Digital Commons Network^™

A Micrometeor Impact - Lake Wilson, Kansas?, Kenneth R. Neuhauser

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Much ado about ‘nothing’ was raised when a suspect ‘object’ hit near Lake Wilson, Kansas on August 10, 2006. After a field investigation, a magnetometer survey, thin section analysis, shotgun field tests, and neutron activation analyses (NAA), no 100% conclusive physical evidence exists as to what caused the impact. However, enough NAA chemical evidence was found to suggest a micro-meteor was what created an 18” wide and 12” deep ‘crater’ at the site.

Methionyl-Trna Synthetase Synthetic And Proofreading Activities Are Determinants Of Antibiotic Persistence, Whitney N. Wood, Miguel Angel Rubio, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Bacterial antibiotic persistence is a phenomenon where bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic and the majority of the population dies while a small subset enters a low metabolic, persistent, state and are able to survive. Once the antibiotic is removed the persistent population can resuscitate and continue growing. Several different molecular mechanisms and pathways have been implicated in this phenomenon. A common mechanism that may underly bacterial antibiotic persistence is perturbations in protein synthesis. To investigate this mechanism, we characterized four distinct metG mutants for their ability to increase antibiotic persistence. Two metG mutants encode changes near the catalytic site …

Forgotten Learners: An Examination Of The Experiences Of English Language Learners In Advanced Placement And International Baccalaureate Social Studies Courses, Elizabeth Rasmussen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States is rapidly increasing, particularly in high schools. Although the number of ELLs is growing at a fast pace in the United States, the number of ELLs enrolled in advanced educational programming has not increased. After an in-depth review of the extant literature, it is evident that limited scholarly research on ELLs in advanced coursework exists. This is especially true in AP and IB social studies courses, where in many states where “Open Access” and “AP for All” have been adopted. This qualitative study sought to reveal the lived experiences …

At-Risk Freshmen Student Retention After Stem Intervention, Edna Orozco, George Padilla

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

Background: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas are one of the fastest-growing majors in the nation. Engineering is projected to add the second largest number of new jobs from 2016 to 2026 with 140,000 new jobs (Torpey, 2018).According to the National Center for Education Statistics despite all the research done throughout decades to improve the issue of retention in STEM areas about half of the students who pursue a degree in STEM will either leave or change majors.

Purpose: This study aimed to sample at-risk college freshmen students from the College of Engineering & Computer Science, to describe and …

Separation And Relative Quasiconvexity Criteria For Relatively Geometric Actions, Eduard Einstein

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

Bowditch characterized relative hyperbolicity in terms of group actions on fine hyperbolic graphs with finitely many edge orbits and finite edge stabilizers. In this paper, we define generalized fine actions on hyperbolic graphs, in which the peripheral subgroups are allowed to stabilize finite subgraphs rather than stabilizing a point. Generalized fine actions are useful for studying groups that act relatively geometrically on a CAT(0) cube complex, which were recently defined by the first two authors. Specifically, we show that any group acting relatively geometrically on a CAT(0) cube complex admits a generalized fine action on the one-skeleton of the cube …

Changing The Culture Of Secondary School Mathematics: What Are The Effects Of Interventions On Student Attitudes, Beliefs, And Motivation?, Meagan Coronado

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this study, 80 ninth-grade students enrolled in Algebra I from a high school in south Texas completed the Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scale for Children (ITIS) Survey and the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) Survey, before and after a set of interventions. The students were divided into one of four groups, three with applied intervention and one control group: intelligence theory, utility value theory, both intelligence theory and utility value theory, and no interventions (control group). Analyses were conducted to determine the impact of the interventions on the overall scores on the ITIS and ATMI surveys. The results showed …

Examining The Influence Of Teacher And Student Variables On Teachers’ Levels Of Self-Efficacy, Rachel Pugh

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive correlational quantitative study was to examine contributing factors of students and teachers affecting teacher self-efficacy and students' reading achievement in rural Oklahoma elementary schools in grades first through fifth. The contributing factors of students being analyzed included (a) poverty and (b) race or ethnic backgrounds. The teachers’ contributing factors include their self-efficacy levels on students' reading achievement, instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement levels. The proposed theory was that student and teacher variables beyond their control influenced teachers' self-efficacy levels in poverty-stricken classrooms. The study employed a quantitative approach, which used an online questionnaire …

Characterization Of Oscillatory Response Of Light-Weight Wind Turbine Rotors Under Controlled Gust Pulses, Fernando Ponta, Alayna Farrell, Apurva Baruah, North Yates

