Digital Commons Network^™

Huyen Pham, Huyen Pham

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Aaron Retteen, Aaron Retteen

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Jeff W. Slattery, Jeff W. Slattery

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

A Baseline Study Of Artificial Intelligence Use Among Chemical Engineering Undergraduates At The University Of Arkansas, Natalie J. Erickson

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted from a novel innovation to a tool used in daily life, particularly within higher education. While anecdotal evidence suggests high levels of student engagement with AI, empirical data regarding usage patterns remains limited. This baseline study investigates AI integration among undergraduate chemical engineering students at the University of Arkansas. Through an anonymous survey (N=68; comprising 20 freshmen, 14 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 18 seniors), researchers assessed usage frequency, student comfort levels, and their evolving relationship with AI tools. The findings reveal that 75% of respondents utilize AI for coursework at least once …

From Kernel To Carbon Footprint: Using Life Cycle Analysis To Teach Sustainability In Chemical Engineering, Neal Z. Kinney

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many chemical engineering departments in the United States are currently lacking developed sustainability coursework, leaving many students without a developed understanding of topics such as life cycle analysis (LCA). [1] Therefore, there is a need for engaging and flexible educational tools that can be easily incorporated into course frameworks. This study develops an interactive learning module, expanding upon the work from Pollution Prevention Through Popcorn, a study developed by Rowan University. [2] The module combines experimental analysis of popcorn popping methods with life cycle assessment using OpenLCA to evaluate the environmental impacts of common types of popcorn packaging. Results of …

Surface-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles For Enhanced Bioavailability In Ophthalmic Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery Applications, Kaylee M. Drake

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the stimuli-responsive behavior of porcine gastric mucin (PGM) as a model for the conjunctival mucous membrane of the human eye to optimize mucoadhesive ophthalmic drug delivery. As a versatile biopolymer, PGM has a dynamic matrix structure that functions as a selectively permeable barrier, regulating transport across mucosal membranes. To improve drug bioavailability and retention in ocular treatments, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were modified with varying surface functional groups and incorporated into the mucin at different physiological pH levels to examine the resulting microstructural changes. Leveraging the amphiphilic and negatively charged characteristics of mucin, positively charged and hydrophobic SiNPs …

Design Of Aluminum-Air Battery Systems And Optimization Of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide And 8-Hydroxyquinoline Additives In Alkaline Electrolytes, Steve Chen

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The first portion of this thesis focuses on the design and component optimization of aluminum-air batteries to power a car for the Chem-E-Car competition. A range of separators, cathodes, and current collectors was evaluated to determine the optimal configuration for maximizing output. The resulting system consisted of 1000 series aluminum as the anode, cellulose separators saturated in 1 M potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte, and composite PVDF and graphite as the cathode. The improved batteries achieved a power density of 2.14 x 10^-4 W/cm² and were utilized for the Chem-E-Car competition. The second portion of the thesis investigates …

Electrochemical And Mechanical Evaluation Of Cellulose Acetate Electrolyte Films As A Function Of Polyetherimide And Polyethylene Glycol Additives For Supercapacitor Applications, Chase E. Golden

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Polymer electrolytes for supercapacitor applications require a balance between mechanical robustness and electrochemical performance. In this study, cellulose acetate (CA) films were modified with additives such as polyetherimide (PEI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to test how compositional changes influence mechanical performance, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical charge storage. Films were cast using phase inversion, soaked in a 1 M NaCl aqueous solution, and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and tensile testing. Films were also evaluated based on fluid uptake for insight into electrolyte retention.

Characterizations show that the addition of PEI increased ionic …

Performance Of Zirconia-Based Catalysts For Cold Plasma-Assisted Dry Methane Reforming, Levi Pile

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the performance of zirconia-based catalysts in non-thermal plasma (NTP)–assisted dry methane reforming (DMR) for synthesis gas (syngas) production. This work explores an alternative pathway for converting carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products under milder conditions than conventional thermal processes. Experiments were conducted in a radiofrequency plasma reactor to evaluate the effects of plasma power, feed flow rate, and reactant ratios on conversion efficiency. The performance of plasma-only conditions was compared with packed-bed systems using zirconia catalysts. Results show that plasma-only systems achieved modest conversion rates (~16.5% for CH₄ and ~12.0% for CO₂), while …

Cationic Polymer-Grafted Magnetic Nanoparticles For Enhanced Removal Of Anionic Dyes From Wastewater, Joia A. Traver

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Water scarcity and pollution are escalating global challenges, with textile industry wastewater often enriched with toxic dyes posing significant risks to environmental and human health. These contaminants increase turbidity, reduce dissolved oxygen levels, and ultimately impair aquatic ecosystems. This thesis focuses on the remediation of dye-contaminated water using nanoscale polymeric adsorbents. Methyl orange, a common anionic dye widely used in textile and leather industries, was selected as the model contaminant due to its terminal sulfonate group, which enables strong electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions with cationic functional materials.

