Digital Commons Network^™

The 2017 Merrimack College Mobile Lightboard: Personalized Office-Based Lightboarding On A Shared Mobile Board, Craig Looney, Christopher L. Duston, James Biegel, Manuel A. Carrero Jr., Nicholas A. Valente

Physics Faculty Publications

We present and evaluate the Merrimack College Mobile Lightboard, which we built in 2017 and which is still in use in 2025. Our design was closely based on that of the groundbreaking 2014 Duke University Lightboard but with a smaller glass pane, 5 feet wide instead of 6 feet wide. The resulting scaled-down board is small enough to move in and out of individual faculty offices, but large enough to make detailed videos. An updated construction cost estimate is provided, and recent upgrades are briefly discussed. We believe that personalized office-based lightboarding represents an attractive option for many faculty members, …

Multiplexed Integrin Detection And Cancer Cell Classification Using Multicolor Gap-Enhanced Gold Nanorods And Machine Learning Algorithm, Suprava Shah, Reed Youngerman, Alberto Luis Rodriguez-Nieves, Mitchell Lee Taylor, William Rodney Bantom, David Thompson, Jingyi Chen, Yongmei Wang, Xiaohua Huang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Integrins, cell-surface adhesion receptors involved in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis, serve as crucial biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic targeting. Multiplexed detection of integrins and cancer cell classification at the single-cell level allows for comprehensive profiling, facilitating precise identification and categorization of tumor cells that are heterogeneous in integrin expression and cell subtype. In this study, we developed a five-plex detection platform and demonstrated integrin profile for cancer cell classification leveraging surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with gap-enhanced gold nanorods (GENRs) in conjunction with advanced computational analysis. Specifically, we synthesized GENRs bearing five distinct Raman nanotags, each producing a unique …

An Analysis Of Large Language Model Hallucination And Creativity: Linear Representations And Causal Roles, Mckay Bowcut

Theses and Dissertations

Large language models (LLMs) show remarkable abilities in both factual and creative tasks, yet the problem of hallucination persists despite advances in training and post-training methods. Recent progress in model interpretability suggests that model behavior can be predicted and influenced by analyzing and manipulating internal activations. In this thesis, we address three questions: (1) Can we identify linear representations of hallucination and creativity in the model’s latent space? (2) Do these representations play a causal role in model behavior when manipulated? (3) Are creativity and hallucination causally intertwined? To answer these, we construct a novel dataset of factual, hallucinated, and …

Sound Practices In Human Resources: A Critical Analysis Of How Ai Applicant Screening Tools Are Used With Deaf Individuals In The Hospitality And Tourism Sector, Sherry L. Gaynor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the intersection of Career and Workforce Education, Deaf Education, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies used in hiring practices. The purpose of this research is to identify potential barriers to equitable employment for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals and to propose effective methods for evaluating and assessing AI and machine learning applications utilized in recruitment and selection processes. Although AI is increasingly embedded in human resource management (HRM), there remains a significant lack of research addressing its use with special populations. In particular, no prior studies have examined how voice recognition software, facial analysis, psychometric testing, and virtual …

Analysis Of An Effective Training Curriculum: Solutions Toincrease Participants' Interest In Training Teachingmaterials, Maulidya Husnul Khatimah, Yoto Yoto

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research is important because it analyzes the curriculum as a primary tool for generating and maintaining participant interest. Curricula that are irrelevant, monotonous, or misaligned with participant needs are often the main causes of low motivation and participation. Furthermore, this research encourages the exploration and implementation of more innovative teaching methods and materials in training curricula. External pressure in the form of demands or instructions, rather than internal motivation, drives most training activities. This can reduce engagement and learning effectiveness. To overcome this, training institutions need to design programs that are relevant, flexible, and able to encourage participants' intrinsic …

Augmented Reality-Assisted E-Module On Temperature Andheat Content (Emarks), Tetri Sabrina, Ika Mustika Sari, Dedi Sasmita

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Temperature and heat content (calor) material in physics often involves concepts and phenomena that are difficult to observe directly or are abstract (such as energy transfer, particle movement, and changes in state). EMARKS (AR-based E-modules) are important because Augmented Reality (AR) allows the visualization of these abstract concepts in the form of interactive 3D models in the user's real environment. This helps students understand the concepts more concretely and easily. The development of E-modules is an innovation in learning media that is relevant to the demands of the digital era and the needs of modern students. The use of advanced …

