Digital Commons Network^™

Discrete Diffusion For Bundle Construction, Teng Tu, Ai Li, Yunshan Ma, Shuo Xu, Xiaohao Liu, Haokai Ma, Liang Pang, Tat-Seng Chua

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As a central task in product bundling, bundle construction aims to select a subset of items from large item catalogs to build an entire bundle or, more practically, complete a partial bundle. Existing methods often rely on the sequential construction paradigm that predicts items one at a time, nevertheless, this paradigm is fundamentally unsuitable for the essentially unordered bundles. In contrast, non-sequential methods model a bundle as a set, but still face two dimensionality curses: the combinatorial space grows exponentially with both bundle length and catalog size. Accordingly, we identify two technical challenges: 1) how to effectively and efficiently model …

On Autopilot? An Empirical Study Of Human-Ai Teaming And Review Practices In Open Source, Haoyu Gao, Peerachai Banyongrakkul, Hao Guan, Mansooreh Zahedi, Christoph Treude

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Large Language Models (LLMs) increasingly automate software engineering tasks. While recent studies highlight the accelerated adoption of “AI as a teammate” in Open Source Software (OSS), developer interaction patterns remain under-explored. In this work, we investigated project-level guidelines and developers’ interactions with AI-assisted pull requests (PRs) by expanding the AIDev dataset to include finer-grained contributor code ownership and a comparative baseline of human-created PRs. We found that over 67.5% of AI-co-authored PRs originate from contributors without prior code ownership. Despite this, the majority of repositories lack guidelines for AI-coding agent usage. Notably, we observed a distinct interaction pattern: AI-co-authored PRs …

Increased Backbone Rigidity Of Artificial Transcription Factors, Jasmine Glover, Emma Otey, Joanna K. Kwao, Nicholas Truex

Senior Theses

Programming DNA-binding proteins is an effective strategy for developing therapeutics that regulate gene expression. These proteins can directly bind to DNA to activate or repress transcription of specific genes. Zinc finger proteins are a class of DNA-binding proteins commonly found in eukaryotic organisms. Their DNA-binding function is derived from unique amino acid sequences within each domain that recognizes specific nucleotides, allowing each finger to selectively recognize three DNA base pairs. Adjoining of multiple domains in tandem allows recognition of a specific DNA sequence. Artificial transcription factors can be made of multiple zinc finger domains arranged in tandem and engineered to …

Voices Of Motherhood: A Comparative Analysis Of Feminist Commentary On Law In Margaret Atwood’S The Handmaid’S Tale And Celeste Ng’S Little Fires Everywhere, Addison Elaine Scott

Senior Theses

This South Carolina Honors College senior thesis provides a detailed comparative literary analysis of the depiction of motherhood and the legal system in two selected novels: Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere (2017). Feminist women writers have used narratives to articulate and represent marginalized experiences suppressed by systems of power. By reading these narratives, readers can emotionally connect with the perspectives shared while engaging with the underlying feminist commentary. This explores how Atwood and Ng illustrate the failure of American legal and social systems to understand or fully protect motherhood and fertility—complicating, confounding, and …

Daily Eastern News: April 01, 2026, Eastern Illinois University

Daily Eastern News: 2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Exchange Rate Volatility And Colombian Export Performance: A Comparative Product-Level Time-Series Analysis, Sebastian Pedraza

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the effects of nominal exchange rate volatility on Colombia’s export volumes to the United States, with emphasis on sectoral heterogeneity across agricultural and energy products. While exchange rate movements are widely recognized as an important determinant of trade performance, empirical evidence on the role of exchange rate volatility remains mixed, particularly for developing economies. This study contributes to the literature by distinguishing between exchange rate uncertainty and exchange rate level effects and by adopting a product-level time-series approach. Using monthly data from 2016 to 2024, the analysis focuses on four major Colombian exports: coffee, cut flowers, crude …

Habitat Preference Of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois Spp.) In The Gulf Of Mexico, River Barnett

Theses & ETDs

Lionfish (Pterois spp.) are an invasive species in the Gulf of Mexico that originated from the Indo-Pacific. They have no natural predators within this area and are known to prey on anything they can fit into their mouths, as well as having a high fecundity rate. This thesis investigated the habitat preferences of the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in the Gulf of Mexico, focusing on depth distribution and substrate preference. Specifically looking at quantifying depth-related patterns in lionfish abundance across shallow (< 20 m), intermediate (20–40 m), and mesophotic (>40 m) zones, assessing the influence of habitat structure, including artificial and natural habitats, on …

