Digital Commons Network^™

Commonwealth Times 2025-04-30

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Evolution Of Global Warming Discourse: A Twitter-Based Analysis Across The United States, United Kingdom, And India, Trevor Christensen

Honors Projects in Data Science

Global warming has gained increasing attention over the past decade, with public discourse intensifying on social media platforms, particularly on Twitter. This increased discussion stems from political controversies surrounding climate change and the rise in extreme weather events. This study explores the evolution of global warming discourse on Twitter, with a focus on the United States, United Kingdom, and India. This research used a dataset of historical tweets ranging from 2010 to 2023 containing the keyword "global warming." Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques such as emotion analysis, word cloud visualization, and topic modeling (LDA), approximately twenty-eight million tweets were …

Utah State University Commencement, 2025 – Blanding Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2025 Commencement Ceremony for the Blanding Campus of Utah State University.

Testing For Normality In Regression Models: Mistakes Abound (But May Not Matter), Stephen Midway, J. Wilson White

Faculty Publications

This study examines the misuse of normality tests in linear regression within ecology and biology, focusing on common misconceptions. A bibliometric review found that over 70% of ecology papers and 90% of biology papers incorrectly applied normality tests to raw data instead of model residuals. To assess the impact of this error, we simulated datasets with normal, interval, and skewed distributions across various sample and effect sizes. We compared statistical power between two approaches: testing the whole dataset for normality (incorrect) versus testing model residuals (correct) to determine whether to use a parametric (t-test) or nonparametric (Mann-Whitney U test) method. …

Synthesis Of Surface Bound Ligands Through Click Chemistry For A Tethered Catalyst System Towards The Reduction Of Carbon Dioxide, Emma J. Goehner

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) offers a promising strategy for reducing excess atmospheric CO₂ by converting it into valuable chemical products. This process can be catalyzed by transition metal complexes, particularly those with extended aromatic ligands such as terpyridines which coordinate with metals in a tridentate fashion. When tethered to an electrode, the terpyridine-metal catalyst complex allows for stable binding and reusability without the need for chemical separation to recover the catalyst. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of (3-bromopropyl) phosphonic acid were formed on copper surfaces, enabling attachment of terpyridine ligands through a click reaction between a …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Swimming Learning Models For Students (2002-2024): Trends, Gaps, And Future Directions, Sandra Arhesa, Amung Ma'mun, Andreas J. F. Lumba, Jusuf Blegur, Buena D. Calunsag

Jurnal Keolahragaan

Drowning during swimming has become a significant public health concern that urged the World Health Organization to call for all school-aged children to be taught basic swimming skills, water safety, and rescue techniques. In this teaching, efficiency shall be obtained with the help of an effective learning model. This study will investigate the publication trends of research about swimming learning models carried out for students during the last 22 years, from 2002 until 2024, using the data from the Scopus database. The search was carried out on August 7, 2024, by title, abstract, and keywords, using the sets of words …

Community Colleges In Pakistan: Promoting Access And Quality Education, Aisha Naz Ansari, Sohail Ahmad, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

Inspired by the access-driven mission of U.S. community colleges and their success in reaching underserved student populations—especially in rural areas—a network of five institutions, Community Colleges (CCs), was recently established by a public sector university in Sindh, Pakistan, with provincial government support. While these institutions provide educational opportunities at the K-12 level rather than at the postsecondary level and thus differ from community colleges in the U.S. and other countries, Pakistan’s CCs are similar to their global counterparts in that they address issues of access and quality education for marginalized communities, especially in rural contexts; aim to create pathways for …

April 30, 2025 General Faculty Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Heathy Aging In A Sustainable Manner, Karin Volkwein-Caplan

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Karin Volkwein-Caplan, Kinesiology, presents "Healthy Aging in a Sustainable Manner".

