Digital Commons Network^™

Stories About The David Rowlands Family Of Ellensburg, Washington, Joy Main Smith

Works by Local Authors

Including David's upbringing in Montgomeryshire Wales, his brother Robert's coming to America first, his siblings who stayed in the United Kingdom, and his 32 years with the Northern Pacific Railroad in Ellensburg.

Enhancing Fundraising Strategies In Higher Education Through Machine Learning, Laith Alatwah

Electrical Engineering Theses

This thesis presents a comprehensive application of machine learning techniques, namely Fine Gaussian SVM and RUS Boosted Trees, to enhance fundraising strategies in higher education institutions. Analyzing a rich dataset from Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, spanning 2012 to 2022, the study focuses on donor profiles, including demographics, donation history, and engagement patterns. Key demographic insights include the increasing engagement of younger donors (20-29 age group) and significant contributions from older donors (70-99 age group). Geographical trends are also examined, revealing distinct patterns based on donors' city, state, and ZIP code. The Fine Gaussian SVM model demonstrates moderate discriminatory power, with …

Whaley, George L., San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

University of Colorado, Boulder, Organizational Behavior, Finance, and Management Science, 1974 Ph.D.

University of Arizona, 1966 M.B.A.

University of Arizona, Engineering Mathematics, 1964 B.S.

Modeling Advancement In Spacefaring Through Deep Learning, Peng-Hung Tsai

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting advancement in space exploration technology allows space agencies and companies to strategically allocate resources, prioritize missions, and explore collaborations on complex projects. This foresight acts as a roadmap for future exploration, making the best use of valuable resources. The present study employs spacecraft lifetimes as an exemplar of technological progress and proposes a novel forecasting model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. Existing research often suggests an increasing exponential relationship between technology performance and time (the generalized Moore's Law). However, applying this model directly to spacecraft lifetimes has a limitation. Spacecraft lifespans are unknown at launch, and recent …

Bergen Koster, Debra, Sophia Maier Garcia

Bronx Jewish History Project

Debra Bergen Koster was born in the Bronx at Bronx Lebanon Hospital on December 14, 1955. Her family moved to the Bronx in the 1930s and she grew up there until 1964, living on Shakespeare Avenue in a predominantly Jewish and Irish neighborhood. Bergen Koster recalls a close-knit community, where her family experienced significant events like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. She also has fond memories of local spots like Featherbed Lane, where she would run errands for her mother, and of communal activities like playing on the streets with friends and attending local events.

In 1964, her …

Immediate Vs Delayed Feedback In A Progressive Musculoskeletal E-Module Case For Clinical Reasoning Development, Megan Frazee, Krista Gipson, Elizabeth Lyden, Stephanie Langel

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Introduction: Clinical reasoning (CR) skills are essential when preparing healthcare students to transition to clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of feedback timing within a case-based learning (CBL) e-module. The secondary aim was to examine the longitudinal impact on student performance within a standardized patient (SP) simulation and their overall course grade at the end of the semester.

Review of Literature: Feedback is a powerful teaching method to improve student learning. However, there are highly conflicting results regarding the best frequency and timing of feedback. This may be influenced by the level of the …

Unmc Quick Checks: An “Opt-Out” Model For Health Profession Student Appointments With Mental Health Counseling Services, Hannah K. Tandon Md, Taylor J. Kratochvil Md, Ms, Katherine L. Keiser Ms, Limhp, Nicole J. Kent Bs, Kaitlyn E. Schultis Bs, Jeffrey W. Knapp Msw, Jeffrey P. Gold

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

Background: Health professions trainees experience high rates of anxiety and depression but are often reluctant to seek help. Institutional outreach during pre-clinical training may identify vulnerable students, improve resource awareness, and destigmatize psychological counseling. The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Quick Check program is a novel opt-out program connecting health professions students to mental health counselors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate student perceptions and utilization of mental health resources after participation in the UNMC Quick Check program.

