Digital Commons Network^™

Spacecraft Reaction Wheel Simulation Testbed, Shiva Pulmamidi, Daniel Kim

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

There are three typical methods used to control the attitude (or orientation) of spacecraft in orbit. They are momentum exchange devices (reaction wheels and control moment gyroscopes), magnetic torquers, and thrusters (both cold and hot gas). The PolySim research group is currently developing a spacecraft attitude dynamics simulator utilizing reaction wheels. The simulator floats on a spherical air bearing and is balanced to accurately simulate the rotational motion of a spacecraft in orbit (not including the orbital motion). As a continuation of that project, we have completed the development of spacecraft attitude simulator using cold gas thrusters to control the …

Augmented Reality Application For Real-Time Coastal Data Visualization, Nithyasri Palanisamy

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This project aims to develop an Augmented Reality (AR) application that overlays real-time coastal environmental data onto physical landscapes when viewed through AR devices such as smartphones and mixed reality headsets. By integrating data from machine learning models, computer vision-based event detection, coastal sensors, and geospatial mapping technologies, the application will provide users with an immersive and interactive experience, enhancing their understanding of coastal dynamics and environmental changes. The application will focus on observing coastal phenomena such as rip currents, tracking endangered coastal species and marine mammals, monitoring crowd levels on beaches, etc. Data sources will include NOAA's National Data …

Tvac Testing With Stella, Emily Lieber, Roshan Jaiswal

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) testing is a staple in testing for spacecraft components and parts. Prior to flying in space, each spacecraft must show that their system will be able to perform while experiencing a large temperature swing from -100 to 100 C. In the fall of 2023, the AERO department’s new Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) was completed and ready to begin system checkout and testing. Over the past 1.5 years, the TVAC system has undergone short-duration tests to refine operational procedures and build general knowledge of the system. Starting this summer, the system will begin its first long-duration tests. …

Performance Dashboard Design For Radiologists: Highlighting What Matters & Fostering Improvement, Trevor Knotts, Jemma Simpson, Coleman Hawkins

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

TurboRad has developed a system with proven results that streamlines radiology report creation and improves radiologist productivity. A study performed in 2023 found that “the advanced macro-button toolbar system has great correlation for both lower report completion times and increased wRVU productivity. The benefits of the toolbar system are most evident in the simpler XR reports. Though they are simpler to read and complete reports, the greater quantity of XR reports contributes to a greater overall wRVU completion rate throughout the day as radiologists can spend more time on more complex examinations and reports” (Chow, Speece, & Holtzman, 2024). Since …

Engaging Students In Materials Engineering Through A Marble-Based Property Ranking Game, Nathan Cloughley, Alyssa Felix

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This SURP proposal is centered on the design and development of a Materials Marbles Game, an educational tool designed to introduce students to materials science and materials selection through tactile interaction and hands-on experimentation. The game will incorporate measurement of key material properties—such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, and mass density—using spherical marbles made from different materials. These measurements will then be used to construct a physical Material Property Chart (Ashby-Cebon plot) on a game board, fostering a hands-on, embodied understanding of how different materials behave. The game will also illustrate the thought process behind materials selection, a critical aspect of …

The Lawyer: Fall 2025, Seattle University School Of Law

Lawyer

The Briefcase

Faculty Showcase

A look at the Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) Institute

Out & About

The Legal Writing Program's past, present, and future

Alumni Profile: Stephanie Nichols

Alumni Profile: Kelly Vomacka

Class Notes

Contracting For Consumer Trade Compliance, Christine Abely

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Export compliance is becoming increasingly important for parties required to abide by U.S. law, including many online sellers of consumer products. These retailers’ contractual terms with their customers set forth a number of provisions governing the relationship between them, including those which deal with arbitration, indemnification, disclaimer of warranties, and other issues. Many such agreements also purport to create obligations on the part of the consumer as to export control and sanctions compliance relative to the products they purchase. These contract provisions attempt to do so, however, in often markedly different ways, and with language that may leave notable gaps …

