Digital Commons Network^™

Photo Essay: Great Rift Valley, Tanzania, Jocelyn Keranen

Humboldt Geographic

No abstract provided.

Virginia, Mason Heidt

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

This Article addresses developments in Virginia oil and gas law for the period from July 31, 2014 to July 31, 2019. This period is longer than normally addressed by this journal to capture important developments in the law between this update and the last Virginia update published in 2015. At the state level, in Swords Creek Land Partnership v. Belcher, the Supreme Court of Virginia concluded coalbed methane (“CBM”) is a separate and distinct mineral estate from coal. It held that the meaning of “coal” within an 1887 severance deed was unambiguous and did not intend to convey ownership rights …

Exploring Low-Carbon Bus Options For Urban Brt Systems: The Case Of Amman, Rana Imam, Seong-Cheol Kang, Diana Quezada

Journal of Public Transportation

Being able to provide high-quality, metro-like transit service at a fraction of the cost of other options, bus rapid transit (BRT) has been viewed as one of the most cost-effective public mass transport systems suitable for urban areas. Considering significant amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions are attributed to the transport sector, deploying low carbon buses for BRT systems should be of high priority. With a view to promoting low carbon buses instead of diesel buses for a BRT system currently being planned in Amman, Jordan, this paper evaluates several low carbon bus options – hybrid, plug-in …

Doctors And "Dopefiends": Perspectives On The U.S Opiate Crisis, 21st Century, John C. Foerster

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This article examines the socio-political intricacies of the United States Opiate Crisis. By first addressing the pharmaceutical origins of Oxycontin and its pain relief benefits within the United States, I construct a framework by which a conversation about substance abuse can move forward. Within the first chapter I provide background into the arguments for medicalization against personal responsibility as it relates to opiate withdrawal and seeking treatment for the prior. Furthermore, I include subheadings to further provide insight into Medically Assisted Treatment Centers and their function on the local level. I contrast these modern treatment models with the Reagan War …

Loss For Words: An Investigation Of The English Nature Vocabulary, Margaret C. Luthin

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This research assesses the state of English nature vocabulary in Montana, defined here as words and terms relating to local species, weather, and topography. Studies have shown declining nature knowledge among English speakers as well as a marked decrease in the usage of nature words in English popular culture throughout the 20th century, and while research across disciplines points to a growing disconnect between humans and their environment, researchers have yet to investigate the role of vocabulary and language attrition in humans’ changing experience of nature. This study develops a new survey instrument to gather vocabulary data from Montanans, aiming …

How Grassroots Can Save A Community: Citizen Activism In Environmental Justice Remediation, Jordan Halloran

Honors Program Theses

Environmental justice, according to sociologist Robert Bullard, the father of the movement, “embraces the principle that all people and communities have a right to equal protection and equal enforcement of environment laws and regulations.” He says, “it’s a concept that is rooted in equal protection and equal enforcement.” Typically, minority, low-income, and politically powerless communities are not actually afforded this equal protection and enforcement. As a result, they often must organize together to demand reparations for the pollution of their neighborhood. Plastered over mainstream media, Flint was not the country’s first environmental justice event, and it will not be the …

Developing A Watershed-Scale Baseline For Tidal Wetlands, Nicholas A. Procopio, Robert Hazen, Michael P. Weinstein, Meiyin Wu, Danlin Yu

New Jersey Center for Water Science & Technology Reports

Tidal wetlands are critical habitat for the maintenance of secondary production of nekton. This study addresses two key factors: the specific structural and functional traits of coastal wetlands that make them conducive to supporting the secondary production of nekton and how individual components of the marsh are inter-connected to form a functional whole. Structural characteristics of relatively undisturbed tidal wetlands have been determined by meta-analysis from more than 500 papers and in-situ measurements and remote sensing of New Jersey wetland sites. Meta-analysis (Hedges’ d values and 95% confidence intervals) has shown that restored sites compare favorably with undisturbed sites in …

