Digital Commons Network^™

A Practical Digital Twin Framework For Safe Human-Robot Collaboration In Resilient In-House Manufacturing, Harshkumar K. Parmar, Shivakumar Raman

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Recent supply-chain disruptions and growing interest in domestic production have renewed attention to in-house manufacturing systems that are flexible, practical, and easier to deploy. Human-robot collaboration (HRC) is a promising option in such settings because it combines human adaptability and judgment with robotic precision and repeatability [1], [2]. Still, broader use of HRC in smaller or resource-constrained manufacturing environments is often limited by safety concerns, coordination challenges, and the cost and complexity of implementation. This paper presents a practical digital twin framework for safe human-robot collaboration in resilient in-house manufacturing. The contribution of the paper is not a generic three-layer …

Experimental Methods For Characterizing Interfaces In Multi-Material Adhesive Joints, Kevin L. Cloherty, Drupad Kadiyala Bhavani, Dante P. Stigliano, Alexander H. Krueger, Christopher J. Hansen, Amy M. Peterson, Alireza V. Amirkhizi

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Multi-material systems bonded with adhesives are increasingly used in engineering due to their design flexibility and performance. To fully optimize these systems, it is essential to characterize their interfacial properties accurately. However, standardized methods to characterize interfacial properties under pure stress states, especially in dissimilar material joints, are limited. This study presents a framework using modified poker-chip and hat-shaped specimens to promote dominant normal and shear adhesion behavior in polymer-ceramic systems. Custom fixtures were designed to reduce material use and maintain uniform adhesive thickness during sample preparation. Preliminary results demonstrate dominant mode-specific interfacial properties for various multi-material and adhesive configurations. …

Experimental Investigation Of Thermal States In Polymer–Ceramic Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing, Jagadeesh Reddy Kanuboddu, Amy Peterson, Alireza Amirkhizi, Christopher J. Hansen

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Polymer–ceramic multi-material additive manufacturing (MMAM) offers opportunities to combine the complementary properties of polymers and ceramics within a single structure. However, integration of these materials remains challenging because ceramic processing temperatures greatly exceed those tolerated by most polymers, creating the risk of melting or thermal degradation during adjacent ceramic processing. This challenge is particularly important when laser-based ceramic processing is performed in proximity to polymer additive manufacturing processes, including applications involving ceramic powder bed fusion. Understanding transient heat transfer from laser-heated ceramic regions to neighbouring polymer structures is therefore important for the development of practical polymer–ceramic MMAM approaches. Previous thermal …

Thermal Analysis And Fabrication Of Polyelectrolyte-Ceramic Composites, Rajeswari Das, Amy M. Peterson, Christopher Hansen, Alireza Amirkhizi

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are a versatile class of macromolecular assemblies that are formed by mixing two oppositely charged polyelectrolyte solutions. Because of their tunable properties, PECs have attracted significant interest for applications in tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems and underwater adhesives. In this study, PECs were formed by combining a strong polycation (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDADMAC) with a strong polyanion (poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), PSS) and were further reinforced with alumina to produce composite materials. The effects of salt concentration and ceramic filler incorporation were investigated as the primary experimental variables. Alumina was chosen as the reinforcing phase because of its established …

Convergent Manufacturing Of Smart Metallic Structures, Jinhan Ren, Shinan Huang, Sazedur Rahman, Fotis Kopsaftopoulos, Johnson Samuel, Semih Akin

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Smart Metallic Structures (SMS) featuring embedded sensing capabilities have gained significant attention for mission-critical applications. Despite the growing importance of this emerging field, achieving reliable and efficient fabrication of SMS remains a challenge. This study presents a convergent manufacturing pathway for producing smart structures with integrated sensing capabilities. By leveraging Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) as the primary additive process and combining it with complementary subtractive machining, sensor embedding, and metallization techniques, the developed approach enables the fabrication of multifunctional metallic components tailored for advanced structural monitoring SHM). To demonstrate this concept, a structural beam made of Al-5356 was designed to …

Active Cooling Of Polymer-Ceramic Interfaces In Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing, Olorunfemi J. Esan, Christopher Hansen, Alireza Amirkhizi, Ian M. Mcaninch, Stephen R. Cluff, Pauline M. Smith, Amy Peterson

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Multi-material additive manufacturing (MMAM) enables the fabrication of components with tailored properties and functionalities. However, integrating dissimilar materials such as polymers and ceramics remains challenging due to their widely differing processing temperatures. In this work, we modeled the integrated processing of polymer-ceramic systems and investigated active cooling strategies to preserve the polymeric component. The modeled MMAM approach consists of laser fusion (not necessarily powder bed) of both the polymer and the ceramic. A physical gap was designed between the two materials, and nitrogen gas flow at pressures ranging from 0.5 to 2 psi was introduced into the gap. The results …

