Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating Regulatory And Ethical Hurdles With Hexsat: A Detachable Net Casting Spider-Inspired Space Debris Removal Concept, Leonor Merino Osornio, Mostafa Hassanalian

Small Satellite Conference

As the amount of space debris in orbit continues to increase, the need for methods of mitigating space debris becomes urgent. Drawing inspiration from nature, a net casting spider-inspired method of space debris removal has been proposed. This method, embodied in the HexSat design, features six separate wedges that can deploy to form a net for capturing debris. Once the target debris is captured, HexSat will intentionally reenter the atmosphere, where it will burn up. Any missions aimed at cleaning up space debris will face numerous challenges posed by international space regulations. To assess these challenges, a hypothetical scenario was …

Putting The “Space” In Hyperspace: Investigating Hyperdimensional Computing For Space Applications, Ian R. Peitzsch, Evan W. Gretok, Alan D. George

Small Satellite Conference

Earth observation (EO) is currently a major application area of satellite operations. As more powerful imagers become more accessible and see increased use, these EO images will increase in size, which also increases the computational complexity of classifying them. Using neural networks for this task has limitations due to the small memory and compute capability possessed by embedded platforms. Instead, this research investigates a shift in machine-learning paradigms from neural networks to hyperdimensional computing (HDC). HDC uses very large vectors to represent and draw relations from data. HDC often has a lower latency, power usage, and memory footprint than neural …

Advancing Autonomy In Distributed Space Systems: Results From The Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy Experiment On Starling 1.0, Caleb Adams, Michael Iatauro, Brian Kempa, Richard Levinson, Jeremy Frank, Sergei Gridnev, Caroline Lassiter

Small Satellite Conference

The Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) team at NASA’s Ames Research Center presents results of the DSA experiment onboard the Starling 1.0 mission. The DSA system showcases collaborative resource allocation for multi-point science data collection with four small spacecraft, highlighting autonomy in decision-making as a crucial factor for multi-spacecraft missions. Central to DSA’s operations is an autonomous GPS channel selection process used to optimize channel selection across the spacecraft swarm; the goal is to demonstrate fast, autonomous reactions to relevant scientific data. This is showcased by demonstrating the ability to capture ionospheric phenomena such as the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly and Polar …

Adrenal Suppression From Vamorolone And Prednisone In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Results From The Phase 2b Clinical Trial, Alexandra Ahmet, Rebecca Tobin, Utkarsh J. Dang, Raoul Rooman, Michela Guglieri, Paula R. Clemens, Eric P. Hoffman, Leanne M. Ward

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Context: Vamorolone, a novel “dissociative” steroid, demonstrated similar efficacy in muscle function relative to prednisone 0.75 mg/kg/day but improved linear growth and bone turnover markers in a randomized trial of pediatric Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Objectives: To determine the frequency of adrenal suppression (AS) induced by vamorolone and prednisone in pediatric DMD and to assess cortisol thresholds using a monoclonal antibody immunoassay. Methods: Post hoc analysis of cortisol levels was performed on data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo- and prednisone-controlled 24- week trial of vamorolone with a 24-week crossover extension. Morning and ACTH-stimulated cortisol levels were measured using the Elecsys …

Remote Work Ergonomics: A Doctoral Capstone Experience, Kaynath Bhamani

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent, ensuring effective ergonomic practices in home-based work environments has emerged as a critical concern. This paper attempts to explore challenges that are associated with remote work and proposes solutions for creating healthier home office environments.

Reducing Hapi On A Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit, Emily Nicole Johansen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) are a global issue that harms patients, prolongs lengths of stay, and increases hospital costs and financial burdens. Because HAPIs are preventable, hospital organizations worldwide are implementing prevention strategies to improve the quality of care and quality of life and decrease costs associated with them.

Context: The 24-bed medical-surgical telemetry unit is one of five adult inpatient units within a Northern California hospital. The patient population includes an increased number of patients who are at risk of HAPI. The unit struggles with HAPI prevention, and the staff is challenged with implementing proper HAPI prevention …

Successful Implementation Of Hourly Rounding To Reduce Falls, Charles Langdon

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Patient falls in healthcare settings have significant implications, contributing to extended hospital stays, increased medical costs, and adverse physical and psychological effects on patients. This study explores the impact of patient falls, the potential benefits of implementing hourly rounding, and the strategies to reduce falls and improve patient outcomes.

