Digital Commons Network^™

The Design And Effect Of Continuum Robot Compliance On Locomotion, Parsa Molaei

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Continuum robots, due to their compliant structures and ability to navigate through constrained environments, offer significant advantages in applications requiring safe physical interaction and dexterous motion. However, challenges related to limited structural stiffness, payload capacity, and precise control remain open problems in the field. This dissertation presents novel contributions aimed at addressing these limitations through two main actuation units of continuum robots: tendon-driven continuum robots (TDCRs) and concentric tube robots (CTRs). In the first part, we focus on methods to improve the stability and modify the stiffness of the TDCR. A tendon decoupling strategy is introduced for planar TDCRs. The …

Is Mobilization A Major Question?, Evan J. Ward

Joint Force Quarterly

The combination of the Supreme Court’s new Major Questions doctrine and its decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo threatens to hobble the Executive Branch’s ability to effect a major mobilization under the Defense Production Act. The Defense Production Act followed the War Powers Acts of WWII to consolidate and update the presidential powers that were so famously marshaled to mobilize the arsenal of democracy. The Department of Defense has long planned to rely on Defense Production Act authority to mobilize should the need arise, but the risk of litigation brought about by new legal developments means that the authorities the …

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 118, 3rd Quarter 2025, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

This issue of Joint Force Quarterly addresses key strategic, operational, and doctrinal questions shaping the future of the joint force. Articles examine mobilization as a strategic imperative, PLA Air Force modernization, Southeast Asia’s geographic role in U.S. defense strategy, and leader development for strategic lethality. Contributions also explore AI’s role in detecting deepfakes, the civil-military relationship, and innovations in military logistics and cyber force design. A retrospective on the Joint Warfighting Concept and critical reviews of recent defense literature provide context and continuity. Collectively, these pieces offer insight into how the joint force must evolve to meet emerging challenges.

Color-Coded Lane Guidance System For Dynamic Traffic Flow Optimization, Jacques Mouton

Defensive Publications Series

Traffic flow can be sub-optimal when drivers lack real-time, lane-specific information. This disclosure describes a system for dynamic lane guidance, for example, within a navigation application on a computing device (e.g., a smartphone, smart watch, wearable device, augmented reality glasses, an in-vehicle infotainment system, etc.). In some implementations, the system can utilize a probabilistic inference engine, such as a Bayesian inference engine, to analyze multiple data sources. These sources may include real-time traffic data, historical data, predictive models, and crowdsourced information. This analysis can be used to calculate a probability of congestion, delay, and/or accident risk for individual lanes. These …

The Interpretation Of Wisc-V Gai-Cpi Discrepancies In Adolescents: Cognitive, Attentional, And Symptom Correlates, Cierra Hernandez

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

Conceptualizing The Research Cycle For The Field Of Materials Science And Engineering, Jennifer L.W. Carter

Faculty Scholarship

Abstract: Early-career materials researchers often receive guidance from their individual advisors on best practices for conducting research, but the materials science community lacks an explicit model of the research process. As a result, the lived experience of an individual researcher can be quite different from their peers since they may be exposed to a different unique set of implicit research steps. In this article, we translate an existing research heuristic from other fields and make explicit the steps, methodologies, and strategies materials science engineering researchers utilize to advance our collective materials science knowledge. This newly proposed research cycle can improve …

A Machine Learning Approach To Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction Analysis, Spencer Snow Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) is a powerful method in material sciences that gives insights into the atomical and crystallographic structure of a material, revealing information into the material's properties and suitability for industrial and scientific application. In geology, XRPD analysis is frequently leveraged to identify and quantify the present mineral phases in an unknown mixture. Despite it's widespread use, interpreting XRPD patterns requires highly-specialized knowledge, making the analysis largely dependent upon the background experience of the analyst. To assist experts, computational methods have been developed over the years. Some of these techniques involve fitting diffraction patterns using pseudo-Voigt functions, which …

Approximating Transport Maps Using Minibatch Optimal Transport Plans, Dawson Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Optimal Transport theory (OT) has gained much attention in the past decades due to its rich mathematical content and striking connections to other areas of math. It has also naturally found a place in data science as a way to compare and transform probability measures. Unfortunately, there remain significant computational burdens that restrict its effectiveness in large-scale data regimes. In this thesis, we consider Minibatch Optimal Transport (MiniOT), which breaks up the task of computing the optimal transport plan between datasets into several smaller tasks of computing the optimal transport plan between minibatches of the datasets. After obtaining the minibatch …

