Digital Commons Network^™

Reimagining Office Hours, Sarah Tulane, Carla Endres, Jesse Jones, Melissa Scheaffer

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

Office hours are a valuable opportunity for instructors to connect with students, fostering a sense of community, building a relationship-rich educational experience, and providing support for student success. Yet, many instructors struggle with low attendance and limited student engagement with office hours. This workshop draws from insights found in Relationship-Rich Education by Felten and Lambert to explore innovative strategies for improving office hour interactions.Participants will be introduced to a range of effective practices used by instructors across various disciplines to encourage student participation and build stronger relationships outside the classroom. Presenters will review deliberate choices regarding office hour locations, such …

Risks, Mistakes, And Resilience: Cultivating Student Persistence Through Class Culture, Vance Reeder

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

In this workshop we will discuss how to help students develop resilience and cultivate persistence. This workshop will focus on creating a class culture where students are able to take risks, embrace the mistakes that come from taking risks, and seek feedback as they prepare to take future risks. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to participate in a hands on learning exercise that will assist them in preparing to cultivate a growth mindset within their students.

The Courage To Teach: How To Keep Showing Up In Ways That Matter, Marlene Graf, Christian Bolander, Rose Judd-Murray, Alyssa Reidhead, Lance Stott

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This workshop will ask you to think about ways that you can incorporate study strategies so that students can become more active and successful. Join us as we embark on the path toward enriched learning experiences and sustained academic success.

"Dare To Know": Teaching And Mentoring In The University Honors Program, Kristine Miller, Chris Babits, Sara M. Freeman, Julia M. Gossard, Elizabeth Vargis

Empowering Teaching Excellence Conference

This panel discussion will introduce faculty to specific ways to get involved with teaching and mentoring students in the University Honors Program. Honors is not about GPA or test scores; it is a program dedicated to supporting students with a growth mindset who want to make the most of their time in college. The program offers faculty many different ways to engage with students: you can lead an Honors Book Lab discussion for an hour a week over a month, mentor students as they complete short- or longer-term research, creative, or professional-development projects, teach a course, and more. This panel …

Alpina: A Semiannual Review Of Mountaineering In The Greater Ranges

Appalachia

Among the many updates on mountaineering in the greater ranges in summer and fall 2023: Samson Zebturiah Barner is arrested near Smith Rock in central Oregon for taking several weapons to a climbing event. Three climbers open a new route on Pik Alpinist in Kyrgyzstan. A brief review of the New York Times article on the discovery of Janet Johnson’s camera on Aconcagua 50 years after she and John Cooper died there. On Everest, 3,600 climbers attempted the peak in 2023; eighteen died, 100 years after the biggest Everest mystery of all: the disappearance of Mallory and Irvine. Three Americans …

Chocorua—Tomorrua: Three Generations Of Women On Mount Chocorua, 1903–1974, Jane English

Appalachia

The author tracks three generations of strong women in her family climbing Mount Chocorua in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

An Ocean Walk In The Ocean State: A Couple Covers The Full Width Of Rhode Island, Stephen S. Hale

Appalachia

A couple walked most of the Rhode Island coast over 29 day trips, including a road race on the Jamestown Bridge.

More Than Meets The Eye: Step By Step, Exploring Connecticut's Great Mountain Forest, David K. Leff

Appalachia

The 6,300-acre Great Mountain Forest in northwestern Connecticut, once an industrial landscape of charcoal making for iron ore smelting, today is one of the most wild and remote tracts in southern New England.

Appalachia Summer/Fall 2024: Complete Issue

Appalachia

Summer/Fall 2024 - Volume LXXV, Number 2 - Issue #258. Dark Places: Exploring pitch black skies, a forest, and a storm.