Problem: A northern Californian hospital’s med surge/telemetry unit reported approximately 49 falls over the past two years. A quality improvement project was initiated to reduce falls and improve patient outcomes. The context section includes a microsystem assessment, purpose, and SWOT analysis, providing insights into the microsystem’s strengths, …

Increasing Operating Room Efficiency Through Decreased Turnover Times, R. Keith Wolfskill

Student Scholarly Projects

The Operating Room (OR) is the financial engine of the modern hospital or surgical center. Over 40% of the hospital's cost is invested in the OR, but the facility recoups a monetary return of around 60-70%. Turnover time is a crucial factor in reducing costs. Uncontrolled, it can inflate operating costs, but when managed effectively, it can boost surgeon, patient, and staff satisfaction, enhance patient safety, and significantly reduce operational costs. The literature underscores the importance of reducing the time between operating room turnovers to improve OR efficiency. A key strategy that research consistently shows to be effective is the …

Improving Utilization Of Interqual Among Case Managers/Patient Care Coordinators At Santa Clara Medical Center, Czar Binuya Viesca

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: The utilization management department at Santa Clara Medical Center had low compliance with InterQual criteria, at 35%. This resulted in inconsistent care decisions, poor resource allocation, and regulatory penalties, affecting patient care and performance.

Context: The project aimed to enhance InterQual utilization, aligning with Santa Clara Medical Center's goals of evidence-based, patient-centered care. The initiative was guided by Jesuit values and ANA ethical standards, focusing on service, justice, excellence, patient advocacy, and professional responsibility.

Interventions: The project implemented three main interventions: comprehensive training programs, regular audits, and performance recognition. These interventions aimed to address gaps and ensure the …

Teaching Shakespeare In Prison, Renford Reese, Rachel Tracie

Journal of Prison Education Research

The Prison Education Project (PEP) offers life skills and academic courses in 30 correctional facilities in California. Founded in 2011, PEP uses university student and faculty volunteers to teach a range of 32 introductory courses during three seven-week semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer. One of PEP’s most popular courses is the “Introduction to Shakespeare” course. This article examines the impact of teaching an “Introduction to Shakespeare” course in prison. This course introduces in-custody students to the literary interpretation of Shakespeare in the context of their own lived experience. Students in this course deconstruct the use of language and analyze the social, …

Modelling Climate Effects On Site Productivity And Developing Site Index Conversion Equations For Jack Pine And Trembling Aspen Mixed Stands, Mahadev Sharma

Aspen Bibliography

Forest site productivity estimates are crucial for making informed forest resource management decisions.These estimates are valuable both for the tree species currently growing in the stands and for those being considered for future stands. Current models are generally designed for pure stands and do not account for the influence of climate on tree growth. Consequently, site index (SI) conversion equations were developed specifically for jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) trees grown in naturally originated mixed stands. This work involved sampling 186 trees (93 of each species) from 31 even-aged mixed stands (3 …

Indonesia’S Development Strategy: The Path Of State Owned Enterprises Global Expansion, Farahdiba Rahma Bachtiar

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

Following the Asian Crisis, many believed that the era of the developmental state model had ended. However, amidst debates of pros and cons, there was a strong tendency to observe that, before the Jokowi administration, several Indonesian government policies were highly interventionist. This article examines the possibility that the developmental state model will no longer continue in Indonesia, which is merely a myth. Using a qualitative research approach that draws on various literature, including data from 2022–2024 and field research findings in Indonesia during the 2015–2021 period, this article argues that the developmental model has evolved toward a more practical …

Improving Patient Care Experience By Increasing Medication Communication, Honey Varghese

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Patient [DA1] care experiences profoundly impact a hospital's competitiveness and financial viability. Effective communication about medications and their potential side effects is not just a communication strategy but a powerful tool that signifies safe patient care, leads to improved health outcomes, improves medication compliance, and reduces readmissions related to medication side effects and non-compliance.

Problem: Effective communication about medications and their potential side effects is a significant indicator of safe patient care and improved health outcomes. The cardiac telemetry unit of a medical center in Northern California has not met the regional benchmark related to medication communication.

