Digital Commons Network^™

Winter 2025: Elevate

The Weldon Times

A student-run publication from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.

Co-Editors in Chief: Faith Thomson, Kimberly Gilson

Practicing School Counselors’ And Graduate Students’ Perceived Preparedness To Implement A State-Mandated Comprehensive School Counseling Program, Erin O'Connor Rudman

Education Dissertations

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has published the ASCA National Model as the theoretical framework for data-driven, comprehensive school counseling. School counselors are tasked to develop and implement a K-12 counseling program that supports students’ academic, social/emotional, and career development. Many states across the country have passed legislation that requires school districts to align themselves to the ASCA National Model, including Washington State where the Washington Legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5030 on July 25, 2021. Now that every school district in Washington State must develop comprehensive school counseling programs (CSCP), this research aimed to explore both school …

Citrus Gall Wasp Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) is an Australian native insect from northern NSW and Queensland and is now established in most Perth suburbs. It affects all citrus species, particularly lemons and grapefruit, and will be an ongoing pest to manage for Perth gardeners, like other common pests. It has not been found in commercial citrus orchards in Western Australia yet.

Marijuana Advertising: Comparing Tobacco And Alcohol Industries, Kailey Houck

Fordham Urban Law Journal Online

No abstract provided.

Historic Rock Hill Collection - Accession 1844, Historic Rock Hill, Rock Hill, Sc, White Family, Rock Hill History

Manuscript Collection

The Historic Rock Hill Collection consists of materials relating to the history of Rock Hill, South Carolina and its notable historic buildings, businesses, and people. The collection also documents the pioneering White Family of Rock Hill as well as the history of Historic Rock Hill, a nonprofit historical preservation organization headquartered at the historic White Home in Rock Hill, SC. Founded in the 1980s as the Midtown Preservation Association, the group continues to work to preserve and promote the many historic sites and stories of Rock Hill through preservation projects and educational programming. HRH records (by-laws, newsletters, agendas, etc.), …

American Association Of University Women - Rock Hill Chapter Records-Accession 1516, American Association Of University Women Rock Hill Chapter Records

Manuscript Collection

This collection consists of American Association of University Women Rock Hill Chapter bulletins, posters, illustrations, time cards, and branch yearbooks. This collection also contains invoices, meeting notes, and correspondence with colleges and other branches. The American Association of University Women (AAUW), was founded in 1881 as a non-profit organization that advances equity and education for women. The Rock Hill Chapter of the American Association of University Women was founded in 1925 or 1926 with Miss Anne W. Stevens serving as first president.

Eldon Beaver Papers - Accession 1670, Eldon Beaver, Civilian Conservation Corp

Manuscript Collection

Eldon Beaver (1917-2019) was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) company 1417 located in Rodman, SC. Eldon Beaver also worked for the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company until retirement. This collection contains documents related to the CCC company 1417 men as documented by Eldon Beaver and his wife Chloe Beaver. He was also a Corporal in the US Army Air Corp during World War II. The Eldon Beaver collection includes photographs, reunion information, and member information. This collection also contains textile sample pieces from Eldon Beaver’s time working for the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company.

William Joseph Roddey Papers - Accession 1882, William Joseph Roddey

Manuscript Collection

William Joseph Roddey (1861-1945) was a businessman and manufacturer in Rock Hill, SC. Roddey was president of Victoria Cotton Mills, organizer of the First National Bank of Rock Hill, president of National Union Bank, manager of the Rock Hill-Charlotte agency of the Equitable Life Assurance Society and was a member of the Winthrop Board of Trustees. The William Joseph Roddey Papers were discovered at the vacant Arcade Textile Mill by the Williams family. It appears that these papers were from the office of William Joseph Roddey. The William Joseph Roddey Papers contain documents related to William Joseph Roddey and the …

Sara Perry Mcleod Papers - Accession 1432, Sara Perry Mcleod, Winthrop College

Manuscript Collection

The Sara Perry McLeod Papers include a May Day program, newspaper clippings and photographs from a scrapbook, and Winthrop College yearbooks (Tatler) from Sara Perry’s student years. Sara Perry McLeod (1921–2011), a 1942 Winthrop College graduate, served as Maid of Honor during the May Day festivities in the spring of 1942. The bulk of the collection documents the 1942 May Day celebration, featuring images and articles related to that event, along with materials reflecting her time as a student at Winthrop.

