Digital Commons Network^™

An Update & Exploration Of The Herbarium At Belmont University, Corinne Parker, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Belmont University Herbarium is a collection of plant samples used to catalogue species for research and teaching. These specimens have been collected by Belmont students since 1973, helping to document the flora of Middle Tennessee. This semester the specimens have been organized, and identifications have been confirmed. An Excel spreadsheet was developed to record the specimens. This allowed for analyses of the 1,790 specimens by phylum and family. The updated organization of the herbarium and spreadsheet allows for faster specimen retrieval and identification of target species for future collection.

“The Role Of Machine Learning In Social Media Content Moderation”, Bethaney A. Mallory-Smothers

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The majority of the world's over one billion active users depend on large-scale machine learning based social media platforms to personalize content through various methods of curation. Recommendation systems use many types of machine learning model including collaborative filtering, content-based filtering and deep learning to find what a specific user is likely to be interested in, and therefore increase user engagement. As beneficial as this is to the user experience, it has also generated a significant amount of concern about both bias in recommendations and the dissemination of false information on the web, as well as issues related to the …

Resource Assessment Report No.6: Western Rock Lobster Resource - 2025 Update Assessment, Simon De Lestang, Emma-Jade Tuffley

Resource Assessment Reports

Executive Summary

The western rock lobster (WRL) fishery is considered sustainable with catches being slightly below those associated with the maximum economic yield (MEY) proxy (39% harvest rate), which ensures the large lobster biomass and economical catch rates are maintained. The marine environment continues to be the biggest driver in stock dynamics with post larval recruitment (puerulus) and adult behaviour, including catchability, strongly influenced by oceanic conditions. Recent seasons have seen strong Leeuwin Currents and warm ocean conditions. Over the past few seasons, puerulus settlement levels have been below average at numerous locations and it has been almost 10 years …

A Comprehensive Overview Of Chronic Wound Infections And Current Treatment Methods, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Chronic wound infections pose significant healthcare challenges due to persistent biofilms, antibiotic resistance, and impaired healing pathways. These wounds are characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial colonization, and disrupted tissue regeneration, leading to substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. This article reviews current knowledge on chronic wound types, their pathophysiology, and the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation to examine the latest advancements in antimicrobial-based strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. It highlights how diverse materials and technologies have been engineered to improve infection management, enhance tissue regeneration, and overcome the limitations of traditional treatments as well as advances that leverage innovations such as …

Composition Pedagogy As Ai‑Native Coding: From Design Kit To Scholarly Framework, Daniel Plate, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This article advances a field-ready framework that reconceives first-year composition as AI-native coding, translating a complete “design kit” into scholarly method, evaluative protocol, and curriculum architecture. Background: Contemporary composition pedagogy emphasizes process, genre awareness, and collaborative revision; meanwhile, modern software practice operationalizes iteration through version control, test-driven development, and continuous integration. The uploaded kit demonstrates that these cultures are isomorphic: writing stages align with SDLC phases, and automated pipelines can lint prose, execute argument “tests,” and publish artifacts with auditable histories. Approach: The study systematizes that kit into (1) a conceptual map that recasts authorship as orchestration and verification, (2) …

Reliability Of Vertical Jump Force-Time Metrics In Collegiate Athletes Compared To Recreationally Active Individuals, Dimitrije Cabarkapa, Robert Smith, Luke Chowning, Tyler Neltner, Quincy R. Johnson, Yang Yang, Thayne A. Munce

Faculty Scholarship

As neuromuscular performance assessment has become a fundamental component of athlete monitoring, ensuring strong measurement reliability is essential for supporting accurate data-driven decision-making. Thus, the purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to examine the reliability of countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) force-time metrics obtained using a portable force plate system (Hawkin Dynamics) and (ii) to determine whether absolute and relative reliability scores differ between well-trained individuals (i.e., athletes) and those less familiar with CMJ force-plate testing (i.e., non-athletes). Seventy-four participants volunteered to take part in this investigation, of whom thirty-nine were NCAA Division-I baseball and track-and-field athletes and thirty-five age-matched …

Perspectives On Firearm Storage Conversations: Summary Of Health Care Provider Interviews And Parent Focus Group, Rachel M. Gallo Mph

Publications

This report summarizes perspectives from Maine parents who own firearms and health care providers on safe firearm storage and related conversations in health care settings. Through interviews and a parent focus group, the project explored how firearms are stored, what influences storage decisions, and how families and providers feel about discussing firearm safety. Parents emphasized the importance of responsible ownership, education, and individualized storage solutions, while identifying cost as a key barrier to safer storage options. Many health care providers expressed interest in addressing firearm safety but cited limited time, lack of training, and concerns about patient trust as challenges. …

Intelligent Real-Time Flotation Froth Stability Monitoring Using Embedded Computer Vision: Lead (Pb) Processing Case Study, Ahmed Bendaouia, Taha Ismaili, Ismail Najib, Oussama Hasidi, Intissar Benzakour, Jianzhi Li, El Hassan Abdelwahed

