Digital Commons Network^™

The Suitability Of Advanced Geospatial Technologies In Monitoring Mine Surface Displacement, Long Quoc Nguyen, Tuyet Minh Dang, Lipecki Tomasz

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study conducts a thorough review of the current scientific literature on the application of geospatial methods in the assessment of mining-induced displacement. The scope of research included technologies for determining deformation, subsidence, and landslide in mining areas. Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Terrestrial Laser Scanners, Remote Sensing, and fusion methods are approaches used to solve the research objectives. Additionally, the paper also mentions some advantages, disadvantages, and scope of application of these methods. The investigation revealed that the displacement detection method most commonly used at the moment is satellite radar interferometry.

Towards Sustainable Mining: Ghg Considerate Open Pit Long-Term Planning Using Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search Algorithm, Bahar Amirmoeini, Martin Grenon, Ali Moradi Afrapoli

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Mine planning involves the systematic design and coordination of mineral extraction from the earth’s crust, integrating exploration, production, and various engineering considerations. With increasing emphasis on environmental responsibility, the mining industry is under pressure to incorporate environmental considerations into mine planning. This paper addresses the precedence-constrained production scheduling problem (PCPSP) within the context of green long-term mining planning, aiming to optimize extraction processes while restricting carbon emission. Given the NP-hard nature of the PCPSP, this study introduces an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm tailored specifically for long-term mine planning. A range of computational experiments have been carried out, including …

Economic Viability And Environmental Sustainability: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Green Technologies In Mineral Extraction, Tshinkobo Bukasa Orphea, Agyingi Babaca Agyingib, Xiangrui Meng

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This research offers a novel approach to comparing green technologies’ economic profitability and environmental sustainability of their mineral extraction based upon econometric and life cycle assessment methodologies. Quantitative results show attractive results with an NPV of $2,014,001 and an IRR of 17%. In the third year, the project nets at $300,000, or 63%, at a 7% discount rate. However, soil protection remains challenging, but pollution coefficients are improved, as evidenced by environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The findings in the study further underscore how regulatory frameworks and market drivers dictate the use of green technology. The economic, environmental and regulatory costs …

A Case Study Comparing The Results Of A Copper Open-Pit Mine Scheduling Considering Two Different Approaches For Spatial Interpolation Of Comminution Geometallurgical Variables, Sílvia Martins, Pedro Campos, Douglas Mazzinghy

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The use of geometallurgical variables to improve the accuracy obtained in mine planning is an increasingly present reality in mining. However, the way these variables are interpolated to construct the block model is still a major challenge since they are non-additive variables. In this case study, a database from a copper mine located in Brazil was used to compare mining planning by Direct Block Scheduling using two spatial interpolation approaches. In the first approach, the geometallurgy block model was produced interpolating the comminution indexes Axb and BWI from the drill holes, and the specific energy was calculated at each block. …

Impact Of Multiple Mining Subsidence On Large Diameter Steel Pipelines: The Upper Silesian Coal Basin Case Study, Piotr Kalisz, Magdalena Zięba, Marcin Grygierek

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The article concerns the impact of multiple mining subsidence on pipeline expansion capacity based on the analysis of the field research results. The article presents a case study related to a water mains system that supplies drinking water to approximately 3.5 million consumers. These pipelines are made of steel with diameters of 1600 mm and 1400 mm. The water mains partly run through mining and post-mining areas in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland. These pipelines are equipped with expansion joints to protect them against the impact of ground deformations. The field research concerned the assessment of the position …

Recovery Of Magnesium Sulfate And Calcium Sulfate From Zinc Flotation Tailing, Raquel Húngaro Costa, Jonathan Tenório Vinhal, Tatiana Scarazzato, Denise Crocce Romano Espinosa