Michigan Tech Publications

Given the industry-wide trend of continual increases in the size of utility-scale wind turbines, a point will come where reductions will need to be made in terms of the weight of the turbine’s blades to ensure they can be as long as needed without sacrificing structural stability. One such technique that may be considered is to decrease the material used for the shell and spar cap. While this will solve the weight issue, it creates a new one entirely—less material for the shell and spar cap will in turn create blades that are more flexible than what is currently used. …

For Those Who Don't Know (How) To Ask: Building A Dataset Of Technology Questions For Digital Newcomers, Evan Lucas, Kelly S. Steelman, Leo Ureel, Charles Wallace

Michigan Tech Publications

While the rise of large language models (LLMs) has created rich new opportunities to learn about digital technology, many on the margins of this technology struggle to gain and maintain competency due to lexical or conceptual barriers that prevent them from asking appropriate questions. Although there have been many efforts to understand factuality of LLM-created content and ability of LLMs to answer questions, it is not well understood how unclear or nonstandard language queries affect the model outputs. We propose the creation of a dataset that captures questions of digital newcomers and outsiders, utilizing data we have compiled from a …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final 2024 Helehan Borrow Material Submittal #2 (Dated March 12, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The Invariantring Package For Macaulay2, Luigi Ferraro, Federico Galetto, Francesca Gandini, Hang Huang, Matthew Mastroeni, Xianglong Ni

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We describe a significant update to the existing InvariantRing package for Macaulay2. In addition to expanding and improving the methods of the existing package for actions of finite groups, the updated package adds functionality for computing invariants of diagonal actions of tori and finite abelian groups, as well as invariants of arbitrary linearly reductive group actions. The implementation of the package has been completely overhauled with the aim of serving as a unified resource for invariant theory computations in Macaulay2.

Increasing The Service Life Of Marine Transport Using Heat-Resistant Polymer Nanocomposites, Oleksandr Sapronov, Andriy Buketov, Boksun Kim, Pavlo Vorobiov, Lyudmila Sapronova

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This paper presents the technological aspects of increasing the thermal stability of polymers, with epoxy binder used to form the polymer materials. Polyethylene polyamine was used to crosslink the epoxy binder. To ensure the thermal stability of the polymer, nanodispersed condensed carbon with a dispersion of 10–16 nm was used. The research into nanocomposites under the influence of elevated temperatures was carried out using the “Thermoscan-2” derivatograph. Complex studies of thermophysical properties were carried out, according to the results of which the optimal content of nanofiller (0.050 pts.wt.) was determined. At the same time, this particular polymer was characterized by …

On The Subelliptic And Subparabolic Infinity Laplacian In Grushin-Type Spaces, Zachary Forrest

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis poses the ∞-Laplace equation in Grushin-type spaces. Grushin-type spaces G are defined by the vector fields which serve as a basis for their tangent spaces; by weighting the canonical (Euclidean) directional vectors {∂/∂x_i}ⁿ_i=1 by functions ρ_i that obey certain technical assumptions, we produce a class of metric spaces in which certain directions may not be accessible at all points in the space. We prove the existence and uniqueness of viscosity solutions to both Dirichlet problems and Cauchy-Dirichlet problems involving the∞-Laplacian over bounded Grushin-type domains. The main tool in proving uniqueness of …

Problem-Solving In The Preparation Of Teachers For Agricultural Education: A Mixed Methods Study Investigating The Effect Of Metacognitive Awareness And Cognitive Ability On Students Enrolled In An Introductory Agricultural Mechanics Course, Whitney Figland

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cognitive and metacognitive ability have been identified as a critical factor that influences individuals to successfully problem-solve. However, recent research has indicated that students do not have the necessary 21st-century skills to be successful in the workplace. This issue has been confounded by the lack of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers’ limited knowledge regarding effectively teaching decision-making skills and the use of teaching methods that promote problem-solving. Therefore, this study sought to understand the effect that cognitive and metacognitive ability had on the problem-solving of students who are enrolled in an Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics course at Louisiana State University. …

The Impacts Of Nature-Based Sediment Restoration Practices On Coastal Wetland Soil Biogeochemistry, Jacob Z. Cheng

LSU Master's Theses

Coastal marshes provide many valuable ecosystem services. However, these wetlands are threatened worldwide, being subject to sea level rise, sediment starvation, subsidence, coastal edge erosion, etc. Many efforts are being made to counteract this wetland loss and preserve the ecosystem services. Two such methods are sediment diversion and the thin layer placement (TLP) of dredged sediment.

