Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Role Of The Heat Transfer Coefficient Between Tool/Workpiece Interface During Friction Stir Welding, Matthew Goodson

Theses and Dissertations

The heat transfer coefficient is a key parameter in modeling friction stir welding and has yet to be measured experimentally. The importance of this parameter was shown through validating friction stir models on both sides of the tool/workpiece interface. Both a transient plunge and a steady state model were validated by matching experimental temperatures. The steady state tool temperatures were matched (with in 2.5%), but the steady state workpiece temperatures were off by around 20%. The transient model of the FSW plunge showed the effect of varying the ℎ𝑊/𝑇 on workpiece temperatures and tool temperatures. Two methods were looked at …

Artificial Creativity: How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Creativity Via Post-Production, Nicole Dwyer

Honors Thesis

My thesis lives in the world of Post-Production, and it contains both a creative and written component. I was the editor for four Undergraduate thesis projects. Seeking to gain experience in editing various genres, I worked in drama, sports, period piece, coming of age, and adventure. My biggest takeaways from these projects are the importance of organization, communication, time management, and editing with a sense of imagination. I became a more confident, resilient, and prepared editor through these experiences.

Along with the hands-on filmmaking element of my thesis, I also conducted research on how artificial intelligence will impact conceptions of …

Rings Of Power: Controlling Sod Mimic Activity By The Addition Of Pyridine Rings Within The Pyridinophane Scaffold, Katherine J. Smith, Timothy M. Schwartz, David M. Freire, Cameron Bowers, Sarah K. Dunn, Jackson F. Bonnell, Magy A. Mekhail, Giridhar Akkaraju, Kayla N. Green

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Superoxide dismutase enzymes are a major defense against superoxide, which is a potent reactive oxygen species. Misregulation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent neuronal damage are etiological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease. Macrocyclic small molecules have offered inroads toward functional SOD1 mimics. Herein, we report a series of five tetra-aza macrocyclic ^RPy₂N₂ ligands, varied by 4-position substitution of the pyridine ring with both electron-donating (R = OMe) and withdrawing groups (R = Cl, I, and CF₃) to offer the first comparison to well-studied ^RPyN₃ congeners and other mimics in the literature. New ligands …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Prompt Engineering Techniques For Research Survey Paper Generation Using Large Language Models, Innocent Obed Awidi

Theses and Dissertations

The recent advancements in large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, offer promising potential for automating academic writing tasks. This study investigates the efficacy of prompt engineering techniques in guiding LLMs to generate high-quality research survey papers, specifically exploring their application in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development and large language model customization for classification. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research assessed the impact of prompt engineering on the coherence, relevance, and overall quality of generated content through quantitative and qualitative analyses. Techniques including prompt refinement, contextual prompting, and iterative prompting were systematically applied to enhance the …

Mathematics In Amusement Parks, Kacey Laumann

Honors Projects

This project focuses specifically on the Walt Disney World Park, Magic Kingdom. I started by collecting data through the MyDisneyExperience app. By recording the data, I was then able to create polynomial functions to the fifth the degree. Each attraction received a function which allowed me to predict the wait times for that attraction. Then, by graphing the functions and analyzing the graph using calculus the “best time” and “worst time” to go to the attraction were found. After the analysis the information is used to build a unique schedule for a guest. Then the guest receives this schedule after …

Fractional‑Order Integral Sliding Mode Control Strategy Based On Mmc Under Unbalanced Grid Conditions, Xuhong Yang, Chun Yuan, Fengwei Qian, Congcong Yin, Qiming Cheng

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

To enhance the system performance of the modular multilevel converter (MMC) under unbalanced grid conditions, this paper proposes a fractional order integral sliding mode control (FO-I-SMC) strategy. Firstly, the topology of the MMC is analyzed, and the fundamental frequency external characteristic equations of positive- and negative-sequence voltages and output currents, as well as the double frequency internal characteristic equations of positive-, negative-, and zero-sequence circulating currents, are derived. Secondly, combining the control objectives with the mathematical model of the MMC, a fractional order sliding mode controller is designed for application in unbalanced grid voltages. This controller aims to reduce the …

Graph Neural Networks Powered Scientific Paper Recommendation, Junhao Shen

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Scientific paper recommendation systems aim to help researchers discover relevant papers amidst the vast and ever-growing body of literature. With the exponential yearly increase in scientific publications, the demand for effective paper recommendation solutions has become both critical and increasingly challenging. In recent years, deep learning techniques have revolutionized recommender systems, and scientific paper recommendations have naturally integrated these advancements. In this dissertation, we address these challenges through three progressive contributions.

