Digital Commons Network^™

Investigations Of Secure Memory For Vlsi Based Crypto System, Vijay Sai R Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconductor technology is growing very rapidly in their architectural developments, involving the usage of processor and memory. Presence of memory, in general is a vital commodity in various devices which are almost embedded into human activity, from robust work stations to handy mobile phones. Security of data stored in memory is very important, and hence, observation must be made that these valuable data should not be thwarted by malicious means. Security in cache memory is a major issue in memory related applications such as smart cards and bio-metric implementations.

Cache, is a small and limited memory located between central processing …

Geol 12 Natural Disasters Syllabus, Anestoria Shalkowski

Open Educational Resources

Hazards are events which have the capabilities to damage property and or life. Understanding natural hazards and how these can become disasters are important in reducing the impacts of such events. This syllabus provides a description of the material to be examined and the expected student outcomes upon completion of the course.

Development Of Low-Profile Wideband Microstrip Antennas For Cubesat Phased-Array Applications, Mitchell R. Hay

Engineering

CubeSat missions rely heavily on effective communication systems in order to transmit and receive large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. The total throughput is limited by the capacity of the channel - a quantity dependent upon the signal quality and bandwidth of the link. Volume and power constraints on a CubeSat impede overall capacity in a fixed bandwidth channel. Phased-array antennas provide a more power efficient solution to improving signal quality by optimizing the spatial properties of the link, rather than broadcasting higher signal power over a broader area through power amplification alone. In order to take advantage of …

Geotechnical Investigation Of Sand Flow Slides, Haines, Alaska, Christopher Kalev

Engineering

The Lutak Spur (LS) - a prominent glacio-deltaic landform located near Haines, Alaska - formed during the retreat of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum. This study evaluates its geologic evolution, soil development, and hydrologic-slope stability response to a December 2020 atmospheric river (AR) event, which triggered multiple slope failures. Geologic mapping and interpretation of previous work suggest that the LS formed as an ice­ contact kame delta at the margin of a retreating valley glacier. Following deglaciation, post­ glacial isostatic adjustment and sea-level changes exposed the LS surface, allowing for the development of Spodosols with iron-cemented …

Effect Of Climate Change On Arctic Water Quality, Karki Sarthak

Engineering

Climate change is fundamentally altering Arctic hydrological systems, impacting water quality and posing challenges for communities dependent on these vulnerable sources. This study examines water quality trends across three distinct Arctic contexts: (1) Arctic glaciers, (2) the Yukon River Basin (YRB), encompassing a five-year dataset (2019-2023) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulfate, and stable water isotopes (δ2H, δ18O, and d-excess) across varying permafrost regions and seasons, and (3) Shishmaref, Alaska, where a washeteria-based drinking water system is affected by environmental and seasonal changes triggered by climate change and coastal erosion. By addressing both regional hydrology and community-specific challenges, the study …

Effects Of Eogo In Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer, Chaewon Lee, Hoyoung Lee, Jinwoo An, Boo Hyun Nam

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Geopolymer concrete uses a geopolymer binder instead of traditional Portland cement; thus, it reduces carbon emissions by a significant amount. In this study, Edge-Oxidized Graphene Oxide (EOGO), a carbon-based nanomaterial, was added into a metakaolin-based geopolymer, and its effect on the mechanical and rheological properties of the mixture was investigated. EOGO was added into the mixture at 0% (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% of the metakaolin mass. Several experiments were conducted to characterize the properties of the metakaolin–EOGO (MKGO) geopolymer, including its compressive strength, free–free resonance column (FFRC), void content, water absorption, setting time, flow, and rheology. It was found …

Seasonal Predictability Of Sea Ice And Boreal Fire In Alaska, Cecilia Borries-Strigle

Atmospheric Sciences

Attribution studies have shown that warming Arctic temperatures have led to a substantial loss of sea ice and an increase in large wildfire seasons. With wildfire and sea ice decline impacting everyday life by disrupting transportation or damaging infrastructure, for example, a clear need for skillful forecasts at seasonal timescales has emerged. This dissertation addresses critical challenges in seasonal prediction for wildfire and sea ice in Alaska. The first study evaluates outlooks of Buildup Index derived from three seasonal forecasts to assess their skill in predicting fire conditions. Forecast skill is greatest during the wind (April 1-June 10) and drought …

Reanalysis And (Near) Real-Time Inversion Of Deformation Observations At Alaskan Volcanoes, Mario Fernando Angarita Vargas