Automated Classification Of Cardiac Anomalies Through The Analysis Of Electrocardiogram Signals Using Convolutional Neural Networks., Yhosely Isset Villegas Baldiviezo

ICT

Electrocardiography (ECG) is a widely used non-invasive method for monitoring cardiac activity and detecting heart abnormalities. However, manual interpretation can be time-consuming and prone to human error, particularly for non-specialists. This study investigates the use of deep learning techniques, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to automate ECG signal classification using a large-scale dataset. A classical machine learning model is also included as a baseline for comparison. The aim is to evaluate the potential of deep learning as a clinical decision-support tool that can assist healthcare professionals in improving diagnostic accuracy and supporting early detection of cardiac conditions.

Neural Networks Activation Functions And Hybrid Activations Functions Accuracy And Loss Comparison On Small Dataset Against Large Datasets For Classification Problems., Antonio Felipe Cora Martins

ICT

Even on the era of Big Data, small datasets are the reality of many companies and sectors. Many datasets in rare disease diagnosis, custom manufacturing, military sciences, bioengineering, and disaster events are commonly limited in size, making machine learning predictive modelling difficult. Being the Activation Function choice crucial for Neural Networks learning, it raises the question of their effectiveness in such scenarios. This study compares five standard (single) activation functions (Sigmoid, Tanh, ReLU, Leaky ReLU, ELU) and two hybrid variants (one a mix of ReLU plus Tanh and a Learnable Activation Function with a trainable weight (alpha) that balances ReLU …

Predicting Early Hospital Readmissions For Diabetic Patients Using Machine Learning, Amanda Ferraz, Leonardo Oliveira

ICT

This project applies machine learning to predict whether diabetic patients will be readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge. Early readmissions are a costly and critical issue in healthcare, often signalling gaps in post-discharge care and risk management. Diabetic patients face unfair high readmission rates compared to the general population. According to the CDC Diabetes Report Card 37.3 million people in the U.S. or 11.3% of the population had diabetes as of 2019 (CDC, 2021). Our goal here is to develop a binary classification model capable of flagging high risk patient (< 30-day readmission) based on their clinical, demographic, and administrative data. This lets healthcare institutions to take measures,

European Air Pollution And The Proposed Timelines Of Implementing The World Health Organization 2021 Air Quality Guidelines Ca3., Lukia Hartin

ICT

This research examines Ireland’s air pollution trends and evaluates whether current reductions in PM2.5, PM10, and NO₂ are sufficient to meet the WHO 2021 Air Quality Guidelines by 2040. Using four years of EPA-validated pollutant data (2020–2023), alongside Building Energy Rating (BER) and national transport datasets, the study applies the CRISP-DM methodology to guide analysis, preprocessing, modelling, and evaluation. Extensive data cleaning and alignment were required due to inconsistent station coverage, varying formats, and missing values. Forecasting models—including Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, SVR, and linear regression—were assessed using MSE, R², and trend significance to project pollutant levels across different Irish …

Analysis Of The Patterns And Features Importance In Predicting Demand For Sustainable Urban Mobility. A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models Using The Dublin Bikes Dataset., Wojciech Sochanski

ICT

This study explores the application of machine learning models to predict demand in the Dublin bike-sharing scheme. A comprehensive literature review examines prior work on sustainable urban mobility, the evolution of bike-sharing schemes, the application of machine learning in predictive analytics and relevant case studies. Secondary data were gathered from publicly available sources, pre-processed and merged into a single, unified dataset. Exploratory data analysis was conducted before preparing the data for modelling to assess the data quality, with a focus on missing values.

Four predictive machine learning models – Linear Regression (LR), Decision Tree (CART), Random Forest (RF) and Gradient …

Durability Of Precast Prestressed Concrete Pile In Exposure Severe Environment, Nantawat Khomwan, Pinai Mungsantisuk

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research project focuses on studying the corrosion resistance of precast prestressed concrete (PC) piles under severe conditions. All PC and non-PC samples were cast using Portland cement type III. The samples included 1 m and 6 m length specimens. To evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion prevention, Sacrificial Anode Cathodic Protection (SACP) was installed in the specimens. Various durability properties of concrete were tested, including chloride permeability, concrete resistivity, and half-cell potential. For short-term effects, an electrical accelerated condition was conducted for the 1 m specimens, which were submerged in a 5% sodium chloride solution by weight. Experimental studies were …

