Digital Commons Network^™

Frequency And Phase Synchronization Of Antenna Arrays With Phase Incoherent Microcontrollers, Harley W. Byrd

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The construction of phased array antennas has traditionally been an expensive and complex task. It has recently been claimed that it is possible to construct high-performance Wi Fi antenna arrays using inexpensive consumer components. Motivated by some limited data available from online presentations of such devices, this thesis covers an attempt to construct a phased-array Wi-Fi antenna using several ESP32 chips, which have native Wi-Fi modulation and demodulation capabilities. While there are many positive aspects associated with utilizing ESP32 chips for this purpose, a key challenge is the inherent phase incoherence of their internal Phase Locked Loops (PLLs). The approach …

Development Of An Atmospheric Particle Imaging System (Apis), James W. Hebert

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The study of atmospheric particulates plays a crucial role in both climate change studies and the improvement of hypersonic travel. The current issue at hand is a lack of knowledge of stratospheric particulate content and the high cost that is associated with conducting research at these altitudes. This project focuses on the development of an Atmospheric Particle Imaging System (APIS) to be a low-weight, low-cost optical payload. The goal is to make a device that can be mounted onto an uncrewed aerial system that has the capability of imaging particulates moving at steady flow velocities, and thereby characterize the individual …

2026 Guide To Planned Giving, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing., Morehead State University Foundation.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

Theh 2026 Guide to Planned Giving from the Morehead State University Foundation.

The Impact Of Flight Instructor Feedback On Subsequent Instructor Evaluations Of Student Performance, Ayhan Rozyyev, Jennifer E. Thropp

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study examines the impact of feedback tone and feedback order on flight instructors’ evaluations of student performance in an aviation training context. Using a 2×2 mixed factorial design, 40 certified flight instructors reviewed fictitious training records and rated students based on feedback that varied in tone (positive vs. negative) and order (positive-first vs. negative-first). Results showed that positive feedback significantly influenced evaluations across all measured dimensions, while feedback order had no significant effect, challenging assumptions about primacy and recency effects. These findings highlight the role of positive reinforcement in shaping instructor evaluations and suggest that structured training environments can …

Child Of My Heart: One Girl's Story Of Adoption, Danielle Bussolini

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Integrative Masters Project explores the author's personal experience with adoption, written from a child's perspective. Unlike most published books on adoption, which are typically framed through the lens of an educator or parent, this work centers the emotional and psychological experience of the child at the heart of the story.

Cognitive And Human-Automation Challenges In Uas-Aam Integration: A Thematic Review, Jiahao Yu, Mabior Deng Kuer Mabior, Sooyon Jin, Mary E. Johnson

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This paper identifies key cognitive and human-automation challenges in the integration of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) through a thematic review of existing academic and industrial literature. Human Factors considerations in UAS-AAM differ from those in conventional aviation and require greater attention before wide deployment. This research provides a thematic review of cognitive and human-automation challenges, including Level of Automation (LOA), Human Automation Teaming and Trust (HAT²), Situational Awareness and Attention (SAA), Cognitive Overload and Distress (COD), Vigilance and Fatigue (VF), and Human Machine Interface and Interaction (HMI²). By highlighting these challenges, …

Impact Of In-Cabin Human Machine Interface Designs On Passenger Trust In Urban Air Mobility, Ricole A. Johnson, Erika E. Gallegos

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents a promising solution for alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, the widespread acceptance of UAM, particularly sustained ridership of autonomous passenger air vehicles (PAVs), is contingent upon addressing critical human factors for building passenger trust, especially in the absence of a human pilot. This paper evaluates how different in-cabin human-machine interface (HMI) designs affect passenger trust in the aircraft and in-cabin display, situation awareness, and pilot preferences. Forty participants, equally split between early and late technology adopters, completed two simulated flights: a baseline flight with no HMI and a second flight featuring …

Instructional Fidelity In Virtual Flight: Applying A Structured Learning Model For Vr-Based Pilot Training, Lindsay Gouedy, Bryce Jarrell, Mary Fendley, Brandon Wolf

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

As immersive training technologies reshape the future of aviation education, this study explores the impact of integrating Virtual Reality (VR) into a structured instructional model for B-52 pilot training. With the development and implementation of the I-BUFF (Integrated B-52 Unit Flight Familiarization) model, an innovative framework built upon the 4C/ID (Four Component Instructional Design) and SEEV (Salience, Effort, Expectancy, Value) models, this research evaluates whether structured VR environments improve training transfer and accelerate task proficiency for in-air refueling tasks. A sample of 233 pilot trainees was assessed across three groups: traditional training (non-VR unstructured), VR semi-structured, and VR fully structured …

