Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancement Of A Copolyester’S Impact Resistance Via Inorganic Reinforcement, David Felipe Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPEEs) are widely used in engineering applications because of their flexibility, toughness, and chemical resistance. However, prolonged exposure to marine environments can reduce their mechanical performance through moisture-induced degradation. This research investigated the use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and APTES-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles to improve the mechanical, thermal, and environmental durability of Hytrel 5556. Nanocomposites containing 1 wt.% and 2 wt.% TiO2 were fabricated through melt blending and compression molding. Mechanical properties were evaluated through tensile, compression, flexural, and impact testing, while thermal behavior was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanoparticle dispersion was examined using scanning …

From Shortage To Strategy: Optimizing Scarce Resource Allocation In Healthcare, Daniela Duran Cantarino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The allocation of scarce medical resources presents one of the most consequential challenges in health care, requiring decisions that balance equity and efficiency under pervasive uncertainty. This dissertation develops optimization-based frameworks for two critical domains, organ transplantation and emergency medical services, and demonstrates how operations research methods can improve upon current practice along both dimensions simultaneously.

In the domain of deceased-donor kidney allocation, two complementary frameworks are proposed. The first is a bi-objective stochastic optimization model that jointly maximizes post-transplant survival (efficiency) and prioritizes candidates with the highest pre-transplant mortality risk (equity), subject to regional chance constraints on graft failure …

Out Of This World: An Exoplanetary Workshop, Monica Storss, Bart Kuipers

ELO (un)supervised 2026

The workshop investigates how scientific constraints can productively defamiliarize human experience and create new frameworks for creativity and expression. Participants will produce original work while considering broader questions about environment, perception, and cultural formation in speculative contexts, and how the arts, sciences, and technology inform each other in relational multiplicities. This generative workshop explores how astronomical data from confirmed exoplanets can generate new poetic forms and linguistic constraints. Participants will examine how exoplanetary conditions can shape language, metaphor, and narrative structure. We'll develop from writing exercises that respond to non-terrestrial physical parameters: alternative light spectra, gravitational variations, and atmospheric compositions. …

Sitting Together: How Proximity Impacts The Classroom Success Of Undergraduate Women In Engineering, Cassandra M. Savukinas, Kayla D. Taylor, Ashley Lear

Feminist Pedagogy

Despite increased efforts, the engineering field remains predominantly male, particularly within higher education environments. Seating arrangements in the classroom for female undergraduate engineering students can greatly impact their comfort, participation, and academic performance in the classroom. In a 2025 study, it was found that male and female students have differing experiences related to comfort, participation, and academic performance when seated near other students of the same gender (Savukinas et al., 2025). Faculty can help students succeed by understanding how seating dynamics impact students’ experiences in the classroom. By allowing students to choose their own seating arrangements and creating interactions in …

Unified Edge-To-Orbital Termination Architecture For Decentralized Data, Logical Substrates, And Power Grids, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure specifies the client-side terminal layers, non-linear routing structures, and physical infrastructure stabilization topologies required to achieve system closure for the ground-to-orbital networks defined in TDC# 12300 (Non-Linear Substrate Relay Matrices) and TDC# 12299 (Cross-Layer Token-Variance Telemetry). This architecture introduces three core subsystems: a client-side Substrate Pushback Data Engine (Vector 6) running a hard-coded deterministic compactness filter to optimize low-Earth orbit satellite uplink; a Decoupled Spatial-Temporal Graph Database Mesh (Vector 4) executing clock-free decentralized node routing via Chronological Latency; and a Macro-Scale Cymatic Joule Dilution Grid (Vector 5) scaling Topologically Protected Cymatic Electrolyte Matrix mechanics to prevent regional distribution …

Technical Disclosure: Non-Linear Substrate Relay Matrices For Decentralized Ephemeris Syncing And Orbital Phase Alignment, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This technical disclosure formalizes a low-power, cost-effective framework for autonomous satellite tracking, ephemeris state synchronization, and clock alignment across distributed ground node networks. Mainstream orbital communications rely implicitly on centralized atomic time standards and proprietary military GPS tracking networks. This absolute architectural dependency creates single points of systemic failure, leaving ground infrastructure vulnerable to central node shutdowns, intentional signal masking, or orbital coordinate gating.

