Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 47221 - 47250 of 1823967

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Scaling Up Cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Through Hierarchical Heterogeneous Modular Architectures, Minghong Geng Jan 2026

Scaling Up Cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Through Hierarchical Heterogeneous Modular Architectures, Minghong Geng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Multi-agent reinforcement learning enables sophisticated collaborative behaviors in autonomous systems, yet fundamental scalability barriers persist: existing methods struggle to coordinate large agent populations and face challenges with extended decision-making horizons. This research develops hierarchical approaches to scale up multi-agent learning systems through two complementary directions: structural scaling for coordinating increasing numbers of agents and temporal scaling for extending decision-making horizons. This paper presents four integrated contributions: a taxonomic survey establishing hierarchical architectures as the theoretical foundation for scalable multi-agent learning systems, a benchmark for long-horizon multi-objective multi-agent reinforcement learning, a framework integrating self-organizing neural networks with multiple reinforcement learning agents …


Revisiting The Canonicalization For Fast And Accurate Crystal Tensor Property Prediction, Haowei Hua Hua, Jingwen Yang, Wanyu Lin, Pan Zhou Jan 2026

Revisiting The Canonicalization For Fast And Accurate Crystal Tensor Property Prediction, Haowei Hua Hua, Jingwen Yang, Wanyu Lin, Pan Zhou

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Predicting the tensor properties of crystalline materials is a fundamental task in materials science. Unlike single-value property prediction, which is inherently invariant, tensor property prediction requires maintaining O(3) group tensor equivariance. Such equivariance constraint often requires specialized architecture designs to achieve effective predictions, inevitably introducing tremendous computational costs. Canonicalization, a classical technique for geometry, has recently been explored for efficient learning with symmetry. In this work, we revisit the problem of crystal tensor property prediction through the lens of canonicalization. Specifically, we demonstrate how polar decomposition, a simple yet efficient algebraic method, can serve as a form of canonicalization and …


Leading Schools Effectively During A Crisis: Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic, La Tonya Elizabeth Overton Jan 2026

Leading Schools Effectively During A Crisis: Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic, La Tonya Elizabeth Overton

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This qualitative study explored the successes, challenges, and lessons learned by elementary principals serving systemically marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through in-depth interviews with nine principals across multiple school districts, the study identified three overarching themes that characterized effective crisis leadership: relationships, well-being, and innovation. Principals described how sustaining strong relationships, prioritizing humanity, and centering trust were essential for navigating trauma, uncertainty, and rapid change. They emphasized meeting basic needs such as food, technology access, health supports, and housing stability as foundational to school continuity. Principals also demonstrated equity-driven responsiveness by removing systemic barriers, adapting communication to diverse …


The Periodical 2025-2026, Southern Adventist University Jan 2026

The Periodical 2025-2026, Southern Adventist University

the Periodical – Chemistry Department Newsletter

Vol. 13, Issue 1 of the Periodical features an article on new faculty member, Sarah Pak, chemistry graduates, and several Meet the Faculty highlights.


Predictors Of Prejudice Towards People With Tattoos, Jordan Smith Jan 2026

Predictors Of Prejudice Towards People With Tattoos, Jordan Smith

Honors Program Theses

Thirty-two percent of Americans have at least one tattoo (Schaeffer, 2023), and many of them experience discrimination. The purpose of this study was to examine potential correlates of this prejudice. 251 participants completed a survey online that assessed their attitudes towards people with tattoos along with variables that have previously been associated with other types of prejudice. Perceived threat was the strongest predictor of prejudiced attitudes. Participants who reported greater prejudice also reported greater perceptions that tattooed people were different from themselves, higher levels of authoritarianism and lower levels of agreeableness. Older people and those without tattoos also reported greater …


A Literature Review Of Adoptive Cell Therapy (Act) In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc) With Emphasis On Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T Cell And Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (Til) Therapies, Brianna Wickham Jan 2026

A Literature Review Of Adoptive Cell Therapy (Act) In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc) With Emphasis On Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T Cell And Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (Til) Therapies, Brianna Wickham

Honors Program Theses

Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer diagnoses and remains a leading cause of cancer‑related mortality despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While immunotherapy has improved outcomes for some patients, many develop treatment resistance or experience significant toxicity, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), which involves the infusion of autologous immune cells expanded or engineered ex vivo, has demonstrated substantial success in hematologic malignancies and is now being investigated for use in solid tumors such as NSCLC. This literature review examines the current state of ACT …


The Importance Of Sample Timing And Independence For Typha Species Identification, Sydney Aird Jan 2026

