Digital Commons Network^™

Multi-Level Grey Optimization Of Dimensional Deviations And Productivity In Fdm-Printed Pla And Petg Spur Gears, Atidel Ghorbel, Rania Ben Amor, Adama Traore, Sosso Gloire Kondo, Youmni Rakib, Ahmed Elloumi

Babylonian Journal of Mechanical Engineering

This study investigates the multi-level Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) for the simultaneous optimization of dimensional accuracy and productivity in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) of PLA and PETG spur gears. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was employed to evaluate the influence of key process parameters, including layer thickness, printing speed, and flow rate. Dimensional accuracy was assessed through multiple geometrical responses, namely internal diameter (Di), head diameter (Da), tooth thickness, and base thickness (Sb). These responses were integrated into a single performance index using Grey Relational Analysis. The results show that the optimal condition for PLA (Exp 9) achieves a maximum …

A Circularly Polarized Wideband H-Slot Microstrip Patch Antenna For 5g Applications, Kenneth Kalan John, Zhang Yixiang

Warith Scientific Journal of Engineering and Technology

A circularly polarized wideband H-slot compact patch antenna for 5G applicational implements is proposed. The structure adopts a three-layer architecture with a perfect electric conductor (PEC) copper foil radiation patch on top, Rogers RT5880 dielectric material in between and copper foil grounding plate. Theoretical analysis is conducted on the characteristics, working principles, and microstrip patch antenna parameters to design a wideband H-slot compact structure to achieve high performance. Simulation and measurement analysis are conducted with antenna modeling and optimization on the essential performance parameters. The proposed patch antenna is circularly polarized at the resonant 2.4 GHz frequency in the operational …

Re: Approval Letter For The Uncontrolled Surface Flow Areas Drainage C 95% Design Remedial Action Work Plan, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Fostering Meaningful Relationships In Middle School Music Ensembles And The Impact On Student Retention, Michael Andrew Murphy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although participation in music ensembles varies from school to school in the United States, many directors struggle to retain, let alone grow, the number of members that comprise their performance ensembles. This is often the result of scheduling, time constraints, financial obligations, and understanding the needs of student engagement. The purpose of this qualitative, ethnological study is to explore the impact of fostering meaningful relationships in middle school music ensembles and what role those relationships play in the retention of students. This study also investigates how students and teachers determine the meaningfulness of their relationships, the importance of those relationships …

Exceptional Holography (2025 Renewal, Revised Budget), Oscar Varela

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Cognitive And Emotional Development In An Inclusive High School Setting: A Study Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Roxanne Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with intellectual disabilities often experience cognitive deficits that limit the development of social cognition and critical thinking skills. Challenges in executive functioning, including reduced metacognitive awareness, emotional regulation, and self-regulation, further hinder their ability to plan, monitor, and adapt their thinking and behavior, creating barriers to success in inclusive educational settings. This mixed-methods pilot study examined the effects of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) program on the cognitive development of five high school students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in an inclusive Christian high school over one semester. Using a sequential explanatory design, quantitative data were collected via the MINDCAP …

The Effects Of Elementary Music Scheduling And Vertical Alignment On First-Year Middle School Ensemble Readiness: A Study Of Music Teacher Perceptions, James Mock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students entering middle school encounter many changes in how music is taught and organized. During this transition, music students are introduced to a greater emphasis on ensemble performance. These students enter middle school with diverse backgrounds in musical training and knowledge. Additional factors affecting students’ musical development include funding, socioeconomic background, and demographics. Elementary music scheduling and program vertical alignment may also influence students’ preparedness as they enter middle school. To become highly successful in music ensemble performance, students must have appropriate prior musical training before entering middle school.

This qualitative study will examine how elementary music schedules and vertical …

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Diggings East Dewatering Treatability Study Pre-Design Investigation Work Plan (Pdiwp) (Dated September 8, 2026) And The 2026 Final Diggings East Dewatering Treatability Study Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated September 8, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

September 2026 Academic Affairs Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Academic Affairs Committee

Academic Affairs Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Re-Education On Chlorhexidine (Chg) Bathing Protocol Affects Patient Chg Bathing Compliance And Surgical Site Infection (Ssi) Rates, Mary Samantha Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Surgical site infections (SSI) are considered a hospital-acquired infection, leading to increased hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, increased cost, morbidity, mortality rates, and poor postoperative outcomes. The literature review demonstrated the benefits of preoperative Chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing, but called for standardized protocols, improved education, and patient compliance. Research and clinical experience supported the need for improved patient compliance with CHG bathing. Consistent SSI rates even after protocol changes called for re-education of nursing staff in addition to addressing patient compliance issues. Therefore, providing re-education on the updated protocol, which addresses patient compliance issues, can lead to a reduction …

