Digital Commons Network^™

Computer-Mediated Communication And Artificial Intelligence Strategies In Arts Entrepreneurship, Anna Blake

Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education

This study analyzes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) using computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory to prospect areas for innovation in an emerging field that is rapidly becoming integrated within our everyday lives as well as in the marketplace. In order to demonstrate how arts entrepreneurs can effectively and ethically leverage AI technologies to communicate with their audiences and stakeholders, I examine as case studies the work of individual artists including Grimes. The CMC framework is used to examine art as a form of communication, illustrate how AI changes the nature of art, challenge the extant concepts of identity and intellectual …

Strengthening Tobacco Control Research: Key Factors Impacting Policy Outcomes And Health Equity, Bukola Usidame, Natalie Mcarthur, Andrea Titus

Department of Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

In this policy brief, we explore several potential drivers of heterogeneity in policy outcomes that can be examined in tobacco control policy evaluations, expanding the evidence base to contribute to continued, equitable progress in reducing tobacco-related health outcomes. We discuss these factors in the context of a hypothetical evaluation of the impact of smoke-free laws on current smoking and quit attempts in the Tobacco Nation. Despite a similar policy environment within the Tobacco Nation, there is variation in the strength of smoke-free law coverage across states. This commentary considers how policy design and other contextual factors, including co-occurring policies, and …

Optimal Beamforming Design For Stability And Performance Of Uav Formations, Wanyue Lin, Andrew Clark

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

This paper explores the application of multi-loop Wireless Networked Control Systems (WNCS) for managing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) formations. A multi-antenna base station (BS) employs beamforming (BF) technology to communicate with and control multiple UAVs simultaneously. Given the inherent uncertainty and stochastic nature of wireless channels and control system dynamics, we propose a joint communication-control strategy to ensure an accurate, stable, and efficient system. Our objective is to minimize the weighted sum of state error and communication costs while maintaining system stability and adhering to transmission power constraints by adapting BF weight vectors. The benefits of the BF design are …

Transfer Processes For 2d And 3d Nanomembrane Materials For Flexible Device Fabrication, Noah Zheng

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

Electronic devices made from heterostructures of 2D layers, 3D nanomembranes, and metallic contacts can realize performance benefits over traditional Silicon-based devices while also exhibiting physical properties such as flexibility and transparency. These novel materials have the potential to unlock new electronic form factors, greatly increasing the applicability of electronic devices. Flexible, biocompatible devices are particularly sought after to facilitate in-vivo health sensing. The diversity of 2D and 3D nanomembrane materials, however, necessitates that many different processes be developed for their production. Often, novel materials must be grown on special wafers to avoid lattice mismatch and ensure crystallinity, then transferred to …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) Interventions For Group Therapy For College Students Experiencing Depression, Ty Ogren

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This group manual was created to support college students struggling with a depressive mood disorder such as Major Depressive Disorder. The instance of mental health concerns, including depression, have increased greatly over the last several years. Depression is the most common mental health concern for college students, and the rate at which they experience depressive symptoms has exceeded that of the general population. Depressive symptoms in college students can lead to many concerns like poor academic achievement, self-isolation, poor diet and nutrition, and suicidal ideation (Liu et al., 2022). This group manual aims to equip college students struggling with depression …

Kinetic Modeling Of Bacteria Removal From Suspensions By Magnetic Nanoparticle Capture And Magnetic Separation, Bowen J. Houser

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the kinetic modeling of bacteria removal from suspensions using magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) capture and magnetic separation. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, especially those coated with polydopamine (pDA), were employed to bind with various bacterial species in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), apple juice, whole blood, and its components. By analyzing the capture efficiency and kinetics of capture across different bacterial species and mediums, we developed mathematical models describing the capture kinetics of bacteria by the pDA-MNPs. Experimental results demonstrated that pDA-coated MNPs achieved high capture efficiency with certain Gram-positive species like Staphylococcus aureus, and one Gram-negative species, Neisseria perflava; however, capture …

The Impact Of The Virginia Department Of Education On Music Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erica S. Denham

Masters Theses

This research was to identify how the Virginia Department of Education handled Music Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. When proper support from the Department of Education is given, music educators can run their programs efficiently without doing much research on their own. By examining the COVID-19 policies and procedures created by the Virginia Department of Education, this qualitative study investigated how much emphasis was put on the unique needs of an education in music. Therefore, this investigation examined these policies and procedures to note in what ways music education was taken into special consideration. This study explored three distinct phases …

