Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Coal Seam Water Sources Based On Hydrochemistry And Water Isotopes, Wei Dong, Wang Hao, Wang Chungang, Wang Xiaodong, Liu Wei, Wang Qiangmin, Liu Quanhui, Zhou Zhenfang, Wang Yutong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The northern Yuheng mining area exhibits the widespread occurrence of water-bearing coal seams. This unique hydrogeological phenomenon poses a serious challenge to efficient mine roadway construction and safe coal mining in the mining area. The recharge sources of the coal seam water remain poorly understood, representing a primary bottleneck in the prevention and control of coal seam water hazards. Methods This study aims to reveal the recharge sources and evolutionary mechanisms of coal seam water in the northern Yuheng mining area. By integrating methods including hydrochemical analysis, isotope analysis, and inverse hydrogeochemical simulation, this study systematically investigated the hydrogeochemical …

Technologies And Typical Cases For The Prevention And Control Of Water Hazards Associated With Burnt Rocks In The Yushenfu Mining Area, Wang Shidong, Wang Hai, Ji Zhongkui, Zhu Kaipeng, Han Qiang, Xue Xiaoyuan, Chen Pan, Zhao Kaixing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Brunt rocks are widely distributed in the Yushenfu mining area, predominantly occurring along rivers and gullies. These rocks are characterized by well-developed pores and fractures and weak to extremely strong water-yielding capacity, posing serious threats to roadway tunneling and mining for coal in the same layer or underlying them. Methods This study aims to effectively prevent and control water hazards associated with burnt rocks and reduce their threat. Through field surveys, statistical analysis, field experiments, and exemplary applications, along with exploration and monitoring and related analyses, this study analyzed the distribution of burnt rocks in the Yushenfu mining area …

Progress And Prospects Of Geothermal Resource Monitoring Technology, Hao Wenjie, Li Shengtao, Wang Huang, Liu Donglin, Wang Wanli, Qin Junsheng, Jin Xianpeng, Shen Jian, Liu Shuai, Yao Yahui, Hao Shuli, Ren Tao, Liu Zhe, Meng Xianwei, Hou Deren, Ren Xiaoqing, Jia Xiaofeng, Wen Dongguang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Geothermal resources represent a renewable energy source characterized by abundant reserves, extensive distribution, high stability and reliability, and green and low-carbon attributes. China has led the world in the direct utilization of geothermal energy for many years. Geothermal resource monitoring, which lays the groundwork for geothermal exploration, exploitation, and utilization, provides critical data required to determine dynamic changes in geothermal reservoirs and their surrounding geological environments, ensure long-term sustainable geothermal exploitation and utilization, and achieve the refined management and protection of geothermal resources. Advances In the narrow sense, geothermal resource monitoring technology is primarily applied to individual wells. In …

Multi-Objective Optimization And Performance Investigation Of Cementing Materials With High Thermal Conductivity Based On Response Surface Methodology, Zhao Yongzhe, Li Wenhao, Wang Yijie, Han Yongliang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Geothermal energy has emerged as a strategic clean energy for the low-carbon transformation of the world's energy mix. Correspondingly, its efficient exploitation and utilization are crucial to the early achievement of the goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. For geothermal resource exploitation, the thermal conductivity of cementing structures determines the efficiency of heat transfer from strata to geothermal well casings, establishing it as a key factor influencing the efficiency of geothermal energy extraction. Therefore, the research and development of cementing materials with high thermal conductivity can provide robust support for efficient geothermal resource exploitation.Methods The …

Key Technologies For Artificial Intelligence-Based Inversion Of The Borehole Transient Electromagnetic Method In Coal Mining Areas, Fan Tao, Hao Yue, Zhang Peng, Li Ping, Zhao Zhao, Zhao Rui, Liu Qiang, Yan Junsheng, Song Xianzhe, Liu Borui, Chen Changyuan, Li Bo

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Using directional boreholes, the borehole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method enables near-field excitation and the simultaneous reception of three components within a borehole. This method can effectively avoid interference from ferromagnetic materials in roadways, thereby significantly enhancing the detection accuracy and range. Therefore, this method is widely applied to the detection of underground concealed water hazards in coal mines. However, there is a conflict between the accuracy and efficiency of current inversion methods for borehole TEM data, and existing technologies are insufficient to simultaneously meet the demands for high efficiency and high precision in the detection of concealed water hazards. …

Development And Prospects Of Underground Intelligent Drilling Rigs For Coal Mines, Yao Ningping, Li Quanxin, Lu Qianhai, Peng Guangyu, Zhang Gang, Zhang Youzhen

