Digital Commons Network^™

Steps Towards Effective Human-Robot Co-Manipulation Through Real-Time Modus Detection And Effects Of Stiffness Variation For Human-Soft-Robot Dyads, Shaden Moss

Theses and Dissertations

A group of individuals can coordinate very easily to carry a large or heavy object together. This act of collaborative carrying is called co-manipulation. Unlike human teammates, robots cannot easily detect and respond to the intent of human partners during co-manipulation tasks. This shortcoming can be compensated for via the physical design and the software design of robots. This work treats software design with a neural net that detects human modus (or the manner in which a team moves an object together) in real time. This work treats physical design with the use of a soft robot in human-robot co-manipulation, …

Improving Devices To Measure The Thermal Conductivity Of Molten Halide Salts, Ryan J. Ruth

Theses and Dissertations

Molten salts are of high interest for use in nuclear reactors, though their thermophysical properties are notoriously hard to measure due to the extreme conditions created by them. Significant gaps remain in thermal conductivity and heat capacity data, which this work seeks to fill by improving the Needle Probe-a modified transient hot wire probe originally used by Merritt et al to measure the thermal conductivity of FLiNaK- measuring two new salts, and exploring new materials for use with molten salts. Improvements made to the Needle Probe include automation to reduce human error, more accurate heat generation modeling, a more thorough …

The Parthenon, April 16, 2025, Sarah Davis, Baylee Parsons, Kaitlyn Fleming, Nate Harrah, Caden Adkins, Scott Price, Ella Bumgardner, Wade Sullivan

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

What Are Considerations, Challenges, And Successes Of Urban Elementary School Leaders When Designing Academic Multi-Tiered System Of Supports Infrastructure?, Andrew Scoles

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative research answers the question, “What are considerations, challenges, and successes of urban elementary school leaders when designing academic Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) infrastructure?;” and the sub-question, “How does school leadership develop a consensus on academic MTSS practices?” This research gathered insight on the importance of the consensus process in customizing MTSS practices to a school’s unique needs and in avoiding the caveats of a one-size-fits-all approach. As a result, the key recommendation is schools need to reach a unified consensus on explicit MTSS practices for clarity and quality control to be most efficacious. This process was not …

Lindenwood Digest, April 16, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Lasting Impact Of Friendship: A Group Manual For Meaningful Connections In Adolescence, Kristen M. Hull

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Adolescence brings profound changes in physical growth, emotions, and social interactions. The friendships formed during this time of life play a crucial role in shaping a young person’s sense of self, emotional health, and ability to navigate social relationships well into the future. This group manual examines the importance of friendships in adolescence, offering a research-based approach to understanding how these relationships influence mental well-being, academic success, and personal development. Designed for school counselors and other trained professionals, it provides practical strategies to help students build and maintain meaningful, supportive friendships during this pivotal stage of life.

Keywords: adolescence, friendship, …

Using Turn Teams To Prevent Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries, Melanie Sosa, Andrea Tilleman

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Her Work, His Money: Financial Remedies In The Irish High Court, Deirdre Mcgowan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.

Diabetes: Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring Using Federated Learning With Biosensor Signals, Narmatha Chellamani, Saleh Ali Albelwi, Manimurugan Shanmuganathan, Palanisamy Amirthalingam, Anand Paul

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Diabetes is a growing global health concern, affecting millions and leading to severe complications if not properly managed. The primary challenge in diabetes management is maintaining blood glucose levels (BGLs) within a safe range to prevent complications such as renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathy. Traditional methods, such as finger-prick testing, often result in low patient adherence due to discomfort, invasiveness, and inconvenience. Consequently, there is an increasing need for non-invasive techniques that provide accurate BGL measurements. Photoplethysmography (PPG), a photosensitive method that detects blood volume variations, has shown promise for non-invasive glucose monitoring. Deep neural networks (DNNs) applied to …

An Exploration Of The Use Of Tier I Occupational Therapy Services In An Elementary School, Emilee Schumacher

