Digital Commons Network^™

Calculating Surface Current Velocities From Video Generated From A Near Forward-Facing Camera, Colby James Weeks

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a camera system for estimating surface currents. A combined camera and IMU system provide high resolution images and high precision orientation information, respectively. This eliminates the need for leveling and enables forward looking operation. The hardware stack includes a Lucid Vision Triton TRT162S monochrome camera, an SBG Ellipse D with dual antenna GNSS for precise pose, and an Nvidia Jetson Orin for acquisition and processing. The Ellipse D provides a hardware trigger at 10 Hz to time stamp each frame and to synchronize images with inertial measurements.

A camera calibration step estimates the intrinsic camera parameters and …

Computational Analogies In The Era Of Large Language Models, Amarakoon Mudiyanselage Thilini Wijesiriwardene

Theses and Dissertations

Analogical reasoning is an important part of human cognition requiring the integration of abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and background knowledge. Despite significant advances in language modeling, the capacity of current methods to accurately identify, model, and evaluate analogies remains fundamentally underexplored.

Analogies enable individuals to perceive deep similarities between superficially different situations. Effective analogy-making requires integrating knowledge about the external world with abstract reasoning and pattern recognition capabilities. While current language models (LMs), trained on massive textual corpora using autoregressive or masked objectives, achieve impressive performance across Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks such as text generation, summarization, and classification, their …

Multi-Layer Decision Making For Long-Term Autonomous Mission Based On Dual Process Theory, Shruti Jadhav

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in precision agriculture, where extended autonomous operation is required for monitoring, intervention, and field management. However, achieving long-term autonomy remains challenging due to battery constraints, environmental uncertainty, and the need to balance exploration with event-driven tasks. To address these challenges, a multi-layer decision-making framework inspired by Dual Process Theory (DPT) is developed. The framework combines reactive return-tobase strategies, exploratory navigation, and directional bias from prior missions, with a conflict-monitoring mechanism that adapts system behavior based on real-time conditions. The approach is implemented in a simulated agricultural grid environment, demonstrating improved adaptability and coverage …

Reduced Order Simulator Of A Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System, Jackson Taylor Zazzaro

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development of a reduced-order simulator for a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system, designed to capture the key thermo-fluid and performance characteristics of such systems while maintaining computational efficiency. The primary objective of this work is to develop and demonstrate a modular simulation framework capable of modeling the coupled physics of an NTP reactor, nozzle, and orbital transfer system. The simulator integrates a reduced-order thermal-fluid model of the reactor, a simplified nozzle model, and an orbital transfer model, providing a comprehensive yet computationally efficient representation of the propulsion process. By employing reduced-order modeling techniques, the simulator achieves …

Multi-Perspective Feature Learning For Facial Expression Recognition In The Wild, Xiangyu Hu

Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid progress of deep learning, Facial Expression Recognition (FER) has seen substantial improvements in performance, particularly “in the wild” meaning real world conditions. Despite these advances, most existing methods extract features from facial images as the sole emotional cues, which limits the model’s ability to capture the full complexity of human emotional expressions.

In reality, facial expressions are composed of diverse and multi-perspective information, including appearance-based cues and geometric structural deformations due to activations of facial muscles. Depending exclusively on one type of representation may fail to exploit the complementary nature of these cues, an issue that becomes …

Hcmv Infection Of Terminally Differentiated Neurons Disrupts Microtubule Organization, Resulting In Neurite Retraction, Jacob W. Adelman, Andrew T. Sukowaty, Kaitlyn J. Partridge, Jessica E. Gawrys, Allison Akins, Scott S. Terhune, Allison D. Ebert

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a prolific human herpesvirus that infects most individuals by adulthood. While typically asymptomatic in adults, congenital infection can induce serious neurological symptoms, including hearing loss, visual deficits, cognitive impairment, and microcephaly in 10%–15% of cases. HCMV has been shown to infect most neural cells, with our group recently demonstrating this capacity in stem cell-derived forebrain neurons. Infection of neurons induces deleterious effects on calcium dynamics and electrophysiological function paired with gross restructuring of neuronal morphology. Here, we utilize an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived model of the human forebrain to demonstrate how HCMV infection induces syncytia, drives …

October 2025 Library News, University Libraries

Library News

No abstract provided.

