Digital Commons Network^™

Creating And Implementing An Inclusive Metadata Policy, Nicole Lewis, Jeremy Myntti

Faculty Publications

The BYU Library developed an Inclusive Metadata Policy for metadata creators to use when creating and remediating descriptions to be more inclusive. Accompanying the policy is a companion document with recommendations and examples, including links to many external resources. In addition to working with stakeholders in the library to develop the policy, we consulted with the University’s Office of Belonging. This presentation will describe the process we used to create the library policy and recommendations document and share information about how the policy has been implemented.

Artificial Intelligence In Educational Research And Scholarship: Seven Framings, Eamon Costello, Giselle Ferreira, Stefan Hrastinski, Jason K. Mcdonald, Ahmed Tlili, George Veletsianos, Victoria I. Marin, Henk Huijser, Sharon Altena

Faculty Publications

In a recent interview (Bender et al., 2025), Professor Emily M. Bender discussed the limitations of technical solutions in addressing harmful Artificial Intelligence (AI) bias. She described a particular point we may reach at which technical solutions stop working, and when we should then widen the lens to ask about the problem framing itself. This is a crucial step in any inquiry that is of concern to both novice and experienced researchers alike: moving from problem-solving to problematisation. This commentary aims to provide educational researchers with a glimpse into the wide array of research problems and problematisation of AI in …

Origami Folding Pattern Development For Gossamer 18 Structures, Larry L. Howell, Ivy Running, Carolina Wright, Robert J. Lang, Spencer Magleby

Faculty Publications

Gossamer structures for satellites are large, thin deployable structures that are attractive for space applications because they can be stowed compactly for transportation and deployed to have large functional surface areas. Reflectarray antennas, in particular, are candidates for gossamer structures because they can be realized on thin membranes. However, the efficiency of reflectarray antennas decreases with any deviations from a flat plane, including those induced by plastically deformed creases. Rolling membranes can prevent some plastic deformation, but requires relative slipping between layers that are rolled together. In this work, we describe, analyze, and demonstrate two rolled configurations for deployable gossamer …

Mill Power Consumption And Fuel Particle Size Distribution While Co-Milling Bituminous Coal With Steam-Exploded Woody Biomass In A Conventional Bowl Mill, Brian Schoof, Rajarshi Roy, Regan Kuttler, Parker Latour, Scott Montgomery, Jacob Tuttle, Gwendolyn Bennett Bennett, Brian D. Iverson, Andrew Fry

Faculty Publications

The mill behavior of a 312 Combustion Engineering Raymond Bowl Mill was studied with five blends of Utah bituminous coal and steam-exploded woody biomass, ranging from 100 % coal to 100 % biomass. Mill power consumption increased with biomass content, peaking at 187 % of the power required for 100 % coal before the mill faulted at 100 % biomass. After repositioning the rollers, power consumption for 100 % biomass decreased by 13 % compared to 100 % coal. SEM images revealed that milled biomass particles were non-spherical, indicating some fibrous structure remained post steam-explosion. The particle size distribution (PSD) …

Drop Dynamics During Condensation On Superhydrophobic Surfaces In Vapor Shear Flow, Shaur Humayun, R. Daniel Maynes, Julie Crockett, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

Accurate models for predicting drop dynamics, such as maximum drop departure sizes, are crucial for estimating heat transfer rates during condensation on superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces. Previous studies have focused on examining the heat transfer rates for SH surfaces under the influence of gravity or vapor flowing over the surface. This study investigates the impact of surface solid fraction and texture scale on drop mobility in a condensing environment with a humid air flow. Experiments recorded condensation with varying surface feature sizes from micro- to nano scale under different flow rates. Video analysis detected the drop-size distribution and maximum drop departure …

Internally Stowed, Radially Deployed Radiator Panels For Passive Cubesat Thermal Control, Josh R. Cannon, Kyle N. Havey, Noah S. Housley, Rydge B. Mulford, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