Integrating Belowground Recovery Into Tropical Forest Restoration Design And Monitoring, Lauren Toro, Leland K. Werden, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Kelly M. Andersen, Sarah Batterman, Matilde M. Bragadini, Pooja Choksi, Rebecca J. Cole, Liza S. Comita, Daniela Cusack, Daisy H. Dent, Lee H. Dietterich, Joshua B. Fisher, Katrin Fleischer, Lucia Fuchslueger, Nohemi Huanca-Nunez, Janey R. Lienau, Lindsay A. Mcculloch, Ember M. Morrissey, Jennifer S. Powers, Mareli Sánchez-Juliá, Oscar Valverde-Barrantes, Anita Weissflog, Michelle Y. Wong

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing recognition that tropical forest restoration is key for sequestering carbon and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Soils, roots, and soil biota are central to ecosystem function and services, but belowground recovery is largely overlooked in restoration monitoring frameworks. Here, we outline current understanding of the links between above- and belowground recovery in tropical forests by examining how belowground properties before and after intervention influence recovery; by evaluating whether aboveground recovery can serve as a proxy for belowground dynamics; and by proposing a blueprint for monitoring dynamic soil physical (bulk density, aggregate stability), chemical (organic matter or carbon, pH), and …

Examining Enrollment Populations At A Predominantly White Research Institution In The Northeast United States, Terrence Calvin Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative critical race case study investigates the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students at Heister University, a predominantly White public research institution in the Northeastern United States. Despite its location near two diverse cities and its reputation as an affordable, high-quality university, its student body remains disproportionately White. This study explores whether admissions and recruitment policies, either overtly or covertly, contribute to systemic barriers limiting access for students from minoritized groups. Using Critical Race Theory and Colorblindness Ideology, the research examines the intersection of race, policy, and institutional practice through interviews policy reviews, demographic data. Findings reveal that “inclusive” …

The Construction Of Ph- And Temperature-Responsive Drug Delivery Systems Based On Metal Organic Frameworks And Phase Change Materials, Wanying Wei

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, core-shell microparticles were synthesized using coaxial electrospray techniques, with Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 encapsulating either Rhodamine B or Doxorubicin in the core. ZIF-8 is a material well regarded for its effectiveness in drug delivery systems. Phase change materials are composed of a 4:1 mixture of lauric acid and stearic acid in the shell. The PCM chosen has a melting point close to physiological body temperature. The structural morphology and thermal stability of the microparticles were confirmed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Infrared Spectroscopy. The release of the drug was influenced by …

Board Of Directors Meeting Minutes (July 14, 2025), Dmacc

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

This file contains the minutes from the Des Moines Area Community College Board meeting held on July 14, 2025.

Upcycling Of Polydicyclopentadiene (Pdcpd) Via Dynamic Bonds, Catherine Biju

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Thermoset polymers are valued for their exceptional mechanical strength and thermal stability, but suffer from irreversibility due to permanent covalent crosslinks, limiting recyclability. Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD), a widely used thermoset, exemplifies this limitation despite its excellent mechanical properties. In this study, we report an upcycling strategy for pDCPD through the incorporation of dynamic imine bonds. The successful integration of imine bonds was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Mechanical testing revealed that the modified pDCPD (pDCPD-imine) exhibits enhanced tensile strength and maintains its performance across multiple reprocessing cycles. Moreover, the dynamic nature of the imine bonds imparts healability to the network. This …

The Role Of The Cytosolic Chaperonin Cct In The Folding And Assembly Of G Protein Complexes, Mikaila I. Sass

Theses and Dissertations

All organisms depend on cellular signaling pathways to dictate cell growth, responses to stimuli, and all other cellular functions necessary to maintain health and survival. Many of these signals rely on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated heterotrimeric G proteins for signal detection and transduction. To perform this function, the three subunits of the G protein must be assembled after synthesis on the ribosome. This process requires additional proteins called molecular chaperones to assist in folding of the subunits and assembly into the G protein heterotrimer. Among these chaperones, the cytosolic chaperonin CCT plays an essential role in …

A New Approach To Stability Of Delay Differential Equations With Time-Varying Delays Via Isospectral Reduction, Quinlan Leishman

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding how time delays impact the stability of a delay differential equation is important for modeling many natural and technological systems that experience time delays. Here we introduce a new stability criterion for delay-independent stability of these equations, called intrinsic stability, showing global exponential stability for a large class of nonautonomous nonlinear systems. Our approach is able to incorporate bounded time-varying delays, including those with certain types of discontinuities. The approach we take to prove this result is novel, associating the delay differential equation with a sequence of finite-dimensional matrices of increasing size and using the graph-theoretic technique of isospectral …

Math 112 At Byu: Student Averages On Various Exam Questions, Makayla Mcleod

Theses and Dissertations

In Math 112 at BYU, exams play a crucial role in evaluating students' understanding of the course content. Traditionally, these exams are a combination of multiple-choice and free-response questions, with the latter serving as a means to assess a student's thought process while solving problems. Will students perform as well on a multiple-choice exam? Or will students' averages be higher on free-response exams? In this thesis, we test 7 hypotheses related to these questions to provide more insight into the answer. We examine other factors that may affect students' averages, including various Calculus 1 topics, modes of questioning, and difficulty …

