Digital Commons Network^™

Utilizing Digital Twins To Model And Optimize Hydraulic Excavator Operator Performance Through Arena Simulation, Mateo Fernando Montenegro Defaz, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study aims to provide a digital twin tool for mining and construction companies to evaluate the effect of operator behaviors on the truck-loading process, focusing on swing and bucket rotation. While equipment performance estimators are available, there are few tools to assess the influence of operators. The aim is to create a discrete event simulation (DES) model in Arena® to evaluate how variations in swing and bucket angles affect hydraulic excavator production rates. We validated the DES model using real-world data from a case study to assess the differences in behavior among four operators. Results showed that Operator 1 …

Stall Detection In Hydraulic Excavator Operations Using Heuristics And Machine Learning: A Case Study, Mateo Fernando Montenegro Defaz, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Yixiang Gao

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work aims to develop a reliable algorithm for stall detection during excavator digging by analyzing key operational variables such as velocity and angular displacements from machine monitoring data. The work develops and validates a heuristic algorithm to detect stalling events and trains a support vector machine classification algorithm to distinguish between "normal" digging cycles and cycles with stalling. This work is a novel attempt at using a classification algorithm to categorize digging cycles into normal and those with stalling events based on machine monitoring data alone. The developed classification algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 100%, indicating it correctly identified …

Analysis Of Pull-Out Tests For Resin-Grouted Rib Bolts, Khaled Mohamed, Yuting Xue, Dogukan Guner, Alper Kirmaci, Taghi Sherizadeh

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Resin-grouted rib bolts serve as a crucial means of stabilizing spalling of coal ribs in underground coal mines. A comprehensive investigation into their efficacy was undertaken by a collaborative effort between the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST). This study involved pull-out tests of rib bolts in multiple locations, including six coal mines and the NIOSH research mine. A total of seventy-three (73) pull-out tests were conducted for rib bolts installed at different rotation speeds and a wide range of anchorage lengths, ranging from a short encapsulation length of 0.305 …

Relativistic And Recoil Corrections To Light-Fermion Vacuum Polarization For Bound Systems Of Spin-0, Spin-1=2, And Spin-1 Particles, Gregory S. Adkins, Ulrich D. Jentschura

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In bound systems whose constituent particles are heavier than the electron, the dominant radiative correction to energy levels is given by light-fermion (electronic) vacuum polarization. In consequence, relativistic and recoil corrections to the one-loop vacuum-polarization correction are phenomenologically relevant. Here, we generalize the treatment, previously accomplished for systems with orbiting muons, to bound systems of constituents with more general spins: spin-0, spin-1=2, and spin-1. We discuss the application of our more general expressions to various systems of interest, including spinless systems (pionium), muonic hydrogen and deuterium, and devote special attention to the excited non-S states of deuteronium, the bound system …

Bridging Functions And Values: Advancing Wetland Ecosystem Service Assessment Through Use Of A Service Capacity Index, William J. Kleindl, Sarah P. Church, Kai C. Rains, Mark C. Rains, Eric D. Stein, Morgan K. Suddreth

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Wetland service or values are often assumed to occur at a comparable level to wetland function (i.e., higher functioning wetlands provide more services). However, services are seldom directly evaluated because of the lack of structured assessment approaches. For wetland ecosystem service to be effectively incorporated in regulatory and monitoring programs, there needs to be parsimonious assessment tools that can be applied systematically, repeatably, and rapidly. This approach begins by disentangling existing terminology and clearly defining all the terms necessary to support the assessment of ecosystem services (ES). We provide context to illustrate how these terms have been variously employed in …

Master Plan Of Evangelism (Daai Chin Version), Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

Southern Adventist University Graduate Catalog 2025-2026, Southern Adventist University

Catalog, Graduate

Southern Adventist University's graduate catalog for the academic year 2025-2026.

Novel Socially Assistive Robot For Alzheimer's And Dementia Home Care; Lived Experiences Of Families, Audrey V. Downs

Honors Theses and Capstones

Informal caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) typically experience high levels of subjective caregiver burden due to strenuous role demands, notably the need to provide frequent reminders and 24/7 monitoring to address care recipient cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of informal caregivers using a novel Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to care for individuals with ADRD in a home setting and evaluate SAR impact on caregiver subjective burden. SARs are autonomous, interactive devices that can provide timed reminders and monitor home environments, potentially alleviating some caregiver role demands and …

Supporting Comparative Studies Of Judicial Behavior: Introducing The Australian High Court Database, Patrick Leslie, Zoë Robinson, Russell Smyth, Tonja Jacobi

