Digital Commons Network^™

Project Minerva, Lena Wang, Gannon English, Ethan Yemm, Gabrielle Guirguis, Jose Murphy

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Project Minerva is a multidisciplinary engineering initiative at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) dedicated to the design, integration, and deployment of high-altitude balloon (HAB) systems for stratospheric research and aerospace hardware validation. The project challenges student researchers to engineer flight-ready payloads capable of maintaining structural and electronic integrity in extreme temperatures and low-pressure environments in the stratosphere. Typically utilizing 600g latex balloons filled with helium, Project Minerva missions aim to achieve altitudes exceeding 22,000 meters to facilitate vertical atmospheric profiling of variables such as CO₂ concentration, humidity, temperature, and pressure. Beyond its technical objectives, the project serves as a professional training …

System And Method For Detecting Subsurface Voids Using Controlled Heat Addition, Chase Nilsson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study evaluates controlled heat addition in a confined space to estimate enclosed volumes for irregularly shaped spaces. The intent is to detect hidden voids in cave environments. Conventional methods for identifying such voids are often costly, logistically difficult, and limited in accuracy. Preliminary experiments were conducted with a controlled heat source, a temporary thermal barrier to isolate the test chamber, and simple temperature sensors. Temperatures were recorded for the pre-test baseline, the heating interval, followed by a cooling period. The thermal response showed clear engineering trends that warrant further exploration and modeling. Preliminary results indicate that transient temperature changes …

A Cyber-Physical Flight Simulation Platform For Real-Time Visualization Of Aircraft Dynamics And Sensor-Based Control, Gabriel Martinez, Michael Poinsett

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding aircraft dynamics through traditional simulations can be limiting, as results are often confined to screen-based visualization. This project aims to enhance learning and experimentation by creating a system where aircraft motion can be both simulated and physically observed in real time. The primary objective is to develop a cyber-physical flight simulation platform that links mathematical models with physical hardware. The system is designed to (1) represent aircraft dynamic behavior through real-time motion and (2) provide a foundation for integrating sensors and control strategies for responsive flight behavior. The platform combines aircraft dynamic models with a hardware interface capable of …

The Impact Of Environmental Contributing Factors In Spatial Disorientation And Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents, Victoria Cornaro, Molly Mersinger

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents   Spatial disorientation (SD) is an inherent risk of flying and with a high risk of resulting in a fatal accident (Gibbs et al, 2011). SD related accidents occur when a pilot’s perception of the aircraft altitude, position, or relative motion conflict with reality (Benson, 1999). SD accidents are significantly more likely to result in a fatality than non-SD cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different contributing factors on SD and non-SD general aviation accidents. We used the NTSB …

Ai-Driven Predictive Analysis Of Airline Profitability Under Macroeconomic And Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Shivika Singh

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study presents an AI-enhanced predictive model to assess airline profitability under the combined influence of macroeconomic trends and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). By including economic indicators such as GDP growth, inflation rates, and fuel price volatility with airline operational data, including ticket prices and fuel costs, the model simulates profitability across multiple carriers. Scenario-based analyses, encompassing optimistic, moderate, and pessimistic projections, illustrate different financial sensitivities between low-cost and legacy airlines.

Supply Chain Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Abigail Butcher

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding stability in complex supply chains remains a critical challenge due to nonlinear feedback, delayed responses, and sensitivity to parameter changes. This project presents a novel framework that applies bifurcation analysis to evaluate system stability, using the Oregonator autocatalytic chemical reaction model as an analog for supply chain dynamics. A parameter sweep of key model variables, particularly the stoichiometric factor f and the reaction rate constants k, is used to identify transitions between stable and oscillatory regimes. These transitions provide insight into how variations in feedback strength can drive instability in real-world systems. The framework will then be extended to …

Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction method for continuous strain analysis across heterogenous material interface layers   The transfer of strain across a material interface is a relevant concept to quantify for numerous aerospace applications that involve coatings applied to substrates of different materials, particularly in the field of high temperature materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a metrology technique capable of resolving strain within an arbitrary material by quantifying the shifts of Bragg peaks with respect to an unstrained sample and has seen increased use due to the capability of XRD to perform in-situ measurements on materials in extreme environments. Since different materials have …

Asymptotic Enumeration Of K-Bounded Functions Using Toeplitz Matrices, Tiago Cavalcante Trindade, Pedro Martineli

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

We introduce the concept of $(\alpha, \lambda)$-bounded functions, characterized by limited local variation, which is especially useful in discrete sets. Initially, we formally define these functions and investigate their fundamental properties, highlighting significant differences from continuous functions. The main result obtained is the asymptotic estimate of $a(n, k)$, representing the number of functions from $[n]$ to $[n]$ that are $k$-bounded with respect to the Manhattan distance. The proof of this result combines Toeplitz matrices with a well-known inequality from graph theory.

