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Alpine Skiing is Introduced in the 1936 Olympic Games
Get PDFhttps://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/local_authors/1033/thumbnail.jp
Parallel Circles: A Math Club as a University Math Circle
Get PDFThis paper will discuss a monthly social event for the University Math Club. Over the past several years, the event has been shaped by the philosophy of a Student Math Circle. We will discuss the event\u27s organization and the ways it has benefited from the influence of the Math Circle community
A Novel Format for Math Circles: Circles with no Center
Get PDFThis paper shares a novel format for Math Circles, which we call “circles with no center.” Circles with no center do not have a traditional facilitator. The problem or activity is novel to everyone in the room. All members engage in mathematical inquiry, and everyone takes responsibility for running the gathering. The “no center” format has benefits for participants and organizers. For participants, the format offers more freedom and more responsibility. For organizers, the format is easier to organize, more fun, and involves less pressure. Our assessment of a 3-day retreat for teachers suggests participants may prefer a circle with no center to a traditionally facilitated gathering. In the paper, we introduce the “no center” format, describe the format in detail, discuss the benefits of the format, and provide tips for organizers for implementing a circle with no center
Found in the Archives: Lump of Coal
No full textCWU archives has a lump of Coal from the Roslyn mines. Hear how it came to be here in this episode
The Auricular Surface of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) as an Indicator of Age
Get PDFGreat ape skeletal remains are scarce and their use in biological profile estimations has been limited. Skeletal remains analysis provides key demographic information and ecological context to the individual. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) share skeletal morphological characteristics with humans, and this study seeks to understand if two noninvasive methods using the auricular surface of the ilium to age human skeletal remains could be applied to chimpanzees. The sample consisted of n = 8 individual left auricular surfaces from known age groups of both sexes. Firstly, the Buckberry and Chamberlain Method assigns numerical values to five different traits on the auricular surface: transverse organization, surface texture, microporosity, macroporosity, and apical changes. Secondly, the Lovejoy Method utilizes a broader application, viewing the whole surface rather than by feature, then assigning a phase depending on the presentation of features and surface organization. Assessment for both techniques was done for each ilium. Once completed, the Buckberry and Chamberlain Method, the total score for each ilium was determined, then it was matched with an age chart. This age given by the Adapted Buckberry and Chamberlain Method age chart was then compared to the actual known age of the individual. A linear regression analysis was conducted and macroporosity was found to be insignificant with a p-value of 0.4. Therefore, another linear regression was run with all traits excluding macroporosity. The second regression found an overall positive result with a p-value of 0.082. The Lovejoy Method, once the ilia received a phase, the age chart was assessed to see if the results of the Lovejoy Method assigned phase matched the known age of the individual. Both Lovejoy and Buckberry and Chamberlain Methods were able to correctly age 7 out of 8 individuals. This first study shows promising results using Adapted Buckberry and Chamberlain and Lovejoy Methods, for aging poached chimpanzees in the wild or for providing age estimations for chimpanzees in skeletal collections. I recommend that future studies look at differences between wild vs captive chimpanzees, increase sample sizes, and species and subspecies specific populations
The Genetic Diversity of an Endangered Buttercup, Ranunculus triternatus
Get PDFRanunculus triternatus, a rare endemic species of the Columbia River Gorge, faces conservation challenges due to its limited range and fragmented populations. This study assesses the genetic diversity of R. triternatus and compares it with its widespread congener, Ranunculus glaberrimus, using inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers. Genetic data from 80 individuals across eight populations were analyzed using Nei’s genetic diversity, Shannon’s diversity index, and AMOVA. Results showed R. triternatus had higher genetic diversity than western populations of R. glaberrimus, with eastern populations of R. glaberrimus displaying greater diversity than western ones. PCA, UPGMA, and STRUCTURE analysis revealed genetic relationships and potential admixture between populations. Despite its restricted range, R. triternatus exhibited significant genetic resilience, suggesting genetic health is not the primary cause of its decline. Conservation efforts should focus on habitat protection and expansion. This study underscores the importance of genetic diversity in conservation planning and provides a foundation for future research on the genetic diversity and ecology of both Ranunculus species
Process and Lessons Learned from an Accessibility Audit at the Central Washington University Archives and Special Collections
Get PDFThis chapter focuses on the Central Washington University Archives and Special Collections (CWUASC) located in Kittitas County, a rural area of Washington State. The repository strives to provide access to all users, regardless of modality. The driving question behind this research was what can be improved or modified to ensure patrons with disabilities can access the collections? The purpose of this chapter is to describe the process of recruiting two undergraduate students who identify as disabled to conduct an accessibility audit of the archives’ physical space open to patrons and the library it is housed in. The audit also included a review of the accessibility of select online collections housed in the institutional repository ScholarWorks (v https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/). The chapter will also discuss working with the students, their findings in completing the audit, and steps to take moving forward to make the archives and its collections more accessible for patrons with disabilities. A literature review was conducted to learn how the archives’ strengths and weaknesses with providing access compares with other repositories, as well as what to incorporate in the accessibility audit
Human-Centered Machine Learning with Interpretable Visual Knowledge Discovery
Get PDFThis research advances interpretable machine learning (ML) by introducing hyperblocks (HBs) as a structured, rule-based approach for creating transparent and accurate models using meaningful numeric attributes directly interpretable to end users. Key techniques, including Parallel Hyperblock Creation, Interactive Hyperblock Creation, Level n Hyperblock Creation, and k-Nearest Neighbor Hyperblock, provide a framework that ensures domain experts can meaningfully engage with the model’s decision-making process through lossless visualizations using General Line Coordinates (GLC). Case studies with the Wisconsin Breast Cancer and MNIST datasets demonstrated HBs\u27 effectiveness in handling high-risk and complex classification tasks, offering interpretable accuracy that traditional models struggle to achieve. In the Wisconsin Breast Cancer study, HBs achieved an accuracy comparable to standard ML methods while providing an interpretable framework for cancer diagnosis, where model trust is critical. In MNIST, HBs showed their ability to scale to larger datasets while maintaining a high level of interpretability. Finally, the Visual Knowledge Discovery (VKD) process, central to this approach, allows experts to adjust model parameters in real time, promoting human-centered insights and collaboration. Overall, this work presents HBs and VKD as powerful tools for interpretable, high-stakes ML applications, supporting transparency, accuracy, and domain relevance
Found in the Archives: Artificial Intelligence at CWU
No full textFor the inaugural installment of Found in the Archives We are featuring a modern term from an old document that was found in the archives of Central Washington University. We are featuring a modern term from an old document that was found in the archives of Central Washington University. Amazing that CWU had an Artificial Intelligence degree in Computer Science in 1989 . Voices in the video are Marty Blackson, Julia Stringfellow, and Carolin McCarthy
An Examination of Working Memory in Dancers and Non-dancers
Get PDFThe present study examined the behavioral working memory differences between dancers and non-dancers. Previous research has indicated that dance can provide an enhancing effect on working memory, particularly in non-dancers. A Dance History Questionnaire along with the letters backward, digits backward, digits forward, letters forward, and abstract visual subtests of the Test of Learning and Memory II was used to collect data. The current study found that dancers had greater visuospatial memory than non-dancers and that dance experience may have an effect on certain working memory tests such as the letters forward subtest