Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Implementation Of A Low-Cost Raspberry Pi And Ai-Based Intrusion Detection System For Surveillance, Metrine Nyaboke Osiemo

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

As security concerns continue to rise, there is a growing demand for affordable and intelligent surveillance solutions to ensure safety in homes, businesses, and other environments. Many individuals are embracing AI-driven technologies such as Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), smart doorbells, and automated security systems to protect their properties. This project presents a design and implementation of a cost-effective AI-powered intrusion detection system utilizing Raspberry Pi 5 for home surveillance, with adaptability for broader applications. The system integrates a camera module and an LCD screen running on a Linux-based platform, with Python, and OpenCV as key software components. It employs dlib’s deep …

Exploring Physiotherapist’S Ability To Identify Cauda Equina Syndrome Early, Khalid F. Althobaiti, Joshua R. Zadro, Fahad A. Alzhrani, Hosam A. Alzahrani

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Objectives: To explore the ability of physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia to identify cauda equina syndrome (CES) in a timely manner, and to identify the methods used by physiotherapists to manage patients with suspected CES. Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional research design and was conducted in the period May-October 2023. It included licensed physiotherapists working in Saudi Arabia. The data was collected using a survey that aimed to assess physiotherapists’ ability to identify CES early, using 12 statements. Based on the participants response to these statements, all responders were categorized into the following groups based on their ability to …

Does Sleep Apnea Treatment Influence Patients’ Risk Of Getting Into Car Accidents?

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Are Patients Undergoing Surgery For Early-Stage Cancer At Risk Of Persistent Opioid Use?

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

13. Mentorship Matters: Documenting The Unseen Impact Of Instructor-Student Relationships, Jeff Spears, Amanda Deliman, Hannah Mae Lewis, Jim Lamuth, Kim Hales

Documenting Teaching Excellence

This chapter explores the critical yet often unrecognized role of documenting instructor mentorship as a core component of teaching excellence in higher education. Mentorship encompasses a range of instructor-to-student interactions, including academic guidance, psychosocial support, research support (graduate and undergraduate), and career exploration for students (DeAngelo, Mason, & Winters, 2016; Thiry & Laursen, 2011). Despite its importance, mentorship is rarely documented comprehensively in teaching documentation portfolios (Ocobock et al., 2022). By systematically capturing the multifaceted impacts of mentorship, instructors enhance their teaching portfolio and contribute to the broader discourse on teaching excellence. This chapter aims to empower instructors to demonstrate …

14. Loops, Badges, And Remixes: How Ctls Support Documenting Scholarly Teaching, Travis N. Thurston

Documenting Teaching Excellence

College instructors today face mounting pressure to document and demonstrate teaching excellence, but too often they confront ambiguous requirements disconnected from teaching values. However, what if the future of scholarly teaching depended on making instructors feel visible, validated, and valued in how their teaching is documented and shared? In the current climate, where burnout and disconnection run high, instructors need more than compliance checklists, they need structures of support that affirm their professional identity and invite them into a community of inquiry to support scholarly teaching.

15. Documenting Teaching Excellence: Applying Universal Design For Learning (Udl) In Communication Courses, Shihua Brazill

Documenting Teaching Excellence

As a professor in communications, I know firsthand the challenges and rewards of teaching diverse students in courses such as Presenting Technical Information, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Intercultural Communication. These courses demand not only mastery of content but also the ability of students at varying levels of comfort and expertise to communicate effectively using a variety of media. My approach to teaching has been heavily influenced by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which I have found to be an invaluable tool for creating inclusive, engaging, and dynamic learning environments. UDL has become essential to my pedagogy because …

16. Confronting "I Just Don't Have Time": An Argument For Seeking And Documenting Professional Learning, Sharon Lyman, Karin Dejonge-Kannan

Documenting Teaching Excellence

We confess our teaching is not always exemplary and our students often struggle to learn. We argue that intentionally pursuing professional learning is the only way to improve our teaching, and that documenting this learning is imperative when we make the case for teaching excellence. This chapter will examine the common lament of “I just don’t have time” for professional learning, followed by a discussion of how to exchange this self-sabotaging notion for a self-sustaining alternative, and a description of the benefits of documenting professional growth. The aim of this chapter is three-fold: to argue that “I just don’t have …