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background In coal mines, underground intelligent drilling rigs serve as critical equipment for gas extraction and water hazard prevention and control. With increasing mining depth, extreme operating conditions, including elevated gas concentration and high in situ stress, pose challenges to conventional drilling modes. Progress This study presents a systematic review of the evolutionary history of intelligent drilling rigs in China from the 13th to the 14th Five-Year Plan, dividing it into three stages: semi-automated operation, whole-process automated operation, and initial intelligent drilling. In the semi-automated operation stage, technologies for remote control within a viewing distance and automatic loading and unloading …

Lafe0.925ti0.075o3 Perovskite Coated With Ethyl Cellulose: A High-Stability, Low-Hysteresis Platform For Advanced Humidity Sensing, Akhmad Futukhillah Fataba Alaih, Djoko Triyono, Rifqi Almusawi Rafsanjani

Makara Journal of Science

Humidity sensors are pivotal in numerous sectors, such as environmental monitoring, industrial automation, and health-care. This study presents the fabrication and detailed evaluation of an advanced humidity sensor using ethyl cellulose (EC)-coated LaFe_0.925Ti_0.075O₃ (LFTO) perovskite nanoparticles synthesized via the sol-gel method. The LFTO nanopar-ticles exhibited a mesoporous structure with an enhanced surface area, which significantly improved their moisture adsorption capabilities. The innovative application of EC coating addresses critical substrate adhesion issues, enhancing mechanical stability without compromising sensor sensitivity. Comprehensive performance evaluations revealed minimal hysteresis (

Editorial: Plant Responses To Abiotic Stress: Unraveling Complex Mechanisms Through Genomics And Physiology, Mizanur Rahman, Takashi Asaeda, Md Harun Rashid

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Discrete Fracture Network Application To Rock Slope Stability In An Open Pit Mine, Elvis Karikari Mensah, Erzah Ackah, Reginald Hammah, Hani Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The stability of rock slopes in open pit mines is crucial for the safety and efficiency of the mining operation. Conventional stability analysis methods, such as kinematic and limit equilibrium analyses, primarily focus on identifying structural failure mechanisms and evaluating their factors of safety. Although insightful, these approaches do not accurately estimate failure volumes and block locations due to their limited consideration of joint frequency and persistence, which are key parameters in understanding block geometries. Discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling addresses these limitations by explicitly simulating rock mass discontinuities in 3D, which automatically incorporates joint spacing and persistence.

This paper …

The Ecotoxicological Implications Of Switching From Fluorescent To Light Emitting Diode Lighting For Zooplankton Culturing And Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing, Orithea Z. Regn

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the global transition toward light emitting diode (LED) lighting, an understudied area is the impact on the culturing and testing of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing organisms, more specifically, the zooplankton species. Without comparison to the current lighting used for culturing and testing, it is unknown if there will be an impact on performance, which could affect effluent, regulatory, and product safety decisions. This dissertation investigated if culturing and reference toxicity testing using sodium chloride for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and D. pulex under LED lighting was comparable to fluorescent. Comparisons were made between two laboratories and by season, …

Trophic Transfer Of Fluorescent Polyethylene Microplastics In A Simplified Artemia–Oreochromis Aquatic Food Chain, Dativa J. Shilla

Tanzania Journal of Science

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, yet experimental evidence of their trophic transfer within tropical African food webs remains scarce. This study provides experimental evidence of indirect trophic transfer of microplastics from Artemia salina to Oreochromis urolepis, a cichlid species of ecological and economic importance in African inland and coastal waters. A simplified two-level food chain was established by exposing A. salina nauplii to fluorescent polyethylene microplastics (10–20 µm; 1, 10, and 100 mg L⁻¹) and subsequently feeding them to juvenile O. urolepis under controlled laboratory conditions. These concentrations were selected to represent a range of exposure levels …

Optimization Of Bio-Briquettes Production From Cassava Stems Co-Blended With Sisal Bole Bagasse Using Response Surface Methodology, Agnes Nshoma Msobi, Neema O. Msuya, Kando Khalifa Janga

Tanzania Journal of Science

This research aimed at producing bio-briquettes from cassava stems and sisal bole bagasse as an alternative source of cooking energy. A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Face - Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD) featured a multi-objective optimization of the effect of the production parameters, focusing on maximizing char yield and Higher Heating Value (HHV) of the produced briquette while minimizing carbonization temperature and residence time. The findings showed that bio-briquettes produced at the lowest temperature (250 ℃) and residence time (30 min) and the blending ratio of 75% by 25% had the highest char yield of 76.92% and HHV of …

(Re)Claiming Homeplace: Dance As Embodied Resistance & Healing For Health & Spatial Justice, Preeya G. Kannan

University Honors Theses

This thesis argues that dance functions as both an upstream public health intervention and a form of radical spatial resistance; creating healing, agency, and belonging among historically marginalized communities. Drawing on bell hooks' concept of homeplace, Jasbir Puar's assemblage theory, Nancy Krieger's eco-social theory, and Katherine McKittrick's Black geographies, I position the body as both an ecological and political landscape shaped by histories of colonialism, racial capitalism, displacement, and resilience.