The Extension Newsletter, Issue 119, Spring 2026, Wright State University Retirees Association

The Extension Newsletter

This issue of The Extension shares updates from the Wright State University Retirees Association, including upcoming events, member news, and organizational developments. It features sections such as book recommendations, obituaries, poetry, and an oral history interview highlighting a retiree’s career. The newsletter emphasizes community engagement and ongoing connections among retirees.

Efficacy Analysis In Clinical Trials: A Comprehensive Review Of Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches, Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, Samhita Pal

Faculty Articles

Efficacy testing is a cornerstone of clinical trials, ensuring that medical interventions achieve their intended therapeutic effects. Over the decades, a wide range of statistical methodologies have been developed to address the complexities of clinical trial data, including parametric, nonparametric, Bayesian, and machine learning approaches. Parametric methods, such as t-tests, ANOVA, and LMMs, have traditionally been the foundation of efficacy testing due to their efficiency under well-defined assumptions. Nonparametric techniques, including the Friedman test, Brunner-Munzel test, and modern extensions like nparLD, have emerged as robust alternatives, particularly for skewed, ordinal, or non-normal data. Bayesian methodologies have enabled the incorporation of …

Zambia: Teaching And Cultural Immersion, Darnelle Hillard, Jasmine Pena, Jourdan Summers, Tamiel White

International Professional Development Partnerships (IPDP) Consortium

As Childhood Education majors at Buffalo State, we chose to participate in the IPDS–Zambia program to broaden our pedagogical perspective and gain firsthand experience with education in a different cultural context. Having grown up in the United States under our education system, we were eager to observe how Zambian educators employ creativity and resourcefulness to deliver meaningful instruction despite limited material resources. This experience reshaped our understanding of effective teaching shifting our focus as a whole from reliance on technology to the central importance of relationships, adaptability, and cultural respect.

Testing The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis On Anthropogenic Pressure In Central Alabama, Gavin Terrell

Theses

Biodiversity is fundamental to maintaining ecosystem structure and function globally. Prior to the late 20th century, ecological theory generally predicted that biodiversity would be highest in systems experiencing minimal disturbance. However, Joseph H. Connell challenged this view with the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH), which posits that species diversity peaks at intermediate levels of disturbance and declines under conditions of both low and high disturbance. Although widely cited, the applicability of the IDH to natural systems remains debated, particularly in the context of anthropogenic disturbances and when diversity is measured beyond species richness alone.

This study evaluated the predictions of the …

Chalmers Library Research Award Winner 2026, Cooper Bertschi

Chalmers Library Research Award

No abstract provided.

Aligning Clinical Documentation With Payer Requirements To Improve Wheelchair Access, Alexandria Morales

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The wheelchair acquisition process is complicated and requires an interdisciplinary team of Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP) and either Occupational Therapists (OT) or Physical Therapists (PT). Without a proper mobility device, many wheelchair users report frustration due to decreased participation in work, school, medical appointments, and social events. Improper documentation of specific wheelchair needs contributes to payment authorization denials, causing long delays in the approval process and the timeliness of patients receiving their devices. (Nancy R. Mudrick, April, 2025). According to the 2024 reporting period for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), “insufficient documentation accounted for 79.7% of improper payments …

Wellness In Action: Implementation Of An Experiential Wellness Elective For Occupational Therapy Students, Heather Short

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Wellness In Action: Implementation of an Experiential Wellness Elective for Occupational Therapy Students

Graduate student mental health is a growing concern in higher education, highlighted by the student experience of high levels of stress, burnout, and declining well-being that impair academic and daily functioning (SenthilKumar et al.,2023; Bullock et al.,2017). Research highlights the need for proactive, holistic interventions that provide education and support skill development (Henrico, 2021; Van Oss et al., 2025). To address this need, this capstone project aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an experiential wellness elective for occupational therapy (OT) doctoral students within a graduate health professions …

Fostering Engagement In Healthy Lifestyle Choices: A Health Management Curriculum For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Gabriela Kay

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The older adult population continues to grow, necessitating intentional efforts to support health maintenance and independence within this group. Current literature emphasizes that healthy aging requires a multifaceted approach, including consistent engagement in a range of health-promoting behaviors. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop an educational and interactive program for community-dwelling older adults aimed at increasing knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices and promoting active participation in these behaviors. The overarching goal was to empower older adults to better manage their health and reduce the risk of functional decline and loss of independence.