CubeSats experience significant thermal loads due to solar irradiation and the dissipation from electrical components. The high heat dissipation per unit volume can lead to mission failure if not properly managed. Deployable radiators that are externally stowed and passively actuated in response to changes in CubeSat temperature have been explored as a viable solution. This work describes a radially deployed fin array that is stowed within the CubeSat body when the required heat dissipation is low and passively deploys when the required heat dissipation is high. Internal stowage improves thermal transport to the deployable fins and minimizes heat loss when …

Effects Of Interventions For The Prevention And Management Of Maternal Anemia In The Advent Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, John Kyalo Muthuka, Diana Kageni Mbari-Fondo, Francis Muchiri Wambura, Kelly Oluoch, Japheth Mativo Nzioki, Everlyn Musanga Nyamar, Rosemary Nabaweesi

Faculty Publications

Background:The COVID-19 pandemic presented many unknowns for pregnant women, with anemia potentially worsening pregnancy outcomes due to multiple factors.

Objective:This review aimed to determine the pooled effect of maternal anemia interventions and associated factors during the pandemic.

Methods:Eligible studies were observational and included reproductive-age women receiving anemia-related interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exclusion criteria comprised non-English publications, reviews, editorials, case reports, studies with insufficient data, sample sizes below 50, and those lacking DOIs. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified articles published between December 2019 and August 2022. Risk of bias was evaluated …

Generative Ai Applied To Aac For Aphasia: A Pilot Study Of Aphasia-Gpt, Dallin J. Bailey, Francesca Herget, Derek Hansen, Forrest Burton, Grant Pitt, Tyson Harmon, David Wingate

Faculty Publications

Background

People with aphasia may be supported by augmentative and alternative communication systems, but further development is necessary to improve the communication support such systems provide. Advances in artificial intelligence methods of natural language processing may provide improved support for people with aphasia, but development and testing involving people with aphasia is critical.

Aims

The purpose of the study is to describe the development and pilot testing of a new AAC system for people with aphasia, a mobile web app named Aphasia-GPT.

Methods & Procedures

Aphasia-GPT is specifically designed to receive spoken input from a user with aphasia; it then …

Is Increased Mutation Driving Genetic Diversity In Dogs Within The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone?, Megan N. Dillon, Allison N. Dickey, Reade B. Roberts, Jennifer A. Betz, Timothy Mousseau, Norman J. Kleiman, Matthew Breen

Faculty Publications

Environmental contamination can have lasting impacts on surrounding communities, though the long-term impacts can be difficult to ascertain. The disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 and subsequent remediation efforts resulted in contamination of the local environment with radioactive material, heavy metals, and additional environmental toxicants. Many of these are mutagenic in nature, and the full effect of these exposures on local flora and fauna has yet to be understood. Several hundred free-roaming dogs occupy the contaminated area surrounding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and previous studies have highlighted a striking level of genetic differentiation between two geographically …

Is Increased Mutation Driving Genetic Diversity In Dogs Within The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone?, Megan N. Dillon, Allison N. Dickey, Reade B. Roberts, Jennifer A. Betz, Timothy Mousseau, Norman J. Kleiman, Matthew Breen

Faculty Publications

Environmental contamination can have lasting impacts on surrounding communities, though the long-term impacts can be difficult to ascertain. The disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 and subsequent remediation efforts resulted in contamination of the local environment with radioactive material, heavy metals, and additional environmental toxicants. Many of these are mutagenic in nature, and the full effect of these exposures on local flora and fauna has yet to be understood. Several hundred free-roaming dogs occupy the contaminated area surrounding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and previous studies have highlighted a striking level of genetic differentiation between two geographically …

Editorial: Artificial Intelligence For Smart Health: Learning, Simulation, And Optimization, Bing Yao, Nathan Gaw, Hyo Kyung Lee