Jesus's Use Of "Woman" In The Fourth Gospel, Cori Mcgrew

Masters Theses

In John's Gospel, Jesus uses the word "woman" in surprising ways: to address his mother at the wedding in Cana and at the Cross, to address a woman in Samaria, in a parable about a woman giving birth in his Final Discourse, and finally, to address Mary Magdalene at the garden tomb. This thesis uses the unusual way Jesus addresses his mother in the Fourth Gospel as a catalyst to find a connection between all five uses of "woman" by Jesus in John's Gospel, concluding that these instances evoke creation imagery, in particular of Genesis 3:15. The allusion to Genesis …

Update The Console: Educating The Next Generation About The Benefits/Problems Of Video Games, Nicholas A. Del Rio

Masters Theses

Video games have changed since the late 90s and early 2000s. Technology has advanced, graphics have gotten more detailed, stories and narratives have become more intricate, and gameplay has become more involved. Gaming nowadays is much more accessible, popular, well-known, and widespread compared to back then. It is important to not only know about the roots of video games, but also how it has changed over the years. With many new advancements comes many new benefits and problems. This research covers how video games affect the new generation of gamers, especially children, compared to the older generation of gamers, along …

Sans Souci Apartments, Inc. V. Koltowich

All Decisions

In this holdover proceeding based on nuisance, the tenant moved for discovery regarding the landlord's allegations of 17 incidents of objectionable conduct. The court granted the motion, finding that the tenant demonstrated "ample need" for the information to adequately defend herself. The court emphasized the importance of discovery in nuisance cases to ensure a fair trial and allowed the tenant to obtain information such as the identities of witnesses and the basis for the landlord's knowledge of the alleged incidents.

Pixel Personalities Ai, Patrick Casey

Theses

The Pixel Personality AI project explores how AI characters can be embedded in augmented reality (AR) environments to foster user interaction and storytelling. By situating AI personas within real-world contexts, the project examines how design principles, storytelling techniques, and user-centric technology can create engaging and intuitive experiences. Through iterative prototyping and design refinement, the project addressed challenges in aesthetic design, interface usability, and AR integration. The resulting low-poly aesthetic and customized visual filters enhance spatial storytelling while maintaining a balance between user focus and environmental immersion. This research highlights the potential of AI-driven narratives to reshape AR experiences, emphasizing user …

Modeling Stormwater Driven Plastic Debris In The Lake Ontario Watershed, Jayson A. Kucharek

Theses

Stormwater-driven plastic debris has emerged as a significant contributor to environmental pollution, particularly in urbanized watersheds like the Lake Ontario basin. This study focuses on developing a comprehensive framework to quantify and predict anthropogenic debris (AD) inputs and transport pathways across Monroe County, NY, using stormwater systems as a key vector. Over two years, empirical data on plastic debris were collected from storm drains retrofitted with LittaTrap™ devices across urban and suburban areas. Debris was weighed, categorized by material and use, and paired with spatial and temporal variables such as land use, rainfall, temperature, and wind events. A Support Vector …

Harnessing Extrinsic Dissipation To Enhance The Toughness Of Composites And Composite Joints: A State-Of-The-Art Review Of Recent Advances, Gilles Lubineau, Marco Alfano, Ran Tao, Ahmed Wagih, Arief Yudhanto, Xiaole Li, Khaled Almuhammadi, Mjed Hashem, Ping Hu, Hassan A. Mahmoud, Fatih Oz

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Interfaces play a critical role in modern structures, where integrating multiple materials and components is essential to achieve specific functions. Enhancing the mechanical performance of these interfaces, particularly their resistance to delamination, is essential to enable extremely lightweight designs and improve energy efficiency. Improving toughness (or increasing energy dissipation during delamination) has traditionally involved modifying materials to navigate the well-known strength-toughness trade-off. However, a more effective strategy involves promoting non-local or extrinsic energy dissipation. This approach encompasses complex degradation phenomena that extend beyond the crack tip, such as long-range bridging, crack fragmentation, and ligament formation. This work explores this innovative …

Matter Of 160 E. 84th St. Assoc. Llc V. New York State Div. Of Hous. & Community Renewal

All Decisions

In this case, the landlord challenged DHCR's interpretation of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), which repealed luxury deregulation. The landlord argued that apartments with pending deregulation orders prior to the HSTPA's enactment should still be deregulated upon lease expiration. The Court of Appeals affirmed DHCR's interpretation, holding that the HSTPA effectively repealed luxury deregulation for apartments whose leases expired after the statute's effective date. (Such apartments are still subject to rent stabilization.) The court emphasized the legislative intent behind the HSTPA and rejected the landlord's arguments regarding undue delay in DHCR's processing of deregulation applications.

New England Is Gaining Population Due To Immigration, Kenneth M. Johnson

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Kenneth Johnson reports that New England’s population gain of 123,000 (0.8 percent) between July 2023 and July 2024 was its largest in recent years, according to new Census Bureau estimates. International immigration accounted for the entire population gain, offsetting an excess of deaths over births and an outflow of domestic migrants to other U.S. destinations. Immigration was also an important source of population gain nationwide accounting for 84 percent of the U.S. population gain of 3.4 million. This produced the largest population gain in the United States in more than 20 years.

