Digital Commons Network^™

This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land, Alexia Liu

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Argument Schema Of Undergraduate Engineering Students, Anu Singh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Critical thinking is one of the most desired skills in the workplace, as it assists an individual in solving complex problems and making informed decisions, resulting in their workplace success. Argumentation is one instructional approach that provides students an opportunity to engage in higher-order thinking and improve their communication skills. Argumentative writing provides opportunities to engage in multiple perspectives of a problem, provide evidence for the claim, evaluate evidence, engage in reasoning, and acknowledge self-bias, which automatically engages students in critical thinking. Previous literature has shown that despite the use of interventions and scaffolding approaches, students' argumentative texts lack elements …

Anouncements And Report On The 2024 Annual Meeting, David Cimprich

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Summary Of The 2024 Western Bird Banding Associastion Annual Meeting, Danielle Kaschube

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Conceptual Platform For Basic Waterfall Manufacturing System Using Simulink With Lean- Agile Measurement Criteria, Maryam Khalid Abdul Wahid, Lamyaa Mohammed

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

This paper forms part I of two-part series that present the full path for constructing a Lean-Agile platform using Simulink and test the different criteria of such manufacturing systems. management of manufacturing systems is one of the main rules in engineering in order to reduce the waste (lean) and to fulfill the changing requirements of the market (agile). This paper describes the process of construction of the basic waterfall platform using Matlab/Simulink, and to develop the Matlab program that facilitates the input process of constants and variables into the model and then to show the results. this platform will mimic …

Multi-Biometric Systems: A Review, Zahraa R. Naji, Abdul Monem S., Raheem Ogla

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Traditional authentication methods such as passwords are susceptible to easy hacking, and as technology progresses, the demand is on the rise for more reliable and secure recognition systems, which can be used in surveillance and biometrics applications etc. A biometric recognition system of individuals is established on the unique features of the individual. Multi modal biometric systems represent a significant research field with widespread applications of recognition systems. Unimodal biometric systems have a variety of Issues, including nonuniversality and noisy data. Certain limitations and difficulties can be partially addressed with the use of multi modal biometric systems. In this paper, …

Intelligent Direct Inverse Control For Nonlinear Systems, Jenan Jabbar Abdulkareem, Omar Farouq, Hazem I. Ali

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

In this article, a modified self-recurrent wavelet neural network (MSRWNN) structure is used as a feedforward controller in the direct inverse control (DIC) method. Nonlinear dynamical systems are controlled with the help of this intelligent control strategy. The particle swam optimization (PSO) is used as an efficient optimization tool to determine the ideal MSRWNN parameter settings. A nonlinear dynamical system is considered to demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested control strategy. In addition, the ability of the MSRWNN to effectively regulate the nonlinear system under consideration is specifically assessed in terms of control accuracy and resilience to external disturbances via …

Blend Matters: Interactions Of Rice Cultivars On Milling, Physico-Chemical & End Use Traits, Bindu Regonda

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice blending or mixing of different rice cultivars, a common practice in the industry, significantly impacts processing efficiency and end-product quality, yet its effects on end products remain understudied. This research investigated the implications of blending contemporary Arkansas rice cultivars through two comprehensive studies focusing on milling yields and physicochemical properties, instantization, and parboiling processes. Five long-grain cultivars, including hybrids (RT 7521 FP, RT 7321 FP, XP 753) and purelines (Ozark, CLL 16), were blended in various combinations and different drying.

The first study revealed that blending significantly affected milling yields and physicochemical attributes. Pre-drying blending yielded better results compared …

Quantile Regression And Change Point Analysis Of Remote Patient Monitoring Data From Cardiomems Hf System, Shanshan Jia

All Dissertations

Quantile regression provides a sophisticated analytical approach for clinical data, offering deeper insights into patient variability and risk assessment than conventional regression techniques. This study delves into the mathematical underpinnings of quantile regression, highlighting its advantages over ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, particularly in the context of predicting diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). We explore how this method can be applied to guide clinical interventions more effectively. By leveraging quantile regression’s ability to model different parts of the outcome distribution, we demonstrate its potential to enhance patient care through improved identification of high-risk individuals and the development of more personalized …

Follow The Bloody Brick Road: Bleeding Kansas And The Emancipation Proclamation, Margaret Hu