Faculty Publications

With rapid developments in medical sensing and imaging, we now live in an era of data explosion in which large amounts of data are readily available in clinical environments. The fast-growing biomedical and healthcare data provide unprecedented opportunities for data-driven scientific knowledge discovery and clinical decision support. Our Research Topic aims to catalyze synergies among biomedical informatics, machine learning, computer simulation, operations research, systems engineering, and other related fields with three specific goals: (1) develop cutting-edge data-driven models to accelerate scientific knowledge discovery in biomedicine using healthcare data collected from laboratory systems, imaging systems, and medical and sensing devices; (2) …

Editorial: Infrastructure Maintenance And Monitoring For Sustainable Cities, Yonas Kassa, Saeed Eftekhar Azam, Deepak Khazanchi, Brian Ricks

Faculty Publications

As cities continue to grow and evolve, maintaining and monitoring their infrastructure becomes an 2 increasingly challenging problem, requiring multidisciplinary approaches. This problem is as critical for 3 developing countries that are rapidly building their infrastructure (Gurara et al., 2018Ede et al., 2019) 4 as it is for already developed countries with aging infrastructure (Van Breugel, 2017). Researchers have 14 Such developments can also be integrated into digital twinning-a technology approach that creates 15 virtual replicas of physical infrastructure elements, systems, and cities-that offers a dynamic framework 16 for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance through data integration and simulation. The …

Evaluation Of Impact Energy In Composites Using Acoustic Emission Sensing Technique, Li Ai, Tanner Mesaric, Sydney Flowers, Sydney Houck, Joshua Widawsky, Paul Ziehl

Faculty Publications

A major challenge faced by composite materials is impact, which can result in unexpected damage and degradation. Impact events can cause significant structural damage that may not be immediately visible, leading to a reduction in the material’s mechanical properties and overall performance. This paper presents an impact assessment method using acoustic emission (AE) sensing technology. The primary goal of this approach is to determine the extent of impact damage on composite components by analyzing AE signals produced under operating stress conditions. An advanced algorithm is proposed to predict the probability that the damage falls into various damage categories, providing a …

Dynamic Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Tensegrity Structures, Keivan Davami, Russell A. Rowe, Ben Gulledge, Jesse Park, Ali Beheshti, Anthony N. Palazotto, Fariborz Tavangarian, Sadie Beck

Faculty Publications

Herein, we present an analysis, design, and experimental testing of modular prestressed pin-jointed structures constructed from bistable units and inspired by the classical triangular tensegrity prism. Tensegrity structures, characterized by a combination of tension members (cables) and compression members (bars) in a self-equilibrated state, have gained significant attention in engineering over the past two decades due to their unique nonlinear mechanical behavior. The discontinuity of the compression members in tensegrity structures leads to a slightly different failure behavior compared to their lattice structure counterparts, with unprecedented applications. However, traditional fabrication and assembly methods have posed challenges for their widespread adoption. …

Molten Flux Synthesis Of Plutonium (Iv) Silicates K2Pusi2O7 And Rb2Pusi6O15, Travis K. Deason, Gregory Morrison, Amir Mofrad, Jake Amoroso, David Diprete, Theodore M. Besmann, Shanna L. Estes, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Few plutonium containing silicates have been reported in the literature and only one other tetravalent plutonium silicate structure has been reported using the flux growth method. With the goal of understanding actinide incorporation into silicates, we describe herein two new plutonium (IV) silicates, Rb2PuSi6O15 and K2PuSi2O7, synthesized using a mixed alkali chloride/alkali fluoride flux growth. Both structures crystallize in the C2/c space group with lattice parameters a=24.2980(10) Å, b=7.1466(3) Å, c=17.2025(8) Å and 96.6560(10)° for Rb2PuSi6O15, and a=9.9478(2) Å, b=5.59820 (10) Å, c=13.1848(2) Å, and 105.7400(10)° for K2PuSi2O7. Comparisons to the synthesis of other reported alkali actinide silicates (Ce, U, …