A High Step-Up Parallel Boost/Quasi-Z-Source Pwm Dc-Dc Converter For Photovoltaic Applications, Mahdi Rezvanyvardom

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

In this article, a novel DC-DC converter is proposed, which is derived from the parallel combination of a conventional boost converter and a Quasi-Z-Source converter. This converter benefits from the features of both mentioned converters. Compared to similar structures, the proposed converter has a suitable gain. This is due to the parallel combination of two voltage-boosting structures, namely boost and Quasi-Z-Source. The simple and linear circuit operation of the converter is another advantage. On the other hand, the control circuit of the converter is also simple and can be designed as PWM. Due to the Quasi-interleaved structure at the input …

Text-To-Model Transformation: Natural Language-Based Model Generation Framework, Aditya Akundi, Joshua Ontiveros, Sergio Luna

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

System modeling language (SysML) diagrams generated manually by system modelers can sometimes be prone to errors, which are time-consuming and introduce subjectivity. Natural language processing (NLP) techniques and tools to create SysML diagrams can aid in improving software and systems design processes. Though NLP effectively extracts and analyzes raw text data, such as text-based requirement documents, to assist in design specification, natural language, inherent complexity, and variability pose challenges in accurately interpreting the data. In this paper, we explore the integration of NLP with SysML to automate the generation of system models from input textual requirements. We propose a model …

Behind The Curtain: Recommendations For Neurodiversity Research, Andree Koehler

The Qualitative Report

Researchers have explored neurodiversity in terms of gender, gender identity and expression, masking, and more, yet the focus is often on neurodiversity as synonymous with autism. There remains a challenge to expand the body of neurodiversity research that is broader than autism. In my article, neurodiversity will be discussed as an element of the broad human condition, rather than a singular state or condition of impairment isolated to a portion of the population to delineate the paradigm based on neurological variations from medical and social models. This paper was designed to offer a “how to” for conducting research into neurodiversity …

Cross-Core Data Sharing For Energy-Efficient Gpus, Hajar Falahati, Mohammad Sadrosadati, Qiumin Xu, Juan Gómez-Luna, Banafsheh Saber Latibari, Hyeran Jeon, Shaahin Hesaabi, Hamid Sarbazi-Azad, Onur Mutlu, Murali Annavaram, Masoud Pedram

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are the accelerator of choice in a variety of application domains, because they can accelerate massively parallel workloads and can be easily programmed using general-purpose programming frameworks such as CUDA and OpenCL. Each Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) contains an L1 data cache (L1D) to exploit the locality in data accesses. L1D misses are costly for GPUs for two reasons. First, L1D misses consume a lot of energy as they need to access the L2 cache (L2) via an on-chip network and the off-chip DRAM in case of L2 misses. Second, L1D misses impose performance overhead if the …

Method Of Selecting The Optimal Variant Of Mine Closure With The Possibility Of Capturing Methane From Underground Excavations, Marian Turek, Małgorzata Magdziarczyk

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The article presents a method of selecting the optimal option for the closure of a coal mine, from which it is planned to capture the methane remaining in the goaf and deposit it for many years for its economic use. Using the example of several options for the closure of one of the mines, for which the evaluation criteria have been defined, and the weights of their relevance have been determined, it is described how to create a special algorithm for the selection of the optimal option.

Interview With Natasha Trethewey, Remica L. Bingham

PoemMemoirStory (literary magazine)

pp. 1-20

Pms 8 (Complete Issue), Poemmemoirstory Staff

PoemMemoirStory (literary magazine)

No abstract provided.

Plant-Microorganism Interactions Within The Rhizosphere For Heavy Metal Soil Remediation, Dorina Podar, Cristina Lorena Văcar, Emanuela Dana Tiodar, Mihaela Gălean, Mihai Cosmin Grimm, Zoltan Robert Balazs, Anastasia Maria Abrudan, Csaba Tiodar

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Towards An Ethical Framework For Artificial Intelligence Applications In Higher Education Teaching And Learning: A Conceptual Paper, Mariam Jacobs-Basadien, Shaun Pather

