Collection and Analysis of a Training Data Set Designed for Neural Network Handwriting Analysis

For my project, I am working with creating a neural network without using libraries for simple handwritten digit recognition, however, I am taking a slightly different approach. I am creating a data set myself from volunteers and comparing that data set to a similar set created for the same function, specifically the MNIST database. My project I has been focused on learning the technical background required for this project, and from now through my next semester when I take project II, I will be collecting data and then performing the mathematical analysis of my results

Human-ai collaboration in project management

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into project management has emerged as a transformative trend, promising enhanced efficiency and strategic capabilities. This study explores the dynamics of human-AI collaboration in project management, focusing on factors that influence effective implementation, the impact of AI on project outcomes, and the challenges encountered in AI adoption. Utilizing a qualitative approach, data were collected from project management professionals across various industries, revealing that trust and transparency are crucial for successful collaboration. The findings indicate that AI positively impacts project efficiency and cost-effectiveness by automating routine tasks and optimizing resource allocation. However, challenges such as resistance to change, data privacy concerns, and lack of understanding pose significant barriers. The study integrates Socio-Technical Systems Theory (STS) to frame the discussion, highlighting the importance of ethical AI practices and the need for seamless integration into existing processes. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on AI integration in project management, offering practical implications for enhancing human-AI collaboration. Future research should explore cross-industry AI adoption, longitudinal impacts, and strategies to further optimize the human-AI collaboration dynamic

Mitigating uncertainty: Analyzing the role of risk management in the construction industry

The construction industry, inherently dynamic and complex, faces a myriad of uncertainties that can significantly impact project outcomes. In this context, effective risk management emerges as a critical component in ensuring project success and sustainability. This abstract explores the role of risk management in the construction industry, highlighting its multifaceted impact on project timelines, costs, and overall quality. Risk management in construction includes detecting, assessing, and managing possible hazards and opportunities throughout the project\u27s life cycle. It includes a proactive approach to anticipating, analyzing, and responding to uncertainties driven by factors such as design modifications, material shortages, labor concerns, weather circumstances, and regulatory changes. By methodically evaluating risks, construction stakeholders can create comprehensive strategies to prevent potential negative consequences while capitalizing on positive circumstances

Agile and User-Centered Project Management in E-Commerce Startups: Enhancing Outcomes for Online Supermarkets

The world of e-commerce startups, especially online supermarkets, has its own set of challenges and chances when it comes to managing projects. This research paper looks into how project management is used in such a lively area, focusing on an online supermarket as a case study. We dug into a lot of books and articles, talked to people who know a lot about the industry, and looked at how project management strategies are used at different steps when a startup is growing. This includes coming up with ideas, researching the market, developing the platform, managing the supply chain, and talking to customers. This study shows how important project management is for dealing with the complex stuff you face when you start and run e-commerce businesses. Our findings point out that you really need to be flexible and use both new and old project management ways to keep up with the quick pace of the e-commerce world. We also talk about how important it is to manage risks, plan your finances well, and make sure you’re using your resources the right way. We look at the problems e-commerce startups run into, like markets that change super fast, new technologies, and a lot of competition. This gives some good ideas about how to manage projects in a way that helps online supermarkets stay strong and grow. By looking closely at how project management and e-commerce startups work together, this paper adds to what we already know. It gives tips for making online businesses successful and shows how much project management matters in the e-commerce startup world

Importance of communication and emotional intelligence in people and project management in the banking industry – a quantitative study of its impacts

The regulated banking industry is ever-evolving and growing every year. Researchers indicated a close association between strong communication channels, high levels of emotional intelligence, and successful projects and people management. This thesis explores the significance of communication and emotional intelligence in enhancing project management practices in the banking industry. Emotional intelligence has been seen as an important skillset for leadership roles in creating a positive organizational culture, enhancing employee performance, and managing the various intricacies that come with working in a banking firm. Understanding the interplay and impact of these elements can help foster collaboration, motivation, and self-awareness, mitigate challenges, and achieve the project’s objectives. Exploring the dynamics of emotional intelligence and communication can help managers uncover valuable insights into the relationship between employees and leaders. Findings will help improve the work environment, enhance efficiency, and contribute to the overall success of project management in banking. The results are expected to extend beyond theoretical insights and offer practical recommendations for all employees, leaders, and project managers in the banking industry

