Digital Commons Network^™

Ai In Higher Education: Some Notes From The Front, Debra Rienstra

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

We’re four weeks into the semester now. This past summer, our university unveiled a campus-wide AI policy that exhorts students and faculty to use discernment and tries to lay out some rules about security. Meanwhile, we have purchased a campus-wide subscription to an AI aggregator tool now available to all students, faculty, and staff (in part, from what I understand, as an attempt to effect some boundaries). And then, in the news, all this hand-wringing over the end of humanity, etc., on the one hand and techno-utopian promises on the other.

Factors Influencing Non-Perennial Stream Initiation In The Mt. Hood National Forest, Allison Bast

Dissertations and Theses

Historically, non-perennial headwater streams have been overlooked due to their small size and infrequent flow regimes, often leading to them not being recognized as legitimate streams, despite scientific evidence that has shown these streams significantly affect the quality of downstream waters. To combat this issue, environmental managers need to be able to accurately identify and delineate the origins of these streams; however, despite decades of research, an accurate, universal method for predicting how and where these streams commence has yet to be developed. Early studies conducted in steep, humid environments, identified a strong inverse linear relationship between the size of …

2026 Final Bpsou Backfill And Cover Material Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Powers' Conjecture On The Third Largest Eigenvalue Of A Graph, Kevin Schmidt

Master's Theses

In 1989, David Powers conjectured that for any connected graph G on n vertices, the k-th largest eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix satisfies λk(G) ≤ ⌊n/k⌋ for every 1 ≤ k ≤ n/2. The conjecture has since been resolved case by case, in the sharper form λk(G) ≤ n/k − 1: the case k = 1 is classical, k = 2 was settled independently by Hong and by Powers in 1988, and k ≥ 4 was shown to fail by Nikiforov and Linz. This thesis surveys the resolution of the remaining case, k = 3, achieved in March 2026 by …

Therapeutic Outcomes Of Oral Antibiotics For The Treatment Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Urinary Tract Infections: A Multisite, Retrospective Cohort Study Of Linezolid, Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole And Doxycycline, Ryan Mccall, Elena Gatskevich, Steven E. Fiester, Michael Floren, Elisabeth Chandler

Chemistry Publications

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) urinary tract infections (UTIs), while relatively uncommon, pose a unique challenge in treatment as only specific intravenous (IV) options are typically utilized, with the efficacy of oral antimicrobials being poorly defined. Methods: The multi-site retrospective cohort study described herein therefore aims to characterize outcomes associated with oral administration of linezolid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), or doxycycline for the treatment of MRSA UTIs. Study participants were adults with culture-positive MRSA UTIs receiving one of the three oral therapies. Exclusion criteria included polymicrobial UTI, concomitant MRSA outside the urinary tract, receipt of non-study anti-MRSA agents for greater than or …

Transforming Military Spectrum Management With Spectrack, Rachel Mccoy, Rafa Gould, Abby Fornadel

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The U.S. military faces operational and financial challenges due to inefficient electromagnetic spectrum
management. This poster and accompanying research statement introduce our minimum viable product, SpecTrack, which we created in response to a challenge presented by the U.S. Department of Defense's Joint Spectrum Agency. SpecTrack centralizes and visualizes spectrum requests to offer insights, streamline communication, and reduce costs. It integrates with current tools like Spectrum XXI and HUNSWDO while enhancing usability through a visual Common Operating Picture (COP). Our user-centered design process included stakeholder interviews and site visits to Germany. The result: a scalable platform that modernizes and simplifies military …

Epidemic Dynamics Under Pulse Population Exchange, Hannah Kravitz, Christina Durón, Moysey Brio

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many epidemiological models assume either closed populations or continuous demographic turnover. We consider an intermediate setting in which exchange occurs through discrete pulses. In this paper, we introduce a population-conserving compartmental epidemiological model with pulse population exchange at a set of prescribed times. At each pulse, a fraction of the population in each compartment is replaced by a combination of susceptible and immunized individuals. In contrast to typical pulse birth or pulse vaccination models where only a single compartment undergoes a pulse population change, the pulses in this model have competing effects: removing infectious individuals reduces the force of infection, …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 68 – Little Mina-2, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 160s – Syndicate Pit Dumps, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 57 – Little Mina-1, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 9 – Clark Street Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 75 – National Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 180 – Tullamore Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of The Trojan Sex Chromosome Approach In The San Juan River: Investigation And Validation Of Feminization Methods For Channel Catfish, Chad Teal

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Final Reclamation Improvement Field Sampling And Investigation Plan: Bres No. 171 – Blaine Center, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

