Digital Commons Network^™

Fallow Ground, Eli Kerns

Theses and Dissertations

Fallow Ground refers to the agricultural practice of intentionally leaving a field unseeded for a year or more in order to restore fertility and interrupt cycles of depletion. Although fallowing is a beneficial and necessary practice, the term has also come to signify waste or a lack of productivity. This double meaning is central to the work, reflecting a central contradiction: that withdrawal can be as vital as effort, and that rest, like labor, can function as a deliberate and sustaining act. The question I explore in this work is how to organize, understand, and live with these contradictions. Through …

Engaging Rural Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Adaptation Of A Physical Activity Intervention For A Mobile App, Chelsea Howland

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to 1) adapt a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app platform and 2) explore preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data in individuals aged 40 and older with T2D.

Aim 1: To engage end-users in adapting a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app delivery platform and explore acceptance.

Aim 2: To describe preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data.

Personal Healthcare Networks Of Transgender And Gender-Diverse Adults After Gender-Affirming Surgery, Tyler Gaedecke

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to investigate access to healthcare among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals after gender-affirming surgery by using social network analysis to describe their “personal healthcare networks” of healthcare professionals. Our first aim was to characterize the content, function, and structure of the personal healthcare networks of TGD adults after gender-affirming surgery (N = 130) and examine associations with self-rated physical and mental health. Our second aim was to qualitatively explore TGD adults’ experiences of constructing, accessing, and engaging with those personal healthcare networks after surgery (N = 24).

Discursive Power, Civilian Agency, Wartime Duress, And Resilience: Letters To The Authorities In The Blockade Of Leningrad, Jeffrey Hass, Nikita A. Lomagin

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

How did World War II affect the nature and resilience of Soviet institutions and authority, especially in the extreme case of the Blockade of Leningrad? During the Blockade, Leningraders acted with great agency by engaging in the shadow trade of food and shadow talk for information and community in order to survive. One case of shadow talk included sending letters to Smolny with requests, claims, protests, and advice. In these letters, Leningraders employed language that was relatively more straightforward and pragmatic than language used before the war. They used several rhetorical strategies to describe the dire straits that they faced, …

Application Of Stable High Internal Phase Emulsions Based On Wheat Bran Water Extract In Cakes, Zhang Jing, Wang Lifeng, Xiong Wenfei, Ye Xinwei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the application of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilized by wheat bran water extract as a butter substitute in cakes. [Methods] Cakes were prepared by substituting butter with HIPEs stabilized by wheat bran water extract at different ratios, with a pure soybean oil group used as the control. The viscosity, relative density, and microstructure of the cake batter were systematically measured, and the textural properties, moisture distribution, color, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, and flavor profiles of the cakes were comprehensively analyzed. [Results] With increasing substitution ratios of HIPEs, the a* value of the cakes increased while the …

Research Progress In Regulating The Egg White Emulsification Properties By Structured Modification, Yang Fanghan, Ai Minmin, Wang Ziyuan, Guo Shanguang, Xiao Nan

Food and Machinery

Egg white, valued for its high protein content and superior food functional properties, is widely utilized in food processing. The amphiphilic structure and surface activity of egg white proteins enable effective adsorption at oil-water interfaces, reducing interfacial tension and forming stable interfacial films. Therefore, egg white proteins exhibit a robust interfacial regulation capacity in emulsion systems. This review systematically outlines the characteristics and formation mechanisms of multi-scale emulsion systems of egg white proteins (nano-emulsions, Pickering emulsions, and high internal phase Pickering emulsions). Additionally, a summary is presented of the research progress on the chemical/physical modification mechanisms of egg white emulsification …

Properties And Research Progress Of Deacetylated Konjac Glucomannan In Food Applications, Liu Kai, Zhang Ling, Wang Jing

Food and Machinery

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a natural soluble dietary fiber that is safe, biodegradable, and edible, with wide application in food and biomedicine. However, due to low plasticity and stability, KGM usually requires blending, physical, and chemical modification for production. Currently, deacetylated konjac glucan (DKGM) is used in food mainly as a food additive, food preservative, and health food. This review elucidates the KGM property changes before and after different deacetylation degrees, as well as the application progress and research status of DKGM in the food industry, with prospects for its development trends.

