Digital Commons Network^™

Depression And Psychotic Disorders Worsen Perioperative Outcomes And Increase Resource Utilization After Multilevel Lumbar Fusion: Implications For Screening And Perioperative Care, Leonidas E. Mastrokostas, Paul G. Mastrokostas, Luke B. Schwartz, Abigail Razi, Sean Inzerillo, John K. Houten, Arya Varthi, Alex R. Vaccaro, Jad Bou Monsef, Afshin E. Razi, Mitchell K. Ng

Rothman Institute Papers

CONTEXT: Multilevel lumbar fusion use has increased with an aging U.S. population. Depression and psychotic disorders are linked to poorer surgical outcomes, but their effects in this setting are unclear.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to quantify the prevalence of these disorders and evaluate associations with perioperative outcomes and resource use.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2022.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Depression and psychotic disorders were defined using Elixhauser-derived indicators. Outcomes included medical and mechanical complications, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and costs.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: …

Outcomes Of Lumbar Fusion Surgery In Isthmic Versus Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pavlos Texakalidis, Stavros Matsoukas, Constantine L. Karras, Christopher S. Ahuja, Najib El Tecle, Tyler R. Koski, Nader S. Dahdaleh

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Lumbar spondylolisthesis can cause a significant disability due to back and lower extremity pain. Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) are the two most common types. DS results from arthritic changes and degenerative disc disease, whereas IS occurs secondary to a pars interarticularis defect. This study compared surgical outcomes between IS and DS. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Twenty studies comprising 3136 patients were included (DS: 1944; IS: 1192). No differences were identified in terms of estimated blood loss (mean difference [MD]: 5.79, 95% …

Perspective: The Tailgate Medicine Model: A Proposed Integrative Method Of Care Delivery For Rural Populations, Michael P. Mcshane, Jennifer A. Kowalkowski, Kristina Brant, Joel Segel, Ashley Visco, Philip Volpe, Mark Stephens

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background and Aims: Social, environmental, economic, and cultural factors—social determinants of health (SDOH)—create structural barriers that limit access to health resources and negatively impact health outcomes, particularly for rural populations. Given the significant impact of SDOH on health and mortality, there is an urgent need to develop rural care delivery models that consider community‐specific SDOH that currently drive structural inequities in health for rural populations.

Objective: To propose and describe the Tailgate Medicine Model (TMM), an innovative health care delivery model that, by design, emphasizes assessment and impact of SDOH on health outcomes for rural populations. TMM blends …

How The Irs Is Trying To Encourage Taxpayer Buy-In Post-Appeal Mediation, Lingxi Qu

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

With the 2025 tax return season underway, taxpayers may have dispute resolution options if tax-related disagreements with the IRS occur. Before pursuing litigation, taxpayers can pursue several dispute-resolution options provided by the IRS, including fast track (“FTS”), early referral, and post-appeals mediation. Choosing an appropriate program depends on the status of the disputes and who is currently managing your case. When taxpayers have ordinary unsuccessful appeals negotiations, they can file a request to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals for a non-binding mediation.  This will allow a neutral third-party to facilitate conversations between parties without experiencing costly and exhaustive litigation, …

Review Of 3d Human Reconstruction Methods Empowering Vr/Ar, Lisha Zhang, Yuchi Huo, Qi Ye, Anjun Chen, Shihui Guo, Jiming Chen

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: 3D human reconstruction is critical for VR/AR. Early methods relied on multi-view cameras and depth sensors but were costly. Mid-term approaches using parametric human models enabled efficient single-image reconstruction, while implicit neural representations improved fidelity yet suffered from low efficiency. Currently, 3D Gaussian Splatting achieves high accuracy and real-time rendering as a new paradigm. Challenges include detail distortion and limited generalization, and future development will focus on VR/AR integration.

