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2021

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"Forever Chemicals": Pfas Contamination And Public Health, Mackenzie Moyer Jan 2021

"Forever Chemicals": Pfas Contamination And Public Health, Mackenzie Moyer

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

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An Evaluation Of The Social Perceptions And Biological Efficacy Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Avian-Agriculture Conflict, Mallory Gyovai White Jan 2021

An Evaluation Of The Social Perceptions And Biological Efficacy Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Avian-Agriculture Conflict, Mallory Gyovai White

Biological Sciences

North Dakota sunflower producers face a dilemma when it comes to blackbirds (Icteridae). Migrating flocks produce localized damage to production, which results in some farmers with no bird issues, while others face total economic losses. A dynamic and humane crop protection tool is necessary to reduce blackbird damage in this broad-scale agriculture setting, as damage is actively occurring, while considering the protected status of blackbirds. This study examined a novel tool, unmanned aircraft systems (hereafter, UAS), through the lens of a social evaluation of farmers’ opinions and the biological impact on blackbird flock behavior. Farmers were very willing to allow …

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Marijuana Legalization Effect On Opioid Abuse: A Synthetic Control Approach, Elisha Kwaku Denkyirah Jan 2021

Marijuana Legalization Effect On Opioid Abuse: A Synthetic Control Approach, Elisha Kwaku Denkyirah

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

The opioid epidemic constitutes one of the worst drug crises in the history of U.S. State-level policies, in general, have done little to prevent prescription opioid abuse. A noteworthy exception to other clinical efforts to curb opioid abuse is marijuana. Despite preliminary evidence, many states are hesitant to introduce legislation to expand access to medicinal marijuana or liberalize laws on the recreational use of marijuana, fearing additional research is needed. Utilizing a synthetic control method and annual state-level data from 2006 to 2018, this study examines the effect of recreational marijuana legalization on opioid abuse. The findings strongly indicate marijuana …

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Real Options For Agriculture Technology: A Venture Capital Valuation Approach, Lee Thomas Vetsch Jan 2021

Real Options For Agriculture Technology: A Venture Capital Valuation Approach, Lee Thomas Vetsch

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

For startups and young companies, there is significant uncertainty and managerial flexibility within a company’s business model, research and development (R&D) processes, and commercialization strategy. These characteristics make early stage companies difficult to value. While the predominant valuation tools used include discounted cash flow and multiples analysis, their fixed assumptions and improper risk adjustment tend to undervalue startups with managerial flexibility, uncertainty, and high growth potential. This thesis utilizes stochastic real options to assist with the valuation process for agricultural technology startups in order to better reflect uncertainty, managerial flexibility, and asymmetric growth that is existent. The stochastic real options …

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Implementing High-Throughput Phenotyping At The Ndsu Dry Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Breeding Program Using Unmanned Aerial Systems, Diego Jose Gris Jan 2021

Implementing High-Throughput Phenotyping At The Ndsu Dry Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Breeding Program Using Unmanned Aerial Systems, Diego Jose Gris

Agribusiness and Biosystems Engineering

Plant breeding has led to considerable yield gains to several crops. However, it alone might not be able to keep up with the growing demand for food. In this study, data extracted from UAS-collected RGB and multispectral images were assessed on their ability to estimate four agronomic traits in three market classes of dry beans in a breeding program. The results showed that (i) seed yield, 100-seed weight, stem diameter and days to flowering can be estimated within the same market class with variable accuracy; (ii) aggregating data from several flights yielded better results than using a single flight; (iii) …

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Manufacturing Low-Density Particleboards From Wheat Straw And Distiller's Dried Grains With Solubles, Sagar Regmi Jan 2021

Manufacturing Low-Density Particleboards From Wheat Straw And Distiller's Dried Grains With Solubles, Sagar Regmi

Agribusiness and Biosystems Engineering

Agricultural byproducts like wheat straw and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) have not found a good market in the wood composite industry. Utilizing DDGS for particleboard in addition to using it as feed will add economic value. This study investigated the potential of using DDGS and wheat straw at different proportions in low-density particleboard with phenol-formaldehyde binder. The effect of alkaline pretreatment of DDGS and wheat straw on the properties of board was also studied. Particleboards were tested for physical and mechanical properties, including density, water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural, internal bond, screw withdrawal, and hardness properties. Particleboards with …

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The Influence Of Beef Carcass Weight On Troponin-T Degradation And Heat Shock Protein 70 In Two Different Muscles, Supriya Deb Nath Jan 2021