By applying the principles of the Dimensionally Extended Holographic Projection (DEHP) model and the Oscillator Alignment Protocol (OAP), this framework introduces a decentralized ground-space tracking protocol. By establishing a peer-to-peer Substrate Relay Matrix across localized consumer …

Technical Disclosure: Cross-Layer Token-Variance Telemetry And Non-Linear Tensor Distance Protocols For Distributed Routing Topologies, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

This technical disclosure formalizes an axiomatic mathematical framework for real-time telemetry, automated state balancing, and distributed node verification within multi-dimensional graph topologies. Modern high-density information systems encounter systemic failures when localized processing constraints induce uncoordinated data routing, runaway optimization loops, or asymmetric node curation.

By applying the principles of the Dimensionally Extended Holographic Projection (DEHP) model and the Oscillator Alignment Protocol (OAP), this framework establishes a self-policing network substrate. Individual routing nodes compute localized operational boundaries dynamically by tracking cross-layer Token Selection Latency (tau_latency) against an invariant two-dimensional boundary reference sheet. This mechanical configuration mitigates the formation of singular processing …

System And Method For Cross-Model Benchmarking Of Multi-Turn Conversational Ai Safety And Quality, Roy Katz

Defensive Publications Series

Conventional methods for evaluating conversational artificial intelligence (AI) safety can be subjective and labor-intensive, which may present challenges for performing consistent and objective comparisons between different models. A disclosed system can provide an automated framework that simulates realistic, multi-turn conversations between a synthetic user persona (modeling a minor user with specific age, maturity, and vulnerability constraints) and one or more conversational AI models. The system can apply model-specific safety contexts, such as backend filters or injected system instructions, to simulate a protected user experience. Subsequently, each conversation may be analyzed by multiple independent automated adjudicators, and a consensus algorithm can …

Assessing Flaws In Captcha Security Through Progress In Ai, Jaydon Stanislowski

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Protecting the internet from the threat of malicious bot activity is an important problem as AI tools become more powerful and commonplace over time. To that end, security measures are employed across websites in the form of CAPTCHAs, short challenges designed to identify and block fake web traffic. Yet, they become less effective over time as AI becomes more powerful, and thus more capable of solving them. This paper examines recent research on the threat to CAPTCHA security posed by current AI models and how this security can be reinforced over time, focusing primarily on Google’s reCAPTCHA v3.

Water Scarcity On Arizona’S Navajo Nation, As An Environmental Justice Issue, Chenoa Marks

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

For the Navajo–or Diné, meaning ‘the people’ in Diné Bizaad (Navajo language)–water is not only a resource. It is life, story, and relationship. It is tied to origin, movement, and balance within the natural and spiritual world. Water exists not only in rivers and rainfall, but in teachings, ceremonies, and the way knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next. In this sense, water is both physical and cultural, shaping how people live, understand the land, and connect to one another.

At the same time, water on the Navajo Nation–known by the Diné as Diné Bikéyah, also translated …

Improving Urban Planning Through Agent Based Modeling And Q-Learning, Tristan Kalvoda

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

This paper explores the use of agent-based modeling (ABM), enhanced by reinforcement learning techniques such as Q- learning, to optimize urban transportation systems. The focus is on modeling and improving aspects such as traffic design, vehicular flow, and pedestrian mobility. The central research question is how to effectively simulate realistic agent behavior in order to develop models that can inform and support policy-making for more efficient and adaptive urban planning. The paper presents and analyzes simulation-based case studies that demonstrate how learning agents can repro- duce realistic movement patterns and provide insights for larger-scale urban systems.