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

To help illuminate Balkin’s project of Memory and Authority, this brief Essay considers a slice of American memory from Kansas’ historical archives and other primary sources, and examines its unique role in the Civil War. Specifically, it excavates the influence of Kansas’ leaders as advisors to President Abraham Lincoln. Prior to and during the Civil War, Lincoln relied upon the guidance of senior leaders from Kansas on matters ranging from guarding the White House, war strategies, the recruitment of former enslaved persons to the war effort, and the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation as a part of an effective …

Modeling And Understanding Of Additive Manufacturing Periodic Cellular Structures With Heterogeneity: Property, Quality And Design Strategy., Naresh Koju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lightweight cellular structures with their higher per mass performance capability, multifunctional designability and property tolerability are gaining much wider adaptation in many engineering applications ranging from aerospace, defense, biomedical, automotive to sports. However, to achieve the desired performance levels careful design must be carried out. The experimental-based empirical design often involves high manufacturing cost, and there are also certain information/knowledges about the cellular deigns that could not be easily obtained experimentally, such as the deformation local fracture initiation. Similarly, numerical modeling-based design approach commonly suffers from high computation cost and the lack of inverse designability. In addition, numerical models often …

Epistemic Spaces And Fields: A New Framework For Social Epistemology Applied To The Internet, Zizhe Cheng

Honors Theses

This thesis introduces "Epistemic Spaces and Fields," a novel framework for social epistemology inspired by the analogies of space and fields in physics to better elucidate how epistemic environments shape epistemic practices. Part A establishes the theoretical underpinnings of epistemic spaces and fields, demonstrating how social, cultural , and power dynamics distort individuals' capacities to obtain and communicate knowledge. Part B applies this framework to the digital realm, examining how the Internet and social media reshape our epistemic contexts and introduce new challenges to critical thinking.

Exploring The Impact Of Generative Ai Prompt Engineering In Higher Education: A Study In Undergraduate And Graduate Business Analytics Courses, Jana Gastineau

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents a transformative opportunity in higher education, offering new pathways for learning through personalized feedback, interactive environments, and support for complex tasks. This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of targeted GenAI prompt engineering instruction on knowledge acquisition, prompt writing skills, and confidence levels among undergraduate and graduate students in business analytics courses at a research university. A pre-test and post-test design measured changes across knowledge acquisition, prompt writing proficiency, and GenAI confidence and usage. Findings revealed a mixed impact on knowledge acquisition, with undergraduates showing minor improvements and graduate students experiencing declines …

Emotional Intelligence And Self-Direction Orientation: An Examination Of Non-Academic Factors In Post-Pandemic Community College Students In Kansas And Missouri, Ashley Rader

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post-pandemic learners face academic and non-academic challenges due the educational disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus. ACT college admissions test scores dropped to a 30-year low in 2023, falling the most significantly and rapidly during and after the pandemic (ACT, 2023) and recovery from these childhood and adolescent learning deficits has not been seen to date (Betthäuser et al., 2023). Research on non-academic factors, not as widely studied as academic factors, is crucial to understand where these learners’ deficits further lie. Two of those factors – emotional intelligence and self-direction orientation – were the key concepts of interest in this …

Interaction-Sensitive Tree-Based Statistical Models, Xiaotong Sun

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation introduces a tree-based framework to improve the interpretability and modeling of interaction effects among variables, essential in fields like biostatistics, healthcare, science and engineering. Traditional regression methods often fail to clearly capture complex interactions, while tree-based approaches, despite their interpretability, face performance limitations and overfitting concerns. Our proposed interaction-sensitive tree-based method, designed for seamless integration, combines various statistical techniques tailored to different data types, leveraging ensemble learning methods to enhance accuracy and mitigate overfitting. We present methods for regression, survival analysis, and classification, validated with case studies and benchmarked against traditional models using metrics like BIC and R-squared. …

The Impact Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) On Avian Occupancy And Vegetation Structure, Kenneth Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species, particularly wild pigs (Sus scrofa), pose a significant threat to native ecosystems through both direct and indirect impacts. Wild pigs are large-bodied omnivorous species that can consume a wide variety of plants and animals and are known for destructive foraging behaviors, which likely threatens avian communities through habitat alteration and can impact the long term structure of ecosystems where they are present.