In this work, magnetic nanoparticles grafted with cationic polymers were synthesized and evaluated …

Demonstration Of The Relationship Between Irwin Spire Quantity And Boundary Layer Depth In The Chemical Hazards Research Center Wind Tunnel, Jace D. Beckwith

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Atmospheric Dispersion Models (ADMs) are computer-based simulations used to model gas releases for enforcing regulatory compliance, designing facilities, and responding to emergencies. Because ADMs rely on complex mathematical models, they require experimental validation to ensure accuracy. Wind tunnels offer a controlled, repeatable method for gathering validation data. The Chemical Hazards Research Center (CHRC) at the University of Arkansas operates an ultra-low speed wind tunnel for this purpose. A key feature of this tunnel is its simulated Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL). The simulated ABL is a turbulent layer in which wind speed increases logarithmically with height from near zero at the …

Sumset Lower Bounds In Abelian Groups, Van T. Huynh

Honors Theses

This thesis investigates sumset lower bounds across discrete and continuous settings. We begin with general inequalities in torsion-free abelian groups and then specialize to the integers modulo prime p, where we present the Cauchy–Davenport Theorem, which establishes the bound ∣A+B∣≥min(p,∣A∣+∣B∣−1). The equality case is further examined via Vosper's Theorem, which characterizes subsets attaining this bound as arithmetic progressions under suitable conditions. The continuous analogue in Euclidean spaces is then considered, where cardinality is replaced by Lebesgue measure. In this setting, the Brunn–Minkowski Inequality provides a sharp lower bound for the Lebesgue measure of A+B and serves as a geometric counterpart …

Reimagining The Cadenza: Bluegrass And Mozart, Linna Zheng

Honors Theses

The bluegrass-inspired cadenza for the first movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 is a parallel with the “Turkish” episode of Mozart’s composition. While introducing the bluegrass idiom into a Classical concerto may not be idiosyncratic, it can be understood and seen as an extension of Mozart’s own practice and approach to stylistic disruption. This approach can be understood through the concepts of Sonata Theory, revealing the cadenza as a site of productive deformation within a normative formal framework. Along with this, Robert S. Hatten’s concept of troping further supports the idea that the interaction between Classical and bluegrass idioms …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Bike-Share Use In A Small City: A Case Study Of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Brianna L. Buenger

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many small and mid-sized cities in the United States face ongoing transportation challenges due to limited public transit options. This can prevent residents from being able to reach essential destinations. While bikeshare systems have been widely studied in large metropolitan areas, there is limited understanding of how usage patterns vary across space, time, and trip characteristics in small-city contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining spatial and temporal patterns of bikeshare use in a small U.S. city through a case study of the Fort Smith, Arkansas, SMILIES bikeshare program. Using approximately 10,000 trips over three years, the analysis examines …

The Artificial Artist: Considering Ai’S Impact On Image Copyright, Alyse Mandelblatt

Communication Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to create empirical results to ground what has been a largely theoretical discussion about the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) on copyright law in the United States. AI has disrupted traditional ideas of creativity and expression, which are vital communication tools. Copyright is a regulatory agent to encourage the production of unique communication products by giving owners complete rights to their work. Copyright principles conflict with current AI model training practices. This research considers how AI literacy may provide insight into copyright knowledge and AI attitudes for prediction of how common law and AI regulation policy may …

Of The Land And Sea: A Critical Ecocultural Analysis Of Disney's Frozen And Moana, Maggie A. Andress

Communication Undergraduate Honors Theses

Within the modern era of performative inclusivity and widespread greenwashing, it is critical to examine popular media through an ecocultural lens to determine if said media is being handled responsibly as a social practice and if a discursive atmosphere is being created. This paper takes an ecocultural critical analysis of Disney’s worlds of Frozen and Moana, inspecting their treatment of the human, treatment of the more-than-human, and human/more-than-human relationships. This study finds that although both franchises have been broadly praised for cultural representation of Indigenous people groups, Disney’s failure to effectively acknowledge the intrinsic relationship between humankind and the …

"Deadly Imports": Populism, Demagoguery, And The Contemporary Rhetoric Of U.S. Immigration, Summer N. Wolfe