Research On Performance Evaluation Of P300 Brain-Computer Interface Under Environment Modeling And Simulation, Xiaofei Ge, Jinling Lian, Jin Han, Xin'an Fan, Danmei Luo, Yuxiang Hua, Hao Liu, Lijian Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In the process of brain-computer interface(BCI) technology stepping from laboratory to practical application scenarios, it is difficult to make an accurate prediction and evaluation of the effect of real environment factors on the system performance. Therefore, a research method based on a multifactor simulation experiment was proposed. A controllable simulation experiment environment was constructed, and the parametric modeling of two key physical environmental factors, namely noise and light, was carried out. By taking the number of electroencephalogram channels as the system parameter, this paper systematically studied the influence mechanism of the aforementioned factors on the decoding performance of P300-BCI. …

Newsletter 2026.03.18, Fcrh Honors Program

What's Going On, Honors? (2025-26)

No abstract provided.

The Bg News March 18, 2026, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. March 18, 2026. Volume 105-Issue 21.

Neural Radiance Fields Based On Explicit Feature Matching And Scaled Dot-Product Attention, Mingwei Cao, Fengna Wang, Zilong Wang, Haifeng Zhao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the problems that neural radiance fields(NeRF) are prone to artifacts and texture blurring in novel view synthesis under sparse view input and complex scenes, this paper proposed neural radiance fields based on explicit feature matching and scaled dot-product attention(EMD-NeRF). A multiscale feature extraction network was used to extract multi-scale feature information from the input sparse views. A fusion dot-product module was utilized to calculate view interaction information as a shared branch. Cosine similarity was adopted as a matching clue for similarity embedding volume rendering. A regularization loss function was used to enhance the quality of the scene …

Integrating Geometric Priors And Importance Sampling For High-Fidelity Indoor Scene Reconstruction, Tao Yang, Min Shi, Xigang Zhao, Suqin Wang, Qi Wang, Dengming Zhu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Gaussian splatting suffers from geometric distortion during scene reconstruction, particularly in weakly textured indoor scenes. To address this issue, this paper proposes a high-precision indoor scene reconstruction method that integrates geometric priors and importance sampling. The proposed method fully considers the effect of the initialization process on reconstruction quality. An advanced feed-forward model is employed to generate high-quality geometric initialization, thus improving overall reconstruction stability and accuracy. An importance sampling strategy is introduced to mitigate the adverse effects of blurry images. Furthermore, a supervision mechanism based on a geometric prior model is designed to constrain the scene structure, further …

Analytical Reentry Guidance Method Based On Lift-To-Drag Ratio-Velocity Profile, Weibo Sun, Ping Ma, Yuxuan Wang, Songyan Wang, Tao Chao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: An analytical reentry guidance method based on the lift-to-drag ratio and velocity profile was proposed to address the challenges of precise flight time control and prohibited area avoidance for the hypersonic glide flight vehicle during the reentry phase. A reduced-order reentry motion model was established; the Chebyshev series was used to approximate its nonlinear integral terms and differential equations; analytical expressions for the glide trajectory were yielded. The analytical relationships among flight time, remaining range, and the lift-to-drag ratio and velocity profile were derived. The optimization problem of lift-to-drag ratio and velocity profile was converted into a segmented parameter …

Research And Analysis Of Algorithm For Detecting Surface Defects On Automotive Wheel Hubs Based On Ccl-Yolov8, Yanjun Chen, Min Zhou, Meng Zha, Meizhou Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the challenges such as low detection efficiency, difficulties in identifying small defects, and poor accuracy in detecting surface defects on automotive wheel hubs, a lightweight neural network called CCL-YOLOv8 was proposed based on an improved YOLOv8n architecture. A synergistic improvement in both detection accuracy and efficiency was achieved through a three-stage model optimization strategy. A convolutional attention fusion module was introduced, which integrated convolution operations with self-attention mechanisms, thereby enhancing the model's ability to capture local features of small defects while perceiving global context under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions.A C2f-Star module was constructed to reduce computational overhead …

