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Enhancing Interventions Against Misinformation Propagation in Social Networks
No full textRecommender systems play a crucial role in social media platforms by determining the order of information users see and aiding in news discovery. However, they can also cause harm through algorithmic privilege, excessive personalization, filter bubbles, and the recommendation and spread of misinformation. This dissertation aims to enhance proactive interventions against misinformation by addressing three key objectives. First, we investigate how recommendation algorithms contribute to misinformation propagation in social networks and propose a framework to measure their impact, introducing a novel information diffusion model that incorporates network, news, and user features. Second, we examine misinformation intervention strategies, from fake news detection and removal to social science-based approaches, assessing their robustness against circumvention and addressing the amplification of misinformation caused by recommender algorithms. Third, we explore towards the development of a misinformation-aware recommender system that prioritizes factors such as trustworthy networks and trustworthy neighbors. Furthermore, we analyze the interplay between news diversity in recommendations and the spread of misinformation. The outcomes of this research strengthen misinformation intervention strategies and provide critical insights for social scientists in fostering a more resilient and informed digital ecosystem
Subsurface Water Storage Dynamics of a Semi-Arid Hillslope Revealed by Time-Lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography
No full textWeathering in the Critical Zone (CZ) not only transforms bedrock into regolith but also increases the moisture storage potential of the subsurface by producing porosity. In the subsurface, water may be stored in the soil/regolith layer (i.e., soil moisture), or in the matrix and fractures of weathered bedrock (i.e., rock moisture). Examining the seasonal variation of subsurface water storage will develop a better understanding of water partitioning in the CZ, specifically under a warming climate with shifting precipitation patterns. In this thesis, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is used to monitor subsurface water storage dynamics in a semi-arid snow dominated hillslope from late summer to early winter to answer the research question: are shallow soil moisture and deep rock moisture synchronized in their responses to hydrologic events (precipitation and evapotranspiration)? Thanks to the strong correlation between resistivity and moisture content, the ERT method allows us to examine subsurface water storage changes in the region of the critical zone that is difficult to monitor with other costly methods. The seismic refraction imaging was used to determine the subsurface CZ structure of the hillslope, and by combining two geophysical methods, it is possible to accurately distinguish resistivity trends of shallow and deep storage reservoirs. To evaluate storage responses to hydrologic events, measured meteorologic data are used to estimate subsurface storage, which are then used with a petrophysical model to estimate resistivity changes for evaluation. It is found that shallow (~5 m deep in subsurface) and deep resistivities ( \u3e 6 m deep) of the hillslope are asynchronous, with time lag during seasonal wetting and drying. During wetting, soil and rock moisture are asynchronous across the hillslope with a substantial lag time (~15 weeks); whereas during dying soil and rock moisture have a smaller lag time (~4 weeks). Soil moisture is constantly recharged during precipitation events; whereas rock moisture is only recharged after soil moisture, requiring longer time scales for recharge. After soil moisture is depleted, with continuing ET demands, rock moisture diminishes quickly. Different wetting and drying trends indicate the vulnerability of rock moisture to drought, and further demonstrate it is a vital resource when soil moisture is depleted. This research advances our understanding of subsurface water storage dynamics, highlighting the utility of hillslope-scale geophysical investigations to help better predict how mountainous hydrologic systems store and release water for ecohydrological use
Resilience Webtool: Engaging Community Partners to Humanize Data for Use in Local Resilience Planning in Valley County, Idaho
Get PDFAdvancements in technology have made hazard data increasingly available. However, officials in rural communities with limited resources often face challenges in accessing, interpreting, and applying these data to assess vulnerabilities and plan future development. Furthermore, when hazard data is not paired with relevant population and infrastructure, data vulnerability assessments become increasingly difficult. To address this challenge, this project aims to co-create a web tool with decision makers in Valley County, Idaho following a user-centered design approach, consolidating hazards, social vulnerability, and infrastructure data to help local officials with risk management, decision-making, and resilience planning. The project started with listening sessions, identifying data gaps, community needs, and building relationships with community partners, including emergency managers, project planners, decision-makers, and