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Social Media vs. Our Brains
Get PDFThe central research question I will be investigating is how social media affects our brains. We have witnessed a significant impact of social media on our youth. The rise of social media in this generation has also created one of the biggest generational gaps yet. Additionally, social media has an even bigger effect on kids who are exposed to it at very young ages. I will be studying how social media affects one’s moods, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as what social media physically does to one’s brain. For example, studies have shown that social media triggers brain activities that parallel the ones involved in addiction. Using the methods outlined in the Information Literacy portion of the FFC program, I plan on conducting my research using reputable videos and documentaries, online searches, and peer-reviewed articles found through the Leatherby Library database about social media. The expected conclusion to my research will be that social media platforms use systems, such as the infinite scroll, to intentionally trigger certain areas of our brain in an addictive manner. This is because they want to hook their users to their platforms. This addictive tendency of social media in turn negatively impacts people’s mental health and has a correlation with an increase in mental illnesses. Furthermore, young children have especially susceptible brains and exposure to social media molds their brains in a way that hinders their development
Quaternionic Hilbert Spaces and Slice Hyperholomorphic Functions
No full textThe purpose of the present book is to develop the counterparts of Banach and Hilbert spaces in the setting of slice hyperholomorphic functions. Banach and Hilbert spaces of analytic functions, in one or several complex variables, play an important role in analysis and related fields. Besides their intrinsic interest, such spaces have numerous applications.
The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, some foundational material on quaternionic functions and functional analysis are introduced. The second part is the core of the book and contains various types of functions spaces ranging from the Hardy spaces, also in the fractional case, to the Fock space extended to the case of quaternions. The third and final part present some further generalization.
Researchers in functional analysis and hypercomplex analysis will find this book a key contribution to their field, but also researchers in mathematical physics, especially in quantum mechanics, will benefit from the insights presented.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/scs_books/1064/thumbnail.jp
Extraordinary 21st Century Drought in the Po River Basin (Italy)
Get PDFRecent research identified 2022 as being the year of lowest seasonal April–May–June–July (AMJJ) observed streamflow for the Po River Basin (PRB) in the past two centuries. Expanding upon this research, we applied filters (2-year to 30-year filters) to the AMJJ observed streamflow and identified the late 20th and 21st century as displaying extreme drought. In this study, we introduce PALEO-RECON, an automated reconstruction tool developed to leverage tree ring-based proxies and streamline regression processes. Using PALEO-RECON, we reconstructed the AMJJ streamflow, applying traditional regression techniques and using a nested approach in which 30-, 40-, and 50-year windows within the ~200-year observed streamflow record (1807 to 2022) were evaluated to capture uncertainty. Focusing on the 21st century (2000 to 2022), while several droughts in the ~2000-year paleo record may have exceeded the 2000 to 2022 drought, the recent PRB drought ending in 2022 was the lowest 23-year period in approximately 500 years, acknowledging that uncertainty increases as we move further back in time. When examining paleo and observed AMJJ streamflow records, deficit and surplus periods were evaluated, focusing on the potential “whiplash” between drought and pluvial events. We observed an increase in the frequency of whiplash events, which may be associated with a changing climate
Spatial Gap-Filling of Himawari-8 Hourly AOD Products Using Machine Learning with Model-Based AOD and Meteorological Data: A Focus on the Korean Peninsula
Get PDFGiven the complex spatiotemporal variability of aerosols, high-frequency satellite observations are essential for accurately mapping their distribution. However, optical remote sensing encounters difficulties in detecting Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over cloud-covered regions, creating data gaps that limit comprehensive environmental analysis. This study introduces a spatial gap-filling method for Himawari-8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) hourly AOD data, using a Random Forest (RF) model that integrates meteorological variables and model-based AOD data. Developed and validated over South Korea from 1 January to 31 December 2019, the model effectively improved data coverage from 6% to 100%. The approach demonstrated high performance in blind tests, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.064 and a correlation coefficient (CC) of 0.966. Meteorological analysis indicated optimal model performance under cold, dry conditions (RMSE: 0.047, CC: 0.956), compared to humid conditions (RMSE: 0.105, CC: 0.921). Validation against Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) ground observations showed that, while the original Himawari-8 data exhibited higher accuracy (RMSE: 0.189, CC: 0.815, n = 346), the gap-filled dataset maintained reasonable precision (RMSE: 0.208, CC: 0.711) and significantly increased the number of valid data points (n = 4149). Furthermore, the gap-filled dataset successfully captured seasonal AOD patterns, with values ranging from 0.245–0.300 in winter to 0.381–0.391 in summer, providing a comprehensive view of aerosol dynamics across South Korea
A Tribe Laud West 1 : Hip-Hop and Its Influence on Tribal Gear and A New Chicano Generation
Get PDFIt should be noted that despite the general counterculture of SoCal in the late 1980s, at the time of Tribal\u27s birth, the laid-back attitude of generation X (1965–80),4 which included apathy and disillusion with the political and 92 economic climate (that “grungy” college educated/tech savvy white American generation Xers experienced under Reagan\u27s neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism), was vastly different to Black and Brown youth in major cities across the United States. Black and Brown people were marginalized on grounds of race, which was exacerbated by police brutality, neighborhoods flooded with drugs (Love, 2016) and weapons, horizontal violence (see Fanon, 2001) (both inter and intraracial) through gang activity, criminalization, and mass incarceration in LA (Streets of Compton, 2016). Mass incarceration itself was so prevalent that it influenced subcultural practices in LA ghettos and barrios. These factors further exacerbated the precarity of moving through space within barrio, ghetto, and beyond it.