Resilient Ethical Governance By Design: Building Resilience For Future-Ready Smart Cities Against Emerging Technology Disruptions In Public Sector – A Case Study Of Dallas Smart City, Emmanuel Asamoah Asare

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how Dallas’s smart city strategic policies foster resilience against disruptions associated with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and Internet of Things systems. Using a convergent mixed-methods comparative case study, Dallas serves as the primary case, Austin serves as a U.S. municipal comparator, and Barcelona serves as a qualitative benchmark for ethical and trust-centered smart city governance. The study integrates document analysis, broadband and digital equity indicators, stakeholder engagement evidence, and exploratory quantitative comparisons to assess how governance adaptability, preparedness, functionality, equity, and stakeholder trust shape resilience outcomes.

The findings provide partial support for the study’s hypotheses. Dallas …

The Lack Of Social Interaction In The Full-Time Remote Work Environment And Career Development, Tiphany Moguel-Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the lack of social interaction in the full-time remote work environment and its influence on career development for remote workers at a U.S.-based financial services organization in Dallas, Texas. The theory that guided this study was social cognitive career theory. The central research question was, “What attributes of social interactions do remote workers perceive as assisting or hindering their career development?” Data collection consisted of semistructured interviews with nonmanagerial remote workers, a focus group with managers, and anonymous open-ended survey responses and reflective journaling from all participants. The data …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of General Education High School Teachers' Preparedness In Inclusive Classrooms, Indira Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of teachers’ preparedness in teaching students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms in urban high schools in New York City. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (1997). The central research question was: What are teachers’ lived experiences regarding their preparedness to teach students with disabilities in an inclusive high school classroom? Four sub-questions were used to further explore teachers’ lived experiences related to educational preparation, collaboration, co-teaching, and professional development. A qualitative phenomenological study was used to examine participants’ lived experiences in their natural …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Exploration Of Educational Support Model Accessibility And Parent-Perceived Connections To High School Outcomes For Students With Adhd In Georgia, Whitney Rae Bowden Kling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of parents of students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who attended public schools in Georgia, a southeastern state of the United States of America (USA), with a particular focus on how parents perceived the influence of access to, or denial of, Section 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) on their children's high school outcomes. The study was informed by the theoretical principles of behaviorism and Bronfenbrenner's bioecological process-person-context-time (PPCT) model to examine how access to individualized educational supports within the school microsystem influenced educational outcomes …

The Predictability Gap: A Correlation Study Of Supporting Pillars And Repertoire Success In Abrsm Practical And Performance Grades Piano Examinations, Arthur Chit-Ho Ng

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the structural predictability trajectories within the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) graded piano framework. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the project analyzed a longitudinal dataset (N = 449) to investigate variance in student achievement and the emergence of developmental plateaus, conceptually identified as the “Reading Wall.” Quantitative modeling revealed distinct structural divergences within the syllabus architecture: the traditional Practical Grades maintained a stable correlational signal between technical components and outcomes (r = .826 at Grade 7), whereas the digital Performance Grades yielded a non-significant association (p = .355). Furthermore, Grade 5 Music …

The Role Of Chess In Workforce Readiness: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis Of Problem Solving And Self Confidence In Exceptional Learners, Daniel K. Ray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, Pretest-Posttest-6-Week Follow-Up study was to examine the impact of a systematic chess curriculum on adult exceptional learners’ problem-solving skills and self-confidence. This research fills a gap in the literature by implementing chess-focused experiential learning to enhance workforce preparation and personal development for students with learning disabilities. The study utilized a sample of 84 adult exceptional learners from workforce development programs in Northeast Florida. Using a quantitative quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design, participants in a 12-week chess program were contrasted with a nonequivalent control group that received no intervention. Data were collected using the Problem-Solving …

Differentiated Instruction For Gifted Students In A North Carolina Title I School System: A Case Study, Kristal Land

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the differentiation of instructional methods used for cluster-grouped gifted students in third through eighth-grade regular education classes at TCSS, a Title I school in North Carolina. For the research, differentiation for cluster-grouped gifted students was defined as students who have been identified as gifted and are grouped together, typically in clusters of three to more than 10 students in a regular education setting. In this environment, teachers differentiate instruction to meet the advanced learning needs of their students. The theory guiding this study is Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. Multiple intelligences …

