Digital Commons Network^™

Buried Pipeline Performance Under Surface Loading Using Finite Eelement Analyses And Innovative Soil Box Testing Methodologies., Adam Gabreil Cantrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Buried pipelines are used extensively in the utility industry to deliver natural gas to customers. Reasonable estimates indicated that there are approximately 26,000,000 miles of pipeline, of various diameters throughout the United States (PHMSA, 2018). For protection, and to relieve urban congestion, these pipelines are nearly always buried under ground. After the pipes are installed, however, there is little opportunity for inspection, or for supplemental protection, when needed. Thus, to reduce the likelihood of rupturing a natural gas pipeline, design guidelines that ensure consistent, minimum protection of these utilities, have been developed and implemented. Pipeline design and installation regulations for …

Ai-Driven Approach For Diagnosis Of Renal Transplant Rejection Based On Biomarkers Identification And Integration., Israa Sharaby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

They kidney is a vital organ for which humans are fortunate to find a spare through transplantation to sustain critical body functions, offering a hope to those struggling with renal failure. Kidney transplant procedure is the optimal treatment for people who suffer from end-stage renal failure. However, there are posed challenges due to the risk of immune rejection and the limited availability of donors. Early detection of renal rejection can provide timely intervention and accurate diagnosis that are critical to improve the transplant outcomes. This study explores the innovative approaches for addressing the current challenges through biomarkers identification, imaging techniques, …

Zoning Regulations Are Harming Nebraska’S Wind Energy Future, Carter Probst

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Nebraska is a prime location for renewable energy sources, such as wind. According to Climate Central, a policy-neutral non-profit, “While Nebraska ranks fourth among U.S States for potential wind energy generation, it ranks 15th in installed capacity.” What is the number one reason Nebraska has not fully tapped into its potential, which would have numerous economic and climate benefits? Harsh zoning regulations at the county level, fueled by misinformation, have made installation of wind turbines nearly impossible across multiple counties in Nebraska.

Understanding The Relationship Between Humble Leadership, Reflecting Dialogue, Psychological Safety And Job Satisfaction: A Study Of Japanese Correctional Officers, Yayoi Kimura

Theses

This study investigates the relationships between humble leadership, reflecting dialogue, psychological safety, and job satisfaction among correctional officers in Japanese correctional institutions. Correctional officers face high levels of stress due to their demanding roles in rehabilitating and managing inmates, yet the impact of organizational factors on their job satisfaction remains underexplored. As Japan undergoes significant changes in its penal system, understanding the factors that contribute to a supportive work environment is crucial. First, this study examines the relationship between psychological safety and job satisfaction among correctional officers. Second, it explores whether facilities that practice reflecting dialogue and humble leadership experience …

Burnout, Stress And Its Effect On The Use Of Deadly Force, Charles Gutshall

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

Police officers encounter significant occupational stressors that contribute to heightened levels of burnout and stress, potentially influencing their critical decision-making during deadly force encounters. This dissertation investigates the relationship between selfreported perceived stress, burnout, and the frequency of deadly force application among officers in southeastern Florida. Drawing on the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Restraint in the Use of Deadly Force Scale, survey responses from 202 officers were statistically analyzed using regression and descriptive techniques.

Contrary to initial hypotheses, findings revealed no significant predictive relationship between perceived stress, burnout, and the likelihood of using …

Indigenous Justice Initiatives: A Summary Current To 2024, Kito Romero, Dara Heravi, Karen Drake, Yanika Mullings-Smith

Commissioned Reports, Studies and Public Policy Documents

This resource is intended to provide a guide to Indigenous justice initiatives across what is now known as Canada, based on publicly available information. The guide includes information on independent Indigenous courts that operate under the authority of an Indigenous people and separately from the Canadian legal system, Indigenous Persons Courts that operate within the Canadian legal system yet apply or uphold Indigenous laws, and restorative justice initiatives available to Indigenous peoples. This resource also includes academic literature on Indigenous laws, Indigenous justice models and practices, evaluations of existing Indigenous justice initiatives, and international comparative works. The focus is on …

The Constitutional Case Against State-Controlled Fact-Checking: A Case Comment On Kunal Kamra V. Union Of India, Abhinav Ravi, Aravind Sundar