A needs assessment was conducted …

Justice, Autonomy, Beneficence, And Non-Maleficence: The Global Failure To Heed Ethical Mandates In Birth Spaces, Julia Dees

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

Respectful and safe care in all birthing spaces has long been an ideal that global communities fail to meet. Birthing people are disrespected, physically or emotionally harmed, or left to completely fend for themselves during a period of extreme emotional and medical vulnerability. Historically, autonomy especially has been ignored in birthing spaces with medical trends like the twilight sleep, where women were drugged into a state of unconsciousness during birth (Taylor, 2023), demonstrating the desire of western medicine, in particular, to reduce birthing people to bystanders in their own birth. While birth trends and medical treatments have changed throughout time, …

Optimizing Makeup Application Techniques For Women With Tenodesis: Adaptations And Ergonomic Solutions, Ashley J. Medina, Wendy Tremaine, Lee Ann Hoffman

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

To enhance independence in makeup application for women utilizing a tenodesis grasp, Ashley Medina, OTS, in collaboration with Able Faith, Inc., developed and presented a capstone poster outlining a targeted program of adaptive strategies and ergonomic solutions. This program was designed to address the unique functional challenges experienced by women with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) while promoting autonomy and confidence in daily self-care routines.

The experience objectives included: (1) identifying existing adaptive equipment that supports individuals with SCIs in completing makeup application tasks; (2) examining and understanding the roles of interdisciplinary team members working with individuals with SCI in comparison …

Peri-Kare, Karlie Thompson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain the most common healthcare-associated infection and poses significant threat to patient safety, particularly on cardiovascular units. CAUTIs increase morbidity and mortality and are especially prevalent among older, immobile patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and Foley catheter use. The purpose of this change project is to reduce CAUTI incidence through the utilization of marketing-approved signage magnetized to patients’ doors when a foley is actively in use. Data from the local unit, where three CAUTIs were identified by the end of January 2026 despite a unit goal of one or fewer per year, shows that lack of …

Adverse Childhood Experiences Effect On Resting State Eeg, Emily R. Stripling

SPARK Symposium Presentations

In this experiment, we processed the resting state EEG data. The data was split into 4 groups: a. Eyes closed with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), b. Eyes open with ACES, c. Eyes closed without ACEs, d. Eyes open without ACEs. The goal is to determine whether those with ACEs have an elevated Alpha band during the eyes closed recording compared to those without ACEs

Rvx In The Spotlight: Generating Awareness Growth For Belmont, Eloise G. Dornfeld, Lynda K. F. Clark, Kathryn E. Roller, Zoe E. Walls

SPARK Symposium Presentations

RVX is a student organization at Belmont University dedicated to students with the passion for dance and love for K-pop. With recent success of a dance cover for the “K-pop Demon Hunters” song “Golden,” the team has grown in following on social media. However, on campus awareness has not had the same trajectory. Spotlight PR, composed of four students in the spring 2026 Public Relations Campaigns class at Belmont University, partnered with RVX to increase general student and faculty awareness on campus. RVX began in 2017 with seven members and has grown to 26. Most notably, the student organization has …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On Glycemic Control And Cardiovascular Outcomes, Canna Malaikham

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been evaluated for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The purpose of the literature review was to assess the clinical benefit and potential risk of GLP-1 receptor agonists by examining the mechanism(s) of action of drugs that utilize a variety of signaling pathways by activating receptors on specific cells. The literature reviews include: (a) Mechanistic studies of molecular signaling; (b) Pharmacokinetic analysis of the plasma concentration of drugs post-dosing; (c) Randomized controlled trials of drugs to evaluate their effectiveness; and (d) …

Bayesball : A Comprehensive Framework For Predicting Ucl Injury, Brady M. Pinter, Will Best Ph.D.