Investigation Of Photocathodic Corrosion Protection Of Zno/Zns Thin Film For Aisi 304 Stainless Steel In 3.5 Wt% Nacl Solution, Soravid Veerapong, Naw Blessing Oo, Boossayamas Dachbumroong, Parichart Chaum, Thanate Na Wichean, Oratai Jongprateep, Naray Pewnim, Gasidit Panomsuwan, Ratchatee Techapiesancharoenkij

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Photocathodic protection is an alternative cathodic protection technique to protect metals by photo-generated electrons from a coupled semiconductor film under solar light. In this report, ZnO nanorods and heterostructure ZnO/ZnS nanorod films  on FTO substrates were studied for their photocathodic protection for 304 stainless steels (304 SS) in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution.  The ZnO and ZnO/ZnS nanorods were fabricated on FTO substrates by spray pyrolysis and hydrothermal processes. The photocathodic performances of the ZnO and ZnO/ZnS photoanodes coupled with 304 SS samples were examined by Open-Circuit Potential (OCP), polarization curve analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The ZnO/ZnS photoanodes …

Investigation Into Parameters Affecting The Synthesis Of Hybrid Gold Nanoparticle/ Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dot Colloids, Thammika Srisaman, Anyarat Watthanaphanit

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study reports a two-step synthesis method for producing hybrid nanoparticles composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs). Initially, we employed hydrothermal synthesis to fabricate CDs derived from mangosteen peel extract, which exhibits green light emission. Subsequently, the hybrid AuNPs/CDs were synthesized by inducing plasma in a solution containing CDs and a gold precursor, namely gold(III) chloride trihydrate. Our primary aim was to investigate the key parameters influencing the synthesis process. We assessed the colloidal properties of the AuNPs/ CDs by introducing a stabilizer, specifically sodium alginate, and examined how factors such as the presence of sodium …

Arginine-Modified Surface Coffee Grounds Activated Carbon For Pb2+ Adsorption: Kinetic, Isotherm And Thermodynamic Studies, Jarawee Chupirom, Sirikorn Khaophong, Nopporn Hemyakorn, Sonchai Intachai, Panita Kongsune

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research focuses on enhancing the value of coffee waste by converting it into activated carbon for removing Pb²⁺ ions from contaminated water. Coffee grounds were activated with KOH and carbonized at 600°C for 4 h to produce activated carbon (CGAC), then modified with arginine via hydrothermal treatment at 120°C for 48 h to create Arg-CGAC. The adsorbents' chemical and physical properties were analyzed using SEM, FT-IR, BET, and pHpzc methods. Batch experiments revealed that Arg-CGAC exhibited superior Pb2+ adsorption (223.10 mg∙g‒1) compared to CGAC (119.23 mg∙g‒1) under optimal conditions. Isotherm analysis showed stronger adsorbate-adsorbent interactions and a more endothermic …

Enhancement Of Cell Viability Of The (Ba,Ca)(Zr,Ti)O And Hydroxyapatite Composites For Bone-Repair Applications, Jirapa Tangsritrakul, Manita Boonchoo, Piyanan Boonphayak, Paweena Uppanan, Pakkanun Kaewkong

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

In this work, the influence of hydroxyapatite (HA) addition to the calcium/zirconium-doped barium titanate (BCZT) piezoceramic was investigated to evaluate its potential for bone-repair applications. The relationship between the physical, electrical, and biological properties of the (100-x)BCZT-(x)HA composite was observed via various techniques. The HA powder was synthesized via precipitation method, whereas the BCZT powder was produced by solid-state reaction to prepare the (100-x)BCZT-(x)HA composites, where x = 0 wt% to 50 wt%. The results showed that the dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the (100-x)BCZT-(x)HA composites decreased dramatically as introducing HA into BCZT due to the occurrence of secondary …

Structural And Dynamic Analysis Of Tapered Mast Bladeless Wind Turbines Using Fea And Cfd For Renewable Energy Generation, A. Pradeep, Raman Kumar, P. S. Satheesh Kumar, Nagaraj Patil, Vijayakumar Sivasundar, P. Vijaya Kumar, Selvaraj Manickam, Debasish Shit