Robust And Accurate Pose Estimation For In-Space Robotic Manufacturing Under Challenging Lighting Conditions, Abhay Negi, Rudranarayan Mukherjee, Satyandra K. Gupta

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Visual 6D object pose estimation is a critical capability in modern robotics and computer vision. This is most commonly achieved by exploiting an object's identifiable features and known geometry. While classical computer vision algorithms  perform reliably under controlled conditions, they are sensitive to common real-world degradations such as occlusion and adverse illumination. This paper presents a framework for robust and accurate pose estimation that combines deep learning and classical algorithms. Our approach features a U-Net-based segmentation model and a MobileNetV3-based keypoint regression network, both trained entirely on synthetic data with extensive domain randomization. An iterative PnP refinement further enhances accuracy …

Low-Cost Agile Tooling For Stamping Metallic And Composite Sheets Using A Hybrid 3d-Printed Composite Shell And A Core, Alireza Zarei, Koorosh Delavari, Mostafa Elnaggar, Madhura Athale, Taejoon Park, Farhang Pourboghrat, Srikanth Pilla

MMRL-XMO Industrial Seminar

Conventional sheet metal and composite stamping depends on machined steel dies that are expensive and slow to produce, limiting their practicality for prototyping and low-volume manufacturing. This study presents a low-cost agile tooling (LCAT) strategy that integrates a 3D-printed polymer composite shell with a concrete core. Tool shells were fabricated using FDM method with polyamide 12 thermoplastic filament reinforced with 35 wt% chopped carbon fiber. The workflow included 3D printing, machining test coupons, mechanical characterization, constitutive model development, finite element simulation, and stamping trials. Results show that the new composite tool design offers better performance and lower cost than fully …

Effects Of Human-Animal Interaction On Positive Youth Development: A Replication Study, Allison Pachunka, Jay Jeffries, Lisa Karr, Lena Luck, Bryan A. Reiling, Douglas H. Schultz, Jeffrey R. Stevens

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Interacting with animals can improve health and well-being across the lifespan. Some programs such as 4-H and FFA center around youth interacting with animals, potentially enhancing youth development. Mueller (2014) investigated whether these interactions and attitudes about animals influenced measures of positive youth development. The aim of our studies was to replicate Mueller’s methods and extend her work by evaluating whether membership in animal-focused youth programs moderate associations between interactions, attitudes, and positive youth development. We did not find strong relationships among human–animal inter-action and positive youth development, which failed to replicate Mueller’s findings. However, we did find relationships between …

Using Hip Hop Pedagogy To Bridge The Culture Of Black Children Identified With Behavioral Disorders In The Curriculum, Monique Matute-Chavarria, Pricella Morris, Monica R. Brown

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Black and other minoritized children have listened to hip hop in the streets, in clubs, in basements, and anywhere else that they could create a space to enjoy this art form. However, hip hop has not always been welcomed in school spaces because of the lyrical content. Despite the objections to hip hop (specifically rap), minoritized children often look to it as representative of who they are and the communities they come from. Therefore, in this paper, we propose the use of hip hop strategies in the schools, utilizing its pillars (i.e., rap, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti art, and knowledge of …

Ábreme La Puerta Y Entraré: Utilizing Hip Hop Pedagogy To Build Community For English Learners With Disabilities, Ebony Nicole Perez, Georgina Rivera-Singletary

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

English Language Learners (ELL) with disabilities face complex educational experiences due to their limited English-speaking ability, coupled with their unique learning challenges. Often, they are viewed from a deficit rather than an asset perspective, leading them to feelings of isolation and marginalization. Providing opportunities to engage in transformative learning experiences, ELL students with disabilities can experience a sense of belonging and empowerment in educational endeavors. Hip-hop can offer dynamic opportunities for ELL students with disabilities by creating an inclusive, affirming space that validates diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Through Hip-hop cyphers, rap battles, and collaborative songwriting, students can grasp new …

Flows That Teach: Multimodal Hip-Hop Pedagogy For Equity In Special Education, Camille O'Quin, Sara Jozwik

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Hip-Hop can be more than a soundtrack played at home, it can be a bridge between culture, language, and learning at school. This article shows how Hip-Hop pedagogy, translanguaging, and code-meshing can support students with disabilities, especially those who speak African American Vernacular English (AAVE), in the classroom setting. Grounded in culturally relevant pedagogy and translanguaging theory, the approach uses rhythm, storytelling, and performance to build narrative fluency, language awareness, and confidence. Examples include students drafting rap verses about personal experiences, holding structured cypher circles to practice turn-taking and self-expression, and blending AAVE with Mainstream American English in writing for …

Jase 6.2 Front Matter

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

No abstract provided.