Honors Theses

This project aimed to explore how and to what extent school-based occupational therapists implement Tier 1 interventions within an elementary school setting. The research involved conducting interviews with occupational therapists and observing their interactions with students to better understand the scope and nature of the services they provide. During the project, several Tier 1 services were identified, with a particular focus on addressing fine motor skills, social-emotional development, and gross motor skills. Several benefits of implementing tier 1 services in the school setting were identified. The challenges school-based occupational therapy practitioners face when implementing Tier 1 services in the elementary …

Using Video Models Plus Feedback To Teach Interview Skills, Zoe Odom

Honors Theses

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is partially characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction. These deficits can be displayed by struggles in developing relationships and social-emotional reciprocity (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). In the context of competitive employment, social skill deficits can impose challenges in securing and maintaining an employment position, with 8.1% of adults with disabilities between the ages of 16-65 unemployed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Video-based instruction (i.e., video models and prompts) has been used to teach adults with autism a wide variety of skills up to 100% accuracy, including vocational skills such as …

Strength And Ductility Of Rod-Braced Diaphragms In Metal Building Systems Subjected To Earthquake Ground Motions, James Niedens

Theses and Dissertations

Metal building systems are a common form of construction but the behavior of roof diaphragms in metal buildings that are subjected to earthquake ground motions is not entirely understood. In this study, the strength and ductility of rod-braced diaphragms with hillside washer connections or rod-pad connections was determined using experimental tests and computer simulation. Tensile tests of rods were used to determine the effect of the type of rod on strength and ductility. Two types of rods were tested, full-body rods with cut threads at each end of the rod and bracing rods with rolled threads. Three rod sizes (5/8 …

On The Determinant Of Up On Mk(P,Χ), Xingyu Huang, Timothy J. Huber, Dongxi Ye

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this work, for p a prime, we compute the absolute value of the determinant of the UpUp-operator on the vector space Mk(p,χ)Mk(p,χ) of holomorphic modular forms of weight k and level Γ0(p)Γ0(p) with character χχ. As an implication, we confirm a number of conjectures of the second author.

Melanin Pedagogy: Black K-12 Public School Educators' Intention To Stay In Or Decision To Leave Teaching, Erin M. Mason

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The statistics related to the small number of Black teachers in U.S. K-12 public schools are alarming. Drawing on critical race theory, this qualitative phenomenological research study examined the lived experience of eight current and former Black teachers and their decisions to either stay in or leave the K-12 public school classroom. The findings of this study point to reasons why Black teachers have contemplated leaving the classroom or made the decision to remain. Out of the eight Black participants, three decided to terminate their career as a classroom teacher. Although experiences of barriers were shared, all of them concluded …

Human Capital And Lifetime Income Gains Of Scaling-Up Small-Quantity Lipid Nutrient Supplements Among Children Under 2 Years: A Modelling Analysis, Nandita Perumal Phd, Goodrarz Danaei, Günther Fink, Mark Lambiris, Christopher R. Sudfeld

Faculty Publications

Undernutrition in early childhood is associated with adverse health and developmental outcomes later in life and remains a persistent global public health problem. Providing small-quantity lipid nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) to children aged 6-24 months improves child growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes, but the potential long-term benefits to human capital have not been previously estimated. We estimated the potential returns to schooling and lifetime income attributable to increasing coverage of SQ-LNS for children < 2 years of age from 0% to 50% or 90% per five-year birth cohort in five countries (Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Uganda) with a high burden of undernutrition. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate the effect of SQ-LNS on child development using evidence from randomized controlled trials, and to estimate the returns to lifetime income as a function of change in development based on a de novo meta-analysis of observational economic studies. Gains in school years attributable to scaling-up SQ-LNS to 90% coverage ranged from 0.14 million school years (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 0.064, …

West African Drumming And Dance Ensemble: April 16, 2025, School Of Music

School of Music Programs

Kemp Recital Hall

April 16, 2025

Wednesday Evening

7:30 p.m.