Sovereign Indignity And Immunity, Chun Hin Jeffrey Tsoi

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Sovereign immunity, even if not understood as a monarchical relic, embodies the notion of indignity for a government having to answer to allegations of transgressions. This Essay proposes an argument to challenge the doctrine’s theoretical basis, especially with respect to the federal government in federal court. But there is first a threshold question to be answered: has the doctrine of federal sovereign immunity been practically mooted by the “death” of Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents? One needs an express cause of action to sue the federal government absent Bivens, and if one has an express cause of action, under …

Thou Shalt Not Castrate: The Conflict Between Louisiana’S Surgical Castration Law And The Principles Of Medical Ethics, Morgan Ambrosecchia

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

In 2024, Louisiana became the first state to permit courtordered surgical castration for sex offenders who have been convicted of certain sex crimes against children. Under the law, an offender who refuses to submit to the procedure will face an additional three to five years in prison without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The court’s order is contingent on confirmation by a court-appointed expert that the offender is an “appropriate candidate for surgery.” However, the statutory language is vague and does not clearly define who can serve as an expert nor does it define the scope …

Assessment Of Genes And Mirnas Expression In Alzheimer's Disease Samples Using Single And/Or Multiplex Preferential Amplification Pcr, Samanda F. Hickman

Theses (2016-Present)

Gene expression is measurable at the RNA and protein levels. It is a process by which genes produce functional products that are either non-coding RNAs or proteins. The non-coding RNAs or proteins of gene expression ultimately affect phenotype. Non-coding RNA (or mRNA) expression is measured by Northern blot or real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), while Western blot measures protein expression. Both require software to differentiate between the amounts of end products. Statistical analysis is employed to validate any differences among the measured values and to infer a correlation between the end products of various samples. There are several neurodegenerative diseases, including …

An Evaluation Of Reading Proficiency Examination College Completion Among Black Neurodiverse Women, Makayla J. Graham

Theses (2016-Present)

This study establishes the college completion experiences of Black neurodiverse women (n=53), a population historically rendered invisible in higher education research. Grounded in Dis/ability Critical Race Studies (DisCrit), Black Feminist Thought, the Black Feminist Disability Framework, and the Neurodiversity Paradigm, the research documents how intersectional identity, structural barriers, and mental health outcomes shape degree attainment. Data was collected through a mixed-methods online survey targeting this specific demographic. The findings demonstrate that college completion for this population is an act of resistance against racialized sexist ableism. Thematic analysis identified six central themes: Systemic Barriers in Higher Education, Intersectional Identity Burdens, Internal …

Using Advanced Artificial Intelligence Techniques In Pavement Marking Detection For Asset Management, Paul Clement Akpabio

Theses (2016-Present)

Pavement markings are essential roadway assets that enhance driver guidance, reduce collision risks, and support the operational reliability of autonomous and connected vehicle systems. Maintaining adequate marking visibility, particularly retro reflectivity as required by FHWA MUTCD Section 3A.05, is critical for nighttime safety and for minimizing crash severity in adverse conditions. Traditional assessment methods, including manual inspections, retro reflectometers, and service life estimates, offer useful baseline information but remain slow, labor intensive, and unsuitable for large scale or real time asset management. These limitations have increased interest in artificial intelligence solutions capable of automating pavement condition evaluation with greater consistency …

Proceedings Of The 2025 Santa Fe Bone Symposium: Current Concepts In The Care Of Patients With Osteoporosis, Parathyroid Disorders, And Rare Bone Diseases., E Michael Lewiecki, Robert A. Adler, Paul A. Anderson, John P. Bilezikian, David W. Dempster, Pouneh K. Fazeli, Michael R. Mcclung, Eric T. Rush, Christine M. Swanson, S Bobo Tanner

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The 2025 Santa Fe Bone Symposium (SFBS) was a combined in-person and virtual "hybrid" meeting based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, on August 8-9, 2025. There were an equivalent number of in-person and remote attendees from throughout the USA and other countries. The SFBS was immediately preceded, on August 6-7, 2025, by the 2-day Endocrine Fellows Foundation-Santa Fe Bone Symposium Workshop on Metabolic Bone Diseases. This preceptorship included basic bone biology, osteoporosis, parathyroid and rare bone diseases. Most of the fellows attended the SFBS, for a total of 4 days of non-stop education in skeletal health. The topics covered …

