Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Demonstration Of The Operational Sustainability Index (Opsi): A Multidimensional Metric For Building Performance Evaluation, Oluwafemi Awolesi, Margaret Reams

Faculty Publications

In promoting sustainable cities and societies, accelerating the shift from sustainable building design to sustainable building operations is essential. A persistent challenge lies in the absence of a unified, multidimensional metric that enables meaningful performance comparisons across buildings of similar types and functions, both regionally and globally. This study develops and demonstrates the operational sustainability index (OPSi)—a novel metric grounded in case study research that integrates indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy utility quality (EUQ). OPSi is applied to six buildings in three comparative cases: (1) LEED-certified and non-certified dormitories, (2) LEED-certified and non-certified event buildings, and (3) male- and …

Maximum-Likelihood Estimation Of Glandular Fraction For Mammography And Its Effect On Microcalcification Detection, Bryce J. Smith, Joyoni Dey, Lacey Medlock, David Solis, Krystal Kirby

Faculty Publications

Breast tissue is mainly a mixture of adipose and fibro-glandular tissue. Cancer risk and risk of undetected breast cancer increases with the amount of glandular tissue in the breast. Therefore, radiologists must report the total volume glandular fraction or a BI-RADS classification in screening and diagnostic mammography. In this work, a Maximum Likelihood algorithm accounting for count statistics and scatter is shown to estimate the pixel-wise glandular fraction from mammographic images. The pixel-wise glandular fraction provides information that helps localize dense tissue. The total volume glandular fraction can be calculated from pixel-wise glandular fraction. The algorithm was implemented for images …

High-Significance Detection Of Correlation Between The Unresolved Gamma-Ray Background And The Large-Scale Cosmic Structure, B. Thakore, M. Negro, M. Regis, S. Camera, D. Gruen, N. Fornengo, A. Roodman, A. Porredon, T. Schutt, A. Cuoco, A. Alarcon, A. Amon, K. Bechtol, M. Becker, G. Bernstein, A. Campos, A. Carnero Rosell, M. Carrasco Kind, R. Cawthon, C. Chang, R. Chen, A. Choi, J. Cordero, C. Davis, J. Derose, H. Diehl, S. Dodelson, C. Doux, A. Drlica-Wagner, K. Eckert, J. Elvin-Poole, S. Everett, A. Ferté

Faculty Publications

Our understanding of the γ-ray sky has improved dramatically in the past decade, however, the unresolved γ-ray background (UGRB) still has a potential wealth of information about the faintest γ-ray sources pervading the Universe. Statistical cross-correlations with tracers of cosmic structure can indirectly identify the populations that most characterize the γ-ray background. In this study, we analyze the angular correlation between the γ-ray background and the matter distribution in the Universe as traced by gravitational lensing, leveraging more than a decade of observations from the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) and 3 years of data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). …

X-Ray Polarization Of The Magnetar 1e 1841−045, Rachael Stewart, George A. Younes, Alice K. Harding, Zorawar Wadiasingh, Matthew G. Baring, Michela Negro, Tod E. Strohmayer, Wynn C.G. Ho, Mason Ng, Zaven Arzoumanian, Hoa Dinh Thi, Niccolò Di Lalla, Teruaki Enoto, Keith Gendreau, Chin Ping Hu, Alex Van Kooten, Chryssa Kouveliotou, Alexander Mcewen

Faculty Publications

We report on IXPE and NuSTAR observations beginning 40 days after the 2024 outburst onset of magnetar 1E 1841−045, marking the first IXPE observation of a magnetar in an enhanced state. Our spectropolarimetric analysis indicates that both a blackbody (BB) plus double power-law (PL) and a double blackbody plus power-law spectral model fit the phase-averaged intensity data well, with a hard PL tail (Γ = 1.19 and 1.35, respectively) dominating above ≈5 keV. For the former model, we find the soft PL (the dominant component at soft energies) exhibits a polarization degree (PD) of ≈30% while the hard PL displays …