Exploring Barriers To Patient Care In A South Carolina Free Clinic, Jonathan G. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Access to healthcare remains a persistent challenge for medically underserved populations who rely on free medical clinics for primary care services, particularly in non-Medicaid expansion states such as South Carolina. Free clinics serve as critical safety-net providers, yet patients frequently encounter barriers that limit access, continuity, and quality of care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to explore and identify the structural, social, and interprofessional barriers to patient care within a South Carolina free medical clinic to inform targeted, evidence-based interventions. A mixed-methods needs assessment design was used, combining a retrospective chart review of forty …

Combating Obesity: Creating A Comprehensive Wellness Plan For Uninsured & Low-Income Populations, Kayla C. Berrios

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to research the specific barriers encountered by obese patients that are low-income and uninsured. The goal of this data collection was to inform the stakeholders involved in creating a comprehensive wellness plan for obese patients.

Background: The staff at Good Neighbor Clinic have struggled to support their support their obese patients with weight reduction. Many of the ailments that patients seek care for correlate to their obesity. Health promotion in this community clinic needs a more comprehensive program to support patients during their weight loss experience, providing support and resources to allow for …

Empowering Mothers: A Digital Intervention For Perinatal Mental Wellness, Morgan Edmunds

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to develop a smartphone application prototype for peripartum mental health. The goal of this application was to enhance access to education and quality mental health care.

Background: Currently, in the United States, peripartum mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (The Joint Commission, 2023). There is a gap in education, screening, and treatment for peripartum mental health due to distrust and a lack of resources, including a lack of mental health providers (Dossette et al., 2024; Feldman & Perret, 2023). Therefore, there is a significant number of women …

Learning Opportunities 2025/2026, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Course Catalogs

The graduation requirements of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy are established by the IMSA Board of Trustees. Each semester students must take a minimum of five academic courses (2.5 credits) for a letter grade (not Pass/Fail) not including SIR, Internship, Credentials and Independent Study. Students may enroll in a maximum of seven courses each semester including academic courses, SIR, Internship, Credentials, and Independent Study. The College and Academic Counselor approves enrollment for students in all courses and experiences. Academic courses must be taken for a grade in order to count towards graduation credit.

Institute For Global Health And Development : Issue 12 - October 2025, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Dr. Bhutta Awarded the Virchow Prize 2025 For Global Health
• Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Across the Prepare Pakistan Project – Promoting Climate Resilience, Pakistan’s High-Risk Districts
• Choice Project Dissemination Workshop Held in Accelerating Progress Towards Health and Health-Related SDGS Nairobi
• Farhana Tabassum Attends the Inauguration Of “Imagining Life” At the Climate Action Center, Karachi
• IGHD Participates in the Green Zameen Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Transition
• IGHD Team Leads Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analysis
• Empowering Research in Maternal Health Dr. Khadija Vadsaria Completes Her PhD at Aga Khan University
• Climate Change and Maternal Health Dr. Jai Das Featured in the Economist …

Check Out The Library, 2025 Fall Issue, Cal Poly Humboldt Library

Library Publications

Issue 20

A Modified Fama-Macbeth Model Based On The Single-Index Model, Mariam Jumaah Mousa, Munaf Yousif Hmood

