Digital Commons Network^™

Heuristic Weight Initialization For Transfer Learning In Classification Problems, Musulmon Lolaev, Anand Paul, Jeonghong Kim

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Transfer learning is the predominant method for adapting pre-trained models on another task to new domains while preserving their internal architectures and augmenting them with requisite layers in Deep Neural Network models. Training intricate pre-trained models on a sizable dataset requires significant resources to fine-tune hyperparameters carefully. Most existing initialization methods mainly focus on gradient flow-related problems, such as gradient vanishing or exploding, or other existing approaches that require extra models that do not consider our setting, which is more practical. To address these problems, we suggest employing gradient-free heuristic methods to initialize the weights of the final new-added fully …

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 100 – Capri Motel – Arctic Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

A Numerical Approach To Time-Space Fractional Stochastic Diffusion Equation, Archana Mourya, Kalyanrao Takale, Shrikisan Gaikwad

Baghdad Science Journal

The primary objective of this paper is to propose a Crank-Nicolson scheme tailored to analyze a time-space fractional stochastic diffusion equation subject to additive noise. Using the Caputo definition for time fractional derivatives and the shifted Grunwald-Letnikov definition for space fractional derivatives, a fractional order Crank-Nicolson finite difference scheme is devised to obtain a numerical solution. Considerable attention has been paid to examining the stability and convergence properties of this fractional order Crank-Nicolson method. To validate the effectiveness of the developed method, a comprehensive investigation using a test problem is conducted to assess its accuracy. The study harnesses the power …

Language Teacher Agency Of Dual Language Bilingual Education Teachers: Incorporating Translanguaging And Funds Of Knowledge In Blended Learning, Grace Jue Yeon Kim

Faculty Journal Articles

Bilingual teachers enact agency as language policymakers and advocate for

students in providing holistic support. This ethnographic study examines 2nd

and 4th grade Spanish-English dual language bilingual education teachers’

agentive actions in implementing pedagogical strategies informed by translanguaging

and funds of knowledge during blended learning in 2021. The

findings revealed that the teachers identified challenges and posed questions

as they transitioned to blended learning for the first time. They celebrated

the positives of returning to in-person schooling, agentively

navigated the new environment, and provided holistic support for the

students. The teachers also supported emergent bilingual students’ language

and content learning …

Occupational Health Equity: A Call To Consider Social-Structural Factors In Injury Prevention Research, Shannon Guillot-Wright, Elizabeth S Mcclure, Marizen R Ramirez, Alexis Grimes Trotter, David B Richardson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Occupational health equity scholarship has been growing over the past decade, including social-structural determinants of health research that centres the voices and experiences of historically marginalised communities. In our commentary, we focus on the intersection of work-related and non-work-related factors and how they impact the health of workers, their families and their communities through community-engaged research. Case studies include the implementation of mobile clinics that are developed alongside communities, community organising to examine and reduce health disparities among racially segregated workers, the development of research instruments and measures to study racism and discrimination, and a focus on how the distribution …

College Persistence And Tribal Nation-Building Among American Indian Undergraduate Students, Brittany Ann Boone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that little is known regarding attempts at higher education persistence and tribal nation-building affecting each other among American Indian (AI) undergraduate college students in Oklahoma. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of AI undergraduate students enrolled at a college or university in Oklahoma regarding higher education persistence and tribal nation-building. Astin’s theory of student involvement was the conceptual framework that guided this study because of its focus on the connection between student involvement and persistence. The research question addressed how AI undergraduate students describe their experiences …

Robust Fault Detection And Classification In Power Systems Via Physics-Informed And Data-Driven Learning, Biswash Basnet, Varsha Sen

Graduate Student Scholarship

Electrical faults in power transmission systems can severely affect grid stability, equipment safety, and operational reliability. Traditional protection schemes, particularly distance relays, depend on apparent impedance computation that changes with error, creating a risk of misclassification. The results from relay overreach, underreach, or complete maloperation due to CT/PT saturation lead to developing problems in high impedance situations. These limitations highlight the need for adaptive, data-driven alternatives. This paper proposes an intelligent fault detection and classification model based on supervised machine learning techniques that overcome these challenges. The system’s robustness was validated under different training sizes and Gaussian noise levels, demonstrating …

