12137 research outputs found
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Towards Real Time Object Detection in UAV
No full textReal-time object detection in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a critical challenge due to the constraints of limited computational resources, high-speed motion, and dynamic environments. This study explores advanced lightweight deep learning models and optimization techniques to enable efficient and accurate object detection on UAV platforms. By leveraging edge computing and model compression, we aim to achieve real-time performance without compromising detection accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of deploying these models on embedded systems, such as Raspberry Pi, for real-time applications. This work contributes to enhancing the autonomy and operational capabilities of UAVs in various fields, including surveillance, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring
Looking into Restorative Justice through an Intersectional Lens
No full textThis paper explores the intersection of restorative justice (RJ) and intersectionality, emphasizing how overlapping social identities such as race, gender, and class shape experiences of harm and justice. Rooted in Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework, this research critiques traditional justice systems for their single-axis approaches that fail to address compounded forms of oppression. The study demonstrates how restorative justice can integrate intersectionality to create inclusive, transformative justice processes, centering the experiences of marginalized communities. While examining the case studies in juvenile justice, criminal courts, immigration, and policing, the paper highlights the potential of restorative justice to address systemic inequities through dialogue, accountability, and healing. The research also considers challenges to implementing intersectional RJ practices, such as operational complexity, risk of divisiveness, and scalability. Ultimately, the study argues that a combined approach leveraging intersectionality and restorative justice offers a viable alternative to punitive legal frameworks, fostering equity and community-driven solutions
Chasing the Marlin—The Hemingway Effect and the Emptiness of Success
No full textErnest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea highlights key factors in decision-making research related to goal achievement and its impact on our emotions. In the novel, an old fisherman catches a great marlin after tremendous effort, but soon loses it to sharks, and in turn experiences short-lived feelings of victory and emptiness. Inspired by his novel, the current study uses Hemingway’s narrative as a foundation to empirically test whether achieving a personally meaningful goal triggers initially positive emotions, followed by a rapid decline and a loss of purpose—a phenomenon we call the Hemingway Effect. The Hemingway Effect aligns with prior research suggesting that goal completion can have paradoxical effects (Brickman et al., 1978; Sheldon & Elliott, 1999). It is also tied to forecasting bias, where people mispredict their emotional states following future events (Wilson & Gilbert, 2005). We expect to find that participants will overestimate the happiness they will feel after reaching their goal, and that those positive emotions will decline shortly after goal achievement. Lasty, we predict that offering participants a new goal will mitigate the emotional decline. This research has important implications: it demonstrates that research questions can begin with something as unexpected as a classic novel. It also emphasizes the importance of ongoing purpose for well-being, reminding us that post-goal happiness is often transient. These findings will resonate with anyone who has experienced post-achievement emptiness, whether they are graduates, retirees, or athletes who have just hung up their championship jersey
Borderline Budgeting: Analyzing Fiscal Responses to the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict in Neighboring Countries
No full textThe study uses a comparative approach to assess the fiscal impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict (RUC) on public finance in five countries bordering Ukraine: Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. To capture changes in various fiscal and budgetary indicators, including government revenues, expenditures, debt, foreign direct investment, trade, energy support measures, and foreign aid allocation, the study uses the countries’ financial data for 2019-2023. The study findings indicate that the RUC\u27s largest impact on neighboring countries appears to be short-term, as the conflict triggered a high influx of refugees and disrupted commodity production, revenues from taxation, foreign direct investments, and trade activity, diminishing government fiscal capacity to mitigate the effects of the conflict. As the conflict transitions into a long-term phase, the case countries report positive changes in the economic development indicators. Furthermore, the risk of conflict diffusion across borders and threats to the neighboring country’s political stability motivate donors to allocate more aid to foster the neighboring states\u27 abilities to mitigate the consequences of the conflict. However, the study reveals variations in donors’ allocation of aid among the case countries, suggesting that the donor’s aid allocation decisions are contingent upon the ability of the neighboring country to manage conflict pressures and its regime stability
Comparing the Colony Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Daily and Monthly Contact Lenses with Different Oxygen Permeability
No full textBacterial presence and microbial formation on contact lenses can cause serious corneal infection including keratitis. There are many bacterial prevention methods available today, however, the chances of bacterial growth on contact lenses are still high in the absence of proper hygiene. The best way to prevent bacterial growth on contact lenses is by practicing proper hygiene and caring when handling contact lenses. The main objective of this study is to emphasize the importance of proper hygiene while inserting and removing contact lenses because bacteria can attach to contact lenses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and four types of contact lenses with different oxygen permeability were used in the study. The research was done in the microbiology lab at Governors State University. Five contact lenses of each type were the control groups. It was placed in sterile tubes with 5 ml of TSB broth but without Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture. Five contact lenses from each type were placed in sterile tubes with 5mL TSB broth along with Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture in an incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. After 24 hours, all test tubes were taken out from the incubator. Swabbed the bacteria from the contact lenses and did a spread plate which was then placed in the incubator for 24 hours at 37 degrees Celsius. After 24 hours, since the colonies were too many to count, multiple serial dilutions were performed. Bacteria attached to the contact lenses that were placed in the test tubes with bacterial culture. Therefore, proper hygiene is important while handling contact lenses