Letter From The Dean, Deacue Fields

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Decolonization: Treaties, Resource Use, And Environmental Conservation, Gerald Torres

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Sustainable Utilization Of Ecosystem Services In Different Stages Of Mangrove Forest Restoration At Klong Khone Sub-District, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand, Wipapan Adulcharoen, Kallaya Suntornvongsakul, Yang-Soo Lee

Applied Environmental Research

Understanding the function of the ecological restoration of mangrove forests leads to appropriatesustainable utilization (SU) of ecosystem services (ES) during development stages of mangrove ecosystem for sustaining the local livelihood and maintaining the mangrove ecological production. The study aims to identify the SU which was changed relying a development of ES at Klong Khone (KK) Sub-district, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. The SU was collected by in-depth interview with 20 key respondents, questionnaires survey with 140 fishermen and statistical scientific data on developed mangrove forest areas. Descriptive statistics and event analysis were employed to analyze the data. The study found that …

Climate Change Increases The Risk Of Fisheries Conflict, Elizabeth Mendenhall, Cullen Hendrix, Elizabeth Nyman, Paige M. Roberts, John Robison Hoopes, James R. Watson, Vicky W. Y. Lam, Rashid Sumaila

Marine Affairs Faculty Publications

The effects of climate change on the ocean environment – especially ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise – will impact fish stocks and fishers in important ways. Likely impacts include changes in fish stocks’ productivity and distribution, human migration to and away from coastal areas, stresses on coastal fisheries infrastructure, and challenges to prevailing maritime boundaries. In this paper, we explore these and other related phenomena, in order to assess whether and how the impacts of climate change on fisheries will contribute to the risk of fisheries conflict. We argue that climate change will entail an increase in the …

Evaluating Current Water Quality Monitoring System On Hau River, Mekong Delta, Vietnam Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques, Giao Thanh Nguyen

Applied Environmental Research

This study aims to assess the sampling sites and frequencies of sampling of the existing surface water quality monitoring on Hau River using multivariate analysis techniques. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were used to analyze the water quality monitoring data collected every month in 2018 from 8 sampling stations. Surface water quality parameters including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate (N-NO3-), phosphate (P-PO43-), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and coliforms were used in the PCA and CA analyses. The findings indicated that the Hau River water quality was polluted by TSS, COD and coliforms …

Assessment Of Organophosphate And Carbamate Insecticides And Heavy Metal Contamination In Canal-Grown Water Morning Glory (Ipomoea Aquatica Forssk) In Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand, Sirikul Thummajitsakul, Noramon Thongkerd, Banthitar Pholmeesap, Piyaporn Phankham, Kun Silprasit

Applied Environmental Research

Excessive application of insecticides in agriculture has become an increasing trend in Thailand, where agriculture is common in the area. This problem leads to negative impacts on human health and environment. Therefore, this study focused on monitoring organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Hg, Zn and Mn) in Ipomoea aquaticaForssk, as well as water and soil from different canals in Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand. The powder samples were prepared from roots, stems and leaves of Ipomoea aquaticaForssk, as well as soil. Then, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of each sample was determined, and heavy metal contents …

Texas Landfills: The Need For Administrative Reform Of The Texas Commission On Environmental Quality’S Permitting Process, William Todd Keller Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract forthcoming

A Brief Introduction To The Applications Of Small Organic Molecules As Food Additives, Zhou Zhou

Open Educational Resources

A new chapter in Introductory Organic Chemistry course. Lecture PowerPoint file and laboratory document are also included in this work.