National Law School of India Review

The Bombay High Court in Kunal Kamra v Union of India struck down the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, which had established a centralised fact-checking unit to issue takedown orders against social media posts that were identified as “fake or false or misleading”. The Rules threatened the safe harbour protection of social media intermediaries for failing to adhere to such takedown orders. The Court held that the establishment of the fact-check unit violates the rights of free speech, profession and equality under the Indian Constitution. This article explores the free speech implications of …

Perceived Barriers And Facilitators Of Behavioral-Health Modality Change Adoption During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review, Nicholas Sims-Rhodes, Hannah E. Cornwell, Emily Barena, Vandy C. Dubre, Kimberly S. Elliott, Eman H. Nabulsi, Nelly Yuen, Sarah Sass, Anastasia Miller, Yordanos M. Tiruneh, Karan P. Singh

Presentations and Publications

Introduction: During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, there was a surge in demand for mental health services worldwide, presenting challenges for healthcare institutions as they navigated changes in policy and safety regulations. In the United States, this resulted in many behavioral health modality changes to remain in compliance with the Center for Disease Control guidelines. A growing body of literature has documented these, yet few explored barriers and facilitators affecting the adoption of these modality delivery changes. The researchers conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA method, focusing on service delivery changes across healthcare systems in the United States from …

Finance, Technology, & Operations Newsletter (Volume 12), Csusb Finance, Technology, & Operations

Finance, Technology, & Operations Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Nourishing Nations: A Comparative Analysis Of American Food Production Laws & Regulations, Morgan Flood

Honors Theses

Food manufacturing, distribution, and consumption have a significant influence on equity, sustainability of the environment, and public health. Food regulations control these factors, but there are substantial variations in how European countries and America balance safety, innovation, and economic interests. With a focus on finding flaws in the American regulatory system, this thesis compares the rules and regulations overseeing food production in the US and Europe. It examines how these inequalities fuel environmental deterioration, economic inequality, and public health issues. For example, dangerous chemicals like titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, and Red Dye 40 have been restricted in the European Union …

Using Machine Learning For Road Accident Severity Prediction And Optimal Rescue Pathways, Mohammad Yousuf Sulaiman Alhashmi

Theses

Road traffic accidents remain a critical challenge for urban planners, transportation authorities, and public safety stakeholders worldwide. Despite advancements in road infrastructure and traffic management, the frequency and severity of accidents continue to strain emergency response systems and compromise public safety. Accident hotspots, are particularly concerning, as they often exhibit recurring patterns of accidents due to factors such as poor road design, high traffic density, and adverse weather conditions. This thesis addresses the challenge of predicting accident severity and identifying accident-prone areas through a data-driven approach. Using a large dataset of over 7.7 million accident records containing geographical, environmental, and …

Trajectories Of Offending Over 9 Years After Youths' First Arrest: What Predicts Who Desists And Who Continues To Offend?, Elizabeth Cauffman, Jordan Beardslee, Colleen Sbeglia, Paul J. Frick, Laurence Steinberg

Faculty Publications

Antisocial and illegal behavior generally declines as youth approach adulthood, but there is significant individual variation in the timing of the peak and decline of offending from adolescence to young adulthood. There are two primary research questions in the present study. First, are there subgroups of youth who follow similar patterns of offending over the nine years after their first arrest? Second, what baseline factors predict which youth will follow each pattern of offending? Data were drawn from the Crossroads study, which includes a sample of racially and ethnically diverse boys who were interviewed regularly for 9 years following their …

The War Within: Mexican Drug Cartels And The Impact Of The Drug Trade On Society And Governance, Haris Mohammad

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the origins, activities, and societal impacts of Mexican drug cartels, while assessing the effectiveness of governmental and international responses to their development and influence. This thesis examines the evolution of the cartels, starting with their collaboration with traffickers in Colombia and concluding with their supremacy in the global drug trade. The investigation elucidates the social and political factors that have facilitated their growth. These factors include pervasive corruption, economic disparities, and inadequate governance, all of which have fostered an environment conducive to the emergence of cartels.

