Digital Commons Network^™

The Myth Of Clean Manufacturing, Andrea Phan

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

We must act now and reform renewable energy credits to reflect real progress. This means tightening Scope 2 rules so that renewable claims are tied to additional, time and location matched, clean power. It means rewarding measurable integration, so that real emissions are avoided, not waived by retroactive certificates. RECs can still play a role, but only in a system that demands we use the tools we already have.

Nebraska’S Best Option: Carbon Capture, Leah Bates

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Some may argue that carbon capture technologies are not optimal due to their high costs or how they take focus away from implementing renewable energy sources. However, carbon capture and storage technologies are currently the best options in reducing carbon emission and Nebraska is leading the way.

Impulse, Fall 2025, Jill Fier, Sierra Brown, Jerome J. Lohr College Of Engineering

Impulse (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Publication)

2 | Faculty News
3 | SDSU Vet Hua to Head Civil Engineering
6 | Ad Lunam — To the Moon
10 | Building A Safety Culture
11 | Department News
12 | Surface Mount Technology Kickoff
14 | Construction Management Student, Volleyball Player Building Success Piece by Piece
16 | Student Awards, Honors
18 | Student Competition Results
20 | NASA Win Opens Doors for New Product Development Order
22 | SDSU Engineering Student Tabbed as Noblereach Fellow
26 | Knabach Award Recipient from Apprentice Lineman to Company President
28 | Metzger Create Faculty Endowment for SDSU Engineering
30 …

Assessing The Level Of Primary Teachers Application Of Verbal Mathematical Problems Solution Strategies From Their Point Of View In The City Of Jeddah, Najwa Atian Al-Mohammadi, Abeer Bent Mousa Al-Ahmary

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Educational and Psychological Sciences

The problem of the current study is to identify the reasons for the low levels of students in solving verbal problems, which may be attributed to the shortcomings in the employment of mathematics teachers of strategies for solving verbal mathematical problems in the primary stage. It aims to identify the level of employment of mathematics teachers of strategies for solving verbal mathematical problems in the primary stage. The descriptive analytical approach was used and the questionnaire was adopted as a tool for collecting data. The study sample consisted of (41) female teachers from the primary stage in the city of …

Theoretical Investigation And Practical Validation Of Ai Based Fault Detection In Bjt Amplifier Circuits, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Kyrillos Selim, Ahmad Alaa, Ola Hassan

Electrical Engineering

Analog circuits are essential to electronic systems due to their variety of critical functions. Catastrophic faults, such as short- and open-circuit faults, can stop the circuit from functioning. Meanwhile, parametric faults such as drift due to temperature fluctuations, noise in components, and power supply issues cause the circuit to operate beyond its range. Such faults can harm the circuit and its constituent parts. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and address the issues brought on by these faults. Common traditional fault diagnosis methods that rely on manual testing and visual assessment are lacking in complex electronic systems and faults. Such …

Integrative Stem Approach Impact On Mathematical Acquisition And Mathematical Conceptual Understanding, Kayla Grace Eller

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study investigates the impact of an integrative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) approach on fourth grade students’ mathematical conceptual understanding and mathematical language acquisition. For the purposes of this research, mathematical language was defined as students’ comprehension and use of key mathematical terminology and concepts, while mathematical conceptual understanding was characterized as a comprehensive and practical grasp of mathematical ideas that goes beyond isolated facts and methods. The study was situated in the theoretical framework of situated cognition learning theory and informed by the conceptual framework of Wells PIRPSOAL model (2016), with particular attention to how …

Creativity In Large Language Models, Robert Kenneth Morain

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence systems approach human-level performance across a wide variety of domains, creative domains remain a critical yet underexplored area of research. Unlike traditional AI tasks with well-defined objectives, creative tasks rely on inherently subjective measures, making them particularly challenging for machines that lack human experiential context. This dissertation establishes the fundamental importance of creativity in AI systems and presents methods for improving and evaluating the creative capabilities of LLMs on the pathway toward AGI. This work addresses and examines key limitations in current LLM creativity through model innovations, development frameworks, and comparative studies. The dissertation develops novel architectural …

Advancing Cybersecurity Assurance: A Novel Outcome-Based Approach For Evaluating Cybersecurity Controls, Yousuf M. Muhammad

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

The growing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks pose a serious and escalating risk to both individuals and organizations. Current cybersecurity assurance approaches often fall short in effectively measuring the adequacy of cybersecurity controls in terms of mitigating risks and providing measurable value to organizations. The current approaches are often focused on measuring compliance with predetermined requirements as defined in government regulation or an industry standard, thereby overlooking the need for a holistic approach that incorporates all aspects of security. This dissertation is an attempt to address this gap by developing a novel outcome-based cybersecurity assurance approach.