Braking System Analysis Amd Optimization For An Electric Race Car, Dillan Christopher Horton

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence In Orthopedic Medical Education: A Comprehensive Review Of Emerging Technologies And Their Applications, Kyle Sporn, Rahul Kumar, Phani Paladugu, Tejas Sekhar, Swapna Vaja, Tamer Hage, Ethan Waisberg, Chirag Gowda, Ram Jagadeesan, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality (MR) into orthopedic education has transformed learning. This review examines AI-powered platforms like Microsoft HoloLens, Apple Vision Pro, and HTC Vive Pro, which enhance anatomical visualization, surgical simulation, and clinical decision-making. These technologies improve the spatial understanding of musculoskeletal structures, refine procedural skills with haptic feedback, and personalize learning through AI-driven adaptive algorithms. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT further support knowledge retention and provide evidence-based insights on orthopedic topics. AI-enabled platforms and generative AI tools help address challenges in standardizing orthopedic education. However, we still face many barriers that relate to standardizing data, …

Development Of Fuzzy Ontology For Explainable Artificial Intelligence For Decision-Making In Fuzzy Environment, Pavel Kosov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

In modern artificial intelligence systems, there is an acute need to understand the decision-making logic of "black box" algorithms. Our research proposes an innovative method for increasing the transparency of such systems through the formalization of fuzzy explanatory mechanisms. We have developed an extension of existing ontological approaches by introducing the concept of fuzziness into the structure of explanatory properties, which allows overcoming the fundamental limitations of traditional XAI methods. The proposed formalization is based on the theory of collective mental models and principles of fuzzy logic, providing a more accurate reflection of uncertainty and subjectivity in expert knowledge. Our …

Application Of Quantum Algorithms In Optimization Of Cognitive Decision-Making Systems, Noilakhon Yakubova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article analyzes the potential of quantum algorithms for optimizing cognitive decision-making systems in production processes in the energy sector. Compared with traditional algorithms, quantum algorithms allow high-speed processing of large amounts of variable data in real time and solving multiparameter problems based on an integrated approach. The study considers uncertainties and issues of increasing efficiency in the processes of production and distribution of electricity using a cognitive model. The integration of quantum algorithms into this model allows developing optimal strategies for using resources in production. A heating boiler was taken as a control object, and taking into account its …

Mortgage Default Classification Modeling For Variable Analysis, Brendan R. Goggins

Honors College Theses

The financial crisis of the early 2000’s is a prime example of the severe consequences that mortgage default and borrower insolvency can have on economies at large. Mortgage default specifically is a prime case with the popularization of mortgage backed securities and the commonality of this loan structure. Multiple hypotheses and models have been formed to understand the reasons, causes, and consequences of mortgage default. This paper uses both machine learning and statistical classification models to inform an understanding of the variables most significant and impactful to the default outcome of mortgages. Consideration is given to both loan-level microeconomic variables …

High School Teachers' Perspectives On The Components Of A Quality Online Structure For Remote Learning In Digital And Media Art Classes, James E. Marone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that there were inconsistencies in the research literature and a gap in practice regarding teachers' perspectives on the components of a quality online structure in a digital and media art class during the post-COVID-19 era. Despite evidence of the benefits of remote learning, there was a gap concerning implementation of improved quality online structures. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of digital and media art teachers on their needs for a quality online learning structure in the post-COVID-19 era. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model. …

A Fuzzy Based Framework For Sustainable Technology Selection In Small-Scale Gold Mining Operations, John M. Kafuku

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Small-scale gold mining (SSGM) operations in Tanzania has been operating inefficiently due to inadequate mining processing technologies, poor working tools, lack of enough capital, and insufficient electricity. Despite the efforts made by different stakeholders in boosting the sustainability of SSGM yet the sector has not reached the expected goal. This paper proposes a framework for appropriate technology selection to help small scale gold miners in evaluating various gold mineral processing technologies. The framework utilizes the fuzzy logic set theory for technology evaluation and selection. The developed framework for technology selection upon validation provided results that technology adequacy of more than …

Microwave Ore Pre-Treatment Review And Process Flowsheet Conceptualization, Baker F. Giyani

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The global demand for mineral commodities has increased dramatically over the years, and this is largely due to several factors, including technological advancements, industrialization, and a rise in population. Further, the demand keeps increasing because the ore being mined is becoming more complex, and the feed grade is declining over the years, prompting the need for innovative technologies to treat such ores more efficiently. Microwave ore pre-treatment is one of the potential technologies that can be employed to improve process performance. This is possible because ores are composed of both good-microwave heaters and poor microwave heaters, which creates thermal stresses …