This thesis examines the detrimental effects of cartel involvement on Mexican …

Restoration Of The Cantilever Deck Structure, Calvin P. Vigeant, Roger G. Biddle, Calvin S. Morgan

Architectural Engineering

The Restoration of the Cantilever Deck Structure is an inter-disciplinary project seeking to provide public safety, the continuity of a historic structure, and contribute to the life of the Poly Canyon Experimental Structures Laboratory. This project brought together architectural engineering students Roger Biddle and Calvin Vigeant and construction management student Calvin Morgan for a year long journey of Learn by Doing. The structure is visually stunning and gives the impression of a ship cresting a wave, featuring two prominent steel masts and large tapered wood beams. The deck is perched on a steep hillside site over a seasonal creek that …

Livable Marshfield: Age And Dementia Friendly Action Plan: Improving Livability For All Ages And Abilities, Caitlin E. Coyle, Beth Rouleau, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The Town of Marshfield’s Age and Dementia Friendly action plan signifies a milestone and reflects many years of dedication to creating environments within Marshfield that are supportive of residents of all ages and abilities. Guided by the Council on Aging (COA), the Town of Marshfield is dedicated to understanding and responding to the needs and interests of older adults in the community. Over the years, the share of residents over age 60 has steadily grown. According to 2019-2023 estimates from the American Community Survey, an estimated 28% of Marshfield residents are age 60 or older (approximately 7,200 residents). Projections suggest …

Overdose Watch: Educate, Prevent, And Respond…Equitably, Amber Childress, Christine Nava, Genevie Porlaris

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Building Social Capital In Nonprofit Human Service Organizations, Glenn M. Birch

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Nonprofit Studies Capstone Projects

All forms of capital enhance the ability to accomplish tasks efficiently. Like physical, human, and financial capital, social capital enables individuals or organizations to accomplish more than is otherwise possible. When groups undertake actions to cooperate and achieve a shared purpose, it is a sign of social capital at work. This study looks specifically at human service nonprofit organizations to examine strategies and practices that can lead to the building of social capital. As a comparative case study of two nonprofit organizations, I explore how nonprofit organizations learn to build social capital across lines of difference; look at how bridging …

Effect Of Pilot Mental Health On Passenger Willingness To Fly, Isabella L. Deloach, Sara E. Bergamini, Dowon Choi, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study explored how passengers' willingness to fly is affected by the mental health condition of pilots, providing insight into public perception of the mental health condition of pilots. Results showed significant differences between all scenarios except the medication scenario vs. therapy scenario.

Public Health Emergencies And The Second Amendment, Amy Swearer, Paul J. Larkin

Denver Law Review

For many decades, gun control advocates, hoping to shift the terms of the debate to more favorable terrain, have argued that gun violence should be viewed primarily through the lens of public health. In September 2023, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and New Mexico Secretary of Health Patrick Allen pushed that rationale to its extreme and beyond. Under the auspices of the state’s public health emergency laws, they issued an executive order and agency directive that effectively eliminated the right of ordinary citizens to bear arms in public in the state’s most populous county. That attempt to circumvent the …

Daca's Major Questions Exception, Matthew Calabrese

Hofstra Law Review

The Supreme Court has extracted a new role as the gatekeeper of administrative action under the major questions doctrine. Underlying the doctrine is an understanding that agencies cannot act to address policy issues implicating questions of great political and economic significance unless specifically authorized by Congress. However, DACA presents a different question that should be exempted from the major questions doctrine. This is because DACA relies on two levels of executive authority: statutory—under the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Homeland Security Act—and constitutional—under the Take Care Clause. Because, as this Article explains, the two authorities cannot be disentangled, courts …

All Bark, No Bite: How The Lone Star "Junk-Science Writ" Could Reinvigorate Federal Habeas Review, Robert Harry Saylor Iii

Hofstra Law Review

No abstract provided.

