Digital Commons Network^™

Measurement Of 18f(Alpha,P)21ne With The Array For Nuclear Astrophysics And Structure With Exotic Nuclei (Anasen), Keilah S. Davis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Certain (α,p) reactions on proton-rich nuclei are among the most important nuclear reactions occurring during Type I X-ray bursts, as well as being impactful in stellar explosions during the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase and on accreting white dwarfs (WD). However, large uncertainties remain for reaction rates on some radioactive nuclei due to the lack of direct measurements. The Array for Nuclear Astrophysics and Structure with Exotic Nuclei (ANASEN) is a gas target and charged-particle detector designed for direct measurements of (α,p) reactions. ANASEN was redesigned with two hexagonal barrels of 100-µm-thick silicon strip surrounding the beam axis over a …

Daily Locomotor Activity Declines With Tumor Growth And Disease Progression In Glioblastoma, Maria F Gonzalez-Aponte, Sofia V Salvatore, Anna R. Damato, Ruth Gn Katumba, Grayson R. Talcott, Omar H. Butt, Jian L. Campian, Jingqin Luo, Joshua B. Rubin, Olivia J. Walch, Erik D. Herzog

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that often progresses despite resection and treatment. Timely and continuous assessment of GBM progression is critical to expedite secondary surgery or enrollment in clinical trials. However, current progression detection requires costly and specialized MRI examinations, which, in the absence of new symptoms or signs, are usually scheduled every 2-3 months. Here, we hypothesized that changes in daily activity are associated with GBM growth and disease progression. We found that wheel-running activity in GBM-bearing mice declined as tumors grew and preceded weight loss and circadian breakdown by over a week. Temozolomide treatment in the …

Teaching Numeracy For Social Justice: Educational Equity, Esther Isabelle Wilder, Crystal C. Rodriguez, Caterina Shost, Eduardo Vianna, Frank Wang

Numeracy

The special collection, “Teaching Numeracy for Social Justice: Educational Equity,” focuses on how quantitative reasoning (QR) can function as a vehicle for equity, empowerment, and democratic participation. Building on a longstanding tradition that treats numeracy as inseparable from social justice, these contributions highlight how progressive pedagogies (e.g., active learning, authentic research, and equity-oriented assessment) have the potential to broaden access for students historically excluded from quantitative fields. The studies span a variety of conceptual frameworks, introductory and advanced quantitative instruction, and interdisciplinary applications, showcasing how inclusive QR practices can build confidence, agency, and real-world understanding. These articles demonstrate that when …

A Study Of The Impacts Of Infusing Data Analysis And Research In An Interdisciplinary Environmental Economics Course, Sean P. Macdonald

Numeracy

This paper explores the impacts of introducing quantitative literacy skills in an interdisciplinary Environmental Economics course typically taught as an issues and policy course without a quantitative component. The study examines the effects of infusing an engaging, student-selected data collection and analysis assignment on students' quantitative reasoning skills, as well as their interest in and attitudes about data analysis and quantitative information. Using data gathered from a set of pre- and post-assessment questions designed to measure changes in quantitative reasoning skills and attitudes, the findings point to significant attitudinal impacts, gains, but smaller, insignificant gains in quantitative reasoning skills.

Quantitative Reasoning In Calculus Iii: Advancing Student Engagement, Confidence, And Aspirations At An Hsi, Tanvir Prince

Numeracy

This study examines the impact of integrating Quantitative Reasoning (QR) into a Calculus III course at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) on student engagement, confidence, and aspirations. The course is offered at Hostos Community College in the South Bronx. It incorporated QR-focused projects on economic inequality, environmental pollution, and access to healthcare. These projects allowed students to apply advanced calculus concepts to real-world social issues. A pre- and post-survey design was employed to assess changes in students’ mathematical confidence, perceptions of relevance, and career and educational goals. Results showed statistically significant gains in confidence and in the belief that advanced math …

A Comparison Of First- And Continuing-Generation Students Completing A Project-Based Introductory Statistics Course, Susan A. Dumais, Naomi J. Spence, Lisa Dierker

Numeracy

Traditional introductory statistics courses that focus on techniques are not engaging for many college students; this may be especially true for first-generation college students, who generally have more difficulty engaging in the college environment than continuing-generation students. We study first-generation college students’ experiences in a course-based undergraduate research experience called Passion-Driven Statistics. Passion-Driven Statistics is a multidisciplinary, project-based introductory statistics course where students develop their own research topics, analyze publicly available quantitative data, and focus on conceptual understanding of statistics rather than hand calculations. Using pre-course and post-course surveys from students taking Passion-Driven Statistics in colleges throughout the United States, …