The Influence Of Beef Carcass Weight On Troponin-T Degradation And Heat Shock Protein 70 In Two Different Muscles, Supriya Deb Nath

Animal Sciences

This study was aimed to assess how carcass size affects protein degradation in postmortem muscle and subsequent impacts on meat quality. Beef carcasses were randomly selected at slaughter and classified as heavy (> 430.9 kg; n = 22), average (351.5 to 385.6 kg; n = 23), or light (< 317.5 kg; n = 20). Troponin-T (TnT) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were analyzed for protein abundance on 3-day aged longissimus (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles and 14-day aged LD muscle. TnT degradation in heavy carcasses was greater in the d-3 SM muscle and less in the d-14 LD muscle. Carcass size was positively correlated with the 30 kDa TnT band in d-3 SM. Therefore, carcass size influenced the TnT degradation but had no influence on HSP70 protein activity in either LD or SM.

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Supplemental Leucine In Milk Replacer Fed To Neonatal Calves And Lambs: Effects On Growth, Development, And Metabolism, Jessica Nora Reiners Jan 2021

Supplemental Leucine In Milk Replacer Fed To Neonatal Calves And Lambs: Effects On Growth, Development, And Metabolism, Jessica Nora Reiners

Animal Sciences

Maximizing growth during the neonatal period in preruminants can enhance long-term growth and productivity, increasing producer profits and input efficiency. Meeting the requirements for growth can be achieved through feeding singular amino acids, specifically leucine, to enhance protein synthesis in muscle tissues. In order to evaluate the impact of supplemental leucine in milk replacer fed to neonatal preruminants, three experiments were designed. Experiment 1 examined short-term effects of supplemental leucine administration on calf and organ growth, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention, serum amino acid and metabolite profiles, and regulators of protein synthesis. Experiment 2 determined long-term effects of supplemental leucine …

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Impacts Of Added Roughage On Feedlot Performance, Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation, And Ruminal Ph Of Steers Fed Wheat-Based Feedlot Diets, Wayde Janelle Pickinpaugh Jan 2021

Impacts Of Added Roughage On Feedlot Performance, Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation, And Ruminal Ph Of Steers Fed Wheat-Based Feedlot Diets, Wayde Janelle Pickinpaugh

Animal Sciences

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the inclusion of additional roughage in wheat-based diets containing modified distillers’ grains with solubles on feedlot performance (Study 1) and digestibility, ruminal pH, and ruminal fermentation characteristics (Study 2). Study 1 used 72 steers (391.6 ± 46.3 kg) and study 2 used 4 ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers (393.4 ± 33.0 kg). Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, excluding marbling, were not affected by increasing roughage (P ≥ 0.20). Ruminal pH increased linearly (P < 0.01) as rate of roughage inclusion increased. Concentrations of acetate and butyrate increased, and propionate decreased in a linear fashion (P < 0.01), increasing acetate and butyrate to propionate ratio (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary roughage. Our data indicate that increasing roughage inclusion in wheat-based diets including modified distillers’ grains with solubles increased ruminal pH and shifted ruminal fermentation patterns without affecting feedlot performance.

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Use Of Soybean Hulls In Drylot Cow-Calf Diets, Rebecca Lynn Moore Jan 2021

Use Of Soybean Hulls In Drylot Cow-Calf Diets, Rebecca Lynn Moore

Animal Sciences

One hundred and twenty-one Red Angus beef cows were used to evaluate the effects ofsoybean hull inclusion in drylot beef cow diets. Cows were stratified by age, body weight (BW),and body condition score (BCS), and randomly assigned to treatment (n = 4 pens per treatment).Treatments included a control diet (CON) and soybean hull diet (SBH). Beef cow BW, BCS,ultrasound backfat (BF) measurements, colostrum quality, and milk production were evaluated.Beef calf performance was evaluated based on birth weight, weaning weight, ADG, andultrasound measurements of BF, rump fat, and ribeye area at weaning. Dam BW, BCS, and BFmeasurements were not affected (P …

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Estimating The Impacts Of Litter Size And Non-Additive Genetic Effects On Ewe Longevity And Stayability In A U.S. Western Extensive Range Production System, Babatunde Victor Oribamise Jan 2021

Estimating The Impacts Of Litter Size And Non-Additive Genetic Effects On Ewe Longevity And Stayability In A U.S. Western Extensive Range Production System, Babatunde Victor Oribamise