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) reconstruction, commonly referred to as Tommy John Surgery, has seen a significant rise among Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers, prompting growing interest in identifying the mechanical and performance-based factors that contribute to injury risk. While previous studies have examined these relationships using traditional frequentist approaches separately, this study combines multiple different model techniques to present a broad framework for finding significant predictors of UCL Surgery. These models include Lasso and Ridge Regression,  Principal Component Regression (PCR) , Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) , Random Forest, Multiple Linear Regression, and a Bayesian Statistical Model. Using these models, …

Joint Map Of Warren County, Kentucky, Steven L. Martin, Emily R. Morris

Map and Chart--KGS

This fracture map is a compilation of joint locations and faults mapped in Warren County, Kentucky, and provides orientations of fractures (joints and faults) for hydrological, geotechnical, slope stability, and rockfall mitigation analysis. The joint data include orientations collected from 2023 to 2024, and those collected during the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologic mapping of the Woodburn 7.5 -minute quadrangle (Shawe, 1963c). New joint orientations were measured to fill gaps in the published geologic map data. Joints are fractures with no appreciable movement parallel to the fracture plane and only slight movement normal to the fracture plane, whereas faults exhibit …

A Rubric-Based Evaluation Of Mote Marine Aquarium’S Curriculum, Alexis Williams

Theses & ETDs

Informal science institutions such as aquariums play a critical role in shaping students’ engagement with and understanding of scientific concepts, particularly outside traditional classroom settings. This study addresses a gap in existing research by examining curriculum design rather than solely student outcomes, focusing on middle school programs at Mote Marine Aquarium. A theory-aligned rubric grounded in the Four-Phased Model of Interest Development, intrinsic motivation, three-dimensional learning, and the Contextual Model of Learning was developed and applied to evaluate three lessons: Marine Ecology, Ocean Technology, and Marine Biomedical. The analysis assessed inquiry-based learning, real-world connections, reflection, collaboration, and support for interest …

Assessing The Role Of Fisheries In The Decline Of Seabird Populations Off The Coast Of Chile, Karen Robertson

Theses & ETDs

Seabirds have been in decline globally with an overall decrease of nearly 70% between 1950 and 2010 highlighting pressure on these systems. Seabirds are important due to the ecosystem functions and services they provide, nutrient transfer, population regulation, ecotourism attraction and overall indicators of ecosystem health. The coast of Chile is a leading area in productivity, resulting in high numbers of seabird species inhabiting its coastal areas. Additionally, it is a leading country in the fishing community, leading to an overlap between fisheries and seabird communities. While there are other threats such as invasive species and climate change contributing to …

Understanding Teacher Pd In The Greater Newark Stem Ecosystem: What Do Educators Need, And How Can We Deliver It?, Brad Schenker, Christopher Abbaleo, Michelle Cirillo, Rosemary Cortez, Tanisha Davis, Mark Maire, Vincent Nguyen, Jasmine Ramsey, Brad Schenker

STEM for Success Showcase

The Greater Newark region faces significant challenges in providing high-quality STEM professional development (PD) for teachers. These challenges include:

● time constraints

● cost barriers

● contract limitations

● lack of centralized information

The Greater Newark STEM Ecosystem implemented a 16 day virtual “sprint”, using the Knowtion platform , that brought together STEM educators, program providers, school supervisors, and administrators to explore what meaningful PD for STEM teachers looks like and how it can be delivered effectively at scale. The insights gathered will inform an ecosystem-wide educator survey aimed at developing new PD solutions for STEM teachers.

Model Woman: Realizing Frances Folsom Cleveland As A Fashion Archetype Of Gilded-Age America, Olivia R. Sweet

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

This paper is an exploration of former First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland’s position as an influential figure in women’s fashion during her years in the White House, seeking to fill a gap in historical scholarship regarding her legacy. It proposes the term “fashion archetype” to describe the phenomenon of celebrity that Frances experienced in which her public persona was detached from her individual identity and manipulated by the media to influence American women. Analysis of her early-White House wardrobe and the media attention her style and appearance received reveals the power that clothing held in nineteenth-century American society, as well …

Judicial Security In The Data Economy, Anthony M. Ciolli

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

Postmortem Gestational Donation: Medical Miracle Or Intrusion?, Eli Lynn

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

Digital Graveyards: Addressing Video Game Obsolescence Through A Preserved Games Mandate, Matthew Winget

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.