Communication Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project examines former CNN and Fox Business anchor Lou Dobbs’s meteoric success to understand his rhetorical choices and appeals surrounding immigration discourse in the United States. As the first rhetorical assessment of Dobbs’s immigration rhetoric, this project centers him as a key figure who defined how U.S. culture operates within immigration discourses. The project relies on Michael Calvin McGee's work on ideographs to perform a close textual analysis of news programs featuring Dobbs to understand how ideologies about immigrants and immigration are built, circulated, and maintained in the Right’s media ecology. The project advances three arguments about Dobbs’s anti-immigration …

Waring Library Society Newsletter, Spring 2026, Waring Library Society, Waring Historical Library, Medical University Of South Caroilna, Jude Arendall, Joann Livingston Zeise, Brooke Fox

The Waring Library Society Newsletters

In this issue, the Waring Library Society welcomes its new President and shares updates on recent and upcoming renovations to Waring Historical Library. Waring Historical Library's staff reflect on insights gained from a recent sabbatical, and highlight several events and engagements the Waring has been part of this season.

The Effects Of Sugammadex Vs. Neostigmine On Intraoperative Heart Rate In Pediatric Patients Under Two Years: A Scoping Review, Saumel Abston, Jackson Cobb, Elle Dean, Tanner Dillard, Pauline Dinh, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana, Margaret Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn, Fhrs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) reversal is a critical component of anesthesia care, particularly in infants under two years of age who have immature autonomic regulation and heightened vagal tone, predisposing them to bradycardia. Neostigmine, the traditional reversal agent, is associated with parasympathomimetic effects such as bradycardia, requiring anticholinergic co- administration. Sugammadex, a selective relaxant binding agent, offers rapid and predictable reversal of aminosteroidal neuromuscular blocking agents with less cholinergic side effects. Although the safety profile of sugammadex is well established in older pediatric populations, limited evidence exists regarding its cardiovascular effects in infants under two years of age.

Methods

A …

Discharge Education Bundles And Evaluating The Effect On Readmission And Satisfaction Rates: A Scoping Review, Jane Campo Bsn, Rn, Charlotte Edwards Bsn, Rn, Mary Catherine Hall Bsn, Rn, Sarah Moore Bsn, Rn, Allison Walker Bsn, Rn, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Aprn, Agacnp-Bc, Hget-C, Ebp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Transitioning children with a chronic medical condition from hospital to home is a critical and difficult process, leaving many families feeling anxious and unprepared. Nationally, 1 in 7 pediatric patients are readmitted within thirty days, making readmission rates an important quality indicator with both clinical and financial implications. To address these challenges, multiple discharge bundles have been developed; however, their effectiveness has not been consistently evaluated. The aim of this project is to summarize the current literature and highlight its positive outcomes, with the intention of promoting further research, reducing 30-day readmission rates, and increasing parental satisfaction (Shermont et …

Improving Access And Early Identification Of Anxiety Disorders Through Annual Gad-7 Screening In High Schools: A Scoping Review, Joshua Richard Yumul Bsn, Rn, Cindy Thao Msn, Rn, Justin Doyle Borden Bsn, Rn, Rebecca Lizette Johnston Bsn, Rn, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faan, Faanp, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Anxiety disorders affect nearly one-third of adolescents in the United States, yet many cases remain undiagnosed due to inconsistent screening and limited access to school-based mental health services. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) questionnaire is a validated screening tool, but its routine use in high school settings is not well established.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the use of the GAD-7 in high schools to support early identification of anxiety disorders and improve access to mental health care.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, ERIC, PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. …

Illuminating The Shadows: Building An Empirical Dataset To Analyze The Shadow Docket, Natalie Marx

Senior Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Design, Simulation, And Experimentation Of A Box Barge Model Under Asymmetrical Conditions, Kylie Sink

Senior Honors Theses

This study investigates the ability of numerical simulations to predict vessel motion responses under asymmetrical loading conditions. A raked barge model was designed, constructed, and tested in a towing tank to evaluate the response amplitude operators (RAOs) for heave, roll, and pitch under various wave conditions. The model included six internal compartments that allowed different flooding scenarios to be simulated in order to create asymmetric loading conditions. Experimental testing was conducted under head seas (0 degrees) and beam seas (90 degrees) with multiple wave periods.

