Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Ireland’S Energy Transition: Unlocking The Potential Of Offshore Renewables, Caoimhe O'Hare, Madjid Karimirad, Gautam Baruah

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of The Nature Restoration Law In The Eu - Pros, Cons And Impossibilities, Emma Mcdonagh, Liam Sunner

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

From Conflict To Connection: Educators Leading The Shift Towards Restorative Practices (Rp) In Deis Primary Schools, Ellen Slattery, Clara Hoyne

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Anne M. Friel, Brigid Hooban, Therese Montgomery, Anne Marie O'Brien, Cormac Quigley, Edel Mcneela, Eva Campion, James Walshe, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap From Preschool To Primary: From Policy To Practice, Aimee O'Connor, Cóilín O’ Braonáin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Insecticide Resistance Profile In Nashville Culex Spp. Mosquito Populations, Ellie Sebaugh, Zachary Bement, Abelardo Moncayo, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Mosquitoes may develop resistance to insecticides used by control programs, potentially increasing population density and the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Culex spp. mosquitos are the primary vector of West Nile Virus (WNV), the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States and a reportable disease in Tennessee. Resistance profiles were constructed for two insecticides, permethrin and malathion, in a Culex spp. population from Nashville, Tennessee. Adult female mosquitoes were live-captured using gravid traps and tested using the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bioassay protocol to assess resistance or susceptibility. Three inhibitors were also included to identify metabolic …

Identifying Superior Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L.) Landraces Using The Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (Mgidi), Sujan Chapagaina, Bishnu Prasad Kandela, Sudikshya Shresthaa, Ankur Poudela, Shubh Pravat Singh Yadavb

Extension Publications

Genetic variability and selection are crucial for finger millet breeding programs to maximize genetic gain and productivity. This study evaluated 18 finger millet landraces cultivated in the mid-hills of Nepal, along with ‘Kavre Kodo 2’ as a check variety, assessing 14 agro-morphological traits. The objective was to identify superior finger millet landraces using a multivariate approach based on the multi-trait genotype– ideotype distance index (MGIDI). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Principal component analysis revealed that the first five components collectively accounted for 80.8% of the total variation, reflecting the genetic relatedness …

Impact Of Height On Primrose Leaf Litter Decomposition, Lilianna Wrenne, Jacey Cardenas, Danner Brown, Wyatt Fooks, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Decomposition is a crucial process in nutrient cycling, where dead organic matter turns into nutrients for the environment. Height is a significant abiotic factor that can influence these factors. Dried primrose was chosen for this experiment to test how much height affects decomposition; 8 mesh bags were filled with 4.0g of dried primrose leaves. Four bags were placed at ground level, and four were placed on top of a plant, 2ft above the ground. Using the fishing line, the bags at each site were tied together to prevent them from blowing away. By changing the height of the plants, the …

Comparative Decomposition Rates Of Prickly Pear And Sage Using Litterbags, Curtis Jang, Vy Ly, Ashlyn Reagan, Ellie Sebaugh, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Litterbags are used to study nutrient cycling and track the rate of decomposition over time. Decomposition rates may vary between plant species due to various factors. One factor includes the abundance of lignin, or a structural component that provides support to a plant, which can slow the rate of decomposition. This study compared the decomposition rate of sage (Salvia officinalis), which has higher lignin levels, and prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa), which has higher water content and thus lower lignin levels. Four samples of each species, with two replicates each, were initially weighed and then placed in …

Presence Of Ophiognomonia Clavivignenti-Juglandacearum On Juglans Cinerea At Beaman Park In Nashville, Tennessee, Corinne Parker, Kidist Aklile, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Butternut trees, (white walnut, Juglans cinerea), are infected by a fatal canker, Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum (O-cj), which impacts the survival and population density of the species. Once found throughout the eastern United States, the species has decreased considerably. Due to its uncommon occurrence in Middle Tennessee, the conditions of J. cinerea were investigated at Beaman Park in Nashville, TN. All butternut trees were hypothesized to be infected by O-cj. Each known tree in the park was examined to assess its bark health and determine the presence of the canker. Ecosystem analyses around each tree included surveys of soil characteristics, …