Carolyn Parker's Electronic Frequencies, Charnell Chasten Long

Faculty Publications

The chapter illustrates what it meant for Carolyn Beatrice Parker (1917–1966) to be a Black woman physicist in the US during the Jim Crow era. Her father, a physician, and her mother, a teacher, shepherded her into Fisk University, an historically Black college. As a physics major she studied infrared spectroscopy with the Black physicist Elmer Imes, graduating with a BS in 1938. She later attended the University of Michigan, obtaining an MA in physics in 1941. But like many Black women, she spent time before and after graduate school teaching in the K–12 system. In 1943, she became a …

Iberian Origins Of New Mexico's Community Acequias, Jose A. Rivera Ph.D., Thomas F. Glick Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

When Spanish officials first entered the northern region of New Spain in the late sixteenth century, they realized that irrigation would be a necessary development in the establishment of permanent communities. To sustain the early settlements, they built irrigation systems following the Iberian model, itself an extension of Arabo-Berber traditions from north Africa and the Middle East.

War, Wounds, And Strategy: Patient Movement Lessons From The World Wars For Great Power Competition, Phillip R. Jenkins

Faculty Publications

This thesis examines the evolution of the U.S. military's patient movement system during World War I and World War II to evaluate how well it may perform under the conditions of future large-scale combat operations. It asks whether the United States can move, treat, and sustain wounded personnel at the scale and pace required to preserve combat power in a prolonged, high-intensity conflict. Using detailed case studies of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge, the analysis focuses on how transportation platforms, organizational structure, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) shaped patient movement under conditions of attrition, disruption, and …

Unwarranted Warrants?: An Empirical Analysis Of Judicial Review In Search And Seizure, Brett James Hashimoto, Miguel F.P. De Figueiredo, Dane Thorley

Faculty Publications

Every year, police perform searches governed by the Fourth Amendment on hundreds of thousands of individuals and their property throughout the United States. Many of the academy’s most decorated scholars have focused on the genesis and jurisprudential nature of the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. Surprisingly, we know almost nothing about how the Fourth Amendment regulates searches and how searches actually work in practice.

In this Article, we pull back the curtain on the search and seizure process by presenting the largest quantitative study of warrants of any kind. We analyze over 33,000 warrant applications filed through Utah’s “e-Warrants” system over …

The Risk Of Marginal Inclusion In The Fortune 500: A Quasi-Replication Of Lewis & Carlos (2023), W. Chad Carlos, Yasir Dewan, Ben W. Lewis, Brian P. Reschke, S. Isaac St. Clair

Faculty Publications

Conventional wisdom suggests that being included in an exclusive ranking leads to positive external evaluations. However, Lewis and Carlos (2023) found that firms situated near the threshold for inclusion on the 100 Best Corporate Citizen ranking were devalued by investors. To assess the generalizability of this surprising finding, we quasi-replicate and extend this finding by applying the same regression discontinuity design to the Fortune 500 ranking. We find corroborating evidence: firms near the bottom of the Fortune 500 receive lower external evaluations, not only from investors but also from industry peers. Our findings therefore quasi-replicate and extend Lewis and Carlos’ …

Enhancing Photosynthesis Under Salt Stress Via Directed Evolution In Cyanobacteria, Zhenxiong Jiang, Khondokar Nowshin Islam, Malory Wolfe, Michael O'Connell, Dykia Williams, Ashley Florance, David J. Vinyard, Xiaohui Zhang, Maxwell Brenner, Andor J. Kiss, Xianhua Liu, Xin Wang

Faculty Publications

A key aspect of enhancing photosynthesis is improving the kinetics of photochemical quenching recovery following environmental perturbation or stress. Salt stress exacerbates high light stress in cyanobacteria and leads to severe yield losses in crop plants. Genetic traits that confer salt tolerance without compromising photosynthetic performance are essential for improving photosynthesis under these conditions. Here, we applied accelerated evolution in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 by conditionally suppressing its methyl-directed mismatch repair system to obtain beneficial genetic traits for enhanced photosynthesis under salt stress. We screened over 10,000 mutants and isolated 8 strains with increased biomass or sucrose productivity under salt …