Tribal as a brand is embedded in modern countercultural Cholo identity-affirming practices, many of which emerged before hip-hop arrived on the West Coast. Significantly, however, “Hip-hop has always embodied diversity and versatility, and it would be difficult to identify another musical genre that has enjoyed comparable adaptation and local interpretation in communities around the world” (Reznowski, 2014, pp. 86–87). In conjunction with hip-hop, Tribal\u27s SoCal location and heritage specificity for a new era were made possible.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/sociology_books/1026/thumbnail.jp
Dog Sniffing Biomechanic Responses in an Odor Detection Test of Odorants with Differing Physical Properties
Get PDFDogs are utilized in forensic science for their extensive scent detection capabilities. They are often considered the “gold standard” in field detection for targets such as illicit drugs and explosives. Despite their prevalence in the field, relatively little is known about how dogs interact with and transport volatile organic compounds through their olfactory system. In this study, two groups of dogs were utilized – Sport detection dogs (n=19) that participate in the National Association of Canine Scent Work and have achieved advanced standing through training and successful search competitions and law enforcement explosive detection dogs (n=8) which were included for comparison. Both groups were presented with two target odorants having differing molecular properties, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and ammonia, two non-target odorants, 1-bromooctane and methyl benzoate, and a negative control. Canines were tested prior to experience with the target odorants, when all odorants were novel, after some brief training with the target odorants, and after longer training time with the target odorants. The non-target odorants were never used in training. Sniffing was measured using flow sensors embedded in a wall immediately in front of the odorants held in a closed cylinder. Sensor data was used to calculate sniff flow rate, frequency (sniffs per seconds) and volume. Results indicated no difference in sniffing dynamics between target odorants; however, sniffing frequency increased significantly with increased experience with the target odorants (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test, W= 148, p=6×10-5). Sniff volume and flow rate showed a positive correlation to body mass for all sport detection dogs (slope = 2.71, F(1,17)= 9.48, p= 0.007, R2= 0.32), though the R2 was low, indicating other factors at play. Law enforcement detection dogs were shown to take in significantly higher mean total sniff volumes (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test: W= 7, p=10-4) and volume flow rates (Wilcoxon rank sum exact test: W= 5, p=6×10-5) compared to the sport detection dogs, but the sniff frequency remained similar for both groups
Buying from a Competitor: A Model of Knowledge Spillover and Innovation
Get PDFMany firms buy a production input from a competitor. However, managers often worry that this supply relationship may give their competitor valuable knowledge about new product innovations. We develop a two-period model in which a firm can buy an input from a competitor or a third party in each period. In order to innovate, the firm must invest in improving the input, which results in its supplier learning to produce a higher quality input. We show that buying from the competitor: (i) increases short-term profits by softening price competition and (ii) may reduce long-term profits by preventing investment in innovation. Our results imply that the classic holdup problem, which leads to underinvestment in innovation, becomes more severe when a firm buys from its competitor who benefits from knowledge spillover
Analyzing Handwriting Legibility in Children Using Smart Vs. Traditional Pen
No full textHandwriting, traditionally acquired through paper, pen, or pencil, is crucial for children’s development, learning, and communication. The legibility of letters holds crucial implications for children’s composition and even self-esteem. In order to ensure legibility, timely input from educators and parents is essential, although it primarily depends on their experience. With current technological advancements, smartpens, augmented with sensing capabilities, could offer a novel approach providing feedback. However, it is unclear if the smartpen’s weight and form factor could affect children’s handwriting legibility is unclearsmartpen’s weight and form factor could affect children’s handwriting legibility. This study involves 16 children aged 9 to 11, comparing legibility writing from traditional pens and smartpens in a writing task. Legibility, assessed using the Handwriting Legibility Scale, shows equivalence between pens. The findings endorse the potential of smartpens to enhance learning experiences by leveraging their sensing capabilities without compromising legibility
Towards a Multimodal Approach for Assessing ADHD Hyperactivity Behaviors
No full textAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent childhood psychiatric condition that needs an assessment of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness symptoms. Particularly in young children, hyperactivity-impulsivity stands out as a primary concern. However, those behaviors may or may not be evidenced when a child is in a small room, one-on-one with a single adult. Therefore, Ambient Intelligence technology that supports data collection in a natural setting, paired with expert human decision-making can potentially improve the quality of assessments. In this paper, we conduct a literature review and analysis to align ADHD assessment criteria with potential sensor technologies to collect behavioral data, followed by design sessions that propose personas and scenarios to envision potential solutions
Broadening Participation of Teachers in Computing: Examining Postsecondary Educational Experiences and Prospective Educators’ CS Teaching Interests
Get PDFTeacher shortages in K–12 computer science (CS) education negatively impact students’ access to CS courses, exposure to CS concepts, and interest in CS-related careers. To address CS teacher shortages, this study seeks to understand factors related to expressing a preference to teach CS among prospective teachers. The study team analyzed data from 27,700 prospective teacher applications accepted into the 2016–2020 Teach For America (TFA) corps (cohorts). The TFA corps is an alternative teacher development program that recruits and prepares participants to obtain their teaching certification while they work for at least two years in underserved communities on a temporary teaching license. Study results show that earning at least one postsecondary CS credit and majoring in CS are positively associated with these prospective teachers’ preference to teach CS. Findings indicate that among these accepted TFA applicants, a larger proportion of male applicants and racially minoritized applicants earned a postsecondary CS credit, majored in CS, and preferred to teach CS compared with female applicants and racially non-minoritized applicants. This study lays the foundation for future explorations of whether early exposure to CS could increase prospective teachers’ interest in teaching CS and reduce CS teacher shortages in K-12 settings. Findings from this study can also serve as a precursor to developing policies that result in a CS teacher workforce that is more representative of students enrolled in K-12 public schools