Context: The …

Identifying Student Profiles In A Digital Mental Rotation Task: Insights From The 2017 Naep Math Assessment, Xin Wei, Susu Zhang, Jihong Zhang

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mental rotation (MR), a key aspect of spatial reasoning, is highly predictive of success in STEM fields. This study analyzed strategies employed by 27,600 eighth-grade students during a digital MR task from the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics. Utilizing K-means cluster analysis to categorize behavioral and performance patterns, we identified four distinct profiles: Cognitive Offloaders (15% of the sample), Internal Visualizers (55%), External Visualizers (5%), and Non-Triers (25%). Cognitive Offloaders, skilled at minimizing cognitive load by eliminating incorrect options, demonstrated the highest MR accuracy rates at 45%. Internal Visualizers, relying less on digital tools and more …

Tumour-Intrinsic Endomembrane Trafficking By Arf6 Shapes An Immunosuppressive Microenvironment That Drives Melanomagenesis And Response To Checkpoint Blockade Therapy, Yinshen Wee, Junhua Wang, Emily C Wilson, Coulson P Rich, Aaron Rogers, Zongzhong Tong, Evelyn Degroot, Y N Vashisht Gopal, Michael A Davies, H Atakan Ekiz, Joshua K H Tay, Chris Stubben, Kenneth M Boucher, Juan M Oviedo, Keke C Fairfax, Matthew A Williams, Sheri L Holmen, Roger K Wolff, Allie H Grossmann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumour-host immune interactions lead to complex changes in the tumour microenvironment (TME), impacting progression, metastasis and response to therapy. While it is clear that cancer cells can have the capacity to alter immune landscapes, our understanding of this process is incomplete. Herein we show that endocytic trafficking at the plasma membrane, mediated by the small GTPase ARF6, enables melanoma cells to impose an immunosuppressive TME that accelerates tumour development. This ARF6-dependent TME is vulnerable to immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICB) but in murine melanoma, loss of Arf6 causes resistance to ICB. Likewise, downregulation of ARF6 in patient tumours correlates with …

Reless: A Framework For Assessing Safety In Deep Learning Systems, Nan Jia, Anita Raja, Raffi T. Khatchadourian

Publications and Research

Traditionally, software refactoring helps to improve a system's internal structure and enhance its non-functional features, such as reliability and run-time performance, while preserving external behavior including original program semantics. However, in the context of learning-enabled software systems (LESS), e.g., Machine Learning (ML) systems, it is unclear which portions of a software's semantics require preservation at the development phase. This is mainly because (a) the behavior of the LESS is not defined until run-time; and (b) the inherently iterative and non-deterministic nature of ML algorithms. Consequently, there is a knowledge gap in what refactoring truly means in the context of LESS …

[Mev Gamma-Ray Detector On The 50-Kg Class Satellite], K. S. Tanaka, J. Katasoka, R. Iwashita, R. Mori, T. Suga, S. Ogasawara, M. Tao, Y. Yatsu, C. Toshihiro, S. Takeda, M. Onishi

Small Satellite Conference

We are planning to launch a 50kg-class satellite named GRAPHIUM, equipped with a small, high-performance Hybrid Compton Camera (INSPIRE) for MeV gamma-ray astronomy. Since the launch of the COMPTEL satellite in 1991, there have been limited observations in the MeV gamma-ray band. However, this energy range is crucial for studying nucleosynthesis processes. GRAPHIUM aims to conduct a wide-area survey of nuclear gamma rays from the galactic plane and includes gamma-ray observaitons of solar flares as one of its objectives. Equipped with a hybrid Compton camera system, GRAPHIUM can perform simultaneous X-ray and gamma-ray imaging. This is achieved by integrating the …

Otter: A Small Satellite For Responsive Space, David Freiknecht, Marc Hafemeister

Small Satellite Conference

The dependence on space-based infrastructure for navigation and communication at sea and on land is greater than ever and provides a significant example of how the failure of a satellite can have far-reaching consequences for civilian and military end users depending on these capabilities. As the likelihood of a collision, technical failure or even an attack on the space architecture increases, the protection of this critical infrastructure in space becomes an even higher priority. This is where the Responsive Space Capabilities come into play which aim at recovering the missing capability in a quick manner. This can be achieved through …