Effect Of Clays On The Spontaneous Imbibition Behavior Of Surfactant Solutions In Shale Oil Reservoirs, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Chuanbao Zhang, Shizhang Cui, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Surfactant-enhanced spontaneous imbibition is a proven method of enhancing oil recovery from shale reservoirs. However, a significant knowledge gap concerning the impact of clay minerals on surfactant-enhanced imbibition in shale reservoirs remains. Therefore, this study first analyzed the mineral composition and pore structure of the shale reservoirs. Subsequently, three surfactants were selected for spontaneous imbibition experiments. The influence of various clay minerals on the surfactant imbibition was assessed by considering various properties of the imbibition system. The results showed that the shale pores primarily consisted of macropores (44.03%) and mesopores (43.94%). Surfactants enhance the imbibition recovery by altering the wettability …

Active Learning And Nclex-Rn Pass Rate On First Attempt In Bsn And Adn Programs, Janette Tingson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failing the NCLEX-RN on the first attempt affects not only the students and their families but also nursing programs. To increase NCLEX-RN pass rates, nursing programs are shifting from traditional teaching to active learning in their aim to produce nursing graduates who will pass the NCLEX-RN exams on the first attempt. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study, guided by theory of constructivism, was to determine if there is a relationship between faculty’s use of active learning strategies (ALS) and nursing students’ NCLEX-RN pass rates on the first attempt in bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and associate degree in …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Disproportionate Minority Contact On Minority Youth Within Juvenile Justice In Texas, Atica Helms Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) remains a significant concern within the juvenile justice system, yet its connection to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among minority youth is underexamined. Nationally, minority youth, particularly Black youth, are disproportionately represented compared to their White peers, prompting efforts to understand and address racial and ethnic disparities in system involvement. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between DMC and ACEs within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). Guided by general strain theory (GST), whether traumatic life experiences contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority youth was examined. The central research question was designed …

Quantum Chemical Calculations On Corrosion Inhibition Efficacy Of Benzodiazepines On Mild Steel In Acid Medium, Maimoonah Khalid Qasim

Baghdad Science Journal

One of the most important factors in preventing mild steel from deteriorating in acidic conditions is corrosion inhibition. This study examined the anti-corrosion properties of two benzodiazepine compounds, namely Dimethyl-[4-(4-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4] diazepin-2-yl] L-[4-(4-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepin-2-yl)-phenyl] and dimethy-amine (DPBD) and toluene (DMBD), employing density functional theory (DFT)-based quantum chemical computations. Determining the corrosion inhibitors’ active locations and contrasting their efficacy were the goals. The probable active sites of DPBD and DMBD as corrosion inhibitors were identified by the DFT calculations. The total corrosion inhibition performance of these two compounds did not significantly differ, according to the data. However, a slightly better performance was observed …

Design And Implementation Of Pulse Laser Deposition Device For Plastic Optical Fiber, Ihssan A. Kadhim, Anwaar A Al-Dergazly, Sameer Khudhur Yaseen

Baghdad Science Journal

In this work, a pulse laser deposition device was fabricated to synthesize nano-coated plastic optical fiber for sensing application. a plastic optical fiber of 1000 μm diameter, coated with different materials such as aluminum and titanium oxide. Using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), the coated samples’ shape, surface properties, and chemical makeup were verified., an energy dispersion X-ray (EDX), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, atomic force Microscope (AFM). The cross section EDX indicated that, a small amount of uniform distribution of aluminum and titanium on the surface of plastic optical fibers. The FESEM surface morphology of TiO₂ coated …

Exponential Domination Of Some Chemical Structures In Reduced (A, B)-Ka Indices, Anjaneyulu Mekala, U Vijaya Chandra Kumar, R. Murali

Baghdad Science Journal

Mathematical modeling with the help of numerical coding of graphs has been used in different fields of science, especially in chemistry for the studies of molecular structures. A special type of graph invariant called the topological index is the collection of data on algebraic graphs and provides a mathematical way to understand chemical structural features. In chemical graph theory, the topological index is a type of molecular descriptor calculated based on the graph of chemical compounds. Topological indices help us collect information about algebraic graphs and give us a mathematical approach to understand the properties of algebraic structures. With the …