Faculty Articles

Comparative research on law and legal institutions depends on high-quality data infrastructure. This article introduces the Australian High Court Database—a new resource that encodes structured information on all full judgments of the High Court of Australia between 1995 and 2020, and all leave applications (Australia’s equivalent to petitions for certiorari) from 2003 to 2018. The database is built in accordance with core principles that support comparative research: it is adaptable, and comparable. By attending to jurisdictional specificity while adhering to general standards, the database supports both within-country analysis and cross-national comparison. We illustrate how the Australian High Court Database can …

An Upside Of Originalism? Jury Size, Meghan J. Ryan

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Originalists have taken over the Supreme Court, and many commentators are up in arms. This historical approach to constitutional interpretation can entrench historical biases, result in what many view as unjust decisions, and even cloak politically motivated opinions. But entirely rejecting a historical approach to constitutional interpretation overlooks what can be an upside of originalism: Because of our country’s unique history of being founded by British rebels, some practices from the time of the Founding—such as recognizing a strong jury right—advantage criminal defendants. Thus, employing a historical approach such as originalism in assessing the scope of constitutional protections can actually …

Freedom Of Speech And Criminal Solicitation, Nikola R. Hajdin

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Although criminal solicitation is recognized as one of the “historic and traditional categories” of unprotected speech, courts’ understanding of this doctrine remains limited and narrow. Nearly three years ago, the Supreme Court finally made progress in clarifying the boundaries between criminal solicitation and protected advocacy. In United States v. Hansen, the Court held that solicitation is the intentional encouragement of a specific unlawful act and, because speech of this kind “has no social value,” it is therefore unprotected. The Supreme Court, however, left a key question unanswered: Why does restricting advocacy that doesn’t meet the Brandenburg v. Ohio imminence-of-harm …

Uncharted Waters: Addressing The Shortcomings Of Criminal Liability Under The Clean Water Act By Charging Water Polluters With Assault, Abigail English

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Water pollution incidents pose both acute and long-term risks to human health, yet the Clean Water Act (CWA) ineffectively holds water polluters accountable. By defining criminal violations in terms of technical breaches of the statute, the CWA’s criminal provisions are vulnerable to narrow judicial interpretations, leaving many environmental crimes unpunished. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rarely pursues criminal charges under the CWA, relying instead on civil fines, which fail to impose meaningful consequences. This underinclusiveness and under-utilization allows many polluters to evade serious penalties. Even when pollution incidents are covered by the CWA and the EPA pursues prosecution, the …

Occupational Wellness For Mother & Baby: Education For Young Mothers In Rural North Dakota, Kaelyn Talley

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was for an occupational therapy doctoral student to collaborate with the staff of a maternity home in rural North Dakota. The goal of this collaboration was to provide the residents of the maternity home with education on safety and caring for their child as well as information regarding pregnancy, postpartum, and bonding with their child. This will help to support the mother in her newfound role as well as the child in their various occupations as an infant. Women face many barriers in pregnancy that may lead to them being in maternity homes. The …

Enhancing Leisure For Older Adults In Senior Living Communities, Hannah Louise Street

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Older adults living in senior living communities are at an increased risk of social isolation, depression, boredom, and decreased quality of life (Donovan & Blazer, 2020; du Toit et al., 2019). Increasing access to meaningful, person-centered leisure activities can improve life satisfaction and overall quality of life for older adults (Chang et al., 2021; Shryock & Meeks, 2020). The purpose of this project was to develop a product to increase meaningful leisure engagement amongst older adults living in senior living communities for an overall improved quality of life.

Methodology: The model of human occupation (MOHO) was utilized as the …

Early Occupational Therapy Services: Addressing Health Disparities Following Discharge From The Nicu, Ellie Maree Schumacher

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background and Purpose: One out of ten infants born in the United States are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); a status that has been directly linked to ongoing infant health disparities and disabilities, requiring continued support and education following discharge (Griffith et al., 2022; National Center for Health Statistics, 2025). NICU graduates and their families work with occupational therapy to address or prevent developmental delays and ensure well-being (Craig, 2018; Riley & de Sam Lazaro 2021).

Methodology: A literature review was conducted to determine the needs of the population and context and include NICU admissions, family needs, …

Supporting Occupational Competence Among American Indian/ Alaska Native Students, Adam Nadeau

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students face significant systemic barriers in higher education, resulting in the lowest enrollment and graduation rates of any student cohort (Dabdoub et al., 2025; McMillan et al., 2025). Challenges such as cultural discontinuity and a lack of supportive “counterspaces” often led to occupational alienation and deprivation (Buckingham et al., 2023; Fetter et al., 2024; McMillan et al., 2025; Reitz & Graham, 2019). There is a critical need for culturally grounded interventions that address the unique needs of these students to foster a sense of belonging (Delgado-Guerrero & Gloria, 2025; Kuchynka et al., 2025). …