The Effect Of Guided Inquiry Model With Deep Learningapproach On Student’S Hots In Elements, Compounds,And Mixtures At Junior High School, Friska Pakpahana, Retno Dwi Suyanti

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The current education curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing HOTS skills (such as analyzing, evaluating, and creating) to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. School learning often focuses on lower-level cognitive domains (memorizing and understanding). This research seeks to address this gap by offering a potentially effective learning model. The guided inquiry model positions students as active participants in learning, encouraging them to investigate, discover, and formulate concepts independently with teacher guidance. This strongly supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of the guided inquiry model …

Development Of Problem-Based Learning Worksheet Toenhance Ecoliteracy: Human Impact On Ecosystem, Ulina M.S. Simangunsong, B. Manurung, Martina Asiati Napitupulu

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Ecoliteracy (ecological literacy) is an individual's ability to understand basic ecological principles and make environmentally responsible decisions. Improving ecoliteracy is a crucial foundation for realizing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which prepares students to become proactive citizens in protecting the environment. The problem-based learning model helps students learn on their own by using real-world environmental cases to get them to think critically and solve problems. Therefore, this research aims to determine the effectiveness of using problem-based learning worksheets to enhance the ecoliteracy of seventh-grade students. The development model used is 4-D. The research instruments include expert validation forms for subject, …

Development Of E-Lkpd Assisted By Phet Colorado Basedon Discovery Learning: Critical Thinking Skills On Lightmaterial At Junior High School, Flora Yani Saragih, Pintor Simamora

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Critical thinking is necessary for 21st-century pupils, but PISA data suggest that Indonesian students, especially junior high school students, lack it. The junior high science/physics light material is abstract and involves in-depth reasoning (reflection, refraction, and shadow generation). Without critical thinking, kids memorize formulas or notions without analyzing real phenomena. Discovery learning involves pupils discovering concepts via observation and experimentation. Critical thinking requires initiative, exploration, and reasoning, which these foster. Therefore, this study aims to develop E-LKPD based on Discovery Learning assisted by an interactive simulation of PhET Colorado to strengthen the critical thinking skills of grade VIII students on …

Guided Inquiry Learning Assisted By Crossword Puzzlemedia: Student Scientific Literacy And Critical Thinkingability For Middle School, Agis Putri Niswa, Mariati Purnama Simanjuntak, Ramlan Silaban, Fauziyah Harahap, Ridwan Abdullah Sani

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Scientific literacy and critical thinking skills are two fundamental competencies that students need in the 21st century. Scientific literacy is essential for students to understand and use scientific knowledge to make informed decisions, while critical thinking trains students to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and solve problems logically. Therefore, the intent of this study was to determine the effect of the guided inquiry learning model assisted by crossword puzzle media on students’ scientific literacy and critical thinking skills. The type of research used was quasi-experimental with a two-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of two classes: class VII-8 as the control …

Computational Data Analysis, Kathryn S. Biles

LSU Master's Theses

Data science has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation, shaping an ever-expanding range

of professional careers. As technology advances and the volume of data expands expo-

nentially, the ability to extract meaningful insights from data has become indispensable

across industries. Far from representing a single career path, data science enables profes-

sionals in nearly every domain to make informed decisions, optimize systems, and drive

innovation. Yet, many high school students and incoming college freshmen have limited

exposure to data science fundamentals or the career opportunities they unlock. This is

the gap that Computational Data Analysis, a high school-level curriculum I …

A Generalized Lehmer Conjecture For The Trace Of T ₃, Liubomir Chiriac, Erin Williams

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The expectation that Ramanujan’s tau function does not vanish, commonly known as Lehmer’s Conjecture, has inspired several extensions to broader settings. In this paper, we focus on one such direction, proposed by Rouse, concerning the non-vanishing of traces of Hecke operators Tn. We refine an algorithm originally introduced by Rouse to resolve the case n = 2, and, together with tools from our earlier work on the case n = 3 in level one, we settle the conjecture for T₃ in full generality. We also discuss an implication of our result for the non-vanishing of all coefficients of the …

Bipolar-Valued Fuzzy Subgroups, Normal Subgroups, And Homomorphisms On Dib’S Fuzzy Space, Fadi Al-Zu’Bi, Abd Ghafur Ahmad, Abd Ulazeez Alkouri, Maslina Darus, Sadeq Damrah