The Importance Of Sample Timing And Independence For Typha Species Identification, Sydney Aird

Honors Program Theses

Wetlands are essential ecosystems, playing major roles in nutrient cycling, water filtering, and erosion control, and providing important habitats for countless organisms. However, invasive species threaten their functions. One key invasive species in the Midwestern United States is Typha x glauca, a cattail species hybridized from the native T. latifolia and the invasive T. angustifolia. T. x glauca is visually intermediate between its parent species, making it difficult to identify and effectively manage. Ohsowski et al. (2024) presented a model to identify species, but due to its limited sample size (n = 33) and a high number of traits (14), …


Using Simulations And Machine Learning To Improve Routing Algorithms In Wireless Sensor Networks, Luke Abels Jan 2026

Using Simulations And Machine Learning To Improve Routing Algorithms In Wireless Sensor Networks, Luke Abels

Honors Program Theses

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used in fields such as environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, disaster response, and other applications where low-power devices must communicate reliably over time. Because these networks operate under limited energy and communication constraints, routing and broadcast strategies strongly influence performance, scalability, and network lifetime. This thesis examines how simulation and machine learning can be used to study interference-aware broadcasting in WSNs. The project first evaluates the usefulness of existing network simulation tools, including ns-3, and then describes the development of a custom Python simulator designed for rapid experimentation with broadcast behavior, mobility, and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio …


Characterizing Glacial Sediments From The Cincinnati, Ohio Area By Analyzing Grain Size Distribution And Elemental Composition, Laura Comstock Jan 2026

Characterizing Glacial Sediments From The Cincinnati, Ohio Area By Analyzing Grain Size Distribution And Elemental Composition, Laura Comstock

Honors Program Theses

Reconstructing the history of ice sheet dynamics is essential for understanding how past climate change has shaped modern landscapes. The Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced and retreated multiple times over North America during the Pleistocene Epoch. Although there is widespread sedimentary evidence for the most recent glacial episode, much of the evidence of older glaciations has been overwritten by more recent glacial advances. This study focuses on Paddison Run, an exposed Pleistocene sequence near Cincinnati, Ohio, that has previously been interpreted as Illinoian in age. Five distinct units were identified within the exposure, based on centimeter logging of this section, high-resolution …


Aging Across Cultures: How Cultural Attitudes Shape Senior Care In Japan And The United States, Ella Jane Gunn Jan 2026

Aging Across Cultures: How Cultural Attitudes Shape Senior Care In Japan And The United States, Ella Jane Gunn

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine how cultural perceptions of aging influence the structure and delivery of care for older adults in Japan and the United States. By comparing cultural attitudes, this study identifies implications for senior care in each country. While cross-cultural studies comparing senior care systems already exist, many lack the cultural context that shapes expectations about aging and care. This work focuses on this distinction. Ten individuals ranging in age from 21 to 83 participated in interviews about their perceptions of aging: five with an American background and five with a Japanese background. The interviews …


Geographic Variation In Proteomic Responses To Ocean Acidification In A Cold-Water Coral (Balanophyllia Elegans), Keana A. Richmond Jan 2026

Geographic Variation In Proteomic Responses To Ocean Acidification In A Cold-Water Coral (Balanophyllia Elegans), Keana A. Richmond

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In the face of a rapidly changing climate, assessing organismal responses to future stressors in the context of current, natural exposure to stress could provide key insights to understanding marine ecosystem resilience. I used Balanophyllia elegans, a cold-water, solitary, azooxanthellate coral as a model to better understand how varying oceanographic conditions across its geographic range have shaped its ability to tolerate and potentially adapt to current and future ocean acidification conditions. I collected B. elegans individuals from four sites across 2,500km of their range and subjected them to two pH treatments to investigate site-specific protein expression in response to …


Navigating Liminality: Building Resources For And With Undocumented Students, Yaneyry Delfin Martinez Jan 2026

Navigating Liminality: Building Resources For And With Undocumented Students, Yaneyry Delfin Martinez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Rooted in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Liberation Sociology, this project outlines an institutional blueprint for the resources and support systems needed to address the lived realities of undocumented students at Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH). Conducted during the second Trump Administration amidst escalating hostility towards immigrants and attacks on DEI initiatives, this work documents both the structural conditions shaping undocumented students’ lives and the collective resistance that emerged in response. Furthermore, it examines how immigration policy, access to and restrictions on federal and state aid, geographic conditions, and on-campus barriers reproduce and maintain legal liminality within higher education. Grounded in …