An Ion-Neutral Reaction To Form Cyanobenzene And Ethynylbenzene In Titan’S Atmosphere, Rachel M. Huchmala, Vincent J. Esposito

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The ion-neutral reaction between cyanoacetylene (HC₃N) and phenyl anion (C₆H₅^–) leads to the formation of cyanobenzene (C₆H₅CN) and the ethynyl anion (C₂H^–) via a submerged, exothermic pathway. Through a different mechanism, the same two reactants also form ethynylbenzene (C₆H₅C₂H) and CN^–. These new reactions can be a foundation for the production of substituted benzenes using molecules currently present on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Cyclic aromatic molecules like C₆H₅CN and C₆H_{5 …}

A Systematic Approach For Controlling Tem Sample Thicknesses, Monte Kozell

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Historically, TEM prep has been an artisan craft without a systematic workflow that ensures quantified control over TEM sample thickness. Over- and under-thinning is a significant problem in the TEM prep process. A direct measurement process was demonstrated to control the final thickness of the TEM lamella. Final lamella thickness was controlled by directly measuring lamella thickness in real time using a 10–15 kV SEM while performing secondary electron imaging at the mill position, allowing for (human-mediated) closed-loop processing. We demonstrated the utility of this technique by systematically thinning five TEM samples to discretely target thicknesses ranging from 100 nm …

Comparative Antibacterial Efficacy Of Hot Vs. Cold Aqueous Saussurea Costus Root Extracts Against Streptococcus Mutans, Fatima Adil Mohammed Hussien, Ahlam Taha Mohammed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The present in vitro study assessed the antibacterial efficacy of aqueous root extracts prepared using hot and cold extraction methods of Saussurea costus against Streptococcus mutans isolates. Based on antibacterial screening results, the hot extract, which demonstrated greater antibacterial activity, was selected for subsequent cytotoxicity assessment. Cold and hot aqueous extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening, and phenolic acids and flavonoids were quantitatively assessed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated using a resazurin-based microdilution technique to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration, followed by subculture to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration, and an agar well diffusion assay. Cytotoxicity of …

How Far Do A Smile And A Hand Held Tight Reach? Children’S Play As A Transdisciplinary Predictor Of The Trajectory Of Physicochemical Processes On Atomic, Molecular And Cellular Scales, Evangelina Wu Uskoković, Theo Wu Uskoković, Vuk Uskoković

Administration and Staff Articles and Research

The search for an intrinsically beautiful scientific project took two children and their parent to over 600 visits of 181 playgrounds scattered throughout northern, central and southern California over the period of more than three years. Their goal was to test the hypothesis that children’s happiness and fondness for communication at playgrounds could be used, through complexity and entropy as intermediary quantities, as predictors of the evolution of physical, chemical and biological phenomena on microscopic scales ranging from the atomic to the cellular. Specifically, a link was sought between the children’s responses at play and the reaction paths of physicochemical …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) 2025 Surface Water Compliance Evaluation Technical Memorandum (Dated June 29, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Enviromental Burden And Financial Performance Of Manufacturing Companies On Borsa Istanbul: An Exploratory Circular-Economy-Aligned Assessment Using The Aroman Method, Sibel Fettahoglu, Ejder Ayçin, Büşra Karslı Günay

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Türkiye's 2053 net-zero emissions target and the critical role of the manufacturing sector in this process necessitate an urgent examination of the financial impacts of circular economy (CE) practices. This study provides an exploratory analysis of the relationship between environmental burden and financial performance using 2023 data from 26 manufacturing companies in Borsa Istanbul. Given the difficulty of measuring holistic circularity at the company level, this study operationalizes the environmental dimension of circular economy performance using selected environmental burden indicators, including energy and water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. The study uses the alternative ranking order method accounting …

K 1-6 Is A Photoionised Interstellar Medium Nebula Shaped By A Fast-Moving Hot White Dwarf In A Triple System, Jaroslav Merc, David Jones, Ana Escorza, Henri M. J. Boffin, Nicole Reindl, Michael Abdul-Masih, Thomas Masseron, Paulina Sowicka, Jan Kára, Jorge Jorge García-Rojas

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Aims. K 1-6 has long been classified as a planetary nebula (PN) hosting a binary central star; however, it has remained poorly studied due to its faintness. The central star exhibits pronounced photometric variability whose origin is still unclear. We present a comprehensive characterisation of the K 1-6 system, including the physical properties of its stellar components and the nature of the surrounding nebulosity.