Zero Trust Architecture And Ransomware Mitigation, Ely Johnson

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Ransomware has become a critical threat to modern enterprises, exploiting excessive privileges and flat network architectures to spread rapidly. Traditional perimeter-based security models are insufficient, as they rely on implicit trust within internal networks. This paper examines how Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) mitigates ransomware through least privilege access, continuous monitoring, and micro- segmentation. Experimental results show that ZTA can significantly reduce impact, limiting encryption to about 20% of targeted files while preserving most data. Continuous monitoring enables rapid detection (5.3 seconds) with high accuracy (up to 97.2%) and a 78% reduction in false positives. Micro-segmentation further restricts lateral movement, reducing …

Security Limitations Of The Can Bus And Detection Through Power Fingerprinting, Ken Broden

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

This paper examines the vulnerabilities of the Controller Area Network (CAN), the standard communication protocol used in most modern vehicles. It explains why CAN is widely adopted and outlines key security weaknesses in its design. The paper then reviews recent research efforts to detect and mitigate these vulnerabilities, with particular focus on an approach to origin authentication that relies on the unique power consumption patterns of each individual electronic control unit on a CAN bus.

Collaborative Curriculum Design For Culturally And Historically Responsive Education: Implications From Initial Program Evaluation, Christine L. Craddock, Rachel Juergensen, Shelley Rouser, Michael Ryan, Diamond Lee

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This article discusses a unique program initiative of one university’s education department to interrogate teacher education coursework together as educators and researchers. We evaluated the course curriculum of five different courses together as a team on a routine basis and documented our thoughts and discussion through video and an organized survey tool. This tool was developed according to Muhammad’s five pursuits of culturally and historically responsive education which include: identity, skills, intellect, criticality, and joy. This produced qualitative and quantitative findings related to methods for adapting and adjusting course instruction, content, and assessments according to the pursuits. Relatedly, it promoted …

A System And Method For Data Replication With Agentic Timestamp-Based Conflict Resolution In Rdbms Cluster, Ravi Shanker Kumar Sinha

Defensive Publications Series

A system and method for autonomous data replication with conflict resolution in a distributed relational database management system (RDBMS) cluster includes a plurality of RDBMS nodes arranged in a mesh topology, wherein each RDBMS node maintains a local database, a logical clock, and a node identifier. A replication agent associated with each RDBMS node monitors change logs and propagates record modifications to other RDBMS nodes through bi-directional replication links. A conflict resolution module detects concurrent updates to a same record from different RDBMS nodes and resolves detected conflicts by comparing logical timestamps and selecting an update having a higher timestamp …

Exploring University Students' Acceptance Of Generative Ai For Writing: An Extended Technology Acceptance Model (Tam 3) Perspective, Ikram Ullah, Huma Batool, Sadia Irshad

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Generative AI presents significant potential for improving students' writing, and its acceptance is influenced by varied factors. The present study aims at exploring the factors by examining six vital constructs of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) 3 (Venkatesh & Bala, 2008)—academic relevance, output quality, self-efficacy, playfulness, anxiety, and perceived enjoyment—and their impact on perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention of students. Using a quantitative research approach, a sample size of 345 university students from Computer Science, Management Science, and Arts and Humanities voluntarily participated in an online cross-sectional survey questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS 23.0 and …

Aquaponics: Farming Fish And Growing Greens For Grades 9–12, Amy M. Shambach,, Rebecca M. Ward, J. Stuart Carlton, Kwamena K. Quagrainie, Tomas O. Höök

Purdue University Press Books

Aquaponics: Farming Fish and Growing Greens for Grades 9–12 teaches STEM-related course material through aquaponics, a water-based agricultural system that combines aquaculture (fish production) and hydroponics (soilless vegetable production) systems. This curriculum is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and designed to be used with an onsite aquaponics system. Topics include an introduction to aquaculture, fundamental parts of an aquaponics system, the nitrogen cycle, water quality, population dynamics, our modern food system, and more. The ten lessons presented build on each other and are intended to be delivered in sequential order. Alternatively, lessons may also be utilized as stand-alone units …

