Digital Commons Network^™

Building Resilience Against Coastal Climate Risks, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Brenda Castruita, Marius Van Dongen, Brandi Upshaw

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The South Carlsbad Climate Adaptation Project (Project) is an initiative led by the City of Carlsbad (City) designed to address the growing risks of coastal erosion and sea level rise within the city. The Project focuses on a one mile segment of South Carlsbad Boulevard that runs directly along the coast and has experienced decades of coastal erosion, shoreline retreat, and recurring flooding–all of which are expected to intensify due to climate change. In an effort to protect critical infrastructure, natural resources, and public safety, the City has been evaluating the long-term viability of the current roadway and exploring various …

Electric-Field Tunable Magnetoexcitons In Xenes/Hbn/Tmdc, Xenes/Hbn/Bp, And Xenes/Hbn/Tmtc Heterostructures, Roman Ya. Kezerashvili, Anastasia Spiridonova, Klaus Ziegler

Publications and Research

In this work, we propose novel van der Waals heterostructures composed of Xenes, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), phosphor ene, and transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs), which are separated by insulating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers. We theoreti cally investigate the behavior of Rydberg indirect excitons in Xenes/hBN/TMDC, Xenes/hBN/phosphorene and Xenes/hBN/TMTC heterostructures subjected to parallel external electric and magnetic fields that are oriented perpendicular to the layers. By incorporating both isotropic and anisotropic materials, we demonstrate that excitonic properties can be effectively tuned through the external field strengths and the heterostructure design. Our results show that the exciton reduced mass and the …

Experts’ Validation Of The Fundamental Cybersecurity Competency Index (Fcci) Using A Commercial Cyber Range Through Human-Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) Teaming, Dariusz Witko, Yair Levy, Catherine Neubauer, Greg Simco, Laurie P. Dringus, Melissa Carlton

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The increasing volume of cyber threats, combined with a critical shortage of skilled professionals and rising burnout among practitioners, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions in cybersecurity operations. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) offers promising potential to augment human analysts in cybersecurity, but its integration requires rigorous validation of the fundamental competencies that enable effective collaboration of human-GenAI teams. This research study employed a mixed-methods research project designed to evaluate human-GenAI teams, emphasizing the role of expert consensus in shaping the experimental assessment of the Fundamental Cybersecurity Competency Index (FCCI) in a commercial cyber range. We engaged 20 Subject Matter …

Security And Privacy Of Wearable And Implantable Medical Devices: A Course-Based Approach To Medical Device Cybersecurity Education, Michelle M. Ramim

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As wearable and implantable medical devices become integral to remote patient monitoring and precision medicine, the associated cybersecurity and privacy risks demand urgent attention. These devices are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, potentially endangering patient safety and data integrity. To address this, we developed an experiential learning course titled Security and Privacy of Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices, designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in health and medical fields. The course immerses students in real-world challenges through lectures, labs, and project-based learning, leveraging wearable devices such as FitBit^TM to analyze and interpret real-time personal health data. The curriculum …

Predictions Of The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Galactic Exoplanet Survey. Iii. Detectability Of Giant Exomoons Of Wide-Separation Giant Planets, Matthew Lastovka, B. Scott Gaudi, Samson A. Johnson, Matthew T. Penny, Eamonn Kerins, Nicholas J. Rattenbury

Faculty Publications

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) will conduct a Galactic Exoplanet Survey to discover bound and free-floating exoplanets using gravitational microlensing. Roman should be sensitive to lenses with mass down to ∼0.02 M⊕, or roughly the mass of Ganymede. Thus, the detection of moons with masses similar to the giant moons in our solar system is possible with Roman. Measuring the demographics of exomoons will provide constraints on both moon and planet formation. We conduct simulations of Roman microlensing events to determine the effects of exomoons on microlensing light curves, and whether these effects are detectable with Roman. We …

Electrochemical Breath Sensors In Medical Diagnostics: Emerging Trends And Future Directions, Natalie E. Strom, Courtney J. Weber, Olja Simoska

Faculty Publications

With the rising prevalence of metabolic diseases, infections, and mental health disorders, there is a growing demand for noninvasive diagnostic tools that enable early detection and continuous health monitoring. In this context, exhaled breath biomarkers provide insight into physiological and pathological processes. Electrochemical breath sensors (EBSs) have emerged as a promising platform for rapid, real-time, and cost-effective disease tracking via the detection of volatile breath biomarkers, such as NH₃, NO, and CO₂. Recent advancements in electrode materials, biological recognition elements, and sensor architectures—spanning nanomaterials, enzymes, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers—have enhanced the analytical performance of EBSs. …