Research On Inter-Satellite Topology Design And Simulation Of Giant Leo Constellation Network With Consistent Pattern, Zhicheng Li, Shuaijun Liu, Lixiang Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The giant low earth orbit (LEO) constellation network uses inter-satellite links to form an intersatellite topology, realizing the transmission of data between satellites. In order to adapt to the nature of uniform and symmetrical distribution of satellites in the constellation, this paper used a consistent connection pattern between satellites to construct an inter-satellite topology, and by analyzing the arrangement of non-mirror links in the constellation, it was found that the connection method of each link of the satellite itself could be independent of each other, which reduced the simulation complexity and the solution space of the inter-satellite topology. …

A Precise Damage Assessment Method For Lethal Blast Warheads Against Quadruped Robots, Xueqian Wang, Jianbing Men, Xin Zhou, Shuyou Wang, Mei Li

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To accurately evaluate the damage efficiency of a lethal blast warhead on quadruped robots, a typical quadruped robot replication model and vulnerability damage tree were constructed through Autodesk Inventor. The power field calculation model of a lethal blast warhead was introduced. Based on the high-precision collision detection and graphic rendering technology of UE, this paper carried out the intersection detection of destructive elements and targets and realistic scene visualization. A visualization system for damage assessment of quadruped robots by a lethal blast warhead was developed, featuring capabilities such as parametric modeling of the lethal blast warhead, power field evolution …

Simulation And Multi-Perspective Recognition Algorithm For Typical Trajectory Shapes, Xuejian Feng, Han Ding, Yiqi Tong, Chaoying Huo, Yanjin Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Current trajectory simulation methods inadequately address geometric shape features and kinematic properties of the target trajectory. To bridge this gap, a target trajectory shape simulation algorithm based on kinematic laws was proposed. The polar coordinate equations and curvature equations of multiple trajectories were integrated. The aircraft state parameters were solved by combining kinematic equations. Angular Gaussian noise was introduced to enhance trajectory diversity and authenticity. Additionally, a multi-perspective trajectory shape recognition algorithm was designed, which could effectively integrate image and sequential multi-modal features by adopting a multilayer perceptron, enabling precise trajectory shape recognition. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed …

Virtual Train Operation Platform Based On Digital Twin, Ziying Wang, Congjun Sun, Guihu Li, Tianhao Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In response to the limitations of traditional train operation simulation modeling, such as simplification, lack of adaptive adjustment capability for parameters, and proneness to error accumulation, a virtual train operation platform based on digital twin technology was proposed. A train model under specific railway lines was constructed. By combining with the intelligent operation and maintenance platform of the railway line, real-time train operation data was obtained and preprocessed. The adaptive chaos optimization algorithm was used to optimize the key parameters of train operation simulation online and establish a digital twin model of the railway line. This model adopted a …

Large-Scale Scene Registration Technology Based On 3d Gaussian Splatting Fusing Gps Prior Information, Fei Wan, Yong Yin

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the challenges of low computational efficiency, slow convergence, and limited accuracy in large-scale 3D scene registration, a 3D Gaussian splatting (3DGS) registration method integrating GPS prior information was proposed. Spatial position priors provided by GPS were utilized to establish initial alignment through coordinate system transformations, narrowing the registration search space. Dense point cloud models were efficiently reconstructed by combining 3DGS technology. Highprecision alignment was achieved through a two-stage optimization of GPS coarse registration and fine registration. Experiments demonstrate that the GPS-assisted method reduces translation errors by 25%~50% and increases success rates to 98% in vegetation-covered and …

Task Planning Method For Cross-Domain Cooperative Combat Operations Of Unmanned Systems Under Complex Constraints, Haojie Fang, Ziyang Zhen, Huajun Gong, Xu Xie, Wei Luo

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In pre-combat task planning for cross-domain cooperative combat operations, to solve the problems of diverse and complex constraints and difficulties in solving planning models caused by performance differences of unmanned systems and increased requirements for cooperative combat operations, a multi-strategy enhanced grey wolf optimization (MSEGWO) algorithm was proposed. By considering various complex constraints such as performance of each type of unmanned systems, munition usage, task timing, task time window, and flight path, a task planning mathematical model with minimizing the comprehensive cost as the objective was established. Improvement strategies such as nonlinear adjustment of convergence factor, alternative solution space …