High School Students Have Stellar Experience At Umn Morris' First Astrophysics Summer Camp, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Methods In Education: A Practical Introduction To Statistics, Yukiko Maeda, John Gipson, Sheila Hurt, Katie H. Dufault

Purdue University Press Books

Educational research often involves understanding complex patterns in student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and institutional performance. Quantitative Methods in Education: A Practical Introduction to Statistics is designed to equip current and future educators and researchers with a basic comprehension of the statistical tools necessary to effectively analyze and interpret educational data. In today’s data-driven world, the ability to leverage statistical techniques is essential for making informed decisions that can enhance learning outcomes and maximize learner potential. This book provides a systematic approach to exploring these trends using both descriptive and inferential statistics, providing readers with the knowledge to conduct rigorous analyses …

Bar-And-Hinge Model For Elasto-Plastic Origami Analysis, Yansong Tang, Yeqi Chu, Yue Mei, Yi Zhu, Ke Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

Origami-inspired structures are attracting considerable attention in engineering owing to their ability to facilitate intricate deformations and deployable configurations. However, accurately simulating their mechanical behaviour under realistic conditions involving permanent deformations and energy dissipation remains a significant challenge. In this study, we present an elasto-plastic formulation based on the nonlinear bar-and-hinge model for non-rigid origami simulation. We integrate rate-independent elasto-plastic constitutive models for both the hinges and the bars, enabling tunable representation of both elastic and plastic deformations in origami structures. The formulation employs a return mapping algorithm to ensure consistency with yield conditions checked at each incremental time step, …

A Reduced-Order Framework For Stochastic Criticality Estimation In Granular Energetic Materials, Philip T. Melton

LSU Master's Theses

Granular energetic materials (EMs) exhibit stochastic shock initiation because pore collapse, frictional dissipation, and localized thermal activation depend on microstructural descriptors that vary between nominally identical samples. Fully resolved mesoscale and atomistic calculations can represent these mechanisms, but their computational cost limits direct ensemble evaluation of microstructure-conditioned criticality thresholds. This thesis introduces a reduced-order framework for stochastic criticality estimation in granular EMs by coupling five explicitly defined model components: first, a one-dimensional steady compaction-shock model that maps initial solid volume fraction and shock pressure to a bulk mass-specific dissipated-work budget; second, an SEM/synthetic-image segmentation workflow that extracts pore area, perimeter, …

Distributed Computation Of Graph Structures By Mobile Agents, Prabhat Kumar Chand

Doctoral Theses

This thesis investigates how mobile agents with no centralised control can be employed in anonymous networks to perform efficient distributed graph computations. The network is modelled as a simple, undirected, anonymous graph with n nodes and m edges, where nodes are memoryless and indistinguishable, and edges represent bidirectional communication links or traversal paths for the agents. The mobile agents are uniquely identifiable, possess limited local memory, and operate under a local communication model, in which communication is restricted to agents colocated at the same node. Under this computational model, we explore how mobile agents can collaborate effectively to solve global …

Comparative Analysis Of Traditional And Deep Learning Time Series Architectures For Influenza A Infectious Disease Forecasting, Edmund Fosu Agyemang, Hansapani Rodrigo, Vincent Agbenyeavu

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Influenza A remains a major cause of respiratory mortality worldwide, motivating accurate forecasting to support timely preparedness and resource allocation. This study presents a comparative evaluation of two traditional seasonal time series baselines, ARIMA and Holt–Winters exponential smoothing (ETS), and six deep learning (DL) architectures (Simple RNN, LSTM, GRU, BiLSTM, BiGRU, and a Transformer) for forecasting monthly Influenza A case counts in the United States. Data from January 2009 to December 2023 were analyzed, using January 2009 to December 2022 for training and January 2023 to December 2023 for out-of-sample testing. Models were tuned using a validation split and assessed …