Construction Of Sulfur Dioxide Fluorescent Probe And Its Application Progress In Food, Pharmaceuticals, And Biological Systems, Xiao Zhongshan, Yang Guojing, Gao Ha, Wang Tianlin

Food and Machinery

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and its derivatives (SO2-3 and HSO-3) are ubiquitous in the environment and our daily life, closely related to human life activities. As an important additive, SO2 serves functions including bleaching, sterilization, anti-corrosion, color protection, antioxidant, and others during the processing and storage of food and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, SO2 can regulate the antioxidant enzyme system in human cells, increasing resistance against oxidative stress damage. However, excessive SO2 in the human body can strongly stimulate the digestive tract, causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and may trigger allergic reactions including asthma and headaches. Furthermore, long-term intake can damage digestive …

A Hybrid Xfem-Ml Framework For High-Fidelity, Rapid Fracture Prediction In Cortical Bone: From Microstructure To Clinical Translation, Noor T. Al-Sharify, Ammar Fadhil Hussein Al-Maliki, Ahmed Ali Farhan Ogaili, Abdul-Rasool Kareem Jweri, Alaa Abdulhady Jaber, Luttfi A. Al-Haddad

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

This paper proposes a hybrid computational model, which combines the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) with machine learning (ML) to forecast the fracture behavior of cortical bone while maintaining microstructural fidelity. It has created a parametric dataset of about 450 three-dimensional XFEM models of single-edge notched bend (SENB) specimens, including important μ-structure features (e.g., osteon orientation, cement line properties, interfacial connectivity, etc.). Based on these simulations, 47 quantitative descriptors were obtained, and these were used to model supervised ML models, namely, Random Forest and Artificial Neural Networks, to estimate fracture load. The Random Forest model demonstrated exceptional predictive performance (R …

Gender-Based Violence And Botswana's Constitutional Failure To Protect Women's Rights, Cameron Mcdonald

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

Gender-based violence (“GBV”) remains a pervasive human rights issue throughout Botswana. When it comes to gender equality, Botswana’s dual constitutional and customary legal system is a paradox. Despite its commitment to equality and nondiscrimination, Botswana’s Constitution allows customary courts to discriminate freely to preserve traditional practices that disadvantage women. These traditional practices affect women’s right to property, inheritance, marriage, legal representation, and personal safety. Customary law continues to constrain women’s right to economic autonomy and access to justice, leaving many women dependent on the men who abuse them. As a result, many Batswana women experience structural discrimination in both their …

The Myth Of The Immigrant As A Criminal: Rhetoric, Otherness, And The Legal Construction Of Danger, Katerina Fernandez

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

The figure of the “criminal immigrant” occupies a central place in contemporary U.S. immigration discourse, shaping public perception, enforcement priorities, and legal doctrine. Yet a substantial body of empirical research consistently demonstrates that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. This Note examines why the narrative of immigrant criminality persists despite this evidence and how it influences the development and operation of immigration law. It argues that “immigrant” functions not only as a legal category but also as a socially constructed marker of Otherness, encompassing perceived differences in race, language, culture, and religion. Through this lens, …

The Expanding Digital Border: Ai, Surveillance, And The Fight For Justice, James Chesser

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

As artificial intelligence transforms the mechanisms of immigration control, the modern border has become a digital filter—one governed less by geography and more by code. This Article examines the legal, technical, and ethical implications of AI-driven systems now central to global border enforcement, including biometric surveillance, algorithmic risk scoring, and predictive profiling. It explores how states use these technologies not only to manage irregular migration, but to compete for global talent—constructing migration regimes that reward capital and compliance while eroding transparency, due process, and equality.