Through this community-based participatory research study, Homeplace, I explore dance as a form of social prescription that centers liberation rather than pathology. Movement is often reduced in public health discourse …

Effects Of Fine Sediment On The Productivity Of Stream Ecosystems In The Pacific Northwest, Veena I. Davis

University Honors Theses

Salmon are important to the culture, ecosystem and economy of the Pacific Northwest. However, populations have declined significantly since European colonization. Salmon require specific conditions for each life stage and are highly sensitive to environmental stressors. Excess fine sediment is a leading form of pollution as it degrades salmon spawning habitat and the benthos upon which their main food source, stream insects, live. To evaluate the effect of sediment pollution on food availability for salmon smolt, we conducted an experiment  estimating the amount of stream insect biomass and calories lost due to sediment pollution. We counted insects on substrate samples …

Exploring The Relationship Between Tree Dbh And Lichen Cover On Coast Redwood, Grace M. Personeus, Sierra Gittleman, Alisa A. Zarattini

IdeaFest: Interdisciplinary Journal of Creative Works and Research from Cal Poly Humboldt

We investigated the relationship between Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and lichen cover on coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) to see if larger trees had higher percentages of cover. We measured cover using 10 cover classes on the southeastern and southwestern sides of trees in a secondary growth forest. We found a significant relationship between DBH and cover, yet no significant difference between the two sides measured. We suggest that further research with a larger sample size and more varied age classes will provide further insight into the relationship.

Projected Climate Change Impacts On Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions From A Restored Freshwater Marsh, Annika Hendrickson

University Honors Theses

Wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services, one of which is a wetlands ability to sequester carbon. Climate change and human land use threaten a wetlands ability to do so. Globally, 21% of wetlands have been lost since the 1700s. As a result, restoration of wetlands has been increasing. However, wetlands in the process of restoration emit more methane than degraded ones, and as the climate continues to change, these fluxes could respond. Projected sea level rise is expected to cause salt water to infiltrate coastal freshwater systems, increasing the salinity. Past research has found that increased salinity has led to suppressed …

Desert Dichotomies: Climatic Imaginaries Of The Arid+[Ant]Arctic, Amanda Aman

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources

Desert Dichotomies is a research-based architecture design studio that examines the impacts of climate change across arid and polar desert environments, revealing unexpected parallels between landscapes often understood as environmental opposites. Focusing on Antarctica, Arctic Alaska and the Sonoran Desert, the project investigates how climate change, resource extraction and human systems of control are transforming ecological processes, water systems and cultural landscapes. While arid deserts face increasing drought and water scarcity, polar deserts are experiencing accelerated warming, ice loss, permafrost thaw and flooding. Despite these contrasting conditions, both regions exhibit similar consequences, including declining water quality, biodiversity loss, infrastructural vulnerability …

Agrivoltaic Shading Reduces Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes In A Semi-Arid Vineyard, Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Rafael M. Almeida, Carine Cocco, Engil Pereira

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Agrivoltaic systems are expanding in semi-arid regions, raising questions about how panel driven shading alters soil greenhouse gas exchange. We used automated chambers to measure high frequency soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes in a newly established vineyard agrivoltaic system in Texas across three shading intensities (0%, 35%, 88%) that represent the light environment beneath panels as shaped by panel tilt and solar trajectory. Shading primarily cooled the soil, reducing mean soil temperature from 35.9 °C (0%) to 32.5 °C (35%) and 30.5 °C (88%), while mean soil water content shifted modestly (0.125, 0.106, and 0.130 m3 m−3, respectively). Over …

Assessing Indoor Heat Vulnerability And Cooling Strategies In Three Mobile Home Communities In Boulder, Colorado, Usa, Mehdi P. Heris, Skye Niles, Alana Wilson, Megan Mccurdy, Amy Lacourse, Nick Lankau