health officials of the county. To select web tool features and datasets, we held focus groups and one-on-one meetings with community partners. Recently, the team finalized and published the web tool (Link to the tool: https://bitly.cx/M0w60j) on Valley County’s official website, and developed a sustainability plan to ensure this tool is usable for resilience planning for years to come. This study is an example of successfully engaging community partners toward developing user-centered tools for resilience planning in rural communities in Idaho. Even though many counties and states have web tools to help with their risk management, resilience planning, and decision-making, they lack a proper framework regarding how to effectively involve community partners in developing these tools. My research evaluated the community partner engagement process based on the Five-Feature Framework for Stakeholder Engagement in Natural Resource Management and looked into community partners’ satisfaction with the overall engagement process. I followed an explanatory qualitative research methodology where I interviewed the community partners using a structured questionnaire to understand their satisfaction with this community-engaged research. I applied the qualitative Thematic Analysis method to analyze the data collected from the interviews and looked into themes and patterns to understand how to successfully engage community partners in developing user-centered web tools for increasing community resilience. This study will provide insights into the process and dynamics of effectively engaging community partners. By doing so, the research can benefit the community in terms of risk management and help them with decision-making to make their communities more resilient in the face of disasters and vulnerability
Does Motor Skill Competence Influence Physical Activity Behavior? Focusing on Sport-specific Skills
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the widely held belief that motor skill competence positively affects physical activity behavior (PA), considering the task-specific nature of motor skill competence and the context-specific nature of PA. Specifically, we examined the effects of students’ jump rope (JR) and basketball (BB) competence on their PA in six contexts. A total of 134 sixth grade students participated in this study. All variables were assessed using appropriate tools. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to address the research questions. Students’ JR competence did not significantly influence their PA in either JR-related or JR-unrelated contexts. Students’ BB competence (dribbling skill and perceived competence) significantly influenced their BB playing behavior during free time. The findings challenge the general assertion that motor skill competence positively influences PA and imply two possible boundaries of this theoretical proposition
Victory Gardens: Then and Now (Flyer)
Get PDFDid you know Smithsonian Gardens has a Victory Garden exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC? Victory gardens were vegetable gardens planted during the world wars in order to ensure an adequate food supply for civilians and troops. Roughly one half of all American families had a victory garden during World War II. There were at least 20 million victory gardens covering more than 20 million acres of American soil by 1943. 40% of the nation’s produce was supplied by victory gardens by 1944. American families had grown approximately 8 million tons of food by the time the war ended in 1945. While the gardens themselves are now gone, posters, seed packets, catalogs, booklets, photos and films, newspaper articles, diaries, and people’s memories still remain to tell the story of victory gardens. Since the early 2000\u27s, Smithsonian Gardens has been sharing these stories and memories through their own World War II inspired Victory Garden, featuring heirloom and novelty vegetable and flower species. This lecture will discuss the past of victory gardens and imagine their future in our own communities
Dataset for Binding of BL-Crystallin with Models of Animal and Human Eye Lens-Lipid Membrane
No full textSeveral discoveries show that with age and cataract formation, B-crystallin binds with the lens membrane or associates with other lens proteins, which bind with the fiber cell plasma membrane, accompanied by light scattering and cataract formation. However, how lipids (phospholipids and sphingolipids) and cholesterol (Chol) influence B-crystallin binding to the membrane is unclear. This research aims to elucidate the role of lipids and Chol in the binding of B-crystallin to the membrane and the membrane’s physical properties (mobility, order, and hydrophobicity) with B-crystallin binding. We used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-labeling methods to investigate the binding of BL-crystallin with a model of porcine lens-lipid (MPLL), model of mouse lens-lipid (MMLL), and model of human lens-lipid (MHLL) membrane with and without Chol. Our results show that BL-crystallin binds with all of the investigated membranes in a saturable manner and the maximum percentage of the membrane surface occupied (MMSO) by BL-crystallin and the binding affinity (Ka) of BL-crystallin to the membranes followed the trends: MMSO (MPLL) \u3e MMSO (MMLL) \u3e MMSO (MHLL) and Ka (MHLL) \u3e Ka (MMLL) ˜ Ka (MPLL), respectively, in