Sediment diversion involves reconnecting the main channel of a river body to disconnected wetlands, supplying much needed soil-building materials. However, this method affects the salinity of the waters, introducing large amounts of freshwater into the system. Salinity changes can affect marsh biogeochemistry. Most ecological …

Combining Paleorecords And Climate Models To Better Understand Past And Future Climate, Elizabeth Patterson

Sustainability Seminar Series

Climate models and paleoclimate records are both essential tools for understanding climate variability of the past, present and future. However, both have their sources of uncertainty. Here I discuss how using climate models and paleorecords together can improve our understanding of climate. I first demonstrate how climate model simulations aid our interpretation of a complex speleothem record. Then, I discuss how large paleodata networks can refine climate models and projections of future climate change.

An Automated Method To Detect Tooth Brushing Activity With Smartwatch Sensors, Blake Schleter, Marina Avdonina, Rishiraj Adhikary, Dheryta Jaisinghani, Sougata Sen

Research in the Capitol

Nearly half (46%) of all adults aged 30 years or older show signs of gum disease; severe gum disease affects about 9% of adults.

Brushing your teeth is an incredibly important part of taking care of your oral health and daily hygiene. Dentists recommend that you should brush your teeth twice a day for periods of at least two minutes to achieve adequate results and promote oral health.

Currently, there are very limited solutions available to help people easily and efficiently track their tooth brushing activity.

An Argument For Expanding Research On Quantitative Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Randall E. Groth

Numeracy

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) traditionally has been used in research concerning prospective and practicing classroom teachers. This essay argues that PCK is also relevant to other professions including those advancing quantitative reasoning (QR). To illustrate, the case of PCK for teaching QR is considered. Those in fields such as public health, journalism, meteorology, and government increasingly find themselves responsible for helping the public understand an ever-growing amount of quantitative information that has a bearing on societal well-being. Several examples illustrate how such professionals’ responsibilities require knowing prevalent QR patterns in society, strategies for fostering sound reasoning, and the general nature …

A Novel Framework To Facilitate Mass-Scale Mobile Network Upgrades, Navdeep Sood, Praveen Kumar

Defensive Publications Series

Network upgrades in mass-scale mobile network environments can be very cumbersome and typically involve a network operator creating a unique upgrade plan to execute, which can be costly and time consuming. In order to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of mobile network upgrades and also provide improved service assurance with the least risk of service disruptions, a machine learning (ML) based mathematical model is proposed herein to provide upgrade clustering that can be utilized to facilitate mobile network upgrades.

Lstm-Based Recurrent Neural Network Predicts Influenza-Like-Illness In Variable Climate Zones, Alfred Amendolara, Christopher Gowans, Joshua Barton, David Sant, Andrew Payne

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose: Influenza virus is responsible for a recurrent, yearly epidemic in most temperate regions of the world. For the 2021-2022 season the CDC reports 5000 deaths and 100,000 hospitalizations, a significant number despite the confounding presence of SARS-CoV-2. The mechanisms behind seasonal variance in flu burden are not well understood. Based on a previously validated model, this study seeks to expand understanding of the impact of variable climate regions on seasonal flu trends. To that end, three climate regions have been selected. Each region represents a different ecological region and provides different weather patterns showing how the climate variables impact …

The Impact Of Using Blended Learning On Linguistic Fluency Towards Learning Among Palestinian University Students At English Departments According To Their Academic Achievement Level, نايل درويش الشرعة, Muawiyah Saleh Alawneh

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

This study aimed at investigating the effect of using blended learning on the linguistic fluency towards learning English of second-year TEFEL students at the University College of Educational Sciences (UCES)/ UNRWA, Palestine, according to their academic achievement level. To achieve the aim of the study, the researcher constructed a pre-posttest and made sure of the validity and reliability of the study tool. A quasi-experimental approach followed. The participants of the study consisted of 60 students divided into experimental groups of 30 students who were exposed to the training program (blended learning) and a control group of 30 students who were …

Overcoming The Achievement Gap: Arkansas' Utilization Of Weighted Student Funding To Support Students Of Poverty, Michael G. Mcfetridge

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

With over 63% of its students living in poverty, the state of Arkansas has a challenge when it comes to equitable funding and opportunities for its students. One funding mechanism that has been in place in Arkansas for over 20 years now is a categorical funding allocation known as Enhanced Student Achievement Funds (ESA). School districts receive these funds based on their percentage of students in poverty. While this weighted student funding model of allocating more funds to identified characteristics has been in place in Arkansas for over two decades, little research exists to gauge whether these allocation mechanisms successfully …