Jase 6.2 Table Of Contents

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

No abstract provided.

Focus Daily: Jase Special Issue On Hip-Hop, Disability, And The Continuing Evolution Of Arts-Based Pedagogy In Special Education (Side B), Jonte C. Taylor

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Hip-hop has long served as an educational tradition, emerging from the Bronx as a cultural response to systemic inequities that fostered identity, critical consciousness, creativity, and community through its core elements of emceeing, DJing, breaking, graffiti, and knowledge of self. In this second special hip-hop issue of the Journal of the Arts in Special Education (JASE) and building on the initial 2025 JASE special issue, this collection advances hip-hop pedagogy beyond an engagement strategy by positioning it as a culturally inclusive framework that supports academic achievement, identity affirmation, and meaningful participation for students with disabilities. The contributing scholars explore how …

We Are All In This Together Now: Exploring Community Based Partnerships Focusing On Hip-Hop Based Education, William C. Hunter, Tarol Page Clements, Gregory Washington

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

This article explores a community-based collaborative partnership between three Hip-Hop educational nonprofits, Upward Light Community Cyphers, Project STAND (Social-Emotional, Transition, Academic and Network Developing), and the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development (CAYD), all focused on mental health support for youth, and a public-school program that has serves students with and without exceptionalities. The goal shared by all organizations involved is enhanced educational access and engagement for students with and without exceptionalities. Rooted in the core elements of Hip-Hop — emceeing, DJing/music production, breakdancing, and graffiti art, the collaborative partnership has offered culturally sustaining, arts-integrated instruction that supports both …

Developing Flow Theory For Black Girl Genius: A Conceptual Framework Grounded In Discrit, Endarkened Feminist Epistemology, And Hip-Hop Pedagogy, Keishana L. Barnes, William C. Hunter

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Twice exceptional Black girls, those who are both intellectually gifted and identified with a disability, navigate classrooms shaped by racism, ableism, and sexism. These overlapping systems often render their brilliance illegible, leading to misidentification, exclusion, and under-support in both gifted and special education. This conceptual essay introduces Flow Theory for Black Girl Genius, a liberatory framework that considers Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), Endarkened Feminist Epistemology, and Hip-Hop Pedagogy. DisCrit helps uncover the structural barriers that marginalize students at the intersection of race and disability. Endarkened Feminist Epistemology centers ancestral, embodied, and spiritual ways of knowing rooted in Black …

Journal Of The Arts And Special Education: Volume 6, Issue 2

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Using Hip-Hop Song Lyrics During Instruction For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Jonte C. Taylor, Millie Rodriguez

Journal of the Arts and Special Education

Hip-hop pedagogy has emerged as a culturally responsive instructional framework designed to increase student engagement, identity affirmation, and academic achievement by incorporating elements of hip-hop culture into classroom instruction. Despite growing interest in hip-hop-based education, limited empirical research has examined its effectiveness for students with disabilities, particularly students identified with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). This study investigated the effects of using hip-hop song lyrics during English language arts instruction to teach literary devices to three secondary students with EBD using a single-case multiple-baseline-across-participants probe design. Three comparison students receiving traditional textbook-based instruction were also included. Dependent variables included instructional …

Neurodivergent Peer Tutoring And Anti-Ableism: Two High Schoolers’ Lived Experiences While Working In A Neurodiversity-Based Writing Center, Daniel S. Harrison

The Writing Center Journal

Neurodivergence is naturally present in the writing center and most often recognized by labels like ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, and so on. However, neurodivergent voices in writing center scholarship have been few and far between in postsecondary institutions (Babcock, 2017; Batt, 2018; Kleinfeld, 2023), and in the secondary writing center even less so. Therefore, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the personal, relational, and formative aspects of the lived experiences of two neurodivergent students through a critical disability theory lens as they provided writing consultations to their neurodivergent peers in a Mid-Atlantic, independent special education school. …

Benchmarking Success: Insights From A Formal Assessment Of A Writing Fellows Program, Ghada Gherwash, Aaron Mills

The Writing Center Journal

This article reports on the first formal assessment of the Writing Fellows program at Colby College’s Farnham Writers’ Center, established in 2008. Unlike previous assessments at other institutions focused on perception or implementation, our assessment aimed to harness the potential of an already successful program. The creation of the Writing Fellows coordinator role and the implementation of intentional improvements resulted in a 99% increase in utilization rate in the 2022–2023 academic year. Our findings underscore the program’s significant impact of these interventions on student writing, faculty perceptions of academic support, and the writing center’s overall campus outreach efforts.

Front Matter

The Writing Center Journal

Front matter for The Writing Center Journal 44:1 (2026).