Translating Pediatric Home Programming Into Daily Life, Anna Elizabeth Jones

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Caregivers play a critical role in a child’s overall development and are essential partners in the therapy process (Jaffe et al., 2020). Because of this, caregivers are in a unique position to support and reinforce therapeutic goals with daily routine and activities. When caregivers are equipped with appropriate strategies and guidance, they can help facilitate skill development outside of the formal therapy sessions, increasing opportunities for practice and generalization of skills (Lage et al., 2024). Current evidenced-based practice supports the use of caregiver coaching to increase caregiver autonomy and promote their ability to support their child’s developmental needs (Gmmash …

Mitigating The Effects Of Technology Use In The Classroom: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Hannah E. Ibach

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The average child spends three times the recommended time on technology, which is leading to a wide range of consequences affecting education, such as fine motor, cognitive, and social deficits (Christensen, 2021; McGough, 2021; Qi et al., 2023). Parents and teachers play a crucial role in helping children be prepared for their education, yet many are not aware of the impacts of too much technology use (Srivastava, 2022). Developing strong foundational skills early in childhood is critical for setting the stage for long-term educational success. When skills are nurtured from a young age, children are better prepared to adapt …

Baby-Life Balance: Occupational Therapy Strategies To Support The Transition To Motherhood, Morgan Muriel Harshman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The postpartum period is characterized by significant physical, emotional, and occupational changes that can disrupt daily functioning, routines, and role transition into motherhood (Albanese et al., 2020; Baker et al., 2024). These changes impact a mother’s ability to engage in meaningful daily activities, including self-care, infant care, and participation in family and community roles. Despite these challenges, postpartum care often emphasizes infant health, leaving gaps in support for maternal occupational performance, routine development, and environmental adaptation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to address these needs through its …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Vision Rehabilitation Across The Lifespan, Abigale Marie Ellenberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Visual dysfunction is highly prevalent across the lifespan and can significantly limit occupational performance and participation. Despite this, vision-related impairments are addressed inconsistently within occupational therapy (OT) practice, with documented gaps in standardized evaluation, occupation-based intervention, and practitioner confidence (Kaldenberg et al., 2023; Weisser-Pike et al., 2023a). The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop an evidence-informed resource to support OT practitioners in the evaluation and intervention of visual dysfunction across the lifespan. A comprehensive literature review and needs assessment were conducted to examine current evidence and identify gaps in practice, including limitations in practitioner confidence, access to …

Gamifying Occupational Therapy Education: Enhancing Student Engagement And Outcomes, Payton Alise Baumann

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Occupational therapy students face high rates of burnout and attrition during graduate education due to mental health challenges, reliance on passive learning strategies, and non-learner-centered curricula. These barriers limit active learning and reduce practical readiness for independent practice. Gamification has been shown to enhance engagement and application of knowledge; however, its adoption is limited by time constraints, attitudinal barriers, and lack of implementation guidance.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop practical, evidence-based faculty training resources and gamified learning activities to incorporate gamification into occupational therapy curricula for the promotion of student well-being, engagement, and professional readiness. …

Unfolding Recovery: An Occupational Therapy Practice Protocol Manual For Dupuytren’S Disease, Rebecca Valdez

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a disease of the fibrous tissue called the fascia of the palm and fingers of the hand (Eckhaus, 2016). It develops over time, thickening the palmar fascia and leading to nodules and cords that flex the fingers (Pineda et al., 2024; Salari et al., 2020). The disease occurs mostly in men, with individuals of Northern European descent having a higher likelihood of disease development, alongside family history increasing the risk. This disease can result in disability for individuals, including difficulty performing certain activities such as picking up objects, donning and wearing gloves, putting hands in …

Blue Brief 2025-2026, University Of San Diego School Of Law

Blue Brief

A USD School of Law faculty review of selected rulings from the most recent Term of the United States Supreme Court.

New Therapies, New Challenges: Cystic Lung Disease After Cancer Immunotherapy, Ananya Venkatesh, David Camacho, Ross Summer, Michael Dong

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Immunotherapies have reduced reliance on cytotoxic strategies with their associated high toxicity levels, revolutionizing cancer care. However, these targeted therapies have also increased prevalence of previously rare sequelae, impacting patients experiencing longer survival. We describe a case of endometrial adenocarcinoma with lung metastases, in which tumor resolution following immunotherapy created cystic airspaces, leading to a pneumothorax complication. A 49-year-old female with advanced stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and lung metastasis developed cystic lung lesions in areas of previous metastatic lesions after treatment with Pembrolizumab and Bevacizumab. She developed a pneumothorax secondary to the rupture of one of the large lung cysts, leading …