"Chatgpt Told Me To Say It": Ai Chatbots And Class Participation Apprehension In University Students, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

The growing prevalence of AI chatbots in everyday life has prompted educators to explore their potential applications in promoting student success, including support for classroom engagement and communication. This exploratory study emerged from semester-long observations of class participation apprehensions in an introductory educational psychology course, examining how chatbots might scaffold students toward active and independent classroom contribution. Four students experiencing situational participation anxiety voluntarily participated in a pilot intervention using AI chatbots as virtual peer partners. Following comprehensive training in AI use and prompt design given to the entire class, participants employed systematic consultation frameworks for managing classroom discourse trepidations. …

Subspace And Auxiliary Space Preconditioners For High-Order Interior Penalty Discretizations In H(Div), Will Pazner

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper, we construct and analyze preconditioners for the interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin discretization posed in the space H(div). These discretizations are used as one component in exactly divergence-free pressure-robust discretizations for the Stokes problem. Three preconditioners are presently considered: a subspace correction preconditioner using vertex patches and the lowest-order H1-conforming space as a coarse space, a fictitious space preconditioner using the degree-p discontinuous Galerkin space, and an auxiliary space preconditioner using the degree-(p − 1) discontinuous Galerkin space and a block Jacobi smoother. On certain classes of meshes, the subspace and fictitious space preconditioners result in provably well-conditioned …

An Empirical Study On Lecturers’ Perceptions Of Digital Gender Equality In Malaysia.Pdf, Fung Lan Yong, Louis Yuk Su Chin

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

The purpose of this study was to examine lecturers’ perceptions of digital gender equality in Malaysia. A Likert-scale questionnaire was designed to measure perceptions of digital gender equality and was administered to 55 lecturers online. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. First, Mann-Whitney U test revealed that there were no significant gender differences in lecturers’ perceptions of digital gender equality, while Kruskal-Wallis H test indicated no significant differences in relation to age and job experience. Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that four items were significant at p < 0.05, while another eight items were significant at p < 0.001. The overall group mean showed that lecturers’ perceptions of digital gender equality were low, indicating that the majority failed to notice the impediments that women face in the digital era. Overall percentages indicated that lecturers held unrealistic views of women’s participation in the digital economy probably because they lacked knowledge on the disproportionate numbers of women who are still living in the agrarian areas. In light of the findings, several recommendations were made to increase digital gender equality in Malaysia.

Digital Transformation In Japanese Companies_ Navigating Cultural Barriers, Leadership, And Innovation In The Era Of Society 5.0.Pdf, Hideto Tsuchiya, Hoong Tat Teh, Sook Han Wong

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

This article examines the impact of digital transformation in Japanese companies, analyzing how technological, cultural, and organizational factors interact to shape adoption outcomes. Drawing on qualitative thematic analysis of interviews and case studies, the study highlights that while advanced technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and IoT offer significant potential for innovation and operational gains, their integration is often hindered by entrenched hierarchical structures, cultural resistance, and a shortage of digital skills. Government policies, including Society 5.0, have provided impetus for change, particularly among large corporations, yet many small and medium-sized enterprises continue to face challenges related to legacy systems …

Creativity And Curb Cuts: Experiences In Our First Offering Of A Front End Development And Accessibility Focused Cs Course, Briana C. Bettin, Tony Garnett, Alex Gore, Andrea Llanas

Michigan Tech Publications

Students learn an abundance of technical skills while obtaining a computer science degree. The ability to develop meaningful front end user interfaces is often considered the domain of only ''more artistic'' CS students. However, for users to effectively engage with any piece of software, functional user interfaces are critical. Moreover, even among students who have front end skills, semantic and accessible design is all too often less considered. The first author piloted a ''Front End Development and Accessibility'' course this past Fall. This course teaches basic skills of front end with web and leverages key accessibility standards via WCAG. This …

A Review Of Automation In Small Satellite Operations, Joseph Melville, Andrew Narvaez, Lee Jasper

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

In the context of congested orbital space, the proliferation of small satellite constellations aims to enhance resilience and responsiveness in on-orbit systems. The escalating number and diversity of small satellites and the need for intersatellite coordination pose operational challenges. Chief among these challenges is that the quantity of operators needed to fully utilize these deployed systems is prohibitively large and expensive; further, operators simply may not be responsive enough to events.