17. Our Teaching Excellence: Effective Teaching As An Inherently Collective Endeavor To Enhance Student Learning, Melissa E. Ko

Documenting Teaching Excellence

Higher education has long pursued excellence in its core pillars: research, service, and teaching. Yet, public trust in higher education is at an all-time low. In 2024, nearly 1 in 3 Americans reported little to no confidence in higher education (Nietzel, 2024). Another survey revealed that 1 in 2 Americans think a college degree is less important now for getting a well-paying job compared to 20 years ago (Pew Research Center, 2024). Individual faculty continue to secure tenure through demonstrated teaching excellence, yet higher education struggles to convince the American public of its effectiveness. Why does this discrepancy exist?

Assessing Generalization Along Side Acquisition Using System Of Least Prompts Versus Video Modeling Plus System Of Least Prompts Of Simulated Vocational Tasks, Victoria B. Shafer

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to assess if system of least prompts alone or video modeling plus system of least prompts was more effective when teaching a student with a moderate intellectual disability three simulated vocational tasks using paper materials. Additionally, generalization was assessed using real-world materials. An adapted alternating treatment design was used to compare conditions. The results indicated that system of least prompts alone was more effective than video modeling plus system of least prompts. There was no demonstration of generalization.

Impact Of Digital Courseware Use On Online Student Sense Of Belonging And Potential For Building An Online Community Of Inquiry, Kat Klement

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Though interest in online education is rising, online programs have a lower retention rate than do in-person programs and a correspondingly higher dropout rate. One factor that drives online student retention is the degree to which students feel a sense of belonging in their online courses. As more interest in online education leads to larger course sizes and more online sections, instructors may turn to digital courseware offered by publishing companies to increase student engagement and provide formative assessment. Yet research shows little consistency in the impact of digital courseware use on course grades. The studies in this thesis explored …

Teaching Object-Oriented Design Through Interactive Uml: A Dual-Approach Framework For Code-Based Generation And Direct Diagram Manipulation, Moses Kayuni

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis introduces an interactive educational framework for teaching object-oriented design through UML class diagrams. The framework implements a dual-approach methodology: code-based generation, where students write Java code that automatically transforms into UML diagrams, and direct diagram manipulation, where students build diagrams by interacting with highlighted terms in problem descriptions. This approach addresses common challenges in teaching UML, including cognitive load difficulties, visualization problems, and the disconnect between code implementation and visual design. Built on the Mermaid diagramming framework, the system features a React frontend for diagram creation and manipulation, and a Flask backend that handles some code parsing and …

Targeted Deletion Of Cxcl1 In Mscs Regulates Osteogenesis And Suppresses Bone-Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Catherine S. Johnson, Diane L. Costanzo-Garvey, Julio C. Valencia, Sanjana Rajgopal, Theodore Reed, Emma R. Brannon, Jeremy S. Frieling, Deanna Mosley, Todd A. Wyatt, Elijah F. Edmondson, Kabhilan Mohan, Grinu Mathew, Leah M. Cook

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Bone metastasis continues to be the greatest challenge in treating patients with prostate cancer despite ongoing research. In bone, prostate cancer tumors hijack normal bone remodeling processes to drive cancer progression. However, it is unclear how these interactions drive bone-metastatic prostate cancer growth in the bone environment. To understand the mechanisms associated with bone-metastatic prostate cancer regulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we previously identified that bone-metastatic prostate cancer induces MSC expression of the pro-inflammatory chemokine CXCL8 and its mouse functional homologue Cxcl1. To date, there has been little to no information about the role of CXCL1/8 in MSC biology …

Research News, Publications, 2025, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of April 1 - June 30, 2025.