Design And Application Of Bds Visual Simulation Teaching Platform Based On Cesium, Liguo Lu, Yulin Cai, Tangting Wu, Canhui Lin

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The deep development of the BeiDou navigation satellite system(BDS) cannot be separated from the support of corresponding talent education, especially the development of new digital resources and tools. A visual simulation teaching platform for BDS was designed based on open source Cesium engine library to address issues such as the large and complex size of the BDS project, the unreachable space environment, and the difficult understanding of principles and concepts. The platform adopted a B/S architecture to achieve visual simulation of course content such as orbit cognition, orbit calculation, constellation simulation, service performance, and satellite links. Teaching applications have …

Research On Uav Path Planning Method Based On Collision Free Trajectory, Jun Xie, Qi Zhang, Yanyun Peng, Haonan Shi, Dongyang Li, Xi Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In view of the problems of poor quality, long time consumption, and low efficiency of the autonomous path planning method for unmanned aerial vehicles, a path planning method for unmanned aerial vehicles based on a collision-free trajectory was proposed. Under the premise of uncertainty, the time-related virtual points and collision threshold were set; the obstacle was modeled as a rectangle; the interest points around the rectangle were defined. The uncertainty optimization model between the unmanned aerial vehicles and the obstacle was established, so as to obtain the allowable edge of the collision-free trajectory of the unmanned aerial vehicles. The …

Construction Approach Of Llm-Empowered Tactical Wargame Decision-Making Agents, Dayong Liu, Zhiming Dong, Qisheng Guo, Ang Gao, Xuehuan Qiu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Decision-making agents are critical enablers for implementing human-machine, machinemachine, and hybrid human-machine adversarial interaction in tactical wargaming, where the intelligence level of the agent is crucial. To address the limitations of traditional decision agents such as insufficient adaptability, simplistic strategies, and high construction costs, a fusion decision framework driven by the large and small models was proposed. It specifically investigated the fusion approach of large language models with conventional decision-making agent construction approaches, including behavior trees, finite state machines, heuristic search, and deep reinforcement learning. New ideas and technical pathways are provided for the construction of tactical wargame …

Research On Visual Place Recognition Algorithms For Complex Urban Environments, Peijin Liu, Minxin Zhang, Lin He, Yige Sun, Tingqi Su

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Dynamic factors such as traffic flow and crowd density in complex urban environments reduce the accuracy of visual place recognition (VPR) algorithms. To solve these problems, a semantic-guided visual place recognition (SG-VPR) algorithm was proposed. A semantic-guided feature suppression module was designed. A semantic-guided module and feature suppression layer were constructed to reduce the dynamic object interference and more accurately extract the key static features. An adaptive triplet margin loss function (ATML) was proposed by improving the traditional triplet margin loss. The margins were adaptively adjusted according to the sample distribution, solving the problem of suboptimal solution convergence …

Silicosis Evaluation Among Native Spanish-Speaking Workers: An Exploratory Pilot Survey Of Occupational Medicine Providers, Caroline Olsen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable silica particles. Silicosis is usually characterized by high occupational exposure to silica in industries like mining, sandblasting, construction, and stone fabrication. Recent research showing increasing rates of silicosis among native Spanish-speaking workers demonstrates the need for improved silicosis diagnosis and patient education. While research has been done to understand the epidemiological distribution of silicosis and native Spanish-speaking workers, there has been limited research evaluating occupational medicine providers’ clinical practices related to the diagnosis of silicosis among this population.