It Takes A Village: Why And How Georgia Should Afford Greater Protection To Juveniles During Police Interrogations, Lillie Tate Andrews

Mercer Law Review

On June 27, 1998, Lori Duniver discovered that her five-year-old daughter, Devan, was missing from her home in New Philadelphia, Ohio. The following day, Devan’s body was found in a wooded area near her home. The Duniver family’s twelve-year-old neighbor, Anthony Harris, was ultimately convicted of Devan’s murder and sentenced to a term of incarceration to last until his twenty-first birthday. However, on June 7, 2000, the Court of Appeals of Ohio reversed his conviction on the ground that the juvenile court had improperly denied a motion to suppress his confession, which was coerced in violation of his Fifth Amendment …

Smile! You’Re On Camera: Police Use Of Automatic License Plate Readers And The Need For Statewide Legislation, Cailyn Hoang

University of Dayton Law Review

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Issue Of Public Defender Excessive Caseload In Low-Income Communities, Moises Reynoso Colin

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Monterey County Public Defender’s Office plays a vital role in providing legal representation to low-income individuals, ensuring their constitutional rights are upheld. Although the office effectively fulfills its mandate, it aims to enhance defense support by exploring ways to reduce attorney workloads and improve service quality. This project was developed to assess attorney-to-client ratios, identify staffing needs, and evaluate the potential benefits of integrating paralegals into the team. Using a mixed-methods approach, the project included interviews with attorneys to gather insights on workload challenges and identify tasks that could be delegated to paralegal staff. Findings revealed that certified paralegals …

Enhancing Smart Grid Security And Resilience Using Programmable Networks, Zheng Hu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The security and resilience of smart grids are essential to ensuring reliable and efficient energy distribution, especially as these cyber-physical systems grow more interconnected and complex. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems play a critical role in smart grid operations by enabling essential infrastructure control and real-time monitoring. However, SCADA systems are highly vulnerable to modern cyber threats, which target weaknesses in industrial protocols and real-time data requirements.

This dissertation investigates the potential of programmable network technologies, with a focus on P4 (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) switch, to deliver adaptable, in-network security solutions tailored to the needs of smart …

Sustained, Strategic Organizing Paves The Way For Jail Voting Work In Tennessee

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Interactive Effects Of Officer, Subject, And Encounter Factors On Police Use Of Force Outcomes, Jeremy David Barnum

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Police use of force incidents are highly complex events that can be characterized by factors pertaining to the officers, subjects, and immediate encounter. These factors and the dynamic interrelationships between them encompass the situational context of use of force and have been widely studied in the criminological literature (Bolger, 2015). However, extant research has almost exclusively focused on identifying the main effects of situational factors on use of force with little consideration of how effects may vary across specific situational contexts. This limits our understanding of police use of force and complicates efforts to develop policy or training that ensures …

Social Network Analysis: How Social Media Groups Can Influence Policies Among Hispanic Families, Valeria Gurr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 impacted the entire world in various ways. On March 15, 2020, education in Nevada was significantly impacted when the Governor announced the closure of public schools due to the pandemic. When the schools were closed, students were forced to stay home and receive their education through virtual instruction. This transition to distance education affected the Hispanic/Latino(a) communities in pronounced ways and highlighted issues such as limited access to the Internet, technology, lack of hardware devices, as well as language barriers and more. This study uses social networking analysis techniques to examine the nature of …

Barriers In Reporting Sexual Violence On College Campuses, Amber Hartman

Honors Theses

This thesis is designed to examine the underreporting of sexual violence on college campuses by exploring the systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers that hinder victims from disclosing their assault. Using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the research identifies three overarching influences for non-reporting. Fear, shame, and lack of resources are presented as the basis of the decision that victims make to not report. Meta-analysis of the research concludes that there is a profound impact of internalized victim-blaming narratives, fear of repercussions and institutional deficiencies in providing accessible support. Recommendations for solutions emphasize creating trauma-informed policies, improving communication and accessibility of …

Tvtp Grant Program Formative And Outcome Evaluation Report, Matt Allen, Andrea Walker, Nicholas J. Arreola, Daniel Cook, Jeffrey Jones, Alice Jurkiewicz, Cynthia Kennedy, Charlie Maas, Erin G. Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Sydney Reichin, Noah Turner, Elle Ward, John Wonderlich

Reports, Projects, and Research

Between 2015 and 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided $60 million through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program to help communities across the United States develop capabilities to combat terrorism and targeted violence. Managed by the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), the program provides grant funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, nonprofits, and institutions of higher education to enhance the capabilities of locally based TVTP programs through a public health-informed, whole-of-society approach. Building local prevention capacity is a key federal policy priority, and the TVTP Grant Program possesses unique characteristics that …