Digital Commons Network^™

Consumer And Business Barriers To Household Food Waste Solutions, Jessica Oehman

Theses

An estimated 35.3 million tons of food waste are landfilled each year in the United States, causing negative environmental, economic, and social impacts and almost half of that waste is from households (US EPA, 2017). To meet EPA goals for landfill diversion of food waste, the material can be captured as a resource and re-used through methods such as composting. However, participation in household food waste collection programs is lacking; there is a need to understand the interplay between the individuals’ responsible for providing the waste stream and the pickup services providing the infrastructure to collect and manage the separated …

Faculty Library News - April 2023, Rit Libraries

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Student Library News - April 2023, Rit Libraries

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

I Am Not A White Man In A Labcoat: The Normalization Of Identity In Academic Writing, Raina Freeman

Student Work

One deep-seated belief in writing, especially writing instruction, is that there is no place for identity and personal pronouns in pieces that are professional and academic. Students are taught this principle as early as elementary school. However, identity can be used in academic writing as a tool to emphasize credibility on certain topics and can shape writing, whether intentionally or not. Anyone’s writing can benefit from a bit of the author’s perspective, but there is an even deeper need for a diverse range of identities in academia. I intend to discuss how ‘objective’ papers are often read as if written …

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, And Liability Act: Policy Analysis, Lehna Kitzel

Student Work

During World War II, the United States underwent a manufacturing transformation. Industry proliferated, and research and development into new chemical and manufacturing processes accelerated. After the armistice, this wartime effort transformed to address the consumer. Thousands of newly created synthetic chemicals were deployed to create household products and industrial materials. Unaware or unwilling to admit the risks, hazardous industry and waste proliferated. The economy swelled, and it would take two decades for citizens and the United States to realize this expansion came at a tragic cost. Beginning in the late 1970s, citizens and environmentalists raised alarm at the proliferation of …

Violent Inertia, Damien D'Arcy

Student Work

The last decade and a half has seen a significant increase in violent right-wing activity around the world. Despite a lagged public perception, the right-wing has surpassed its Islamic counterpart as the most significant threat of extremist violence in the US and is catching up in the rest of the world. While this has been a seemingly rapid transformation, the underlying movement is not novel. Its causes are multifaceted, international, and go back decades. It is perpetrated through a variety of means and actors, from political parties to so called “lone wolf” terrorists. Its final cause is expressed by Matt …

Escaping Tradition: An Exploration Of Optimized Learning Environments, Mak W. Friery

Theses

This undergraduate interior design capstone research focuses on understanding how forward-thinking design approaches can improve student success and teacher effectiveness in the classroom environment. Addressing the ever-changing needs of students, this research investigates variables of classroom environments such as the impact of color, lighting, acoustics, technology, space planning, furniture, and biophilia. Understanding these factors in the classroom environment can inspire new approaches to design and class flexibility whilst positively impacting student learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and overall well-being.

This capstone research is conducted at a time of change within educational design approaches as they continually aim to determine which factors …

Investigating The Importance Of Non-Textual Caption Properties From Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Viewers' Perspective, Akhter Al Amin

Theses

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) viewers rely on captioning to perceive auditory information while watching live television programming. Captioning ensures that viewers can receive textual and non-textual information that is crucial to comprehend the content of the video. However, no research has investigated how non-textual properties of captioning, such as caption placement and the presentation of current speakers, influence DHH viewers’ ability to comprehend video content and their judgement of a captioned video’s quality. Thus, this work aims to understand the effect of non-textual properties of captioning on DHH viewers’ live captioned video watching experiences; these findings can inform a better …

Automatic Text Simplification Tools To Provide Reading Assistance For Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Individuals, Oliver Alonzo