Techniques, Skills, And Synthesis For “Cooking” In The Organic Laboratory, Emily C. Sylvester, Tim Evans

Open Education Materials

Lab manual for CHEM 211L, Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. Provides background and procedures for laboratory experiments, including fundamental techniques and several organic syntheses.

Creative Commons attribution.

The Use Of Chitosan-G-Poly (Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide) In The Delivery Of Imatinib In The Small Intestine, Dawson Ohrt, Clint Everard

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

The use of hydrogels as drug delivery systems is the future of biotechnology, hydrogels can offer a new way of controlled delivery to specific areas of the body. Hydrogel also create new possibilities for treatments of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). There are many different types of hydrogels that can be used in drug delivery. Hydrogels offer customizability in regard to the release of drugs in specific environments. The chemical properties of hydrogels allow for them to be manipulated for specific functions such as release at a specific pH . The hydrogel being used in the study is Chitosan-G-Poly (Acrylic Acid …

Developing An Object Level Understanding Of Sine And Cosine As Ratios And A Coherent Trigonometry, Jeffrey Peter Nair

Theses and Dissertations

Solving right-triangle problems as well as integrating right-triangle and circular trigonometry into a coherent understanding are documented challenges for students. Prior research has deeply investigated students constructing ratio meanings for sine and cosine using a circle-first approach, which then can be extended to right triangles. Also, past work has separately documented distinct meanings that are useful for sine and cosine, in addition to the ratio meaning, including as lengths in a unit circle and coordinate points. This study took these existing ideas and put them together into one possible developmental progression, based on APOS theory, where students can learn length, …

Temperature And Hydrologic Context Influence Methane Variability In A Low-Salinity Marsh, Zoie Brauser

Dissertations and Theses

Coastal wetlands are biogeochemical hotspots that capture and transform carbon and nutrients. Wetland restoration is increasingly used as a climate mitigation strategy because of wetlands' capacity to sequester large amounts of carbon. However, low-salinity tidal marshes exhibit high variability in methane (CH₄) emissions, which could partially offset carbon sequestration under certain conditions. Understanding the drivers of CH₄ variability is crucial for restoration and conservation work. This project uses an observational research approach to assess the relationships between environmental factors and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CH₄ soil gas fluxes in a restored low-salinity tidal marsh …

Engaging University Students In A Non-History Course With History, Cynthia Huffman Ph.D., William Huffman

PD Day 2026

Incorporating history into a non-history university classroom builds real-world relevance, sharpens critical thinking, and boosts engagement. By anchoring abstract theories in historical case studies, origin stories, and ethical dilemmas, educators bridge the gap between textbook concepts and professional practice. In this session, we will discuss reasons for using history in non-history courses and provide examples of a variety of subject-specific implementation strategies.

Operating Room Scheduling And Workflow Optimization In Acute Care Hospitals, Waleed Tawfik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Operating room scheduling inefficiencies in acute care hospitals contribute to delays, prolonged turnover times, cancellations, underused capacity, overtime, higher costs, and reduced timely access to surgery. This integrative review examined evidence-based, systems-oriented scheduling and workflow strategies to improve operating room utilization, reduce delays, and enhance operational efficiency. Guided by general systems theory, a structured search identified 196 database-level records; 28 articles underwent full-text review, and 20 sources were retained for thematic synthesis after critical appraisal using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice criteria. The thematic analysis revealed four main themes: standardized workflow coordination, data-driven scheduling and decision support, integrated resource and …

Synthetic Strategies For Bioactive Peptides: From Aggregation Inhibitors To The Total Synthesis Of Tunicyclin C, Stephanie Graciela Garcia Morin

Theses and Dissertations

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), a brain protein called "tau" abnormally clumps and forms neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), causing damage to brain cells. Ac-PHF6-NH2 is a hexapeptide segment of tau protein that plays a dominant role in tau aggregation and is used as a model to design tau protein aggregation inhibitors. In this research we synthesized four dehydroamino acid (□AA) containing PHF6 analogues with △Abu (derived from L-threonine) and △Val (derived from □-OH-Valine) at position 2 or 3 via dehydrations or azlactone ring-openings as key reactions. We evaluated their proteolytic resistance, ability to inhibit aggregation of PHF6, and impact on the morphology …

Measuring Proteostasis Changes In Apolipoprotein E Mouse Models Using Quantitative And Kinetic Proteomic Methods, Ariel E.A. Denos