Methods: For this limited pilot study, second-year pharmacy students were assigned to UNMC Quick Check appointments with UNMC …

A Step Towards Automated Ethical Analysis In Journalism: Measuring Llms’ Performance In Extracting Sourcing Information, Jingsen Wang

Computer Science and Engineering Master's Theses

This thesis explores the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in automating the extraction of sourcing information from news articles, a crucial step towards enhancing transparency and ethical analysis in journalism. We evaluate the performance of two state-of-the-art LLMs, GPT-4 and Claude 3, in identifying and categorizing various source types across four diverse news articles. The thesis employs a zero-shot learning approach with two different prompt designs, assessing the models’ ability to adapt to varying source structures and prompt instructions.

Our findings reveal that while LLMs show promise in extracting sourcing information, their performance varies significantly across different article types …

Yos 24: Late Babylonian Administrative And Legal Texts, Concerning Craftsmen, From The Eanna Archive, Yuval Levavi, Elizabeth E. Payne

Yale Oriental Series

Yuval Levavi and Elizabeth E. Payne present 315 previously unpublished texts held in the Yale Babylonian Collection at the Yale Peabody Museum. The texts shed light on textile and metal workers in the Eanna temple in Uruk during the Neo-Babylonian Period, about 626 to 539 BCE. This volume of the Yale Oriental Series features a full edition of each text, including hand copies, transliterations, translations, and essential commentary, allowing unprecedented access to these primary sources.

Evaluating The Effect Of Plantlet Age And Trichoderma Spp. Application On Acclimatization Of Boehmeria Nivea L. Gaud, Eva Aprilia, Anne Nuraini, Muhamad Kadapi

Jurnal Kultivasi

One of the crucial stages in the ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) tissue culture is the acclimatization phase, which transitions between the in vitro and ex-vitro environments. Determining the appropriate age of plantlets and providing nutrients in the substrate play significant roles in the success of acclimatization. This research is conducted to determine the most suitable age of plantlets for acclimatization and assess the impact of providing nutrients through Trichoderma spp. application on the growth of ramie seedlings during the acclimatization phase. The experiment was conducted between January and March 2023 at the Screenhouse Bale Tatanen, Faculty of Agriculture, …

Vulnerability And Risk Analysis Of Climate Change Impacts On Rice Production (Oryza Sativa L.) In Majalengka Regency, Ruminta, Linda Puspa Solihah, Fiky Yulianto Wicaksono

Jurnal Kultivasi

Climate change, especially temperature and rainfall shifting can be a threat to the agricultural sector, i.e., the decrease in rice yields in Majalengka Regency as the West Java rice production center. As an anticipatory measure to deal with that problem, a study is needed regarding the level of hazard, vulnerability and risk of climate change impacts in Majalengka Regency. This research aims to identify climate change and examine the level of hazzard, vulnerability and risk of the impact of climate change on rice production in each sub-district in Majalengka Regency. The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. The …

A ‘Nuclear Bomb’ Or Just ‘A Joke’? Groundwater Models May Help Communicate Nuanced Risks To The Great Salt Lake, Matthew D. Laplante, Piyush Dahal, Shih-Yu Simon Wang, Kirsti Hakala, Avik Mukherjee

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The Great Salt Lake entered the zeitgeist of environmental concern in 2022 when a coalition of scientists and activists warned in a highly publicized report that the lake might be just five years away from complete desiccation, a possibility one state official warned was tantamount to an “environmental nuclear bomb”. Shortly thereafter, an unpredicted and unprecedented pluvial winter resulted in an increase in inflow, temporarily halting the lake’s decline and prompting Utah’s governor to mock the dire prediction as “a joke”, an outcome that speaks to the tension between agenda-setting and trust-building that researchers face when sharing worst-case warnings, particularly …

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, And Social Health Outcomes Of Parents In The First Six Months After Childhood Critical Illness: A Prospective Single Centre Study: A Prospective Single Centre Study, Pei Fen Poh, Jan Hau Lee, Rehena Sultana, Joseph C. Manning, Matthew C. Carey, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Childhood critical illness can have long-term effects on families, but the extent and trajectory of recovery for parents are unknown. Using prospective longitudinal design, we describe the health outcomes of parents and their trajectory six months after paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) discharge. Parents reported health outcomes at PICU discharge (baseline), and 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-discharge. We used the Pediatric Quality-of-Life Family Impact Module, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5. The group-based trajectory model was used to identify recovery patterns. We included 128 parents of children aged 1 month to 18 years, admitted to …