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Froth stability in flotation refers to the ability of the froth layer to remain intact and avoid collapsing during the flotation process. A stable froth layer is crucial to maximizing mineral recovery and ensuring the efficient operation of flotation cells. Several factors influence the stability of the froth, including the depth of the froth, the crowding, the size of the bubbles, and the rate of movement of the froth. In this study, our main objective is to analyze and evaluate froth stability in real time, since it plays a critical role in process optimization for flotation-based mineral processing. We propose …

Frequency Dependence Favours Social Plasticity And Facilitates Socio-Eco-Evolutionary Feedback In Fluctuating Environments, Jordan S. Martin, David F. Westneat, Alastair J. Wilson, Niels J. Dingemanse, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy

Biology Faculty Publications

Increasing attention is being devoted to the study of phenotypic plasticity in social environments. However, much remains unknown about the selection pressures driving the evolution of social plasticity, as well as the pathways by which social plasticity may facilitate or constrain feedback between ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Here, we explore these questions using quantitative genetic models, providing general results regarding the causes of selection on social reaction norms, as well as their consequences for adaptive microevolution in fluctuating environments. We model the fitness effects of character states expressed across spatially heterogeneous microhabitats, with variation in the degree to which trait …

Preservice Teachers’ Perspective On Using Gen Ai In Math Education, Janice Watson-Huggins, Sandra Trotman

FDLA Journal

Generative AI (Gen AI) has revolutionized possibilities for instructional practices in education. The use of digital technology in mathematics education includes tools such as ChatGPT, Photomath, and Gemini. These tools offer opportunities for dynamic engagement, including problem-solving and personalized learning experiences. However, integrating these technologies into the classroom presents significant opportunities and limitations. As GenAI becomes an integral component oewf educational technology, understanding its implications for teaching and learning, particularly in mathematics, is vital. This research examines preservice teachers’ perspectives on using the GenAI within an undergraduate mathematics education course. It also explores the advantages and challenges of using Gen …

Investment In Implementation: A Phenomenological Study Of Principals’ Curriculum Leadership And Emotional Competence, Melissa Van Straten

Educational Leadership & Administration Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how elementary principals led the implementation of a newly adopted core literacy curriculum and how they perceived their emotional competence in this role. Grounded in implementation science (see D. L. Fixsen et al., 2010), the transtheoretical model (see Prochaska & DiClemente, 1982), and emotional intelligence (see Goleman et al., 2001), the study examined both the leadership approaches and emotional competencies principals relied on when leading curriculum implementation in their schools. Semi-structured interviews with 10 elementary principals revealed four key areas of leadership investment: investment in self, investment in people, investment in visibility, and investment in …

Cal Poly (Cp) Legged Robot, Sebastian Barboza, Jonathan Mchale, Isabella Sorensen, Isaac Golan

Mechanical Engineering

The Navy spends $60 billion annually on dangerous ship maintenance performed by sailors. To save lives and resources, the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) is looking for robots to replace sailors and navigate ships to perform various tasks. Robots with tracks and wheels have been most recently explored by NSWC, however they have encountered significant problems navigating the ships, especially through naval ship doorways with a significant ledge. By using a legged robot, our team hopes to solve these problems and have a robot that can navigate the ship with relative ease and stability.

Regulating The Unseen In A Borderless World: Digital Currency And Its Socioeconomic Impact On Industry, Paolina H. Engibegian

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Fostering Belonging And Social-Emotional Literacy: Strategies For Inclusive Early Childhood Education In Southern Tanzania, Frolence Lwegoshora Paschal Paschal, Nipael Mrutu

Libraries

Inclusive early childhood education aims to create environments where children of diverse abilities and backgrounds can learn and grow together, emphasizing social-emotional literacy alongside academic skills. The purpose of this study was to explore strategies to enhance socialemotional literacy and development in such settings, drawing insights from educators and families. Conducted at Nyangao primary school in the Lindi region, the research employed a qualitative case study design, using interviews, observations, and focus group discussions with 3 teachers and 15 parents. Findings reveal five key strategies which are creating a positive and inclusive environment, utilizing peer modeling and peer support, providing …

Examining Gender And Ethnic Disparities In Scientific Authorship To Promote A Culture Of Equity, Diversity And Inclusion At A University School Of Public Health, Paula Christen, Julia Michalow, Tristan Naidoo, Hillary Topazian, Sabine An Elsland, Abeer Arif, Marc Baguelin, Gemma Clunie, Sarah Essilfie-Quaye, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

In public health research, diverse perspectives are vital to identify biases that homogenous teams might miss. Since publication metrics influence career progression, we investigated publication rate disparities within a School of Public Health. We analysed 18 322 peer-reviewed publications by 513 affiliated researchers between 2014 and 2023 using multivariable regression models and network analysis to assess the impact of gender, ethnicity, job level and centrality in the School’s research network on publication rates. We found a persistent gender gap in publication rates across job levels and ethnicities, with men publishing more than women (incidence rate ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval …

