Digital Commons Network^™

David Hawkins’ Scale Of Consciousness: Its Origin, Contemporary Philosophical Principles, And Negative Impacts, Dr. Muzun Bint Yahya Al-Qahtani

UB Journal for Humanities

Research Topic: This research examines the ideas and philosophy of David Hawkins, which he establishes through his scale. It examines the scale and its levels in detail through his books, and the most important linear philosophies upon which Hawkins relied and disseminated in his courses and applications under the name “Consciousness Scale.”

Research Objectives: To highlight the seriousness of the scale and the philosophies upon which it is based, and the philosophies upon which the scale is based and disseminated.

Key Findings: This philosophical scale establishes the doctrine of spiritual atheism, the unity of being, and the pursuit of deification …

Visual Augmented Tutorial Agent For Software Tutorial, Shengyang Luo, Yingjie Chen

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Many existing software tutorials lack clear interaction cues (clicks, drags, shortcuts), causing learners to frequently rewind and lose flow. To address this, we propose a system that infers user actions by analyzing frame-to-frame changes using a multimodal LLM, then overlays predefined visual indicators, such as click ripples, drag trails, and shortcut labels, at precise cursor positions. To ensure reliable task classification and avoid hallucinations, we integrate RAG, grounding the model with official software documentation. This approach aims to enhance older tutorials with accurate, actionable interaction feedback, improving clarity and learning efficiency.

Using Generative Ai In Computer Science Internships; Implications For Career Readiness, Mitra Panahi, Lucas G. Zangari, Gaurang Kamat, Olufisayo Omojokun, Alejandra J. Magana, Ricardo Eiris, Pedro Guillermo Feijóo-García

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This empirical study delves into how computer science interns use generative AI tools during their internship experience and shows how these technologies connect academic training with practical professional practice. Grounded on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), we examine how GenAI usage influences students' self-efficacy and internship outcomes during internships in fast-changing tech environments. Data were gathered via mixed-methods surveys from 40 undergraduate computer science students at a large Southeastern U.S. public university, with internship experience and also worked as teaching assistants. Findings show that while GenAI got the green light in 65.8% of internships, its use was cautious and infrequent …

The Effects Of Altitude On Air Source Heat Pump Performance In The Andes, Ajay Dalal, Walter Daniel Leon-Salas, William Hutzel, Pedro Flores Larico, Miguel Angel Vizcardo Cornejo, Mauricio Postigo Malaga, Miguel Angel Ocharan Pichu

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

The global push for decarbonization has highlighted the need for sustainable heating solutions, particularly in geographically challenging and remote locations such as the Peruvian Andes, where traditional heating methods are inefficient and pollute the environment. Air source heat pumps are a viable solution but come with their own challenges, including cost, access to electricity, and performance degradation at high altitudes. A project is underway to install and evaluate an air-source heat pump at a research station located at an altitude of 4,128 m in Sumbay, Peru. The primary goal of this research is to evaluate and expand existing models that …

Tailoring Cathode Structure And Materials To Enable Fast Charging And Extended Lifespan In Li-S Batteries, Yuxuan Zhang, Yeongjun Oh, Sunghwan Lee

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

The practical implementation of Li–S batteries is limited by sluggish sulfur redox kinetics and inefficient ion transport in high-mass-loading cathodes, challenges that are further exacerbated under fast-charging and high-power operation. Conventional electrocatalyst-based strategies can partially suppress electrochemical polarization by lowering reaction energy barriers, yet they do not address concentration and ohmic polarizations, which dominate in thick electrodes. Here, we introduce a coupled material–architecture design that integrates electrocatalysts into a low-tortuosity, correlated dual-gradient electrode fabricated using programmable high-resolution stereolithography and pyrolysis-induced carbonization. By deliberately pairing a microscale pore-size gradient with a corresponding active-material gradient, the electrode synchronizes redox progression across its …

Stretchable Screen-Printed Tpu–Cnf Sensors: Fabrication And Electromechanical Performance, Diana Narvaez, Brittany Newell