Assessing The Sustainable Circular Fashion Supply Chain As A Model For Achieving Economic Growth In The Global Market, Andrew P. Burnstine, Raouf Ghattas

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

The fashion industry faces a critical sustainability crisis, contributing up to 10% of global carbon emissions and generating 92 million tons of textile waste annually. The study highlights the complex interplay of material flows, business models, power structures, and cultural mindsets, presenting a multi-scaled framework for advancing cleaner production and circularity in one of the world’s most resource-intensive sectors. This study proposes a transformative model for circular bioeconomy in fashion, integrating systems-change theory, degrowth economics, and emotional durability. Through case studies, including Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and EU policy frameworks, the paper demonstrates how circular strategies can reduce waste, extend product …

An Unsupervised Time Series Anomaly Detection Approach For Efficient Online Process Monitoring Of Additive Manufacturing, Frida Cantu, Salomon Ibarra, Arturo Gonzales, Jesus Barreda, Chenang Liu, Li Zhang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Online sensing plays an important role in advancing modern manufacturing. The real-time sensor signals, which can be stored as high-resolution time series data, contain rich information about the operation status. One of its popular usages is online process monitoring, which can be achieved by effective anomaly detection from the sensor signals. However, most existing approaches either heavily rely on labeled data for training supervised models, or are designed to detect only extreme outliers, thus are ineffective at identifying subtle semantic off-track anomalies to capture where new regimes or unexpected routines start. To address this challenge, we propose an matrix profile-based …

Hybrid Path Planner For Centralized Multi-Robotic Long-Vehicle Based On Adaptive Dimensionality And Grey Wolf Algorithm, Noor Kadhim Ayoob, Ali Hadi Hasan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The present robot planning methods pay no attention to the impact of the robot's size and the space it occupies in the environment on path planning. This paper presents a centralized hybrid method to plan optimal paths for multiple robotic long vehicles (RLVs) competing with each other to reach one common goal, taking into account the space that must be available to the RLV at each step to avoid narrow spaces that are too small to pass through. The environment analysis for each RLV is improved by assigning constant weight to the obstacles and calculating two new parameters: safety (SF) …

Symptoms Of Pain And Fatigue Among Adults With Gaucher Disease Type 1, Shauna L. Mangum, Stephen H. A. Hernandez, Elizabeth L. Dickson, Wendy Packman, Beth B. Tigges

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

People with rare disease have lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than the general population (Megari, 2013). Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) is a rare, autosomal recessive, lysosomal storage disorder, caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, that affects multiple bodily systems and is classified by the absence of neurodegenerative disease (Mistry et al., 2015; Stirnemann et al., 2017). An estimated 125,000 people have GD1 worldwide with about 6,000 people in the U.S. Pain and fatigue are the most commonly reported symptoms (Hayes et al., 1998), but both have been understudied (Drelichman et al., 2016; Zion et al., …

The Impact Of Music Experience Sessions On Participants With Agitation Related To Dementia, Amy Redd, Kimberly Taylor, Kate Jones

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Problem Statement: As dementia progresses, a person can experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). There are numerous ways BPSD can affect people with dementia (PWD), caregivers, and society, causing a negative impact on quality of life, stress, caregiver burnout, and economic stability for society (Lorusso & Bosch, 2018; Maseda et al., 2018).

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if the intervention would decrease episodes of BPSD without using pharmacological interventions.

Methods: The intervention was performed for an eight-week time frame were facilitated with participants with a known history of dementia.