Toward Fairer And More Equitable Numeracy Measurement: Improvements To The Quantitative Reasoning For College Science Assessment, Vonna L. Hemmler, Isaac Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Catherine Sarosi, Erin Galyen, Sanlyn Buxner, Jackson Carter, Samantha Maynard, Sarah Bunnell

Numeracy

Numeracy has become an increasingly important 21st-century skill that, due to the relationship between math and science, is often formally developed at the college level in general education science courses. These courses serve a diverse group of students, many of whom have historically experienced science teaching, curriculum, and assessment on the margins. The well-documented biases of assessments in particular against Individuals of Color (IoC) have inspired us to approach numeracy for social justice in our work from this angle, and in this paper, we detail our efforts to revise our validated numeracy assessment to ensure it more fairly and equitably …

The Roles Of Mathematics In Teaching For Social Justice: A Framework For The College Classroom, Vivian Lim, Daniel Libertz

Numeracy

In this paper, we present a framework for understanding the multiple roles that mathematics can serve in the classroom towards social justice goals, developed through an analysis of 36 social justice mathematics curricular modules in college settings. The framework is grounded in Patricia Hill Collins's matrix of domination and consists of seven themes that represent the different roles mathematics can play: measuring inequality, illuminating conditions resulting in inequality, understanding the mechanisms of phenomena, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, generating and evaluating solutions, communication and action, and criticizing quantification. Our framework supports the perspective that mathematics can serve important and distinct roles …

Eurocentric Or Child-Centered? A History Of Education In The United States In The Twentieth Century, Jason Kane

Legacy

No abstract provided.

Animal Taxa Threatened By Adverse Fire Regimes In Western Australia: A Synthesis And Outlook, Tim S. Doherty, Mark G. Allen, Karlene Bain, Stephen Beatty, Allan H. Burbidge, Renee A. Catullo, Sarah Comer, Ben Corey, Saul J. Cowen, Robert A. Davis, Martin A. Dziminski, J. Anthony Friend, Bruce Greatwich, Mark S. Harvey, Hannah Killian, Michael E. Klunzinger, Damian C. Lettoof, Nicola J. Mitchell, Melinda Moir, Harry A. Moore, David L. Morgan, Ian J. Radford, Michael J. Rix, Tom Vigilante, Adrian F. Wayne, Corey Whisson, Nicole Willers, Matthew R. Williams

Natural Resources Research Articles

Adverse fire regimes threaten biodiversity, potentially leading to population declines and increased extinction risk. Understanding how varying fire regimes affect threatened species is essential for effective ecosystem management, including in Western Australia where diverse ecosystems are exposed to wildfires, Indigenous burning, and prescribed fire. We compiled and synthesised data on the threat of adverse fire regimes to threatened animal taxa in Western Australia. Using a threat classification scheme, we ranked adverse fire regimes as having either no, low, medium, high, or unknown impact on each taxon. A total of 212 taxa were reviewed, 153 (72%) of which are considered fire-threatened: …

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Review
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

2026 January 8 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Educational Policies Committee Agenda January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Educational Policies Committee Minutes January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Program Proposals
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Center for Civic Excellence
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:25 pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda January 8, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - December 4, 2025
• R401 - Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• UCC and EPC Handbook updates
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques For Computer-Aided Covid-19 Screening Based On Clinical Data, Honglun Xu, Andrews T. Anum, Michael Pokojovy, Sreenath Chalil Madathil, Yuxin Wen, Md. Fashiar Rahman, Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, Scott Moen, Eric Walser

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of rapid clinical decision-making to facilitate the efficient usage of healthcare resources. Over the past decade, machine learning (ML) has caused a tectonic shift in healthcare, empowering data-driven prediction and decision-making. Recent research demonstrates how ML was used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper puts forth new computer-aided COVID-19 disease screening techniques using six classes of ML algorithms (including penalized logistic regression, random forest, artificial neural networks, and support vector machines) and evaluates their performance when applied to a real-world clinical dataset containing patients’ demographic information and vital indices (such as …

Simulation Results Of Spaceborne Ssa Using A Comprehensive Passive Radar Model, Chinmay Gaikwad, Filipe Senra, Thomas Alan Lovell, Hao Peng, Berker Pekoz, Tianyu Yang

