Digital Commons Network^™

Teaching Integrated Stem In Middle School, S. Selcen Guzey

Purdue University Press Books

Teaching Integrated STEM in Middle School is a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers who are committed to furthering integrated STEM education. Through a review of the literature on the topic, the volume offers a clear understanding of the impact of integrated STEM education on instructors’ teaching practices and student outcomes. The book presents a framework and instructional guide that educators can utilize to develop new curricular materials. Two sample units—focused on designing a two-stage water filter and formulating sunscreen—provide step-by-step guidance for lesson implementation and offer strategies for assisting students as they use engineering models to devise design …

Ancient Wisdoms For Modern Crises: Learning From Laozi’S “Daodejing”, Steve Hallett

Purdue University Press Books

We live in a time of abundance and comfort for some, scarcity and hardship for others—a period that seems to have all of us teetering on the brink. Certainly, there is no lack of modern crises, but do we possess the wisdom to overcome them, and where might we seek that wisdom? Ancient Wisdoms for Modern Crises: Learning From Laozi’s “Daodejing[JR1] [ED2] [NN3] ” looks to the Daodejing, a text written during the late Zhou Dynasty (600–400 BCE), for guidance. One of the core treatises of Eastern philosophy, it advocates humility, simplicity, and sustainable living. As both a …

Reviving The Skies: The Impact Of Government Focus On Aviation Industry Growth In The Post-Covid World, Sumeet Hassan Anwar, Humna Asad

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Travel restrictions and border closures during the COVID-19 epidemic drastically reduced air traffic that affected the aviation sector. With an eye toward regional variances and public-private alliances, this essay investigates how government policies, financial interventions, and regulatory frameworks assisted recovery attempts. The essay also looks at how network-based resilience models lower vulnerabilities and improve operational connection, thus guaranteeing future disturbance readiness. Autoregressive integrated moving average models, among other forecasting instruments, help to forecast aviation demand and match recovery plans with changing market dynamics. By means of comparative policy analysis and network theory, this study reveals best practices from Asia, Europe, …

The Evolution Of Mro Outsourcing: Global Trends, Regulatory Challenges, And Strategic Considerations In Aviation Maintenance, David C. Ison

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the global aviation sector. As airlines seek to reduce costs, optimize operations, and access specialized expertise, MRO outsourcing has become an increasingly prevalent strategy. This essay examines the key drivers of MRO outsourcing, including cost reduction, access to advanced technologies, and the focus on core competencies. The essay also explores emerging trends such as the rise of new MRO hubs in Asia and the Middle East, the integration of predictive maintenance and artificial intelligence, and the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability. …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Facilitating Design Talks With Young Learners, Chelsea J. Andrews, Jessica Watkins, Kristen B. Wendell, Rae Woodcock, Vera Gor, Naina Sood Fox, Molly Malinowski, Rachel Bandi, Shannon Rausch

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

With intentional teacher facilitation, whole-class conversations can help students refine their engineering reasoning, consider new ideas, and make novel connections between different ways of defining or solving a problem. These conversations can also help students expand their engineering thinking to include perspectives of care and socioethical deliberations. A team of classroom teachers and university researchers has been enacting and studying whole-class engineering design conversations—Design Talks—in first through sixth grade classrooms. We organize Design Talks in five genres: problem-scoping talks, idea generation talks, design-in- progress talks, design synthesis talks, and impact talks. After five years of planning, implementing, and analyzing recorded …

Fostering Psychological Ownership And Self-Authorship In Higher Education: Pathways To Student Engagement, Growth And Knowledge Creation, Noora Heino, Markku Ikävalko, Anssi Tarkiainen, Terhi Virkki-Hatakka

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores the intersection of psychological ownership (PO) and self-authorship (SA) in the context of university students’ project-based learning. It examines how students develop a sense of ownership over their course projects, ideas, and knowledge they create, and how this engagement shapes their learning, identity, and sense of self. The findings highlight the role of control and perceived idea quality in fostering psychological ownership, as well as the importance of intimate knowledge and perceived object quality in supporting self-authorship. The study underscores that when students feel connected to their ideas, their motivation, persistence, and engagement increase, especially in creativity-driven …

Orientation-Specific Surface Response Of Shot Peening In Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti-6al-4v Parts, Sivasubramanian Chandramouli, Michael S. Titus, Michael P. Sealy

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Critical aerospace components, such as turbine blades and landing gears, are increasingly produced using additive manufacturing (AM), especially laser-powder-bed-fusion (LPBF) due to its design flexibility. However, the inherent high surface roughness and tensile residual stresses in LPBF parts compromise performance and dimensional stability. Shot peening, a surface work-hardening process, is an effective post-processing solution.