All Works

Fuzzy group theory has evolved beyond single-valued memberships to account for dual polarity and uncertainty. Building on Dib’s fuzzy space and bipolar-valued fuzzy sets, we develop a unified algebraic theory of bipolar-valued fuzzy (BVF) subgroups, including BVF normal subgroups and BVF homomorphisms, via a BVF binary operation (BVFBO) on a BVF-space. We establish necessary and sufficient subgroup criteria, characterize normality through coset symmetry in BVF-space, and prove homomorphism properties that align BVF structures with their classical counterparts through correspondence theorems. The framework clarifies when associativity holds between subgroup elements and ambient BVF-group elements and provides constructive examples. This generalization resolves …

Importance Of S-Doped Porous Carbon Acidity And Visible Light Photoactivity For Its Antibacterial Activity, Danela Sadikaj, Abanob Fekri, Isabelle Bautista, Nafisatu Davis, Tasnim Agha Alkla, Muhammad Moueed Haider Mirza, Jiaying Wang, Phillip Stallworth, Natalie Hudson-Smith, Teresa J. Bandosz, Xiaojun Yu, Steven Greenbaum, Wanlu Li

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Bactericidal activity of sulfur-doped carbon has been investigated against a common Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli K-12 (E. coli), in aqueous solution. Under dark conditions, 1 h contact of carbon with bacteria resulted in a 3–4 log decrease from the initial concentration of 7 log. When exposed to visible light, a 6–7 log decrease in E. coli was observed. The bactericidal activity under dark conditions was linked to the effects of functional groups, particularly sulfonic groups, which released protons that contributed to bacterial death. Even though under visible light no reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected in electron paramagnetic …

Exploiting Chloride Conservative Tendencies As Contaminant Surrogates In Groundwater Transport Modeling In A Typical Hydrogeological Environment Of Northern New Jersey, Toritseju Oyen, Duke Ophori

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study investigates the transport of chloride, a conservative tracer and surrogate for contaminants, in the fractured Brunswick aquifer of northern New Jersey using a dual-porosity MODFLOW-MT3DMS model. Focusing on the First Watchung Mountain region—a microcosm of northern New Jersey’s hydrogeological environment encompassing Montclair State University and adjoining communities, the numerical model simulates groundwater flow and solute transport in a hydrogeologically complex, urbanized setting. Results indicate that chloride migrates through the fractured aquifer via both local flow systems (e.g., Third River) and regional flow systems (Passaic River) within decades. Chloride concentrations exceeded the EPA’s 250 mg/L threshold much faster in …

Preparing Tomorrow’S Professionals: Industry-Informed Ai Integration, Brent A. Terwilliger Ph.D, John Faraca

Publications

As AI reshapes operations across aviation and aerospace, organizations are investing in ways to preserve data integrity, safeguard proprietary knowledge, and uphold critical professional competencies. This presentation shares emerging findings from a study that surveys and interviews industry professionals about their use of AI tools, their concerns about misuse, and the importance of secure, enterprise-controlled “walled garden” environments. The work explores how employers define appropriate, effective, and innovative AI adoption, particularly in roles requiring high-stakes decision-making, compliance, and technical acumen.

By analyzing organizational expectations around AI-related knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), this research offers practical guidance for academic programs seeking …

Elucidating The Relationship Between Water Quality And Antibiotic Resistance Of Rainwater Microbes Across Western Humboldt County, Theo P. Murphy, Eve Wendley, Justice Laskowski, Tyler Paredes

Humboldt Journal of Microbiology

Limited studies have been conducted regarding the fecal contamination and microbial dispersal through rainwater, with no known studies investigating the potential connection between antibiotic resistant microbes and water quality in rainwater. This study seeks to identify the presence of a correlation between water quality and incidence of antibiotic resistance in rainwater microbes. We hypothesize that there will be a correlation between these two variables. We additionally anticipate a high incidence of fecal contamination across rural and urban collection sites alike, with fecal contamination being more prevalent in rural areas than urban locals. To determine water quality, we measured the concentration …

Systematic Review Of Elementary Cybersecurity Education: Curriculum, Pedagogy, And Barriers, Na Liu, Siyu Long, Florence Martin