Temporal And Heterogeneous Graph Neural Network For Remaining Useful Life Prediction, Zhihao Wen, Yuan Fang, Pengcheng Wei, Fayao Liu, Zhenghua Chen, Min Wu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Predicting remaining useful life (RUL) plays a crucial role in the prognostics and health management of industrial systems that involve a variety of interrelated sensors. Given a constant stream of time-series sensory data from such systems, deep learning (DL) models have risen to prominence at identifying complex, nonlinear temporal dependencies in these data. In addition to the temporal dependencies of individual sensors, spatial dependencies emerge as important correlations among these sensors, which can be naturally modeled by a temporal graph that describes time-varying spatial relationships. However, the majority of existing studies have relied on capturing discrete snapshots of this temporal …

2025 November - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

The month of November 2025 averaged warmer than normal by 2-4°F across most of the state. The northeastern corner of TN was closer to average, with a few areas even slightly cooler than normal. Additionally, November was drier than normal for most areas, with the exception of a few parts of the Cumberland Plateau and in East TN where heavier bands of precipitation set up while most of the state recorded only light rainfall.

The main weather and climate story of November 2025 was the early taste of winter that impacted the state November 9-12, which also coincided …

Impact Of Lignin Content On Decomposition Rates, Lindsey Powell, Olivia Fawkes, Moses Elijah Cadawas, Isaac Paul Dent, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

This study aimed to analyze decomposition rates of plants containing different amounts of lignin. Lignin can be found within cell wall structures in plants and aids in natural rigidity. Opuntia humifusa was chosen to represent plants with high levels of lignin, and Allium schoenoprasum was chosen in contrast because of its significantly lower levels of lignin. Due to these characteristics, A. schoenoprasum is hypothesized to decompose at a quicker rate than O. humifusa. To test this hypothesis, eight samples of O. humifusa and eight samples of A. schoenoprasum were placed in litter bags to prevent macroorganisms from aiding in …

Assessment Of Nature Based Solutions Through Soil Microbial Community Diversity Using Biolog Ecoplates™, Roma C. Brassell, Lili M. Wrenne, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Nature-based solutions (NBS) mimic the functions of natural environments to promote ecosystem services beneficial to society and biodiversity, which is especially crucial to urban environments. On a college campus in an urban landscape, how do NBSs affect soil microbial diversity? Three soil samples were collected from seven locations across Belmont University’s campus in Nashville, TN: a community garden, rose garden, indigenous-people’s garden, manufactured creek, two green roofs, and an alley-berm as the control. To characterize each site, the pH, nitrogen and phosphorus level, percent moisture, and soil type were determined. Plant diversity and percent coverage were assessed using a 1 …

An Update & Exploration Of The Herbarium At Belmont University, Corinne Parker, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Belmont University Herbarium is a collection of plant samples used to catalogue species for research and teaching. These specimens have been collected by Belmont students since 1973, helping to document the flora of Middle Tennessee. This semester the specimens have been organized, and identifications have been confirmed. An Excel spreadsheet was developed to record the specimens. This allowed for analyses of the 1,790 specimens by phylum and family. The updated organization of the herbarium and spreadsheet allows for faster specimen retrieval and identification of target species for future collection.

“The Role Of Machine Learning In Social Media Content Moderation”, Bethaney A. Mallory-Smothers

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The majority of the world's over one billion active users depend on large-scale machine learning based social media platforms to personalize content through various methods of curation. Recommendation systems use many types of machine learning model including collaborative filtering, content-based filtering and deep learning to find what a specific user is likely to be interested in, and therefore increase user engagement. As beneficial as this is to the user experience, it has also generated a significant amount of concern about both bias in recommendations and the dissemination of false information on the web, as well as issues related to the …

Composition Pedagogy As Ai‑Native Coding: From Design Kit To Scholarly Framework, Daniel Plate, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This article advances a field-ready framework that reconceives first-year composition as AI-native coding, translating a complete “design kit” into scholarly method, evaluative protocol, and curriculum architecture. Background: Contemporary composition pedagogy emphasizes process, genre awareness, and collaborative revision; meanwhile, modern software practice operationalizes iteration through version control, test-driven development, and continuous integration. The uploaded kit demonstrates that these cultures are isomorphic: writing stages align with SDLC phases, and automated pipelines can lint prose, execute argument “tests,” and publish artifacts with auditable histories. Approach: The study systematizes that kit into (1) a conceptual map that recasts authorship as orchestration and verification, (2) …