• The goal of this chapter is to cover the basic ground of the food additives from the perspective of organic chemistry. This chapter has three parts.
  • Part one: Introduction of the food additive industry including the history, definition and the purposes of food additives.
  • Part two: The terminology in food additives and in organic chemistry, how to locate trustworthy data sheets for chemicals, and how to interpret the toxicity data.
  • Part three: Different families of organic compounds used as food …

Carbon Tax As Discrimination: Revisiting The Legal Standard Of National Treatment In Wto Law, Zaker Ahmed

National Law School of India Review

This paper explores the possibility of an alternative take on the current understanding of the GATT national treatment obligation, especially in the assessment of the possible discriminatory impact of a carbon tax. The traditional legal standard, when applied to an import-adjusted carbon tax measure, may result in a finding of discrimination, despite there being sound economic rationale underlying such a measure. It is proposed that during the analysis of discrimination, comparison between products should also account for emission footprints. Furthermore, to assess the discriminatory impact of a carbon tax, one should not only take into account the tax burden imposed …

Bryant University Undergraduate Catalog, 2020-2021

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Real Food Challenge And Climate Impact Assessment: A Food System Analysis At Santa Clara University, 2018-19, Emma Mccurry, Paige Whittaker

Sustainable Food Systems Fellowship

Two undergraduate students at Santa Clara University were hired to work as Food Systems Fellows from April to October, 2019. This position was co-sponsored by the Center for Sustainability and the Auxiliary Services division. The goal of this work was to explore the Santa Clara University food system’s impact on the environment from both an ecological and a social perspective and identify opportunities for improvement.

The Fellows utilized standards and core values from The Real Food Challenge, a national non-profit dedicated to leveraging the power of colleges and universities to increase equity and sustainability in food systems. The Real Food …

What Happened To Mexico's Burgos Shale?, Matthew Fry, Trey Murphy, Andrew Hilburn, Armando Garcia Chiang

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

No abstract provided.

Exemplary Legal Writing 2019: Five Recommendations, G. Edward White, Sarah Seo

Faculty Scholarship

In the song “Natalie Cook” from the musical podcast “36 Questions,” a married couple deals with the fallout from the husband’s discovery that his wife is really an individual named Judith, who “built a past / Made up a history / Details that fit this person named / Natalie.” When the husband accuses the wife, “You’re the one who made her up,” Natalie/Judith responds, “It was a bit more collaborative than you’re remembering.”

Toxic Floodwaters: Strengthening The Chemical Safety Regime In The Climate Change Era, Noah M. Sachs

Law Faculty Publications

Extreme flooding linked to climate change has caused toxic chemical spills across the United States, yet policymakers are not prioritizing industrial chemical safety in planning for climate change. Many scholars and industry executives have argued that existing private law mechanisms, such as insurance and tort-based deterrence, can adequately manage the risk of flood-induced chemical releases from industrial sites. But private law mechanisms have failed to prevent past incidents of mass contamination, and there is little evidence that tort law deters industrial firms from the practices that put communities at risk. In this Article, I engage in a comparative analysis of …

Western Michigan University Magazine, Fall/Winter 2019-2020, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• University News
• Finding Common Ground
• WMU-A Place to Become
• Protecting Pedestrians
• A Pioneer of Pride
• Driving Driverless Technology
• Learning and Leading
• Bridging Barriers
• From Heartbreak to Hope
• Expert Insights
• Alumni Profile
• Classnotes
• In Print
• In Memoriam

Global Injury Morbidity And Mortality From 1990 To 2017: Results From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2017, Spencer L. James, Chris D. Castle, Zachary V. Dingels, Jack T. Fox

Open Access archive

Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate …

Climate And Surging Of Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada, Ellyn M. Enderlin

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Links between climate and glacier surges are poorly understood but are required to enable prediction of surges and mitigation of associated hazards. Here, we investigate the role of snow accumulation, rain, and temperature on surge periodicity, area changes, and timing of surge initiation since the 1930s at Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada. Snow accumulation measured in three ice cores collected at Eclipse Icefield indicates that a cumulative accumulation of 15.5 ± 1.46 or 16.6 ± 2.0 m w.e. occurred in the ten to twelve years between each of its last eight surges, depending on ice motion spatiotemporal offset corrections. Although we …