Theses

Automatic Text Simplification (ATS) consists of computing techniques to rewrite text to make it simpler to read and understand, and prior research has explored its use to provide reading assistance to various user groups who may benefit from reading support. Prior literacy research has identified great diversity in literacy skills among DHH adults, and prior computing accessibility research has identified benefits from providing ATS-based reading assistance to other user groups. Thus, while ATS holds promise to benefit DHH adults, little research has investigated the benefits from, interests in and preferences for such technologies among DHH adults. Thus, this work aims …

An Investigation Of How Interior Design Elements Can Enhance Customer’S Interest In Fast Fashion Retail Stores In-Person Experience After The Covid-19, Qianyue Tu

Theses

The goal of this capstone project is to investigate how interior design elements can enhance customers’ interest in fast fashion retail stores’ in-person experience after the COVID-19 pandemic. To answer the research question, this capstone is organized into three parts which are the literature review, research agenda, and creative agenda. First, the literature review section of this manuscript examines consumer behavior and changes in fast fashion brands before and after the pandemic. The goal of the literature review is to understand four questions: 1) What are changes in consumer behavior after COVID-19? 2) Why are fast fashion brands retailing being …

Corneal Transplant Education In A Clinical Setting, Chynna Desimone

Theses

Keratoplasty, or corneal transplant, is available as a solution for patients suffering from corneal pathology. There are various types of keratoplasty available to prospective patients depending on the severity and the histological layer affected. Surgeries such as keratoplasty have been observed to cause distress among prospective patients, which may impede recovery. Patient education in a timely and appropriate delivery can help alleviate preoperative anxiety. Creating patient education materials for keratoplasty can help prepare for surgery and subsequent recovery. These materials utilize both 2D and 3D design tailored to the unique needs of low-vision patients to teach them about their options …

Enhanced Internal Coating Structure And Light Reflectance Of Coated Papers: A Sludge Valorization Process, Bilge N. Altay, Anamika Huq, Burak Aksoy, Richard Hailstone, Muslum Demir, Cem Aydemir, Arif Karademir, Scott Williams

Articles

Paper mill sludge (PMS) is a high-volume waste of the pulppapermaking industry, containing cellulose fibers. This paper introduces cellulose nanofibers extracted from PMS (CNFsPMS) and their application in paper coatings using a wire-wound coating method to enhance internal and optical properties of paper. Three factors were investigated: (i) CNFsPMS amount, (ii) number of layers, and (iii) surface treatment via a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial design. The experimental responses were tracked by fundamentally important internal properties including porosity, air permeability, thickness, roughness, and optical properties of brightness, gloss, and CIE L*a*b* color coordination. The results showed that CNFPMS enhances …

Alternative Techniques For Blind Low Vision Students Enrolled In Coding Courses, Robert Jaquiss

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

BLV (blind low vision) students face difficulties when taking coding classes. Individual Development Environments (IDE) can be inaccessible which make it difficult if not impossible for BLV students to complete coursework. Alternative techniques are described which will allow a BLV student to successfully complete coursework. The author has found the Command Line Interface (CLI) is often a recommended alternative to a Windows based IDE interface. Many blind computer programmers use the Windows and Linux command interfaces which are described as part of this discussion.

Urologic Sequelae Following Phalloplasty: An Explanation Of Common Complications Following Transmale Gender Affirmation Surgery, Michelle Kittleman

Theses

Medical advancement and societal acceptance in recent years has paved the way for gender affirmation surgery to become a growing subspecialty, with more transgender individuals seeking permanent methods to treating gender dysphoria. In a 2016 report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there had been a 20% increase in female-to-male gender affirmation surgeries over the past year, totaling over 1,700 surgeries (Schardein, 2020). Those seeking genital gender affirmation surgery, also known as ‘bottom’ surgery (Puckett, 2018), often have goals pertaining to the ability to urinate upright, with secondary goals relating to sexual penetration functions. Gender reconstruction procedures, such …