Interpretive Flexibility And The Social Construction Of Generative Ai In Education: A Scot Analysis, Elham Mousavidin, Sujin K. Horwitz

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools has intensified discussions about their role in education. This study uses the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework to explore how educational stakeholders interpret GenAI and how these interpretations influence its development and adoption. Through an interpretive literature review of research published between 2021 and 2025, we examine stakeholder perspectives using SCOT constructs, including relevant social groups, interpretive flexibility, technological frames, and controversies. Results identify three main interpretive tensions shaping current debates: transformational force versus transactional tool, cognitive augmentation versus cognitive atrophy, and digital empowerment versus digital enslavement. These tensions show …

Current Research On The Use Of Ai In Higher Education, Jim A. Mccleskey

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, has introduced profound opportunities and challenges for higher education. This paper presents a thematic scholarly review of recent empirical studies, systematic reviews, and conceptual analyses examining AI’s impact on teaching, learning, assessment, and institutional practice. The literature highlights substantial benefits associated with AI use, including increased academic productivity, personalized and adaptive learning pathways, enhanced accessibility for diverse learners, and new opportunities for pedagogical innovation. At the same time, significant risks emerge related to cognitive offloading, erosion of critical thinking, academic integrity, blurred authorship, assessment …

Agree To Disagree? Classification Agreement Among Discrepancy-Based Sld Models Used In School Psychology, Emma M. Ferns, Carlos O. Calderón-Tena

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

For decades, school psychologists have attempted to operationalize the federal definition of the most prevalent disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), specific learning disability. These attempts have led to three major identification method camps: the severe discrepancy approach, the patterns of strengths and weaknesses (PSW) approach, and the response-to-intervention approach—all of which are federally permissible under the IDEA. This study aimed to determine whether three operationalizations of the severe discrepancy approach (simple severe discrepancy using 1 and 1.5 standard deviations and the regression approach) identified the same students as those classified by their school as having an …

Comparison Of Gravity Separation And Flotation For Pyrite Recovery From Tailings, Gülay Bulut, Gönül Göksu Gökçe, Dilruba Karamanlı, Oğuzhan Mert Gürkan, Ergin Sarp Zenzirci, Binnur Kırım, Alim Gül

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Tailings generated during the production of lead, zinc, and copper concentrates contain significant amounts of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite. Pyrite, which remains in tailings after the recovery of other metals, is one of the main contributors to acid mine drainage (AMD). Therefore, recovering pyrite from tailings is environmentally and economically an important issue. In this study, pyrite recovery from tailings was investigated using flotation and gravity separation methods. Mineralogical characterization and liberation analyses were conducted by Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA), indicating that pyrite is the major sulfide mineral with over 76% liberation degree even in the coarsest fractions. Flotation tests …

20 Multifunctional Solutions For Hydraulics And Structural Frameworks Of Legged Robots: Self-Diagnostic Cartridge Valves, Mrf And Niti-Based Damping, Parametric Metamaterials, And Predictive Diagnostics, Volodymyr Kotegov

Defensive Publications Series

This document discloses twenty technical solutions for hydraulic drives, structural frameworks, and diagnostic systems of legged robots, unified by the design principle of a single physical element performing two or more functions simultaneously. These solutions encompass: self-diagnostic valves and seals utilizing impedance, piezoelectric, and NiTi mechanisms; damping and energy-recuperating structures based on magnetorheological fluids and liquid crystal elastomers; parametric metamaterial cells combining elastic, valving, and resonant functions; architectural designs for hardware-level hydraulic network survivability operating independently of electronics; cartridge interfaces with integrated opto-acoustic and electrochemical diagnostics; and a comprehensive structural joint architecture featuring three-level passive clamping and hydraulic lines routed …

Efficient In-Context Retrieval For Search Ads Via Pre-Computed Corpus Key-Value Caching, Ladan Rabiee, Felix Yu, Ruiqi Guo, Chris Collins, Tianyin Zhou

Defensive Publications Series

A system performs large-scale information retrieval using a large language model (LLM) by pre-computing a key-value (KV) cache for a document corpus. The retrieval prompt is structured into static and dynamic parts, where the static portion includes system instructions and the entire document corpus. In an offline process, the LLM processes this static portion to generate and store a corresponding KV cache. During online inference, the system loads the pre-computed KV cache and appends the dynamic user query, which enables the LLM to perform its attention-routing task without reprocessing the entire corpus. A layerwise prefilling technique manages the memory footprint …