Examining The Physiological Stress-Reducing Effects Of Virtual Nature Exposure And Slow Breathing, Jesse Benefiel Jan 2026

Examining The Physiological Stress-Reducing Effects Of Virtual Nature Exposure And Slow Breathing, Jesse Benefiel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In a time of excess stress, it is essential to examine accessible stress-reduction methods. Research has demonstrated that virtual nature exposure and slow breathing can independently reduce stress, but the literature is lacking with regard to their combined effects. The present study aimed to replicate independent effects of breathing and nature on stress and to test for potential effects, including whether their combination would produce an interaction effect. Using a 2 Environment (Natural v. Control) by 2 Breathing (Slow v. Normal) between-subjects design, 63 participants completed a modified color-word Stroop task to induce stress and were then exposed to either …


Species Boundaries Of The Rare Menzies’ Wallflower (Brassicaceae: Erysimum Menziesii), An Endemic Of The Northern California Coast, Cameron M. Jones Jan 2026

Species Boundaries Of The Rare Menzies’ Wallflower (Brassicaceae: Erysimum Menziesii), An Endemic Of The Northern California Coast, Cameron M. Jones

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Morphological similarity among geographically isolated populations can obscure deep evolutionary divergence, especially when convergent evolution under similar environmental conditions yields comparable phenotypes across independent lineages. Such cryptic diversity is likely underestimated in hotspots like the California Floristic Province (CFP), a global biodiversity hotspot, defined by its Mediterranean-like climate and encompassing most of California, southwestern Oregon, and northwest Baja California. The CFP is home to a disproportionate number of narrow endemics whose origins and evolutionary relationships remain poorly understood. Here, I investigate the evolutionary origins of Erysimum menziesii (Brassicaceae), a federally endangered California coastal dune endemic whose fragmented distribution has led …


Reclaiming Presence: An Anthropological Study Of Digital Disconnection And Meaning-Making, Leslie De Paz Jan 2026

Reclaiming Presence: An Anthropological Study Of Digital Disconnection And Meaning-Making, Leslie De Paz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Human attention is increasingly at risk in an unregulated digital ecosystem where overconsumption shapes neurological function, social interaction, and the ways people make meaning of everyday life. Dominant discourse around digital overuse tends to medicalize the problem, framing it as individual addiction or clinical dysfunction. In this thesis, I argue that such framing obscures what a cultural phenomenon is fundamentally, one in which people are actively questioning their relationship with technology, building awareness, and developing practices that help them slow down and reclaim agency within algorithmically mediated environments. This study draws on 22 semi-structured interviews with Gen Z and millennial …


Endocranial Lesions: A Paleopathological Study Of Late Medieval Skeletal Remains From Żelewo Poland, Francesca Aleen Meyer Jan 2026

Endocranial Lesions: A Paleopathological Study Of Late Medieval Skeletal Remains From Żelewo Poland, Francesca Aleen Meyer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The site of Żelewo is located in a rural area of northwestern Poland, a region historically known as Pomerania. Skeletal remains from the cemetery associated with the archaeological site Żelewo 1-3, dating mostly to the 13th-15th centuries, are likely associated with a nearby Cistercian monastery. Numerous individuals from this site show evidence of endocranial lesions. To evaluate potential factors associated with the lesions, a differential diagnosis was performed based on macroscopic observations of endocranial lesion morphology and distribution. This study takes into account estimated age at death, biological sex, and other signs of pathology in the body. Potential confounding factors, …


Living With Water In Fields Landing & King Salmon: Community Knowledge Of Flooding And Adaptation Strategies In Coastal California, Kailin Sepp Jan 2026

Living With Water In Fields Landing & King Salmon: Community Knowledge Of Flooding And Adaptation Strategies In Coastal California, Kailin Sepp

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Known as “ground zero,” Humboldt Bay is among the most vulnerable areas to sea-level rise (SLR) due to geological and tectonic factors on the West Coast. While the land subsides, oceans rise, resulting in an area with one of the highest recorded rates of relative SLR on the West Coast. The residential communities of Fields Landing and King Salmon in South Humboldt Bay already experience regular coastal flooding. There is a need for better information and planning to understand the vulnerability to flooding/SLR and plan for adaptation. Typically, studies addressing flooding, such as vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans, are developed …


A Framework For Evaluating Riparian Climate Refugia In The Eel River Watershed, California, Farrah Tyler Jan 2026

A Framework For Evaluating Riparian Climate Refugia In The Eel River Watershed, California, Farrah Tyler