Makers Of Identity: Those That Hold It, Or Those That Create It?, Valentina K. Quintero

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Throughout the semester, the topic of AI potentially achieving personhood has been a deeply debated topic. Issues rise and fall depending on perspective, and there are still too many unknowns to be completely certain that AI has either managed to become a person or has not. One of the key details of personhood is the modern understanding of the word identity. This paper will go into the origins of the word and how it may have changed, and how it is important in regards to AI and its potential. Wittgenstein’s language games, personal opinion, and cultural influences will be explored …

The Impact Of Nurse-Led Environmental Controls On Insomnia In Elderly Acute Care Inpatients, Tyler G. Van Note, Lindsay V. Garay, Ava R. Eisenhart

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Impact of Nurse-Led Environmental Controls on Insomnia in Elderly Acute Care Inpatients

Research Question: Does teaching nurses to control the patient environment (I) in acute care in-patients aged 65+ (P) reduce insomnia compared to current practice (Q1H rounding) (C) from 67.4% to less than 30% as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (O)?

Background and Significance: 67.4% of hospitalized patients report experiencing insomnia from sleep disturbances, which can significantly impact their recovery and overall health outcomes. Nurses can address these disruptions by monitoring noise, light exposure, and staff interruptions.

Sample methods: The literature review search keywords were sleep …

The Economic And Environmental Impact Of Shinkansen And High-Speed Rail Infrastructure: A Comparative Analysis Of Economic Growth And Carbon Emissions Reduction, Dillan R. Victory

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The development of Japan's high-speed rail system, the Shinkansen, has played a pivotal role in the country's post-war economic resurgence. Introduced in 1964 with the Tokaidō Shinkansen, this transformative infrastructure investment significantly reduced travel times, bolstered economic activity around station hubs, and facilitated regional development by enabling urban decentralization. This paper explores the long-term economic benefits of high-speed rail, including its impact on land value, business expansion, and carbon emissions. The case study of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, Japan's latest maglev project, underscores both the economic promise and the political resistance to expansion, particularly in regions such as Shizuoka.

Using …

Research News, Grants, 2025, Volume 1, Joshua Sharp

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during January - March 2025

Research News, Grants, 2025, Volume 3, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during July - September 2025.

Elizabeth Igler: The Scrapbook As Feminist Inventiveness, Genevieve Dickerson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

During our visit to the Belmont University Archives, I happened upon a scrapbook kept by a woman, Elizabeth Igler, who attended Ward-Belmont during the 1927-1928 school year. Upon further research in the Glendale Historic Preservation Archive, where Igler served as the village’s first female solicitor, I found that any record of Igler’s attendance at Belmont was missing. I am curious about the impact of Igler’s time at Belmont on her legal career, particularly because this time in her life is digitally unsearchable outside of the Belmont digital repository. Thus, for my research project, I want to explore the following questions: …

Pediatric Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy: A Case-Based Review Of Diagnosis And Outcomes, Chance Swanson Bs, Josh Jimenez Bs, Manav Patel Bs, Phillip Alexeev Bs, Kevin Hiatt Md

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Pediatric acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANEC) is a rare condition characterized by precipitation of a viral illness, bilateral thalamic lesions on CT and MRI, and normal cell counts with increased protein in cerebrospinal fluid [1]. ANEC typically presents with a 6-18 month child that experiences fever, seizures, rapid alteration in level of consciousness, in addition to specific findings in brain imaging such as bilateral thalamic lesions with supra and infra-tentorial lesions of variable dimensions [2]. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood, the absence of inflammatory cells on post-mortem analysis and the lack of consistent viral detection in CSF suggest that …

Quality Improvement Initiative To Decrease Excessive Testing For Streptococcal Pharyngitis In Adults In An Outpatient Clinic Setting, Hana Roussey, Jennifer Sternberg, David Phillippi

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Project Title: Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Excessive Testing for Streptococcal Pharyngitis in Adults in an Outpatient Clinic Setting

Background and Rationale: Current guidelines recommend utilization of a clinical decision-making tool, like the Centor score, in conjunction with confirmatory diagnostic methods, such as a throat culture or rapid test, rather than either method alone. The existing practice at the clinic site was to test most adults with upper respiratory infection symptoms (e.g., sore throat, cough, fever, sinus congestion) with little discretion. With the reported prevalence of streptococcal pharyngitis or “strep throat” in adults being 5-15%, universally testing adult patients could …