Mission Sealion Integrated Cubesat Design Approach To Accommodate Mission Critical Payloads In A Low Earth Orbit, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi, Christopher Schappi, Jimesh Bhagatji, Joshua Warren, Jeries Abedrabbo

Small Satellite Conference

In the dynamic landscape of space applications, CubeSats have emerged as pivotal platforms for scientific research, technological innovation, and educational endeavors. As the demand for small form factor satellites continues to rise, there is an increasingly critical need for a holistic and rapid development approach in the design of CubeSat structures and payloads. This research focuses on Old Dominion University’s (ODU) integrated design approach of accommodating mission critical payloads in its second space mission, nicknamed Mission SeaLion. The 3U CubeSat class satellite mission is a partnership between ODU, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), and the U.S. Air Force Institute …

Our Dear Charles Williams: Tolkien’S Feelings About The Oddest Inkling, Sørina Higgins

Mythcon

At the zenith of the Inklings’s social and creative energy, Tolkien wrote a poem about “Our Dear Charles Williams.” It is a long poem—over three pages—full of praise, gentle teasing, and inside jokes. Many references may escape the casual reader or the Tolkien scholar who is less familiar with Williams’s works. Furthermore, the exact nature of the friendship between Tolkien and Williams has been frequently debated. In every friendship, loss is inevitable, whether through time, distance, conflict, or finally death. This is one such story. J.R.R. Tolkien and Charles Williams were friends for about six years–from 1939 until Williams’s sudden …

Testing Of Wideband Small Satellite Receivers In Complex Radio Frequency Environments Using Synthetic Spectrum Generation Techniques, August Lear, Erica Peterson, Nicolaas Handojo, Nathan Cole, Robert E. Zee

Small Satellite Conference

As spacecraft technology improves, smaller cost-effective spacecraft become capable of increasingly sophisticated Earth observation missions, including wideband Radio Frequency (RF) sensing. Current methods available for validating the RF payloads on-board these missions, such as on-orbit payload validation using a pathfinder mission, are expensive, time consuming, and difficult. The challenge of modelling the RF environment of an orbital receiver is increased by path characteristics that become nontrivial at orbital velocities and distances, as well as unique modelling challenges such as ionospheric delay and multiple transmitters. A fast, inexpensive method for validating RF sensing payloads on the ground is presented in this …

Development Of A Compact Wide-Field Telescope To Be Mounted On Vertecs, Kohji Takimoto, Takao Nakagawa, Aoi Takahashi, Kei Sano, Yuto Tome, Hisataka Kawasaki, Shunsuke Nakagawa, Rin Sato, Shuji Matsuura, Yuki Hirose, Akimasa Ojika, Akane Tsumoto, Taiko Iwaki, Kohji Tsumura

Small Satellite Conference

In recent years, CubeSat projects have initiated plans to conduct astronomical observations by deploying mission payloads. CubeSats present a promising solution for swiftly addressing critical challenges in astrophysics with flexibility. Within Cubeats, where both the bus system and mission payload occupy about half of the volume, there is a necessity to miniaturize mission equipment. The critical factor in astronomical observations, light-gathering ability, is determined not only by the aperture size but, more importantly for diffuse emission, by the optical throughput, i.e., the product of the aperture area and the observing solid angle. Consequently, even with a compact optical system, specializing …

The Year In Astronomy, Michael Kauper

Mythcon

This is a slide presentation by Michael Kauper about the developments in Astronomy over the past year, and suggestions of what to watch for in the sky over the next few months, a tradition at Diversicon.