First, we enhance traditional content-based methods using Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) by introducing a Graph Convolutional Network-strengthened Topic Modeling (GCN-TM) approach. This method improves upon conventional topic modeling techniques …

Gender Differences: The Impact Of Gender Grouping On Egyptian Stem Undergraduates’ Online Group Work1, Wesam Khairy Morsi, Hala Medhat Assem Ms

English Language and Literature

This paper reports a study that compares teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) through face-to-face (FTF) and CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) methods, comparing them with the interdisciplinary perspectives of sociology, social psychology, and educational technology. Based on the sociocultural theory, the influence of gender grouping on the academic performance of 141 English as a foreign language (EFL) Egyptian undergraduates enrolled in a technical writing course in the Faculty of Engineering was examined in a CALL context. Students’ academic performance was measured by overall grades on group work assignments and submitted peer evaluation forms. Sixty six students were assigned …

Intraspecific Variability Of Rice Root Knot Nematodes Across Diverse Agroecosystems For Sustainable Management, Sandip Mondal, Arnab Purohit, Anjan Hazra, Sampa Das, Manohar Chakrabarti, Matiyar Rahaman Khan, Horacio Lopez-Nicora, Dipankar Chakraborti, Abhishek Mukherjee

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

In the rice agroecosystems of Southeast Asia, rice root knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) significantly impairs yield, representing a major species within the ‘graminis-group’ known for its morphological similarities with other root knot nematodes (RKNs). This study delves into the variations in reproductive potential, morphology, morphometrics, and genetic diversity among thirty RKN populations in rice across three distinct agroecological zones in Jharkhand, India. Despite notable differences in reproductive potential among the populations, morphological and morphometric correlations to reproductive potential were inconclusive. However, male and juvenile morphometrics were crucial for identifying intraspecific variability. Genetic analysis utilizing five molecular markers (ITS, …

Source Anisotropies And Pulsar Timing Arrays, Bruce Allen, Deepali Agarwal, Joseph D. Romano, Serena Valtolina

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) hunt for gravitational waves (GWs) by searching for the correlations that GWs induce in the time-of-arrival residuals from different pulsars. If the GW sources are of astrophysical origin, then they are located at discrete points on the sky. However, PTA data are often modeled, and subsequently analyzed, via a “standard Gaussian ensemble.” That ensemble is obtained in the limit of an infinite density of vanishingly weak, Poisson-distributed sources. In this paper, we move away from that ensemble, to study the effects of two types of “source anisotropy.” The first (a), which is often called “shot noise,” …

Mentorship, Self-Efficacy, And Professional Identity: Exploring The Impact On The Career Advancement Of Racial And Ethnic Minorities In The Financial Services Industry, Brandon Lee Logan

JWU Dissertations & Theses

The representation of racial and ethnic minorities in leadership roles within the American financial services industry remains disproportionately low, despite growing diversity initiatives (McKinsey & Company, 2020; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2022). This poses a problem as it impacts the industry's potential innovation, decision-making, and competitiveness (Dixon-Fyle et al., 2021). The underrepresentation of minorities in such roles highlights systemic issues within corporate culture, particularly in terms of access to mentorship and professional development opportunities, which are critical for career progression (A. Baldwin et al., 2022).

The study is based on Role Identity Theory, theorizing that individuals' roles within their social …

On The Logistic Polynomials And Logistic Kernels With Applications In Machine Learning, Alexander Saint Jefferson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Orthogonal polynomials have had vast historical applications in applied mathematics, particularly in differential equations and numerical analysis. In recent years, they have become instrumental as a natural basis for constructing kernel systems in machine learning (ML). In this thesis, we orthogonalize a set of polynomials, the Logistic Polynomials, first developed by George and Rousseau, using the Gram-Schmidt process. We show that this new Logistic Orthogonal Polynomial System (LOPS) satisfies the hypergeometric differential equation and we relate the system to the Legendre polynomials. The connection to the Legendre polynomials has motivated this study to explore applications of the LOPS in ML, …

