Digital Commons Network^™

From Rocks To Rockets: How Mineral Wealth Fuels The Arms Trade, Samuel G. Majka

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses a critical gap in the resource curse literature by examining how strategic mineral wealth, central to the global clean energy transition, influences international arms transfers. While the relationship between oil rents, militarization, and conflict is well-established, the role of non-hydrocarbon resources and conflict-related variables remains underexplored. This paper posits that mineral rents provide governments with unearned, discretionary income, relaxing fiscal constraints and creating powerful incentives for both resource-rich states and major power suppliers to increase arms flows to secure political control, suppress internal dissent, and maintain access to valuable deposits. Using a country-year panel dataset spanning 1990-2023 …

The Synergy Between A Silver-Ruthenium Antimicrobial And Aminoglycosides Is Based On Severe Macromolecular Damage, Emmanuel Parkay Oladokun

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens, including uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), highlights the urgent need for alternative treatment strategies to restore antibiotic efficacy. The silver-ruthenium antimicrobial AGXX exerts potent bactericidal effects through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, its potential synergy with antibiotics has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we show that sublethal concentrations of AGXX strongly enhance aminoglycoside-mediated killing across a diverse panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive MDR clinical isolates, including highly aminoglycoside-resistant strains. Combinational treatments significantly reduced the effective concentrations of gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, and amikacin required to kill bacteria. Mechanistic analyses revealed that AGXX/aminoglycoside …

Does The Powder River Pass Shear Zone Exist? Geologic Map And Geochronology Of The Bighorn Mountains Caribou Creek 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Lula G. Staley

Theses and Dissertations

This study produced a 1:24000-scale geologic map of the Caribou Creek 7.5-minute quadrangle in the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming, by integrating field observation and U-Pb zircon age data. The results of this study will contribute to the USGS EDMAP program by subdividing the southern gneiss terrain. The quadrangle occurs almost entirely in the Bighorn National Forest and is in the drainage of Clear and Crazy Woman creeks. Elevations range from 6,800-9,400 ft. The quadrangle is dominated by Archean crystalline rocks of the Wyoming Province Beartooth-Bighorn Magmatic terrane, mainly granodiorite and tonalite gneiss with lesser migmatite. Several orientations and ages of mafic …

Digital Truth Making, Creative Resistance, And Power Negotiation Through Social Media: A Digital Ethnography Of The 2024 Gen Z Uprising In Bangladesh, Mustafizurrrahman Rahat

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates how social media shaped political participation during the 2024 July Uprising in Bangladesh, focusing on the production and negotiation of political truth, legitimacy, and resistance through everyday digital practices. Rather than conceptualizing social media solely as a communication tool, the study analyzes digital platforms as contested spaces where activists, state-aligned actors, and other participants constructed, circulated, and challenged competing political narratives throughout the uprising.

Drawing on digital ethnography, this study integrates netnographic observation of Facebook groups, pages, hashtags, memes, and protest-related visual content with content analysis, reflexive participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with Generation Z participants. The …

Interactive Effects Of Bti Larviciding And Predation On Culex Pipiens And Its Ephemeral Pond Communities, Jaclyn S. Everly

Theses and Dissertations

Populations of adult vector mosquitoes can be controlled by reducing larval mosquito abundances in aquatic habitats. This can be achieved via predation by introduced or naturally-occurring enemies (i.e., biocontrol or conservation control) or by applying pesticides to larval mosquito habitats (i.e., larviciding). The larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is commonly applied to ephemeral ponds to control populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes that vector West Nile virus. However, there is concern that Bti may directly or indirectly harm non-target organisms such as dragonfly and damselfly naiads, which provide a natural source of mosquito biocontrol. Bti or predators may also induce positive …

The Effect Of Sex On The Signal Transmission Of Duetting Bay Wrens, Rachel C. Schinzler

Theses and Dissertations

During communication, senders send signals for their benefit to elicit a behavioral response from a receiver. Acoustic signals are efficient for long-distance signaling; however, they are influenced by environmental features, such as foliage density, humidity, temperature, and time of day. Individuals can overcome these challenges by using signals with a trajectory of peak frequency, frequencies, volumes, and timing best suited to signal transmission in their environment. Signal transmission has been studied at the species level; however, not much is known about sex differences within the same species. Duetting species provide a useful system for examining sex-specific challenges in transmission, as …

Freshman Record (Year Unknown), Bemidji State Unversity

Freshman Record

No abstract provided.