Analysis: The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory …

Spatial Habits Advance Personal Excellence: Examining School Environments And Student Well-Being, Megan L. Jester, Dawn Loraas, Cian L. Brown, Madelynn Henderson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Schools are increasingly becoming the primary access point for health services for students, as families turn to schools to identify and address growing whole health needs. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 70% of children received mental health services solely through their schools (Kaskoun & McCabe, 2022). The built environment is a social and structural determinant (World Health Organization, 2010) influencing educational outcomes (Ikegbusi et al., 2022) including the readiness to learn (Colvin, 2024). Still, many schools lack the design necessary to support mental and physical health. There is limited nurse-driven research on how physical attributes impact students during critical transition …

The Lingering Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Nurses, Linda H. Yoder, Jacqueline M. Gordon, Noah Zanville

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is the experience of positive psychological change after struggling with major life crises, often resulting in a re-evaluation of priorities, greater appreciation for life, and spiritual/existential growth. The purpose of this national study was to measure PTG levels among nurses caring for patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: The survey study consisted of 2,077 U.S. based Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) members and nurses from 23 hospitals in HCA Healthcare. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Expanded (PTGI-X) and a demographic data collection sheet were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and reliability testing were performed, as well …

Life Experience Of Cognitive Decline In Individuals With Colorectal Cancer: A Qualitative Study, Hui-Ying Yang, Shiow-Ching Shun, Yu-Ling Chang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Cancer-related cognitive decline in individuals who have undergone chemotherapy is a significant concern, especially with the increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) population. This decline can negatively impact daily functioning, work performance, and quality of life for patients with CRC. However, research on experiences of cognitive decline specifically related to patients with CRC remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe patients with CRC’s experiences of living with cognitive decline related to chemotherapy for individuals with CRC.

Method: A qualitative and descriptive design was used. Thirteen individuals were recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore …

The Impact Of Group Antenatal Care On “The Ethics Of Care”: Women’S Responses To Program Evaluation, Johanna Mmabojalwa Mathibe-Neke

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

While group antenatal care (G-ANC) has been delivered and studied in high-resource settings for over a decade, it has only recently been introduced as an alternative to individualised care in sub-Saharan Africa (Thapa et al, 2019; Lori et al, 2022; Sawtell, et al, 2023). G-ANC pilot projects are reported to have been conducted in 22 sub-Saharan countries. Data from three pilot studies in Ghana, Malawi Senegal and Tanzania found antenatal care delivered in groups to be feasible and acceptable to both women and midwives.

Group antenatal care was piloted in two purposely selected Community Health Care centers in Soweto, Gauteng …

Reducing Patients’ Relapse In Schizophrenia Using A Community Model: A Quality Improvement Project, Lawal Almustapha Kaura, Phillisters Wanyama Ariko, Augustine Ndaimani, Catherine Uwimana, Madeleine Mukeshimana

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Relapse in schizophrenia poses significant challenges for mental health management, especially in community settings (Almond, et al., 2018; Almuqrin et al., 2023). This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce relapse rates in patients with schizophrenia in Bermuda by leveraging community empowerment and implementing an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model. The project engaged a cohort of 59 high-risk patients and focused on interventions such as medication adherence, social support, vocational activities, and training community members and family in relapse prevention. Over a six-month period, from November 2023 to May 2024, the project sought to decrease relapse rates from 87% to …

Ec Use Among Adolescent Girls And Young Women Seeking Srh Services At Retail Pharmacies In Kenya, Harison Kiplimo Lagat, Bernard Nyerere, David Katz, Zachary Kwena, Meena Lenn, Felix Mogaka, Melissa Mugambi, Josephine Odoyo, Victor Omollo, Katrina F. Ortblad, Benard Rono, Greshon Rota, Monisha Sharma, Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, Jillian Pintye

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Unintended pregnancy remains a public health challenge for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) worldwide. Among AGYW in Kenya, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are often accessed in retail pharmacies, including emergency contraception (EC) and other family planning methods. Understanding factors associated with purchasing EC among AGYW at retail pharmacies in Kenya could inform pharmacy-delivered SRH services for this population.

Methods: We analyzed data from an ongoing cluster-randomized trial comparing pharmacy-based PrEP delivery models among AGYW at 20 retail pharmacies in Kisumu, Kenya (NCT05467306). All AGYW (15-24 years) purchasing contraception (EC, oral pills, injectables, implants, condoms) at retail …

Strategies To Recognize And Prevent Workplace Violence, Anna Dermenchyan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States healthcare facilities have experienced a rise in workplace violence, placing significant stress on health systems and their employees. Incidents such as bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, and assaults also put our patient safety, experience, and quality outcomes at risk. Nurses face a significant risk of experiencing workplace-related violence. Studies have demonstrated that almost half of all nurses experience some lateral or horizontal violence during the first year of their nursing career.