Through an international and comparative lens, the piece highlights the expansion of algorithmic decision-making across …

Remembering The Past: The Origins Of The Pentecostal Church In South Travancore, Viju Wilson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Early Pentecostals in the Thiruvananthapuram district (South Travancore) of Kerala state, India, embraced the Pentecostal faith in a context where traditional denominations held enormous power, resources, and social recognition. C. Manasseh played a significant role in spreading the Pentecostal faith and establishing the first congregation in the region. This forms an important part of the global Pentecostal heritage. Remembering the life and ministry of Manasseh, as well as the past and present journey of the first congregation, carries significant implications for the witness of Pentecostals today. Remembering the past is both a biblical and theological act, calling believers to participate …

Exploring Scms And Fibers For Structural Build-Up In 3d Printing Using Penetration Test, Shiva Kumar Goud Kasani

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Additive manufacturing with cementitious materials advances rapidly, but predicting structural build-up is critical for 3D printed structure buildability. Various supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and fibers are commonly used to enhance structural build-up in 3D printing. Evaluating their effects is necessary for successful printing. In this research, this effect is studied for common SCMs, including fly ash and silica fume, and fibers including polypropylene (0.375% and 0.75% by volume), steel (0.75% and 1.5% by volume), and hemp fibers (0.375% and 0.75% by volume). The Structural build-up was quantified through continuous static yield stress measurements (via vane rheometer, penetration, and slump) during …

Synthesis And Hydrothermal Evaluation Of Poly(Styrene Phosphonate) For Conformance Control In Geothermal Reservoirs, Sara Mccauley

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, geothermal energy has emerged as a promising energy alternative to fossil fuels. A barrier to widespread implementation and energy production efficiency is macro-heterogeneity of the rock matrix. Cracks, void spaces, and flow conduits divert fluid flow away from unswept portions of the geothermal reservoir and can cause cooling of the reservoir. Flow heterogeneity has been treated in oil reservoirs by injecting hydrogel particles that travel preferentially to ultra-high permeability zones and selectively block fluid flow in these regions. We are applying polymer hydrogels that withstand hydrothermal conditions of 225 up to 275°C …

Adaptive Parallel Downloader For Large Genomic Datasets, Rasman Mubtasim Swargo

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Modern next-generation sequencing (NGS) projects routinely generate terabytes of data that researchers download from public repositories such as SRA and ENA. Existing download tools typically employ static concurrency settings, leading to inefficient bandwidth utilization and prolonged download times under dynamic network conditions. We introduce FastBioDL, a parallel downloader for large biological datasets with an adaptive concurrency controller. FastBioDL frames downloading as an online optimization problem, using a utility function and gradient descent to adjust the number of concurrent socket streams during runtime. This approach maximizes throughput while minimizing resource overhead. Evaluations on public genomic datasets show that FastBioDL achieves up …

Temperature And College Life, Porsha Purkiss, Quiniyah Shumpert, Olivia Lane

Scholars Week

Temperature and College Life

Absenteeism in college students can be caused by a variety of factors ranging from personal attitudes to environmental factors. Considering that, on average, American college students spend over $20,000  per semester on tuition, absenteeism is unlikely to be random (Barragan Torres, 2025). This study aims to explore how climate, mental health, socioeconomic status, and basic demographic information correlate with academic attendance, with an overall focus on outdoor temperature. Research observes that temperature is a key factor of absenteeism, determining that many students are incentivized to skip class if the temperature is warm enough for leisure activities …

Using The Second-Generation Environmental Sample Processor To Provide Near Real-Time Observations Of Harmful Algae And Assess Biodiversity And Ecosystem Change, Stephanie K. Moore, Nicolaus G. Adams, John B. Mickett, Christina M. Mikulski, Nicolas Michel-Hart, James M. Birch, Brent Roman, Jan A. Newton

Benefits of Ocean Observing Catalog (BOOC)

The second-generation Environmental Sample Processor (2G-ESP) is a sophisticated autonomous sensor platform and a key component of offshore observing efforts designed to mitigate the societal impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed as part of a moored observatory, the 2G-ESP generates near real-time data on HAB organisms and the biotoxin domoic acid, providing critical HAB early warning and directly informing HAB forecasts and fisheries management decisions. In addition, the platform’s capacity to archive environmental DNA enables retrospective analyses of biodiversity and ecosystem change. These capabilities facilitate interdisciplinary scientific collaboration and information sharing, ultimately enhancing our collective …