Artificial Neural Network Based Protection For Dc Bus Using Solid State Dc Breaker, Eswaraiah Giddalur, Askani Jaya Laxmi

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Low voltage Direct Current (LVDC) microgrids have been extensively used as a hopeful technology with high access to distributed energy resources (DERs) and DC loads, due to the absence of multiple conversions. A high amplitude Fault current together with the vulnerability of electronic devices, poses a great challenge to the line protection in LVDC microgrids. Electromechanical switches are slow and take long tripping time to clear the short circuit fault. Power electronic circuit breakers are used to achieve fast fault interruption recent progress in areas like machine learning and natural language processing have affected nearly every assiduity and area of …

Extraction And Characterization Of Fresh And Dehydrated Cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica) Polysaccharide For Hydrogel Preparation, Aye Thwe Thwesoe, May Myat Khine

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

In this research, extraction of polysaccharide compounds from Cactus (Opuntia Ficus Indica) leaves in both fresh and dehydrated condition by solvent precipitation method using three types of water, acid (HCL) and NaOH. Before extraction, the physicochemical properties were examined to determine optimum yield (%) of extracted polysaccharide by optimization of Box-Behnken Design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The polysaccharide-based acrylamide hydrogel was prepared by free radical polymerization. The functional and structural characterization was done by FTIR, XRD and SEM for examination of extracted polysaccharide as raw polymer backbone in hydrogel preparation and prepared hydrogel as adsorbent for metal removal. …

Systematic Study On Preparation And Characterizations Of High Performance Bimetallic Pt-Co/Sba-15 Catalyst In N-Heptane Isomerization, Talib M. Albayati, Khalid A. Sukkar, Nisreen S. Ali, Mahir A. Abdulrahman, Basheer A. Abdulhussein, Issam K. Salih, Narges Elmi Fard

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Bimetallic catalysts were prepared by deposition of 1% of loading of (Pt-Co) onto SBA 15 support using heterogeneous reaction for enhancing hydroisomerization and promoting hydrocracking for the decomposition of n-heptane. The catalytic performance of the catalysts was subsequently evaluated thereafter. Characterization of the prepared catalysts was done by various techniques, which include XRD, FTIR, BETBJH, SEM/EDS, and TEM. The temperature range studied for this catalytic activity was 250 to 400 °C, at atmospheric pressure in a plug-flow reactor. The experimental setup kept a very rigorous control over the temperature, flow rate for the reactants, and pressure, while gas chromatographic techniques …

Hybrid Model For Phishing Website Detection Using Transfer Learning, Atul Dubal, Mansi Subhedar, Santosh Dhamala, Manasi Patil

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The rapid digitization of human activities has intensified reliance on internet-based platforms, creating fertile ground for cybercriminal exploits such as phishing. Despite advancements in detection mechanisms, phishing attacks continue to evolve, leveraging sophisticated visual mimicry to deceive users. This paper proposes a robust vision-based phishing detection system using ensemble deep learning to analyse webpage screenshots. The framework integrates transfer learning with pre-trained VGG16 and DenseNet121 models, extracting complementary low-level texture features (edges, gradients) and high-level hierarchical patterns (logos, layouts). These features are fused through a custom classifier with dropout regularization to mitigate overfitting. A balanced dataset of 3,000 webpage screenshots …

Multiclass Skin Lesions Classification And Early Skin Cancer Detection Using An Attention-Enhanced Xception Architecture, Shamira Arshad Shaikh, Yogita Mistry

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Skin disorders are considered one of the major healthcare problems globally and need proper, prompt, effective and early diagnosis to enhance clinical practice. Traditional machine learning and deep learning approaches often exhibit limited generalization capability and reduced effectiveness in extracting discriminative features from complex multiclass dermatological datasets. For this purpose, an interpretable attention-enhanced Xception framework for automatic multiclass skin disease diagnosis based on dermoscopic images has been designed through the use of the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) dataset. The dataset includes 2,357 dermoscopic images that belong to nine classes of skin lesions. The proposed framework integrates channel attention and …

Acute Correction Of Acquired Genu Valgum Secondary To Post-Traumatic Growth Arrest At The Time Of Distal Femur Fracture., Josiah Wolf, Nicholas Pelz, Adam Mansour, Christopher Iobst, Allen Kadado

Surgery Articles

A 14-year-old male patient sustained a distal femur fracture after a ground-level fall. His history was notable for severe acquired genu valgum secondary to a childhood lawnmower accident, which had required multiple limb salvage procedures including a Syme amputation and soft-tissue skin grafting. Acute correction of the limb deformity was performed concurrently with fracture fixation using a retrograde intramedullary nail and poller blocking screws. Retrograde intramedullary nailing represents a viable treatment option for simultaneous acute correction of acquired genu valgum and stabilization of distal femur fractures.