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The present analysis investigates the possibility of using a tapered mast profile for bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) to enhance the function of extracting wind energy through the phenomenon of vortex-induced vibrations. Conventional HAWTs which remain the most efficient are however, costly in maintenance, mechanically complicated and rather unfavourable to the environment. To overcome these challenges a prototype BWT with a 0.6 m tapered mast was developed for the currents using mild steel and hollow square steel sections. Wind tunnels were also used to compare stress distribution, structural deformation and vane vortex shedding for the building at different wind speeds. The …

Analyse The Mechanical Property Optimization For Fdm/3d-Printed Polycarbonate Using Taguchi And Topsis Techniques, N. Srinivasa Rao, Raman Kumar, N. Kavitha, Ramachandran T., Hari Prasadarao Pydi, Aman Shankhyan, Ram Subbiah, Vikasdeep Singh Mann

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Fused Deposition Modeling is 3D printing techniques which chiefly appreciated for prototypes. This manufacturing process works by extrusion of thermoplastic materials to make the three-dimensional objects. In this work, we pursued to identify the FDM parameters to increase mechanical properties, specifically ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and compressive strength (CMS). Polycarbonate was chosen to create the test samples because of the best thermal and mechanical properties, which was the increasing manufacturing applications of 3D printing. Nine experiments were conducted to verify the interaction of the considered parameters, namely infill rate (IR), printing speed (PS), and film height (FH). The combined use …

Low-Cost High Performance Sustainable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based On Laboratory Waste, Archana Panda, Kunal Kumar Das, Kushal Ruthvik Kaja, Venkataramana Gandi, Sunit Gourav Mohanty, Basanta Kumar Panigrahi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The production of waste materials in laboratories is an unavoidable consequence of diverse experiments and activities. These materials can range from chemicals, solvents, and biological samples to electronic components, glassware, and plastics. Typically, this waste is classified into hazardous and non-hazardous categories, requiring careful disposal to avoid environmental and health risks. These can be repurposed for energy harvesting methods, such as using polymers in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) or recycling metallic waste for electrodes. This approach reduces waste while advancing sustainable energy solutions. This technique demonstrates remarkable efficiency in utilizing diverse waste materials to transform various forms of mechanical energy into …

Efficacy Of Bifeo3 And Bi4ti3o12 Towards Photocatalytic Degradation Of Mg And Mb Dyes: A Comparative Study Under Solar Irradiation, Rasmirekha -, Rishabh Kamal, Debapriya -, Suresh Kumar Dash

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Bismuth-based perovskite material has been used as promising photocatalysts for photo catalytic degradation of toxic dyes with tailored crystallites and fine-tuned band gap for superior activity. BiFeO3 and Bi4Ti3O12 were synthesized by a simple sol-gel method and their crystal structure, morphology, and optical property were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, EDS and UV–DRS. The XRD pattern exhibits the formation of rhombohedral and orthorhombic phase of bismuth ferrite and bismuth titanate. The study confirms the formation of non-uniform BiFeO3 and Bi4Ti3O12 nanoparticles with uniform particle distribution, with band gap energy (Eg) of 2.2 eV and 2.9 eV, respectively, from UV-DRS …

Synergistic Effects Of Ti3c2tx Mxene On The Structural And Dielectric Properties Of Blend-Based Dielectrics, Nitesh Kumar Nath, Rajanikanta Parida, Bichitra Nanda Parida, Nimai C. Nayak

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The PVDF/PMMA-Ti₃C₂Tx MXene composite (PMC) films are processed via the solution casting method. The various phases (α, β) of PVDF have been identified through analysis using an X-ray diffractometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instruments. The maximum percentage β phase (%) obtained was 73.15%, which corresponds to a 10.0 wt% composite film. The structural analysis revealed that the Ti3C2Tx nanoparticles are immiscibly distributed throughout the blend matrix, allowing the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant values to noticeably increase at constant frequency. The highest dielectric loss of 0.077 and the highest dielectric constant (εr) of 191.5 …

The Effect Of Fe-Nimnmo High Entropy Alloy Electrode On Enhancing The Weldability And Mechanical Properties Of Railway Steel 900a, Sarawut Chaowakarnkool, Kanokwan Uttarasak, Sittipong Jaipayuk, Narin Jantaping, Man Tuiprae