Advances In Representation: Interactive Heritage Site Mobile Application On Artworks, Marius Varga, Dena Bazazian

School of Nursing and Midwifery

In this work, we are introducing early technological prototypes of an interactive mobile application aimed at heritage sites and museums. This mobile application will comprise three main components as follows: (1) Image Captioning, (2) Indoor Navigation, and (3) Augmented Reality. To address the Image Captioning component, we aim to build a mobile application for the guidance of heritage site visitors with a caption with relevant information about each artwork. This application can be helpful for visually impaired visitors, and it can provide some extra information about the museum’s objects. We will build this project based on computer vision and AI …

Pkd1 Mutant Clones Within Cirrhotic Livers Inhibit Steatohepatitis Without Promoting Cancer, Min Zhu, Yunguan Wang, Tianshi Lu, Jason Guo, Lin Li, Meng-Hsiung Hsieh, Purva Gopal, Yi Han, Naoto Fujiwara, Darren P Wallace, Alan S L Yu, Xiangyi Fang, Crystal Ransom, Sara Verschleisser, David Hsiehchen, Yujin Hoshida, Amit G Singal, Adam Yopp, Tao Wang, Hao Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Somatic mutations in non-malignant tissues are selected for because they confer increased clonal fitness. However, it is uncertain whether these clones can benefit organ health. Here, ultra-deep targeted sequencing of 150 liver samples from 30 chronic liver disease patients revealed recurrent somatic mutations. PKD1 mutations were observed in 30% of patients, whereas they were only detected in 1.3% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). To interrogate tumor suppressor functionality, we perturbed PKD1 in two HCC cell lines and six in vivo models, in some cases showing that PKD1 loss protected against HCC, but in most cases showing no impact. However, Pkd1 haploinsufficiency …

Comparing Cadaveric And 3d-Printed Laryngeal Models In Transcutaneous Injection Laryngoplasty, Megha Chandna, Sana Siddiqui, Dylan Bertoni, Marah Sakkal, Sara Belko, Maurits Boon, Joseph Spiegel

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is increasing focus on the development of high-quality simulation models for medical education. Cadaveric models, although considered more realistic, may be difficult to obtain and costly. The advent of three-dimensional (3D) printing has offered a low-cost, reliable, and reproducible alternative. This study sought to compare the utility of 3D-printed to cadaveric models for training in transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty (TIL).

METHODS: A simulation course with a cross-over design was employed. Video laryngoscopes were utilized for both the 3D and cadaveric models to assess the accuracy of injection into the vocal fold. Pre-procedure and post-procedure surveys were administered to evaluate …

Intermittent Clearance Of P21-Highly-Expressing Cells Extends Lifespan And Confers Sustained Benefits To Health And Physical Function, Binsheng Wang, Lichao Wang, Nathan S Gasek, Chia-Ling Kuo, Jia Nie, Taewan Kim, Pengyi Yan, Junyu Zhu, Blake L Torrance, Yueying Zhou, Lisa C Flores, Colton Allen, Allison M Andrade, Chun Guo, Rachel L Cohn, Evan R Jellison, Jenna M Bartley, George A Kuchel, Sheng Li, Tamar Pirtskhalava, Tamar Tchkonia, Sumit Yadav, Laura Haynes, James L Kirkland, Yuji Ikeno, Ming Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A key challenge in aging research is to extend lifespan in tandem with slowing down functional decline so that the life with good health (healthspan) can be extended. Here, we show that monthly clearance of a small number of cells, which highly express p21Cip1 (p21high), starting from 20 months improves cardiac and metabolic function, and extends both median and maximum lifespan in mice. Importantly, by assessing health and physical function of these mice monthly until death, we show that clearance of p21high cells improves physical function at all remaining stages of life, suggesting healthspan extension. Mechanistically, …

Influence Of Phosphate And Boron Addition To Mixed Liquid Fertilizer On The Growth And Yield Of Red Chili Cultivated In The Subsoil Layer, Stefina Liana Sari, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Anni Yuniarti