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Resource recovery is a process that has been used to obtain products from industrial waste. Mining tailings can be used as an alternative through ore beneficiation to create by-products for this type of waste. The work herein investigated the recovery of two products from a real tailing generated in the Zn beneficiation route in the flotation step. A non-magnetic fraction was submitted to a hydrometallurgical route to produce MgSO₄ and CaSO_4. Thermodynamic simulations using FactSage software were performed to evaluate the optimal leaching conditions varying the S:L ratio, the sulfuric acid concentration, and temperature. The best modeled conditions …

Delaware Supreme Court Rules That Officer Exculpation Amendments Do Not Require Separate Class Vote Of Non-Voting Shares, Robert S. Reder, Ricky Bayon-Barrea

Vanderbilt Law Review En Banc

No abstract provided.

Chancery Court Rejects Argument That Corwin Is Inapplicable To Postsigning Board Actions Characterized As "Extrinsic" To Merger Process Approved By Stockholders, Robert S. Reder, Jonathan Rose

Vanderbilt Law Review En Banc

No abstract provided.

Covid's Impact On Our Youngest Learners, Scottie Ellsworth

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Amanda Obery, PhD; Wendie Castillo

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted education, leaving lasting effects on elementary students’ academic development, particularly in literacy and reading comprehension. This research investigated the long-term educational impacts of the pandemic by drawing on qualitative insights from interviews with five educators across a range of specializations, including general education, interventional support, and multilingual learning. Using inductive thematic analysis and descriptive coding, the study identified key themes that reflected shifts in academic achievement, student behavior, attendance, and school priorities post-pandemic. These findings illuminate critical areas where students require support and outline the structural, instructional, and …

Tassel Turning Versus Tossing In The Towel: An Analysis Of Undergraduate Student Persistence And Challenges, Josie Ambur

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Pamela McMullin-Messier, Bernadette Jungblut

Completing college is no easy feat. All higher education has barriers and obstacles students must face and overcome. Observations have been used to gather various student perspectives that have been compiled alongside research in the field to create a picture of what student barriers look like at Central Washington University specifically. Some of these barriers include navigating academic requirements, challenges with academic advisors, unique challenges first-generation students face, and financial challenges including balancing employment and academics. Within the personal lives of students, there are several internal factors that impact their success such as their …

Appropriate Blackness: Feminism, C.R.T, Marxism & Boxing, Olene Togiailua

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Cynthia Pengilly, PhD

Black people of the Progressive era were concerned with how to regulate their behavior to better their position in society. This research will examine the synthesis of gender performativity, critical race theory, Marxism, and psychoanalysis to create an assimilation identity strategy called “Appropriate Blackness” and how it is demonstrated through the sport of Boxing. The case study subject of all these different frameworks is the first Black Heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Johnson, who was the premier Black celebrity during the Progressive Era and thus an example for a specific gender strategy many working-class …

Emotion Recognition Accuracy With Fully Occluded Faces: Do Eye Gaze Patterns And Fixation Durations Shift When We're Wrong?​, Dominique Martinez-Driscoll, Michael Cicero, Malcolm Jasmin, Mary Radeke, Anthony Stahelski

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Mary Radeke, PhD; Anthony Stahelski, PhD

Prior research on facial expression recognition (FER) has shown that the use of face masks significantly impairs the ability to correctly identify facial expressions, especially those that engage the lower regions of the face such as disgust and anger (Carbon, 2020; McCrackin et al. 2022). Not only does FER accuracy decrease with a masked or occluded face, but gaze patterns also shift and dwell time increases from those areas that are covered (mouth) to areas uncovered (eyes) (Rabadan, et al. 2022). In situations where both eyes and mouth are covered, the gaze …

Construction, Optimization, And Characterization Of An Undergraduate Cold Cathode Table-Top Electron Accelerator For Radiation Physics Education, Caitlin Balmer, Mason Skeath, Mehran M. Zaini, Peter Zencak, Erin M. Craig

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Mehran Zaini, PhD; Peter Zencak