Response To Reviewers — Emancipations Symposium On Profit And Power, Ronen Palan

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

System And Method For Temporally-Correct Point-In-Time Embedding Reconstruction From Append-Only Accumulator Delta Logs, Durga S. Kala, Xinrong Huang, Nishanth Telukunta, Sreekanth Kanichetty

Defensive Publications Series

A system (200) for point-in-time reconstruction of time-decayed behavioral embedding accumulator states for payment entities includes an append-only accumulator delta log (202) that records, for each accumulator update event, an entity identifier, an exact authorization timestamp, a D-dimensional embedding delta, a pre-computed exponential decay factor, and the resulting accumulator weight. A checkpoint store (204) periodically snapshots the accumulator state including a decayed sum, a total weight, and a timestamp for each entity. A reconstruction engine (206) reads the latest checkpoint prior to a query timestamp, replays all delta log entries for the entity with timestamp strictly less than the query …

Decoupled Pricing And Fulfillment Arbitrator For Multi-Destination Agentic Commerce Systems, Richa Gupta

Defensive Publications Series

A decoupled pricing and fulfillment arbitrator extends the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) to maintain volume-based discounts for e-commerce orders shipped to multiple destinations. The system operates through a two-phase cryptographic handshake, where the arbitrator first validates the total item quantity in a cart to secure a global price lock from a merchant’s application programming interface (API). The arbitrator then atomizes the single order into multiple, concurrent fulfillment requests, one for each distinct shipping address. By embedding a cryptographic bulk token into each parallel request, the arbitrator instructs the merchant’s system to bypass standard single-destination validation rules and apply the pre-approved …

Continuous Dimension Extraction For Semantic Product Organization, Nathan Grabaskas

Defensive Publications Series

Systems for organizing products on digital commerce platforms can be limited by rigid taxonomies that may not capture nuanced attributes, and some high-dimensional vector representations can lack interpretability. A computational framework can transform product information into a semantically organized and navigable space. The framework can encode products into high-dimensional vectors and then employ two parallel processes. One path may use clustering algorithms and generative language models to group products into labeled sub-archetypes. A second path may use non-linear dimensionality reduction followed by an iterative principal component analysis to extract and label continuous trade-off axes from the data. The resulting clusters …

Challenges, Trends, And The Role Of Lstm In Ai-Based Predictive Maintenance Of Electrolyzers For Solar Hydrogen Systems: A Review, Yani Koerniawan Kuatno, Muhamad Zahim Sujod

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The transition toward low-carbon energy systems has increased interest in hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, with solar-driven water electrolysis emerging as a promising technology due to its high efficiency and compatibility with renewable energy sources. However, dynamic operating conditions and intermittent renewable input accelerate electrolyzer degradation, reducing reliability and system lifespan. Predictive maintenance (PdM), supported by artificial intelligence (AI), offers a data-driven approach to anticipate failures and improve operational durability. This review systematically investigates AI-based PdM approaches for electrolyzers, with an emphasis on long short-term memory (LSTM) networks and Internet of things (IoT) integration. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 35 …

Dynamic Focal Loss Adjustment For Railway Defect Detection, Mehmet Koç, Ridvan Özdemi̇r, Ömer Gerek

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Railway infrastructure is critical to the safe and efficient operation of transportation systems, and the early detection of defects is essential for preventing catastrophic failures. Automated defect detection methods are therefore crucial for maintaining continuous safety while reducing maintenance costs. Although Focal Loss is widely used in object detection under class-imbalanced conditions, its fixed α parameter may limit its effectiveness in detecting rare defects. In this study, we propose an adaptive α-tuned Focal Loss approach that dynamically adjusts class weights based on average precision (AP) values. By iteratively optimizing α without relying on gradient-based optimization, the proposed method improves the …

Relative Rate Observer-Based Online Tuning Mechanism For Single-Input Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Pid Controllers, Oqba Aldreiei, Cenk Ulu, Mert Can Kurucu, Müjde Güzelkaya

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The characteristics of the footprint of uncertainty (FOU) in interval type-2 membership functions (IT2-MFs) are crucial to the performance and robustness of interval type-2 fuzzy controllers (IT2-FCs). However, existing IT2-FC design approaches mostly use fixed FOU structures. This study proposes an online membership function (MF) adjustment mechanism for a single-input interval type-2 fuzzy PID controller (SIT2-FPID)  that adjusts the FOU of the antecedent MFs and weights of the consequent MFs, respectively, to achieve high performance and robustness. The proposed online adjustment mechanism consists of a relative rate observer (RRO), a two-input rule-base adjustment system, and a first-order smoothing filter. The …