The Role Of User Experience In Virtual Reality Flight Training: A Comparison With Pc-Based Simulation, Tianxin Zhang, Christina M. Frederick, Barbara Chaparro

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The current project explores how user experience (UX) in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation influences both cognitive learning outcomes and procedural skill acquisition when compared to traditional desktop-based simulation.. Using a quasi-transfer of training design, 48 student pilots were randomly assigned to VR, Desktop, or Control groups and trained on the Chandelle maneuver. UX was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), while training effectiveness was evaluated through a post-training knowledge test and recorded maneuver performance on a high-fidelity flight training device. Results indicated that the VR group reported significantly higher UX scores in Attractiveness, Stimulation, and Novelty, and showed …

Utilising Video Recordings To Assess Student Pilot Performance: An Exploratory Study During A Simulated Training Flight, Bradley Moncion, Shi Cao, Allison Lynch, Suzanne K. Kearns, Elizabeth Irving, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

In ab initio flight training, the quality of the feedback a flight instructor provides their student is essential to their success. While other high-performance and safety-critical industries have incorporated the use of video recordings into training and assessments, the aviation industry generally has not. There are some studies addressing the potential benefits of video recordings in training professional pilots, but there is a lack of research at the ab initio level. In this study, five flight instructors assessed the performance of student pilots conducting a simulated training flight using a 4-point marking scale. The flights instructors were then tasked with …

The Human Toll Of Change: Reframing Fatigue As A Latent Risk In Aviation Human Factors, Stephanie Douglas

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Aviation organizations are operating in an era of rapid, overlapping transformation that places continuous cognitive and emotional demands on personnel. Traditional aviation fatigue frameworks emphasize physiological mechanisms such as sleep loss, circadian disruption, and extended duty hours driving fatigue risk management systems. This conceptual paper introduces change fatigue: a psychological form of fatigue arising from cumulative, frequent, or poorly sequenced organizational change that depletes cognitive and emotional resources and undermines safety-critical performance. Drawing on stress and coping theory, the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), and ICAO’s Human Performance Framework, it develops a multilevel …

Evaluation Of Tactile Cueing Embedded In An Aviation Headset On Pilot Altitude Control, Nicholas D. Wilson, Jessica Van Bree, Matthew Cleveland, Sunny Charakuru, Thomas Petros, Richard Ferraro, Kouhyar Tavakolian

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study evaluated the effectiveness of tactile cueing integrated into a pilot’s headset on pilot altitude control during simulated instrument conditions. Pilots typically rely on visual and auditory inputs to maintain situational awareness, but in high-workload or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), these channels can become overloaded. One underutilized alternative for alerting is a tactile cueing apparatus. Using an X-Plane simulation of a Piper Archer equipped with a G-1000 avionics suite, 39 FAA-certified pilots flew two precision approaches. The experimental group (n = 20) received haptic cues via ear seal-embedded tactors when deviating from assigned altitude or glideslope. The control group …

Navigating The Challenges: Preflight Planning With Notam In Australia’S General Aviation Sector, Joshua Chiang, Guido Carim Junior

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) are an integral part of a pilot’s preflight navigational briefing, providing pertinent information in textual format. However, significant shortcomings have been found in the NOTAM system and in its use, with many of the shortcomings revolving around the interface. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the challenges general aviation pilots face when interacting with NOTAMs during preflight navigational planning. A thematic analysis study was conducted and included episodic semi-structured interviews with 15 pilots and document analysis. The interview transcription and excerpts of NOTAMs were analyzed following a thematic analysis technique. The findings of this preliminary …

Innovative Sovereignty: California Tribes' Use Of The Nonprofit Corporation, Stephen F. Diamond, Jennifer W. Kuan

South Dakota Law Review

Native American tribes have long sought, but not always received, federal recognition as sovereign Indian Nations. Recognition confers substantial financial and legal benefits including access to federally funded health services, education and housing. Sovereign status allows tribes to pursue business activity. Tribal sovereignty, however, has significant limitations. The recognition process is costly, time-consuming, highly politicized, and often uncertain. Federal law enforcement and health services that should follow recognition are chronically underfunded. We examine the efforts of Indian tribes in California’s Monterey County to use the nonprofit corporation form to establish clear property rights to land. We interview key participants and …

Increasing Access To Justice Through The Use Of Indigenous Restorative Justice And Trauma Informed Practices, Carrie E. Garrow, Danielle J. Mayberry, Micaelee Horn

South Dakota Law Review

Tribal judiciaries are paramount to tribal sovereignty and accessed by court users for many purposes. Access to justice ensures that everyone should be able to understand and assert their rights in a fair tribal justice system. This can be a challenge for rural areas, but even more so in Indian Country due to the complex web of factors such as legal and jurisdictional complexities, the colonization of Indian Nations by federal and state governments, and resource restraints. Due to these barriers and as an effort to serve their communities, tribal justice systems develop mechanisms that are solution based and at …