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The rail transport system is essential for moving passengers and heavy goods over long distances, with steel 900A being a common material used for rail tracks in Thailand. Prolonged exposure to heavy loads and variable environmental conditions can lead to rail track damage known as "engine burn”, which results from friction between the train’s wheels and the rail. The flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) process is employed to repair these burns due to its use of readily available electrode wires and the efficiency of the repair. However, welding high-carbon steel like rail steel 900A poses challenges, such as a tendency to …

Review On Surface Engineering Of Nmc For High Performance Of Lithium-Ion Batteries, Pongsakorn Kantichaimongkol, Thanyalux Wanotayan, Jiaqian Qin

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The lithium-ion battery stands as a highly promising energy storage system. Among its key components, the cathode material—particularly lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO₂), or NMC—is of great importance due to its high specific capacity and cost-effectiveness. Despite its advantages, NMC faces certain challenges, with limited cycle performance being one of the most critical issues. To address this issue, extensive research has been dedicated to surface modification strategies for NMC materials. Studies have identified two primary approaches, doping and coating, both of which have proven effective in enhancing the material's long-term stability. This work systematically examines, categorizes, and compares recent …

The Influence Of Aluminium Dross Residue And Coal Fly Ash On The Properties Of Geopolymers, Haswanee Phungpha, Pitak Laoratanakul, Benya Cherdhirunkorn

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

In this research, aluminium dross residue (AD) and coal fly ash (FA) were used for the production of geopolymers. The illegal dumping of AD and the high cost for AD waste disposal have been problems for long time in Thailand. Therefore, the feasibility of using AD (0 wt% to 100 wt%) in the geopolymer production had been carried out to find the alternative way to resolve these problems. The alkaline solution of NaOH 7 M and Na2SiO3 with the ratio of 1:3 was used for the geopolymerization reaction. It was found that the addition of AD caused the ammonia gas …

Tin Oxide Nanoparticle Extraction From Waste Solder Dross Via Low-Temperature Hydrometallurgical Process, Tanongsak Yingnakorn, Sirunya Somla, Thanapon Chandakhiaw, Ethan Cheung, Sakhob Khumkoa

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study proposes a hydrometallurgical approach to valorising industrial waste by producing SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) from waste solder dross obtained by skimming off of tin solder baths from electronic dipping processes. The process involves leaching the dross with aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and hydrogen peroxide, followed by precipitation with ammonium hydroxide and purification with aqueous nitric acid solution. The optimised leaching conditions were determined to be 4 mol∙ L‒1 HCl, 11% v/v H2O2, 25℃, and a leaching time of 15 min. SnO2 NPs were successfully precipitated at pH 4 using 25% v/v NH4OH and purified with 1 mol∙ L‒1 HNO3. …

Investigation Of Pressure And Temperature Distributions In Aerofoils Using Cfd Simulation, Ramesh Krishnan L., Jasgurpreet Singh Chohan, S. Vijayakumar, N. Beemkumar, Sriram Desikan, V. Nagabhushana Rao, M.Naga Swapna Sri, Mayank Kundlas

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Most aircraft derive the design of their wings, fins, and horizontal stabilizers from this construction approach, incorporating curved surfaces to enhance the lift-to-drag ratio during flight. Over the past decade, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become the leading tool for designing components and processes involving fluid or gas movement across industries such as aviation, automotive, and manufacturing. This study examines the aerodynamic characteristics—including pressure, density, and temperature distribution, as well as lift and drag forces—of two different angles of attack based on the M13 and Eppler 1233 airfoils. The analysis considers an airfoil with varying chord thickness while maintaining a …

Photocatalytic Behaviour Of (Biybo3)0.5-(Batio3)0.5, Yasaswi Priyadarshini Samal, Subhalaxmi Patra, Tapan Das, Minakshi Padhy

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Different organic compounds like dyes and pharmaceutical contaminants pollute a large amount of water which can increase the chemical oxygen demand in water bodies. The photodegradation of dyes has been widely studied using TiO2-based nanomaterials, which are typical photocatalysts. TiO2 is highly effective in reducing pollutants when exposed to UV light and does not cause secondary pollution. However, TiO2 is only functional when exposed to UV light, which is not ideal for real-world use. This drawback of TiO2 pulls the research towards modified photocatalysts for better yield. In this study, the (BiYbO3)0.5 - (BaTiO3)0.5 material was formulated by solid state …