Developing A Low-Temperature Pathway For The Synthesis Of Two-Dimensional Ws2 Nanosheets, Akhil Potdar

Holster Scholar Projects

Since their discovery in 2004, two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted great attention due to their unique mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. However, their integration into devices is limited by the high temperatures required for crystalline growth, which prevents the use of flexible and biocompatible substrates like polymers for biomedical and next-generation electronic devices. This project aims to therefore develop a low-temperature synthesis process for two-dimensional tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a material particularly promising due to its tunable bandgap and biocompatibility. We propose that by first depositing an intermediate tungsten oxide film (WOx) via Hollow Cathode Plasma-Assisted Atomic Layer Deposition (HCP-ALD) and …

Foundations For Multi-Bit-Per-Cell Phase Change Memory Modeling Gst Crossbar Arrays, Sashah Wilson-Thompson

Holster Scholar Projects

This project builds a simulation foundation for selective cell heating in a phase-change memory (PCM) crossbar using Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) as the active material. Using COMSOL Multiphysics® a 3D modeling software, couples Electric Currents, Electric Circuits, Heat Transfer in Solids, and Electromagnetic Heating for the simulation. A parameterized Tungsten (W)/GST-Amorphous/GST-Crystalline(phases) /W embedded in Silica Dioxide (SiO2) and surrounded in Silica Nitride (Si3N4) is validated at the single-cell level and scaled to small GST crossbars A terminal voltage (V_active/V_inactive, or 0 V if unselected) is applied through MOSFET and diode selector elements at the ends of each word line and bit line. …

Filipino Military Professionalism And Leadership Within The Context Of The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Strategy, Leslie Advincula-Lopez, Sharon A. Caringal, Julian V. Advincula Jr.

Development Studies Faculty Publications

The study examines how expertise, responsibility, and identity are developed and maintained by the services formally and informally and provides an updated understanding of how military professionalism functions today among the members of the AFP. The research results provide an updated understanding of how the members of the AFP dynamically construct military professionalism and leadership within the context of more complex and global security challenges. Specifically, it examines the construction and practice of professionalism and leadership across the different branches of service, the Philippine Army, the Air Force, and the Navy, as well as their geographic locations. Given the fluid …

Machine Learning For Dissolved Oxygen Prediction In The Manawatu River Catchment, New Zealand, Imokhai T. Tenebe, Eunice O. Babatunde, Nkpa M. Ogarekpe, Egbe Etu Etu, Joshua Emakhu, Kindness E. Etu, Obiora B. Ezeudu, Oluwarotimi S. Oladele

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Uncontrolled anthropogenic activities have increased river pollution, resulting in poor water quality and a growing need for continuous monitoring, which is time-consuming and costly. This study evaluated the accuracy of machine learning (ML) models in predicting dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, aiming to reduce field monitoring efforts and minimize the number of measured parameters. Regression models (Huber, Linear, Ridge), Bagging methods (Extra Trees, Random Forest, Decision Trees), and Boosting techniques (Gradient Boosting, Light Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost) were tested using data from three sites in the Manawatu Catchment, New Zealand. Data spanning 1989–2014 included 12 water quality variables and was split into …

Better Digital Contracts With Prosocial Friction-In-Design, Brett Frischmann, Moshe Y. Vardi

Faculty Publications

Contract law is supposed to enable people to reach genuine agreements and cooperate. If this ideal was ever a reality, the rise of mass market contracts and boil­erplate rendered it pure fiction. Modern consumer contracts are incomprehensible to most people. No one reads them anyway.

Digital contracting involves design features that amplify traditional boilerplate harms and create others. For example, digital contracting is too cheap; low marginal costs lead to overexpansion in scale and scope. To make matters worse, the loss of autonomy from repeat engagement with digital contracting systems is pernicious. People become increasingly predictable and programmable as digital …