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Stretchable strain sensors are essential for motion monitoring in wearable systems and soft robotics, requiring materials that combine high elasticity, durability, and stable electromechanical response. In this work, a screen-printable TPU–CNF conductive ink was formulated and used to fabricate stretchable sensors on 3D-printed TPU substrates. Comparison with fully conductive FDM-printed TPU dog-bone samples revealed porosity, weak interlayer adhesion, and unstable resistance, motivating the adoption of a solvent-based ink approach. The TPU–CNF ink produced uniform, well-adhered conductive networks through controlled microcracking during drying, enabling reliable strain sensing across three geometries (i.e., zigzag, interdigitated, line). Mechanical testing showed high elongation and consistent …

Potential Electric Vertical Taking-Off And Landing Aircraft (Evtol) Site Location Considering Flight Missions And Repeatability, Yinfei Liu, Joseph Hupy

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

As electric vertical taking-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) technology and associated infrastructure continue to advance, the prospect of achieving actual commercial operations is gradually becoming feasible. For this novel urban transportation mode, the capability to continuously accomplish flight missions is one of the critical factors determining its eventual eligibility for commercial operation. An analysis of applying rapid charging can provide valuable insights into the development and potential solutions for enhancing eVTOL mission repeatability, given the limitations of eVTOL battery capacity and endurance. This study focuses on the optimal location selection of eVTOL sites through a hierarchical screening approach utilizing ArcGIS, …

Optimal Anchor Placement For Cable-Driven Parallel Robots On Curved Surfaces, Lei Jin, Dongming Gan, Tarek Taha

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are increasingly used for inspection and maintenance on large curved surfaces where traditional planar anchor layouts fail. This work introduces a unified geodesic–optimization framework for determining optimal anchor configurations that ensure both static feasibility and dynamic efficiency. The method first models curved surfaces using local tangent-plane coordinates to compute cable directions accurately, then evaluates anchor candidates through linear-programming tension optimization. Dynamic simulations along representative motion paths—spiral, circular, and zigzag—quantify total cable energy for ranking feasible configurations. Results show that anchors raised above mid-latitude and symmetrically distributed around the workspace minimize both peak tension and total energy …

Modification Of Copper-Based Catalysts With Conductive Polymers For Co2 Conversion With High C2+ Selectivity, Minyoung Kim, Dong Hun Lee, Reilly Eiynck, Meredith Zannacker, Reese Resheske, Sujat Sen, Sunghwan Lee

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is abundant in our atmosphere, and its conversion to value-added using renewable electricity is currently an active area of investigation at both lab and commercial scale. Previous research has shown that copper-based catalysts can produce a wide range of hydrocarbons through the electrochemical reduction of CO2 under ambient conditions. Herein, we report on the modification of copper-based thin films as composite catalysts by depositing conductive polymers to improve the selectivity of CO2 conversion as well as surface stabilization. The copper layer was thermally evaporated onto PTFE substrates, showing a highly uniform film morphology and thickness with excellent …

Integrated Simulation Of Alloy Composition And Process Parameters For Fluidity Optimization In Hpdc Aluminum Alloys, Xin He, Xiaoming Wang

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Fluidity is a critical factor in high-pressure die casting (HPDC) of aluminum alloys, directly influencing mold filling behavior, defect formation, and the mechanical reliability of cast components. This study employs multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate how alloy composition, process parameters, and die conditions collectively affect molten metal flow and solidification dynamics. Key variables include viscosity, thermal conductivity, solidification range, pouring temperature, injection velocity, die geometry, and preheating temperature. Alloys with a narrow solidification range and lower thermal conductivity exhibit prolonged liquid-phase duration, which enhances flowability and reduces the risk of cold shuts and porosity. In contrast, increased …

Function-Adaptive Hulls: Reconfigurable Building Material For Multipurpose Unmanned Vehicles, Yubing Han, Brittany Newell, Richard Voyles