Electrochemical Breath Sensors In Medical Diagnostics: Emerging Trends And Future Directions, Natalie E. Strom, Courtney J. Weber, Olja Simoska

Faculty Publications

With the rising prevalence of metabolic diseases, infections, and mental health disorders, there is a growing demand for noninvasive diagnostic tools that enable early detection and continuous health monitoring. In this context, exhaled breath biomarkers provide insight into physiological and pathological processes. Electrochemical breath sensors (EBSs) have emerged as a promising platform for rapid, real-time, and cost-effective disease tracking via the detection of volatile breath biomarkers, such as NH₃, NO, and CO₂. Recent advancements in electrode materials, biological recognition elements, and sensor architectures—spanning nanomaterials, enzymes, aptamers, and molecularly imprinted polymers—have enhanced the analytical performance of EBSs. …

Advancing Power System Reliability And Security With Efficient And Resilient Graph Neural Network Frameworks, Seyed Hamed Haghshenas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Enhancing the reliability and security of smart grids is critical for ensuring their seamless operation and resilience against disruptions. The increasing integration of distributed energy resources, advanced measurement devices, and cyber-physical elements introduces both opportunities and challenges for grid management. While these advancements provide enhanced visibility and operational control, they also expose the grid to vulnerabilities from cyber-physical stresses, such as cyber-attacks, equipment failures, and fluctuating power demands. Traditional methods for reliability assessment and threat detection often rely on model-based approaches that struggle to adapt to the complexity and dynamic nature of modern smart grids. These limitations necessitate novel data-driven …

Experimental And Anharmonic Theoretical Spectroscopic Benchmarks Of Nitrogenated And Doubly-Nitrogenated Polycyclic Heterocycles, Selma Bejaoui, Brant E. Billinghurst, Christiaan Boersma, Vincent J. Esposito

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we report the first high-resolution gas-phase infrared absorption spectra and anharmonic vibrational simulations for three nitrogenated aromatic molecules, namely indole (C₈H₇N), 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN; C₇H₁₂N₂), and 1,8- diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU; C₉H₁₆N₂) with excellent agreement between measurement and computation. Anharmonic cascade emission spectra (2–8 eV) of the three systems show that nitrogen substitution strongly modifies the emission spectra: indole reproduces the unidentified 3.3 μm emission in Titan’s atmosphere, while DBN and DBU exhibit redshifted aliphatic C–H stretches. In the 5–10 μm region, …

Effects Of Code Scaffolding In Increasing Student Confidence In Programming Cryptography, John Denny

LSU Master's Theses

Cryptography is essential for secure communications, and new threats require more students willing to program and interact with cryptographic systems. Previous research is focused on tools for teaching these systems at a high level, teaching through attacks against these systems, and proper use of these systems in software development. In this paper, we seek to design a workshop to use scaffolded Python code to teach how these cryp- tographic systems are designed. We explore the use of code scaffolding for students to program an example implementation of the McEliece crypto- graphic system to build confidence in working with these systems. …

Mathematical Modeling And Optimization Of Polymer Cold Spray Deposition For Enhanced Efficiency, Okikiola Ganiu Agbabiaka

Theses and Dissertations

Cold spray (CS) is a promising additive manufacturing technique for various industries, including aerospace and automotive. However, the application of CS to polymers presents unique challenges due to their inherent properties and complex deposition mechanisms. This study addresses critical knowledge gaps in polymer cold spray processes, focusing on optimizing parameters for enhanced deposition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyamide-6 (nylon 6). Through a comprehensive three-stage experimental approach, the effects of gas temperature, feed rate, standoff distance, gas pressure, raster speed, particle size, and crystallinity on deposition efficiency was investigated. Utilizing advanced design of experiments methodologies, including a response surface methodology, …

The Echo: November 3, 2025, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Developing Middle School Students’ Systems Thinking In Earth Science Through Dynamic Simulations: The Case Of The Rock Cycle, Nicole Panorkou, Amanda Provost, Gabriella Migliore

Department of Mathematics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

In this paper, we discuss the development of students’ systems thinking about the rock cycle as they interact with an instructional module that includes three interactive simulations and accompanying questioning. We present the reasoning of six students from a whole-class design experiment in a sixth-grade classroom to describe how students’ systems thinking may be constructed and reorganized through activity with our design. Our findings highlight a framework of students’ systems thinking about the rock cycle that builds and expands prior work to specific sub-components. We also discuss an emerging framework for supporting students’ systems thinking through careful design of simulation …