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The aim of this essay is to use a single-index model in developing and adjusting Fama-MacBeth.  Penalized smoothing spline regression technique (SIMPLS) foresaw this adjustment.  Two generalized cross-validation techniques, Generalized Cross Validation Grid (GGCV) and Generalized Cross Validation Fast (FGCV), anticipated the regular value of smoothing covered under this technique. Due to the two-steps nature of the Fama-MacBeth model, this estimation generated four estimates: SIMPLS(FGCV) - SIMPLS(FGCV), SIMPLS(FGCV) - SIM PLS(GGCV), SIMPLS(GGCV) - SIMPLS(FGCV), SIM PLS(GGCV) - SIM PLS(GGCV). Three-factor Fama-French model—market risk premium, size factor, value factor, and their implication for excess stock returns and portfolio returns—were estimated on …

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter, Vol 34, No. 1, The Sinclair Lewis Society

Sinclair Lewis Society Newsletter

“Every Time Something Big and Stupid Happens in America, Lewis Becomes Popular Again”: A Conference Retrospective, with Notes from a First-Time Visitor to Sauk Centre by Shaun F. Richards

Pickerbaugh’s Rhymes: Another Target of Satire in Arrowsmith by George Killough

In Memoriam: Robert E. Fleming, Father of the Sinclair Lewis Society by Sally E. Parry

Arrowsmith 100 years later: Osterholm Links Lewis’s Novel to Modern Society by Shalon Wilber

Becoming A Writer: A Review of Writers Like Us: My Life with Sinclair Lewis, by Barnaby Conrad, with Barnaby Conrad III by Shaun F. Richards

Sinclair Lewis and the Pulitzer …

A Comparison Of Return To Sport After Bankart Repair Versus Latarjet For Shoulder Instability: A Systematic Review, Claire E Noyes, Grace E Johnston, Nicholas Vaver, Patrick M Garvin, Jonathan T Bravman, James W Genuario, Braden K Mayer, Thomas J Noonan, Carson Keeter, Eric C Mccarty

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Glenohumeral instability can be addressed surgically with repair of the capsulolabral complex, the "Bankart" repair, or bone augmentation with coracoid autograft, the "Latarjet" procedure. Superior return-to-sport (RTS) rates with either Bankart repair or Latarjet have yet to be delineated, and it remains unclear which surgical procedure is optimal.

Purpose: To review the current literature and report on RTS data for patients who received Bankart repair or Latarjet to address glenohumeral instability.

Study design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines …

Feasibility And Usage Of A Virtual Assistant Device In Cognitively Impaired Homebound Older Adults, Matthew Nunez, Prisha Patel, Lindsey Ulin, Leslie Kian, Martin Cominsky, Jason Burnett, Jessica L Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social technology in older adults can improve self-rated health; however, there can also be difficulties using it. Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device (VAD) use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults. 52 newly referred Meals on Wheels clients aged 60 and older were recruited for a three-phase study: 6 weeks of meals alone (control), followed by 6 weeks of meals+Alexa Echo Show 8 (AES8) basic usage, and lastly 6 weeks of meals+AES8 advanced usage. Technology acceptance with the AES8 was significantly higher by the end of the study and participants anecdotally enjoyed playing …

Sulforaphane And Non-Clustered Tumor/Non-Tumor Suppressor Micrornas Regulate Akt And Its Downstream Genes In Mda-Mb-231 Cancer Cells, Omobolanle David Garuba

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Cancer is a complex pathological condition characterized mainly by uncontrolled rapid cell divisions caused by several factors, which include genetics and environmental factors. Of all cancer types, breast cancer (BC) remains the second most diagnosed among women worldwide; thus, BC burden has become a global health issue. Of all known breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the only primary subtype without effective therapy as a result of their lack of the essential estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) common to other BCs and are the usual therapeutic targets for treatment. …

Detection Of Microplastics In Household Dust From Suburban Texas And Toxicological Assessment Of Polystyrene Microparticles In Lung Epithelial Cells: Nf-Kb Pathway Activation And Inflammatory Responses, Nirupama Surubhotla