Geosciences

Forecasting volcanic eruptions remains challenging due to the complexity and limited understand­ing of volcanic processes. However, recent studies have shown that integrating multidisciplinary data from past eruptions can improve forecasts for monitored volcanoes. The PREEVENTS project addresses this challenge identifying patterns prior, during or following volcanic eruptions on mul­tidisciplinary data. The project considers four disciplines: Geodesy, Petrology, Seismology and Gas/Geochemistry. This dissertation contributes with two novel tools to analyze geodetic data. The first tool exploits the amplitude from SAR imagery to quantify morphology changes during erup­tions. The tool has been verified with a synthetic case and validated with a dome …

Toward Multidisciplinary Volcanic Eruption Models And Forecasts In Alaska: Contributions From Automated Seismic And Acoustic Signal Detection, Darren Tan

Geosciences

Explosive, ash-generating volcanic eruptions pose an increasing threat to a growing, globally connected population. Accurate forecasts of volcanic eruptions remain challenging due to the complex­ity of volcanic systems, but recent multidisciplinary synthesis efforts have proven effective. The National Science Foundation Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS) project aims to re-analyze and combine multidisciplinary observations at eight Alaska volcanoes to develop eruption forecast models. Leading the seismology and infrasound discipline, this dis­sertation details the development of automated tools capable of producing high-resolution catalogs of volcanic unrest signals from continuous seismic and acoustic data. By leveraging these catalogs and synthesizing …

Exploring Longitudinal Stability Of Spatiotemporal Sequential Patterns By Means Of Autoencoder Schemes For Eeg Based Personal Identification, Muhammed E. Oztemel

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Robust personal identification remains a critical and challenging task in the digital era. Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a unique biometric modality that captures individual brain dynamics through complex neural signals. This dissertation proposes autoencoder (AE) based feature extraction and subject identification through these features. EEG recordings are first transformed into topographic maps to represent spatial brain activity. Consecutive topomaps are then concatenated to capture temporal transitions across frames. Convolutional autoencoders (CAEs) are used to learn spatial and temporal patterns, while domain-adaptive AEs are designed to model evoked potential based responses. Additionally, self-attention mechanism is incorporated to enhance feature representation. To analyze …

An Integrated Literature Review Examining Nurse Burnout Interventions, Wislande Joseph

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Nurse burnout has detrimental consequences for patients, nurses, and organizations and can negatively impact patient outcomes, nurse quality of life, and organizational costs. This integrated literature review aimed to examine interventions for nurse burnout in order to identify what characterizes effective interventions, whether evidence supports implementing such interventions, and how the most commonly-implemented intervention type (mindfulness-based) in particular impacts signs and symptoms of nurse burnout. A two-part search was conducted of CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and APA PsychInfo. Part one investigated burnout interventions broadly using the primary search terms nurse burnout and interventions; part two focused specifically on mindfulness-based interventions …

Uncovering The Hidden High School Experiences Of Asian American Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Approach, Julia Shin

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Most research regarding Asian American adolescents’ high school experiences have been quantitative in nature, leaving out the nuances of their lived experiences. While quantitative data is important to gather measurable, objective data from a larger sample of people, qualitative data is also important to add depth and humanness to participant responses. Thirty-two Asian American young adults participated in a mixed methods study that consisted of a survey and optional focus group, aiming to explore the impact of the internalization of the model minority stereotype (MMS), ethnic identity, and representation of racially and ethnically minoritized teachers on their high school experiences. …

Msw Portfolio-Transformation, Resilience, Holding Hope, Shannon Calhoun

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Master Of Social Work Professional Portfolio, Allison H. Deaver

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This MSW Portfolio encapsulates my learning journey throughout my MSW program, and includes selected projects which demonstrate critical steps in this journey.

Msw Portfolio, Ryan Murray

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Capstone Portfolio Presentation of summarization of social work competencies and dimensions tying together scholastic work and practicum experience over the last three years of my MSW program journey.

Msw Portfolio, Keri Tallis

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

A Reflection Of An Msw Student, Dylan Vogel

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Eryn Eva Robinson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio narrative chronicles my professional and personal development throughout my Master of Social Work (MSW) program, reflecting a journey grounded in Indigenous values, trauma-informed practice, and a commitment to social justice. Rooted in my identity as a Native American woman and informed by my grandmother’s survival of the Indian boarding school system, my practice philosophy emphasizes healing-centered engagement, cultural humility, and systemic advocacy. Through diverse practicum experiences, ranging from managing after-school youth programs to clinical work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) supporting children on the autism spectrum, I integrated theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice. I applied frameworks such …