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurological disorder associated with brain mass loss and cognitive decline. It affects millions of elderly people and is currently uncurable. Since 1906, when the disease was first described, researchers have uncovered many components of AD pathology. However, it is now evident that curing Alzheimer's Disease will require intervention before the pathological onset of amyloid beta plaque deposition, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and associated neuronal loss. Studying AD from the perspective of early intervention requires special attention to small changes that may disrupt the normal processing of cells. Cells undergo a natural cycle of creation and destruction …

Multi-Band Extinction Modeling In Early-Type Galaxies With Circumnuclear Disks, Nonnie Bash

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we present a spatially resolved, multi-band dust-attenuation method for correcting the stellar luminosity models used in dynamical supermassive black hole (BH) mass measurements. If uncorrected, dust extinction effects may dominate over other systematic uncertainties when determining the BH mass ($M_\mathrm{BH}$). We expand on a simple dust-attenuation method that treats the circumnuclear disk as a thin dust layer embedded in the galaxy midplane. Using a Multi-Gaussian Expansion, we create a three-dimensional stellar luminosity model to calculate the fractions of stellar light originating in front of and behind the disk along each line of sight. We infer the pixel-by-pixel …

Scan Statistics For Nonhomogeneous Poisson Processes: A Method For Cnv Detection, Asanka Rathnayaka Duwage

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies scan statistics for detecting localized changes in non-homogeneous Poisson processes. The motivating problem arises from genomic sequencing data, where tumor and normal read locations may differ over short regions due to copy number variation, while the underlying event intensity varies across the domain. In this setting, methods based on homogeneous Poisson process assumptions are not appropriate. The dissertation develops and studies scan-based methods for detecting local differences while accounting for non-homogeneous structure. Three related approaches are considered. The first develops a scan statistic for a nonhomogeneous Poisson process and uses extreme value calibration after transformation under the …

Exploring Rural Ap Stem Motivation, Interests, And Aspirations: A Self-Determination Theory Lens, Erin Seger Mcguire

Theses and Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have become the focal point of many countries around the world, with the intention of strengthening national renown by being the first to make advancements in STEM domains. The United States has recognized the importance of STEM and STEM education, though these efforts are lacking in rural areas, like Mississippi. These schools often serve underrepresented populations and may be unable to financially support learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, the national teacher shortage disproportionately affects science and mathematics classes; in rural schools, teachers in these areas may be underqualified, as the schools …

Optimization Of Punicalagin-Releasing In Situ Forming Microparticles (Prism) For Treatment Of Osteoarthritis, J. Alejandra Amaya

Theses and Dissertations

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by inflammation and degradation of articular cartilage, of which disease-modifying therapies are limited. Punicalagin (PUN), a polyphenol with cartilage-protective and anti-inflammatory properties, has inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase-13 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study aims to optimize formulation of punicalagin-releasing in situ forming microparticles (PRISM) by varying polymer concentration, polymer ratio, solvent ratio, and oil-to-polymer ratio. Design of Experiment (DoE) software was used to generate 25 formulations. PRISM was created by emulsifying the polymer/drug solutions in sesame oil. Drug release data was measured via optical absorption readings and particle size determined by both scanning electron microscope (SEM) …

A Comparative Study Of Synthetic Aperture Radar Focus Algorithms For Maritime Surveillance Applications, Madison M. Forrest

Theses and Dissertations

Maritime Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is frequently degraded by vessel motion and ocean-induced dynamics that violate the stationary scene assumptions of conventional SAR image formation, resulting in azimuth defocus and reduced image interpretability. Autofocus techniques are commonly employed to mitigate these effects; however, their relative performance in maritime environments and the tradeoffs between image quality and computational complexity remain areas of ongoing investigation. This work presents a comparative evaluation of three established SAR autofocus algorithms—Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA), Minimum Entropy (ME), and the Doppler Parameter Estimation Algorithm (DPEA)—applied to real-world maritime SAR imagery. The study utilizes X-band SAR data …

A Study On The Welfare And Crop-Residue Ameliorating Potential Of Acheta Domesticus In The Context Of Insect Sequestration, Metabolism, And Excretion Of Three Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, And Zearalenone, Ryan Thomas Paulk

Theses and Dissertations

Mycotoxins are a food security issue that affects all crops globally, but to varying degrees, due to the ubiquity of fungi that produce them. Developing new agricultural practices that can ameliorate lost nutrients post-contamination by removing mycotoxins for the next levels in the food chain can remedy an inevitable effluent in the circular economy. Farmed insects, such as the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, can potentially consume moldy, mycotoxin contaminated grains safely without transferring them to other trophic levels. The experiments herein test the biology of A. domesticus to consume three individual mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone. In addition to …

Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Use Of Representations To Compare Fractions In Area, Length, And Set Contexts, Sarah Salisbury

