into …

Confirming The Factor Structure Of The Pmwi-Sf: A Cfa And Subsequent Evaluation Of Psychometric Properties, Bre'anna Free

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory Short Form (PMWI-SF) is a widely used measure of psychological IPV that is comprised of two, 7-item subscales (emotional/verbal abuse and dominance/isolation). Since its development, few studies have examined the PMWI-SF’s psychometric properties. The current study examined the PMWI-SF’s 2-factor structure via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of 319 women survivors of IPV. The current study also provided an updated profile of the PMWI-SF’s construct validity with evaluation of the inventory’s internal structure for each subscale (i.e., internal consistency) and its relations to other variables (i.e., convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity). The …

The Climasentar Dataset For Evaluating Cross-Domain Transferability Of Large Language Models In Climate Sentiment Analysis, Sanaa Kaddoura, Mariam Alzaabi, Reem Nassar

All Works

Arabic research on climate sentiment analysis remains limited due to linguistic diversity, limited resources, and the scarcity of annotated datasets. Existing approaches primarily rely on questionnaires or general-purpose sentiment analysis models, which often fail to capture domain-specific sentiment expressions. To address this gap, this paper introduces ClimaSentAR , the first large-scale Arabic climate-focused sentiment dataset comprising 23,957 samples from the X platform. Native Arabic speakers annotate the dataset with a moderate inter-annotator agreement of 0.45. It contains 5510 positive, 8140 negative, and 10,307 neutral instances. To validate the importance and robustness of ClimaSentAR and address the gap in Arabic climate …

Global Performance Of Remote Sensing-Based And Reanalysis-Driven Models To Estimate Open Water Evaporation, Júlia Brusso Rossi, Ayan Santos Fleischmann, Leonardo Laipelt, Bruno Comini De Andrade, Joshua B. Fisher, Justin L. Huntington, Christopher Pearson, R. Iestyn Woolway, Roseilson Vale, Júlio Tota, Gabriel B. Senay, Huilin Gao, Anderson Ruhoff

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Evaporation plays an essential role in the water cycle, influencing local and regional climates while directly impacting water availability in lakes. However, directly measuring evaporation over water bodies remains challenging due to the high costs of installing and maintaining the required in situ instrumentation. Although several remote sensing algorithms have been providing evaporation estimates, the lack of a global validation hinders our understanding of their relative uncertainties and performances across different regions. Here, we analyze the performance of a suite of models that leverage satellite data and meteorological reanalysis to estimate evaporation over lakes worldwide. We compare 3 remote sensing‐based …

Principles Of Sociopolitical Competency In Psychological Practice, Research, And Teaching, Richard E. Redding, Nina C. Silander

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Research shows that sociopolitical attitudes and values (SPAVs) often play an important role in people’s personal and social identity, life choices, psychological and behavioral functioning, and interpersonal relationships (including those between psychologists and their clients). Thus, SPAVs are frequently relevant to the work that psychologists do, whether as clinicians, researchers, or educators. After reviewing the research on the impact of SPAVs on people’s lives and relationships, we provide a set of evidence-based principles for effectively addressing SPAVs in clinical practice, psychological research, education and professional training, and professional ethics.

Global Time-Resolved Measurements Of Inlet/Isolator Unstart Induced By Mass Injection, Andrew N. Bustard, Benjamin L. Bemis, Aaron Marques, Matthew J. Zahr, Thomas J. Juliano

Publications

The inner surface pressure of an axisymmetric inlet/isolator model was measured using anodized-aluminum pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) viewing through cast acrylic. Temperaturesensitive paint was utilized to correct for the PSP’s temperature sensitivity. The model was tested under Mach 5.7 flow at 𝑹𝒆 = 7.1 ×106 /m under conventional noise conditions. Transverse jet injection with jet-to-inlet mass-flow ratios up to 0.8 was used to induce unstart in the inlet/isolator. Background-oriented schlieren visualization of the inlet shocks was collected simultaneously with the PSP to determine when the inlet unstarted. Computational fluid dynamics results were used to determine off-wall flow structures and quantify approach …