Application Of E-Learning In The Smart City Projects, Asma Ghanim Al Arai

Theses

The concept of smart city is getting popular over time. It uses communication of technology and information to maximize operational organization. It shares information among the public to improve citizen welfare and the services of the government. Smart learning or E-learning is also one of the components of a smart city. Cities are the crucible hub of human innovation. Through smart cities, the community strives to integrate and cover environmental, bio, digital and financial technologies to solve urban problems. The E-learning process is based on formalized teaching, and it enhances with the help of electronic resources. Internet and computers play …

Understanding Scoliosis: What Caregivers And Patients Need To Know, Megan Moore

Theses

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the vertebral column that typically occurs in children approaching puberty. 80% of scoliosis cases are idiopathic (Scoliosis Research Society, 2022). The severity of a scoliosis curve is measured in degrees and is usually diagnosed when it is greater than 10 degrees. A severe curve exceeds 45 to 60 degrees and can require surgical treatment (Scoliosis Reduction Center, 2020). Severe scoliosis causes physical deformities, such as unaligned ribs, hips, and shoulders, but also may reduce the amount of space in the chest, affecting the function of the heart and lungs (Mayo Clinic, 2022). The purpose …

Predicting Food Safety Compliance For Food-Serving Establishments Inspections, Huda Amin Al Zarooni

Theses

There is an enormous increase in the number of food-serving establishments with the growing urbanization, which increases the challenges for government organizations in supervising their compliance with the food safety code. Food-borne illnesses could result in severe health and economic impacts and require efficient surveillance to ensure public safety and eliminate the negative impacts. This challenge can be addressed by applying data analytics in supporting the government supervision role.

The inspections conducted by the Government generate a huge amount of data that can be leveraged by data analytics and improve the efficiency of the operations and optimize the service provided …

Using Decision-Tree Analysis For Predicting Wildfires Impact On Vegetation In Australia, Saif Al-Khuraisat

Theses

This research aims to use machine learning algorithm to predict wildfires impact on green landscape based on weather conditions while exploring factors that could influence the possibility. By utilizing the generated results, it could help decision-makers and authorities to come-up with best possible strategy to prepare for and respond to wildfires. Being prepare will work toward the economy best interest by saving unintended expenditure in time of crises also saves the cash liquidity along the economy on the long-term. For example, back in East cost of United States of America in Florida, in 1998, the estimated economical losses because of …

Empirical Investigations And Dataset Collection For American Sign Language-Aware Personal Assistants, Abraham Trout Glasser

Theses

Proliferation of voice-controlled personal-assistant devices poses accessibility barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) users. It is estimated that 128 million people use a voice assistant in the United States, and 4.2 billion digital voice assistants being used around the world, e.g. through over 60,000 different smart home devices that support Amazon's Alexa, which is one instance of virtual assistants [97,134]. The ongoing (at the time of this dissertation) coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the uptake of home-based, voice-controlled devices. As artificial intelligence researchers and developers are working on American Sign Language (ASL) recognition technologies, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research is …

Student Library News - January 2023, Rit Libraries

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Faculty Library News - January 2023, Rit Libraries

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Visual Literacy Of Molecular Biology Revealed Through A Card-Sorting Task, Dina L. Newman, Hannah Spector, Anna Neuenschwander, Anna J. Miller, Lauren Trumpore, Leslie Kate Wright

Articles

Visual literacy, which is the ability to effectively identify, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media, is an important aspect of science literacy. As molecular processes are not directly observable, researchers and educators rely on visual representations (e.g., drawings) to communicate ideas in biology. How learners interpret and organize those numerous diagrams is related to their underlying knowledge about biology and their skills in visual literacy. Furthermore, it is not always obvious how and why learners interpret diagrams in the way they do (especially if their interpretations are unexpected), as it is not possible to “see” inside the …

Effect Of Blank Moisture Content On Forming Behaviour And Mechanical Properties Of Paperboard Tray Packages, Arvo Niini, Lena Berthold, Tobias Müller, Panu Tanninen, Jens-Peter Majschak, Juha Varis, Ville Leminen