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) has significant potential in terms of improving the learning and teaching experience. Despite the benefits that AI applications provide, Generative AI (GAI) has catalyzed global attention and fostered concern in the educational domain, especially in relation to ethical issues. The literature on the topic to date points to a need to better understand the parameters of responsible use of GAI in higher education. This is important, since universities are grappling with how this new technology could be appropriately integrated into the practice of teaching and learning as opposed to an initial reaction of concern. Although …

Trends From 20 Years Of Artificial Intelligence In Financial Services In Africa, Nthabiseng Moela, Lerato Matlala, Jackie Ma, Dipuo Maphutha, Hossana Twinomurinzi

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The need for financial inclusion in Africa, particularly for marginalised groups like women and small businesses, highlights the importance of leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI). This study provides a bibliometric analysis of AI's integration into African financial services from 2003 to 2023. The key results show a significant increase in AI use, particularly in fraud detection, credit risk prediction, and stock market volatility forecasting, with 49% of the research coming from South Africa, Nigeria, and Tunisia. However, areas like financial development management, inflation control, and gender disparities in loan access remain underexplored. The emphasis has been on the technical implementation of …

Corrigendum To "Chemical Constituents From A Marine Medicinal Brown Alga-Derived Xylaria Acuta Sc1019," Journal Of Food And Drug Analysis: Vol. 32 : Iss. 2 , Article 3.

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

No abstract provided.

Optimization, Physicochemical Stability And In Vivo Study Of Alginate-Chitosan Composites As Nanocarriers For Low Molecular Weight Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (Ace)-Inhibitory Peptide, Shehu Muhammad Auwal, Siti Balqis Muhammad Ghanisma, Nazamid Saari

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chitosan and alginate, are non-toxic and biodegradable polymers used to enhance the stability of biotherapeutics by loading them into nanocarriers. In this study, the stone fish-derived low molecular weight peptide (Ala-Leu-Gly-Pro-Gln-Phe-Tyr), exhibited an in vitro ACE-inhibitory activity of 94.43 ± 2.05% and an IC₅₀ of 0.012 ± 0.001 mM. The peptide was encapsulated via ionic gelation with alginate followed by polyelectrolyte complexation with chitosan. The resulting ACE-inhibitory peptide-loaded alginate-chitosan nanoparticles (ACE-I-ALG-CS NPs) were optimized to achieve small particle size (212.60 nm) and high encapsulation efficiency (EE, 74.48%). This was based on an optimum chitosan concentration (0.420%w/v), homogenization speed (6000 …

Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor Of Levofloxacin Using Boron-Doped Diamond (Bdd) Electrode Modified With Ti3c2tx (Mxene) Material, Prastika Krisma Jiwanti, Indah Harindy Putri, Grandprix T.M. Kadja, Yasuaki Einaga, Laurencia Gabrielle Sutanto, Siti Wafiroh, Dewi Kartika Azizah Sukardi, Anis Puspita Sari, Tahta Amrillah, Ilma Amalina, Qonita Kurnia Anjani, Wan Jeffrey Basirun

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Overuse of levofloxacin (LEV) is often associated with bacterial resistance and serious health problems, underscoring the need for reliable sensing and monitoring of LEV molecules. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate LEV using boron-doped diamond (BDD) and boron-doped diamond modified with MXene (Ti₃C₂T_X) (BDD-MXene) electrode. The successful deposition of MXene on the BDD surface was confirmed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) methods were also applied to evaluate the electrochemical behavior. The results showed that both electrodes had a linear response in the range of 30-100 µM. …

Production And Characterization Of Encapsulated Thymoquinone Loaded Bacterial Cellulose/Chitosan Composite Nano Film And Investigation Of Its In Vitro Antibacterial Activity, Aytul Bayraktar, Tunc Tuba

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

In this study, nanostructured thin films were produced from thymoquinone (TQ)-loaded composites encapsulated with different ratios of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to chitosan (CS). The study aimed to investigate their characterization, antibacterial effects, and potential as drug film coating materials. Chemical features and morphological characteristics were determined, and release tests and antibacterial assays were conducted on the thin film layers. As a result, BNC/CS-thymoquinone composite films obtained at different ratios were found to exhibit the highest antibacterial effect, particularly films with a 70% BNC/CS to 30% thymoquinone ratio, against Salmonella typhimurium bacteria.