This exploratory pilot study evaluated occupational medicine providers’ experiences related to silicosis …

Invitation To Fractional Calculus, Lyubomir I. Boyadzhiev

Open Educational Resources

These lecture notes are designed to provide the students who wish to become familiar with the basic concepts and methods of the Fractional Calculus (FC). The following features can be pointed out:  This text is prepared to be easily read and understood by students making their first steps into this topic. The lecture notes do not presume a background beyond standard college calculus curricula. Readers needing extra help will find tools for bringing their mathematical maturity up in the references and companion links;  The writing style is aimed to be direct and pragmatic. Precise mathematical language is used without excessive …

Latest Sightings Of The Striped Hyena In North Africa: Major Threats And Conservation Actions, Abderrazak El Alami, Abderrazzak Fattah, Ilyas El Alami, Ziad El Alami

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is widely distributed across the northern half of Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Asia. However,  numerous studies indicate that this carnivore is in decline, and it is currently classified  as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. In North  Africa, the Hyaena hyaena barbara subspecies has been extirpated from many  areas. This article summarizes data collected from observations of the striped hyena  in North Africa between 2004 and 2024. Among the 418 striped hyenas recorded in  North Africa between 2004 and 2024, 18.4% (n = 77) were …

Depressive Symptoms, Campus Connectedness, And Campus Climate Related To Sexual Violence And Misconduct, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera, Amanda S. Birnbaum, Eva S. Goldfarb, Ranju Mainali, Lisa D. Lieberman

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Depression, although a consequence of sexual violence, has not been studied in the context of college students’ views of campus sexual violence climate. Depression is one of the most prevalent and impairing mental health concerns among college students and has well-established links to sexual violence victimization; therefore, it serves as a theoretically and clinically meaningful focal outcome. Therefore, we assessed perceptions of institutional climate in the context of self-reported depression. Undergraduates (n = 716) reported perceptions and experiences of campus sexual violence and misconduct, connectedness, attitude, and depressive symptoms in an online survey. More than a third of participants reported …

Encouraging A United Response: A Systematic Review And Mixed-Methods Collaborative Evaluation Of Co-Responder Model Effectiveness In Florida, Kelsey Greenfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Even before the deinstitutionalization movement caused the influx of state hospital patients into communities ill-prepared to navigate their needs, law enforcement has been responsible for responding to persons in crisis (PIC) due to mental illness. In response to the high rates of incarceration for persons with mental illness (PMI), a growing number of law enforcement agencies have adopted diversion strategies referred to as police-mental health collaboration (PMHC) models to divert PMI away from the criminal justice system and towards community mental health services. Despite nearly forty years of research, there are still considerable knowledge gaps regarding who benefits from PMHCs …

Master’S Students: Experiences, Transitions, And Needs In The College Of Education, Brandi L. Sanchez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explores the experiences, transitions, and needs of first-year master’s students in education. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Model, the study examines how students perceive shifts in academic rigor, workload, and the increased self-direction required in graduate education. The case study used three data collection methods: semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observations that provided insights into the student perception of master’s students studying education’s experience, transition, and needs. Additionally, this case study enabled exploration of the research questions across six types of master’s programs within the College of Education. By focusing on the first year of graduate study, …

The Influence Of Alongside For Educators, An Ai Wellness Tool, On Educator Well-Being, Amanda Grell

Doctorate in Education

Educator well-being has become an urgent concern in K-12 education, as educators continue to experience chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and high levels of burnout. Despite these challenges, few school-based interventions offer timely, individualized support that addresses educators’ real-time emotional needs. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of the Alongside for Educators application on educator well-being within middle and high school settings. The purpose of this research was to explore how the tool supported educators across the Coping-Competence-Context (3Cs) framework, including experiences with the application, contextual factors shaping engagement, and changes in well-being. Qualitative findings from 10 interviews revealed that educators …

Key Problems Of Intent Recognition Research: A Survey On Activity, Plan And Goal Recognition, Yi Zhang, Kai Xu, Shuilin Li, Dejun Chen, Yunxiu Zeng, Yong Peng

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: With the development of artificial intelligence technology, realizing intent recognition in human-computer interaction has become one of the key challenges. In this paper, the current research status of three fields was systematically sorted out, namely activity recognition, plan recognition, and goal recognition, and the progress from the problem proposal to the current development was analyzed. The main research approaches in each field were reviewed, and a survey of research on activity recognition, a development overview of plan recognition, and a retrospective analysis of hotspots in goal recognition were conducted. This general view of the problem helped to clarify …