Sundanese Performing Arts In The Us As Legacy Of The Center For World Music, Kathy Foley

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

Presentation of Sundanese arts in the US by non-Sundanese grew from a program of the Center for World Music (CWM), an incubator for Sundanese performing arts practice in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1970s. Those (both Sundanese and American) coming out of that encounter engaged in intercultural teaching and performance of music, dance, and wayang (puppet/human dance theatre) in the US in the then developing programs leading to a BA or graduate degree in ethnomusicology, dance, or theatre arts. Performances by Sundanese gamelan groups with American artists in and beyond the university also developed. While such groups persist, …

Peningkatan Hasil Belajar Berbantuan Media Flash Card Pada Pembelajaran Ips Peserta Didik Kelas Vii Smp, Irna Inaru, Sa’Diya Nuraini

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kenyataan bahwa peserta didik kelas VII sering mengalami kesulitan dalam memahami materi IPS yang disampaikan melalui pendekatan tematik. Peserta didik kurang mendapatkan pengalaman langsung dengan situasi nyata atau kontekstual, sehingga mereka membutuhkan pemahaman konkret yang dapat diperoleh melalui pengalaman langsung. Penelitian tindakan kelas ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dampak penggunaan media flash card terhadap peningkatan hasil belajar peserta didik kelas VII di SMP Negeri 15 Malang tahun ajaran 2023/2024. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan media flash card efektif dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik. Berdasarkan tes formatif, …

Pendekatan Pembelajaran Berdiferensiasi Melalui Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe Tgt Pada Mata Pelajaran Pkn, Shalsabila Kharisma Dini Kartika

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan implementasi pendekatan pembelajaran berdiferensiasi melalui model pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe TGT (Teams Games Tournament) pada mata pelajaran PKn di SMP Negeri 15 Malang. Metode penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi dengan masing-masing sumber data berupa informan guru PKn SMP Negeri 15 Malang, dokumen terkait berupa perangkat ajar dan catatan lapangan. Proses pembelajaran menggunakan pendekatan berdiferensiasi melalui model pembelajaran Kooperatif tipe TGT (Teams Games Tournament). Analisis data yang digunakan berupa analisis interaktif Miles dan Huberman, meliputi: reduksi data, penyajian data dan verifikasi. Hasil dari kajian ini menunjukkan bahwa model …

Integrated Coastal Science And Dune Management: A South Carolina Perspective, Michelle Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, coastal dunes have been poorly understood from a societal perspective despite their protective role in attenuating incoming waves to reduce onshore flood risk. As developed coastlines promote strategies to design and maintain managed dune systems, it is necessary to ensure these strategies are optimized for dune health and resilience, particularly given the increasing threat of natural and anthropogenic stressors. This dissertation work aims to identify strategies that influence coastal dune management in South Carolina (SC), USA from an integrated approach, including a current use assessment, a mesoscale field-based study on strategy efficacy, and by incorporating a societal assessment and …

Thematic Geo-Inquiry In Seventh Grade Geography, Rebekah Driscoll Austing

Theses and Dissertations

With the growth of globalization, geography is an important subject for students of the 21^st Century to understand. Being adept in geography will aid our future generations to be able to use geographic skills to answer complex world issues. Unfortunately, geography has been a long-neglected subject of social studies; often considered boring and not worthwhile with teachers using teacher-centered curriculum methods and memorization. A teacher’s job is to provide appropriate experiences, materials, and context for students to construct and connect knowledge that is useful and beneficial to them. Through a constructivist lens, inquiry-based thematic units can be used by …

Out Of The Ashes: One Teacher's Journey Implementing A Blended Learning Intervention Integrating The Flipped Classroom Model And Student-Selected Independent Reading, Michael John Hockwater

Theses and Dissertations

Sixth-grade Academic Intervention Services (AIS) students at Wyndemere Middle School (WMS) in Western New York demonstrated a lack of engagement in AIS English Language Arts (ELA) class. In hopes of increasing their engagement, the teacher-researcher implemented a blended learning intervention that incorporated aspects of the flipped classroom model and student-selected texts. The results of this action research qualitative case study were promising, with many student participants expressing an increased sense of engagement and enjoyment of AIS ELA class.