Theses and Dissertations

Mathematics teachers’ knowledge of rational numbers is very important due to the prominence of fraction concepts across the K-12 curriculum. Preservice teachers (PSTs) typically only have a procedural understanding of fractions and lack conceptual understanding (Newton, 2008). PSTs struggle to construct pedagogical representations that correctly show the size of parts and wholes (Lee & Lee, 2019). The purpose of this study was to investigate PSTs’ ability to compare fractions by examining their selection and creation of appropriate and accurate fraction representations in context, including the use of area, length, and set representations. The purpose was also to determine the extent …

Improving The Hemp Fiber Supply Chain: Barriers, Innovations, And Regulatory Impacts, Sneha Chapagain

Theses and Dissertations

The hemp fiber sector in the United States has seen significant growth challenges, including a lack of processing infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and limited research. The Theory of Constraints and Systems Engineering frameworks are used in this study to carefully analyze these difficulties. The study identifies important bottlenecks, investigates system-wide inefficiencies, and examines the impact of regulatory complexity using a survey of key supply chain stakeholders. The findings emphasize the need for more processing capacity, better coordination among supply chain actors, and more policy harmonization. The report also identifies stakeholder-driven improvements in technology, transportation, and market integration that could boost efficiency …

Toward Secure Genomic Intelligence: Privacy-Preserving Deep Learning Frameworks For Cancer Classification And Collaborative Analysis, Yibo Dong

Theses and Dissertations

Genomic data contains highly sensitive personal information, yet cancer classification and collaborative medical research increasingly depend on sharing such data across institutions. Existing privacy-preserving approaches for deep learning, including differential privacy (DP) and standard federated learning (FL), leave critical vulnerabilities: DP degrades model utility through noise injection, while FL relies on a trusted aggregation server that remains susceptible to gradient-based attacks. This dissertation develops, evaluates, and optimizes a series of privacy-preserving deep learning frameworks specifically designed for genomic cancer classification. First, a systematic benchmarking study evaluates DP, FL, and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) across three deep learning architectures (fully connected …

Psychological Interventions For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities In The Context Of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Evangelos Mantsos, Soultana Papadopoulou, Efthymia Efthymiou, Maria Theodoratou, Maria Sofologi, Eugenia Toki

All Works

Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Abstract Background/Objectives: This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities …

Exploring Emergency Manager Decision-Making Regarding Heat Hazards Using Protection Motivation Theory, Nathaniel Mirly

Theses and Dissertations

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States, yet it remains under-recognized despite rising mortality and intensifying climate trends. This qualitative study explored decision-making processes regarding heat hazards among 15 county-level emergency managers in the Northern Gulf Coast region using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as a guiding framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining deductive coding of PMT constructs with inductive identification of independent themes. Key findings showed reliance on verbal persuasion and prior experience as primary information sources, threat appraisals moderated by normalization and deprioritization of heat due to other …

Interpretable Model For Chlorophyll-A Using Symbolic Regression-Genetic Programming., Ruta Narkhede

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores application of symbolic regression using genetic programming (SRGP) to develop interpretable analytical models. Most state-of-the-art machine learning techniques produce models with reasonable predictive accuracy. However, the black-box nature of these models occludes the relationship between inputs and outputs. Symbolic regression using genetic programming evolves an analytical equation that is transparent, interpretable, and portable, allowing researchers to easily apply the models on the field with minimal equipment and inputs. This study demonstrates the capability of genetic programming to generate accurate and explainable models, highlighting its potential as an alternative to traditional machine learning approaches where interpretability is an …

The Impact Of Interactive Digital Tools On Students’ Engagement And Learning Outcomes In Economics, Ashram Ramgarib

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how the integration of digital tools in a constructivist framework improved student learning outcomes and learning engagement in the 12th-grade economics class. The quasi-experimental design was used. Sixty participants took part in the study. Five research questions guided the study. Data collection involved administering a pretest, a posttest, and a survey questionnaire. However, the survey questionnaire was administered only to the quasi-experimental group. Data analysis included calculating percentages, means, standard deviations, t-tests, correlations, and ANOVA. The findings showed that the quasi-experimental group outperformed the control group. The results revealed that 63% of the students in the quasi-experimental …

Sustainability Challenges And Opportunities In A University Police Fleet: A Case Study Of Idling, Emissions, And Electrification Potential, Van Slusser

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This case study examines fleet sustainability challenges within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police Department, a multicampus public safety agency operating aging gasoline vehicles central to daily patrol and administrative functions. Rising maintenance costs, increased vehicle downtime, and extensive idling created both operational strain and avoidable environmental impacts. Aging internal-combustion vehicles contributed to elevated emissions and fuel consumption, particularly under high-heat conditions and equipment demands typical of campus policing. Telematics monitoring indicated that approximately 48% of total engine-on time consisted of idling, highlighting a substantial source of avoidable fuel use and emissions. The study employed a qualitative case …