Lake Union Professional Day Prepares Andrews Seniors For The Classroom, Debbie Michel

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Andrews University Fall 2025 Enrollment And Rankings Report, Andrews University, Anthony Bosman

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Random Samples Generation From Neutrosophic Distributions Using The Neutrostat Package In R, M.I. Khan, Zahid Khan, Katrina Lane Krebs

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Vatican Kiseki Chousakan As Philosophy Of Religion: The Intersections Of Faith, Science, And Philosophy In An Anime Adaptation, Carl Jayson D. Hernandez

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

Ideas concerning religion are often communicated through popular media, such as anime. One of the anime adaptations that explicitly engages the intersections of religion, science, and philosophy is Vatican Kiseki Chousakan. This anime adaptation centers on a special unit from the Vatican that verifies miraculous phenomena worldwide. In this study, I reflect on how the anime representation communicates religious ideas about miracles, prophecies, and other spiritual matters to its viewers. This critical reflection reveals how anime promotes a philosophical view centered on the complementary relationship between religion and science. With these in mind, this study proceeds as follows. The first …

Integrating Goal-Setting Into An Urban Community College Developmental Mathematics Course: A Multi-Perspective Learning Experience, Tamie S. Dickson

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Developmental mathematics (DM) students often encounter systemic and contextual obstacles in higher education. Low self-efficacy, math anxiety, multiple external demands, and pervasive gaps in prerequisite knowledge can all undermine the strategic behaviors needed to manage the academic environment independently. Although DM reforms are widely researched, the literature lacks a firsthand perspective on the daily processes students apply as they assume control over their learning. This qualitative action research study investigated the integration of intentional goal-setting into a recently redesigned one-level pilot DM course at an open-access, urban community college. The practitioner-researcher created the PATHway framework—rooted in Zimmerman’s (2000) three-phase Self-Regulated …

Llms Are Bad Judges. So Use A Classifier Instead., Jack Kieffaber, Kimo Gandall, Steven Foster, Kenny Mclaren

SMU Law Review Forum

Large Language Models suffer from prompt variance—meaning they’ll give you totally different legal answers depending on how you phrase your question. Jonathan Choi demonstrated this recently when he asked ChatGPT five legal questions, each rephrased 2,000 times, and watched as the bot spat out different answers every time. When you tell somebody that AI is going to replace the judge, the lawyer, and the legal system in the next twenty years, Choi’s article has become the go-to rebuttal; it’s the crown jewel of the “AI bad” genre.

Choi’s absolutely right that LLM’s are bad judges. And, if every AI was …

The Active Classroom: A Narrative Review Of Active Teaching Methods And The Flipped Classroom Model In Graduate Medical Education., Kalyan Kandra, Praneetha Vennam

Articles

Graduate medical education (GME) is undergoing a significant pedagogical transformation, moving away from traditional, passive learning environments toward more dynamic, learner-centered approaches. This narrative review examines the implementation and impact of active teaching methods in GME, with a specific focus on the flipped classroom model. In this narrative review, we compare and contrast these innovative strategies with traditional didactic lectures, evaluating their effects on learner engagement, knowledge retention, clinical reasoning, and overall satisfaction. Active learning, grounded in constructivist theory, repositions the resident as an active participant in their education, utilizing methods such as case-based learning, team-based learning, and simulation. The …

Algorithms For The Synthesis Of A Temperature Control System For The Inner Tube Heat Exchanger With A Steam Jacket, H.Z. Igamberdiyev, Jasur Sevinov, U.F. Mamirov, Sh.M. Abdishukurov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The synthesis of a feedback propagation control law for an inner tube heat exchanger with a steam jacket is addressed in this text. A controller has been developed that, based on temperature measurements taken at four points. The maintains the output temperature at a specified level by acting on the steam jacket temperature. To determine the parameters of the plant, a linear quadratic optimal (LQ-optimal) algorithm is employed. In the considered case, the optimal controller includes a proportional–integral (PI) component, as well as an additional term that requires storing the control input over the current interval for its computation. The …

Examining The Perception Of Maritime Instructors In Upskilling And Reskilling Seafarers Towards Decarbonization, Michelle Margallo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Navigating Equity In The Digital Era : Addressing Challenges And Advancing Rights Of Female Seafarers Through Policy Reform, And Artificial Intelligence, Margaret Dixon

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Ratification And Implementation Of The International Maritime Organisation (Imo) Instruments : A Social And Policy Persepctive On Maritime Governance In Fiji, Miriama Latianara

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Technology Transfer In The Implementation Of The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, Christine Nzambi Mulatya

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Towards Zero Emissions Ports In Saudi Arabia : Drivers, Barriers, And Opportunities, Saad Hulil S Alshahrani

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Oil Spill Pollution In The Caspian Sea In Case Of Azerbaijan : Evaluating Spill Patterns And Governance Gaps In Azerbaijan’S Marine Oil Pollution Response, Ulviyya Hasanova

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Regulatory, Safety And Environmental Aspects Of Biofuels In International Shipping, - Kiran Chempakassery Sasidharan

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.