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Abstract -As children increasingly engage with digital platforms, the need for effective cybersecurity education has become urgent. This systematic review synthesizes 81 studies published between 2017 and 2024 to examine global curricula research focus and topics, pedagogical approaches and assessment methods, and key challenges in elementary cybersecurity education. The findings reveal six major thematic categories: student awareness, parental mediation, teacher engagement, curriculum design, community and policy support, and pedagogical innovation. Among instructional strategies, game-based learning and narrative storytelling emerge as the most frequently explored. Despite this growth, major gaps remain in curriculum consistency, teacher preparation, assessment rigor, and stakeholder coordination. …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Supporting Single Parents: How Loneliness And Self-Stigma Can Impact Single Parents And Their Quality Of Life, Alana Powell, David Mothersill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland Blossoms Through Multiculturalism - Designing For Community Connection, Julia Kuczera, Shirley Casey, Hilary Kenna

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Unheard And Underserved: Exploring Support For Male Victims Of Partner Abuse, Michael Keenan, Colletta Dalikeni

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland's Infrastructure: From Delays To Deliveries!, Conor Barnett, Keren Goodman

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Anne M. Friel, Brigid Hooban, Therese Montgomery, Anne Marie O'Brien, Cormac Quigley, Edel Mcneela, Eva Campion, James Walshe, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

2025 November - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

The month of November 2025 averaged warmer than normal by 2-4°F across most of the state. The northeastern corner of TN was closer to average, with a few areas even slightly cooler than normal. Additionally, November was drier than normal for most areas, with the exception of a few parts of the Cumberland Plateau and in East TN where heavier bands of precipitation set up while most of the state recorded only light rainfall.

The main weather and climate story of November 2025 was the early taste of winter that impacted the state November 9-12, which also coincided …

“The Role Of Machine Learning In Social Media Content Moderation”, Bethaney A. Mallory-Smothers

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The majority of the world's over one billion active users depend on large-scale machine learning based social media platforms to personalize content through various methods of curation. Recommendation systems use many types of machine learning model including collaborative filtering, content-based filtering and deep learning to find what a specific user is likely to be interested in, and therefore increase user engagement. As beneficial as this is to the user experience, it has also generated a significant amount of concern about both bias in recommendations and the dissemination of false information on the web, as well as issues related to the …

Composition Pedagogy As Ai‑Native Coding: From Design Kit To Scholarly Framework, Daniel Plate, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This article advances a field-ready framework that reconceives first-year composition as AI-native coding, translating a complete “design kit” into scholarly method, evaluative protocol, and curriculum architecture. Background: Contemporary composition pedagogy emphasizes process, genre awareness, and collaborative revision; meanwhile, modern software practice operationalizes iteration through version control, test-driven development, and continuous integration. The uploaded kit demonstrates that these cultures are isomorphic: writing stages align with SDLC phases, and automated pipelines can lint prose, execute argument “tests,” and publish artifacts with auditable histories. Approach: The study systematizes that kit into (1) a conceptual map that recasts authorship as orchestration and verification, (2) …

Perspectives On Firearm Storage Conversations: Summary Of Health Care Provider Interviews And Parent Focus Group, Rachel M. Gallo Mph

Publications

This report summarizes perspectives from Maine parents who own firearms and health care providers on safe firearm storage and related conversations in health care settings. Through interviews and a parent focus group, the project explored how firearms are stored, what influences storage decisions, and how families and providers feel about discussing firearm safety. Parents emphasized the importance of responsible ownership, education, and individualized storage solutions, while identifying cost as a key barrier to safer storage options. Many health care providers expressed interest in addressing firearm safety but cited limited time, lack of training, and concerns about patient trust as challenges. …

Ai Companions And The Lessons Of Family Law, Clare Huntington

Faculty Scholarship

Virtual friends and lovers powered by artificial intelligence are rapidly moving to the center of our emotional and social lives. Millions of people turn to AI companions every day for conversation, romance, sexual intimacy, therapy, and education. AI companionship holds promise, potentially reducing loneliness, supporting people without access to mental health treatment, helping students learn, and offering a judgment-free space for sensitive conversations. But AI companionship also raises significant concerns. The technology's addictiveness may exacerbate loneliness and can undermine human relationships. Therapy bots may prove more harmful than helpful. AI companions can be emotionally abusive. And their access to the …

Technology Transfer In The Implementation Of The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, Christine Nzambi Mulatya

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.