Automated systems, both on-board and ground-based, offer a viable solution to streamline various operational tasks. The integration of automation mitigates the operational burden, minimizes errors originating from human intervention, …

Seeking Structure In Complex Systems: From Feature Analysis To Space-Time Causal Discovery With Earth Science Applications, Jeffrey J. Nichol

Computer Science ETDs

Complex systems are difficult to study because of their many interacting parts, emergent phenomena, and feedback loops. These systems underpin all life on Earth. We need improved tools for seeking an understanding of them. This body of research presents my investigations into data-driven methods for understanding complex systems, including my invention of a novel causal discovery meta-algorithm for space-time gridded data. I demonstrated machine learning feature importance and causal discovery capabilities for comparing simulated and observed climate data. I developed a new benchmark for modeling space-time dynamics of locally driven phenomena and examined a prominent causal discovery algorithm. Finding that …

The Potential Of Microbial Fuel Cells As A Dual Solution For Sustainable Wastewater Treatment And Energy Generation: A Case Study, Shajjadur Rahman Shajid, Monjur Mourshed, Md. Golam Kibria, Bahman Shabani

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical systems that harness microorganisms to convert organic pollutants in wastewater directly into electricity, offering a dual solution for sustainable wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation. This paper presents a holistic techno-economic and environmental feasibility assessment of largescale MFC deployment in Dhaka’s industrial zone, Bangladesh, as a relevant case study. Here, treating 100,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily would require a capital investment of approximately USD 500 million, with a total project cost ranging between USD 307.38 million and 1.711 billion, depending on system configurations. This setup has an estimated theoretical energy recovery of 478.4 …

Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity And Random Inputs Shape Interspike Interval Regularity Of Model Stn Neurons, Thoa Thieu, Roderick Melnik

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Neuronal oscillations play a key role in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study investigates the effects of random synaptic inputs, their correlations, and the interaction with synaptic dynamics and spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) on the membrane potential and firing patterns of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons, both in healthy and PD-affected states. Methods: We used a modified Hodgkin–Huxley model with a Langevin stochastic framework to study how synaptic conductance, random input fluctuations, and STDP affect STN neuron firing and membrane potential, including sensitivity to refractory period and synaptic depression variability. Results: Our results show that random inputs significantly …

Exploring K-12 Teachers’ Definitions And Perspectives Of Cybersecurity, Gina Childers, Weverton Ataide Pinheiro, Oluwatosin Daramola, C Lindsay Linsky, Bryson Payne, Jack Byers, Daniel Baker

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Because K-12 teachers have access to private educational data, they are increasingly at risk of being affected by cybersecurity threats. Examining how teachers conceptualize cybersecurity is vital so that cybersecurity training can be tailored to teachers’ understanding of cybersecurity. This study examined K-12 teachers’ (n = 255) personalized definitions of cybersecurity as these perceptions may influence online behaviors. These definitions were also reviewed by teacher type (cybersecurity teacher or non-cybersecurity teacher), teacher self-identified gender, and teacher age. The cybersecurity definitions were aligned and contextualized within a modified NICE Framework Core with a specific focus on three areas: protection and monitoring, …

Macroscopic Roughness Modeling Of Satellite Multi-Layer Insulation Reflectance, Kevin P. Donnelly

Theses

Reflectance modeling of specular surfaces with irregular geometries remains difficult to solve for an array of applications. In the growing space industry, there are many spacecraft materials with high specularity and varying levels of roughness. Modeling these materials in simulations becomes difficult as any realistic amount of roughness is added, necessitating more accurate physical models to represent how light is interacting with these surfaces. While some work has been done to attempt to characterize the spectral signatures of the materials themselves using hyperspectral imaging systems, the scope of these efforts has been fairly limited and not representative of the conditions …

Quantitative Boundary Doubling Estimates For Elliptic Equations, Jack Dalberg

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We present an approach for obtaining quantitative boundary doubling inequalities for elliptic equations with Neumann boundary conditions. Carleman estimates are used to prove three-ball inequalities, which are then used to prove quantitative doubling inequalities, with bootstrapping from the interior to the boundary. This approach is illustrated by its application to the Laplace eigenvalue problem with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions, where sharp doubling inequalities are recovered.

When then consider a equation with non homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. By following the approach, we are able to obtain potentially sharp results. Finally, we are able to get an improvement on previously obtained results …

Gain Threshold Optimization Using Fano Resonance, Alina Oktiabrskaia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The study of resonances in electromagnetics plays a critical role in the design of optical systems. This dissertation investigates the interaction between resonance and gain in optical structures to establish a universal principle for achieving ultra-low-threshold lasing. Through the analysis of geometric symmetries, material properties, and coupling mechanisms, this research develops prototype structures applicable to a wide range of optical and electromagnetic systems. A range of models is considered, starting from a simple onedimensional string-resonator system (based on the model of H. Lamb), then advancing to two- and three-dimensional waveguide models, and culminating with a realistic high-contrast model in open …

Making Observations, Erik Johnson

Natural Science Faculty

After years of planning and construction, the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory has collected its "first light" from space, and the first images have been released to the public.