On Finite Groups With Essential Dimension 2 Over ℚ, Michael Huggins

Theses and Dissertations

We determine all finite subgroups of Aut(X) which have essential dimension 2 over ℚ, where X is a minimal Del Pezzo surface of degree at least 5. Additionally, finite groups with essential dimension 2 whose order is divisible only by the prime numbers 2 and 3 are classified with the exception of the groups dic ₁₂ , C₁₂, and Dih₂₄, whose essential dimensions remain unknown, but may possibly be equal to 2.

Exploring The Correlation Between Self-Esteem And Academic Success Among Special Needs Students In Kwara State, Nigeria, Florence Famolu

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Special education has shifted from a position of delivering professional services to students with disabilities to a system that seeks to encompass the broad concept of promoting quality education for students. This study examined the correlation between self-esteem and academic success among special needs students in Kwara State, Nigeria. the study adopted a descriptive survey research type. special needs students in the three local government areas in Ilorin, Ilorin South, East, and West Local Governments Area constituted the total population for this research. The researcher designed questionnaire was entitled: self-esteem as correlate of academic success among special needs students’ questionnaire” …

Improving Image Quality In Electrical Capacitance Tomography Using Otsu Thresholding, Josiah Nombo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) is an imaging technique used in industrial process monitoring, particularly for monitoring and measuring the composition of multiphase flows. Despite its widespread application, the commonly used Linear Back Projection (LBP) algorithm often produces low-quality images due to its limited ability to handle high permittivity contrasts and nonlinearities. This study investigates the use of Otsu thresholding as a post-processing technique to enhance ECT image quality. By maximizing inter-class variance in the image histogram, Otsu thresholding improves contrast, clarity, and structural definition, enabling more effective segmentation of oil and gas components in multiphase flows. The proposed Otsu-based reconstruction …

Artificial Intelligence Applications For Grid-Connected Solar Inverters, Utkirjon Ubaydullaev, Sarvinoz Mirzaeva, Hasan Mustafoev

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The increasing global demand for renewable energy has highlighted the importance of grid-connected solar inverters in ensuring efficient and stable power conversion. However, challenges such as fluctuations in solar energy generation, grid disturbances, and power quality issues necessitate advanced control strategies. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into solar inverters presents a transformative solution, enhancing performance, adaptability, and reliability in real-world applications.

This review explores the role of AI techniques, including machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), fuzzy logic, and reinforcement learning (RL), in optimizing key inverter functionalities such as maximum power point tracking (MPPT), fault detection, power quality enhancement, …

Supporting Airport Lost And Found Units With Surveillance Technologies Based On Deep Learning, Doaa Alahmadi, Elaf Alghamdi, Hind Bitar, Rsha Mirza

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Computing and Information Technology Sciences

Currently, rapid growth in airports is encountered. Thus, enhancing customer experience, safety, and satisfaction using advanced technologies, such as deep learning (DL), is important. This research study explores the available DL and image processing algorithms to identify the most suitable algorithms that provide high detection accuracy to support the lost and found units in airports. Using the collected data from the surveillance camera technology in the airports, the performance of the algorithms is benchmarked and evaluated on an identical dataset to acquire an understanding of the distinctive features of each algorithm, the ability to distinguish between the algorithms and choose …

Baseer: A Drone-Based System Leveraging Facial And Pattern Recognition For Efficient Real-Time Child Recovery, Afraa Attiah, Abeer Hakeem

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Computing and Information Technology Sciences

The loss of a child is a profound event that poses substantial emotional, psychological, and logistical challenges for families. Conventional child recovery methods, like search parties and media campaigns, often falter due to delayed responses, limited outreach, and ineffective data management. These methods struggle to handle vast information or employ modern tools efficiently. In response, this study introduces Baseer, a system merging drone technology with AI to enhance the efficacy of locating missing children. Baseer utilizes drones with high-resolution imaging systems for rapid aerial surveillance, expanding search capabilities beyond standard ground-based approaches. AI algorithms analyze real-time images for automated identification …

Um Engineers Develop Wearable Heart Attack Detection Tech, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Every second counts when it comes to detecting and treating heart attacks. That's where a new technology from the University of Mississippi may come in to identify heart attacks faster and more accurately than traditional methods.