Snow, Ice And Permafrost Landscapes As ‘Frozen Commons’: Examples From Northern Mongolia, Mariia Kuklina, Vera Kuklina, Nikolay Shiklomanov, Alexander Shiklomanov, Kelsey Nyland, Khadbaatar Sandag, Enkh Amgalan Sandag, Natalia Krasnoshtanova, Dmitrii Kobylkin, Alexander Kholodov, Andrey Petrov

Faculty Publications

Cryosphere has a global role as a biogeophysical phenomenon. It affects the livelihoods of people inhabiting permafrost areas and is affected by human activity within and outside of the cryosphere’s geographical span. ‘Frozen commons’ (FCs) are cryosphere resources and landscapes, defined by snow, ice, and permafrost, that are experienced, used, protected and managed by groups of people together. This paper highlights collaboration between herders and scientists aimed at improving the understanding of FCs in northern Mongolia, a region of rapid cryosphere transformation. The impact of climate change on Indigenous and pastoralist communities in Mongolia is profound, leading to the damage …

Impact Of Social Media On Family Relations In The Arab Gulf Region, Radhi H. Al-Mabuk, Abdullah F. Alrebh

Faculty Publications

Social media use especially among children and adolescents has become a topic of concern in the Gulf region especially for parents. This chapter addresses the issue of social media use and its impact on family relations, and is comprised of six parts: (1) place of social media in sociology; (2) prevalence of social media in the Gulf region with an emphasis on how much use, nature of use and motivation for use; (3) positive and detrimental consequences of social media use; (4) impact of social media use, especially problematic social media, on family relations; (5) parents’ role in guiding their …

Nourishing The Living Tree: Vincent Macdonald And His Constitutional Thought, Preston Jordan Lim

Faculty Publications

Since the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian judges have increasingly approached the Constitution through a living constitutionalist lens, adapting the Constitution to contemporary realities and treating the text as but one interpretive modality alongside purpose and context. The Supreme Court has rooted this living constitutionalism in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council’s judgment, Edwards v Attorney General of Canada, wherein Lord Sankey introduced the metaphor of the “living tree.” Justice Robert Sharpe and Professor Patricia McMahon have suggested that the “living tree metaphor remained a forgotten footnote until 1982.” Indeed, more formalist approaches towards …

Surface Resistivity Correlation To Nano-Defects In Laser Powder Bed Fused Molybdenum (Mo)-Silicon Carbide (Sic) Alloys, Andrew Mason, Larry W. Burggraf, Ryan A. Kemnitz, Nate Ellsworth

Faculty Publications

The integration of Silicon Carbide (SiC) nanoparticles into Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LB-PBF) Molybdenum (Mo) printing represents a significant advancement in refractory metal additive manufacturing. Our investigation examined how varying SiC nanoparticle sizes affect the microstructural and electrical properties of LB-PBF-printed molybdenum components while maintaining a 0.01 mass fraction of Mo. At an Linear Energy Densities (LED) of 1.8 J/mm, the addition of 80 nm SiC particles achieved a 46% reduction in porosity, while sheet resistance decreased by 6% at LED of 2.0 J/mm with 80 nm SiC particles. These performance improvements stem from several mechanisms: SiC particles serve as …

The Next Four Years: Geographical Reflections On The Second Trump Administration, Caroline R. Nagel, Peter Hopkins

Faculty Publications

In this introductory essay, we reflect on the significance of the re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency in the United States, and we provide some context for interpreting Trump's second term. Two of Trump's early policy moves—the release of billions of gallons of water from reservoirs in California and the granting of refugee status to Afrikaners—portend four years of politics based on alternative facts, conspiracy theories, and racial grievances. Trump's political agenda has received a significant boost from Silicon Valley billionaires, who are keen to eliminate regulatory bureaucracy. Paradoxically, while allied with high-tech futurists, Trump's policies hearken to an …

Stomatal Distribution And Post-Fire Recovery: Intra-And Interspecific Variation In Plants Of The Pyrogenic Florida Scrub, Genevieve Triplett, Aaron S. David