0897: William A. “Red” Dawson Collection, 1915-2023, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

William Alfred “Red” Dawson, a native of Valdosta, Georgia, led his high school football team to a state championship and played for four years at Florida State University. Dawson briefly played professional football for the Boston Patriots in the AFL and the Orlando Panthers. He was serving as an assistant football coach at Marshall University when a fatal plane crash killed seventy-five players, coaches, staff, and prominent citizens of Huntington. Dawson was essential in restarting the Marshall University football program, serving as acting head coach and coached through the 1971 season. He then began working in the construction industry and …

A Large Thermal Vacuum (Tvac) Facility To Simulate Cryogenic Space Environments, Emmanuel Kofi Asuako Wie-Addo, Lucas Alexander Scott, Frank Daoru Han

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work reports the upgrade of a 10-ft (3.0 m) long x 6-ft (1.8 m) diameter vacuum facility as part of ongoing efforts to address some of the technology gaps in NASA's Moon to Mars mission architecture, which include systems to survive and operate through extended periods in extreme environments. Consequently, a removable thermal shroud has been fabricated and installed to facilitate the simulation of extreme cryogenic conditions. The cooling rates of the shroud and a surrogate test article, using liquid nitrogen as the coolant are analyzed and documented under varying vacuum environments during cryogenic testing. The attainable vacuum level …

A Combined Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry And Numerical Simulation Approach For Supersonic Wind Tunnel Calibration, Joshua Gary, Josiah Mcdermott, Kyle Worden, Serhat Hosder, Davide Viganò

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Supersonic wind tunnels remain essential tools for high-speed aerodynamics research, yet the characterization of their free-stream conditions remains technically challenging and lacks standardized criteria for defining "good" flow quality. While traditional calibration methods rely on intrusive probes, recent advances in optical diagnostics offer new opportunities for non-intrusive characterization. In this work, we demonstrate a novel use of Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (Tomo-PIV), combined with numerical simulations, as a methodology for supersonic wind tunnel calibration. The approach is applied to the recently upgraded Missouri S&T Supersonic Wind Tunnel, where Tomo-PIV measurements reveal uniform flow with low angularity and low turbulent noise …

Corrigendum To “3d Semi-Analytical Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Model For Additive Manufacturing”(Additive Manufacturing, (2026), 127, C, (105308), (S2214860426002344), 10.1016/J.Addma.2026.105308), Tao Liu, Ming C. Leu, Edward C. Kinzel, Chinedum Okwudire

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The author regret about the correction in the Equation B(1) in original article. The corrected version of the Equation B(1) is given below,(1.1)∂uxxx,ξ∂x=116πμ1−ν4ν−1x−ξxR3−3x−ξx3R5−8ν−5x−ξxR13+34ν−3x−ξx3R15−18x−ξxzξzR15+30x−ξx3zξzR17−12ν−12ν−1x−ξxR1R1+z+ξz2+4ν−12ν−1x−ξx3R13R1+z+ξz2+8ν−12ν−1x−ξx3R12R1+z+ξz3 The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. DOI of original article: < 10.1016/j.addma.2026.105308>

Multi-Period Coordinated Planning Of Xfcs In Coupled Tn-Pdn Networks: Integrating Demand Charge Reduction And Pre-Existing Infrastructure, Waqas Ur Rehman, Siyuan Wang, Liheng Lv, Jonathan W. Kimball, Rui Bo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and transportation electrification is encumbered by two chief barriers: i) the limited driving range of EVs in the market today and ii) inadequate charging infrastructure support. This paper aims to address the latter bottleneck and proposes a strategic multi-period coordinated planning model to optimally site and size battery energy storage system (BESS) assisted extreme fast charging stations in a highway transportation network and solar systems in a power distribution network. The proposed approach accounts for pre-existing charging stations, the increasing EV penetration levels, decreasing technology costs, and technological advancements in the future and …

Mitigating Hysteresis In Metal-Coated Fibers Via Optimized Thermal Treatment For Advanced Distributed High-Temperature Sensing Applications, Koustav Dey, Rony Kumer Saha, Bohong Zhang, S. Narasimman, Farhan Mumtaz, Jeffrey D. Smith, Rex E. Gerald, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Metal-coated optical fibers are widely employed in sensing applications owing to their superior mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. However, their calibration at elevated temperatures is hindered by hysteresis, manifested as discrepancies between heating and cooling cycles, primarily caused by residual strain from mismatched thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) between the metal coating and silica cladding. This research introduces an optimal heat treatment procedure aimed at minimizing the impact of the mismatch in TECs between the cladding and the coating materials that causes the residual strain in gold (Au) and copper (Cu) coated fibers for achieving reliable distributed high temperature sensing up …