The Impacts Of Co-Occurring Developmental Language Disorder On The Academic, Interpersonal, And Behavioral Profiles Of Children With Adhd, Kirsten M. Hannig Russell, Sean M. Redmond

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial disorder that has been linked to increased risk for behavioral, academic, and interpersonal problems. Developmental language disorder (DLD) has also been linked to poor outcomes in these areas. The presence of co-occurring disorders in children’s profiles is generally associated with poorer outcomes relative to profiles consisting of only one disorder. This study investigated the extent to which co-occurring DLD in children already identified with ADHD presented increased risk for severity of their primary ADHD symptoms, the presence of secondary behavioral problems, and/or increased problems in the tertiary areas of academic performance and interpersonal …

Using The Lehmer Mean To Assess Business Data Protection: Statistical Disclosure Control And The Truncated Moment Problem, Mark Stander, Julian Stander

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Confidential business data needs protection against disclosure. Often this data is protected by releasing sample means, variances and higher power moments. Motivated by statistical disclosure control obligations and the need to publish business data safely, we explain how calculating the Lehmer mean from released power moments can lead to the unwanted disclosure of the largest data value. We explain how similar disclosure can apply to smaller data values and provide an approximate solution to the Truncated Moment Problem. We briefly discuss the Gini mean and the relationship between sample central and raw moments.

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Bpsou Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Belle Of Butte (Bres No. 8 & Ur-39) Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) Request For Change Ir- 2024-Ra-01, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

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 …

Documents From The December 3, 2024 Meeting Of The Associated Students Of The University Of Montana (Asum), Associated Students Of The University Of Montana

Senate Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 2007-Present

Agenda and meeting minutes from the December 3, 2024 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM).

Journal Of Response To Writing 10(2)

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

Developing A Learner-Centered Response To Writing Through A Graduate Course In Writing-Across-The-Curriculum, Faqryza Ab Latif, Kristin Winet

Journal of Response to Writing

Although writing-across-the-curriculum (WAC) programs have been commonplace since the 1970s, the focus has largely been at the level of assessment and programmatic development and less on the instructors, particularly graduate teaching assistants (TAs) who adopt these practices. In this article, we describe a pilot WAC graduate-level course in writing pedagogy that our institution developed as part of our recent membership in the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL). We also share how one science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate student revised her approach to assignment design, feedback, and assessment for a general education course and …

Does A Name Make A Difference? Teaching Random Selection In The Classroom, Venessa Singhroy, Rommel Robertson, Kostas Stroumbakis

Numeracy

In Statistics education, it is crucial to emphasize the foundational significance of random selection, which underpins statistical methodologies and ensures unbiased representation of populations in samples. However, students often struggle to grasp the concept’s complexities, leading to challenges in applying random selection methods effectively. This paper examines the gap between students’ theoretical understanding of randomness and their practical application of this concept. Using an Explanatory Sequential Design, this study presents an instructional activity aimed at teaching the concept of randomness in the selection process and proposes modifications to enhance student comprehension. The activity, implemented in undergraduate Statistics and Psychology courses, …

Energy Optimization In Wireless Sensor Networks: A Review, Zahraa Hammodi, Ahmed Al Hilli, Mohanad Al-Ibadi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has become an inevitably necessary for a smart world, such as smart cities and environmental fields. WSN consists of hundreds or even thousands of sensor nodes that have the ability to sense physical conditions from the target field, and also consists of a device that acts as a link between the sensor nodes and the base station (BS) called cluster head (CH). In the recent years, researchers have become interested in optimizing the energy efficiency of the WSNs due to the limited and non-replenish energy sources of their sensor nodes. In this paper, …

A Uniform Choice? Esas And The State Right To Education, Hadiah C. Mabry

Notre Dame Law Review

Education savings accounts (ESAs) are on the rise. Just since 2023, ESAs have been on the legislative docket in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming, with ESAs already active in eleven other states. These programs provide funds directly to parents on a per-child basis which can be used on any number of educational pursuits. While ESAs are relatively young in the world of school choice, they are also the natural outgrowth of a greater push toward educational freedom for parents. They join the ranks of more established programs like school vouchers, tax credits, and charter schools.