Examining The Relationship Between Dysphagia, Eating-Related Symptoms, And Diet Quality Among Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients During Critical Stages Of Cancer Survivorship: The U-Dine Study, Beatrice Manduchi, Vlad C Sandulache, Ji Yun Tark, Shreela Sharma, Ruosha Li, Emily Roller, Andrew Bevelhimer, Katherine A Hutcheson, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Diet quality is a modifiable factor impacting treatment outcomes in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), yet the effect of dysphagia and self-reported eating-related symptoms remains unclear. This study examined their associations with diet quality in OPC patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with two parallel cohorts from MD Anderson Cancer Center and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center as part of the Uncovering the Long-Term Impact of OPC and Dysphagia on Dietary Quality and Nutrition Among Cancer Survivors (U-DINE) Study. Participants at varying survivorship stages (prediagnosis, 3-6 and 18+ months posttreatment) were assessed for dysphagia (DIGEST scale) and six …

Structure-Activity Relationships Of A–And B-Type Proanthocyanidins In Long-Term Dentin Biomodification And Biocompatibility, Yvette Alania, Mariana Reis-Havlat, Shu-Xi Jing, Fahimeh Tabatabaei, James B. Mcalpine, Shao-Nong Chen, Guido F. Pauli, Ana K. Bedran-Russo

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To explore the structure-activity relationships of plant-based proanthocyanidins (PACs) with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and the long-term biomechanical stability of PAC-modified dentin extracellular matrix (ECM).

Methods

Mid-coronal dentin ECM (n= 8) was treated with eight PAC tetramers and trimers with varying A-/B-type linkages. Chemo-mechanical analyses included dynamic mechanical analysis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Viscoelastic components were calculated after PAC biomodification, 18-month incubation, and protein destabilization. Collagen structure was assessed via IR amide absorbance ratios. DPSCs were cultured with PACs at different concentrations (100, 10, and 1 μg/mL) to measure proliferation. ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used for …

Measurement-Based Care For Depression In Youth: Practical Considerations For Selecting Measures To Assess Depression, Associated Features And Functioning, Cynthia Garza, Diana Chapa, Catherine Hernandez, Hayley Aramburu, Taryn L. Mayes, Graham J. Emslie

School of Medicine Publications

Identification and management of major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents remains a significant area of public health need. The process for identifying depression (e.g. screening) and management (e.g. measurement based care [MBC]) is substantially enhanced by utilization of clinical measures and rating scales. Measures can be self- or caregiver reported or clinician rated. They can aid recognition of at-risk individuals for future assessment and assist in clinical diagnosis and management of depression. In addition to assessing symptoms of depression, rating scales can be used to assess important associated features (e.g. anxiety, trauma) and functional outcomes (e.g. quality of …

The Association Of Cancer-Preventive Lifestyle With Colonoscopy Screening Use In Border Hispanic Adults Along The Texas-Mexico Border, Paul Gerardo Yeh, Audrey C. Choh, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B. Mccormick, David R. Lairson, Belinda M. Reininger

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose: The relationship between engaging in two domains of cancer-preventive behaviors, lifestyle behaviors and colonoscopy screening, is unknown in Hispanic adults. Accordingly, the study examined the association between lifestyle and colonoscopy screening in Hispanic adults along the Texas–Mexico border, where there is suboptimal colorectal cancer prevention.

Methods: Lifestyle behavior adherence and compliance with colonoscopy screening schedules were assessed using 2013–2023 data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohorta populationbased sample of Hispanic adults living along the Texas–Mexico border. The 2018 World Cancer Research Fund scoring system characterized healthy lifestyle engagement. Multivariable logistic regression quantified the association between lifestyle behaviors and colonoscopy …

Reducing Aspiration Pneumonia By Implementing An Enhanced Oral Care Toolkit, Jennifer London

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Oral care is essential for reducing bacteria and preventing aspiration pneumonia. The risk of aspiration pneumonia increases when protocols are not followed. In 2024, a regional hospital in the Midwest United States spent approximately one million dollars on the preventable healthcare-associated infection known as aspiration pneumonia. A pre-project chart audit of 100 random patient charts on a medical/surgical step-down unit revealed that only 1 of the 100 charts had oral care documented as completed.