Empowering Rural Communities: Unlocking Potential Through The Online Rural Economic & Community Vitality Graduate Certificate, Daniela Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

In today’s evolving economic landscape, rural Nebraska stands at a crossroads. While communities face challenges like population decline, job loss, and infrastructure needs, they also have enormous potential for growth, innovation, and resilience. The key to unlocking this potential lies in skilled, passionate leaders ready to shape the future.

The Rural Economic & Community Vitality (RECV) Graduate Certificate offered 100% online by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics, provides a powerful platform to do just that. This 12-credit, no-prerequisite program is designed for individuals eager to create real, lasting impact in rural communities—whether you're already working in …

Fundamentals Of Vascular Surgery: A Plan For The Uniform Instruction And Assessment Of Basic Skills In Vascular Surgery, Priscilla Tanamal, Claudie Sheahan, Malachi Sheahan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Training surgeons poses many unique challenges. In addition to the clinical acumen that must be learned, a minimum threshold of technical competency is a requisite for independent practice. The trends of endovascular interventions and open surgical procedures add another layer of complexity to vascular surgery training. Simulation can provide a solution for both technical skills training and evaluating proficiency. The Education Committee of the Association of Program Directors of Vascular Surgery (APDVS) developed the Fundamentals of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery platform to provide an opportunity for more uniform basic technical skill teaching and assessment across all vascular training programs. Evaluation …

Launching A Neonatal Resuscitation Escape Room To Combat High Infant Mortality Rates In South India: A Quality Improvement Project, Ellen M. Campos, Kathryn L. Dambrino Dr., Jennifer Sternberg Dr., Taryn Mccoy, Shelby L. Garner Dr., Kendell Natt, Lyn S. Prater Dr., R. David Phillippi Dr., Weiming Ke Dr., Leena Lourduswamy Dr., Sheela Victor Dr., Vernonsiya Kirubha, Beth Hallmark Dr., Julie Honey Dr.

DNP Projects

Background: In South India, infant mortality rates are high, and nurses require advanced training to respond to infants in fetal distress. Evidence shows that improved nurse competency in neonatal resuscitation and the ability of students to recognize and respond to distressed infants have led to decreased infant mortality rates.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to design and implement a simulated escape room to improve neonatal resuscitation outcomes among undergraduate students in South India.

Methods: A quantitative descriptive design was used. N=310 undergraduate nursing students from six schools in India participated in a simulated neonatal resuscitation (NNR) …

Extremely Low-Income Renter Households In The Mountain West, 2023, Anthony Arroyo, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz, Mia Tschan, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Housing & Real Estate

This fact sheet examines data from the 2025 National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report, “The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes,” which reported annual rental housing shortages in the United States. This fact sheet focuses on the number of extremely low-income renter households, affordable and available rental homes, and associated cost burdens in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

A Qualitative Inquiry Of Exercise Preferences Among Hispanic Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, Stephanie L Silveira, Robert W Motl, Tania Ontiveros, Victoria Flores

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aimed to identify the components of an ideal exercise training program for Hispanics with multiple sclerosis (MS), cultural adaptations, and avenues for dissemination of information to this population. Online, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 adults with MS who identified as Hispanic. A deductive content analysis approach was applied for assessing necessary and desired components of an exercise program. Participants articulated preferences for "what," "when," "where," and "who" of exercise programs. All participants expressed an interest in aerobic training (n = 27) and need for resistance (n = 14), flexibility (n = 8), and neuromotor components (n = …

Using The Healthy Native Youth Implementation Toolbox To Provide Web-Based Adolescent Health Promotion Decision Support To American Indian And Alaska Native Communities: Implementation Study, Amrita Sidhu, Ross Shegog, Stephanie Craig-Rushing, Nicole Trevino, Michelle Singer, Cornelia Jessen, Gwenda Gorman, Sean Simpson, Melissa Peskin, Belinda Hernandez, Christine Markham

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth experience numerous health inequities, including those in sexual, reproductive, and mental health. Implementation of culturally relevant, age-appropriate evidence-based programs may mitigate these inequities. However, numerous barriers limit the adoption and implementation of evidence-based adolescent health promotion programs in AI/AN communities.