Faculty Publications

Premise

Amphistomy, the presence of stomata on both leaf surfaces, can increase photosynthesis yet is uncommon across vascular plants. The relative infrequency of amphistomy is often attributed to high costs, such as transpirational water loss. The Florida scrub—a hot, dry, shrub-dominated habitat—historically has experienced frequent fire, yet decades of anthropogenic suppression coupled with the reintroduction of prescribed burns has led to varied fire regimes. In this study, we investigated the links between amphistomy and fire with regard to the presence of the trait across species in this pyrogenic habitat and within-species variation before and after experimental fire and across a …

The Nature Of Optical Afterglows Without Gamma-Ray Bursts: Identification Of At2023lcr And Multiwavelength Modeling, Maggie L. Li, Anna Y.Q. Ho, Geoffrey Ryan, Daniel A. Perley, Gavin P. Lamb, A. J. Nayana, Igor Andreoni, G. C. Anupama, Eric C. Bellm, Edo Berger, Joshua S. Bloom, Eric Burns, Ilaria Caiazzo, Poonam Chandra, Michael W. Coughlin, Kareem El-Badry, Matthew J. Graham, Mansi Kasliwal, Garrett K. Keating, S. R. Kulkarni, Harsh Kumar, Frank J. Masci, Richard A. Perley, Josiah Purdum, Ramprasad Rao, Antonio C. Rodriguez, Ben Rusholme, Nikhil Sarin, Jesper Sollerman, Gokul P. Srinivasaragavan, Vishwajeet Swain, Zachary Vanderbosch

Faculty Publications

In the past few years, the improved sensitivity and cadence of wide-field optical surveys have enabled the discovery of several afterglows without associated detected gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We present the identification, observations, and multiwavelength modeling of a recent such afterglow (AT 2023lcr), and model three literature events (AT 2020blt, AT 2021any, and AT 2021lfa) in a consistent fashion. For each event, we consider the following possibilities as to why a GRB was not observed: (1) the jet was off-axis; (2) the jet had a low initial Lorentz factor; and (3) the afterglow was the result of an on-axis classical GRB …

Integrating Community Assets, Place-Based Learning, And Career Development Through Project-Based Learning In Rural Settings, Denae Kizys, Christine Lotter Ph.D., Lucas Perez, Rachel Gilreath, Dodie Limberg

Faculty Publications

Our study investigates the first year of a two-year place-based education (PBE) professional development model that focuses on career development in rural middle schools through project-based learning (PBL) units. Rural science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators face unique challenges, including geographic isolation, limited resources, and reduced access to professional development opportunities, which can hinder the effective integration of career-oriented learning in the classroom. We addressed these challenges by implementing professional development in which school counselors and teachers collaborate to design PBL units aligned with rural community local needs and STEM careers. Using a descriptive multiple-case study methodology to document …

Extreme Bandgap Polarization Doped Algan Layers On Bulk Aln For Pn-Diodes With An 8.5 Mv Cm−1 Breakdown Field And Forward Current Density Exceeding 20 Ka Cm−2, Tariq Jamil, Abdullah Al Mamun Mazumder, Muhammad Ali, Mafruda Rahman, Kenneth Stephenson, Grigory Simin, Asif Khan

Faculty Publications

In this paper we present a study of distribution polarization doped Al_xGa_1−xN layers and their use in quasi-vertical configuration pn-diodes which exhibited a high breakdown field of ∼8.5 MV cm⁻¹ and a large forward current density (∼23 kA cm⁻²). We also establish their potential use in UVC light emitters by studying the optical emission from a quantum well inserted at the distribution polarization doped pn-junction interface.