In chapter 1, we used a combination of avian point count surveys, vegetation assessments, and camera trap surveillance to quantify how the occupancy of breeding birds in bottomland hardwood forests changed in relation to …

I'M Just Me: The Rhetorical Study Of Veterans’ Experiences Of Academic Labels In College Classrooms, Taylor Weeks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project seeks to provide a glimpse into the impact of academic labels on student veterans via the student veterans' own voices. This project reflects on and builds from previous research projects that involve transition theories and pedagogical theories in the field of writing studies as well as veteran studies that involve student veterans. Through a locally situated multi-case study qualitative approach using questionnaires and interviews, I examine to what extent do academic labels have on student veterans from the student veterans’ own voices. Finally, I offer implications of this project for writing instructors, administrators, and future researchers involving student …

Utilization Of Prosur Phr As A Novel Phosphate Alternative In Tumble, Inject, And Tumble Injection Marinated Chicken Breast, Sarah E. Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Poultry is the most widely consumed meat protein worldwide for its health consideration, affordability, and versatility. Historically, the poultry industry has utilized numerous methods to improve meat quality most significantly, marination. Marination is practice commonly used in the industry by imparting various chemical functional ingredients that are known to enhance sensory characteristics such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Various marination methods used in the industry including tumble, injection, and soaking. Ingredients, such as sodium chloride and phosphates are commonly used in the marination process. In recent years the industry has witnessed a shift in consumer preferences to “clean-label”. This trend …

Wind Tunnel Investigation Of The Along-Wind Dispersion In Finite-Duration Neutrally Buoyant Gas Releases, Daniel Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the along-wind dispersion of hazardous gas releases within a turbulent boundary layer using controlled experiments in an ultra-low-speed wind tunnel, recognizing the limitations of numerical modeling and field tests. This study utilizes a neutrally buoyant gas mixture and dual Flame Ionization Detectors (FIDs) to capture representative, repeatable data on gas cloud behavior over finite durations. Ensemble averaging of 65 trials across varying release durations and downwind distances provided detailed insights into gas dispersion and the distinct time phases within finite-duration releases. Analysis revealed that along-wind dispersion coefficients depend on turbulence and vertical wind shear, with normalized coefficients …

Sorgoleone (Lipophilic Benzoquinones) Levels In The Root Exudates Of Elite Sorghum [Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench] Cultivars, Suleica J. Lee

All Theses

Nitrogen loss from cropping systems is significant and is estimated at more than 50% of the amounts applied. Root exudates of certain plant species including sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] contain sorgoleone which can reduce nitrification and nitrogen loss through biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). Therefore, the goal of this study was to screen selected elite sorghum germplasm comprising hybrids and parents to determine the best sorgoleone secreting cultivars. The hypothesis was that nitrogen loss from croplands could be curbed through exploring sorghum BNI traits. Screening of the cultivars selected was done using an established sorghum culture and extraction pipeline that …

Characterizing Locust Anemotaxis: The Impact Of Sensory Perturbations On Flight Behavior, Yi-Xiao Huang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the effects of sensory perturbations on locust flight behavior, with the goal of better understanding how locusts integrate multiple sensory inputs to maintain flight control. Through a series of experiments, locusts were subjected to visual impairment, turbulent wind conditions, mechanical impairments of their wings and antennae, and pheromonal interference. These perturbations allowed for the exploration of the contributions each sensory pathway makes to flight stability and navigation in a controlled environment.

Results show that while visual impairment does not significantly impact average flight speed, it increases variability in flight stability, suggesting that visual cues are important for …

Human-Aware Motion Planning For Aerial Robots, Beichen Zhou

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This project shows a combination for drones autonomous navigation in dynamic environments. The algorithm combine Social GAN SGAN for human trajectory prediction with Rapidly-exploring Random Tree Star RRT* for path planning. The objective is to efficiently and safe navigate in the area with human. Drones would avoid moving human and maintaining optimal flight path. During training SGAN model, we use both public datasets and dataset collected in the lab, which improve its adaptability in the lab. This experiment was tested through simulations and real-word experiment. SGAN provided a good prediction of human trajectories, which help drones to adjust their path. …

Right Truncated‏ ‏Of Mixed Komal-Weibull Distribution With Properties, Sairan Hamza, Bayda Attia Khalaf, Erum Rehman