Publications

In this paper, a high-fidelity simulation framework is developed to assess the feasibility of tracking space debris using a large low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation equipped with onboard passive radar sensors. By exploiting illumination from a distributed network of ground-based transmitters, the constellation provides consistent line-of-sight access to debris objects at higher altitudes, enabling angles-only detection and tracking. This approach yields a scalable, automated, and cost-effective architecture for next-generation space surveillance and contributes to more resilient space traffic management. A complete angles-only passive-radar orbit-determination pipeline is introduced and demonstrated. Initial orbital states are generated using a rate-aware constrained admissible-region multiple-hypothesis …

Combinatorial Synthesis Of Protein-Polymer Conjugates By Post-Polymerization Modification Of Poly(Pentafluorophenyl Acrylate)S, Emily W. Kish, Thatcher M. Lee, Alexis M. Ziemba, Ama Boamah, Bianca Figueroa, Margherita Piccardi, Carey E. Dougan, Sarah J. Moore, Maren E. Buck

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Combinatorial methods for preparing polymeric biomaterials enable the rapid identification of materials useful for many applications in science, medicine, and engineering. In the work described here, we demonstrate that side-chain reactive polymers can be used as templates for the rapid preparation of a small library of diversely functionalized protein–polymer conjugates. The activated ester polymer poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA) was modified postpolymerization with substoichiometric equivalents of three hydrophilic primary amines to yield a library of amphiphilic, side-chain reactive copolymers. These copolymers were then conjugated to two receptor-targeting proteins, holotransferrin (hTF) and an engineered fibronectin-based protein (Fn3), through amine-activated ester coupling. We investigated …

Method And System For Distributed Timekeeping And Synchronization Using Coprime Cyclic Hyperdimensional Vectors, Steven Kirkland

Defensive Publications Series

Disclosed is a protocol and architecture for distributed timekeeping that replaces scalar binary counters (e.g., Unix timestamps) with Hyperdimensional (HD) State Vectors. The system, termed the "Universal Time-Locked Protocol (UTLP) Vector Time," generates a global time state via the superposition of multiple coprime cyclic attractors (virtual oscillators), creating a high-dimensional "temporal texture" that evolves deterministically.

Unlike scalar clocks which require absolute synchronization, this vector-based approach enables "Fuzzy Synchronization," where distributed nodes correct drift via similarity-based gradient descent rather than hard resets. To accommodate low-bandwidth networks (e.g., BLE, 802.15.4), the system utilizes "Generative Compression," transmitting only the phase indices (a "Harmonic …

Metacommunity Coupled Epidemiological And Biophysical Modeling Of An Emergent Coral Disease, Benjamin Holmes Farmer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Emerging infectious diseases pose imminent risk to the marine realm and coral reefs in particular. Since its emergence in 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has dramatically reduced living coral cover in Florida and charted a similar course in the Caribbean. SCTLD is by far the most severe coral disease in history and has driven highly susceptible species to local extinction, yet the mechanisms driving the regional epizootic are not well understood. Here, we developed reef-scale parameterizations of disease spread using model sites in the lower Florida Keys, developed extensive metacommunity habitat maps for the US Caribbean, and then …

Analysis Of Lake Toba Ecoliteracy In High School Students, Jesika Aurelia Sianipar, B Manurung, Martina Asiati Napitupulu, Abdul Hakim Daulae

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The Lake Toba ecosystem is currently experiencing increasingly worsening quality degradation, so that instilling environmental awareness through ecoliteracy has become urgent in the world of education. This study aims to measure the ecoliteracy abilities of students at High School 1 Ajibata and High School 2 Balige by reviewing three main aspects: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Additionally, it will analyze the differences in ecoliteracy levels between the two schools. The type of research used is ex post facto with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through test instruments for the cognitive aspect and questionnaires for the affective and behavioral aspects. The …

Mapping The Multifarious Image In Time Of Globalization, Anne-Laure Oberson

Artl@s Bulletin

Abstract: In this paper, I examine the evolving concept of the image, exploring the philosophical implications of its complex, multifaceted nature. I question the value of terms such as icon, simulacrum, and image in reference to Gilles Deleuze’s text Difference and Repetition. I argue for a pluralistic approach to understanding images as they embody more than a duality of visible-invisible dimensions. I seek to capture the multifariousness of the image to understand its transformative power. In conclusion, the paper suggests reevaluating image discourse to better engage with the evolution of its implications in a global context.