Animal Sciences

Non-additive genetic effects are usually ignored in animal breeding programs due to data structure, computational limitations, and over-parameterization of the models. Non-additive genetic effects play an important role in the expression of complex traits in livestock species, such as longevity and stayability. Components of genetic variance for additive and non-additive genetic effects were estimated for longevity and stayability in U.S. Western ewes using pedigree relationship matrices. Litter size were also investigated for direct and maternal effects. For longevity, a larger proportion of phenotypic variance was explained by non-additive genetic effects than by additive effects for model A+D, indicating that including …

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Community, Culture, & Compassion: Creating Space For Exchange & Community Building, Thomas Davy Jan 2021

Community, Culture, & Compassion: Creating Space For Exchange & Community Building, Thomas Davy

Architecture Theses

Every person has a different background and personal perspective. This background shapes how we perceive and interact with others in our daily lives. Can shared spaces and experiences shift our perspectives and make us more understanding and compassionate to those who share our present, but come with varied pasts? This project proposes that by creating a space focused on interaction, service, and exchange amongst people from a variety of backgrounds; a city and community can become more positively connected. Many people often feel misunderstood and isolated within the places they live. This may be due to recent relocation, marginalization, cultural …

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Centennial High: A School For Hope And Growth, Augustina Teuber Jan 2021

Centennial High: A School For Hope And Growth, Augustina Teuber

Architecture Theses

In this paper, high school design is evaluated in order to better support the mental health of its occupants. The alarming rise in anxiety, depression, and violence among youth over the past few decades demonstrates the importance of changing society’s current trajectory. Thus this paper aims to clarify the extent design impacts users and how educational buildings can benefit adolescent mental health. Literature analysis from a diverse range of fields guides these conclusions. Additionally, case study analysis and logical argumentation are employed to identify practical solutions. Ultimately, an example design for a mental health conscious public school is purposed.

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Built On The Rock, Philip Reim Jan 2021

Built On The Rock, Philip Reim

Architecture Theses

American church buildings age, deteriorate, and vanish, their congregants dwindling and lacking the financial resources to build or maintain them. Simultaneously, a global pandemic sheds light on shortcomings in emergency readiness, particularly related to emergency treatment capacities. The two problems need not be addressed in isolation. The place where people take refuge in God can easily and logically become the place where they take refuge from disaster. This thesis will seek to address specific issues facing church congregations and emergency care centers through an innovative design solution drawing on the historic association of churches with disaster-related health care. The adaptive …

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Redefining The Cybernetic Being: Reconstructing The Theatrical Origins Of The Contemporary Metropolis, Samuel Goodman Jan 2021

Redefining The Cybernetic Being: Reconstructing The Theatrical Origins Of The Contemporary Metropolis, Samuel Goodman

Architecture Theses

We live in the information age. This means that our collective existence lies within a global society supported by an economy that is almost entirely structured by information technology, the study or use of systems for storing, retrieving, and sending information. This has led to a modernization of global data into a rigid system of, inputs and outputs. We have all unknowingly become an array of transistors in a system based on efficiency and results. The introduction of developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence has resulted in an even more systemic process whose sole purpose is to see the …

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Designing For The Montessori Method Of Education, Jennifer Nagel Jan 2021

Designing For The Montessori Method Of Education, Jennifer Nagel

Architecture Theses

How can architecture improve the health and well-being of students in the learning environment? Can we as designers use the Montessori child-focused approach to learning and apply it to architecture for children’s education? How can design focus on child growth in all areas of their development, such as cognitive, emotional, social, and physical? Components necessary for a program to be considered authentically Montessori include multiage groupings that foster peer learning, uninterrupted blocks of work time, and guided choice of work activity. In addition, a full complement of specially designed Montessori learning materials are meticulously arranged and available for use in …

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How Design Influences Lifestyle: Built Vs Natural Environment, Conner Riley Jan 2021

How Design Influences Lifestyle: Built Vs Natural Environment, Conner Riley

Architecture Theses

Architecture has influenced human life from the beginning of time. There is no doubt that it changes the way we perceive the world and everything in it. The focus of this thesis research is the ability for architecture to change the way people live in the built environment. The built environment influences living conditions, hence lifestyle. One of the most astounding facts of architecture is its ability to be formed and interpreted differently around the world. This thesis research strives to bridge the gap between the built environment and how inhabitants interact and are influenced by it. To study the …

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Effects Of States’ Laws On Youth Physical Activity Participation And Obesity Prevalence, Chae Young Chang Jan 2021