There is a prevailing attitude that workplace violence is a culturally accepted and expected part of one’s occupation. According to the …

Acceptability Of Companion Dog Walking To Improve The Well-Being Of Intensive Care Unit Survivors, Lindsey Nelson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are at risk for developing post intensive care syndrome (PICS), the physical, cognitive, psychological, and/or social conditions that persist after hospital discharge (Yuan et al., 2021). Current approaches aimed at addressing PICS tend to employ a singular focus on physical health; prevention and treatment strategies focused on the holistic needs of ICU survivors that extend beyond the confines of formal settings and into the community and home are needed (Geense et al., 2019).

A complementary intervention not previously explored in the ICU survivor population is companion dog walking. Companion dogs have been linked to improved …

The Intersection Of Tradition And Health: Insight To Herbal Medicine Use In Pregnancy, Olabisi Fatimo Ibitoye, Abokede O. Oluwaseun

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The use of herbal medicines has increased significantly with around 80% of consumers worldwide particularly among women (Afriyie & Kumi-Kyereme, 2023). The prevalence of herbal medicine use during pregnancy varies by country, from 7% to 55%, influenced by social status, ethnicity, and culture (Illamola et al., 2020). In Australia and the UK, rates range from 52% to 58%, while Norway and Italy report 40% to 48%. In contrast, Canada and the US show lower rates of 6% to 9%, and in parts of Africa, such as Nigeria, rates range from 12.08% to 66.7% (Adamolekum etal 2023; Orief et al., …

Factors Influencing Quality Of Life Undergoing Immunotherapy For Patients With Solid Malignancy, Shiow-Ching Shun, Hui-Ying Yang, Yu-Chen Kuo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment which profoundly impact patients’ quality of life [1-3] caused by immune-related adverse events [4, 5] . However, it remains unclear the status of Quality-of-Life are associated with distress of physical, emotional, social, practical, and spiritual or religious concerns in patients treated with immunotherapy[3, 6]. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate status of Quality of Life (QoL) and a variety of distress concerns, and further to identify influencing factors of QoL.

Method: A cross-national study was conducted[1]. Patients with cancer who were treating with immunotherapy were recruited in a medical center in Northern Taiwan. A …

Unmet Care Needs: Perspectives Of Colorectal Cancer Patients, Caregivers, And Healthcare Providers, Young Man Kim, Gi Won Ha, Min Ro Lee, No Eul Kang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Unmet care needs in colorectal cancer care extend beyond medical treatment, significantly affecting both patients and their caregivers. While patients and caregivers express strong needs for information, psychosocial support, and continuity of care, healthcare providers may perceive and prioritize these needs differently. This study compares the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, identifying key areas for improvement in patient-centered cancer care.

Methods: This study used a qualitative design involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews with three days of colorectal cancer patients and family caregivers, as well as eight healthcare providers. Data collection took place from September 2023 to August 2024. …

Compressed Majority Judgment Ballot With Merkle And Aggregated Pqc Signature, Xavier Pillet

Defensive Publications Series

This document, produced with the assistance of ChatGPT o3 and GPT-5 Thinking, is released under the Apache 2.0 license. It is a voluntary defensive publication (prior art) and therefore enters the prior art upon release under the applicable patent statutes: EPC Art. 54(2) (European Patent Convention), French IPC/CPI Art. L 611-11 (French Intellectual Property Code), 35 U.S.C. §102(a) (United States Patent Act), Chinese Patent Law Art. 22(5) (中华人民共和国专利法), and Japanese Patent Act Art. 29(1) (特許法). This publication is covering a complete, implementable stack for sovereign, post-quantum Majority Judgment (JM) e-voting: compact 3-bit ballots, Merkle aggregation, PQC signatures, DID-based eligibility, Kyber+threshold …