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Tray blanks were moisturised to study the effect of different blank moisture content levels on forming behaviour and mechanical properties of paperboard tray packages. The blank moisturisation was done by spraying water to the blanks before their three-dimensional (3D) forming. The trays were 3D formed by press forming or deep drawing. Visual quality and punch force values were used as indicators to evaluate the forming behaviour of the trays. The mechanical properties of the trays were investigated with compression, torsion, and storing tests. A high blank moisture content reduced the punch force, and the elevated blank moisture was connected to …

An Alternative To Hapke’S Macroscopic Roughness Correction, Dylan J. Shiltz, Charles M. Bachmann

Articles

In this paper, we present an alternative to Hapke’s correction for the photometric effect of macroscopic roughness of planetary surfaces (Hapke, 1984). Our model includes the effects of both single-facet scattering and multi-facet scattering. The single-facet scattering model is derived directly from the definition of bidirectional reflectance of a rough surface. We model projected shadowing by adopting an approximation published elsewhere in the literature. Monte Carlo simulations of single-facet scattering demonstrate very good agreement with the single-facet scattering component of our model. Using 3D printed molds with known roughness statistics, we prepared rough mineral surfaces consisting of quartz and olivine …

Interaction Between Students With And Without Disabilities In An Inclusive Schools From Their Teachers Perspective., Dr. Basmah Alshahrani

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The success of the inclusion of students with disabilities substantially depends on the collaboration of various social agents, including non-disabled peers, who play a substantial role in the lives of students with disabilities. Peers, as social agent, are responsible for the creation of a favourable social environment, in which one of the key factors is a positive acceptance. This research examined the reality of interactions between non-disabled students and their acceptance to peers with disabilities. A qualitative research approach was employed using interviews with Nine special education teachers. An overall positive attitudes were reported with non-disabled peers being reported as …

Adjusting/Modifying Assignments To Support Students With Learning Disabilities While Engaging In Ngss Science And Engineering Practices And Inquiry-Based Learning, Shannon Morago Dr.

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Effective science instruction involves opportunities for all students to do science, including engaging in the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices through inquiry-based learning. Many students with learning disabilities have the accommodation of shortened or reduced assignments in their Individualized Educational Programs to allow them equal access to science learning. Science teachers struggle to provide this accommodation. This practice brief provides examples of supports and strategies for implementing this accommodation during an inquiry-based investigation. A vignette is used to follow a science teacher and her students through an investigation; it details how she provides equal access to the learning objectives as …

Capacity Building For Organizational Resilience: Integrating Standards On Risk, Disruption And Continuity In The Curriculum, Lisa Greenwood, Dawn Hess, Yewande S. Abraham, Jennifer Schneider

Articles

Disruption is an inevitable factor in business and society, while inability to mitigate and manage risk can cause irreparable damage to business, the economy, and our ways of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened interest in standards-based strategies for risk management and crisis preparedness to enhance organizational and societal resilience. University curricula that integrate national and international standards offer students a rich skill-set for effective performance in their careers. Moving forward, we must cultivate capable professionals who understand the challenges and risks facing society, and who grasp standards and systems for strategic planning, response, and recovery to promote organizational resilience …

A Mathematical Model Of Juvenile Delinquency In The New York State, Oluwasegun Micheal Ibrahim

Articles

This report presents a mathematical model of juvenile delinquency in the New York State. In particular, we develop a juvenile delinquency system of non-linear differential equations using the mathematical epidemiology framework. In constructing this model, we assume that juvenile delinquency can be studied as a socially infectious disease. The stability of the juvenile delinquency-free equilibrium of the model is examined using the standard non-linear dynamical systems theory technique. We carried out a data fitting based on real-life data from the New York State Criminal Justice Services. The research result reveals that the formulated model conforms with the available data and …

2023-2024 Undergraduate Course Descriptions, Rochester Institute Of Technology

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin, Rochester Institute Of Technology

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.