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New …

An Overview Of The Behaviors That Can Occur For Special Education Teachers And Speech-Language Pathologists In The Absence Of Communication Devices To Assist Students With Developmental Disabilities, Katie Nold

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this project was to research communication devices used in unique education settings with students with developmental disabilities, how the devices were accessed, and the benefits of these devices, as noted by the special education teachers and speech-language pathologists who worked with the students with developmental disabilities.The use of iPads in educational settings has proven particularly beneficial for teachers and students with developmental disabilities, especially those requiring alternative augmented and alternative communication (AAC) methods. According to Davidovich and Yavich (2019), these devices facilitate communication between teachers and students, fostering a more interactive and engaging learning environment.

By incorporating …

Factors Associated With Cognitive Flexibility In People With Opioid-Use Disorder: A Pilot Study, Paul S. Regier, Thais Costa Macedo De Arruda, Laura Sinko, Anne M. Teitelman, Anna Rose Childress

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances has strong survival value. Individuals with substance use disorders tend to get "stuck" over-responding to drug-reward signals and pursuing drugs despite negative consequences. A lack of flexibility may be tied to impairments in neurocognition, including learning, memory, and executive function. However, results are often mixed, potentially due to heterogeneity in factors such as mental health, personality traits, or prior adversity. This study aimed to identify which factors influence neurocognitive variations within the opioid use disorder (OUD) population. Based on prior literature, we hypothesized that individuals with OUD would show deficits (vs. controls) in …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of African American Clergy And Congregation Weight Loss Interventions, Linda Fay Carper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Houston African American clergy regarding their roles and effectiveness in leading weight loss interventions within their faith-based communities. The research addresses the gap in peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Houston-area African American faith-based leadership on the success of weight loss initiatives. Grounded in the Transtheoretical Theory, the study explores clergy perceptions of decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change to inform future health interventions. Ten purposive participants, meeting the inclusion criteria of being clergy leaders in Houston-based congregations with at least 50% African American membership, shared their insights. Data were collected …

Influence Of Social Media On Business Performance Of Small And Medium Enterprises, Annmarie Jennifer Calvert-Antoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the significant advantages of using social media marketing, an estimated 25% of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) promote products and services through social media. However, the lack of use by many convenience store managers often results in missed opportunities for increasing sales revenue and reaching a broader customer base. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, this qualitative descriptive study explored convenience store owners' social media strategies to increase brand awareness and grow sales to improve performance. The participants were eight convenience store owners in the Midwestern United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of public …

Staff Education To Increase Confidence And Knowledge Of Workplace Violence In The Outpatient Mental Health Setting, Agnelyne Afugmeyig Ndifor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health care providers are often faced with difficult situations and frequently encounter patients that may exhibit violent or aggressive behavior. Without adequate training and knowledge to manage these situations, there is a risk of harm and a threat to safety for nurses and office staff. Many hospitals and inpatient psychiatric providers provide training and educational modules to educate staff on how to prepare for and manage these situations, but there is not much research about staff confidence in preventing and managing violent or aggressive patients in the outpatient setting. The practice gap that I analyzed in this project was …

The Impact Of Mental Health Education On Nigerian Immigrants In The United States, Paschal Chinedu Ukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is a general awareness of the importance of mental health, the role of mental health education in shaping the perceptions and attitudes of Nigerian immigrants in the United States remains understudied. This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the impact of mental health education on the attitudes and beliefs of Nigerian immigrants in the United States. The theoretical foundation for this study was the health belief model, which posits that an individual’s beliefs about health, perceived risks, and perceived benefits play a significant role in their health behaviors. The central research question concerned how mental health education …

Counselors’ Lived Experiences Supporting Emerging Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Secure Competitive Employment, Cheryl Lakisha Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a challenging life experience, further intensified for individuals with psychiatric disorders. While strong social support serves as a key resilience factor, emerging adults with psychiatric disorders face unique challenges in addition to those encountered by their peers. This population is at heightened risk for adverse outcomes, including difficulty securing employment, a critical milestone for adult independence. Counselors play a pivotal role in supporting these individuals but often report feelings of inadequacy and reluctance to engage with this complex developmental stage. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology study explores the lived experiences of counselors who assist emerging …

Mitigation Of Ai Adoption Bias Through An Improved Autonomous Ai System For Diabetic Retinal Disease, Michael D. Abramoff, Philip T. Lavin, Julie R. Jakubowski, Barbara A. Blodi, Mia Keeys, Cara Joyce, James C. Folk