Leaders, Not Dictators: Why a Free Nation Starts With a Free People
Full text linkMy poster explains the commonality between treacherous leaders of history, connecting it to the events in the White House today. The three leaders I analyzed, being Ronald Reagan, Napoleon and Stalin, all debased freedom of speech and media to further their goals. Reagan repealed the Fairness Doctrine, a bill that ensured unbiased news on radio and TV. The resulting news sources, such as FOX news, split the nation in half based on political ideology. In the bias and confusion, Reagan set up the government to favor the one percent through trickle down economics. In France, Napoleon entered power while the nation was still recovering. He did nothing to reinstate the rights of the people, meaning media was suppressed and the people could not speak out against him. In the silence, Napoleon was free to do as he wished, leading to the Napoleonic Wars. In Russia, Stalin turned the USSR into a police state where the people could not speak out against him under penalty of death. In that reign of terror, he rapidly industrialized Soviet Russia, leading to one of the greatest famines to strike Europe; the Holodomor. In all cases, freedom of speech and media were suppressed. Thus, to ensure that the people remain free from tyrannical governments, these rights must be kept and enforced. In the countries of Sweden, New Zealand and Finland, the people are free to speak out against the government and media is kept unbiased. Thus, they hold the top 3 freedom house scores globally
Illinoisan Adolescent Use of Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes, and Combustible Tobacco
No full textObjectives: Our study aims to identify social and behavioral factors associated with the sole-, dual-, and poly-substance use of cannabis, electronic cigarettes (ECs), and combustible tobacco among Illinoisan adolescents during the period when medical and recreational marijuana use have both been legalized. Study Design: Cross-Sectional Methods: Data came from the 2022 Illinois Youth Survey (IYS, administered to 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade adolescents). Multinomial regression models were used to estimate the associations between social, environmental, and behavioral characteristics and substance use patterns of sole-, dual-, and poly-substance use. Results: Approximately 14% of Illinoisian adolescents indicated past 30 days ever-use of the substances cannabis, ECs, or combustible tobacco. Over 80% of ever-users, used cannabis and ECs. After adjusting for demographics, self-reported depression (RRs: 1.88, 2.23, 2.25), being bullied at school (RRs: 1.34, 1.53, 1.50), self-perceived campus being unsafe (RRs: 1.20, 1.39, 1.89), having peer pressure (RRs: 1.68, 1.69, 1.79), and alcohol use (RRs: 6.99, 13.11, 34.25) were significantly associated with higher odds of sole-, dual-, and poly-substance use, respectively, compared with no substance use at all. Participating in structured sports (RRs: 0.93, 0.87), having family rules on substance use (RRs: 0.76, 0.67, 0.58), living in rural areas (RR: 0.79, 0.77, 0.57), and living in more economically affluent areas significantly reduced the odds of sole-, dual-, and poly-substance use, respectively. Conclusions: Our study identified several social, environmental, and behavioral factors associated with adolescent substance use. Findings can help inform program designs, prevention strategies, and clinical screening to tackle adolescent substance use
Determinants of Clinical Practice Guideline use by DPT and PTA Students
No full textPurpose: Instruction of student physical therapists and student physical therapist assistants in the use of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG’s) can be challenging. Doctor of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant curriculums are required to include evidence-based practice. Although many programs offer experiential learning opportunities to teach students how to evaluate and implement CPG\u27s, a scarcity of literature confirming student usage of CPG\u27s exists. This project aims at gaining insight into the facilitators and barriers that students experience with knowledge translation of CPG\u27s from classroom to clinic across physical therapy domains.
Design: A cross-sectional survey Methods: A web-based survey of DPT and PTA students in the Midwest was distributed to accredited programs. Statistical analysis will be performed to examine factors associated with CPG use.
Results: Data collection is still in process; data analysis will take place before research days
Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration Integrating Health Administration and Occupational Therapy Perspectives in Adolescent Polysubstance Use and Its Impact Upon Health and Wellness
No full textThe prevalence of adolescent E-cigarette (EC) use remains a concern in the U.S. Adolescents who use EC tend to use combinations of substances, including nicotine and cannabis vaping products and combustible forms of cannabis and tobacco. Poly-use, or the use of more than two substances such as EC, cannabis, and combustible tobacco, is associated with worse overall outcomes in terms of severity of dependence, cessation outcomes, and greater health risks. As cannabis policies evolve in Illinois, where both medical and recreational cannabis use have been legalized by 2020, it remains important to track trends in adolescent substance use. This Interprofessional Education (IPE) project utilized data from the 2022 Illinois Youth Surveys (administered to 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade adolescents) and legal and regulatory updates to educate and inform Governors State University College of Health and Human Services students from cross-disciplines of Health Administration and Occupational Therapy about public health concerns of adolescent substance use. Students participated in an IPE training series exploring team development and cohesion, the impacts of polysubstance use among adolescents, the factors contributing to this phenomenon, and how effective interprofessional collaboration can support the development of strategies to address these problems. Students worked in small teams to explore specific risk factors contributing to polysubstance use among adolescents and identify potential solutions to address the problem using an evidence-based, interprofessional collaborative approach. This poster presentation will display the results of the students’ collaborative efforts via concept maps demonstrating the interconnectedness of personal, social, and community factors impacting adolescent polysubstance use
