Automatic Three Phase Balancing in Utility Applications

Balancing three-phase power has become more important as modern loads like EVs and large agricultural fans create fast and uneven changes in distribution systems. Manual balancing is slow, inconsistent, and often only done during certain “seasons,” which leaves long periods of imbalance. This paper reviews existing automatic methods such as the Fast-Switching Relay method, the Practical Balancing Algorithm, and the Phase-EQ system and highlights their benefits and limitations. Based on this analysis, a new method called the Predicted Practical Balancing Algorithm (PPBA) is proposed. The PPBA combines the stability of threshold-based switching with historical data to predict when imbalances are likely to occur. This allows the system to react sooner while still protecting against unnecessary switching. While the PPBA still depends on having enough good historical data, it provides a more practical and proactive approach for utilities looking to improve phase balancing without major infrastructure changes

Evaluation of Lead Migration at Public Shooting Ranges in Arkansas

One of the primary criticisms of shooting sports is the detrimental impact of lead on the environment and human health. An approach to reduce the impact of lead more broadly on the environment is to use specific areas to concentrate and sequester the lead (i.e., shooting ranges).The Environmental Protection Agency has published a brochure (last updated 2005) outlining the ‘best management practices’ that can be used to mitigate lead erosion from shooting ranges. While there are many practices and mitigation approaches included in this document, it is important to adapt these principles to suit each specific shooting range location. In typical surface conditions lead generally oxidizes quickly into hydrocerussite (Pb3(CO)3(OH)2) which tends to be insoluble. While insoluble, the lead can still be transported via mechanical transport as water erodes surface materials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lead migration in the soil at a shooting range. The study site is a public shooting range, which has utilized the EPA\u27s management strategies. A suite of samples were collected in a grid pattern at the base of the soil berms, additional samples were taken of the erosional pathways, catchment pond and other areas. In addition to the preliminary study, we revisited this site a year later and included another shooting range in our study. Lead concentrations were measured using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer. Our results indicate that lead had been carried beyond the shooting range and catchment pond

Assessing the Impact of Kindergarten Bootcamp on School Readiness of Incoming Kindergarteners

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a kindergarten bootcamp program in preparing children to start their transition into formal education. This research will focus on assessing the changes in the children\u27s readiness by conducting systematic observations on both the first and last days of the bootcamp with particular emphasis on examining student behavior, including engagement, attention span, self-regulation, and peer interactions as these are all critical indicators of one\u27s readiness for the classroom. Data was collected through structured observations, semi-structured interviews with the instructor, and follow-up reflections with parents conducted several months after program completion. Data was then evaluated to determine if the participation in the kindergarten bootcamp fosters improvement in a child\u27s behavioral adjustment, confidence, and preparedness for the kindergarten environment. In addition, this paper looks at the reason for a child\u27s behavior and how it connects with Maslow\u27s Hierarchy of Needs

Perceptions and Experiences of the Mentees and Mentors of the Arkansas Superintendents Mentoring Program From 2020-2025

This qualitative phenomenological study examines the perceptions and experiences of mentees and mentors participating in the Arkansas Superintendent Mentoring and Induction Program from 2020 to 2025. As the role of the school superintendent has evolved into a complex orchestration of political, managerial, and instructional leadership, new administrators stepping into the role of the superintendent face significant challenges. This study explored the effectiveness of the program’s curriculum and the impact of the mentoring relationship. Data analysis revealed six major themes, highlighting that the program serves as a critical emotional and professional lifeline that bridges the gap between theoretical preparation and the daily realities of district leadership. Key findings from this study indicate that mentoring successfully mitigates executive isolation and fosters a reciprocity loop where mentors/veteran leaders also experience professional growth. The findings from this study suggest that while the program is highly valued, there is a strong demand for a more human-centric curriculum. Recommendations include establishing an optional second year of mentorship and creating collaborative networks for mentors to share best practices. Ultimately, this research underscores the vital role of structured mentorship in ensuring the stability of superintendents in Arkansas

Quantifying and Navigating the Potential Impacts of the MVP Southgate Extension on North Carolina’s MMIW Crisis

Across the United States and Canada, there is an ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). While there are multiple intersecting factors that create these statistics, a considerable factor found across both nations is pipeline construction projects. The establishment of temporary worker camps for these projects has been shown to coincide with an increase in violent crime including human trafficking, sexual assault, and harassment against local women. In North Carolina, the proposed Southgate extension of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has been met with tremendous pushback from Indigenous North Carolinians, who remain concerned about the potential establishment of these locations through their homelands. Utilizing statistical data, previous related studies, similar reported incidents across the US and Canada, and statements from Indigenous women in the area regarding their concerns, this study quantifies and evaluates the potential for increased violence against North Carolina\u27s Indigenous women in conjunction with the construction of the proposed Southgate extension and the establishment of worker encampments. Additionally, this study also provides discussion on potential solutions to navigate, mitigate, and prevent incidents of pipeline related violence from occurring