Capacity-Weighted Figures-Of-Merit For Battery Transport Metrics, Cj Sturgill, Christopher Sutton, Julian Schwenzel, Morgan Stefik

Faculty Publications

New battery materials with improved transport are needed. Typical measurements yield widely varying voltage-dependent diffusivities and reporting practices are diverse. Some materials (e.g. first-order phase change) have most redox occur at a specific voltage and may be sufficiently represented by singular transport metrics. Many rapid intercalation materials, however, exhibit second-order phase transitions with redox over a broad voltage range. How should such cases be compared? The use of capacity-weighted average values is suggested where voltage-dependent metrics are consolidated into representative descriptors as figures-of-merit. Examples are elaborated where differential capacity (dQ/dV) is used to derive a …

The Boris Experience: Evaluating Omnichannel Returns And Repurchase Intention, Jianliang Hao, Robert G. Richey Jr., Tyler R. Morgan, Ian M. Slazinik

Faculty Publications

Researchers have examined the influence of the factors on reducing return rates in retailing over the years. However, the returns experience is often an overlooked way to drive customer engagement and repeat sales in the now ubiquitous omnichannel setting. The focus on returns prevention in existing research overshadows management’s need to understand better the comprehensive mechanics linking the customer in-store return experience with their repurchase actions. Recognizing the need to bridge different stages of the returns management process, this research aims to explore the facilitators and barriers of in-store return activities.

Acoustofluidics-Based Intracellular Nanoparticle Delivery, Zhishang Li, Zhenhua Tian, Jason N. Belling, Joseph Rich, Haodong Zhu, Zhehan Ma, Hunter Bachman, Liang Shen, Yaosi Liang, Xiolin Qi, Liv K. Heidenreich, Yao Gong, Shujie Yang, Wenfen Zhang, Peiran Zhang, Yingchun Fu, Yibin Ying, Steven J. Jonas, Yanbin Li, Paul S. Weiss, Tony J. Huang

Faculty Publications

Controlled intracellular delivery of biomolecular cargo is critical for developing targeted therapeutics and cell reprogramming. Conventional delivery approaches (e.g., endocytosis of nano-vectors, microinjection, and electroporation) usually require time-consuming uptake processes, labor-intensive operations, and/or costly specialized equipment. Here, we present an acoustofluidics-based intracellular delivery approach capable of effectively delivering various functional nanomaterials to multiple cell types (e.g., adherent and suspension cancer cells). By tuning the standing acoustic waves in a glass capillary, our approach can push cells in flow to the capillary wall and enhance membrane permeability by increasing membrane stress to deform cells via acoustic radiation forces. Moreover, by coating …

Arctic Communities In The Face Of Change: Resilience, Governance, And Well-Being, Abigail York, Andrey N. Petrov, Victoria N. Sharakhmatova, Tatiana Degai, Liza Mack, Vera Metcalf, Rodion Sulyandziga, Sean Asikłuk Topkok, Eduard Zdor

Faculty Publications

This chapter brings together insights from Indigenous scholars and experts from the North Pacific, focusing on the Bering Strait region, within a framework emphasizing multi-level governance derived from western academic literature. The chapter highlights a ground-up view of the complexities and challenges Indigenous communities face in this region. Narratives emphasize community experiences in a rapidly changing Arctic with a particular focus on the environment and economy. Yet, there is great diversity in the experiences as well as the threats, emphasizing the need to Indigenize concepts such as environment, economy, governance, and sustainable development. Highlighting local narratives, we explore both unique …

Na2B12Si6Se18: A Novel B12-Cluster-Containing Quaternary Selenoborate Framework Material, Gopabandhu Panigrahi, Hunter B. Tisdale, Gregory Morrison, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