The research objective is to understand the surface strengthening effect from grain refinement by inhomogeneous elastic-plastic deformation across surface orientations (0-90°) in AM parts. Peening parameters, specifically coverage and peening angle, are optimized to mitigate orientation-dependent surface properties in LPBF Ti64. Under optimized conditions, shot peening …

Tailoring Cathode Structure And Materials To Enable Fast Charging And Extended Lifespan In Li-S Batteries, Yuxuan Zhang, Yeongjun Oh, Sunghwan Lee

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

The practical implementation of Li–S batteries is limited by sluggish sulfur redox kinetics and inefficient ion transport in high-mass-loading cathodes, challenges that are further exacerbated under fast-charging and high-power operation. Conventional electrocatalyst-based strategies can partially suppress electrochemical polarization by lowering reaction energy barriers, yet they do not address concentration and ohmic polarizations, which dominate in thick electrodes. Here, we introduce a coupled material–architecture design that integrates electrocatalysts into a low-tortuosity, correlated dual-gradient electrode fabricated using programmable high-resolution stereolithography and pyrolysis-induced carbonization. By deliberately pairing a microscale pore-size gradient with a corresponding active-material gradient, the electrode synchronizes redox progression across its …

Optimal Anchor Placement For Cable-Driven Parallel Robots On Curved Surfaces, Lei Jin, Dongming Gan, Tarek Taha

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are increasingly used for inspection and maintenance on large curved surfaces where traditional planar anchor layouts fail. This work introduces a unified geodesic–optimization framework for determining optimal anchor configurations that ensure both static feasibility and dynamic efficiency. The method first models curved surfaces using local tangent-plane coordinates to compute cable directions accurately, then evaluates anchor candidates through linear-programming tension optimization. Dynamic simulations along representative motion paths—spiral, circular, and zigzag—quantify total cable energy for ranking feasible configurations. Results show that anchors raised above mid-latitude and symmetrically distributed around the workspace minimize both peak tension and total energy …

Modification Of Copper-Based Catalysts With Conductive Polymers For Co2 Conversion With High C2+ Selectivity, Minyoung Kim, Dong Hun Lee, Reilly Eiynck, Meredith Zannacker, Reese Resheske, Sujat Sen, Sunghwan Lee

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is abundant in our atmosphere, and its conversion to value-added using renewable electricity is currently an active area of investigation at both lab and commercial scale. Previous research has shown that copper-based catalysts can produce a wide range of hydrocarbons through the electrochemical reduction of CO2 under ambient conditions. Herein, we report on the modification of copper-based thin films as composite catalysts by depositing conductive polymers to improve the selectivity of CO2 conversion as well as surface stabilization. The copper layer was thermally evaporated onto PTFE substrates, showing a highly uniform film morphology and thickness with excellent …

Integrated Simulation Of Alloy Composition And Process Parameters For Fluidity Optimization In Hpdc Aluminum Alloys, Xin He, Xiaoming Wang

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Fluidity is a critical factor in high-pressure die casting (HPDC) of aluminum alloys, directly influencing mold filling behavior, defect formation, and the mechanical reliability of cast components. This study employs multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate how alloy composition, process parameters, and die conditions collectively affect molten metal flow and solidification dynamics. Key variables include viscosity, thermal conductivity, solidification range, pouring temperature, injection velocity, die geometry, and preheating temperature. Alloys with a narrow solidification range and lower thermal conductivity exhibit prolonged liquid-phase duration, which enhances flowability and reduces the risk of cold shuts and porosity. In contrast, increased …

Function-Adaptive Hulls: Reconfigurable Building Material For Multipurpose Unmanned Vehicles, Yubing Han, Brittany Newell, Richard Voyles