Underwater Double Vortex Generation Using 3d Printed Acoustic Lens And Field Multiplexing, Chadi Ellouzi, Ali Zabihi, Farhood Aghdasi, Aidan Kayes, Milton Rivera, Jiaxin Zhong, Amir Miri, Chen Shen

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The generation of acoustic vortex beams has attracted an increasing amount of research attention in recent years, offering a range of functions, including acoustic communication, particle manipulation, and biomedical ultrasound. However, incorporating more vortices and broadening the capacity of these beams and associated devices in three dimensions pose challenges. Traditional methods often necessitate complex transducer arrays and are constrained by conditions such as system complexity and the medium in which they operate. In this paper, a 3D printed acoustic lens capable of generating a double vortex pattern with an optional focusing profile in water was demonstrated. The performance of the …

Experimental Study On Acoustic Emission Evolution Characteristics And Response Mechanism Of Damaged Rocks, Zhang Kai, Zhang Dongxiao, Zhao Yongqiang, Yang Yingming, Guo Weiyao, Sun Peng, Xu Linpeng, Fu Guangsheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

The evolution of rock internal damage is one of the causes of geotechnical engineering disasters, and revealing the response characteristics of key parameters during the rock failure could provide a basis for the identification instability state after rock failure, which is of great importance for the early warning and prevention of rock engineering disasters. Herein, the siltstone specimens with different damage degrees were prepared by cyclic loading-unloading tests, and uniaxial loading tests were carried out with the damaged specimens. On this basis, the relationship between the damage degree of specimen and the wave velocity, as well as the acoustic emission …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Post-High School Trajectories Of Filipino American Students: The Role Of Communication, Kathryn Anne Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

This study actively explores the intricate influences shaping the educational and career trajectories of Filipino American students post-high school. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, it unveils the intricate web of familial expectations, financial constraints, personal values, and external pressures shaping their educational and career pathways. By actively addressing research questions concerning the factors informing choices and the process of weighing competing messages, this research offers nuanced insights. It illuminates the dynamic decision-making processes within the Filipino American community, emphasizing the necessity for tailored interventions and support mechanisms. By actively engaging with these findings, this study contributes to enhancing the …

Favorable Factors In Methane Production From Residual Coal Post-Biohydrogen Generation, Xia Daping, Liao Jiajia, Chen Zhenhong, Chen Xi, Guo Hongyu, Huang Dan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Determining favorable factors in methane production from residual coal post-biohydrogen production holds great theoretical and practical significance for improving the efficiency of methane production in the second stage of coal-based poly-generation. This study focuses on residual coal after hydrogen generation through anaerobic fermentation. Using coal samples from the Baiyinhua open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia as fermentation substrates, this study explored the dynamic trends of both the methane production and structure of the residual coal under different conditions by altering the aeration conditions and hydraulic retention time (HRT). Key findings are as follows: (1) Among the experiment groups with different atmosphere …

Numerical Simulation On Influence Of Skin Effect On Groundwater Flow Velocity In Wellbore, Wang Qihang, Li Xu, Guo Qiang, Kuai Dawei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Groundwater flow velocity in wellbore is usually measured by single-well tracking tests or Aqua Vision flow velocity and direction meters to calculate the groundwater flow velocity in the aquifer. Due to the impact of the skin structure, the groundwater flow field near the wellbore changes, causing a difference between the flow velocity in the wellbore and that in the aquifer. In order to investigate the influence of the skin effect on the groundwater flow velocity in the wellbore, a numerical model of groundwater flow that considers the skin effect was established using the COMSOL Multiphysics software. On this basis, the …

Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction Using Methylene Blue Or Mitoquinone To Improve Skeletal Aging., Sher Bahadur Poudel, Dorra Frikha-Benayed, Ryan R Ruff, Gozde Yildirim, Manisha Dixit, Ron Korstanje, Laura Robinson, Richard A Miller, David E Harrison, John R Strong, Mitchell B Schaffler, Shoshana Yakar

Faculty Research 2024

Methylene blue (MB) is a well-established antioxidant that has been shown to improve mitochondrial function in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is a selective antioxidant that specifically targets mitochondria and effectively reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. To investigate the effect of long-term administration of MB on skeletal morphology, we administered MB to aged (18 months old) female C57BL/J6 mice, as well as to adult male and female mice with a genetically diverse background (UM-HET3). Additionally, we used MitoQ as an alternative approach to target mitochondrial oxidative stress during aging in adult female and male …