A numerical model of the vessel was developed using GHS to generate predicted RAOs for …

Experimentation To Study Ship Motions Under Asymmetrical Conditions, Elise Simon

Senior Honors Theses

The pioneers of ship motion analysis often used the symmetry assumption to reduce computation time and complexity. For the symmetry assumption to be valid, a ship must be upright with no heel angle, which is rarely the case. An increased interest in damaged ships has motivated further analysis of ship motions in the asymmetric condition; however, only a limited number of physical experiments have been conducted in towing tanks. This paper presents an experiment carried out to analyze vessel motions in the asymmetric condition for a box barge model. The method includes model construction, experiment setup, the test matrix, and …

Preservice Teachers’ Noticing Of Students’ Quantitative And Covariational Reasoning In Dynamic Mathematical Situations, Alfred M. Limbere, Joseph Dinapoli, Steven Greenstein

Department of Mathematics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Understanding rate of change requires reasoning about measurable quantities and how one quantity changes relative to another. To support this kind of reasoning, teachers should develop the ability to notice students’ quantitative and covariational reasoning. This study examines how preservice teachers (PSTs) attend to, interpret, and respond to students’ quantitative and covariational reasoning in video-based analyses of water-filling rate-of-change tasks. Drawing on relevant research, professional noticing is examined through the lenses of quantitative reasoning and covariational reasoning. Using a design-based qualitative approach, secondary PSTs participated in structured analyses of students’ problem-solving discussions related to rate of change. Data were collected …

Between The One And The Many: Considering Community And Individualism - Opening Essay, John Schmalzbauer

eJournal of Public Affairs

This issue had its genesis thirty years ago at a campus lecture, a lecture that helped launch Missouri State University’s public affairs mission. Speaking on the “moral crisis in American public life,” sociologist Robert Bellah criticized the toxic individualism of the global elite, calling for a renewed commitment to the common good. Addressing an audience of 1,700 students, faculty, and local residents, Bellah ignited a community-wide discussion that reverberated across university classrooms, Ozarks congregations, and in the pages of the Springfield News-Leader.

Bellah’s questions remain no less relevant today: How can we balance individualism with our shared commitments? How …

Good Freedom: Prioritizing The Anti-Secessionist Characteristics Of Good Jazz, Wesley J. Watkins Iv

eJournal of Public Affairs

In broad terms, jazz is a useful metaphor for American democratic ideals because both are a process, not a product. To the musicians who make it, jazz is not so much a genre as it is a way of making music, even a philosophy of music making. Similarly, democracy is not a destination so much as it is the structural means of co-existing with people who have politically liked-minded agendas as well as with those who have competing, contrary goals. Theoretically, if the American ideals of freedom and equality were ever attained, we could no more take our hands off …

Are We Still Bowling Alone – Part Iii: Our Diminished Life In Public And Its Consequences, Kenneth Woodward

eJournal of Public Affairs

Editor’s note. The following is based on a panel session from the 2024 Public Affairs Conference, presented by Nancy Ammerman, Harry Bruinius, and Kenneth Woodward. The panel was a reflection on what has happened since authors Robert Putnam and Robert Bellah issued warnings on the decline of community in America.

Changes In Opioid Prescribing Patterns In Opioid Naive Patients Can Translate To Improved Outcomes In The Opioid Non-Naive Patients With Anterior Cervical Surgery: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (Mssic) Study, Anisse Chaker, Geoff Kahn, Michael Melhem, Jian-Hui Hu, Kari Jarabek, Heegook Yeo, Bhargav Ayloo, Trevor Ruesch, Adam Junn, Jad Khalil, Kenneth Easton, Richard Easton, Doris Tang, Miguelangelo Perez-Cruet, Noojan Kazemi, Ilyas Aleem, Muwaffak Abulhak, David Nerenz, Victor Chang

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Though often necessary for adequate analgesia after spine surgery, continued opioid use can lead to chronic dependency. The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) has demonstrated in prior work the promise of utilizing a multi-institutional morphine milliequivalent (MME) cutoff for elective anterior cervical surgery in the opioid naıve population. However, the effect of this cutoff in patients who were already on opioids pre-operatively have not previously been studied. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether changes in prescribing patterns in the opioid naıve population would also translate to the non-naıve populations, and whether the non-naıve population would …

Implementation Of A Multi-Institutional Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) For Elective Spine Surgery: Two-Year Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (Mssic) Experience, Anisse Chaker, Kylie Springer, Kari Jarabek, Michael Melhem, Heegook Yeo, Jian-Hui Hu, Jad Khalil, Kenneth Easton, Richard Easton, Doris Tong, Miguelangelo Perez-Cruet, Noojan Kazemi, Ilyas Aleem, Muwaffak Abulhak, Victor Chang

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been introduced to several surgical specialties with the intention to reduce peri-operative adverse events and improve various health-system quality metrics including length of stay and patient satisfaction. Though this has been studied in the setting of spine surgery, the vast majority are single institution protocols biased toward academic teaching hospitals. There is a paucity of literature studying the utilization of a multi-institutional ERAS protocols that is applicable to community hospitals without associated training programs. We present the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) two-year experience implementing a multi-institutional ERAS protocol for elective …