Perspectives On Firearm Storage Conversations: Summary Of Health Care Provider Interviews And Parent Focus Group, Rachel M. Gallo Mph

Publications

This report summarizes perspectives from Maine parents who own firearms and health care providers on safe firearm storage and related conversations in health care settings. Through interviews and a parent focus group, the project explored how firearms are stored, what influences storage decisions, and how families and providers feel about discussing firearm safety. Parents emphasized the importance of responsible ownership, education, and individualized storage solutions, while identifying cost as a key barrier to safer storage options. Many health care providers expressed interest in addressing firearm safety but cited limited time, lack of training, and concerns about patient trust as challenges. …

Ai Companions And The Lessons Of Family Law, Clare Huntington

Faculty Scholarship

Virtual friends and lovers powered by artificial intelligence are rapidly moving to the center of our emotional and social lives. Millions of people turn to AI companions every day for conversation, romance, sexual intimacy, therapy, and education. AI companionship holds promise, potentially reducing loneliness, supporting people without access to mental health treatment, helping students learn, and offering a judgment-free space for sensitive conversations. But AI companionship also raises significant concerns. The technology's addictiveness may exacerbate loneliness and can undermine human relationships. Therapy bots may prove more harmful than helpful. AI companions can be emotionally abusive. And their access to the …

Universal Crackling Noise Links Plasticity In Nanoindentation With Compression In Metallic Glasses, Jordan Sickle, Wesley H. Higgins, Kerry A. Baker, Mayisha Nakib, Xiaojun Gu, George M. Pharr, Wendelin Wright, Karin A. Dahmen

Faculty Journal Articles

For decades, compression tests have been a standard method for identifying materials properties. However, these tests are slow, destructive, and require fabricating multiple potentially expensive bulk samples. Nanoindentation is fast, almost non-destructive, and requires only a single sample, to which large numbers of indents can be applied. Furthermore, nanoindentation is widely applicable, even to materials that are too brittle for traditional compression tests. Here, we show that nanoindentation is sufficient for extracting much of the same information that is measured in traditional sample compression tests in metallic glasses. The dynamics and statistics of the plasticity of two types of metallic …

A Century Of Sediment Metal Contamination Of Mar Menor, Europe's Largest Saltwater Lagoon, Irene Alorda-Montiel, Valentí Rodellas, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Albert Palanques, Andrea G. Bravo, Júlia Rodriguez-Puig, Aaron Alorda-Kleinglass, Carlos Green-Ruiz, Marc Diego-Feliu, Pere Masqué, Javier Gilabert, Jordi Garcia-Orellana

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal enclosed ecosystems, such as lagoons, are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts because they favor the accumulation of contaminants from the surrounding watersheds, particularly in their sediments. Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor (SE, Iberian Peninsula), is a highly impacted ecosystem and the first in the continent to be granted personhood rights. Based on a high-resolution spatial and temporal dataset, we present the historical reconstruction of metal contamination in this ecosystem during the last century. Our results highlight that sediment metal contamination has been mainly driven by the development of the mining industry in the nearby Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La …

Examining The Perception Of Maritime Instructors In Upskilling And Reskilling Seafarers Towards Decarbonization, Michelle Margallo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Technology Transfer In The Implementation Of The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, Christine Nzambi Mulatya

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessing Marpol Annex V Port Reception Facilities Of The National Port Of Liberia (Freeport Of Monrovia), Barbara Wade Cummings

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Fisheries Observer Program Of Guyana’S Seabob Trawl Fishery : Insights Into Scientific Aspects And Onboard Working Conditions, Kadesha Shawyana Nedd