Effects Of States’ Laws On Youth Physical Activity Participation And Obesity Prevalence, Chae Young Chang

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

The alarming prevalence of obesity and lack of physical activity among adolescents led to immediate policy action to address these concerns. Accordingly, many states introduced and enacted their own legislation to encourage physical activity in schools. Few studies have explored the effectiveness of the new legislation, however, especially at the state level. To answer the fundamental question of whether policy is effective and to describe the varying effects of state obesity policies, this study analyzed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System from 2007 to 2017. Using the difference-in-differences method, this study found that legislative efforts to encourage physical activity had …

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Double-Loop Learning And Productive Reasoning: Chris Argyris’S Contributions To A Framework For Lifelong Learning And Inquiry, Kevin M. Clark Jan 2021

Double-Loop Learning And Productive Reasoning: Chris Argyris’S Contributions To A Framework For Lifelong Learning And Inquiry, Kevin M. Clark

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

This article reviews social scientist and organizational researcher Chris Argyris’s publications from the 1970s through the 2000s about organizational learning. In his role as an action scientist and consultant, working to facilitate learning in organizational contexts and drawing on earlier work in psychology from John Dewey and Kurt Lewin, Argyris developed his “theory of action” perspective on learning and interpersonal inquiry. According to Argyris, learning involves increasing the effectiveness of our actions so as to produce the intended results. He argued, however, that we are often unaware of the extent to which our actions inhibit learning in social contexts. Argyris …

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Profitable Retail Customer Identification Based On A Combined Prediction Strategy Of Customer Lifetime Value, Yinglu Sun, Dong Cheng, Subir Bandyopadhyay, Wei Xue Jan 2021

Profitable Retail Customer Identification Based On A Combined Prediction Strategy Of Customer Lifetime Value, Yinglu Sun, Dong Cheng, Subir Bandyopadhyay, Wei Xue

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

As a fundamental concept of customer relationship management, customer lifetime value (CLV) serves as a crucial metric to identify profitable retail customers. Various methods are available to predict CLV in different contexts. With the development of consumer big data, modern statistics and machine learning algorithms have been gradually adopted in CLV modeling. We introduce two machine learning algorithms—the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) and the random forest (RF)—in retail customer CLV modeling and compare their predictive performance with two classical models—the Pareto/NBD (HB) and the Pareto/GGG. To ensure CLV prediction and customer identification robustness, we combined the predictions of the …

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Designing Emotion, Mitchell Meier Jan 2021

Designing Emotion, Mitchell Meier

Architecture Theses

This thesis revolves around the question of how can we push and use certain parts of our designs to influence people’s attitudes and reactions to create a better experience for the people who experience our designs. Through the use and control over multiple characteristics within architecture such as color, shape, material, lighting, and a few others, we can learn to better utilize the subtle effects they have on the human mind to improve our capabilities for creating better spaces for all. By combining the knowledge from multiple studies about each aspect, it will be used to create more positive spaces …

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A New Phase Of Aging, Samantha Schrader Jan 2021

A New Phase Of Aging, Samantha Schrader

Architecture Theses

Aging brings about a transition that highlights the importance of creating a connection between our aging population and the community. By seeking a stronger relationship among the groups, quality of life becomes the driving force to enhance the current senior living program. A mixed use skilled living facility will allow the Seniors the independent living while incorporating society to use the shared areas. Shared areas will complement the existing retail stores while adding health services and extending current amenities. Prior to this project, the Fargo- Moorhead community was familiar with the Moorhead Center Mall. This structure is failing to contribute …

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Wasted Space: Reimagining And Repurposing Spaces, Alixandra Hermanson Jan 2021

Wasted Space: Reimagining And Repurposing Spaces, Alixandra Hermanson

Architecture Theses

Cities throughout the world have developed urban landscapes sprawling with buildings of various uses, green spaces linking neighborhoods and networks of transportation systems. Some areas within these types of cities have unused spaces that may be used for the community’s benefit, which are considered wasted spaces. These would be locations under freeways, empty lots, unused rooftops and even land that was once used for another purpose but has now been abandoned or deemed unsafe. We may change these spaces to be community meeting areas for events, recreation or even learning centers with a mix of urban green space and multi-use …

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Public Memory And Forgetting: Making Visible The Invisibility Of Loss In The San Francisco Aids Pandemic, Beau Norby Jan 2021

Public Memory And Forgetting: Making Visible The Invisibility Of Loss In The San Francisco Aids Pandemic, Beau Norby

