This paper describes a project involving the optimization of the analysis process of FreeSurfer and ANTS Registration for neuroscience analytics of patients at risk of cognitive decline using Nipype. The paper details the process of discovering more about Nipype, learning to use a supercomputer, and implementing the open-source python code to fit the needs of the research lab. Nipype is a python-based initiative to unify the various software packages used within the neuroscience community for data analysis. This paper also serves as documentation of the steps taken to complete the project so that future students are able to continue the optimization process to result in one cohesive workflow in which data is able to flow through a unified pipeline of analysis in the future.

This thesis seeks to investigate the use of Artificial Intelligence when reviewing STEM job applications and the human biases that are present in AI system training datasets. Further, it proposes to gender neutralize training dataset terms to evaluate job applications based on merit and qualifications, promoting the inclusivity of women in STEM jobs and seeking to eliminate job application system bias from a Utilitarian perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented nature caused significant disruptions in the global supply chain industry, resulting in setbacks for supply chain operations. The repercussions of the supply chain challenges impacted various industries. This thesis seeks to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the supply chain industry, with a focus on how disruptions have affected the efficiency and resilience of companies within this sector. Data analytics will be leveraged to analyze these disruptions and improve supply chain operations.

Social media has not always been a traditional form of business strategy for the fashion industry, therefore a study on the role of social media on user engagement for different tiers of fashion brands was conducted. A combination of multiple regression models, ANOVA analysis, and hashtag analysis was done to understand various aspects of the research question. Tests were run against different post types to gain deeper insights on engagement levels and statistical significance. Post frequency and correlation analysis was conducted to understand how followers respond to the content. Overall, reels and carousel media were the most successful in increasing and maintaining user engagement. Prada has the most inactive users and ineffective social media strategies to increase engagement. While they have a high following they are unable to sustain engagement levels through their posts. Whereas, Teddy Fresh, despite being a smaller brand has been successful in maintaining engagement levels through their niche target market. Lastly, SKIMS has the fastest growth rate and has been able to increase following through their high frequency post schedule. For each of the brands, this information can be used to further strategize the marketing content. Social media is dynamic and therefore the approach for curating content will differ; being able to understand which types of posts are doing well is helpful for the brands as they can continue to run analysis when needed.

Found especially at the high school and college levels, the sport of cross-country running is practiced by athletes around the globe. Characterized by rigorous training, this sport is accompanied by challenges that test the perseverance and mental toughness of a runner. This thesis aims to answer the question, how is happiness achieved in running? Approaching this question from a phenomenological perspective, this project utilizes interviews that inquire into the lived experience of cross-country athletes to better understand how these athletes obtain fulfillment in running. Two groups of cross-country runners were interviewed for this thesis. The first group consisted of three male and four female current collegiate runners, who, at the time of being interviewed, actively ran for a college cross-country team. The second group consisted of four male and four female former cross-country runners, who previously ran for a structured high school team and still consider themselves to be consistent runners. This second group of runners run primarily on their own and have spent their time after their high school cross-country season navigating running in the absence of a team. Upon analyzing the answers to the provided open-ended questions, nine themes were discovered that give insight into how happiness is achieved in this sport: 1) One of the biggest motivators for running is self-improvement, 2) Running is a significant stress reliever and way to obtain a sense of freedom, 3) A team is a significant contributor to a cross-country runner’s happiness, 4) There is much pride and joy to be found in suffering, especially when that suffering is experienced with others in pursuit of collective betterment, 5) Former cross-country runners often undergo a significant shift in purpose within running after leaving their high school team, forcing them to find new ways to identify with running and achieve fulfillment, 6) While some collegiate runners experience increased running satisfaction in college, others are burdened by the heightened expectations of this higher level of competition, 7) The ways in which success is measured has a significant impact on a cross-country runner’s happiness, 8) A deeply rooted running identity can produce much happiness; however, the ways in which that identity expresses itself may negatively affect the runner, and 9) Cross-country runners reported wishing they took better care of their bodies. These themes highlight the importance of prioritizing one’s mental and physical well-being and adopting a more multifaceted approach to success that prevents an overemphasis of objective running improvement.

This thesis looks at recent and historical examples of mis/disinformation and discovers that there are many psychological factors contributing to why people get fooled by deceptive media throughout history, and in modern times, deception is amplified by social media, a platform designed to prioritize profits and user engagement over content moderation. The thesis then proposes a process flow for an app to teach any kind of person how to evaluate news sources.

This thesis looks at recent and historical examples of mis/disinformation and discovers that there are many psychological factors contributing to why people get fooled by deceptive media throughout history, and in modern times, deception is amplified by social media, a platform designed to prioritize profits and user engagement over content moderation. The thesis then proposes a process flow for an app to teach any kind of person how to evaluate news sources.