Résumé: Dans cet …

A Deluge Of Sea Images: Maritime Art And Temporal Crisis, Jonathan Stafford

Artl@s Bulletin

Abstract: We are today inundated with images of the sea, with maritime representations of global trade, the refugee crisis, and climate collapse featuring prominently in both journalistic and artistic image worlds alike. These seascapes seem to be possessed of a certain timeliness, speaking to the idiosyncratically temporal nature of our contemporary crisis. This article seeks to historicise the contemporary deluge of maritime imagery, drawing out its connections with the proliferation of the sea image in earlier representational regimes.

Résumé: Nous sommes aujourd’hui inondés d’images de la mer, les représentations maritimes du commerce mondial, de la crise des réfugiés et du …

Ai Pirated My Art And Birthed Infringing Works, And Other Metaphors That Confound Copyright Law, Michael D. Murray

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

Optimized Resnet-18 Architecture For Multi-Class Oral Diseases Classification, Ahmed Ahmed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In recent years, the classification of oral diseases has gained significant attention due to its influence on public health and the necessity for early and accurate diagnosis. Traditional diagnosis depends on manual clinical assessment, which can be slow and subjective. An optimized and subsequently quantized model is required to provide a faster and more consistent diagnostic support tool. This paper proposes an optimized ResNet-18 architecture for the classification of six oral diseases. The optimization process is based on removing the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU), Batch Normalization (BN), and convolutional layers from the base ResNet-18 blocks that contain 128 filters. This …

Sperm-Associated Antigen 6 (Spag6) As A Potential Marker Of Sperm Function In Diagnosing Male Infertility, Ibtisam A. Al-Ali,, Kawkab A. Alsaadi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Background: While male infertility has become a significant global health concern, conventional analysis of semen has not made progress in the detection of contraindicated molecular biomarkers, such as sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6), which is a protein involved in axonemal structure and flagellar motility.

Hypothesis: Expression of SPAG6 correlates with sperm motility and structural integrity. This means that its dysregulation may serve as a molecular indicator of impaired sperm performance.

Methods: A comprehensive review of recent studies was conducted with a focus on SPAG6’s molecular characteristics, expression patterns in normal versus abnormal spermatozoa, and the role it plays in motility-related …

Optimized Co2 Gas Sensing With Sns:Sm2o3/N-Si Nanocomposites Fabricated Via Spray Pyrolysis, Wasan A. Khalaf, Mays A. Hammadi, Mohammed J. Alsultani, Yahya R. Hathal, Mohammed O. Salman

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this work, tin sulfide:samarium oxide (SnS:Sm₂O₃) composite films were deposited using a spray pyrolysis technique for room-temperature CO₂ gas sensing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a polycrystalline SnS nature of orthorhombic-phase crystallinity at 10 at.% Sm ions, while 20 at.% Sm induced Sm₂O₃ as a separate phase. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) induced uniform grains and increased the surface roughness, enhancing gas adsorption. UV-visible absorbance revealed band-gap narrowing. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed vibrational band shifts, confirming the structural modifications. Gas-sensing measurements demonstrated 5.72%, 19.65%, and 9.65% for pure SnS, …

Distribution Of New Statistics Of Parking Functions And Their Generalizations, Stephan Wagner, Catherine H. Yan, Mei Yin

Mathematics: Faculty Scholarship

In this paper we present new results on the enumeration of parking functions and labeled forests. We introduce new statistics on parking functions, which are then extended to labeled forests via bijective correspondences. We determine the joint distribution of two statistics on parking functions and their counterparts on labeled forests. Our results on labeled forests also serve to explain the mysterious equidistribution between two seemingly unrelated statistics in parking functions recently identified by Stanley and Yin and give an explicit bijection between the two statistics. Extensions of our techniques are discussed, including joint distribution on further refinement of these new …

Water Budget For Monitored Watersheds At The Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park: Report For The Edwards Aquifer Authority, Keagan Farrell, Tatiana Flores, Isabella Lopez, Kemerling Obregon Lucio, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, Andrea Realyvasquez, Magali Rodriguez, Kelly Swyers, Adan Vasquez

Hydrogeology

The purpose of the study was to determine the change in storage of two water sheds after the impact of two rain events, considering factors such as rainfall, discharge and infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The two sub-watersheds, located on the Edward’s Aquifer Authority Field Research Park, each had a weir. The larger of the two watersheds was named Watershed 1, while the smaller one was named Watershed 2. Watershed 1 was where the weir named Arnold was located, while watershed 2 was where the weir named Danny was located. Inflow and outflow were calculated by analyzing precipitation data and water flow …

2026 Spring Convocation Program, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

The 2026 Morehead State University Convocation Program from January 7, 2026.