Scattered Light Noise At Ligo Livingston Observatory Induced By Microseismic Ground Motion, Debasmita Nandi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Gravitational waves are “ripples” in the fabric of spacetime and create a minuscule change in the distance between two points. After publishing his theory of general relativity in 1915, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves as a consequence of the theory. Almost 100 years after the theoretical prediction, gravitational waves were detected for the first time in 2015 by the Advanced LIGO detectors in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington. Gravitational waves have a very small amplitude, making it very challenging to detect them. Different types of noise sources either of instrumental or environmental origin can reduce the astrophysical …

Critical Assessment On Challenges And Advances In Coal Pillar Strength Estimation Techniques: A Focus On Geological Discontinuities, Abhishek Kumar Singh, Sahendra Ram

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Accurate estimation of coal pillar strength is essential for ensuring safety and operational efficiency in underground mining. Current assessment methods often face limitations in addressing time-dependent failure mechanisms, geological discontinuities, and dynamic loading conditions. This paper identifies future research directions aimed at enhancing the reliability of pillar strength evaluations. One important focus is the development of advanced numerical models that account for time-dependent behaviours such as creep and fatigue. Incorporating multi-scale modelling techniques, which connect micro-scale material responses to macro-scale structural performance, may lead to more precise predictions. The integration of real-time monitoring systems measuring stress, deformation, and environmental factors …

Mississippi Libraries Volume 88, Number 1 And 2

Mississippi Libraries

No abstract provided.

The Generative Turn: What Ai Doesn't Do And A Framework For Responsible Use, Deborah Lee

Mississippi Libraries

This column examines the limitations of generative AI as a foundation for responsible and informed use.  While much attention has been given to what AI can do, effective and responsible use depends on understanding what it does not do well.  For librarians as professionals grounded in information literacy, these limitations underscore the importance of critical evaluation and contextual understanding.  By recognizing both the capabilities and constraints of AI, librarians can better guide their communities in using these tools thoughtfully and effectively.

Toward The Significance Of Crevasse Orientation In Low And High Crevassed Regions On The Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, Usa, Claire A. Sturm

DePaul Discoveries

Supraglacial landforms serve as potential indicators of underlying bedrock morphology and glacier dynamics. The distribution and morphology of crevasses are closely associated with stress fields and ice-flow regimes, representing processes of stable glaciers, in contrast to their reduced occurrence in stagnant or receding ice masses. The orientation and density of crevasses influence a glacier’s ability to absorb solar energy, as they facilitate movement of meltwater down to subglacial rivers. Beyond the meltwater acting as a lubricant for basal sliding, the slope of the bedrock further impacts the local velocity and ice deformation of a glacier. The study of ice-fracturing mechanics …

Solvent-Free Ball-Milling Synthesis Of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles, Zachary A. Jaffery, Katherine E. Christopher, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

The search for sustainability in chemistry has led to the development of the field of Green Chemistry, comprised by 12 guiding principles. Existing syntheses of benzimidazoles, a heterocycle widely used in medicinal chemistry, utilize methods with much room for improved sustainability. This work presents a solventless mechanochemical synthesis of 1,2-disubsituted substituted benzimidazoles from the condensation of phenylenediamines and aryl aldehydes. The effect of milling aid on yield and selectivity was investigated and montmorillonite K10 was determined to be the best milling aid. The purification protocol was optimized as well, with a heptane:EtOAc extraction and subsequent recrystallization from EtOH found to …

Healthcare Access And The Persistent Racial Disparities In Low Birth Weight, Zaheda A. Hussain, Yadanar Moe

DePaul Discoveries

Low birth weight (LBW), defined as less than 2,500 grams, is an influential factor contributing to infant mortality in the United States, with significant racial disparities between Black and White mothers. This study analyzed data from 3,054 Black and White mothers collected from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey to explore the association between access to medical care and LBW within different racial groups. The prevalence of LBW was 8.0%. Overall, mothers without a usual place of medical care had, on average, an 18% higher risk of LBW than those with a usual place (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.80–1.74). …