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This research presents a scalable building material for unmanned vehicles, inspired by origami principles and designed for adaptive functionality and stealth. Traditional fixed-shape vehicles face significant limitations in optimizing performance metrics such as velocity, payload capacity, and observability, often resulting in highly specialized designs that increase costs and resource consumption. To address the challenge, we introduce self-folding building material that incorporates pre-constructed creases, embedded actuation mechanisms, and location tags. The system utilizes electric rails organized on multiple levels, enabling switch modules to traverse internal channels and activate folding circuits with precision. A two-step folding process is demonstrated to reduce actuation …

From Text To Action: Seeing Software Commands Through Ar Gestures, Shengyang Luo, Yingjie Chen

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Learning feature-rich software often requires mastering complex keyboard-mouse combinations, yet text-based tutorials struggle to convey how these interactions should physically happen. Many learners pause, re-read, and search online, still unsure how to execute commands until a TA or peer demonstrates the gesture in person. We explore an AR-based tutorial approach that displays 3D hand and input animations directly within the learner’s view as they operate the software. By turning written instructions into embodied, real-time motion guidance, this system aims to make advanced software interactions more intuitive and accessible, reducing confusion and supporting confident skill development.

From Outdoor Curiosity To Engineering Learning: Developing An Augmented Reality Module Grounded In Student Experiences, Mohammed Metwaly, Adel Elwakil, Selena Nadjarian, Farid El Breidi

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Engineering education often overlooks the formative influence of outdoor experiences in shaping students’ curiosity about how things work. This study examines how such experiences contribute to students’ interest in engineering and demonstrates how those insights can inform experiential learning tools. A mixed-methods survey was administered to 189 Mechanical Engineering Technology undergraduates, yielding 150 complete responses. The instrument combined Likert-scale items and open-ended prompts to capture demographics, nature affinity, formative outdoor activities, and connections between those experiences and engineering interest. Reliability testing confirmed strong internal consistency (α = 0.854; ω = 0.751). Nearly half of respondents (47%) identified outdoor experiences as …

Explanations For Machine Learning Pipelines Under Data Drift, Jahid Hasan, Romila Pradhan

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Ensuring the robustness of data preprocessing pipelines is essential for maintaining the reliability of machine learning model performance in the face of real-world data shifts. Traditional methods optimize preprocessing sequences for specific datasets but often overlook their vulnerability to future data variations. This research introduces a vulnerability score to quantify the susceptibility of preprocessing components to data shift. We propose a Linear Regression approach to establish a predictive relationship between the vulnerability of the pipeline components and changes in the model’s performance. The generated relationships act as explanations for practitioners of the system and help them quantify the robustness of …

Emotion Driven Rumor Detection And Analysis: An Llm(Large Language Model) Augmented Approach, Chinelo Njoku, Yingjie Chen

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Misinformation and rumors during public health crises significantly affect lives and increases mistrust in government and public health institutions. The circulation and amplification of rumors often worsen disease transmission and impede effective interventions. Historically, rumor spread has been a recurring issue in public health emergencies. For example, during the Ebola outbreak, misinformation about the virus and its treatment created deep mistrust of health workers. Similarly, in the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread misinformation fueled public panic and vaccine hesitancy. Previous research has primarily identified social media as a channel for rumor dissemination and focused on automatic rumor detection for fact-checking using binary …

Electro-Thermal Performance Of Dc-Powered Heat Pumps In Nanogrid Applications, Ehijie Ebewele, William Hutzel

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This research investigates the electro-thermal performance of DC-powered air-source heat pump systems integrated into residential DC Nanogrids. By avoiding AC-DC conversion losses and further optimizing renewable energy integration, DC-powered heat pumps offer better energy efficiency and system stability. A comprehensive MATLAB/Simulink model is developed by integrating electrodynamics and thermodynamics to predict system behavior across a wide range of environmental and operational conditions.