The Edge-Distinguishing Game, Nathaniel Benjamin, Elisa Benthem, Cooper Burkel, Marissa E. Chesser, Mike Janssen

Communications on Number Theory and Combinatorial Theory

In this paper, we introduce a graph coloring game called the Edge-Distinguishing Game (EDGe). The edge-distinguishing chromatic number of a graph is used to determine the moves each player can make. We determine which player has a winning strategy for particular graphs and graph families. Additionally, utilizing principles from game theory as well as previous work on a computational solution for the Game of Cycles.

The Aging Muscle Phenotype Of C57bl/6j Wild-Type Mice, Gaurav Shingote

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Aging causes a slow and progressive loss of muscle fiber number and size. Sarcopenia is termed as an age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Here, we characterized the aging skeletal muscle phenotype of C57Bl/6J wildtype mice. 30 weeks old (young) and 2 years old (aged) C57Bl/6J wildtype male mice were utilized in this study. The body weight and hind leg muscle weight were recorded during collection. The hind leg muscle Tibialis anterior (TA) was OCT embedded, cut at the mid- belly region, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain as per our previously published protocol. The 20X images …

Leveraging Computer Vision-Based Hand Tracking In Smartphone Xr Exposure Scenarios To Enable Controller-Free Interaction, Alex C. Lim, Trang Nguyen

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Extended reality (XR) has emerged as an effective and convenient solution for broadening accessibility to exposure therapy. Smartphone-based XR, though cost-effective, is often constrained by limited interactivity, engendering a passive experience that can compromise the user-immersion and treatment efficacy. To address this limitation, this study presents a novel computer vision–based hand-tracking approach using Google MediaPipe, integrated within a stereoscopic smartphone-based XR system to enable real-time, controller-free interaction in a dog-fetch scenario. Hand landmark coordinates derived from MediaPipe are algorithmically adjusted based on changes in inter-knuckle distances during anterior/posterior movement to approximate depth, at which point interactive spheres are overlayed to …

Accelerating Protein Engineering: Using Computer Modeling To Identify Beneficial Interleukin-23 (Il-23) Mutations, Andrew S. Chadwell

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Interleukin-23 (IL-23) regulates inflammation, yet its overproduction, driven by genetics or overactive immune triggers, can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis. IL-23 consists of two subunits; an exclusive subunit, p19, and a second subunit, p40, that is shared with Interleukin-12. Driving selectivity of p19-p40 interactions promotes a shift in cytokine formation between IL-23 and IL-12. By integrating computational biology, protein engineering, and structural data from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (entry 4RGW), the research addressed structural challenges like unresolved regions in experimental structures and the difficulty of predicting beneficial mutations. Structural modeling using ColabFold, a prediction tool based on …

Impact Of Private Equity Investments Integration On U.S. And European Sports Industries, Evan Alexander

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Private equity investments in the sports industry have become increasingly prominent in both the United States and Europe, although the dynamics, regulations, and strategies differ between the two regions. In this thesis, I discuss the concept of private equity (PE) investments within the sports industry, evaluating it in the context of the United States of America and Europe.

I analyze the overall impact that the integration of private equity investments has had on several sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and European Soccer Clubs, among other sports. I …

How The Erosion Of The German Drinking Culture Impacts Social Cohesion And The Economic Progression, Tran B. Duong, Monica Hennawy

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

German drinking culture has begun to wane within the past decade. While this may be viewed as a public health success, it has multifaceted impacts. The lifestyle adjustment threatens the third space which has historically fostered social interaction, making their erosion significant not merely economically but also culturally. Substance use also has a multifaceted impact on mental health, whereas in regulation social drinking can promote bonding. This leads to the need for appropriate policy in alcohol consumption which should help the public draw a balance in sustainable drinking practices. Alternatively, Germany’s third places also serve as a significant source of …