Validation Of A Risk Score For Cancer-Associated Thrombosis Using Nationwide Ehr Data, Ang Li, Omid Jafari, Barbara D Lam, Jun Y Jiang, Rock Bum Kim, Shengling Ma, Emily Zhou, Joyce W Tiong, Elizabeth C Chiang, Justine Ryu, Christopher I Amos, Jennifer La, Nathanael R Fillmore

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with cancer. Existing risk prediction models are typically validated within individual sites, a fragmented approach that limits clinical adoption.

Objective: To validate the electronic health record cancer-associated thrombosis (EHR-CAT) score compared with the benchmark Khorana score in a contemporary cohort of patients with cancer across the nation, before and after treatment, excluding those at high risk of bleeding.

Design, setting, and participants: This prognostic study included patients in a nationwide longitudinal EHR database from January 2018 to December 2023 with follow-up continuing to April 2025. Patients with …

Reproducing Data Analysis Of A Published Phytoplankton Bioassay Experiment To Learn Standard Error, Alanna L. Lecher

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

The ability to use conversion factors, calculate error, and evaluate the quality of data quantitatively is essential for student success in science fields. Specifically, within biological oceanography, the use of Redfield Ratios to determine nutrient limitation is a base concept. In this Excel-based lesson students reproduce a figure and analysis from a published scientific article detailing a phytoplankton bioassay experiment. As part of the lesson students calculate and propagate error and use Redfield Ratios to determine nutrient limitation. Conflicting quantitative results force students to evaluate the limitations of the experiment and justify their conclusions. Reproducing the results of the published …

Expanding Ode Examples: Introducing Gene Regulation Dynamics Through Hill Functions, Maila Hallare, Jane M. Santamore

CODEE Journal

Gene regulation is a fundamental biological process that controls gene expression. It can explain phenomena such as cell differentiation, circadian rhythms, disease progression, and metabolic control, among many others. Despite their importance in mathematical biology, gene regulation models are rarely featured in traditional ODE textbooks, which focus mainly on examples from engineering, physics, chemistry, and population biology. This article introduces gene regulation dynamics as a valuable addition to ODE curricula, presenting the models from a mathematical perspective and building on properties of the Hill function. These models deepen the understanding of biology-inspired ODE applications, provide accessible research opportunities for students, …

Systematic Review Of Elementary Cybersecurity Education: Curriculum, Pedagogy, And Barriers, Na Liu, Siyu Long, Florence Martin

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Abstract -As children increasingly engage with digital platforms, the need for effective cybersecurity education has become urgent. This systematic review synthesizes 81 studies published between 2017 and 2024 to examine global curricula research focus and topics, pedagogical approaches and assessment methods, and key challenges in elementary cybersecurity education. The findings reveal six major thematic categories: student awareness, parental mediation, teacher engagement, curriculum design, community and policy support, and pedagogical innovation. Among instructional strategies, game-based learning and narrative storytelling emerge as the most frequently explored. Despite this growth, major gaps remain in curriculum consistency, teacher preparation, assessment rigor, and stakeholder coordination. …

Quantum Phase Coherent Tunneling In A Mixed-Morphology Superlattice Heterostructure, Qing Shao, Can C. Aygen, Xianyu Chen, Woongkyu Lee, Robert P.H. Chang, Julia E. Medvedeva, Matthew A. Grayson

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Multilayer phase coherence is demonstrated in a mixed morphology superlattice heterostructure, generalizing the paradigm for superlattice miniband engineering. Thirty years since the original proposal by Tsu, a superlattice has been realized with alternating amorphous (a-MoO₃) and polycrystalline (pc-In2O₃) layers, whose high-quality exhibits quantum phase coherence across multiple periods of amorphous barriers. Cross-plane phase coherence is quantified via weak localization signatures in magnetic field under the diffusive Fermi-surface model.