Unlike …

Rotunda - Vol 104, No 4 - Dec 2, 2024, Longwood University

Rotunda

No abstract provided.

A Machine Learning Approach To Predicting On-Time Graduation In Indonesian Higher Education, Mahendra Astu Sanggha Pawitra, Hui-Chun Hung, Handaru Jati

Elinvo (Electronics, Informatics, and Vocational Education)

Graduating on schedule is a critical milestone for students in higher education, serving as a key indicator of both institutional effectiveness and student success. This study uses machine learning techniques to predict on-time graduation in Indonesian higher education. A dataset comprising 133 students from an engineering department over four academic years (2019–2023) was analyzed using the CRISP-DM framework. The research employed nine machine learning models, including Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Neural Networks, etc., to identify key predictors of on-time graduation. The result showed that Random Forest outperformed other models by achieving an accuracy of 85% and an AUC of 0.875. …

Website Portfolio, Thomas Roch

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Oer Curation Worksheet, Theodore J. Szpakowski

All Musselman Library Staff Works

This worksheet aids library staff in curating open educational resources for a given class.

Sustainable Carbon Footprint Growth Mechanism In Forest Systems Under Patterns Ofglobal Climate Change, Wenbo Zhang, Guangxu Liu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Forests play a crucial role in regulating the global carbon cycle, but there are few existing studies on measuring the carbonfootprint of forest systems and analyzing the driving factors for sustained growth. This study investigated the carbon footprint of forestsystems, examined the driving factors behind their sustained growth under patterns of global climate change, and developed a researchmethodology to understand this sustained growth mechanism. To determine the carbon footprint and carbon-carrying capacity offorest systems, this study began with the impact of cities on forest systems and constructed a carbon footprint account for forest systems.Based on a relative growth model and …

Cultural Responsiveness And Its Effect On Rural Science Achievement, Nerissa C. Deramus

College of Education

Low student achievement in science was explored to determine if teachers with high culturally responsive education (CRE) self-efficacy levels matched the student science achievement in rural, suburban, and urban schools in Alabama. The study aimed to determine if rural teachers with high CRE self-efficacy could improve science achievement. The self-efficacy theory was formulated by Bandura (1977) based on the idea that individuals with a high belief in their abilities to perform tasks have greater outcomes. CRE self-efficacy was measured using the Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy (CRTSE) scale based on the culturally responsive teaching theory. The theory incorporates the works of …

Alphafold2-Based Characterization Of Apo And Holo Protein Structures And Conformational Ensembles Using Randomized Alanine Sequence Scanning Adaptation: Capturing Shared Signature Dynamics And Ligand-Induced Conformational Changes, Nishank Raisinghani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Proteins often exist in multiple conformational states, influenced by the binding of ligands or substrates. The study of these states, particularly the apo (unbound) and holo (ligand-bound) forms, is crucial for understanding protein function, dynamics, and interactions. In the current study, we use AlphaFold2, which combines randomized alanine sequence masking with shallow multiple sequence alignment subsampling to expand the conformational diversity of the predicted structural ensembles and capture conformational changes between apo and holo protein forms. Using several well-established datasets of structurally diverse apo-holo protein pairs, the proposed approach enables robust predictions of apo and holo structures and conformational ensembles, …

Occurrence And Biodiversity Of Cyst Nematodes In Wheat And Barley Cultivation Areas Ofuşak Province, Türkiye, Seli̇n Türkay, Ebubeki̇r Yüksel, Refi̇k Bozbuğa, Di̇lek Di̇nçer, Ati̇lla Öcal, Furkan Ulaş, Muhammad Sameeullah, Abdelfettah Dababat, Mustafa İmren

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are one of the major threats to various crops including cereals. In wheat and barleyproduction, the profitability of cultivation heavily depends on the management of cyst nematodes (CNs), especially on Heteroderaavenae, H. filipjevi, and H. latipons. In this study, field surveys were conducted in wheat and barley cultivation systems of Uşak Provinceto reveal the presence and diversity of PPNs. In total, 80 wheat and barley fields were surveyed, and samples (soil and root) wereprocessed for the isolation and identification of PPNs. The PPN genera were identified to the species level based on morphologicaland morphometric characters. CNs …