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This research presents a scalable building material for unmanned vehicles, inspired by origami principles and designed for adaptive functionality and stealth. Traditional fixed-shape vehicles face significant limitations in optimizing performance metrics such as velocity, payload capacity, and observability, often resulting in highly specialized designs that increase costs and resource consumption. To address the challenge, we introduce self-folding building material that incorporates pre-constructed creases, embedded actuation mechanisms, and location tags. The system utilizes electric rails organized on multiple levels, enabling switch modules to traverse internal channels and activate folding circuits with precision. A two-step folding process is demonstrated to reduce actuation …

From Outdoor Curiosity To Engineering Learning: Developing An Augmented Reality Module Grounded In Student Experiences, Mohammed Metwaly, Adel Elwakil, Selena Nadjarian, Farid El Breidi

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Engineering education often overlooks the formative influence of outdoor experiences in shaping students’ curiosity about how things work. This study examines how such experiences contribute to students’ interest in engineering and demonstrates how those insights can inform experiential learning tools. A mixed-methods survey was administered to 189 Mechanical Engineering Technology undergraduates, yielding 150 complete responses. The instrument combined Likert-scale items and open-ended prompts to capture demographics, nature affinity, formative outdoor activities, and connections between those experiences and engineering interest. Reliability testing confirmed strong internal consistency (α = 0.854; ω = 0.751). Nearly half of respondents (47%) identified outdoor experiences as …

Edge Ai-Enabled Vagus Nerve Analysis For Adaptive Neuromodulation In Diabetes, Saeka Rahman, Reepa Saha, Md Motiur Rahman, Ardavan Vakil, Hope Teng, Muhammad Arafin Khan, Benjamin Larimer, Rita Basu, Andy Basu, Amy Warriner, Miad Faezipour, S. Abdollah Mirbozorgi

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Comprehending the neural mechanisms underlying Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is critical to developing next generation bioelectronic therapies. This work-in-progress presents a novel neural interface that integrates edge artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and flexible implantable electronics to record, analyze, and modulate vagus nerve activity in real time for potential diabetes treatment and reversal. The proposed system combines low-power, semi-analog signal processing with embedded AI/ML algorithms capable of performing on-chip feature extraction and classification of neural signals under stringent power and communication constraints. By leveraging edge-based learning, the platform will enable adaptive neuromodulation of vagus nerve activity, providing a closed-loop …

Ai-Powered Pacifier With Intraoral Sound Analysis For Neonatal Pulmonary Monitoring, Shiva Shokouhmand, Md Motiur Rahman, Saeka Rahman, Indya Mooney, Guoliang Zhang, Smriti Bhatt, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Colm P. Travers, S. Abdollah Mirbozorgi, Miad Faezipour

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Respiratory monitoring in neonates remains a clinical challenge due to the limitations of existing pulmonary function assessment tools and the infant’s delicate physiology. This work-in-progress presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven framework for intraoral respiratory analysis using a smart pacifier platform that integrates acoustic sensing, embedded electronics, and deep learning. The proposed AI model is based upon a deep convolutional neural network that processes intraoral breathing sound reflections passively, or in presence of active sound stimuli. By learning complex temporal-spectral features from the breathing sound signals, the AI model will estimate key cardiorespiratory measures (e.g., respiratory rate, lung capacity) and the …

Adaptive Droop Control Gain Tuning Of Grid-Forming Inverters For Stability Enhancement Of Diesel-Plus-Battery Islanded Microgrids, Ram Shankar Yallamilli, Xiaonan Lu

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This paper presents an adaptive gain tuning approach to enhance frequency stability in islanded microgrids consisting of diesel generators and grid-forming (GFM) inverters. Although GFM inverters provide voltage and frequency regulation capabilities, their interaction with diesel generators can introduce dynamic challenges such as reduced system inertia and frequency deviations during load transients. Existing studies have focused on small-signal modeling and damping methods but often overlook data-driven techniques for improving transient stability under varying diesel-to-GFM power ratios and inverter droop settings. To address this gap, this work investigates frequency stability behavior across different diesel and inverter power rating ratios and analyzes …