Generative Ai For Thematic Analysis In A Maternal Health Study: Coding Semistructured Interviews Using Large Language Models, Shan Qiao, Xingyu Fang, Junbo Wang, Ran Zhang, Xiaoming Li, Yuhao Kang

Faculty Publications

Study Objectives: The coding of semistructured interview transcripts is a critical step for thematic analysis of qualitative data. However, the coding process is often labor-intensive and time-consuming. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents new opportunities to enhance the efficiency of qualitative coding. This study proposed a computational pipeline using GenAI to automatically extract themes from interview transcripts. Methods: Using transcripts from interviews conducted with maternity care providers in South Carolina, we leveraged ChatGPT for inductive coding to generate codes from interview transcripts without a predetermined coding scheme. Structured prompts were designed to instruct ChatGPT to generate and summarize …

Impact Of Prior Exposures On Biomarkers Of Blast During Military Tactical Training, Zhaoyu Wang, Shengnan Sun, Alis Aksar Kranfli, Jeffrey Nemes, Molly J. Sullan, Andrew J. Hoisington, Lisa A. Brenner, Miciej Skotak, Christina R. Lavalle, Yongchao Ge, Walter Carr, Fatemah Haghighi

Faculty Publications

Blast injuries and subclinical effects are of significant concern among those Service Members (SMs) participating in military operations and tactical trainings. Studies of SMs repeatedly exposed during training find concussion-like symptomology with transient decrements in neurocognitive performance, and alterations in blood biomarkers. How prior mild TBI (mTBI) history interacts with low-level blast (LLB) exposure, however, remains unexplored, which we investigate in the present study, to identify interindividual biomarker changes from LLB exposures influenced by prior history of mTBI.

Untethered Isoperimetric Robotic Truss For Lunar Applications, Mihai Stanciu, Spencer Stowell, Isaac Weaver, Adam Rose, Chris Paul, James Wade, Ashleigh Cerven, Annie O'Bryan, Brian Bodily, Logan Yang, Nathan Usevitch

Faculty Publications

We introduce a robotic system designed to function as a lightweight, modular, and reconfigurable structure on the Moon. This robust system consists of truss-like robotic triangles, each formed by a continuous inflated fabric tube routed through two robotic roller units and a connecting unit. When deflated, these triangles can be compacted to roughly the volume of the roller units, offering an advantageous stowed-to-deployed volume ratio of 1 to 6.24. Upon inflation, the roller units pinch the tubes, creating corners by reducing the bending stiffness of the tube. Once fully deployed, electric motors move the robotic roller units along the tube, …

Podcasts In Mental, Physical, Or Combined Health Interventions For Adults: Scoping Review, Elizabeth M. Dascombe, Philip J. Morgan, Ryan J. Drew, Casey P. Regan, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Myles D. Young

Faculty Publications

Background:

The increasing prevalence of poor mental and physical health in adults is a global health concern. Given the scope of this problem, scalable and effective treatment interventions are needed. While podcasts (online digital audio files) are becoming more popular, the extent of podcast use in mental, physical, or combined health interventions has not been reviewed.

Objective:

This scoping review primarily aims to summarize the available evidence regarding the use of podcasts in health promotion interventions. A series of 5 research questions was designed to systematically review and accurately represent podcast use in current research interventions.

Methods:

We conducted a …

Review Of Tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Building Versatile And Robust Tethered Multirotor Uav System, Dario Handrick, Mattie Eckenrode, Junsoo Lee

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a comprehensive review of tethered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), focusing on their challenges and potential applications across various domains. We analyze the dynamic characteristics of tethered UAV systems and address the unique challenges they present, including complex tether dynamics, impulsive forces, and entanglement risks. Additionally, we explore application-specific challenges in areas such as payload transportation and ground-connected systems. The review also examines existing tethered UAV testbed designs, highlighting their strengths and limitations in both simulation and experimental settings. We discuss advancements in multi-UAV cooperation, ground–air collaboration through tethers, and the integration of retractable tether systems. Moreover, we …

How Extreme Rainfall And Failing Dams Unleashed The Derna Flood Disaster, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, Ahad Hasan Tanim, Audrika Nahian, Sadik Khan, Erfan Goharian, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