Under-Enforcement Of Tribal Land Use Regulations, Ezra Rosser

South Dakota Law Review

This brief Article explores the advantages and disadvantages of the under-enforcement of land use regulations by the Navajo Nation. Though scholarship on economic development, including tribal economic development, tends to emphasize the importance of well-defined and predictable rules, homeowners and entrepreneurs seeking land use permissions confront an environment on the reservation marked by under-enforcement. As this Article shows, the limited resources available to many tribal members help explain the tribe’s decision to selectively under-enforce otherwise required land use permitting processes. The purpose of this Article is to neither praise nor condemn an under-enforcement strategy, but instead to provide a framework …

When A Black Man Is In The Principal’S Office: Black Male Leaders Navigating Racialized Spaces, Phillip Smith

GSE Faculty Publications

This study describes the experiences of fourteen Black male principals or heads of school navigating racialized spaces, including the politics of race, and experienced racism in educational settings as well as in school leadership. Data analysis utilized a critical race theory (CRT) and culturally sensitive methodological and interpretive framework. The data analysis revealed themes associated with identity scrutiny, right to lead, meritocracy and color evasiveness, all falling within the white gaze paradigm. However, the results also suggest a demonstrable pathway for Black leaders to successfully navigate the pitfalls of the white gaze and experienced negative professional and personal reactions to …

Pretrial Justice In Indian Country And Bordertowns-Including Rural Tribal Communities In The Bail Reform Conversation, Jordan Gross

South Dakota Law Review

Pretrial detention rates in the United States are down, except in rural counties. Indigenous people are both over-represented and under-protected in settler-colonial criminal justice systems. Yet the criminal justice needs and experiences of rural and Indigenous people are largely overlooked in criminal justice reform research and discourse. I examined the role of rurality in bail administration in Pretrial Justice in Out-of-the-Way Places – Including Rural Communities in the Bail Reform Conversation. There I explained how bail reform measures centered on urban and suburban needs and demographics fail to address pretrial justice challenges and opportunities unique to rural communities. This Article …

Manufacturing And Performance Evaluation Of Carbon/Epoxy Laminated Composites Cured Using Single- And Six-Magnetron Microwave Applications, Nayan Pundhir

Doctoral Dissertations

Microwave curing is fast, energy-efficient, and a viable alternative to conventional thermal curing processes. It has been widely adopted for processing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites because the high electrical conductivity of carbon fibers enables strong microwave coupling, leading to rapid volumetric heating and reduced energy consumption. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of microwave curing for manufacturing CFRP composites. IM7/Cycom 5320-1 unidirectional prepreg was utilized to fabricate laminated composites in two thickness ranges: 16-layer laminates (2.5 mm thickness) and 64-layer laminates (9.2 mm thickness). Two lay-up configurations were examined: symmetric cross-ply and quasi-isotropic. Different curing …

Strontium Titanate For Capacitor And Energy Storage Applications At Cryogenic Temperatures, Hung Trinh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the dielectric properties of single crystal and ceramic strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) for cryogenic capacitor applications from room temperature to 4 K. Permittivity (k) and loss tangent are dependent on temperature, frequency, mechanical stress, and applied DC electric field. Accordingly, the dielectric constant and loss tangent were measured at various frequencies and DC bias levels. Loss tangent data are also presented as equivalent series resistance (ESR). For single crystal SrTiO₃, an impurity level of ≈500 ppm barium resulted in an increase of the maximum permittivity to approximately 50,000 at 6 K. This relatively high …

Integrating Stakeholder Priorities Into Resilience Planning And Investment Decision-Making, Victoria Jeaneen Kraemer

Doctoral Dissertations

"Resilience is a system’s ability to bounce back from a disruption. However, resilience needs may vary across different stakeholders. To better integrate stakeholder input into resilience planning and investment decision-making, existing frameworks were combined to develop the Integrated Stakeholder-Centered Resilience Framework. This broad framework is tailorable across contexts and stakeholder types. Research results demonstrate the use of this framework to evaluate the effects of disruptions and represent stakeholder preferences for investments. In the first study, participants were randomly assigned to power outage scenarios, which did not affect their criteria priorities. An exploratory factor analysis revealed two main priorities, (1) Absorption …

Senescent Fibroblasts In Aging And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sara B. Palega, Aiwei Y. Borengasser, Yan Y. Sanders