2018 2nd Place: Budget Disparity in Education

The social issue this project deals with is the budget disparity in America\u27s public schools. This problem is important to investigate because today\u27s children are tomorrow\u27s leaders and if they are not being educated properly, then how do we as a society expect them to lead us in the future

Current Awareness and Tools Available for Stress-Induced IBS in Children

Introduction: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that affects 13-38% of children (4-17 years) worldwide. Early life stresses like trauma, family pressure, abuse, and parenting factors may alter the HPA axis leading to GI sensitivity. IBS symptoms can impact an individual’s quality of life, affect school attendance, and can be emotionally and financially stressful for the caregivers. To date, there is no known cure for IBS. While antidepressants have shown some efficacy in treating moderate to severe IBS in adults, prescribing a universal antidepressant drug, especially to the pediatric population is challenging due to the variability in IBS symptoms, lack of available clinical data on antidepressant efficacy in children, and fear of adverse drug reactions. Parents/ caregivers are often unaware of the IBS triggers and may question a doctor’s recommendation on the use of antidepressants for pediatric IBS. Moreover, due to the lack of any specific diagnostic tests for IBS, doctors may prescribe diverse lab and imaging tests to rule out any organic disease before concluding an IBS diagnosis. Currently, there may be a gap of knowledge in diagnosing and treating pediatric IBS between medical professionals and caregivers’ understanding. The study aims to highlight the current awareness of IBS among caregivers worldwide and bridge the gap between challenges faced by medical professionals and caregivers during a child’s IBS management. By understanding the overlooked part of IBS treatment, a targeted approach can be used to guarantee the effects of antidepressant use that would provide comfort to the caregivers to adhere to a long-term treatment plan. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational study via online surveys was conducted worldwide with 12 medical experts and 69 parents/caregivers of children between 4-17 years of age to determine current awareness of IBS, challenges with IBS management, and opinions on using pharmacogenomic testing in antidepressant prescriptions for IBS in children. 8 Results: Forty-seven caregivers of children aged 4-17 years (24 males, 23 females) completed the survey. Ten out of 47 respondents had a confirmed diagnosis for their child’s IBS. Out of the remaining 37 respondents who have never been diagnosed with IBS, 22% reported two or more GI-related symptoms along with frequent complaints of abdominal pain. Statistically significant differences were found for anxiety issues (p=0.0027) and bloating/changing bowel habits (p=0.001) between IBS-positive and IBS-negative pediatric groups. One in 5 caregivers denied the antidepressant use due to its inefficacy while 67% of caregivers who utilized antidepressant treatment for their child’s IBS did not see any improvement in abdominal pain with the use of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Rejection of antidepressant use by the caregiver and non-adherence to a long-term treatment plan were the main challenges faced by medical providers in prescribing antidepressants for pediatric IBS. Lastly, \u3e50% of parents and medical professionals were open to utilizing pharmacogenomic testing for a targeted therapy approach. Discussion: Anxiety and changing bowel habits are present in IBS patients making the use of antidepressants as a part of the treatment regimen. However, due to a lack of awareness about the pathophysiology of IBS, caregivers are often reluctant to utilize this approach for their children. Moreover, there is not enough clinical evidence currently that can assure the caregiver about the safety and efficacy of the antidepressant for their child. Emotional stress and expectation of immediate relief by the caregiver during their child’s IBS episode may contribute to frequent doctor visits and non-adherence to a long-term treatment plan. Multiple doctor visits also engage the caregiver to invest in the treatment costs and time involved in the diagnosis of IBS. It is noted that antidepressants have worked differently for different individuals. Most parents caring for a child with IBS experienced either worsening symptoms or inefficacy of the drug. Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play a crucial role in drug efficacy and safety. SSRIs (Prozac®, 9 Zoloft™) are approved by the FDA for pediatric use but have shown no improvement in IBS flareups. However, off-label use of low-dose Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) in pediatrics is challenging due to their narrow therapeutic index. By checking for any polymorphisms in the respective DMEs, adequate choice and dosage of antidepressants can be predicted to minimize any adverse drug reactions thereby comforting caregivers and medical providers. Conclusion: Thus, there is an urgent need to bring a pharmacogenomic intervention that can aid in accurate stress-induced IBS management, faster relief, and better adherence to the treatment regimen