which the presence of Chol reduces the MMSO and Ka for all membranes. The mobility near the headgroup regions of the membranes decreases with an increase in the binding of BL-crystallin; however, the decrease is more pronounced in the MPLL and MMLL membranes than the MHLL membrane. In the MPLL and MMLL membranes, the membranes become slightly ordered near the headgroup with an increase in BL-crystallin binding compared to the MHLL membrane. The hydrophobicity near the headgroup region of the membrane increases with BL-crystallin binding; however, the increase is more pronounced in the MPLL and MMLL membranes than the MHLL membrane, indicating that BL-crystallin binding creates a hydrophobic barrier for the passage of polar molecules, which supports the barrier hypothesis in cataract formation. However, in the presence of Chol, there is no significant increase in hydrophobicity with BL-crystallin binding, suggesting that Chol prevents the formation of a hydrophobic barrier, possibly protecting against cataract formation
Mental Health and Disabilities
No full textCognitive and physical disabilities can impact various aspects of an individual\u27s life. Disabilities impact a significant percentage of the population. This study aims to explore how physical and intellectual disabilities influence mental health outcomes. Research will be collected through the Albertsons library database and supplemented with personal experiences to understand the impact of disabilities on mental health. This is a social determinant of health because individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities have limited access to resources. We expect to find that individuals with disabilities will have poor mental health compared to individuals without disabilities because of preconceived notions, social norms, and stereotypes. This research aims to address a need for increased advocacy, education, and awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the various types of disabilities
AI and Security in Nuclear Energy
No full textAs artificial intelligence continues to grow in relevance across numerous industries, we believe it holds tremendous potential within the field of nuclear energy. When implemented effectively, AI can enhance fault detection and diagnosis, improve operational safety, and support a wide range of critical functions. One particularly promising application is the monitoring of human error—an ongoing challenge that has contributed to several major accidents and outages in the past.
By integrating AI into nuclear systems, we can not only strengthen internal operations but also reallocate valuable human resources to focus on external threats, particularly in cybersecurity. In a domain where both operational reliability and protection against cyberattacks are crucial, AI offers a pathway to more efficient and proactive threat mitigation.
Ultimately, we believe that embracing AI in nuclear energy can pave the way for a safer, more secure, and more effective future for the industry—and, in turn, a safer society
Pact Collective Towards a Circular Economy
No full textThis paper examines the economic impact of Pact Collective’s collaboration with major beauty retailers such as Ulta Beauty and Sephora. Pact Collective, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainability in the beauty industry, partners with these companies to implement recycling programs and promote circular economy practices. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines industry data analysis, company reports, and consumer behavior surveys, this study evaluates the financial and environmental effects of these partnerships. Findings suggest that while the upfront costs of implementing sustainable packaging and recycling initiatives are nontrivial, the long-term benefits—including enhanced brand equity, increased customer loyalty, and regulatory risk mitigation—can yield significant returns. The paper also explores how these collaborations influence market dynamics, potentially reshaping consumer expectations and competitive strategies within the beauty sector. The results provide insights for stakeholders seeking to align profitability with sustainability in an increasingly eco-conscious market
The Health Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children
No full textThis study explores the various ways outdoor time benefits health and specifically, children\u27s well-being. Our primary focus is to answer the key question: How does time spent outdoors impact children\u27s mental health? To address this, we will analyze research articles, published data , and examine trends among children in Idaho. This topic is particularly relevant in today\u27s digital age, where many children spend excessive time in front of screens, often with limited exposure to sunlight and nature. This shift may stem from parental concerns about safety or simply the demands of a busy lifestyle. However, with proper supervision and encouragement, allowing children to explore the outdoors can create lasting memories while significantly improving their social and mental health. By highlighting these benefits, our research aims to emphasize the importance of integrating outdoor activities into children\u27s daily lives. We anticipate that increased outdoor play and exposure to the outdoors will have a significant positive impact on children\u27s social and mental health