College Student Perceptions Of Ai Teaching Assistants: Bridging Technology And Human Connection For Effective Learning Support, Sarah Steimel

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study examines college students’ perceptions of AI Teaching Assistants (AITAs) in higher education, focusing on their communication experiences and expectations. Using qualitative data from (n=89) open-ended survey responses, six key themes emerged, spanning differences in information processing, social interaction, and task efficiency. Students appreciated AITAs for their speed, availability, and potential to provide unbiased feedback, yet expressed concerns about accuracy and trustworthiness. While AITAs were seen as approachable for simple or low-stakes inquiries, students emphasized the importance of human instructors for complex, nuanced, or emotional support. The findings highlight a preference for maintaining human connections in education while leveraging …

Humane Genetics Curriculum (Hgc) Student Materials Lesson 1, Phillip Keck, Brian Donovan, Monica Weindling, Andrew Brubaker, Robbee Wedow

Humane Genetics Curriculum

In this lesson of the Humane Genetics Curriculum (HGC), students figure out: Racial disparities exist in representation in the NFL and STEM, and there are different possible explanations for why these disparities exist.

Humane Genetics Curriculum (Hgc) Teacher Materials, Phillip Keck, Brian Donovan, Monica Weindling, Andrew Brubaker, Robbee Wedow

Humane Genetics Curriculum

These are the comprehensive teacher materials for the Humane Genetics Curriculum (HGC). The materials include an overview of the unit, connections to aligned NGSS standards, and detailed instructions and guidance for implementing each lesson of this curriculum in your classroom.

After A Wildfire: Considerations For Building Environmental Testing, Andrew J. Whelton, E. Bollens, C. Ferrarezzi

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Planting Forest Trees And Shrubs In Indiana, Ron Rathfon, Douglass Jacobs, Lenny Farlee

Purdue Extension Numbered Publications

Discover the essential guide for anyone looking to plant forest trees or shrubs in Indiana. Whether you're a first‑time landowner or an experienced conservationist, Planting Forest Trees and Shrubs in Indiana walks you through the 10 proven steps for establishing healthy, resilient plantings that thrive for generations. From choosing the right species to preparing your site, planting with confidence and ensuring long‑term success, this publication distills expert forestry knowledge into clear, practical advice.

Efficiency Evaluation Of Different Methods For Nitrogen Removal In Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants: An Integrative Review, Cristiane G. Ferrarezzi, Juliana Canto Duarte

The School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering (SEE) Graduate Student Publications

Domestic wastewaters present high nitrogen levels due to the urea and ammonia, which are excreted into urine. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) normally face some challenges in keeping their treated wastewater at a low total nitrogen concentration, since the majority of their wastewater is domestic. Low nitrogen levels in the treated wastewater are important to avoid increasing eutrophication of the receptor body, which receives the treated wastewater. This work presents an integrative review considering studies related to denitrification in domestic WWTPs published from January 1st, 2018, to April 30th, 2023. This review aims to identify the most effective methods for …

A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, And Threats (Swot) Analysis Of Chatgpt In Academic Help-Seeking, Fan Yang

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores the use of ChatGPT as a help-seeking tool in educational contexts, examining both its potential benefits and costs through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various internal and external factors that either promote or hinder the use of ChatGPT for academic help-seeking. The strengths of ChatGPT, such as its 24/7 availability to provide immediate responses, non-judgmental tone, and the ability to provide personalized help based on specific prompts, position itself as a valuable resource for help-seekers. However, the low quality of the responses generated by …

Statistical Analysis Of Log Transformation Effectiveness In Air Traffic Movement Forecasting During Covid-19 In South Africa, John Lehlaka Masekoameng

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study evaluates the effectiveness of log transformation in enhancing multiple regression models used to forecast air traffic movements (ATMs) in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using 60 monthly observations from October 2016 to September 2021, the analysis incorporates variables such as revenue, lockdown levels, COVID-19 metrics, exchange rates, gross domestic product, and population. Two models are compared: one using raw ATMs and another with log-transformed ATMs as the dependent variable.