Back Matter

The Writing Center Journal

Back Matter for Writing Center Journal 44.1.(2026)

Convenience And Communication: Students’ Experiences In Synchronous Online, In-Person, And Asynchronous Consultations, Carolyn Wisniewski

The Writing Center Journal

Writing center tutorial modalities have proliferated in recent years, yet research has not kept pace. Students’ experiences in online writing tutorials remain understudied (Denton, 2017; Hewett & DePew, 2015). Better understanding students’ experiences across session modalities is critical to achieving an inclusive and accessible writing center (Martinez & Olsen, 2015). This study used a mixed-methods, comparative design to determine how students selected, experienced, and perceived the accessibility of synchronous online, in-person, and asynchronous modalities. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 138 surveys and 22 interviews indicated students perceived each modality to provide effective writing support. They report selecting tutorial modality based …

Editors' Note, Sherry Wynn Perdue, Isaac K. Wang, Georganne Nordstrom

The Writing Center Journal

Editors' note for Writing Center Journal 44.1 (2026).

“We Are Writers At The End Of The Day”: Institutional Support, Accountability, And Community In Writing Groups For Faculty Of Color, María P. Carvajal Regidor

The Writing Center Journal

This article provides insight into how an accountability writing group for faculty of color supports faculty writers. It argues that targeted programming for faculty of color can serve as a modest anti-racist intervention into the white supremacist structures that often harm BIPOC faculty and their success in academia. Examining interview, survey, and registration data from a writing group for faculty of color, the article shows how the writing group functions as a counterspace, enabling participants not only to spend more time on their writing but to bring their full selves into an academic space and to form community. The article …

The Self-Identified Strategies Of Asynchronous Writing Tutors, Eric C. Camarillo

The Writing Center Journal

This study explores the self-identified strategies of asynchronous writing tutors, focusing on how they provide feedback in an online environment. The research addresses the underexplored area of asynchronous writing tutoring, which is often marginalized due to its perceived lack of interpersonal interaction. Through semi-structured interviews and screen recordings of seven writing tutors from three different institutions, the study identifies key strategies employed by tutors. These strategies include managing workloads, relying on intuition, building rapport with students, and seeking support from other tutors. The findings highlight the complexity and labor-intensive nature of asynchronous tutoring, emphasizing the need for thoughtful evaluation and …

“Like Learning To Play Chess”: Relationality And The Development Of Interpersonal Communication Skills In Writing Center Consultants, Kara Poe Alexander

The Writing Center Journal

This study explores how writing center consultants develop interpersonal communication (IPC) skills through relational interactions during peer tutoring sessions. Grounded in the theoretical framework of relationality, which views learning as emerging through relationships, I analyze interviews with undergraduate and graduate consultants at a private R1 university. The findings demonstrate that one-on- one conferences foster a broad spectrum of IPC skills, including adaptability, listening, intercultural communication, asking questions, building rapport, giving constructive criticism, setting boundaries, empathizing, and patience. The development of these knowledge and skills is cultivated through collaborative, meaning-making interactions with writers. As such, writing centers emerge as dynamic, relationship-driven …

Vertical Alignment As A Systemic Strategy For Sustaining Workforce-Aligned K–12 Engineering Initiatives: A Collective Case Study Of District-Wide Microelectronics Integration, Greg J. Strimel, Victoria Constantine, Deana Lucas, Emily Haluschak, Yubin Lee, Morgan Hynes, Selcen Guzey, Tamara J. Moore

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Background

In response to the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, a K–12 workforce development initiative was launched to embed microelectronics education across US school districts. To promote sustainability, the initiative employed a district-wide vertical alignment strategy that progressively integrates microelectronics content and engineering-related career experiences from kindergarten through high school. While vertical alignment is often used for curriculum planning, its broader potential as a systems-level strategy remains underexplored.

Purpose

This study investigated how vertical alignment functions within a K–12 engineering workforce development initiative, focusing on enablers/barriers toward expanding and sustaining integration efforts. The research questions addressed stakeholder experiences with the …

Transmogrifying Coding Into A Social Studies Technology Tool: Using Participatory Design With Engineers And Social Studies Educators To Design Data Visualization Tools For Social Studies Data Literacy Education, Bahare Naimipour, Jessica Zhang, Tamara Shreiner, Mark Guzdial

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

Our work aims to inform, design, and create data visualization tools that are meant to be integrated specifically into social studies classes. In this essay we discuss the use of participatory design methods to learn what social studies teachers (both pre-service and in-service) want in their classrooms and test the usability of real tools with these participants. Through this approach we iteratively engage our users, and they inform the design and development of learning tools for the learning and instruction of social studies data literacy. Using a social construction of technology lens, we describe the scaffolding embedded in our tools …