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Living Shoreline Prioritization And Hydrodynamic Habitat Suitability Models For Restoration In The Indian River Lagoon And Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida, Kelly M. Kibler, Melinda J. Donnelly, Vincent Encomio, Madison Giuntoli, Manisha Thenuwara, Brice Bennett, Laura Andrade Barron, Mariam Sonbol, Wynter Raine Seppala, Namritha Ramakrishnan, Jennifer Jordan Báez, Beth Orlando, Irene Arpayoglou, Melissa Meisenburg

Indian River Lagoon Shorelines

The spatial dataset: UCF_shorelinemodel_IRL_LWL.shp, was created with support from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuaries Program and Florida Sea Grant. These projects cumulatively led to creation of a living shoreline restoration prioritization model and hydrodynamic habitat suitability models for 1,550 km (963 miles) of estuarine shorelines in Indian River Lagoon and Lake Worth Lagoon.

The dataset presented herein includes:

1. shoreline data from >15,000 transects collected in the field,
2. shoreline wave climate data created through hydrodynamic modeling and frequency analysis of historic data,
3. categorization of potential risk for shoreline boat wake impact,
4. persistence of seagrass within 210 m of the shoreline, …

Explainable Sentiment Analysis With Deepseek-R1: Performance, Efficiency, And Few-Shot Learning, Donghao Huang, Zhaoxia Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Large language models (LLMs) have transformed sentiment analysis, yet balancing accuracy, efficiency, and explainability remains a critical challenge. This study presents the first comprehensive evaluation of DeepSeek-R1—an open-source reasoning model—against OpenAI’s GPT-4o and GPT-4o-mini. We test the full 671B model and its distilled variants, systematically documenting few-shot learning curves. Our experiments show DeepSeek-R1 achieves a 91.39% F1 score on 5-class sentiment and 99.31% accuracy on binary tasks with just 5 shots, an eightfold improvement in few-shot efficiency over GPT-4o. Architecture-specific distillation effects emerge, where a 32B Qwen2.5-based model outperforms the 70B Llama-based variant by 6.69 percentage points. While its reasoning …

Does Generative Ai Facilitate Investor Trading? Early Evidence From Chatgpt Outages, Qiang Cheng, Pengkai Lin, Yue Zhao

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

In this paper, we use ChatGPT outages to provide early evidence on whether investors rely on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to perform professional tasks and the associated impact on stock price informativeness. We document a significant decline in stock trading volume during ChatGPT outages. The effect is stronger for firms with corporate news released immediately before or during the outages and for firms with higher ownership held by transient institutional investors. We then document declines in short-run price impact and return variance during the outage periods, consistent with reduced informed trading. Lastly, we document a positive effect of GenAI-assisted trading …

Chain Of Strategy Optimization Makes Large Language Models Better Emotional Supporter, Weixiang Zhao, Xingyu Sui, Xinyang Han, Yang Deng, Yulin Hu, Jiahe Guo, Libo Qin, Qianyun Du, Shijin Wang, Yanyan Zhao, Bing Qin, Ting Liu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The growing emotional stress in modern society has increased the demand for Emotional Support Conversations (ESC). While Large Language Models (LLMs) show promise for ESC, they face two key challenges: (1) low strategy selection accuracy, and (2) preference bias, limiting their adaptability to users’ emotional needs. Existing supervised fine-tuning (SFT) struggles to address these issues, as it rigidly trains models on single gold-standard responses without modeling nuanced strategy trade-offs. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel two-stage framework that optimizes strategy selection preferences at each dialogue turn. We first leverage Monte Carlo Tree Search to construct ESC-Pro, a high-quality …

Security Modelling For Cyber-Physical Systems: A Systematic Literature Review, Shao Fei Huang, Christopher M. Poskitt, Lwin Khin Shar

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Cyber-physical systems are at the intersection of digital technology and engineering domains, rendering them high-value targets of sophisticated and well-funded cybersecurity threat actors. Prominent cybersecurity attacks on CPS have brought attention to the vulnerability of these systems and the inherent weaknesses of critical infrastructure reliant on them. Security modelling for CPS is an important mechanism to systematically identify and assess vulnerabilities, threats, and risks throughout system life cycles, and to ultimately ensure system resilience, safety, and reliability. This survey delves into state-of-the-art research on CPS security modelling, encompassing both threat and attack modelling. While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, …