Multi-Layered Framework For Llm Hallucination Mitigation In High-Stakes Applications: A Tutorial, Sachin Hiriyanna, Wenbing Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Large language models (LLMs) now match or exceed human performance on many open-ended language tasks, yet they continue to produce fluent but incorrect statements, which is a failure mode widely referred to as hallucination. In low-stakes settings this may be tolerable; in regulated or safety-critical domains such as financial services, compliance review, and client decision support, it is not. Motivated by these realities, we develop an integrated mitigation framework that layers complementary controls rather than relying on any single technique. The framework combines structured prompt design, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with verifiable evidence sources, and targeted fine-tuning aligned with domain truth …

The Future Intensification Of Hydrological Extremes And Whiplashes In The Contiguous United States Increase Community Vulnerability, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, John D. Bolten, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Hydroclimatic whiplash rapid shifts between drought and flood poses growing risks to U.S. communities. Here, we assess historical extremes and future projections using a normalized streamflow metric: the annual mean flow’s deviation from the 1981–2020 average, expressed as a fraction of that average. This metric is applied to United States Geological Survey records and Localized Constructed Analogs downscaled projections under Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5. Results reveal sharp regional disparities, with drought deficits exceeding 300% of normal flow during multi-year droughts. By linking hydrologic outcomes with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index, we find that counties facing …

Kdm2b Variants In The Cxxc Domain Impair Its Dna-Binding Ability And Cause A Distinct Neurodevelopmental Syndrome, Amber S E Van Oirsouw, Michael A Hadders, Martijn Koetsier, Edith D J Peters, Nurit Assia Batzir, Tahsin Stefan Barakat, Diana Baralle, Adelyn Beil, Marie-Noëlle Bonnet-Dupeyron, Philip M Boone, Arjan Bouman, Deanna Alexis Carere, Benjamin Cogne, Leslie Dunnington, Laura S Farach, Casie A Genetti, Bertrand Isidor, Louis Januel, Aakash Joshi, Nayana Lahiri, Kristen N Lee, Idit Maya, Meriel Mcentagart, Hope Northrup, Mathilde Pujalte, Kate Richardson, Susan Walker, Bobby P C Koeleman, Mariëlle Alders, Richard H Van Jaarsveld, Renske Oegema

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rare variants affecting the epigenetic regulator KDM2B cause a recently delineated neurodevelopmental disorder. Interestingly, we previously identified both a general KDM2B-associated episignature and a subsignature specific to variants in the DNA-binding CxxC domain. In light of the existence of a distinct subsignature, we set out to determine if KDM2B CxxC variants are associated with a unique phenotype and disease mechanism. We recruited individuals with heterozygous CxxC variants and assessed the variants' effect on protein expression and DNA-binding ability. We analyzed clinical data from 19 individuals, including ten previously undescribed individuals with seven novel CxxC variants. The core phenotype of the …

The Silent Epidemic: Equipment Maintenance Failures And Patient Outcomes In Ghana's Healthcare System, Ramseyer Adekorang Asamoah, Celene Dzreke, Evans Dzreke, David Kanzin

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Broken tools indicate a broken system. This new study reveals how medical equipment failures destroy Ghana's public hospitals, turning life-saving technologies into silent murderers that disproportionately affect rural areas. Moving beyond technical diagnostics, we study the cascading systemic failures, chronic underfunding, critical staff shortages, and fragmented supply chains that leave 40% of vital equipment, such as ventilators, MRI scanners, and dialysis machines, inoperable at any given time. We quantify the devastating human toll through rigorous mixed-methods analysis of equipment downtime records across ten regional hospitals (2018-2023) and profound narratives from 50 frontline stakeholders, doctors forced to improvise without working incubators, …

Resilience And Mental Health: Unraveling The Interplay Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress In First-Generation College Students, Indyah Ferrouillet, Bemsimbom Nkuo, Patrick J. Cooper

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Research suggests a moderate incidence of depression, anxiety, and especially stress among college students (Ramon-Arbues et al., 2020). It is reasonable to believe that these mental health outcomes might be inversely correlated with resilience, the ability to adapt to new challenges. In this study, we hypothesize an inverse correlation between resilience stress, anxiety, and depression. In other words, college students who feel resilient will experience greater mental health and wellness. Building on previous research that suggests these effects in women only (Ahmed & Julius, 2015), gender differences will be examined. Few studies have attempted to see whether these correlations are …

Receiver Function Imaging Of The Mantle Transition Zone Beneath The East Sayan Mountains And Adjacent Area In Central Asia: Implications For Lithospheric Drip And Intraplate Cenozoic Volcanism, Yangyang Liao, Kelly H. Liu, Stephen S. Gao