Enhancing Mango Shelf Life Through Natural Preservation: Investigating The Efficacy Of Polysaccharide Edible Coating And Leaf Extracts, Binh Minh Nguyen Dac, Khoa Hai Le, Van Anh Phan Thi, Van Minh Dao, Trung Dinh Do, Phuong Nguyen-Tri, S. Woong Chang, D. Duc Nguyen, Duong Duc La

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

A sustainable solution to prevent the waste of fruits and vegetables from spoilage is the use of edible coatings or films. This research project aimed to create a fresh coating recipe that could effectively extend the shelf life of mangoes. The coating was composed of chitosan, glycerol, and gum Arabic mixed with the extract obtained from the extraction of Cleistocalyx operculatus plant. The prepared exact has a total polyphenol content of 17% and showed potent free radical scavenging abilities in a dose-dependent manner. The chitosan/gum Arabic/Glycerol/extract edible coatings were analyzed using SEM and FTIR spectroscopy, revealing a smooth and uniform …

Preface, Chih-Ching Huang, Yang-Wei Lin, Amit Nain

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

No abstract provided.

Cgm-Induced Extracellular Trap Formation Augments Inflammation, Joseph Cavataio, Kenneth Wood B.S., Jean Gabriel De Souza Ph.D., Ulrike Klueh Ph.D.

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background and Aims: Subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices serve an important role in diabetes management but are prone to biofouling and ensuant device failure. CGM Implantation of CGM devices incites an inflammatory response with initial skin penetration. One specific response is NETosis, in which leukocytes, (e.g. neutrophils), release nuclear DNA to ensnare foreign antigens designated. This study aimed to determine the factors responsible for CGM-induced NETosis.

Methods: In vitro commercial Libre 2 glucose sensors were evaluated for their ability to induce NETosis. These studies utilized flow cytometry and time-lapse imaging, multiplex cytokine panel assessment, and scanning electron …

The War With The Squirrels, Tally Brennan

PoemMemoirStory (literary magazine)

pp. 111-121

Automated Identification Of Related Content And Placement Of Links Within A Video, D Shin

Defensive Publications Series

To enhance viewer engagement, video creators embed links of related content within their videos. Integrating links to related videos is a manual procedure that requires creators to review videos to identify appropriate frames to embed related content and determine appropriate content to be embedded. This disclosure describes techniques that leverage a visual language model (VLM) to automate the spatiotemporal placement of links to related (recommended) content within a video. Subframes of the target video and of potential anchor videos are transformed to embeddings in a shared metric space via a VLM. Candidate anchor videos to link to and spatiotemporal locations …

Enhanced Underwater Communication System, Meghana Vakkalanka, Shivani Shivaprasad Naik, Vinuta Chandrakanta Patankar, Likitha R, Priyanka Bansal

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques described herein provide for an Intelligent Distributed Model Predictive Control System for Adaptive Underwater Acoustic Communication that integrates distributed model predictive control (DMPC) with machine learning (ML) to dynamically adjust transmission parameters, thereby improving signal reliability and adapting to the underwater environment. By leveraging a distributed architecture, the techniques intelligently manage signal transmission among underwater sensors or clusters of underwater sensors. The subsystems of the system work in unison to predict, optimize, and coordinate communication parameters using advanced ML computations.

2024-2025 Ursinus College Course Catalogue, Office Of The Registrar

Ursinus College Catalogues, 1869-Present

A digital copy of the 2024-2025 Ursinus College Catalog. It contains details of the curriculum, departmental requirements and courses of instruction as well as the Open Questions core requirements, experiential learning and the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). Academic policies, special opportunities and scholarships, off-campus programs and graduation requirements are also outlined.