Jurnal Kultivasi

This study assesses the impact of adding phosphate and boron in a mixed liquid fertilizer (MLF) on the growth and yield of red chili plants cultivated in a subsoil environment. The experiment was conducted to comprehend how these nutrients affect the performance of red chili plants, particularly when cultivated in less ideal conditions such as subsoil, a remnant of excavation for brick production. The research was carried out at the Ciparanje Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The research design employed a Randomized Completely Block Design with the following treatments: A = Control (degraded soil without fertilizer), B …

Examining Adolescent Sexual Patterns In Creek Town, Nigeria: Insights From A Cross-Sectional Survey And Implications For Tailored Interventions, Rowland Edet, Kabiru K. Salami

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

In the dynamic landscape of global health, the sexual behaviors of adolescents are of particular significance due to their profound implications for individual well-being and public health. This article focuses on Creek Town, a vibrant community in Nigeria, and aims to provide a nuanced exploration of the sexual behaviors of adolescents within the context of local culture and socio-economic factors. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving a multi-stage sampling approach with 422 participants. A comprehensive 112-item questionnaire captured various aspects of adolescent sexual behaviors. Additionally, four focus group discussions, including both in-school and out-of-school adolescents, provided qualitative insights. The …

Three Essays In Leveraged Etfs And Cryptocurrency Price Dynamics, Md Jobaer Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In Essay 1, I examine intraday volatility spillover, market share, and information share of LETFs relative to unlevered ETFs. LETFs’ market share increases with increasing volatility, indicating that traders amplify aggregate risks arising from leverage and volatility. Moreover, price discovery of LETFs increases on volatile days, suggesting that advantageous macroeconomic information allows them to simultaneously partake in both risks. Market makers widen LETF spreads to compensate for this adverse selection. LETFs information share of 13% is 2.7 times their market share. In essay 2, I document a decline in volume, market share, and volatility of the affected currency pairs following …

A Study On Support From A Distant Learning Department At A Hispanic-Serving Institution, Bobbie Myatt, Alejandro Garcia, Velma D. Menchaca

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

Online programs have made a lasting impact on institutions of higher learning for several decades. This ethnographic qualitative study focused on the development and support of a distance learning department at a Hispanic-serving institution. The study aimed to identify unique organizational elements specific to this Hispanic-serving institution. The findings were significant, revealing that the Distance Learning department, operating under an “academic umbrella”, functioned as a comprehensive hub for both faculty and student support, offering a wide range of services including technical and instructional technology support. Furthermore, the study found that the department's placement under the “academic umbrella” not only centralized …

Comparative Plan Analysis: Helical Tomotherapy Vs. Linac Vmat For Lower Extremity Sarcomas, Marie E. Dibona

Masters Projects

Abstract

Introduction

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) affect about 13,500 people annually in the United States, and those in the lower extremities present unique challenges in radiation therapy due to the wide variability in tumor sizes, sometimes exceeding 30cm. Traditional treatment involves C-Arm linear accelerators using Volumetric Modulated Radiation Therapy (VMAT), which provides precise targeting while sparing nearby organs. Helical Tomotherapy (HT) is another option, delivering radiation in a helical pattern with a binary MLC for a uniform dose distribution. However, no studies have compared VMAT and HT for lower extremity sarcomas of different sizes. This study aims to compare these …

Supporting High School Students In Their Transition To College Through A Comprehensive College Prep Bootcamp, Brooke E. Baneck

Masters Projects

When transitioning from high school to college, many students struggle with increased academic rigor, time management, and lack of financial literacy, while also facing social and emotional difficulties such as homesickness and stress. Addressing these challenges holistically, this project outlines the Next Step: College Prep Academy, a pre-college bootcamp designed to enhance students' academic preparedness, social integration skills, emotional and psychological health, financial literacy, and cultural competency, particularly for first-generation and minoritized students. Grounded in theoretical perspectives, the bootcamp aims to equip students with essential skills and support systems to thrive in their first year of college and beyond.