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Extreme heat is an increasing public health and environmental threat shaped by both physical and social factors. This study assesses the vulnerability of mobile homes and their residents at three mobile home parks in Boulder, Colorado. We examined indoor temperature, housing conditions, and social and personal risk factors of the households. We monitored indoor and outdoor temperatures using 27 indoor and 5 outdoor temperature data loggers, comparing mobile homes with air conditioning, swamp coolers, and passive cooling designs. This work provides a detailed analysis of indoor temperature patterns and demonstrates how evaluating trends yields insights into the performance and effectiveness …

Optimization Of Cyanide Leaching Process Based On Grain Size And Slurry Density In Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining In Tatelu Area, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Dadan Mohamad Nurjaman, Harmin Sulistiyaning Titah, Adji Kawigraha, Ipung Fitri Purwanti, Wahyu Hidayat

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Tatelu Village, North Sulawesi, has shifted from mercury amalgamation to cyanide leaching. However, gold recovery remains inefficient, requiring process optimization. This study uses multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the influence of grain size and slurry density on gold dissolution. The results indicate that grain size plays a dominant role in leaching efficiency, while slurry density, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and cyanide concentration have statistically insignificant effects (p > 0.05). Laboratory tests show that finer grain sizes enhance dissolution, with the highest recovery rate of 89.08% achieved at 75% passing through 44 …

[2026 Honorable Mention] Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, Daylyn R. Reese

Ethnic Studies Research Paper Award

This research offers unique insights into the creation and development of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (N.M.S.) with a focus on indigenous populations’ roles (primarily Chumash and Costanoan). In this episode, I analyze what makes this NMS different from every NMS precluding it, how it recognizes a new goal in conservation (thrivability), and the areas in which improvements still must be made to authentically include and honor indigenous voices.

A Comprehensive Survey Of Artificial Intelligence Applications In Predicting Mining-Induced Subsidence, Deformation, And Landslides: Strengths, Limitations, And Future Trends, Long Quoc Nguyen, Dung Ba Nguyen, Minh Tuyet Dang

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Mining activities often cause mining-induced ground deformation, including subsidence and landslides, and related geo-environmental impacts, posing significant risks to infrastructure and safety. This study conducts a systematic assessment to identify, categorize, and evaluate AI-based methods (machine learning, deep learning, and hybrid models) for predicting and monitoring mining-induced ground deformation. The literature search was performed across major scientific databases, using predefined keywords and selection criteria, resulting in a final dataset of relevant peer-reviewed studies. The reviewed works were classified into three methodological groups: traditional machine learning, deep learning-based approaches, and hybrid methods. The results show that ML still dominates in terms …

Micro-Hyperspectral Imaging Of Phytoplankton Enables Deconvolution Of Mixed Communities For Spaceborne Hyperspectral Remote Sensing, Chisom Okwuchi Emeghiebo

Masters Theses

Characterizing phytoplankton diversity is critical for large-scale biodiversity monitoring and harmful algal bloom (HAB) detection. Here, we present a micro hyperspectral imaging method to characterize reflectance signatures, for the first time across major phytoplankton groups. Spectral variability among taxa in laboratory cultures is interpreted using algal pigment and absorption analyses, demonstrating that pigment composition and absorption govern reflectance features. Chlorophytes and cryptophytes exhibit distinct spectral signatures and are readily distinguishable, whereas diatoms and dinoflagellates show greater spectral similarity, with differentiation relying on subtle reflectance features associated with chlorophyll c₁c₂ near ~463 nm and within 620–650 nm. We further applied this …

Disparities In The Identification Of Vulnerable Communities Due To Design Storm Methods: A Case Study In The Vermilion River Watershed, South Louisiana, Usa, Claire Orgeron

Masters Theses

Accurately identifying socially vulnerable populations at-risk of flooding is critical for equitable disaster mitigation and planning. This study investigates how the selection of design storm method, which is fundamental to developing flood risk maps used for this identification, influences which socially vulnerable populations are recognized as being at elevated flood risk. The most widely used design storm approach relies on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14 point-based rainfall frequency estimates. These estimates are typically applied spatially using areal reduction factors, thereby disregarding rainfall spatial variability in real storms. Stochastic Storm Transposition (SST), an alternative design storm approach that …

Public Acceptance Of Meat-Reduction Policies Across Cultures: Comparing Singapore And Switzerland, Bianca Wassmann, Shu Tian Ng, Mark Chong, Angela K. Y. Leung, Michael Siegrist