The Evasive Epidemic Of Missing Black Children, Trinity D. Garlick

Criminal Law Society Blog

The Evasive Epidemic of Missing Black Children” brings to light the disproportionately low amount of media support for missing Black Children. It draws on examples of missing Black Children, like Adam Walsh and other Atlanta Black children, to illustrate how Black children have gone ignored by the public for too long. It discusses factors such as failure of state legislatures, lack of media exposure, unfair and racial fixed labels, and law enforcement discretionary conduct, as the leading drivers of the epidemic of missing Black children. This Article then dives into efforts to reform the American system to adequately address when …

Harnessing Wavefront Shaping Control For Sensing Applications, Pablo Jara

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) enable deep, non-invasive sensing in biological tissue but are fundamentally limited by the photon budget - most injected light is lost to scattering before reaching the detector. Wavefront shaping (WFS) can enhance signal strength inside scattering media via interference, but the conventional diffusion-based sensitivity model breaks down under coherent illumination. We develop a microscopic theory of optical sensitivity that captures interference effects neglected by diffusion theory. We prove analytically that the microscopic and diffusive descriptions coincide under random illumination and identify WFS strategies that enhance sensitivity beyond this limit. The maximum …

Breath-Based Detection Of Liver Cancer Biomarkers Using An Swcnt-Fet Nanobiosensor: Quantumatk, Mohamed Mohieb Rashdan

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

There are still no tests to detect liver cancer in the early stages because it is a slow-growing and invasive type.

This study describes the use of a single-walled carbon nanotube-based field-effect transistor (SWCNT-FET) whose ability to detect hexanal, a volatile organic compound (VOC) found to be elevated in liver cancer, has been demonstrated through direct measurements from exhaled breath. The device is designed using QuantumATK with the semi-empirical Extended Hückel Hamiltonian framework in non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) which shows realistic contact physics by using metallic SWCNT electrodes instead of common metal films. Through the analysis of two zigzag channels …

Introducing Gridtrees For Streaming, Scalable Hierarchical Data Visualization, Nathan Tibbetts

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

File browsing in the consumer sphere has seen very little advancement in recent years, although attempts have been made to improve upon it. With the goal of multi-level visual file browsing in mind, we present a prototype GridTree, a dynamic, recursive, stable, spatial layout data structure based on subdividing grids, represented as a hierarchy of maps whose granularity increases with depth. We motivate this work with characteristics we have identified as important for viability of a multi-level file-browser, which have become our design goals. We touch on the underlying logic of a GridTree and identify its complexity. We briefly discuss …

Dispersive Shock And Rogue Waves In Two-Dimensional Quantum Droplets, Farhana Bristy

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Quantum droplets, are liquid type configurations stabilized by the balance between attractive mean-field interactions and repulsive quantum fluctuations. They provide highly flexible platforms for the quantum simulation of hydrodynamic phenomena using ultracold gases. Here, we explore the nonlinear quantum dynamics of two-dimensional quantum droplets under Riemann initial conditions. The steepness of the latter facilitates the emergence of radially symmetric dispersive shock waves (DSWs) when quantum fluctuations dominate. In particular, the ensuing DSWs travel from the potential edges toward the center where they collide and through their interference high amplitude spatially localized rogue wave structures emerge. In contrast, tuning the interactions …

Thermal Mirage: Towards Robust Thermal Perception Via Gan-Guided Diffusion, Nuzaer Omar

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Thermal object detection systems are critical for safety sensitive applications due to their reliability under adverse conditions. However, existing robustness evaluations in thermal domain primarily focuses on physical or sensor-level perturbations, overlooking vulnerabilities from semantically realistic scene and object manipulations. We introduce Thermal Mirage, a generative framework that leverages GAN-guided diffusion to expose weaknesses in thermal detectors through controlled object and context level perturbations. Our approach learns class-conditional thermal priors via a GAN and uses diffusion to transform object appearances into ambiguous or low-saliency patterns. Simultaneously, a context module degrades scene conditions by simulating harsher night environments. Integrated with a …