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Climate change is increasing the need to identify and protect landscapes that support biodiversity through both habitat connectivity and climate refugia. Climate refugia are areas that remain relatively buffered from regional climatic change, enabling species to persist despite shifting environmental conditions. Riparian ecosystems can function as both movement corridors and climate refugia, yet methods for identifying these features and understanding the environmental processes that sustain them remain limited. In California's North Coast region, the identification and conservation of watersheds that may serve as climate refugia for sensitive plant and animal species will be essential for long-term ecosystem management and conservation. …


Assessing The Ecological Drivers Of Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Of Fuels In The California Home Ignition Zone, Christopher David Benterou Jan 2026

Assessing The Ecological Drivers Of Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Of Fuels In The California Home Ignition Zone, Christopher David Benterou

Master's Theses

Consecutive years of devastating home losses to wildfire indicate the need for home fuel reduction and construction improvements. Existing research correlates house survival with modifications to the home ignition zone (HIZ) and is required in high fire hazard areas of California (CA). Mitigations, designed to disrupt continuous fuel patterns, (e.g., separating surface and canopy fuels), can also introduce ecological changes that can alter overall code compliance. Previous compliance studies used respondent and agency-generated data, which may lack accuracy. Assessing additional house and ecological features (e.g., canopy cover and construction) would improve prediction of compliance, but these relationships are poorly studied. …


The Operation And Control Strategy Of Microgrids: A Brief Review, Mohammad Alam, Salsabila Zaman Jan 2026

The Operation And Control Strategy Of Microgrids: A Brief Review, Mohammad Alam, Salsabila Zaman

Electrical Engineering Student Publications

A microgrid is an effective approach for integrating various distributed energy resources to meet local energy demand. It possesses the capability to operate independently or in conjunction with the main utility grid. Typically, a microgrid is a small-scale power system (usually several megawatts or less) comprising three primary components: the ability to function in both grid-connected and islanded modes, distributed power generation sources, and autonomous control centers. Microgrids enhance system resilience by ensuring uninterrupted operation during grid disturbances. Additionally, they are environmentally sustainable and contribute to improved power quality. As a crucial element of modern power systems, microgrids can effectively …


Don’T Give The Fae Your Name: Focus Of Attention And Victim Blaming, Entropy Cramer Jan 2026

Don’T Give The Fae Your Name: Focus Of Attention And Victim Blaming, Entropy Cramer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Victim-blaming is thought to be a result of the fundamental attributional error, where people over-emphasize internal attributions about the victim. Despite this, there is little literature on manipulating the focus of attention and the result for victim-blaming. People who are high in rape myth acceptance tend to visually focus on the victims longer (Süssenbach et al., 2015). Rempala and Bernieri (2005) found that adding irrelevant information, such as height and weight, to the trial about the victim increased victim-blaming compared to when it was absent. The current study investigated if relevant information about the victim and perpetrator changed the amount …


Exploring Resiliency, Identity, And Access: Educational Narratives Of Adults Who Experienced Youth Homelessness, Taylor Mestres Jan 2026

Exploring Resiliency, Identity, And Access: Educational Narratives Of Adults Who Experienced Youth Homelessness, Taylor Mestres

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the educational experiences of adults who experienced homelessness during their youth, focusing on how instability, stigma, and resilience shaped their K-12 schooling. Guided by Maslow's hierarchy of needs and resiliency theory, the research employed a narrative inquiry approach with seven adult collaborators who reflected on their schooling while experiencing housing instability. Seven themes emerged: living between places, school as sanctuary, concealment and stigma, resilience and survival, the role of educators and support systems, thriving despite adversity, and retrospective recognition. Findings reveal that while housing instability and shame created significant barriers to learning and belonging, schools also functioned …


Toward A Transformative Church: The Role Of Elders In Church Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brian Kwalela Mungandi Jan 2026

Toward A Transformative Church: The Role Of Elders In Church Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brian Kwalela Mungandi

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the need for a transformational leadership strategy that engages elders in membership retention and church growth for a Seventh-day Adventist Church. This mixed-method study aimed to identify factors contributing to declining membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the goal of informing strategies for improved member retention and potential church growth. A survey involving 30 active members was administered to gather insights into the target church’s profile. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 elders across four churches to evaluate leadership perspectives concerning membership retention and church growth. These data sources offered a snapshot of the target church's …


Temporal Analysis Of Supraglacial Drainage Systems On The Greenland Ice Sheet From 2009-2017 Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery, Field Measurements, And Climate Models, Natalie Gallegos Nunez Jan 2026