Business Incubation And The Role That It Plays In The Future Economic And Financial Success Of Small Island Developing States, Warren Watkins

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a unique blend of economic vulnerabilities and untapped potential, often stemming from their heavy reliance on tourism and limited diversification. This thesis explores how business incubation can serve as a strategic mechanism for fostering sustainable economic and financial growth within these nations. Through a comparative analysis of established models in countries such as Singapore, Japan, and Chile, alongside emerging initiatives in Caribbean SIDS, this research identifies the pathways through which foreign investment, education, and technology can jointly stimulate entrepreneurial development. Findings indicate that while foreign partnerships remain essential in the early stages of incubation, …

Pre-Existing Conditions And Their Effect On Neurological Prognosis And Rehabilitation In Older Cardiac Arrest Population - A Literature Review, Nadia A. Parsotan, Maya Awad, Greta Schmanke, Madeline Yee, Angelin Abraham

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The effectiveness of cardiac arrest rehabilitation can be influenced by pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension particularly in the older population, where these comorbidities are more prevalent. This literature review aims to understand how these conditions affect the neurological prognosis and rehabilitation in cardiac arrest patients aged 60+. A systematic PubMed search was conducted for peer-reviewed studies published within the past 15 years using terms related to cardiac arrest, neurological outcomes, rehabilitation, and common chronic conditions. Studies were included if they focused on adults aged 60 and older, reported at least one pre-existing medical condition, and provided neurological rehabilitation …

The Power Of Physical Activity And Sleep: Sex-Specific Pathways To Cognitive Health In Older Adults, Gabriella K. Waldbauer

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Physical activity (PA) and sleep health are associated with cognition. However, limited research has examined the interactive effects of PA and sleep on domain-specific cognitive function in older adults. Although sex differences exist independently across all factors, sex-specific interactive investigations are limited. This study investigated whether the relationship between PA, sleep and cognition varies by sex in older adults. Older adults (N=119; Mage=68.3±5.6; 73 women) completed measures of insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and cognition (NIH Toolbox-Cognitive Battery). Multiple regressions examined whether insomnia severity interacted with physical activity in associations with cognition and tested …

How Has Western Biomedical Framing Of Type 2 Diabetes Shaped Prevention And Treatment In South Asian Populations?, Amrita Nayak, Sreehitha Sajja

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper examines how Western biomedical framing of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has shaped prevention and treatment strategies in South Asian populations, often with limited effectiveness. The dominant Western model emphasizes individual responsibility, standardized dietary guidelines, and generalized treatment protocols. While these approaches have proven useful in broader populations, they frequently fail to address the distinct biological, cultural, and structural realities that influence T2D risk among South Asians. A key limitation lies in the underrecognition of earlier metabolic risk. South Asian individuals tend to develop T2D at younger ages and lower body mass index (BMI) levels compared to European populations, …

Telemedicine Vs. In-Person Oncology Care During Covid-19, Sarah C. Widlak, Genelle Leo, Moksh Patel, Hailey Menias, Ariadna Coa, Serena Bhaskar

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare rapidly shifted towards telemedicine, raising questions about its efficacy. Although there is limited research, it is critical to understand how telemedicine affected oncology patients during the pandemic to improve patient care and experiences post-pandemic. This review addresses this gap by evaluating how telemedicine use among adult oncology patients during the pandemic compares with in-person visits regarding quality of care and patient satisfaction. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, mainly PubMed, using keywords related to telemedicine, cancer, and COVID-19. The search yielded 106 unique articles, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Two rounds …

The Effect Of Distraction On Emotion-Based Communication Behaviors, Twisha Nadella