Edge Ai-Enabled Vagus Nerve Analysis For Adaptive Neuromodulation In Diabetes, Saeka Rahman, Reepa Saha, Md Motiur Rahman, Ardavan Vakil, Hope Teng, Muhammad Arafin Khan, Benjamin Larimer, Rita Basu, Andy Basu, Amy Warriner, Miad Faezipour, S. Abdollah Mirbozorgi

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Comprehending the neural mechanisms underlying Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is critical to developing next generation bioelectronic therapies. This work-in-progress presents a novel neural interface that integrates edge artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and flexible implantable electronics to record, analyze, and modulate vagus nerve activity in real time for potential diabetes treatment and reversal. The proposed system combines low-power, semi-analog signal processing with embedded AI/ML algorithms capable of performing on-chip feature extraction and classification of neural signals under stringent power and communication constraints. By leveraging edge-based learning, the platform will enable adaptive neuromodulation of vagus nerve activity, providing a closed-loop …

Assessing Disparities In Breast Cancer Incidence Across Indiana Counties With Geographic Information System And Machine Learning, Shuning Yin, Gaurav Nanda, Raji Sundararajan

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This study investigates potential spatial variations in breast cancer incidence across Indiana counties using geographic information systems (GIS) and machine learning (ML) techniques. Breast cancer continues to be a major public health challenge influenced by unequal access to healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures. By integrating GIS and ML, this research identifies key factors and potential spatial patterns associated with breast cancer incidence across Indiana. The statistical analysis produced a highly significant result (p < 0.001), indicating that the independent variables collectively contribute to explaining breast cancer incidence, though the model’s explanatory power was moderate (adjusted R² = 0.25). Among all variables, distance to the nearest hospital and tobacco expenditure showed significant associations with breast cancer incidence, while other factors such as health insurance coverage were not statistically meaningful. The Koenker (BP) statistic was 5.141, indicating spatial stability and confirming that no distinct spatial variation was observed across counties. Findings show that counties farther from healthcare facilities did not necessarily have higher breast cancer incidence, and higher incidence in urban areas, such as Indianapolis, Lake, and Porter Counties, likely reflect better access to screening and diagnosis rather than higher disease occurrence. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating additional variables, including genetic predispositions, racial and ethnic disparities, and environmental conditions, in future studies. Expanding the analytical framework could enhance understanding of spatial patterns and guide efforts to improve healthcare access and cancer prevention in Indiana.

Ai-Powered Pacifier With Intraoral Sound Analysis For Neonatal Pulmonary Monitoring, Shiva Shokouhmand, Md Motiur Rahman, Saeka Rahman, Indya Mooney, Guoliang Zhang, Smriti Bhatt, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Colm P. Travers, S. Abdollah Mirbozorgi, Miad Faezipour

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Respiratory monitoring in neonates remains a clinical challenge due to the limitations of existing pulmonary function assessment tools and the infant’s delicate physiology. This work-in-progress presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven framework for intraoral respiratory analysis using a smart pacifier platform that integrates acoustic sensing, embedded electronics, and deep learning. The proposed AI model is based upon a deep convolutional neural network that processes intraoral breathing sound reflections passively, or in presence of active sound stimuli. By learning complex temporal-spectral features from the breathing sound signals, the AI model will estimate key cardiorespiratory measures (e.g., respiratory rate, lung capacity) and the …

Adaptive Focus Agent For Video-Based Software Learning, Shengyang Luo, Yingjie Chen

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Not every learner has a powerful computer or a dual-monitor setup. Some follow software tutorials with only a laptop, or even a phone, squinting to catch tiny cursor movements and clicks meant for larger screens. These moments slow their progress, break their flow, and make advanced digital skills feel farther away than they should be. Our work aims to explore how an AI-assisted dynamic zoom system can help. By automatically detecting interaction moments and enlarging the relevant region in tutorial videos, we aim to make subtle actions clearer, support confident learning across device conditions, and bring expert-level instruction closer to …

Adaptive Droop Control Gain Tuning Of Grid-Forming Inverters For Stability Enhancement Of Diesel-Plus-Battery Islanded Microgrids, Ram Shankar Yallamilli, Xiaonan Lu