Dark Triad Personality Traits And Correlations With Mating Preferences, Mackenzie Warner, Yara Ali, Averee Martinez, Oliver Espana, Madeleine Scott

SPARK Symposium Presentations

With dating apps coming to a rise, there comes an influx of people who begin to use them, whether that be for long-term relationships, short-term, or even friendships (Freyth, et al., 2021). Additionally, dark personality traits, such as narcissism, are associated with higher perceived attractiveness and positive personality traits (Rauthmann et. al., 2012). Along with this, there has been research that shows differences in gender usage for dating apps and whether that is related to the Dark Triad personalities, with a desire for those that reflect the dark triad personality traits (Carter et al., 2014). To study this further, in …

The Impact Of High Deductible Health Plans On Mental Health Treatment, Kristian D. Dambrino

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Project Title: The Impact of High Deductible Health Plans on Mental Health Treatment

Background and Rationale: High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) are designed to reduce overall healthcare spending by shifting more upfront costs to patients to discourage overutilization of care, yet HDHPs often increase financial burden, particularly in outpatient mental health care. Patients covered by HDHPs often face substantial out-of-pocket costs before reaching their deductible. This can lead to potential delays or discontinuation of psychiatric treatment. Financial transparency interventions by the mental health provider may mitigate these barriers through more-informed patient decision-making regarding payment options. This project evaluates the impact …

Core Skills & "Cool Tools" From The Third Generation Of Fcil Librarians, Meredith Capps, Clement Lin, Devan Orr, Alison A. Shea, Loren Turner, Latia Ward

Articles

There have been three generations of foreign, comparative, and international law (FCIL) librarians in the United States (US) in the postwar era. FCIL librarians of the first generation were foreign lawyers who emigrated to the US after World War II. Those of the second generation were American lawyer-librarians who built the infrastructure of FCIL librarianship into what it is today. The third generation of FCIL librarians includes the authors of this article. We perform many of the same research tasks as our predecessors, but we do so primarily online through an ever-evolving array of new and emerging technologies. This article …

Kill 1l, Prentiss Cox

Articles

No abstract provided.

Delay, Politics, And Expertise In Oira Tax Review, Kristin E. Hickman, Bridget C.E. Dooling

Articles

The opening months of the second Trump administration have featured a wide range of changes to federal policy accomplished through presidential  executive orders. Among those changes, a lesser-known shift is the reinstatement of centralized review of tax regulations by the Office of Information of Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

For many years, most tax regulations were exempt from OIRA review. That changed in the first Trump administration when the Treasury Department (Treasury) and OIRA signed a memorandum of agreement bringing more tax regulations within OIRA’s oversight sphere. In the Biden administration, Treasury and OIRA reversed course, this time clearly and unequivocally exempting …

Fairness Writ Large Or Writ Small In International Criminal Justice, Nancy Combs

FIU Law Review

This article highlights the various, sometimes competing conceptions of fairness in international criminal law.

The Question Not Presented: Government And Social Media Corruption After Murthy V. Missouri, Richard Painter

Articles

The Supreme Court in Murthy v. Missouri in 2024 dismissed a suit by multiple plaintiffs alleging that the Biden Administration’s efforts to persuade social media platforms to monitor content violated the First Amendment. Although the Court did not directly decide the constitutionality of the government policy, the Court imposed a high bar for plaintiffs other than social media platforms to show standing to challenge the constitutionality of government pressure on the platforms. But the coercion problem is not the only troubling aspect of this government policy. The question not presented to the Court was the corruption problem. What happens when …

Beyond The Editorial Analogy: First Amendment Protections For Platform Content Moderation After Moddy V. Netchoice, Alan Rozenshtein, Kyle T. Langvardt

Articles

This Article examines the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Moody v. NetChoice and its implications for social media platform regulation. In Moody, which addressed state laws requiring platforms to host certain content, the Court issued a complex set of opinions that left the scope of platforms’ First Amendment rights uncertain. On the procedural question of how such laws may be challenged, the Court provided a clear holding: it rejected facial challenges to broad content-moderation laws, instead requiring case-by-case analysis of how specific regulations affect different platform features—a shift that undermines the tech industry’s longstanding litigation strategy. But on the …