Minicor: Miniature Coronagraph For Heliophysics Research, Angelos Vourlidas, Aaron Magner, James Mason, Luc Gilles, Joe Centurelli, Arnaud Thernisien, Clarence Korendyke, Gabriel Gutierrez, Giogia Casadei, Miguel Pereira

Small Satellite Conference

Coronagraphs are the only instruments that can capture the development of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) throughout the near-Sun space. Thus, they provide critical information for the physics of CME evolution and propagation and consequently for space weather forecasting. It makes strategic sense to lower the technological and logistical barriers for maintaining space-based coronagraphic observations. MiniCOR is an ambitious coronagraph design to address these challenges. The technical goal of MiniCOR is to demonstrate that a low-cost miniaturized 3U coronagraph, can return data with higher cadence and equal or better sensitivity than currently operating full-size coronagraphs. MiniCOR is a funded project under …

Untangling Safe-Mode Anomalies On The Cute Cubesat, Sebastian Escobar, Arika Egan, Kevin France, Dolon Bhattacharyya

Small Satellite Conference

The Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE) is NASA's first 6U NASA Astrophysics CubeSat built by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). Its primary purpose is to observe the evolving atmospheres of short-period exoplanets in the near-ultraviolet. It was launched in September 2021 into a ~560 km, polar orbit with a 98.5° inclination. The spacecraft bus, featuring avionics and an attitude determination and control system (ADCS) with a single star tracker, was supplied by Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT). Since its launch, CUTE has experienced an unusually high frequency of ADCS-driven safe mode events, occurring up to three times per …

Statistical Anomaly Analysis Of Small Satellite Missions Focusing On Payloads, Alexander Schmidt, Nico Gerster, Johannes Bachmann, Alexander Groß, Roger Förstner

Small Satellite Conference

With the rapid development of space technology, the number of new satellites has expanded rapidly in recent years, and the applications of satellites have gradually expanded into other industries and deeper into academia. While the small satellite category is experiencing significant growth, the behavior of small satellites still requires more in-depth study. A growing number of academic and industrial customers are looking to use satellites to achieve their scientific or business goals without having to develop a full satellite mission, including a satellite platform. Hosting payloads on other satellites or procuring pre-qualified platforms enables new mission flexibility while minimizing the …

Development Of 2u Cubesat "Yotsuba-Kulover" For Geomagnetic Field Measurement By Undergraduate Student Satellite Project, Hirokazu Masui, Kitamura Kentaro, Meng Cho, Shuji Abe, Teiji Uozumi, Akimasa Yoshikawa

Small Satellite Conference

Kyushu Institute of Technology(Kyutech) have developing small satellites since 2006. Three satellites, AOBA-Velox III, FUTABA and MITSUBA(Unfortunately, lost due to rocket launch failure) have been developed in a student satellite project. This satellite project is promoted by under graduate students. The students conduct all of satellite development process as design, integration, test, safety document preparation and operation. Students can learn the satellite development process through hands-on. Fourth satellite is 2U Cube satellite for measurement of geomagnetic field "YOTSUBA-KUlover" and this program is a joint program with Kyushu University. It is the first satellite developed by Kyutech students project to conduct …

In Media Res: Sam & Frodo On The Journey, Craig Boyd

Mythcon

In one of the more pivotal passages in Lord of the Rings, Sam makes a couple of insightful comments to Frodo in a way that transcends his earlier foolishness. In a kind of moral and philosophical epiphany he says, “It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. . . But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with …

The Niggling Bandersnatch: Tolkien’S Revisionist Tendencies And The Canon Of Middle-Earth, Janet Brennan Croft, David Bratman, John Rosegrant

Mythcon

C.S. Lewis famously said of Tolkien in a 1959 letter that “you might as well try to influence a bandersnatch.” He continued by noting that Tolkien had “only two reactions to criticism: either he begins the whole work over again from the beginning or else takes no notice at all.” It’s pretty obvious he had a similar reaction to his own self-criticism – to noticing a loose end, or something that didn’t fit a changed cosmological theory, or a new addition to the legendarium that required a revision to the back-story. His reaction would be to niggle away at a …

University Class Open Ground Station (Uniclogs), Glenn Lebrasseur, Andrew Greenberg, Anna Meneely, Kaleb Rice, Aiden Tuan

Small Satellite Conference

Most educational CubeSat projects have the same dilemma: not enough money to buy a commercially available ground station, and not enough internal experience and capabilities to build a reliable and inexpensive ground station in-house. We present a middle road to the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vs DIY conundrum for ground stations: the University Class Open Ground Station (UniCIOGS). UniCIOGS is an open-source satellite communications ground station meant to be customized and built by university and other small satellite operators around the world. UniCIOGS is primarily designed for amateur radio satellites; amateur licensing allows for groups to share transmit-capable stations. Even international …