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Microplastics are emerging contaminants that have raised global concern due to their persistence, ubiquity, and potential impacts on human health. Indoor environments are increasingly recognized as significant sources of microplastic exposure through household dust inhalation. This study aimed to detect the presence of microplastics in household dust from suburban regions of Texas, USA, and to investigate the cytotoxic and inflammatory effects of polystyrene microparticles in a lung epithelial cell model (A549). Household dust samples were collected and analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, confirming the presence of a mixture of microplastics. To assess biological responses, A549 cells were exposed to defined sizes …

University Of San Diego Magazine Fall 2025, Publications Department

University of San Diego Magazine (1992- )

Beauty, Goodness and Truth; Dear Toreros; Around Alcalá Park; At The Edge of It All; Faith In Action; Torero Spotlight; Torero Athletics; Toreros Making Waves; In Memoriam; Leading With Love

The Access Assembly: Learning Together, Building Friendships, And Strengthening Our Leadership Capacities, Chandra Turpen, Brianne Gutmann, Robert P. Dalka, Gina M. Quan, Mackenzie Carlson, Joel C. Corbo, Gabrielle Jones-Hall, Megan Marshall Smith, Devyn E. Shafer

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Founded in 2014, the Access Network brings together nine student-centered, university-based programs that pursue systemic change towards a vision of a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM community. Leaders at the Network-level and program-level are either current students (undergraduate or graduate) or young faculty and professional scientists, many of whom started out as student leaders in Access programs. Over the last 9 years, Access has brought people together (virtually or in-person) for an annual event called the "Assembly." Student leaders who attend the Assembly appreciate community-building and networking opportunities that help them build capacity for leading local site programming. …

The Access Assembly: Sharing Ideas And Enabling Informed Adaptations, Brianne Gutmann, Chandra Turpen, Robert P. Dalka, Mackenzie Carlson, Joel Corbo, Gabrielle Jones-Hall, Megan Marshall Smith, Devyn Shafer

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Founded in 2014, the Access Network brings together nine student-centered, university-based programs that are pursuing systemic change towards a vision of a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible STEM community. Network and program leaders are primarily students (undergraduate and graduate) and early-career faculty, many of whom started out as student leaders in Access programs. Over the last nine years, Access has brought people together (virtually or in-person) for an annual event called the “Assembly.” The environment and structures at the Assembly enable the sharing of ideas, excite people to translate those ideas to their local programs, and create space for …

Southeast Asia Higher Education Changes And Emerging Futures, Muhammad Hali Aprimadya, Lily Kong, Angel Calderon, Hamish Coates

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper unpacks recent developments and future directions in Southeast Asian higher education. It takes stock of higher education systems in three selected countries, Australia, Indonesia and Singapore. It sketches these systems, distils several changes around 2024, and discusses emerging directions for education, research and universities. The paper concludes by looking at what is required to catalyse transformations likely to impel future progress.

Decoding Influence: Cosmetic Industry Strategies, Media Beauty Standards, And Their Mental Health Impact On Generation Z Consumers, Tatiana Avila Velasquez

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research explores the complex relationship between cosmetic industry marketing strategies, media-driven beauty standards, and the mental health of Generation Z consumers. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study examines how frequent exposure to curated beauty ideals and persuasive advertising shapes self-esteem, confidence, and personal identity among young adults. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, the research highlights the evolving nature of cosmetic use, revealing how early engagement with beauty products often stems from social conditioning and personal insecurities. Participants describe a shift from using cosmetics as a means of concealment to embracing them for creative expression and self-care. However, …

Changes In Alcohol Consequences And Food Addiction Symptoms Over Time In A Diverse Sample Of Emerging Adults With Histories Of Heavy Drinking, Mary Takgbajouah