While the untransformed model shows stronger explanatory power (R² = 0.904, adjusted R² = 0.891) compared to the log-transformed model (R² = 0.772, adjusted R² = 0.741), the …

Climate Change Impact On Cooling Energy Demand Of Major Airports In Nigeria, Abdullah C. Salihu, Yahaya Z. Ibrahim, Rukayyat Abdulkarim, Emmanuel I. Aruya

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Rising global temperatures due to climate change are intensifying the cooling energy demands of critical infrastructure, including airports. This study assesses the impact of climate change on the cooling energy needs of five major international airports in Nigeria (Abuja, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt) using cooling degree days (CDDs) derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) multi-model ensemble climate projections. Monthly and annual CDD calculated with a base temperature of 18°C were obtained from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP) at a spatial resolution of 25 km × 25 km. Percentage changes in CDD were analyzed …

Advanced Qualification Program Assessments In Aviation Higher Education: A Theoretical Framework, Jorge L. D. Albelo Ph.D., Victor M. Fraticelli Rivera Ph.D.

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study investigates the integration of an Advanced Qualification Program (AQP)-centered approach into aviation higher education, aiming to refine assessment methods and enhance the educational experience of future aviation professionals. Guided by research questions exploring the strengths, limitations, key characteristics, and potential improvements of AQP-centered assessments, the study reveals a strong consensus among students and faculty. The AQP model, traditionally an alternative to conventional pilot training under 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135, offers a structured, industry-relevant framework emphasizing clear evaluation processes, multilevel knowledge and skill assessments, and high academic performance. Findings indicate that effective AQP assessments balance theoretical knowledge, …

Integrating Human Factors, Technology, And Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Framework For Aviation Maintenance Safety In The Philippines, Arthur Dela Peña

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

A complex interaction of human factors, mental health, organizational dynamics, and emerging technologies influences aviation maintenance safety in the Philippines. This study aims to develop an integrated framework to address these aspects and reduce maintenance-related errors. Using a mixed-methods approach based on Creswell’s pragmatic paradigm, the research surveyed 200 participants, including aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs), supervisors, and managers, and conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups. Quantitative analysis revealed that fatigue was a significant contributor to maintenance errors, accounting for 45% of recorded incidents and exhibiting a strong correlation with error rates (r = 0.71, p = 0.005). Incorporating human factors …

Exploring The Reduction Of Runway Incursions Through Training, Vasilios (Billy) Constaintine Metallinos

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Runway incursions are prevalent aviation safety issues that result in adverse outcomes. The focus of this qualitative case study was exploring the reduction of runway incursions through training for pilots. Applying social cognitive theory (SCT) provided this study with a theoretical underpinning. Conducting interviews and a focus group with 17 participants allowed for the collection of enough data and resulted in identifying the importance of training in preventing runway incursions. Based on the thematic analysis conducted, it was identified that evidence-based, scenario-based, and continuous training can be used to reduce runway incursions caused by pilot deviations. The results contribute to …

Effects Of Student Response System In University Foundation Courses – Excerpts From A Doctoral Study, Grace M. Tuttle

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This paper is an excerpt on the author's doctoral study titled “Effects of Student Response System in University Foundations (UF) Courses.” This quasi-quantitative study explored the effects of iClicker technology on students’ academic performance based on final course grades, participation, and attendance in university foundation courses. This study evaluated data from 7,812 participants between spring 2017 to autumn 2019. The logistic regression analysis showed that for students in the clicker group, the odds of earning a final grade of A or B increased by a factor of 1.28 for each one standard deviation increase in participation z-score, controlling for other …

Enhancing Creativity Through Systematic Teaching: A Case Study In Management Education, Uri Sternberg, Sarit Moldovan

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This article presents a case study of an innovative teaching approach within an MBA course titled “Systematic Creative Thinking.” It demonstrates how the course applies the creativity principles it teaches to its own instructional design, embodying theory in practice. By utilizing ideation templates such as the Multiplication and Division, the course incorporates diverse teaching methodologies, including flipped classrooms, multimedia resources, and experiential group activities. This design fosters student engagement by addressing varied learning preferences and encouraging active participation. Qualitative and quantitative evidence indicate increased student satisfaction, improved performance, and deeper understanding, achieved through the synergy of theoretical instruction and …