Rising cancer cases spurred advancements in radiation therapy modalities, including electron accelerators. In this report, descriptive and diagnostic analysis was utilized to develop and characterize a functional, low energy cold cathode table-top electron accelerator for radiation physics experimentation in Central Washington University’s (CWU) undergraduate radiation lab. The device features a tungsten cathode (TC), brass anode, and copper Faraday Cup (FC) in a vacuum, enclosed by blue-tinted polyvinyl chloride (PVC). TC electron emission was facilitated by applied electric fields from input voltages of 1000 V to 5000 V. FC collected electron current in the …

Examine Supreme Court Decisions That Have Influenced The Gender Salary Gap, Shinhae Hwang

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Rodrigo Murataya, PhD

Despite significant advancements in gender equality policies and legal frameworks, women consistently earn less than men across various industries and job positions (Blau & Khan, 2017). As of 2023, median weekly wages of full-time women are 83.6 percent of the median weekly wages of men, an increase of just three percentage points since 2004 (BLS 2024). This stalled convergence in the gender gap in wages has led to a large and vibrant research literature that seeks to understand why change has been so slow (England 2010). This paper explores the impact of legislative acts such …

Antibiotic Resistance Trends In Coliform Bacteria Of Kittitas County Waters, Kaitlyn Holbrook, Bella Blasingim, Cruz Veronica Guillen Mejia, Holly Pinkart

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Holly Pinkart, PhD

Since the mid-1900s, antibiotics have been developed to help fight against bacterial pathogens. However, bacteria can evolve rapidly and have evolved resistance to many types of antibiotics. Using coliform bacteria collected from waters around Kittitas County, BIOL 323 students at Central Washington University have identified a variety of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Kittitas County streams and canals. Antibiotic resistance was measured from 2014-2019 and compared to data collected in 2024. This study focuses on three antibiotics, ampicillin, kanamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. In the past (2014-2019) we saw no change in the trend of antibiotic resistance in collected …

Effect Of Coniferous Trees And Water Availability On Soil Acidification, Jessica A. Cheever

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Mary Poulson, PhD

Water availability and coniferous tree species can cause acidification and a change in soil fertility. Previous research in European forests found that rainfall, soil acidity, and conifer prevalence influenced soil quality and biodiversity. However, not much is known about these effects in the Pacific Northwest’s forests. Three forests were chosen based on a gradient of annual precipitation. The Hoh Rain Forest, the Tiger Mountain State Forest, and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest were used for wet, mesic, and dry conditions, respectively. Each location had a three-by-six grid spaced 50 meters between each plot. The location was …

Building Career Pathways: Investigating The Potential For A Cooperative Education Program For Graduate Itm Students At Central Washington University, Liam J. E Holland

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD

This research examines the feasibility of introducing a cooperative education (co-op) program at the master’s level in the Central Washington University (CWU) ITM Department. Methods included a review of existing co-op programs, analysis of interviews with past co-op students, and an examination of survey data on student interest in graduate-level cooperative education. The study aims to identify key elements of effective co-op programs and assess demand for such programs. The analysis of current co-op models offers insights into program structure, industry engagement, and student success. The 2019 NACE Internship & Co-op Survey found that 50.2% …

Cwu's Electronic Waste Management: A Success Story In Sustainable Practice, Srijita Gurung

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD; Kevin Lomax

Purpose: This research examines how Central Washington University (CWU) manages electronic waste (e-waste) to promote economic, environmental, and equitable sustainability practices. In February 2024, Computer Support Services (CSS) started a computer reconciliation project, which is vital due to the Windows 10 operating system going end of life after October 14, 2025, and no longer receiving software support. This project tracks and documents the life of electronic assets, with a focus on the role of Surplus and IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) companies. Method: The primary research methods involve interviews, and online research of active …

Optimizing Cybersecurity Through Ai Predictive Analytics And Human Expertise, Cathy Mae C. Dutong