On September 11, 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed unprecedented rainfall over the Wadi Derna watershed, triggering one of the most devastating floods in modern history, striking Derna, a coastal city in Libya. This study reconstructs the disaster using an integrated modeling approach that combines satellite imagery, hydrologic, hydraulic, and geotechnical simulations, machine learning, eyewitness accounts, and digital elevation data to assess the impact of cascading dam failures. Our findings reveal that the region’s dams, even if structurally sound, would have provided minimal protection against the extreme runoff. However, their failure unleashed a destructive surge wave, amplifying the disaster’s magnitude and devastation. …

How Extreme Rainfall And Failing Dams Unleashed The Derna Flood Disaster, Ayman Mokhtar Nemnem, Ahad Hasan Tanim, Audrika Nahian, Sadik Khan, Erfan Goharian, Jasim Imran

Faculty Publications

On September 11, 2023, Storm Daniel unleashed unprecedented rainfall over the Wadi Derna watershed, triggering one of the most devastating floods in modern history, striking Derna, a coastal city in Libya. This study reconstructs the disaster using an integrated modeling approach that combines satellite imagery, hydrologic, hydraulic, and geotechnical simulations, machine learning, eyewitness accounts, and digital elevation data to assess the impact of cascading dam failures. Our findings reveal that the region’s dams, even if structurally sound, would have provided minimal protection against the extreme runoff. However, their failure unleashed a destructive surge wave, amplifying the disaster’s magnitude and devastation. …

Reef Fish Movement And Community Assemblages Associated With A Newly Deployed Artificial Reef, Jade M. Carver, Brett J. Falterman, Stephen R. Midway, Christian Walker, Creed C. Branham, Michael A. Dance

Faculty Publications

Artificial reefs provide critical habitat for fish in areas lacking benthic structure, yet our understanding of how artificial reefs function and develop is limited. Here, changes in fish community assemblages were monitored using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys before and after a new artificial reef was deployed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Movement of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) between nearby oil and gas platforms (n = 3) and the new artificial reef was examined using acoustic telemetry, and residency was calculated for fish associated with both structure types. Fish community development at the …

Cationic Conjugated Polymers With Enhanced Doped-State Planarity For N-Type Organic Thermoelectrics, Jiu-Long Li, Xin-Yu Deng, Jupeng Chen, Peng-Xiang Fu, Shuang-Yan Tian, Yunfei Wang, Xiaodan Gu, Ting Lei

Faculty Publications

To date, extensive efforts have been devoted to designing new conjugated polymers with long alkyl or ethylene glycol sidechains. However, these sidechains are insulators, limiting further performance enhancement in doped conjugated polymers. Moreover, the most widely used chlorinated solvents are toxic, limiting the practical applications of many conjugated polymers. Here, we report a water/alcohol processable n-type conjugated polymer P(Py2FT), featuring side chain-free cationic backbones. P(Py2FT) exhibits a high n-type electrical conductivity of up to 28.1 S cm⁻¹ and a high thermoelectric power factor of up to 28.7 μW m⁻¹ K⁻², comparable to some conventional …

Getting The Most From Ai Tools: A Practical Guide To Writing Effective Prompts, John Lande

Faculty Publications

This article is a companion to How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bot: What I Learned About AI and What You Can Too. This article helps users, especially those in dispute resolution roles, learn how to write effective prompts and engage productively with artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The goal is to make AI less intimidating and more useful – one good question at a time.

The article shows how users can choose appropriate tools, formulate effective prompts, and generate useful results. It offers role-specific prompt suggestions for mediators, attorneys, disputants, ADR program managers, law school faculty, …

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bot: What I Learned About Ai And What You Can Too, John Lande

Faculty Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools play an increasingly prominent role in legal education, legal practice, and dispute resolution. People’s understanding of how these tools work varies widely. This article outlines a framework to improve AI literacy among dispute resolution practitioners, parties, ADR program managers, faculty, students, and scholars. It highlights emerging trends and offers practical suggestions and resources to support AI literacy and the responsible integration of AI into their work. A companion article, Getting the Most from AI Tools: A Practical Guide to Writing Effective Prompts, helps users, especially those in dispute resolution roles, learn how to write effective …