The research problem focused …

Unlocking The 7 Intelligences: Applying Multiple Intelligences In Rsl Training, Erin Ryan

Goal 3: Interpersonal Intelligence Narrative

The purpose of this resource is to inform student leaders about the different ways information can be presented and the diverse ways individuals learn. It introduces the idea that people may think and process information differently, and that these differences do not prevent learning or engagement.

This resource is intended to support student leaders in developing more inclusive and effective presentation styles. By understanding multiple approaches to learning, student leaders can adapt how they share information to better reach a wider audience.

Additionally, this resource introduces a student development theory based on the work of Howard Gardner and his theory …

Part 1: Mathematical Alchemy, Corey Brady, Luis Moreno-Armella

The Mathematics Enthusiast

In this set of four articles, we invite Calculus teachers to encounter some of the ideas that shaped and motivated the innovation of the subject, presented in story form. We find that in traditional treatments of these topics, the dramatic tension between ways of thinking, representations, and phenomena in the world can be lost in a sea of calculations, procedures, and partially-understood formal proofs. However, the fundamental ideas and insights can be identified in nascent form in students’ ways-of-thinking about Calculus, and in their struggles to connect Calculus with their prior mathematical experiences.

We are honored to contribute these Stories …

Part 2: Sailor On The Seas Of Infinity, Luis Moreno-Armella, Corey Brady

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Mathematics is the result of a long process of research with the instruments of rationality that each age makes available to its members. Euclidean geometry crystallizes an impulse of deductive rationality. But this impulse has not always been the dominant one. At other times, such as the one we are going to explain in this part, a form of inductive reasoning has been given primacy. We will see the development of ideas that today constitute the foundations of the Calculus and that indicated the future task of its deductive consolidation. Our protagonist, the bold sailor, was identified as one who …

David Tall: Some Personal Reflections, Matthew Inglis

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Matthew Inglis’s memories of David Tall.

A Tribute To The Life And Work Of David Tall, Sepideh Stewart

The Mathematics Enthusiast

David Tall was my academic grandfather, a wonderful mentor, and a brilliant mathematics educator. He earned two PhD degrees in mathematics and mathematics education. His edited book, Advanced Mathematical Thinking, and many of his publications that followed carved the path to shape many advances in mathematics education. His work on the framework of the three worlds of mathematics resonated well with mathematicians, giving them a language to express their thought processes as they reflected on their teaching and research. His latest framework, A Meaningful Long-term Framework for Mathematical Thinking, extended his ideas further and captured more on the complexity of …

Memorial - Simon Goodchild (1950-2024), Raymond Bjuland

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Raymond Bjuland’s tribute to Simon Goodchild.

Memories Of Simon Goodchild, Paul Ernest

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Paul Ernest’s recollections of Simon Goodchild.

Simon Goodchild Recollected, Kenneth Ruthven

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Kenneth Ruthven’s recollections of Simon Goodchild.

First-Year University Students’ Mathematics Capital And Identities, Paola Valero, Lisa Österling, Nhu Truong, Anna Danielsson, Bruna Nunes, Maria Berge

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Based on a survey of 150 respondents and 16 timeline interviews with first-year university mathematics students in Sweden, we explore how the material resources and conditions available to them —mathematics capital— connect to their mathematical identities. We found that mathematics capital has bearing on how early in life students start to consider doing mathematics. We also found individually different trajectories among students with low mathematics capital into university mathematics. The study expands both existing theoretical and methodological ways of researching the material bearings of identity and opens up for new ways of understanding and exploring the conditions that may facilitate …

From Problem Solving To Problem Posing: Two Classroom Examples, Suzana Antunović, Ljiljana Arambašić, Anđa Valent

The Mathematics Enthusiast

In this paper, we present two examples of classroom activities on divisibility and mathematical induction that combine problem solving and problem posing. In our activities, standard tasks of the form ’Prove that the statement holds’ were transformed into ’Think of similar examples,’ with the meaning of ’similar’ left for the students to interpret. This approach not only helps develop problem-solving skills but also teaches students how to pose problems themselves.