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Hideki Takei, DBA

As cybersecurity threats evolve in complexity and scale, the reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly prevalent across both public and private sectors. This study examines the dual role of AI-driven predictive analytics in strengthening organizational cybersecurity, while addressing the ongoing need for human oversight. Through a mixed-method approach, combining survey data from cybersecurity professionals with an extensive literature review, this research analyzes AI's capacity to detect emerging threats, the systemic challenges associated with AI integration, and the indispensable role of human expertise in interpreting AI outputs. Findings indicate that while AI enhances proactive …

Global Trends In Ai-Driven Product Development: A Cross-Country Analysis, Shilpa Dhananjayan

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Hideki Takei, DBA

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and accelerating global innovation, yet its benefits remain unevenly distributed. A nation’s AI readiness—its capacity to adopt and implement AI technologies—plays a crucial role in economic growth and technological advancement. Key determinants of AI readiness include digital infrastructure, data accessibility, government policies, research and development (R&D) investment, and workforce development. This study examines the relationship between AI readiness, AI adoption, innovation, R&D investment of a nation, Digital Infrastructure Index (DII) and Human Capital Index (HCI) using a Random Forest regression model. Findings reveal a strong correlation between AI adoption …

Innovation Within Sustainable Technologies: The Future Of Energy Conserving Hardware In Data Centers, Brooke Cruz

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD

The US is confronting a growing energy demand crisis, with analysts projecting a 2.4% rise in data center energy consumption by 2030. Data centers are major energy consumers, with primary usage concentrated in IT equipment and extensive cooling systems. While Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) remains the leading metric for assessing energy efficiency, it is limited to assessing total facility energy and IT energy use without accounting for environmental and social impacts. Supplementary metrics of data center energy consumption include Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE), which measure water use and carbon emissions, …

Characteristics Contributing To The Risk Of Diabulimia In Adults Living In The United States, Danielle Van Hout, Nicole Stendell-Hollis, Tafere Gebreegziabher Belay, Kelly Pritchett

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Nicole Stendell-Hollis, PhD, RDN; Tafere G Belay, PhD; Kelly Pritchett, PhD, RDN, CSSD

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors that contribute to the risk of diabulimia by using the validated Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R)¹ screening tool in adults living in the U.S., as well as to examine differences in individuals at-risk and not-at-risk for diabulimia. This observational study included a 30-question Qualtrics survey containing the DEPS-R distributed via various social media outlets and flyers on the CWU Ellensburg campus. Participants were required to be 18 years or older, diagnosed with …

Focus Group Interview: Perspectives Of Virtual Dietary Counseling Method’S Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Maria Mendoza

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Nicole Stendell-Hollis, PhD; Tafere Belay, PhD; Katy Williams; Jessica Tyrrell

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions related to different delivery methods of dietary counseling. This qualitative research study will examine the perceptions related to different methods of dietary counseling (telephone calls, video calls, or face-to-face visits). Focus group one contained provider participants (N = 7), which were all RDNs and focus group two hosted patient participants (N = 6). Semi structured interviews were performed asking subjects about any personal experiences related to receiving or providing nutrition education, positive or negative, as they participated in …

Prevalence Of Diabetes Related To Acculturation, Dietary Quality, And Sedentary Lifestyle In Mexican Americans: National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 To 2018, Kivima Acevedo

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): David Gee, PhD; Kathaleen Briggs Early, PhD, RDN, CDCES; Katy Williams, MS, RDN

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of diabetes in Mexican American adults (MA-adults) and how risk factors like acculturation, dietary quality, and sedentary lifestyle contribute to the rising rates of diabetes, using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 2011 to 2018 data. Methods: We analyzed the NHANES data of MA-adults and Non-Hispanic White adults (NHW-adults) (n= 10670) for the association of diabetes and its risk factors (dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle) by acculturation levels. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). …