Aim of the Project: The primary aims of this project were to increase nursing documentation of oral care by 50% and to decrease …

Eccentricity In Binary Black Hole Mergers, Katelyn J. Wagner

Theses

Recent studies have shown that orbital eccentricity may serve as an important indicator of dynamical assembly as a formation channel for binary black holes. In contrast to binaries that evolve in isolation and circularize through long-term gravitational radiation, dynamically assembled binaries, such as those formed through gravitational encounters in dense stellar environments, may retain measurable eccentricity up to the point of merger. Because eccentricity leaves a distinct imprint on gravitational-wave signals, it provides a powerful observational handle on the astrophysical origins of compact binaries. Detecting this signature requires sensitive and accurate modeling of gravitational-wave signals, particularly as binaries enter the …

Otolith Microchemistry Reveals Contribution Of Hatchery-Origin Walleye In Lake Oahe, South Dakota, Mark J. Fincel, Cameron W. Goble, Gregory W. Whitledge, Katy Dawson, Jill A. Olin

Michigan Tech Publications

Objective: In Lake Oahe, South Dakota, recent stockings of fingerling Walleye Sander vitreus (every year from 2017 to 2019) have coincided with increased relative abundance of catchable-size Walleye. However, it is unknown if these fish originated from hatchery stockings or were produced naturally within Lake Oahe. Thus, we sought to use otolith microchemistry to delineate wild- versus hatchery-origin Walleye in Lake Oahe. Methods: In fall 2020, we collected age-0 through age-6 Walleye (n = 349) from Lake Oahe to determine fish origin during the standard gill-net survey. We used published water and otolith microchemical signatures to assign origin to collected …

Alberta, Mi (Nrhp Initial Submission), Steven Walton

Michigan Tech Publications

This is the full initial submission for Alberta Village (the Ford Center) to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This application was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office in August 2025. This application document was developed to support the consideration of Alberta Village (the Ford Center) as a historic site.

From the summary paragraph of the application:

The Village of Alberta in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was originally built as a Ford company town and lumber mill in 1935. In 1954 the village and approx. 1,800 acres of surrounding timber lands were donated to Michigan …

Ambient Artificial Intelligence In Health Care Documentation: A Review Of Tools, Integration, And Clinical Implications, Jasmin Hundal, Molly Jain Md, Joseph Mccollom Do

PCI Publications and Projects

Introduction: Ambient artificial intelligence (AAI) is increasingly being integrated into clinical workflows to address the documentation burden contributing to clinician burnout. AAI systems use automatic speech recognition and natural language processing to capture real-time clinician–patient dialogue and generate structured documentation within the electronic health record. Methods: This review examines AAI’s technical foundations, clinical applications, and implementation considerations in oncology practice. We describe how current AAI tools extract, classify, and populate relevant clinical content, such as the history of present illness, physical examination findings, and assessment and plan, while adhering to established US coding standards (e.g., International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10]). …

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 9, Number 10, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Steven L. Fullerton

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

Neuroleukemiosis Masquerading As Drug Toxicity In An Adolescent With Refractory Aml, Nia Choi, Deborah Schady, Tim Lotze, Jill Ann Jarrell, Alexandra Rodriguez-Hernandez, Sandra Aziz, Karen K Moeller, Joanna S Yi, Suzanne Woodbury, Andrea N Marcogliese, Zoann E Dreyer, Eric S Schafer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Natriuretic Peptide Cut Points For Heart Failure Classification In Individuals With And Without Obesity, Mandana Chitsazan, Juhi K Parekh, Leah B Kosyakovsky, Sophie M Nemeth, Emily S Lau, James L Januzzi, Thomas J Wang, Daniel Levy, Chiadi E Ndumele, Elizabeth Selvin, Christie M Ballantyne, Bruce M Psaty, John S Gottdiener, Jorge R Kizer, Christopher R Defilippi, Norrina B Allen, Rudolf A De Boer, Sanjiv J Shah, Jennifer E Ho

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The 2022 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Failure Society of America guidelines introduced elevated natriuretic peptide (NP) levels as a criterion for defining stage B heart failure (HF), or pre-HF, to identify individuals at greatest risk for future HF. Given the known NP deficiency in obesity, we aimed to assess whether a single NP cut point would disproportionately up-classify individuals with versus without obesity to stage B HF.

Methods: Participants free of HF from 5 community-based cohorts were included. We examined the reclassification of individuals to stage B HF using the 2022 versus 2013 guidelines, stratified by obesity …