We report the successful synthesis of the new quaternary, three-dimensional Na₂B₁₂Si₆Se₁₈ material using a solid-state synthesis route. This compound is characterized by a unique framework structure that features the rare icosahedral [B₁₂]¹⁰⁺ cation which is connected via Si2Se6 polyhedral units into a 3D framework structure with Na+ ions located inside the channels. The Na₂B₁₂Si₆Se₁₈ compound crystallizes in the cubic crystal system in the space group Im, with lattice parameter a = 11.91110(10) Å and unit cell volume of 1689.88(4) ų. …

Ultraviolet And Blue Stimulated Emission From Cs Alkali Vapor Pumped Using Two-Photon Absorption And Four-Wave Mixing, Ricardo C. Davila, Christopher A. Rice, Nathan B. Terry, Glen P. Perram

Faculty Publications

Stimulated emission on the ultraviolet and blue transitions in Cs has been achieved by pumping via two-photon absorption and four-wave mixing for the pump transition 6²S½ → 8²D_3/2,5/2. The emission performance of the optically pumped cesium vapor laser operating in ultraviolet and blue has been extended to 650 nJ/pulse for 387 nm, 1 to 3 μ J / pulse for 388 nm, 200 nJ/pulse for 455 nm, and 500 nJ/pulse for 459 nm. Emission performance improves dramatically as the cesium vapor density is increased, and no scaling limitations associated with energy pooling or …

Libraries On The Front Lines: The Imperative For Disaster-Ready Information Professionals, Feili Tu-Keefner Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Libraries, particularly local public libraries, have evolved into hubs for community-first services, extending beyond traditional roles. Library personnel are now expected to act as first responders and crisis leaders during times such as natural disasters. This report documents the critical crisis leadership qualifications required for library personnel, identified through comprehensive research from 2015 to 2023. Findings from these situation-specific case studies call attention to the community’s needs for library services during emergencies, underscoring the requirement for LIS education to include disaster management. Continuing education (CE) is also critical in preparing information professionals for these essential roles.

Development Of A Stable And Buffered Reference Electrode For Binary Molten Chlorides Salts, Carlos Mejia, Nicholas Christensen, Ricardo Rodriguez Ceron, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

The development of stable and buffered reference electrodes (REs) is crucial for molten salt electrochemistry, particularly in pyrochemical processing, such as electrorefining. These REs must maintain a stable potential to ensure precise control over electrorefining processes by preventing unwanted shifts in the potential that could lead to impurity deposition. This study evaluated metal chlorides and metal oxides as potential candidates for REs, with their stability assessed via electrochemical methods over extended durations. While metal chloride-based REs exhibited stable potential behavior over time, their response followed the Nernst equation, leading to potential shifts with varying concentrations of oxidized species. Metal oxide-based …

Charging, Aggregation, And Electrostatic Dispersion Of Radioactive And Nonradioactive Particles In The Atmosphere, Yong Ha Kim, Sotira Yiacoumi, Costas Tsouris

Faculty Publications

Electrostatic dispersion can significantly impact the microphysical behavior of charged particles and ions until reaching zero space charge. However, although radioactive particles can be strongly charged in air, the influence of electrostatic dispersion has been neglected in understanding their behavior. This study is aimed at investigating the time evolution of the charge and size distributions of radioactive and nonradioactive particles in air and developing simple approaches for applications. With processes involving charging, aggregation, and electrostatic dispersion, a comprehensive population balance model (PBM) has been developed to examine particle charge/size distribution dynamics. It is shown that compared to nonradioactive particles, the …

Progerin Can Induce Dna Damage In The Absence Of Global Changes In Replication Or Cell Proliferation, Liza A. Joudeh, P. Logan Schuck, Nina M. Van, Alannah J. Dicintio, Jason A. Stewart, Alan S. Waldman

Faculty Publications

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by features of accelerated aging, and individuals with HGPS seldom live beyond their mid-teens. The syndrome is commonly caused by a point mutation in the LMNA gene which codes for lamin A and its splice variant lamin C, components of the nuclear lamina. The mutation causing HGPS leads to production of a truncated, farnesylated form of lamin A referred to as "progerin." Progerin is also expressed at low levels in healthy individuals and appears to play a role in normal aging. HGPS is associated with an accumulation of genomic DNA …