Cwu Horn Club 2025 Northwest Horn Symposium Performance And Presentation, Julia Mcconnachie

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Jeffrey Snedeker, DMA

CWU Horn Ensemble: Ellie Brower, Quentin Chamberlain, Alec Chinnery, Alex Coon, Chone Ewell, Jordyn Gribble, Eamon Hill, Lucy Jacky, Gabrielle Kosoff, Julia McConnachie, Sadie Papp, Lillian Record, Tori Seward, Jaeden Tellvik

The CWU Horn Ensemble will give a performance featuring music for 14 CWU Horn Club members led by director, Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker. This performance represents a concert that the ensemble performed at the Northwest Horn Symposium, a regional professional conference hosted by the Northwest Horn Society in April 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. The invited program includes a varied repertoire that stretches both the individuals …

The Battle Of Moscow 1941, Allen Mcquade

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Melissa Jordine, PhD

The German Army was diminished after the string of unbroken victories at the start of Operation Barbarossa. The loss of men and machines had become undeniable, and it sapped the offensive strength of their order of battle. The supply lines were at a breaking point and the underdeveloped road and rail system in Russia further exacerbated the problem. The diversion of strength to encircle and capture Kiev cost the Germans precious time before they could restart the offensive. The weather hindered the movement of men and machines and despite the protests of the commanding generals …

Dependency In Romantic Relationships: Bloom’S Other In Ulysses, Lydia Smaciarz

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Christopher Schedler, PhD

James Joyce’s Ulysses explores themes of love, grief, religion, culture, and identity while following the journey of Leopold Bloom, a husband and father who has a problematic sense of Self. Bloom’s difficulty to find himself is prominently shown through his relationship with his wife, Molly, with whom he no longer has a healthy romantic relationship. Bloom reminisces on several memories with Molly which expose the reason for his lack of Self – his dependence on Molly. This presentation applies Jacques Lacan’s concept of “The Mirror Stage” to Bloom’s nostalgic memories of Molly in Ulysses. …

Literary Networks Everywhere: An Analysis Of Literary Connections Across Time And Culture, Rachel Riffel

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Katharine Whitcomb

This paper explores the concept of literary discourse as a networked form, using Caroline Levine’s theory of “networks” as expansive systems of meaning. Through the poetry of several postmodern poets and their texts such as Terrance Hayes’ American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin, Anne Carson’s The Beauty of the Husband, and Maggie Nelson’s Bluets, this essay analyzes how contemporary poets use intertextuality, historical references, and classical forms not as rigid structures but as connective nodes in a broader literary web. These texts illustrate how poetry continues to participate in an evolving cultural and literary …

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Redemption, Zoe E. Prince

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Sarah Sillin

An oft misunderstood classic of literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne’ Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, her minister and lover Arthur Dimmesdale, and their ruthless enemy, Roger Chillingworth. In the Puritan colony of Boston Massachusetts, 1642, Hester’s child born out of wedlock earns her a scarlet letter, marking her forever as a flagrant sinner. In the midst of betrayal, shame, and superstition, Hester shines as an incredible testimony to fortitude. Though lauded as a beautiful romance, within the Scarlet Letter many readers miss the bitter musings of the author’s narration, which constantly reproves the religious community …

From Canterbury To The Conference: Chaucer’S First 18 Lines Reborn, Charles X. Li, Tony Liang, Anika Saphiloff

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Charles X. Li, PhD

This presentation examines the phonological shift from Chaucerian Middle English to Modern English, focusing on the Great English Vowel Shift. Using the first eighteen lines of Chaucer’s “General Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales as a case study, we demonstrate how vowel sounds in Middle English transitioned to those in Early Modern and Modern English. By analyzing specific words from these opening lines, we illustrate the vowel changes that marked the shift and their impact on pronunciation. Our presentation will conclude with a recitation of Chaucer’s first eighteenth lines, intertwined couplet by couplet by their …