Temporal Analysis Of Supraglacial Drainage Systems On The Greenland Ice Sheet From 2009-2017 Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery, Field Measurements, And Climate Models, Natalie Gallegos Nunez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Anthropogenic disturbance and global warming are enhancing the influx of freshwater into the oceans from melting glaciers and ice sheets. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has experienced accelerated surface melt which is expected to reduce North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation and Atlantic thermohaline circulation. More than half of the GrIS total mass loss is due to meltwater runoff produced on the surface by supraglacial lakes, streams, and rivers. The goal of this study is to monitor changes in supraglacial drainage systems developed in the Southwest region on the GrIS for the 2009-2017 melt seasons and to map the impact …


2023-28 Strategic Plan: Building Our Tomorrow [January 2026 Progress Report], University Of Northern Iowa Jan 2026

2023-28 Strategic Plan: Building Our Tomorrow [January 2026 Progress Report], University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

A report including examples of progress on the strategic goals within the University of Northern Iowa's 2023-28 strategic plan as of January 2026.


Uncharted Waters: Barriers To Ocean Carbon Removal In The High Seas Under Unclos And The Bbnj, Connor Stevens Jan 2026

Uncharted Waters: Barriers To Ocean Carbon Removal In The High Seas Under Unclos And The Bbnj, Connor Stevens

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.


Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface Jan 2026

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.


"That's Just Not Who I Am": Rejection Of The Good Mother Ideology And Other Tools Used By Homeschool Moms To Navigate Motherhood, Gina S. Reynolds Jan 2026

"That's Just Not Who I Am": Rejection Of The Good Mother Ideology And Other Tools Used By Homeschool Moms To Navigate Motherhood, Gina S. Reynolds

Iowa Journal of Communication

Studying mothers often focuses on the mother-child dynamic rather than the mother as a person. Mother types, such as working mothers, often are singled out for study. One mother that is rarely considered is the homeschool mother. In homeschooling, the mother typically takes the active role in educating the children, and she receives little attention as a person (Lois, 2016). This study examines how these mother/teachers navigate their motherhood. Nine online discussions with 26 homeschooling mothers revealed strong connections to self-efficacy and agency. Agency and self-efficacy contributed to the mother’s ability to navigate and manage the tension between her needs …


Understanding Dementia Challenges In Rural Ghana: A Systematic Review, Diana Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, Sesi Sedegah, Abena Abokoma Asemanyi, Theresa Ayertey, Wendy Yeboah Jan 2026

Understanding Dementia Challenges In Rural Ghana: A Systematic Review, Diana Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, Sesi Sedegah, Abena Abokoma Asemanyi, Theresa Ayertey, Wendy Yeboah

Iowa Journal of Communication

Dementia poses an escalating public health challenge in Ghana due to an expanding aging population, yet rural awareness remains critically low. Guided by Mohan Dutta’s Culture-Centered Approach (CCA), this PRISMA-compliant qualitative systematic review synthesized ten peer-reviewed articles to examine cultural perceptions and lived experiences surrounding dementia in rural Ghana. The findings highlight that cognitive decline is widely misattributed to witchcraft or normalized as standard aging. Witchcraft misconceptions subject individuals—especially older women—to severe stigmatization, social exclusion, physical abuse, and banishment to "witch camps". Meanwhile, normalizing symptoms as ordinary aging delays critical medical care and shifts family decision-making away from patients. Furthermore, …


A Comprehensive Overview Of Neurophysiological Correlates Of Cognitive Impairment In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Seyyed Bahram Borgheai, Brie E. Achorn, Alyssa H. Zisk, Sarah M. Hosni, Karl E. G. Richter, Frank S. Menniti, Yalda Shahriari Jan 2026

A Comprehensive Overview Of Neurophysiological Correlates Of Cognitive Impairment In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Seyyed Bahram Borgheai, Brie E. Achorn, Alyssa H. Zisk, Sarah M. Hosni, Karl E. G. Richter, Frank S. Menniti, Yalda Shahriari

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to the gradual loss of motor control, typically resulting in paralysis and death within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. ALS shares neuropathological and genetic associations with fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative condition primarily impacting cognitive functions. These two conditions are increasingly viewed as manifestations of a single molecular disease process that affects distinct brain systems, impacting motor neuronal pathways in ALS and fronto-cortical functions in FTD. However, this simple dichotomy belies the complexity of these conditions. In particular, patients with primary motor ALS can also experience significant cognitive …