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To provide constraints on the formation mechanisms of intracontinental volcanisms and intriguing lithospheric thickness variations in the East Sayan Mountains and surrounding areas, we stack P-to-s receiver functions to image the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities. Mantle transition zone (MTZ) thickening observed in a continuous area is attributable to ancient slab remnants, and Cenozoic volcanisms in the peripheral area can be explained by slab dehydration. The thinning of the MTZ in the Tuva-Mongolian Massif can be explained by mantle upwelling branches induced by slab subduction. Our results reveal an approximately circular area in the MTZ that is significantly thicker than usual, …

Exploring The Ant: How Well Do Three Attention Networks Predict Road Hazard Perception, Xander Philip Martinez

Master's Theses

Hazard perception is the ability of a driver to anticipate emerging dangers. Driving is a complex activity requiring attention to various stimuli to prevent accidents. Prior studies have shown that older, experienced drivers detect more cues and perceive hazards better than younger, inexperienced drivers. Attention is multifaceted, and three visual attention networks were focused on in the study: alerting (readiness), orienting (spatial focus), and executive control (distraction inhibition). A sample of 95 participants completed two tasks: The Attention Network Test was used to assess these three attention networks, and to measure road hazard awareness, participants viewed short dashcam videos (~233 …

Single Balloon Enteroscopy In The Elderly, Marc J Zuckerman, Majd Michael, Mohammad Bashashati, Alok K Dwivedi, Nancy A Casner, Mohamed O Othman, Sherif E Elhanafi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is a minimally invasive procedure to assess and treat small bowel pathologies. The most common use is to detect suspected small bowel bleeding: Insignificant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). The safety and feasibility of SBE in the elderly has not been adequately studied.

Aim: To assess the safety and feasibility of both antegrade and retrograde SBE in elderly patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all antegrade and retrograde SBE done at our center from March 2011 through May 2020. We collected patient's data including demographics, indications, findings, therapeutic interventions, and …

Cinematic Empathy: Autistic Interpretation Of Social Cues In Narrative Film, Lux Gomez

University Honors Theses

From research and lived experience we can see a pattern of Autistic people engaging and forming connection with emotional narratives in media, despite stereotypes suggesting they lack empathy or theory of mind. This mixed-methods study sought to lay the groundwork and start preliminary investigation into how film’s structured formal elements may facilitate autistic viewers’ interpretation of social cues that typically challenge autistic-allistic (nonautistic) communication in real life. A sample of 22 participants (13 autistic, 9 allistic) viewed five film scenes depicting lying, flirting, sarcasm, exposition, and flat affect and completed a survey. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. While …

Evaluation Of South Carolina’S Extension And Outreach Agents’ Knowledge Of Harmful Algal Bloom Management And The Impacts Of One-Day Training, George Strickland, Debabrata Sahoo, Michael Vassalos, Heather Nix, Sarah White

Journal of Extension

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact livestock producers. Most Extension agents have limited knowledge about HAB management. Our study goal was to assess agent readiness and training on HABs. We used data from in-person surveys of South Carolina (SC) Extension personnel. We examined how training influenced HAB knowledge using pre/post-tests. Training improved agent knowledge of HAB management, but water resource agents learned more. The results of this study can be used to identify Extension training shortfalls and drive policy to better prepare agents throughout the state. Further research should involve prioritizing additional extension topics and assessing knowledge in a similar manner.

Unlocking Professional Success: The Power Of Workforce Resilience & Cooperative Extension, Rachel Brauner, Andrew Bronson Crocker, Lakshmi Mahadevan, L. Chris Plein

Journal of Extension

OneOp, a virtual professional development platform dedicated to bolstering the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness System, offers valuable insights into strategies that Cooperative Extension can adopt to enhance workforce resilience. Workforce resilience refers to the capacity of employees to effectively navigate challenging circumstances, cope with stress, adapt to new conditions, and sustain motivation within their work environment. An assessment based on the OneOp webinar series on resiliency delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic identifies best practices that Cooperative Extension can employ to impart essential resilience skills to both individuals and service providers, contributing to a more resilient and adaptable workforce.

Stress Management Is ‘In The Cards’ For Farmers And Ranchers: The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum, Alison L. Brennan, Katharine Sutphen, Parker T. Webb, Michelle U. Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers need practical, culturally appropriate stress management resources. The Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum (MWCC) is a novel approach to health promotion that relies on community facilitators to share stress management information using a customized deck of playing cards organized around specific wellness themes. We implemented and evaluated two facilitator trainings in 2023. Training participants reported increases in relevant knowledge, as well as improved confidence about leading mental wellness events. The MWCC is currently being adapted for use with additional, diverse audiences. Future research should explore the implementation and impact of this innovative health promotion modality.