Shifting Educators' Perspectives On The Purpose Of Play And Play-Based Learning, Emily Mueller

Masters Projects

Play is a research-based, developmentally appropriate practice for children, supporting both their social-emotional development and academic learning, but there exists differences between Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers in how play is viewed and used. ECE teachers’ perspectives on the purpose of play affects the practices they implement in their classrooms. If educators have limited perspectives on the purpose of play, they are not likely to implement or advocate for certain, necessary types of play and play-based learning in their classrooms. This is especially pertinent when the pressure to teach standards through formal instruction is present in many ECE classrooms. This …

The Lived Experiences Of Spouses Of First Responders Incident To The October 1, 2017, Mass Shooting In Las Vegas, Nevada, Kareen Larae Benson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research concerning first responders delves into understanding their job environment, their exposure to work hazards, and their reactions to traumatic events. However, few scholars have considered the impact of first responder work on their spouses/partners. Consequently, the purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to learn about the lived experiences of the spouses/partners of the first responders who responded within the first 12 hours to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the Route 91 Harvest Festival, on October 1, 2017. Six participants (from law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency services personnel) who were current or former spouses/partners of first …

Paradox Of Trust: Examining The Intermediaries That Shape Trust In Va Among The Veteran Population, Jonathan Mills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has faced significant challenges in maintaining the trust of the veterans it aims to serve—especially those veterans most at risk for adverse outcomes. While veterans currently enrolled in VA care report high trust in the quality of their care, nonenrolled veterans report much lower levels of trust, preventing them from seeking the care they need. This study explored the complex dynamics and drivers of low trust among veterans who are not enrolled in VA healthcare, versus higher reported trust among veterans who are. The research leveraged organizational reputation theory and the macro cognitive perspective …

Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry Applications For Metabolomics, Darcy Cochran, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

Metabolomics is an interdisciplinary field that aims to study all metabolites < 1500 Da that are ubiquitously found within all organisms. Metabolomics is experiencing exponential growth and commonly relies on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) is a form of HRMS that is particularly well suited for metabolomics research due to its exceptionally high resolution (10⁵–10⁶) and sensitivity with a mass accuracy in parts per billion (ppb). In this regard, FT-ICR-MS can provide valuable insights into the metabolomics analysis of complex biological systems due to unique capabilities such as the easy separation of isobaric and isomeric species, isotopic fine structure analysis, spatial resolution of metabolites in cells and tissues, and a high confidence (error) in metabolite identification. Alternatively, the large and complex data sets, long acquisition times, high cost, and limited access mainly through national mass spectrometry facilities may impede the …

An Agent-Based Modeling Of Permafrost Melting And Virus Exposure Due To Climate Change, Nishat Ara Mozid

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change has affected human life and natural system significantly. Particularly, there is specific evidence of change in the Arctic region for climate warming. One of the consequences of climate change is the process of permafrost degradation and thawing rate of active layer. Permafrost is defined as frozen grounds that exists at a temperature of or below 0℃ for at least two consecutive years, consists of ice and novel pathogens which are frozen for a long time. Anthrax may cause a serious threat for local environment and livestock due to permafrost melting. The study introduces an agent-based modeling of permafrost …

Madelung Mechanics And Superoscillations, Mordecai Waegell

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In single-particle Madelung mechanics, the single-particle quantum state Ψ(⃗x, t) = R(⃗x, t)eiS(⃗x,t)/h is interpreted as comprising an entire conserved fluid of classical point particles, with local density R(⃗x, t)2 and local momentum ⃗∇S(⃗x, t) (where R and S are real). The Schrödinger equation gives rise to the continuity equation for the fluid, and the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for particles of the fluid, which includes an additional density-dependent quantum potential energy term Q(⃗x, t) = − ¯h2 2m ⃗∇R(⃗x,t) R(⃗x,t) , which is all that makes the fluid behavior nonclassical. In particular, the quantum potential can become negative and create a …

(Re)Framing Sustainable Careers: Toward A Conceptual Model And Future Research Agenda, William E. Donald, Beatrice I.J.M. Van Der Heijden, Graham Manville

All Works

Purpose: By adopting a Social Exchange Theory (SET) lens, this paper aims to integrate the often-fragmented literature streams of Vocational Behavior (VB), Career Development (CD), and Human Resource Management (HRM) to offer a conceptual model for framing sustainable careers. Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual approach is taken whereby eight propositions are developed to integrate the fragmented literature streams of VB, CD, and HRM. Findings: We posit that external factors and career counseling moderate the positive relationship between employability capital and self-perceived employability. We also argue that self-perceived employability is positively associated with career success and that career crafting moderates this relationship. Finally, …