Biostatistics Collaborative Core: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Where adopted, Autonomous artificial Intelligence (AI) for Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) resolves longstanding racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities, but AI adoption bias persists. This preregistered trial determined sensitivity and specificity of a previously FDA authorized AI, improved to compensate for lower contrast and smaller imaged area of a widely adopted, lower cost, handheld fundus camera (RetinaVue700, Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL) to identify DRD in participants with diabetes without known DRD, in primary care. In 626 participants (1252 eyes) 50.8% male, 45.7% Hispanic, 17.3% Black, DRD prevalence was 29.0%, all prespecified non-inferiority endpoints were met and no racial, ethnic or sex …

Protect Small Businesses: Addressing Security Threats And Insider Risks, Alan Saquella

Publications

Small businesses face unique security challenges that make them highly vulnerable compared to larger organizations. While large companies often have dedicated teams of cybersecurity experts, fraud examiners, investigators and the resources to implement robust security measures, small businesses typically operate with limited budgets and minimal staff, making them prime targets for a variety of internal and external threats.

Equity In The Student Conduct System For First-Generation College Students, Kristin D. Ridge

JWU Dissertations & Theses

Student conduct administrators are charged with crafting and enforcing an institution’s code of conduct equitably for all students. Few administrators are in a position to disrupt or end a student’s college career. Public institutions’ administrators function as state actors and must uphold the student rights protected in the landmark 1961 Dixon v. Alabama Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Thus, conduct administrators have a professional obligation to act with integrity and balance the authority of the institution with the rights of the student. This balance includes enforcing policy while considering the context and lived experiences of students. Further, when working …

New Chapters In An Old Book: New Discoveries In Transferrin's Blood Stream Modulators And Analytical Methods, Shelby Thomas Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Human serum transferrin is a 79 kDa glycoprotein responsible for the safe transport of iron throughout the blood stream. Transferrin binds up to two ferric ions in two domains known as the N-lobe and C-lobe respectively. Thus, there are four transferrin metalloforms: apo-Tf (with no iron bound), FeN-Tf (with one iron bound in the N-lobe), FeC-Tf (with one iron bound in the C-lobe) and holo-Tf(with two iron ions bound, one in each of the lobes). The two domains are homologous but feature differences in the kinetics and thermodynamics of iron binding and release. The two lobes are also different in …

Il-12 Encoding Ondv Synergizes With Car-T Cells In Orthotopic Models Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Eric Tu, Greyson W Biegert, Sonia Agrawal, Nicholas Durham, Malcolm K Brenner, Masataka Suzuki

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Systemic administration of oncolytic viruses (OVs) is a promising approach for targeting metastatic solid tumors, but their anti-tumor activity is limited by pre-existing neutralizing antibodies against common human viruses. Therefore, investigators have developed OVs derived from non-human host viruses. Successful implementation of this strategy requires that the viral vector selectively infects and replicates within human cancer cells. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian paramyxovirus that, as NDV-based OVs (oNDVs), has demonstrated safety and activity against multiple human tumors in clinical trials. Their use as a single agent, however, is insufficient to cure tumors. Similarly, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells …

Platelets On Fire During Chemotherapy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Quinoline-Based Compounds Can Inhibit Diverse Enzymes That Act On Dna, Jie Yang, Bigang Liu, John R Horton, Caleb Chang, Chuxuan Li, Leora Maksoud, Yifei Yang, Dante Rotili, Abhinav K Jain, Xing Zhang, Robert M Blumenthal, Taiping Chen, Yang Gao, Sergio Valente, Antonello Mai, Xiaodong Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

DNA methylation, as exemplified by cytosine-C5 methylation in mammals and adenine-N6 methylation in bacteria, is a key epigenetic process. Developing non-nucleoside inhibitors to cause DNA hypomethylation is crucial for treating various conditions without the toxicities associated with existing cytidine-based hypomethylating agents. This study characterized fifteen quinoline-based analogs, particularly compounds with additions like a methylamine (9) or methylpiperazine (11), which demonstrate similar low micromolar inhibitory potency against human DNMT1 and Clostridioides difficile CamA. These compounds (9 and 11) intercalate into CamA-bound DNA via the minor groove, causing a conformational shift that moves the catalytic domain away from the DNA. This study …

Epilepsy Therapies Symposium | Do We Really "Outgrow" Seizures?, Mohammed Ilyas, Dean Naritoku, Alica M Goldman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Initiation and maintenance of antiseizure therapy can be relatively straightforward in most patients. Depending on epilepsy type, patients may be more or less likely to enter remission or a resolution of their epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy developed clinically guiding definitions in this regard. The mechanisms by which resolution or remission are achieved are poorly understood which complicates clinical decision making and risk estimate for future seizure relapse. The impetus for the maintenance of medical therapy in a seizure-free patient is also age-dependent. In children, one ought to consider the unknown effects of antiseizure medications on the developing …