Zdolności Dynamiczne A Transformacja Cyfrowa Firm. Kontekst Małych I Średnich Przedsiębiorstw Przemysłu Spożywczego W Polsce, Magdalena Marczewska

Monografie/Monographs

Oparta na badaniach monografia obrazuje charakterystykę dynamicznych zdolności wykorzystywanych przez firmy w procesie transformacji cyfrowej oraz przybliża w jakim zakresie dynamiczne zdolności są warunkiem koniecznym transformacji cyfrowej przedsiębiorstw. Autorka prezentuje w książce nowatorską reinterpretację koncepcji dynamicznych zdolności, a także identyfikację kluczowych barier, których przezwyciężenie jest niezbędne dla transformacji cyfrowej oraz udostępnia Czytelnikowi praktyczny model wspierający jej planowanie i wdrażanie.

Dynamic Capabilities and Digital Transformation of Firms: The Context of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Polish Food Industry

Based on empirical research, this monograph illustrates the characteristics of dynamic capabilities utilized by companies in the digital transformation process and examines …

Tools Used To Measure Fear Avoidance Behaviour In The Management Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussion), Liam Sherwood

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Concussion can present challenges with respect to diagnosis and management. Fear avoidance behaviour and beliefs may be perpetuating factors in the clinical course of concussion. Understanding which patients may adopt such behaviours and beliefs can offer important information to allow tailoring of clinical management and implementing strategies to minimise the risk of progression to persisting post-concussion symptoms.

In this thesis, I:

-       systematically reviewed the current measurement tools used to assess fear avoidance behaviours and beliefs associated with concussion;

-       explored the experience of clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience of concussion in relation to fear avoidance behaviours;

- …

The Development And Pilot Evaluation Of An Out-Of-Hospital Immersive Birthing Simulation Training Application For Paramedics And Ambulance Officers Using Virtual-Reality Technology, Michella Hill

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Out-of-hospital births (OOHBs) are births which occur outside a hospital setting. This includes planned home births attended by midwives, or unplanned OOHBs where the intention was to birth in a hospital or maternity centre, however, occurs in an unintended location. Prehospital clinicians, inclusive of registered paramedics and volunteer ambulance officers (VAOs) infrequently attend OOHBs, as most births occur in maternity wards as anticipated. OOHBs comprises < 1% of emergency ambulance requests and requires specialised skills for prehospital clinicians to competently manage birthing and potential complications. As exposure to birthing is so rare, these specialised skills and knowledge are underutilised and subject to rapid decay. Compounding the problem, obstetrics is infrequently taught across undergraduate education, in-service training, or within individual clinician’s continuing professional development. Placements shadowing midwives are scarce due to nursing and medical students receiving priority. Previous research regarding OOHBs is limited, nonetheless suggests prehospital clinicians are underprepared to manage an OOHB, which has serious patient safety implications. The present research sought to explore prehospital clinicians’ preparedness and confidence in managing OOHBs. It also investigates whether a digital training solution such as virtual reality (VR) simulation may reduce the theory-practice gap and assist in competency retention.

Publication one provides a comprehensive methodology outline which is applied to Study One; a scoping review of prehospital clinician and birth parent experiences with OOHBs. Risk factors, complications and interventions provided by prehospital clinicians, as …

Emotional Coding In Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’S Music: The Influence Of Text-Driven Musical Patterns, Antonio Toppi

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of emotional coding in the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), with particular attention to the ways in which text-driven musical patterns influence both vocal and instrumental works. The study draws on 18th-century theories of key characteristics, musical-rhetorical figures, and topoi, compositional devices that carried emotional implications for contemporary listeners. These codes are first examined in two of Mozart’s operas, Le Nozze di Figaro (KV492) and Don Giovanni (KV527), where the setting of text to music provides a framework for associating compositional choices with emotion. Findings from the analyses are then applied to three contemporaneous …

S-Methyl Cysteine Sulfoxide: Its Effects On Cardiometabolic Outcomes In High-Fat Fed C57bl/6 Mice And Relevance To Human Health, Caroline R. Hill, Balmer, Hayley Abbiss, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Armaghan Shafaei, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