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Purpose – As meat-reduction policies are discussed across the globe, many are met with public resistance. Cultural values may help explain this pushback, yet their role in shaping support for food policy remains poorly understood. This study is the first to apply cultural cognition theory to food policy by examining how cultural worldviews shape the acceptance of meat-reduction interventions in Singapore and Switzerland—two economically developed countries with contrasting cultural profiles. Design/methodology/approach – In an online survey, participants (Singapore: n = 357; Switzerland: n = 495) rated their acceptance of 11 meat-reduction interventions (e.g. taxes, subsidies, labelling). We then analysed to …

Incipient: Contemporary Wildfire Management In The American West, Carlyn A. Mcaleer

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The frequency, severity, and total area burned by wildfires has escalated dramatically alongside a similar increase in federal suppression spending. However, contemporary management remains rooted in a suppression‑centric framework that originated in the early‑20th‑century. Our current wildfire management practices are unsustainable in the face of this growing threat. Using an approach that blends historical analysis and spatial analysis, this thesis asks how current spatial patterns of burn probability (BP) overlap with existing fire-response infrastructure and population in eight states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming) in the American West and which barriers inhibit the adoption of proactive …

Gobbling Activity And Use Of Structural Habitat At Nest Sites By Wild Turkeys (Meleagris Gallopavo) In Western Nebraska, Robyn M. Dausener

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations in Nebraska have declined substantially in recent years. Understanding gobbling chronology and its environmental drivers may inform spring hunting season structure and management actions. I used autonomous recording units (ARUs) in two ecologically distinct regions of Nebraska, the northwestern (NW) Pine Ridge landscape, and the southwestern (SW) agricultural landscape, to quantify gobbling activity from 2023-2025. I paired gobbling data with nesting chronology, cumulative daily hunting pressure, weather conditions, and moon phase using Bayesian generalized additive mixed models. Gobbling peaked during mid-to-late April in both regions, preceding peak nest initiation and incubation, with no …

Invasion Patterns And Niche Dynamics Of The Pollinivorous Florida Calligrapher, Toxomerus Floralis (Diptera: Syrphidae) In The Afrotropical Region, Burgert Muller, John Midgley, Georg Goergen, Ali Al Jahdhami, Michelson Azo'o Ela, Terence Bellingan, Simon Cavaillès, Robert Copeland, Marc De Meyer, Martin Hauser, Allen Holmes, Ximo Mengual, Gabriel Nève, Menno Reemer, Jeff Skevington, Gunilla Ståhls, Eugène Sinzinkayo, John Smit, Axel Ssymank, Genevieve Theron, Kurt Jordaens

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The rapid spread of Toxomerus floralis (Fabricius, 1798) (Diptera: Syrphidae) within the Afrotropical region is described. We characterise and compare the climatic niches of T. floralis in its native (Southern North America, Central America and South America) and invaded (Afrotropical Region) range to assess the potential for further expansion across Africa and beyond, and included future global climate models and socioeconomic pathways as projections. Occurrence data for native and invaded ranges were obtained from field sampling by authors, major collections of Afrotropical Syrphidae, collections records and occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), including iNaturalist data. Single and …

Comparing Allometric Models To Machine Learning Models For Aboveground Biomass Estimation In Agroforestry Systems In Kenya, Samuel Irungu Kigotho, Kennedy Senagi, John Olukuru, David Masereti Makori, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Evans Omondi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study compared traditional allometric models with machine learning (ML) techniques for accurately estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) in six Acacia species within Kenyan agroforestry systems. Using tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height as inputs, the research evaluated allometric models (Chave’s, Brown’s, and Henry’s) against ML models, including Gradient Boosting (GB), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Regression (SVR). This research advances the field by benchmarking machine learning and classical allometric models at the species level within Kenyan agroforestry systems and employing SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for interpretability analysis. Model performance was validated using …

Climate Change Reduces Pollination Services And Sunflower Yields Across Europe And Northern Africa, Stella Gachoki, Clémence Riva, Danilo Bevk, Yamina Haider, Noureddine Adjlane, Ioannis Manthos, Bojan Stipešević, Zlatko Puškadija, Marin Kovačić, Leonidas Charistos, Fani Hatjina, Fabrice Requier

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) productivity is highly dependent on pollinators, yet the effects of climate on pollination services and crop yield remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how temperature gradients influence flower-visiting communities, pollination services, and sunflower productivity across Europe and Northern Africa. We conducted standardized two-year (2022 and 2023) pollination exclusion experiments across 36 sunflower fields spanning a broad climatic gradient, from temperate regions in Slovenia to arid conditions in Algeria. We found that sunflower production (seed set, seed number, and oil content) relied heavily on insect pollination. However, this benefit declined with rising temperatures, likely due to …