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic lung diseases, including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and incurable disease characterized by progressive fibrotic remodeling. Age-associated structural alterations, impaired regenerative capacity, and dysregulated cellular signaling collectively create a pro-fibrotic microenvironment. A central driver of this pathological shift is the accumulation of senescent cells, which undergo irreversible growth arrest and develop a robust pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging evidence identifies senescent lung fibroblasts as critical mediators of IPF pathogenesis. These cells promote excessive extracellular matrix deposition, myofibroblast differentiation, and tissue stiffening, while simultaneously impairing epithelial regeneration. Together, these effects …

Trends In Dermatologic Biologic Prescribing: A Medicare Part D Public Use File Analysis From 2018 To 2023., Cathleen V D'Angelo, Patricia Wilberger, Chase Merritt, Joshua Burshtein, Dawn Merritt

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

No abstract provided.

Sexauer Papers, Elmer And Cecile, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

This collection documents the personal, educational, and professional lives of Elmer Sexauer and Cecile Welch Sexauer from the late nineteenth through the mid twentieth century. Materials include essays, family papers, scrapbooks, agricultural reports, photographs, and certificates, along with handwritten travel diaries and more than four hundred postcards. Together, the materials reflect family life, education, professional involvement with the Grain and Feed Dealers National Association, and extensive travel within the United States and abroad, including Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Japan.

South Dakota Dairy Association Records, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

The South Dakota Dairy Association records document the association’s activities and influence on the state’s dairy industry from the early 1900s through the early 2000s. The collection reflects the association’s efforts to promote dairy farming practices, support producers, and provide leadership on industry standards and regulatory issues.

Materials include administrative and governance records, ledgers, financial documents, annual reports, meeting minutes, and convention programs, as well as photographs, medals, and newspaper clippings. Together, these records illustrate the association’s organizational structure, professional activities, and role in coordinating meetings and conventions that supported collaboration and information sharing within the dairy industry. The collection …

Stewart Papers, Beryl, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

Rhea Beryl Stewart was a South Dakota educator, writer, and literary leader whose career bridged teaching, creative writing, and public service. Educated at Northern States Teachers’ College and the State University of Iowa, she taught English in Aberdeen, directed secondary English programs, and advised student literary activities before later serving on the South Dakota Board of Education. A prolific poet and essayist, Stewart published widely, received recognition in state and national literary competitions, and held leadership roles in professional writing organizations. The collection contains manuscripts, correspondence, publications, and scrapbooks that document her literary output, professional networks, and contributions to education …

Altrusa International, District Seven Records, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

The Altrusa Records collection documents the activities of Altrusa International District Seven and the Altrusa International Club of Brookings, South Dakota, from 1956 to 2017. The collection includes administrative, financial, and program records such as minutes, reports, correspondence, membership lists, bylaws, strategic plans, and materials from District Seven Conferences and Presidents’ Workshops. Records of local Brookings club projects, including literacy programs, fundraising events, and mini-grant initiatives, are also present. Together, the materials illustrate Altrusa’s role in community service, literacy advocacy, and leadership development in the upper Midwest.

South Dakota Farmers Union Records, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

The South Dakota Farmers Union traces its origins to the national Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union, founded in Texas in 1902 and introduced to South Dakota around 1914 by former Nebraska members. The organization was formally established as a state unit at its first convention in Mitchell on March 16, 1917, with 268 delegates representing 14 counties and more than 130 local chapters. Education, cooperative enterprise, and legislative advocacy quickly became central to its mission, including early collective purchasing efforts that supported family farmers.

The South Dakota Farmers Union Records document the organization’s activities from the early twentieth century through …

Kuehn Papers, Frank Charles William, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

This collection documents the life and professional work of architect Frank Charles William Kuehn (1884–1970), whose career was centered in Huron, South Dakota. Materials date from 1883 to 1970 and include architectural drawings, blueprints, specifications, maps, photographs, and related printed and ephemera materials. The records reflect Kuehn’s extensive architectural practice, particularly his work designing schools, churches, municipal buildings, commercial structures, and residences throughout South Dakota and neighboring states. Also represented are his Standard Rural School Plans, long association with the South Dakota Department of Public Instruction, and his later county and highway map publishing business serving South Dakota, North Dakota, …

South Dakota Humanities Council Records, Sdsu Archives And Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library

Archives Finding Aids

This collection documents the history and activities of the South Dakota Humanities Council, founded in 1972 to support and deliver humanities programming across the state. The records span from the Council’s origins as the South Dakota Committee on the Humanities through the early twenty-first century and include administrative correspondence, meeting files, financial records, grant proposals, publications, program documentation, and audiovisual materials. The collection provides detailed evidence of governance, fiscal management, and grant administration, including partnerships with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Program and project files document statewide initiatives in literature, history, Native American language and cultural preservation, media, and …