Uav Remote Sensing For Assessment Of Conservative Management Practices In Maize-Soybean Cropping System, Aakriti Poudel

LSU Master's Theses

Sustainable agriculture practices promote cover cropping, which enhances nutrient management and impacts subsequent crop productivity in field crop rotations. Precision agriculture technology, particularly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing, enables a detailed evaluation of crop management. The studies were conducted in a maize-soybean rotation system with winter cover cropping and fallow management. The maize experiment investigated the effect of nitrogen application rates and cover cropping, using UAV-derived Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) to monitor crop performance. NDRE effectively captured the N response and the effect of cover cropping across growth stages, particularly during mid-season (55-81 DAP), where it showed a strong …

Practical Real-Time Permanent Magnet Energy Spectrometer Using A Diode Array For Therapeutic Electron Beam Tuning And Quality Assurance, Mason W. Heath

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: Develop a practical, real-time permanent magnet electron energy spectrometer and evaluate it for beam tuning and quality assurance (QA) of therapeutic electron beams.

Methods: Aim 1: A 0.55 T permanent magnet was coupled to Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK® PC boards, providing two interlaced diode arrays. Detector response, R_meas(z_diode) versus diode position z_diode, was extracted from raw diode array readings, correcting for diode sensitivity and other factors. Using Monte Carlo (MC) computed, monoenergetic detector response functions, a curve-fitting algorithm extracted the energy spectrum, from R_meas(z_diode). The energy spectra for 7-20 …

Determining The 17f(Α,P)20ne Reaction Rate For Application In Type I X-Ray Bursts, William Braverman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction has been identified as an alternate pathway for breakout from the hot-CNO cycle that can be important in some X-ray burst scenarios. The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction rate was previously determined through a parameterized exponential S-factor with a large enhancement from thermally-excited states based on statistical models with large uncertainties. We have measured the time-inverse ²⁰Ne(p,α)¹⁷F cross section at center-of-mass energies ranging from 5.50 to 7.10 MeV using an activation method with a proton beam on a neon gas cell. Coincident detections of 511-keV γ-rays, resulting from electron-positron …

Exploring Runtime Evolution In Android: A Cross-Version Analysis And Its Implications For Memory Forensics., Babangida Bappah

LSU Master's Theses

Userland memory forensics has become a critical component of smartphone investigations and incident response, enabling the recovery of volatile evidence such as deleted messages from end-to-end encrypted apps and cryptocurrency transactions. However, these forensics tools, particularly on Android, face significant challenges in adapting to different versions and maintaining reliability over time due to the constant evolution of low-level structures critical for evidence recovery and reconstruction. Structural changes, ranging from simple offset modifications to complete architectural redesigns, pose substantial maintenance and adaptability issues for forensic tools that rely on precise structure interpretation. Thus, this paper presents the first systematic study of …

Enhancing Cloud-Based Threat Detection Through Explainable Ai: A Comparative Study Of Machine Learning And Xai-Integrated Models, Amna Al Ghaithi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The rapid adoption of cloud computing brought about serious security concerns, as cloud infrastructures are constantly exposed to cybersecurity threats such as malware and Distributed Denial of Service attacks. Also, on the other hand, current security methodologies have limitations in identifying new threats accurately. Apart from the fact that ML models are highly efficient in detecting attacks, as ‘black boxes,’ they lack interpretability, impacting trust and adoption within vital cloud environments. This research aims to solve this issue by integrating Explainable Artificial Intelligence practices to help enhance both the accuracy and interpretability of AI systems intended to detect threats in …

Enhanced Privacy Preserving Healthcare Data Management With Federated Learning Using Homomorphic Encryption, Omar Abdulla Ali

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Federated Learning (FL) is a decentralized approach of machine learning on multiple clients jointly training models without sharing their raw data, which drastically improves privacy and enhance protection against security breach. However, there is still a risk of privacy breach when clients send their model updates to the central server, because if a model update is intercepted or analyzed by a malicious entity, it could be used to recover sensitive data using inference attack. To address this issue, Homomorphic Encryption (HE) can be applied to protect against the interception, since the model updates remain encrypted during transmission as well as …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An Immediate Solution For Farms Without Reliable Wi-Fi, Dermott Harkin, Martin Bradley

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Voices Matter: Tackling Accentism In Ireland. A Study Addressing Accent-Based Discrimination Awareness In Education, Sadhbh Reddington, Victoria Graham, Holly Jordan, Mairead Moriarty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Supporting Single Parents: How Loneliness And Self-Stigma Can Impact Single Parents And Their Quality Of Life, Alana Powell, David Mothersill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Income Inequality And Attitudes Towards Immigrants – How Increased Inequality Drives Division, Niamh Anderson, Vincent O'Sullivan

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland Blossoms Through Multiculturalism - Designing For Community Connection, Julia Kuczera, Shirley Casey, Hilary Kenna

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.