Methods. We conducted a multi-wavelength analysis combining optical and UV spectroscopy obtained with the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, the Nordic Optical Telescope, and the Hubble Space Telescope. We also present long-term multi-band ground- …

Legal Shifts And Judicial Inconsistencies In Strict Liability After The Omnibus Law: A Critical Analysis Of Indonesian Environmental Law For Responsible Mining And Esg Compliance, Nurul Listiyani, Khenza Atthaya Namira Yulianto

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The legal significance of strict liability in mining arises from the sector’s capacity to generate technically complex, diffuse, and long-latency environmental harm that is difficult to address through fault-based litigation alone. This study aims to evaluate how the post-Omnibus Law reformulation of Article 88 of Law No. 32 of 2009 has affected the doctrinal autonomy, judicial consistency, and practical enforcement of strict liability in Indonesian environmental law. The research used normative doctrinal legal research including statutory, case-law, conceptual, comparative, and evaluative analyses. The data cover the 2009–2025 period and consist of two core statutory formulations of Article 88, the Job …

A Viable Energy-Saving Solution For Sustainable Development: High-Efficiency Electric Motors Lspmsm, Le Anh Tuan, Do Nhu Y, Nguyen Thi Lan

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

In the context of sustainable development, energy-efficient conversion technologies play an important role in reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact. High-efficiency line-start permanent-magnet synchronous motors (LSPMSM) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional motors. This study investigates the potential of LSPMSM as a viable solution for sustainable industrial development. An integrated approach combining motor design optimization, performance analysis, and environmental impact assessment is applied to evaluate the benefits of replacing conventional low-efficiency IE1 squirrel-cage induction motors (SCIM) with the proposed solution. A proposed step-skewed permanent magnet (PM) configuration of LSPMSM 2.2 kW, 4 poles is introduced. The proposed …

Knowledge-Enhanced Feature Store For Operational Ml And Llm Workflows, Saurabh Suman

Master's Theses

Modern machine learning (ML) organizations rely on feature stores to manage training and production data, yet as catalogs grow to thousands of features, semantic management becomes the bottleneck: discovery, governance, and metric selection remain largely manual. This thesis proposes and evaluates a knowledge-enhanced feature store that augments a dual-plane store with a hybrid knowledge layer—relational provenance, a lineage graph, semantic vector retrieval, and an online cache—and an LLM-driven multi-agent layer for profiling, matching, grounded metric recommendation, and pipeline generation. A working prototype was evaluated across three task families—semantic profiling, feature-matching retrieval, and discovery—using classification, ranking, and operational metrics computed by …

From Scrolls To Algorithms: A Critical Analysis Of Generative Ai, Digital Preservation, And Ranganathan’S Normative Philosophy, Madhu K S

Book Chapters

The paper discusses the developments in human information access across three historical paradigms including physical scarcity, digital abundance, and synthetic algorithmic mediation with Generative AI. History is discussed with the philosophical aspects of Floridi’s Philosophy of Information, Christine Borgman’s Digital Scholarship Framework, and S R Ranganathan’s Normative Library Science. This conceptual paper explores the transition from finding documents to creating answers with AI it has changed human thinking and reliability on information. This transition has changed how people believe and trust the source of information. This paper looks at the material ethics regarding how commercial large language models (LLM) are …

Shrinkage Of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Richard W. Schmude Jr.

Georgia Journal of Science

This report summarizes changes in Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) on the multi-decade time scale.  The mean shrinkage rates for 1960-2016 are 0.21 degrees/year (east-west) and 0.52 degrees/year (north-south).  The east-west shrinkage rate is much higher than the corresponding value for Oval BA.  Between 1878 and 2026, the GRS area shrunk by over a factor of four with a mean annual shrinkage rate of 1.0 %.  The GRS quotient (east-west length in degrees longitude divided by north-south length in degrees latitude) has decreased.  This is consistent with the GRS becoming more circular with time.  This is different than Oval BA, …

Fully Anharmonic Infrared Spectra Of Neutral Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons With Up To 38 Carbons, Nolan J. H. White, Vincent J. Esposito, Christiaan Boersma, Louis J. Allamandola, Jesse D. Bregman, Alexandros Maragkoudakis, Pasquale Temi, Ryan Fortenberry

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Interstellar aromatic infrared band (AIB) spectra show agreement with presently computed anharmonic spectra for various types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determined using a novel semiempirical quantum chemical method. Since the AIB spectrum is a blend of emission spectra from a vast number of different PAHs, likely with an array of different molecular structures, the spectra for a sample set of 31 PAHs ranging in size from naphthalene (C₁₀H₈) up to circumbiphenyl (C₃₈H₁₆) are combined, giving consideration to almost all PAH structural motifs. The computed numerical quartic force fields coupled to second-order …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft 2025 Site-Wide Surface Water Monitoring Data Summary Report (Dated May 29, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final 2026 Interim Site- Wide Surface Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated August 28, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.