S-Methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) is an organosulfur compound with demonstrated hypocholesterolemic, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant benefits in rodents. However, the doses used have limited translatability for humans. We explored whether SMCSO could blunt development of diet-induced metabolic syndrome features in mice using doses that are potentially more translatable and achievable in humans. Male mice (C57BL/6; n = 54) were randomly assigned into one of five groups: [1] normal-diet; [2] high-fat-diet; or high-fat-diet with [3] 60 mg kg⁻¹, [4] 170 mg kg⁻¹, or [5] 350 mg per kg per body weight (BW) of SMCSO, respectively. Doses were administered …

Unlocking Students’ Creative Confidence Through Design Thinking Practices: A Parallel Mediation Of Collaboration And Diversity, And Creativity, Faisal Iddris, Agyapong, Emmanuel Mensah Kparl, Philip Opoku Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite the consensus in the literature that design thinking practices spark innovation, research has yet to examine the creative confidence outcomes of design thinking practices. Integrating the Resource-Based Theory and the Componential Theory of Creativity, we hypothesised a parallel mediation model in which design thinking practices are associated with creative confidence via collaboration and diversity, and creativity. Based on a sample of 419 tertiary students in a Ghanaian University, it was found that design thinking facilitates students’ creative confidence. Also, collaboration and diversity partially mediate the relationship between design thinking and creative confidence. The study also found support for the …

Innovativeness And Self-Efficacy In Lecturers’ Intentions To Use Cloud Computing Services In Teaching And Learning In South African Higher Education, John Mangundu, Laizah Sashah Mutasa, Senali Madugoda Gunaratnege, Martin Ujakpa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There has been an acceleration of the adoption of cloud computing in higher education institutions (HEIs), especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift to virtual and blended learning environments, led to a migration of HEIs’ information management processes to cloud-based systems. Despite its advantages, cloud computing adoption in South African HEIs remains low. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine how self-efficacy and innovativeness influence lecturers’ intentions to use cloud computing services. A quantitative design was applied, and stratified random sampling ensured representation across the lecturer population. Data were collected through an online questionnaire …

Design, Syntheses And Biological Applications Of Fluorescent Probes For Nad(P)H, Hsa And Cellular Microenvironment Sensing, Adenike M. Olowolagba

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Fluorescent probes have emerged as powerful tools for investigating complex biological processes due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, and capability for real-time, non-invasive imaging. In particular, the detection of key biomolecules such as NAD(P)H, viscosity-related parameters, human serum albumin (HSA), and pH is essential for understanding cellular metabolism, redox homeostasis, and disease progression. In Chapter 2, three coumarin-based fluorescent probes (A–C) were designed, synthesized, and characterized for monitoring NAD(P)H levels in living cells. Probes A and B feature coumarin–cyanine hybrid structures linked via vinyl and thiophene bridges to 3-quinolinium acceptors, respectively, while probe C incorporates a dicyano moiety to replace …

Modular Synthesis Of Conjugated Aromatic Systems Via Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions, Joden Russell Robinson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis describes the development of a modular synthetic route to extended conjugated aromatic systems through iterative palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira crosscoupling reactions. The work was motivated by the challenge of preparing a discrete conjugated molecule in a controlled manner. The synthetic strategy used complementary protected alkyne functionalities that could be selectively activated. This enabled sequential deprotection and coupling reactions to predictably extend the molecular scaffold. Using this approach, a series of conjugated intermediates was prepared and exponentially extended. Spectroscopic characterization by NMR and mass spectrometry supported the structures of the isolated products and the success of the iterative elongation strategy. Overall, …

Report On A Gpr Survey Of The Copper Harbor Cemetery, Copper Harbor, Michigan, Grace Griffin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Copper Harbor Cemetery in Grant Township, Michigan, is one of the oldest settler cemeteries in the Keweenaw, with the earliest burial dating back to 1853. The cemetery is also still used by the community today. However, consistent burial records have not been maintained throughout the cemetery's entire history, leading to some doubt about which areas of the cemetery can be opened for new burials and where excavation should be avoided. For this reason, Grant Township commissioned a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the cemetery, primarily to locate anomalies indicating possible unmarked graves and possible buried headstones. The survey …

Minimizing Snow Loss On Fixed Tilt Solar Pv Installations Through Frame Material Selection And Installation Layout, David B. Wallis