Carbon Footprint Of Carrots In Western Australia, Christophe D'Abbadie, Saloomeh Akbari, Sang Ravindran

Horticulture research reports

This report presents the findings of a comprehensive carbon accounting study conducted on carrot production in the Myalup area of Western Australia.

The study reveals that carrot emissions are approximately 81 kg CO2e per tonne of carrot sold from the April harvest and 76 kg CO2e per tonne from the October harvest, when using rejected carrots for other economic uses. These figures represent competitive emissions intensities compared to international benchmarks.

Key findings include:

• Yield improvement is the primary driver for emissions reduction: Increasing productivity, without proportional input increases, offers the most effective pathway to lower emissions’ intensity while improving economic …

Evaluation Of Towed Tem Potential For Rapid Characterization Of Levee Foundations, Kolawole Arowoogun, Katherine Grote, Jeremy Maurer

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Assessing the geologic conditions of levee foundation soils is a challenging task owing to the extensive length of most levees and the heterogeneity of many alluvial deposits. Traditional investigation techniques (such as boring and cone penetrometer testing [CPT]) are expensive, invasive, and provide spatially-limited information. As a result, they are restricted to pre-identified problematic zones in the levee. To overcome these challenges, geophysical instruments capable of better spatial coverage are proposed for rapid geoelectrical characterization of levees. In this study, we presented a field-based application of the towed time-domain electromagnetic method (tTEM) system in characterizing the subsurface geology adjacent to …

Colony Collapse Disorder And How To Mitigate Losses, Axl Taylor

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

The Role of Varroa destructor in CCD

Viruses and Their Role in CCD

Effects of Nosema in CCD

Habitat Destruction/Nutrition and Its Effect on CCD

Pesticides and their effect on CCD

Mitigating Causes of CCD

Colony Behavior, Social Resilience, and Monitoring

Integrated Management Approaches

Conclusion

Genai Literacy Framework For Library Instruction, Adwoa Boateng, Jennifer Freer, Greyson Pasiak, Erich Short, Ryan Tolnay, Rit Libraries

Presentations and other scholarship

A generative artificial intelligence (genai) framework for library instruction. This short framework is designed to incorporate into existing library instruction across many subject areas. The basic elements of the framework are: know & understand genai, use & evaluate genai, and library research & discovery with genai.

Studying Topic Evolution Based On Bertopic Model And Semantic Function, Jiabin Qu, Mengyang Wang

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] Topic evolution analysis can help researchers quickly grasp the research hotspots and development trends of a discipline. However, existing topic models often overlook the semantic functions and structures of texts during topic extraction, making it difficult to reveal the deeper patterns of disciplinary development. This paper proposes an integrated framework for topic evolution analysis that combines the BERTopic model with semantic functions, aiming to enrich and improve the methodological system of topic evolution research.

[Method/process] Firstly, the BERTopic model is used to extract topics, obtaining the“Topic-Word”distribution. Next, a discourse parsing tool analyzes abstracts into five semantic function segments, resulting …

Research On Identification And Evaluation Method Of Medical Experts' Expertise Domains In Online Health Community Based On Knowledge Graph, Yunjiang Xi, Qian Zhang, Man Li, Juan Yu

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This study aims to identify the expertise domains of medical experts, and evaluates their domain levels to provide a basis for community expert recommendation.

[Method/process] This study utilized the improved OneRel model to structure community historical Q&A into entity relation triples. Then used the knowledge graph triples to test the consistency between the medical knowledge in the community Q&A and the domain knowledge, and finally obtained the doctor's domain levels by aggregating in each expertise domain.