Architecture Theses

It is well known that we depend on our memory for our individual and collective sense of identity, meaning, and purpose. We assign significance to past, present, and future events through inter-subjective and ordered memories as we make meaning in the world. And yet, as suggested by author Bradford Vivian, memory does not exist in isolation but rather in a surprising symbiotic relationship with forgetting. Utilizing the interplay of absence and presence, as well as remembering and forgetting, this thesis explores architecture as the holder and creator of memory, exposing the hidden and invisible dimension of the AIDS pandemic of …

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Getting Old: A Design Solution To Improve Mental Health Post Retirement, Bailey Buschke Jan 2021

Getting Old: A Design Solution To Improve Mental Health Post Retirement, Bailey Buschke

Architecture Theses

Individuals 65 years and older are struggling with the alarmingly high suicide rates among their peers. This is often caused by the sudden lack of purpose following retirement. Designing for community involvement while still maintaining a secure sense of independence will play a major role in increasing the quality of life in those 65 and older. The American population over 65 is projected to grow from the current 16.3% to about 19% by 2050. This means a solution to this growing problem is needed now more than ever. Retirement communities have grown all around the United states, but seem to …

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Safe Harbor: Recontextualizing Architectural Design To Engage Society In Combating Human Trafficking, Anna Stroh Jan 2021

Safe Harbor: Recontextualizing Architectural Design To Engage Society In Combating Human Trafficking, Anna Stroh

Architecture Theses

As one of the fastest growing and most lucrative criminal enterprises, human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to lure victims into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Minnesota faces widespread attention for its alarmingly increasing numbers in the sex trafficking industry with a particular focus on indigenous women and children. Despite its rich history and astonishing beauty, the Duluth harbor in Minnesota is notorious amongst the state as a site for human trafficking. With limited access to resources, women and children are incredibly vulnerable to being trafficked and face severe psychological and physical harm. Using simulation and …

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The Materiality Of Time And Water: An Emotional And Cognitive Reinvigoration Of Sustainability On The Edge Of The California Coast, Bailey Cochrane Jan 2021

The Materiality Of Time And Water: An Emotional And Cognitive Reinvigoration Of Sustainability On The Edge Of The California Coast, Bailey Cochrane

Architecture Theses

Ancient man had a full-bodied integration into the divinity of the earth that we have displaced in our modern age. We have become subjects of the technological advancements of today and as a result are tasked with replenishing a planet we have overdrawn from. This exploitation of Earth has given birth to raging forest fires, warming and rising oceans, and increased toxicity of the very air we breathe. Can the reintegration of humanity into the forces of nature be the key to saving our planet from the detrimental effects of our current environmental and social situation? My project will be …

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Down To Earth, Ethan Mccullough Jan 2021

Down To Earth, Ethan Mccullough

Architecture Theses

My thesis project dives into the question, “Can subterranean architecture create a more sustainable design?” The idea is to submerge the architecture into the landscape for the purpose of creating designs that can be more sustainable than the typical green design. The best way to answer this question with the chosen site is to design a multi-family housing multi-use facility. An apartment complex with additional purposes could support the community to achieve a healthier relationship between landscape and urban spaces. The research methods that will be used to answer this question will consist of an emphasis on case studies to …

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Evacuation, Taylor Best Jan 2021

Evacuation, Taylor Best

Architecture Theses

Globally, natural disasters are responsible for displacing thousands of families every year. With the unpredictable aspect and lack of predictability the displacements can last anywhere from a few days to a year. Though there are alternative, short term housing options available, this thesis will aim at deeper examination into the relationship between evacuees and the alternative housing available to them. Specifically focusing on availability, affordability, easy travel access, length of stay and size of space in correspondence with family size. In hopes to then take this research and create a community of rental properties that are primarily used for vacationers …

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Building Blocks: Re-Framing Urban Inestment And Community Health Through Equitable Empowerment, Benjamin Djerf Jan 2021

Building Blocks: Re-Framing Urban Inestment And Community Health Through Equitable Empowerment, Benjamin Djerf

Architecture Theses

The modern city is failing at embracing the value of difference and common ground is fading. The implicit effects of urban policy are dividing cities and putting their most marginalized communities in an even more vulnerable position. The narrow perspective through which city administration functions has made city policy willfully ignorant to all its implications and oversights. Consequently, these implications lie written between the lines in invisible ink and the fates of whole communities are laid out within them. Diversity is made into segregation and commonality swapped for polarization. And through this the invisible barriers to community relationship, class mobility, …

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