Fishbowl Discussions: Promoting Collaboration Between Mathematics And Partner Disciplines, Stella K. Hofrenning, Rosalyn Hobson Hargraves, Tao Chen, Afroditi Vennie Filippas, Rhonda Fitzgerald, John Hearn, Lori J. Kayes, Joan Kunz, Rebecca Segal

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

A National Consortium for Synergistic Undergraduate Mathematics via Multi-institutional Interdisciplinary Teaching Partnerships project (SUMMIT-P) is a collaboration of institutions focused on revising first- and second-year mathematics courses with the help of partner disciplines with prerequisite mathematics courses. This paper describes the fishbowl discussion technique used by the consortium members to encourage interdisciplinary conversation. Vignettes describing the results of conversations that occurred at several consortium member institutions are provided by the co-authors.

Climate Translators: The Impacts Of Broadcast News On The Political Divide Over Climate Change In The United States, Dylan V. Macy

Pitzer Senior Theses

In many instances, television news is the primary outlet through which the public gains knowledge on climate change. Both the perceived threat of climate change and American news media have grown politically divided since the 1980s. I make the argument that American news media influences the partisan divide over climate change. In addition to the political landscape of news media, focus on political events and figures in climate coverage further contributes to a partisan divide. Supporting these claims are research displaying how climate change news is processed in a partisan manner and a selection of three case study periods in …

Development Of Discourse And Criteria In Green Building, Ben Bronstein

Pitzer Senior Theses

The development of sustainable design rating systems and forward-thinking case studies create an increasingly holistic approach to green building that reflects and drives broader changes in sustainability discourse. Introduction of LEED by the U.S. Green Building Council alongside the Adam Joseph Lewis Center at Oberlin College transformed loosely defined notions of environmentally responsible and sustainable architecture into a tangible, comprehensive definition of green building. New rating systems in the late 2000s, Living Building Challenge and SITES, expanded green building to strengthen quantitative benchmarks, introduce qualitative standards such as biophilic design, and provide increased focus on site sustainability. Case studies at …

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary: An Exploration Of Changing The Discourse On Conservation, Arielle Ben-Hur

Pitzer Senior Theses

In 2015, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council submitted a National Marine Sanctuary Nomination to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary– a means by which to ensure the protection of one of the most culturally and biologically diverse coastlines in the world. On October 5, 2015, John Armor of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded to the nomination, adding it to the inventory of areas NOAA may consider in the future for national marine sanctuary designation.

In my thesis, I explore how the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary acts as a platform from which Traditional …

The Impact Of Climate Change On The Migration Phenology Of New England’S Anadromous River Herring And American Shad, Charles K. Cobb

Honors Theses

Anadromous fish play important roles in food webs and nutrient cycling in both aquatic and marine ecosystems. As a result of climate change however, anadromous fish’s migration timing has begun to change, with potentially deleterious consequences to both anadromous fish, and the species that depend on them. Western coastal US studies have linked earlier anadromous fish returns to warming marine temperatures and changes in river flow regimes, but the exact temperatures thresholds that anadromous fish respond to, and the relative importance of temperatures and river flows, remain somewhat unknown. Additionally, there has been relatively little research on anadromous fish phenology …

Measuring Differential Forest Growth In The Sheepscot River Headwaters With Bitemporal Lidar, Soren Denlinger

Honors Theses

In recent years, lidar has proven itself as a forestry tool capable of accurate, large- scale inventories. Lidar has even shown utility in multitemporal analysis and growth assessment, given high-resolution or small-scale point clouds. However, lidar’s efficacy as a multitemporal tool with relatively low-resolution, large-scale datasets is comparatively unknown. In this study, I compared forest in Midcoast Maine bitemporally, with publicly available datasets from the years 2007 and 2012. Specifically, I compared differences in growth characteristics of riparian, wetland, and upland forests. Although the 2007 dataset (created for geomorphological research) and the 2012 dataset (statewide, general-purpose) possess varying point densities …