Distributed Control Plane For Cross-Silo Federated Learning, Rabin Pandey

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Cross-silo federated learning (FL) trains shared models across geographically distributed institutions without centralizing raw data, but its reliance on wide-area networks makes round completion time highly sensitive to heterogeneous link conditions, congestion, and straggler clients. Existing SDN-based FL frameworks address this through centralized traffic engineering, an approach that breaks down when silos span independent administrative domains where no single entity can maintain complete, timely network knowledge. We replace the centralized control plane with a fully distributed overlay in which each silo gateway operates as an equal peer, continuously probing local links, exchanging EWMA-smoothed metrics via bounded gossip, and computing least-cost …

Transition Metal Chalcogenide As Multifunctional Biosenser To Detect Neurochemicals, Amitav Sen

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

The development of highly sensitive real-time sensing platforms for selectively detecting dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) is of significant clinical importance since these are closely associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Herein, we report copper telluride (Cu₂Te) nanostructure as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the simultaneous detection of dopamine and norepinephrine. Cu₂Te exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward both DA and NE oxidation, as demonstrated by detailed electrochemical measurements. High sensitivities of 24 and 40 µA cm⁻² µM⁻¹ for DA and NE, respectively, were obtained with a wide linear detection range of 10–200 nM and low limit of detection (LOD), 31 nM for …

Robust Federated Learning With Strategic Adversaries, Manoj Twarakavi

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Federated Learning (FL) leverages the intelligence of untrusted distributed devices through collaborative training. This makes the training process susceptible to malicious behavior. Existing defense mechanisms largely consider an adversary who attacks a proactive FL server without any adaptability. However, they overlook the presence of a strategic adversary. To address this challenge, our work proposes a Robust Game-theoretic framework where the adversary is both strategic and is equipped with the capability of performing large-scale poisoning attacks.

Variational Data Assimilation With Steepest Descent Method For Coupled Time-Dependent Stokes-Darcy Model With Bjsj Interface Condition, Yafang Hei

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Variational data assimilation (VDA) determines the initial condition of a dynamical system by minimizing the mismatch between model predictions and observed data. This work studies VDA for the time-dependent Stokes–Darcy system with the BJSJ interface condition. The problem is formulated as a PDE-constrained optimization problem, and the first-order optimality system is derived using the Gâteaux derivative and adjoint variables. A steepest descent method is applied for efficient computation. Spatial and temporal discretizations are carried out using the finite element method and backward Euler scheme, respectively. Numerical results confirm accuracy and convergence.

Human Intention Prediction Using Cnn And Lstm Networks In Physical Human–Robot Interactions, Khosro Ghorbani Zadeh

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Advances in robotics and artificial intelligence have increased expectations for interactive robots in eldercare and assistive applications. A key challenge in creating safe and effective systems is accurately recognizing human intent and translating it into meaningful commands for robots to follow. Traditional physics-based models often fail to fully represent human force interactions due to their dynamic nature, while neural networks provide a promising alternative for predicting force-movement intentions. Multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) show potential, however, they struggle with temporal dependencies and generalization. Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) help address these limitations. This study compares these architectures …

Ai-Driven Frameworks For Mitigating Rockfall Hazards, Unstable Ground Condition And Improving Safety In Underground Mine Through Thermal Imaging, Akhrorbek Narmatov

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Scaling, the removal of loose rocks from excavation walls to prevent rockfalls is a critical safety procedure in underground mining operations. Approximately a quarter of fatal mining accidents are due to rockfalls. Detecting unstable rocks during scaling and assessing ground stability remain challenging due to limited visibility, dust, and environmental conditions.

Excavation disturbs the in-situ stress state, causing stress redistribution, fracture propagation, and the formation of discontinuities that lead to loose rock blocks. Ventilation airflow affects heat transfer at exposed surfaces, amplifying temperature contrasts between intact rock and fractured blocks associated with instability.

Current practices rely on manual inspection, requiring …