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

During Emerging Adulthood (EA; 18-29), alcohol use (AU) peaks and eating disorders tends to have their onset. While AU typically decreases by the end of EA, this can be a time of increased isolation and lead to problematic, ongoing use with significant, negative consequences, such as depression, anxiety, or poor sleep. Research has noted similarities between disordered overeating and substance use, resulting in the conceptualization of food addiction (FA). Less is known about trajectories of FA, particularly during EA. Trait impulsivity, a tendency to act without planning or thinking of potential consequences, is associated with problematic AU and FA. Research …

Decomposition And Excavation Of War Memories And Massacres In Na Hong-Jin’S The Wailing, Grace Jung

BCES: Faculty Publications

This chapter examines Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing (2016) as an allegory of South Korea’s unresolved colonial and Cold War traumas, arguing that the film’s deliberate ambiguity, cacophony, and generic instability reflect the difficulty of recovering histories of violence that have been suppressed, erased, or inadequately mourned. While scholarship on South Korean zombie cinema has frequently interpreted the zombie through neoliberal capitalism, economic crisis, contagion, and social alienation, this chapter locates the Korean zombie within a longer history of civil war, massacres, sexual violence, and authoritarian state repression. Drawing on Heonik Kwon’s concept of Cold War “decomposition,” the zombie …

Hooks For Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4dee) Teaching With Differing Audiences Of Nonmajors, Sara E. Scanga, Vikki L. Rodgers, Loren B. Byrne, Justin R. St. Juliana, Jon M. Honea, Erica S. Tietjen, George Middendorf

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Nonmajors (i.e., undergraduate students not majoring in the natural sciences) constitute a majority of United States college graduates and are a large potential audience for courses with ecology content. However, nonmajors may be unmotivated to learn about ecology because they perceive it to be uninteresting and irrelevant to their everyday lives or career goals. Although the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework can be adapted for nonmajors courses as a starting point to improve student engagement, we suggest that nonmajors ecology instructors also use ecology hooks as effective gateways to 4DEE that will motivate and deepen student learning. Selecting and developing …

Trickle-Down Coordination: The National Security Advisor’S Role As The Strategic And Operational Planner Of The Dod-Dos Interagency Relationship, Fabio S. Van Loon

Journal of Strategic Security

Forging a coherent U.S. foreign policy requires the competent management of the inter-agency framework. Defining strategy at the cabinet level and ensuring its implementation at the operational level, the National Security Advisor must act as an honest broker of the inter-agency process. This article will examine the role of three National Security Advisors from the Nixon, Carter and George W. Bush administrations, and study two examples of operational success and failure, highlighting the importance of the strategic-operational link. The author concludes by recommending a National Security Council (NSC)-led inter-agency framework that drives consensus-based strategic planning and mandates operational coordination through …

The Element Of Surprise: Highly Maneuverable Satellites And Ssa, Simone L. Montandon

Journal of Strategic Security

Military, commercial, and civil space missions rely on accurate space situational awareness (SSA) to avoid collisions and inform the analysis of the threat environment. Historically, man-made objects in space have been highly predictable because their trajectories were mostly constrained within the orbit they occupied. However, fast-paced progress in engine/thruster technology, energy efficiency, and on-orbit servicing and refueling have allowed satellites to maneuver often and quickly within their lifespan. This added an element of unpredictability that adds further uncertainty to an operational environment that is already highly uncertain. This paper argues that solving this issue will require pursuing continued custody of …

Identifying Signatures Of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Through Structured Analytic Techniques, Joshua S. Pierson, Ms, Dss

Journal of Strategic Security

Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) penetrate sovereign airspace and sea space with such proliferation that often national security entities are left baffled with how to detect, identify, and respond to such actions. Since World War II, these phenomena were reported to pace aircraft, maneuver at high speeds in an erratic fashion and increase speed to hypersonic velocity when starting from stasis. The study of UAP is shrouded in stigma, perplexing government mishaps, and academic inquiry focusing on the material aspects of UAP, leaving a gap in determining the exhibited capability and intent of these phenomena. The use of structured analytic techniques …