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis investigates the effects of frame material selection, module orientation and module gaps on photovoltaic energy production in a snowy environment. These factors are easily implemented in new PV installations at minimal or no extra cost. These experiments are installed as fixed tilt arrays at 35° with DC current, DC voltage, and meteorological monitoring. The frame material and module gap experiments both produced actionable results. In the frame material experiment, consistent event level energy production gains resulted in seasonal production gains favoring aluminum framed modules. In the module gap experiment energy gains are independent of atmospheric conditions. The orientation …

Aqueous Iron Electrowinning: From Electrolyte Engineering To The Unexplored Potential Of Acetate Systems, Chodwell N. Verenga

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Iron electrowinning and electrodeposition sit at the intersection of classical metallurgy and developing sustainable manufacturing. With the iron and steel industry responsible for 7 - 9% of global CO₂ emissions, low-temperature electrochemical pathways for iron production have garnered significant research interest. This review examines the fundamental electrochemical principles governing iron deposition, the thermodynamic constraints imposed by the iron-water system, and the kinetic challenges posed by the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The three key electrolyte systems are objectively evaluated: acidic sulfate and chloride electrolytes, alkaline suspension electrolytes and water-in-salt electrolytes. Their operating parameters, faradaic efficiencies, energy consumption and deposit characteristics …

First-Principles And Thermodynamic Modeling Of Hydrogen Storage In Mxenes, Yi Zhi Chu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Hydrogen storage is a critical component of the emerging hydrogen economy, playing a central role in enabling the global transition from fossil fuels to a sustainable, green energy system. With advances in materials research, increasing attention has been directed toward the development of promising hydrogen storage materials. Due to their diverse and advantageous physicochemical properties, MXenes have attracted significant interest in this regard. A fundamental understanding of the hydrogen interactions with the MXenes structure is crucial for explaining and predicting their hydrogen storage performance. In this work, first-principles density functional theory (DFT) combined with a revised thermodynamic model is employed …

An Investigation On Downwind Impacts Of The Keweenaw Peninsula On Lake-Effect Snow Events, Thomas M. Pavell

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Lake-effect snow (LES) produces copious amounts of snow across the Great Lakes region. While mechanisms and impacts are well-understood, they remain difficult to observe and study over Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan due to a large gap in radar coverage and sparse in-situ measurements. The goal of this project aimed to characterize variables present across Lake Superior and counties on and downstream of the Keweenaw Peninsula that contribute to the formation and evolution of lake-effect snowbands. Nine different lake-effect snow events were analyzed in this project, identifying structures and features resulting from upstream passage over the Keweenaw …

Correlation Of Mwd Parameters And Soil Properties In Nebraska With Geospatial Visualization Of Borehole Data, Michael N. Erzuah

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

One of the techniques used for recording a drilling system in terms of its mechanical response is Measurement While Drilling (MWD). A combination of recorded MWD parameters can be used to form compound parameters by utilizing different physics-based equations. Several engineering and index properties of the subsurface material can be correlated using these combined parameters for site characterization. In this study, we investigated the outcome of correlations between different compound parameters and SPT-N values using MWD data from four different boreholes in the state of Nebraska, USA drilled using tricone bits and mud rotary method. An interactive web map was …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Additively Manufactured Parts Using Resonant Inspection And Frequency Domain-Based Correlation Criteria, Gita Deonarain

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of highly customized and geometrically complex components; however, these parts remain susceptible to a wide range of defect types and severities. The combination of complex geometries and distributed defects presents a significant challenge for post-process nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Conventional inspection techniques, such as computed tomography and ultrasonic testing, are often limited by geometry, material, accessibility, and cost, while in situ monitoring is not yet sufficiently mature to replace post-process inspection.

This dissertation establishes the Frequency Domain Assurance Criterion (FDAC) as a quantitative, vibration-based framework for defect detection in AM components. FDAC captures spatial–spectral correlations …

The Excess Path Length Distribution: A Stochastic Model For Sample-Based Path Planners, Chaz B. Cornwall

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Through random sampling, sample-based path planners enable autonomous agents to quickly find paths without human intervention. However, due to the paths' randomness, sample-based path planners currently require additional verification, partially nullifying agents' ability to act autonomously. I set out to characterize this uncertainty so humans know what to expect from these path planners and know how to alter the path planner to desired specifications. To ensure the results are theoretical as well as practical, I first create a stochastic model of path length uncertainty using the trade-off between sampling time and optimality. By leveraging this model, my proposed algorithm reduces …