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Purpose: Truncated distributions occur in many practical situations and predict real phenomena. Theoretical framework: this paper proposed a right-truncated mixed Komal-Weibull distribution on [0,1] with three parameters, and derived some of its properties. approach: To show the ability and behavior of this distribution, some mathematical properties are given, such as the likelihood distribution function, the cumulative distribution function, the reliability function, the hazard function, the properties of the kth moments, the variance, skewness, and kurtosis coefficients, the moment generating function and the distribution of order statistics. In addition, the maximum likelihood estimate is derived. Findings: the new distribution is flexible …

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Sixty-Fifth Annual Commencement, December 2024, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University

One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth Annual Commencement

December 2024

Fostering Ruins: The Tales Of Kaum Depok, Yoga Susatyo

Antropologi Indonesia

This study identifies the utilization of Social and Built Capital by the Kaum Depok Community in maintaining community existence amidst social transformation. Previous research on the Kaum Depok and similar ethnic communities found that group self-identity, the role of values-religion-beliefs, architecture, the use of distinctive/local language, and the inclusivity nature of the group significantly contribute to the community's existence. I agree that these aspects impact this ethnic community's existence, however the community capital, particularly social and built capital, plays a crucial role in the effort to preserve the community. This study employs a qualitative approach to classify and analyze community's …

Type Ii Innate Lymphoid Cell Plasticity Contributes To Impaired Reconstitution After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Sonia J. Laurie, Joseph P. Foster, Danny W. Bruce, Hemamalini Bommiasamy, Oleg V. Kolupaev, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani, Samantha G. Pattenden, Nelson J. Chao, Stefanie Sarantopoulos, Joel S. Parker, Ian J. Davis, Jonathan S. Serody

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) maintain homeostasis and barrier integrity in mucosal tissues. In both mice and humans, ILC2s poorly reconstitute after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Determining the mechanisms involved in their impaired reconstitution could improve transplant outcomes. By integrating single-cell chromatin and transcriptomic analyses of transplanted ILC2s, we identify a previously unreported population of converted ILC1-like cells in the mouse small intestine post-transplant. Exposure of ILC2s to proinflammatory cytokines resulted in a mixed ILC1-ILC2 phenotype but was able to convert only a small population of ILC2s to ILC1s, which were found post-transplant. Whereas ILC2s protected against …

Delineating Genetic Influences On Neurodegenerative Disorders And Infectious Diseases Through Advanced Computational Methods, Xiaowei Zhuang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Genetics plays a critical role in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and pathogen evolution in infectious diseases. For example, identifying genetic variants associated with a disease phenotype uncovers functional pathways that could lead to potential drug targets and therapeutic interventions. In addition, tracking the genetic evolution of pathogens enables early detection and warning of infectious disease outbreaks. In both applications, given the large amount of genetic data, advanced computational methods, including longitudinal and multivariate models, could significantly boost the statistical power and capture interrelationships among traits, environmental factors and genetic influences. This dissertation focuses on four applications of …

The Bridge Newsletter Winter 2024, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

• TED x Missouri S&T: Unveiling Resilience
• ElGawady named interim chair
• Ma named inaugural Kummer Impact Professor
• Sensor patent granted
• Burken awarded ASCE President’s Medal

Model Reference Adaptive Control For Mobile Manipulators And Beyond, Srivatsan Srinivasan

All Dissertations

In recent years, robotics has expanded into various sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, and household services, making the integration of autonomy a critical area of research. This shift aims to ensure safety and enhance the utility of autonomous systems. Traditionally, robotic applications focused separately on mobility, like automated guided vehicles, and manipulation, such as serial-chain arms in manufacturing. Today, however, we see a merging of these capabilities in the growing field of mobile manipulator robots that combine movement with purposeful interactive functionalities.

A typical mobile manipulator is a robotic arm mounted on a wheeled base. This thesis focuses on advancing control …

Regulating Cox Conversion Through Catalyst Design And Reaction Energy Input, Ewa Chukwu

All Dissertations

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, primarily from fossil fuel use in energy and chemical production, are the leading driver of global warming. The chemical industry is the third-largest source of these emissions, so reducing its carbon footprint—and ultimately achieving “CO₂ emissions-free” chemical manufacturing—is critical to combating global warming. Thermal catalysis is the workhorse of industrial chemical manufacturing, generating CO₂ emissions from two main sources: the actual chemical transformations of fossil feedstocks and burning of fossil fuels to provide the process heat. Therefore, developing and implementing technologies to mitigate the carbon emissions associated with these emissions sources is essential for decarbonizing the …