Use of Basal Tree Cavities by Sylvilagus Aquaticus in Central Arkansas

Basal tree cavities are hollow structures at the base of tree trunks utilized by many wildlife species, including small mammals, furbearers, and bats. Dumyahn and Zollner (2010) demonstrated that swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) use basal tree cavities and speculated that they may be used for thermoregulation at the northern limits of their geographic range or as alternative escape routes. To further investigate swamp rabbit use of basal tree cavities, we placed camera traps approximately 1 m from the entrance of the cavities (n = 43) in various Wildlife Management Areas in central Arkansas. Along with control sites without cavities (n=25), diameters of trees with cavities, cavity size, and tree species were recorded to test for potential preferences. Over 200,000 photographs have been collected and are to be analyzed. Preliminary results reveal regular interactions by swamp rabbits with basal tree cavities, which may indicate an important habitat feature for this species. We hypothesize that swamp rabbits incorporate basal tree cavity locations in their home range as refuge sites and regularly interact with cavities, possibly to assess their continued suitability

St. Joseph Colony in Arkansas

This study examines the experiences of German Catholic colonists in the St. Joseph Colony in Arkansas through a close reading of personal correspondence written by settlers and by a Mother Superior who reported regularly to her Mother General in France. The research asks how lived reality of those in the colony compared to the expectations created by promotional materials designed to attract immigrants. Central to this analysis is The Guiding Star, a guidebook written by Father Joseph Strub to encourage families to settle in the Arkansas colony. The guidebook presented the colony as a place of opportunity, prosperity, and strong religious community, offering practical instructions for the journey and assurances about the comfortable conditions settlers would encounter upon arrival. Using archival letters written by colonists and the Mother Superior, this study employs qualitative textual analysis to reconstruct daily life in the colony and to identify recurring themes in their descriptions of settlement conditions. Rather than the orderly and prosperous community promised in the guidebook, the letters describe significant hardships, environmental challenges, financial instability, and the emotional strain of frontier life. The Mother Superior’s reports to France similarly acknowledge these difficulties, often expressing concern for the well-being and perseverance of the settlers while attempting to maintain institutional support for the mission. This presentation argues that promotional literature such as The Guiding Star functioned as both a recruitment tool and an idealized vision of Catholic colonization in the American frontier. In contrast, the letters of colonists and religious leaders provide a more complex and often troubling account of the colony’s development. By placing these sources in dialogue, this study highlights the tension between promotional narratives and lived experience, offering new insight into immigrant expectations, religious networks, and the realities of nineteenth-century colonization in Arkansas

Text to Braille Translator Prototype

This project presents the development of a prototype hardware system designed to improve access to printed text for those who are blind. It does this by converting standard print text into readable braille output. The primary objective of this project was to design and test a low-cost device capable of translating text images into physical braille characters using programmable hardware. The prototype was built using a Raspberry Pi microcomputer along with solenoids, relay modules, a breadboard, and a button for push activation. A python program was written to process images of printed text and translate them to their corresponding braille. Due to budget constraints, the hardware system only consists of twenty-four solenoids arranged to form four braille cells. When the button is pushed, the Python program is run to convert the sample image into binary braille. This binary output is used to control the relay modules, which in turn activate specific solenoids to raise the appropriate dots for each braille character. The final prototype produces four braille symbols that can be read by touch. It demonstrates the feasibility of converting printed text into tactile braille through relatively inexpensive materials. This project highlights the potential for further development of assistive technology that could translate printed media into braille in real time

Wonder Boys & Social Noise

This is a Social Media Marketing analysis on how to help gain and retain students through social media. Based on the question: How can analytics help with retention and recruitment of students through social media? I helped analyze the social media data to help recruit and retain students

Prediction of Future Mushroom Fruiting Success and Dispersion Based on Models of Changing Surface Air Temperature in Oaxaca, Mexico

Mushrooms serve various purposes, including medicinal, culinary, and cultural significance for indigenous groups, as well as recreational and ecosystem services. Oaxaca, Mexico, is a hotspot for mushroom biodiversity including the following varieties: Amanita muscaria, Schizophyllum commune and Coprinellus disseminates. The purpose of this study is to determine if a changing Mean Surface Air Temperature will have an influence on these mushrooms. We obtained, analyzed, and compared historical and future climate data from the World Bank Group Climate Change Knowledge Portal to identify if any of the mushroom species would be impacted. The study revealed a general trend of warming Mean Surface Air Temperature in both the historical data and future projections (SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) from 2040 – 2100 for the mountainous and coastal region of Oaxaca, Mexico. A similar warming trend was forecast for the mushroom season from June to November across all projections from 2040 to 2059. Amanita muscaria has a low probability of fruiting during the mushroom season in both the mountain and coastal regions, compared to its counterparts, which have a chance to fruit throughout the season based on projections from 2040 – 2059. Between 2060 – 2100, Amanita muscaria fruiting probability continues to decrease significantly, requiring expansion of its growing region to cooler localities. The other two species appear to not be affected by the projections