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

As technology becomes increasingly integrated in daily activities, there are growing concerns for the effects of multi-tasking within the workplace. It is important to consider how communication efficiency may be impacted by dual-task situations. Therefore, understanding the potential outcomes that distraction may have on language production is valuable in determining optimal working conditions for effective use of emotional communication. This dual-task study was designed to understand the effects of distraction on emotion-based communication behavior. A driving task was utilized as the means of distraction in this experiment, while the concurrent negotiation task was analyzed to understand how emotional language was …

Gender Differences In The Diagnosis Of Histrionic Personality, Monica Hennawy, Heidi Lieu, Dayanna Gonzalez, Devin Dombroski, Kaylie Jusino Ortiz, Genelle Leo

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) is characterized by attention-seeking, emotionality, and dramatic or seductive behaviors. Individuals with HPD often feel discomfort when not the center of attention and may use exaggerated affect to gain approval. While gender differences in diagnosis and presentation have been reported, the influence of trauma and comorbid conditions - such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and eating disorders (EDs) - remains underexplored. A literature review was conducted using PubMed with search terms including HPD, trauma, substance use, and eating disorders. A total of 157 articles were identified. Studies not addressing at least two relevant domains were excluded. …

Cyclobenzaprine: Psychiatric Side Effects In Patients With Mood Disorders, Shelby R. Mcgrew, Michael Pestova-Habera

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Cyclobenzaprine, also known under the brand name Flexeril, is one of the most widely prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants globally. While treatment is typically limited to post-injury pain relief, long-term use has increased due to evidence of pain reduction in patients with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and temporomandibular joint disorder. Recently, cyclobenzaprine was found to be contraindicated for patients with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. This is thought to result from its structural similarity to amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant. As a result, some patients utilizing cyclobenzaprine for pain management may experience acute manic episodes following administration. This study reviews …

Reducing Expenses Through Digital Innovation Among Medicare Advantage Plans, Stanley Y. Huang, Jada N. Faircloth, Lauren R. Selent, Lauren R. Mcconnell

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

The United States healthcare system is approaching unsustainable cost levels. Within the next ten years Medicare Advantage plans face potential insolvency. Medicare Advantage plans are expanding, and many receive priority over patient care and physician payments yet operating without meaningful accountability. Many of these rising costs affect quality and lead to increased overhead expenses. 1, 2 The purpose of this project was to examine whether replacing traditional methods with safe, timely, and HIPAA-compliant digital innovation would lower cost and maximize outcomes. A quantitative, causal- comparative design was used to identify differences across groups. The independent variable was fiscal year, and …

Investigation Of Antimicrobial Properties In Bacteria Of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Nesting Beaches, Norah P. Nunez

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Identifying bacteria of Loggerhead turtle nesting beaches can shed light on antimicrobial properties of agents that could impact turtle hatchling survival. Bacteria from beaches in Fort de Soto and Lido Key were isolated and analyzed for antimicrobial properties, as these beaches are commonly Loggerhead nesting sites. Isolates were chosen for apparent inhibition of bacterial growth then tested against medically significant bacteria in two rounds of modified Kirby-Bauer. The identities of the bacteria were investigated through a series of differential and selective tests and confirmed with …

Investigating The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Modulating Immune Responses To Infections, Abhinav Muthiraparambath, Matthew Guzie, Matthew Lim, Aryan Sharma, Julia Mendez, Irelis Orlando, Archi Patel

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Increasing evidence links the gut microbiome to immune regulation, homeostasis, and infectious outcomes. Although gut dysbiosis is associated with impaired immune responses, the mechanisms linking microbial imbalance to immune dysfunction and diseases remain under-investigated. This study aims to investigate how changes in the gut microbiome contribute to immune dysfunction and disease progression, and whether biomarkers can improve the prediction of disease outcomes and therapeutic responses. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies explaining the relationship between gut microbiome dysbiosis and immune dysfunction. This was conducted by searching select words such as ‘Gut microbiome’, ‘Gut dysbiosis’, and ‘microbial …