Machine Visual Perception From Sim-To-Real Transfer Learning For Autonomous Docking Maneuvers, Derek Worth, Jeffrey Choate, Ryan M. Raettig, Scott L. Nykl, Clark N. Taylor

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to enhancing autonomous docking maneuvers through machine visual perception and sim-to-real transfer learning. By leveraging relative vectoring techniques, we aim to replicate the human ability to execute precise docking operations. Our study focuses on autonomous aerial refueling as a use case, demonstrating significant advancements in relative navigation and object detection. We introduce a novel method for aligning digital twins using fiducial targets and motion capture data, which facilitates accurate pose estimation from real-world imagery. Additionally, we develop cost-efficient annotation automation techniques for generating high-quality You Only Look Once training data. Experimental results indicate that …

Electrospinning Of Heterogeneous Nanofibers: A Review, Dinkar Regmi, Jin Woo Choi, Jian Xu

Faculty Publications

Electrospinning is a straightforward approach for efficiently creating continuous fibers within the submicron to nanometer size range. Electrospun fibers possess excellent properties like high porosity, large specific surface area, tunable morphology, small diameter, etc., making them desirable in various applications. Because of its various properties, polymer is one of the most used materials as the spinning solution in electrospinning. Electrospun polymeric fibers, by themselves, may serve limited applications. Therefore, they are usually mixed with other materials to serve many applications. There are many ways in which these other materials are mixed with polymers in electrospinning, like doping, surface treatment, functionalization, …

Everyone Brings Something To The Table: A Culturally Sustaining Analysis Of Teacher Candidates’ Mixed Reality Teaching Simulations, Erin Scott

Faculty Publications

Discussions of HBCU students’ content knowledge have centered around developing high impact, asset-based approaches to learning (Williams et al, 2022). So, HBCU teacher preparation providers (TPPs) can also focus efforts on culturally sustaining approaches to developing candidates’ content knowledge and researching how high impact practices, like teaching simulations, can help prepare candidates for classrooms. This exploratory case study uses critical cases (n=2); findings suggest candidates have a developing understanding of content, which forms a solid basis for increasing their knowledge. MRTSs are addressed as a potential high impact, culturally sustaining practice for building candidates’ content knowledge. Further, HBCU TPPs can …

Carbon Dioxide Fluxes And The Dominant Role Of Vegetation In Recently Created And Reference Gulf Coast Marshes, A. Muench, T. Elsey-Quirk, J. R. White, R. D. Delaune

Faculty Publications

Coastal wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth with the capacity to sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). Wetland loss due to anthropogenic and natural causes reduces the carbon (C) storage capacity and potentially releases previously fixed C in biomass and soil to the water column and atmosphere through decomposition. Coastal wetland restoration has the potential to mitigate some of the C losses depending on the balance of C fluxes. However, the role of vegetation and environmental conditions in governing rates of C accumulation in restoration sites is not well resolved. The purpose of this study …

Net Evaporation-Induced Mangrove Area Loss Across Low-Lying Caribbean Islands, Isamar M. Cortés, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Andre S. Rovai, Robert R. Twilley, Mark Chopping, Temilola Fatoyinbo

Faculty Publications

Although mangroves provide many beneficial ecosystem services, such as blue carbon storage and coastal protection, they are currently under threat due to changes in climate conditions, such as prolonged drought exposure. Under drought conditions, evaporation exceeds precipitation and high soil salinities can lead to stunted growth and die-back. To quantify this interplay, we developed a database for low-lying and uninhabited mangrove islands in the Caribbean under various evaporation and precipitation regimes. We extracted physical and biological information from each island using remote sensing techniques and coupled it with a process-based model. We used this database to develop a model that …