Objective: This study examines user reach and engagement from 2022 to 2024 of web-based decision support (the Healthy Native Youth [HNY] website and the embedded HNY Implementation Toolbox), designed to increase the implementation of evidence-based adolescent health promotion programming in AI/AN communities.

Methods: Promotional strategies were designed for optimal geographic reach to …

Nursing Educators’ Perceptions Of Using Virtual Simulated Games In Nursing Education, Ruhee Waheeda Mir

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing educators of Trinidad and Tobago have limited experience with virtual simulated games (VSGs) as a part of their teaching methodology. This lack of experience was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic as educators had to use virtual approaches in their classrooms and struggled with unfamiliar technologies. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study, guided by the extended technology acceptance model, was to explore the perceptions of Trinidadian and Tobagonian nursing educators regarding the use of a VSG as a teaching tool. The sample consisted of eight nursing educators from an educational institute in Trinidad who met the criteria of being …

Relationship Between Department Of Justice Consent Decrees And Police Use Of Force And Search And Seizure Incidents, Judith Crowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Efforts to reform law enforcement practices related to use of force and search and seizure incidents have largely involved policy revisions and training enhancements. This study compares use of force and search and seizure incidents in the Baltimore City (BCPD) and the Chicago (CPD) Police Departments before and after the implementation of a Department of Justice (DOJ) Consent Decree. An Independent Samples t-test was used to analyze whether there was a statistically significant difference between pre and post use of force incidents and search and seizure incidents by the BCPD and the CPD. Secondary data regarding the BCPD use of …

Spectrum, Volume 54, Issue 11, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: FSL Hosts NFL Greek Week - From Chatbots to Classrooms: SHU’s New AI Minor - Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society Induction - Sacred Heart’s Club For Hope - Honoring Audrey Niblo - Women’s Track Running Through Records (Again!) - Pioneers Pursue Playoffs

2025-04-16 Mariners Baseball Is Back!, Diego Dumlao

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Knowledge Distillation For Efficient Object Detection: Toward Scalable And Deployable Vision Models, Qizhen Lan

All ETDs from UAB

Object detection is a critical component of autonomous driving, requiring real-time, robust perception to ensure safety. However, state-of-the-art deep neural network object detectors typically incur high computational cost and memory footprint, hindering their deployment in resource-constrained environments such as self-driving vehicles. This dissertation addresses the need for efficient yet accurate detectors by leveraging knowledge distillation (KD), a model compression technique that transfers knowledge from a high-capacity teacher model to a lightweight student model. While KD has seen success in image classification, its application to object detection poses unique challenges due to multiple instances per image and complex output structures. To …

Losac Minutes 2025-04-16, Library Operating Staff Advisory Committee

University Libraries Archives

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, April 16, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 33

Short- And Long-Term Effects Of Early Versus Delayed Treatment With Ocrelizumab On Cerebellar Volume Loss In Patients With Rms And Ppms, Douglas L Arnold, Shannon Kolind, Haz-Edine Assemlal, Amit Bar-Or, Matilde Inglese, Ludwig Kappos, Katrin Parmar, Till Sprenger, Anthony Traboulsee, Irene M Vavasour, Jerry S Wolinsky, Corrado Bernasconi, Ulrike Bonati, Stefano Magon, Björn Tackenberg, Laura Gaetano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The cerebellum is a functionally and anatomically complex structure, which, in multiple sclerosis (MS), is affected by focal white/gray matter lesions and by secondary neurodegeneration of afferent/efferent connections to the supratentorial brain and the spinal cord.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of ocrelizumab compared with interferon β-1a (IFN β-1a)/placebo on cerebellar volume loss and the effect of switching to ocrelizumab on volume change in the Phase III trials in relapsing MS (RMS, OPERA I/II) and in primary progressive MS (PPMS, ORATORIO).

Methods: Cerebellar volume change was computed using paired Jacobian integration and analyzed using a mixed-effect repeated measurement model. …