2018 2nd Place: Identifying the Effectiveness of Plant Extracts for Treating Biofilms of Escherichia coli and Myxococcus xanthus

Antibiotic resistance is a topic that is of growing concern in the field of medicine. Antibiotics act as growth blockers or act as toxins, killing the organism they affect. These biological weapons generate selective pressure leading to the current antibiotic crisis. This selective pressure causes resistant organisms to begin to emerge and over generations antibiotic resistance can develop and be spread among a bacterial population. One of the key factors contributing to antibiotic resistance in bacteria is the ability for some bacteria to form and shield themselves within biofilms. Biofilms are masses of bacteria protected by a polysaccharide/ extracellular DNA matrix, can help prevent the penetration of antibiotics to the cells within and can unknowingly lead to lingering, viable cells that can cause further infections. Biofilms can adhere to surfaces in hospitals and can become resistant to even the harshest disinfectants. In hospitals nosocomial infections can lead to chronic illnesses and can be pointed towards surfaces contaminated with biofilms that resist antibiotics as well as disinfectant

Enhancing Mobile App User Experience: A Deep Learning Approach for System Design and Optimization

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for enhancing user experience in mobile applications through the integration of deep learning systems. The proposed system design encompasses various components, including data collection and preprocessing, model development and training, integration with mobile applications, dataset management service, model training service, model serving, hyperparameter optimization, metadata and artifact store, and workflow orchestration. Each component is meticulously designed with a focus on scalability, efficiency, isolation, and critical analysis. Innovative design principles are employed to ensure seamless integration, usability, and automation. Additionally, the paper discusses distributed training service design, advanced optimization techniques, and decision criteria for hyperparameter optimization library selection. Furthermore, the implementation details of model serving, metadata and artifact store, and workflow orchestration are provided, along with practical guidelines for model release, monitoring, and optimization. The paper concludes with a roadmap outlining the path to producing the software solution, emphasizing integration strategies, deployment innovations, and experimentation in production. Overall, this paper serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers and practitioners seeking to enhance user experience through deep learning systems in mobile applications

Understanding Community Engagement as a Tool for Equitable Project Outcomes: Lessons from Domino Park and Hudson Yards Public Square

This thesis explores the significance of community engagement in urban planning within the project management framework. In the face of intricate challenges in contemporary urban environments, adopting effective project management strategies prioritising the community voice has become crucial. This study inquires into the methods, barriers, and the scope of using community engagement as a tool for successful and fair project outcomes in urban environments. The aim of this thesis is to provide valuable insights and practical recommendations to practitioners in the fields of urban planning, project management, and urban policymaking. There is a growing recognition that inclusive and participatory processes are key to achieving successful project outcomes that are aligned with the needs of the communities being planned for. The significance of this research lies in its potential to highlight to practitioners the value and benefits of inclusive community engagement to enhance project outcomes, stakeholder relationships, and an overall improvement in the quality of urban projects. This thesis ultimately aims to uncover why project management should integrate more inclusive practices especially when it comes to developing urban spaces. It will do so by employing a case study analysis of two urban park developments in New York City, namely, Domino Park in Brooklyn, and Hudson Yards Public Square in Manhattan, to identify any difference in the approaches to community engagement and how it impacted the project outcomes and perceptions. A comprehensive exploration of the role of community engagement in urban planning projects positions this thesis to advance project management practices in creating more prosperous and thriving urban communities