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This paper presents an adaptive gain tuning approach to enhance frequency stability in islanded microgrids consisting of diesel generators and grid-forming (GFM) inverters. Although GFM inverters provide voltage and frequency regulation capabilities, their interaction with diesel generators can introduce dynamic challenges such as reduced system inertia and frequency deviations during load transients. Existing studies have focused on small-signal modeling and damping methods but often overlook data-driven techniques for improving transient stability under varying diesel-to-GFM power ratios and inverter droop settings. To address this gap, this work investigates frequency stability behavior across different diesel and inverter power rating ratios and analyzes …

A Smarter Way To Watch Over Alpacas In Peru, Nicolas Rendon-Arias, Juyoung Kim, Walter Daniel Leon-Salas

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

In the Andean region of Peru, alpacas are more than animals. They are a lifeline for entire families who rely on them. Shepherds, many of whom live in remote mountain areas, spend countless hours watching over their herds. Without fences or boundaries, alpacas can spread out for miles, sometimes vanishing behind valleys or hills. When this happens, shepherds may spend hours searching for them. In these high-altitude areas, phone signals are rare, and internet connections are unreliable. As a result, families face stress, lost time, and even financial losses when animals go missing. At Purdue’s Tiny Lab, we focus on …

An Examination Of Two Atypical Carbonaceous Chondrites, Nico Morrelli, Melinda Hutson

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

Carbonaceous chondrites are meteorites that represent ancient Solar System material, and are classified into groups separating different parent bodies. CML 1689 and CML 1723 are two carbonaceous chondrites that appeared atypical to official groups and required further investigation in order to classify. CML 1723 contains an abundance of magnetite grains, porphyritic chondrules, and a lack of CAIs and metals. The fayalite contents of olivine grains and the composition of the magnetite grains are consistent with a CK chondrite. The moderate discernability of chondrules and equilibrated olivine compositions are typical of a type 5 chondrite, representing a moderately metamorphosed meteorite. CML …

Black Women In Oregon Academia, Topanga Shakur-Freeman

PSU McNair Scholars Online Journal

Black women scholars are a powerful demographic of intellectuals navigating a haunted house of academia, a structure erected upon the bones of a grotesque past. Black women scholars navigate a complex and often hostile academic landscape, a realm marked by under representation and the insidious interplay of race and gender. Oregon, a state steeped in a sinister history of racial terror, casts a long shadow over its present. Its soil, contaminated by the blood of countless Black lives, serves as a fertile ground for the insidious growth of systemic racism. Until 1905, a malevolent decree barred Black individuals from even …

Assessing The Information Literacy Skills Of Faculty And Students In Using Open Educational Resources In Nigerian Universities, Adeniran Adetoro

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Access to Open Educational Resources (OERs) by university libraries and through online sources is trending among academics and students in Nigeria, particularly given the emphasis on it by the National Universities commission in recent times. Extant literature points to low level of use of OERs among faculty and students, and there is an urgent need to understand the extent to which their information literacy (IL)skills can explain this and how IL drives OERs practical use for academic purposes. Thus, the paper investigates the perceived information literacy of faculty and graduate students in using open educational resources in federal universities in …

Teaching Ourselves Ai Literacy, Kelly Jones, Chandler Christoffel

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

To prepare to teach and support AI literacy, we organized an internal mini-conference for our Academic Engagement department. During each session, librarians taught one another various AI-related modules (e.g., ethics, prompt design, tools) as though leading a real class with students. We encouraged the use of active learning strategies and asked participants to submit session proposals in advance so we could offer feedback. This approach to professional development allowed us to rapidly test and refine our instructional methods and deepen our AI expertise. This mini-conference also helped us generate valuable content—including lessons, slides, assessments, and activities — for an AI …

Back Matter

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

An Interview With Ilan Stavans

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Interview With Harry Morales, Translator

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Attention Please, Diane Ackerman

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.