[Result/conclusion] Using the data example from xywy.com website, 214 doctors in the community were ranked in terms of their average level of expertise …

Closing The Loop On Textile Waste: Policy, Technology, And Consumer Behavior In Sustainable Fashion, Anthony Amotoe-Bondzie

Collected Student Papers

Textile waste has become one of the most visible consequences of the fashion industry’s linear production and consumption model, where materials are rapidly extracted, transformed, consumed, and discarded. This paper critically examines how sustainable fashion can move beyond isolated recycling efforts toward a more integrated circular economy framework. Rather than treating textile waste as only an end-of-life problem, the study analyzes it as a systems issue shaped by overproduction, weak product design, limited recovery infrastructure, fragmented regulation, and consumer habits that normalize short garment lifespans. The paper argues that closing the loop on textile waste requires coordinated interventions across policy, …

The Determination And Impact Of Placement For Students With Developmental Delays, Christine E. Rogers

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Prior studies have demonstrated the benefits of increased time spent in the general education environments for students with disabilities. However, the literature lacks information specific to students who qualify under the Developmental Delay (DD) category. Therefore, this study examined the processes for how student placements are determined and implemented, as well as the impacts that various placements have on students with DD. This study utilized quantitative data from eight students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment scores. Qualitative data were collected from school personnel focus groups and school social worker and case manager questionnaires. The …

Collaboration And Inclusive Practices Between General And Special Education Teachers, Paige Crooks

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This practitioner inquiry examined how meaningful collaboration between general and special education teachers influences instructional practices and student outcomes in inclusive classrooms. The study was conducted in a fifth–sixth grade intermediate school and utilized surveys, observations, interviews, reflection journals, and descriptive student assessment snapshots to explore teacher experiences and instructional patterns. Findings revealed that teachers highly valued collaboration but lacked consistent structures, such as protected planning time, clear expectations, and defined co-teaching roles, to support sustained collaborative practice. When collaborative routines were present, instructional delivery was more coherent, student engagement increased, and teachers reported greater clarity in role-sharing and shared …

Design Optimization And Scaling Of Coreless Afpm Machines Using Hybrid Fea-Based Differential Evolution And Machine Learning, Matin Vatani, David R. Stewart, Donovin D. Lewis, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents a machine learning (ML) based design framework for the fast and accurate optimization of coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines. Although the absence of magnetic cores eliminates material nonlinearity, the design process remains highly nonlinear due to the complex influence of geometric parameters. To overcome the computational challenges of finite element analysis (FEA)-based optimization, a series of multi-objective differential evolution (MODE) optimizations were conducted across various machine sizes at constant power output. The resulting design data was used to train an artificial neural network (ANN), enabling rapid prediction of machine performance without the need for repeated …

Laboratory Investigation Of High-Temperature Preformed Particle Gels For Fluid Control In Granite Cores For Geothermal Applications, K. Caleb Darko, Yanbo Liu, Thomas P. Schuman, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

To understand the applicability of high-temperature preformed particle gel (HT-PPG) for control of short-circuiting in enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs), core flooding experiments were conducted on fractured granite cores under varying fracture widths, gel particle sizes and swelling ratios. Key parameters such as injection pressure, water breakthrough pressure, and residual resistance factor were measured to evaluate HT-PPG performance. The gel exhibited strong injectability, entering granite fractures at pressure gradients as low as 0.656 MPa/m; HT-PPG yields a superior sealing performance by significantly reducing the permeability; and dehydration occurs during HT-PPG propagation, with a dehydration ratio ranging from 4.71% to 11.36%. This …

Effective Two- And Three-Body Interactions Between Dressed Impurities In A Tilted Double-Well Potential, F. Theel, A. G. Volosniev, D. Diplaris, F. Brauneis, S. I. Mistakidis, P. Schmelcher

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We explore the impact and scaling of effective interactions between two and three impurity atoms, induced by a bosonic medium, on their density distributions. To facilitate the detection of mediated interactions, we propose a setup where impurities are trapped in a tilted double-well potential, while the medium is confined to a ring. The tilt of the potential breaks the spatial inversion symmetry allowing us to exploit the population of the energetically elevated well as a probe of induced interactions. For two impurities, the interaction with the medium reduces the impurity population at the energetically elevated well, which we interpret as …