Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of An Honorable Harvest: Shakers And The Natural World, Carol Medlicott

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Best Integrated Writing Fall 2025 - Complete Edition, Wright State University School Of Humanities And Cultural Studies, Tracy Smith, Kristie Mckiernan

Best Integrated Writing

Best Integrated Writing includes excellent student writing from Integrated Writing courses taught at Wright State University.

Toward Climate Resilient Cities: Endorsing Green Justice Amid Unequal Distribution And Disparities In Fast-Sprawling Urban Nagpur, Prajakta Pimpalshende, Manu Thomas, Jayshree Shukla, Shruti Lahoti, Shalini Dhyani

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Population expansion and accelerated land development frequently overlook the inclusion of green infrastructure, leading to disparities in Urban Green Space (UGS) distribution. In rapidly urbanizing cities of the Global South, ensuring socio-ecological connectivity is vital for promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, multifunctional landscapes. This study uses Nagpur, a rapidly expanding Indian city, as a case study to investigate spatial inequities in UGS access through the lens of green justice. We employed the Demand Supply Gap assessment (World Health Organization and Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation, Government of India guidelines), the 3-30-300 green space rule as a guiding principle to …

Energy Input–Output Meta-Analysis Reveals Algal Diesel Struggles To Break Even, Michelle M. Arnold, David J. R. Murphy, Christopher L. Lant

Environment and Society Student Research

Algal biofuels have been investigated as an alternative to fossil fuels and first-generation biofuels for transportation in the United States since the 1970s. Yet after five decades of development, scalability and implementation remain limited—largely due to persistent barriers such as low biomass productivity, modest lipid yields, and energy-intensive processing methods. These technical challenges significantly constrain the feasibility of large-scale commercialization despite substantial research and investment. To evaluate progress toward commercial viability, this study harmonized energy inputs and outputs across 508 observations on the production of algal biofuel energy return on energy investment (EROEI) in the United States. While bioethanol achieves …

2022u_Sm07_Approved_Cm_Bio-4813-4823-Curation-Of-Collections-Nat-Hist-Collections-Research, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Sm08_Approved_Program-Deletion_Ba-Environmental-Studies, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2022u_Lac02_Approved_New-Emphasis_Bm-Music-Concentration-Jazz-Studies, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Iot-Based Energy Theft Detection System For A Single-Phase Smart Meter, Ojo Julius Oladele, Funso Kehinde Ariyo, Samson Oladayo Ayanlade, Ayooluwa Peter Adeagbo, Ismail Adeniyi Adeleke

Al-Bahir

Electricity theft causes annual global losses exceeding $96 billion, severely impacting distribution networks. This paper presents a novel IoT-based system integrating current differential sensing, physical tamper detection, and edge-cloud analytics to detect energy theft in single-phase smart meters. The design employs three ACS712 current sensors to monitor Kirchhoff-compliant current flow at the grid pole, meter input, and load output, coupled with a PIR sensor for cabinet intrusion. A SIM800L GSM module enables real-time theft alerts and remote disconnection, while closed-loop control autonomously restores power after tamper resolution — a feature absent in prior GSM-only systems. An Android application provides geotagged …

The Loop That Eats Itself: Fast Fashion And The Myth Of Accessible Sustainability, Christie Westby

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This chapter examines fast fashion as a self-reinforcing system driven by speed, consumption psychology, and misaligned incentives, arguing that true sustainability requires slowing supply chains and redesigning governance rather than simply buying “better” products.

How Native Landscaping And Irrigation Can Conserve Water In Mediterranean Climates, Samuel Carlson

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This paper explores how using native plants and proper irrigation can lead to sustainable water management in Mediterranean climates, and reinterprets water scarcity as a supply chain issue. Touching on growing populations, climate change, and water pollution, it examines international case studies from Chile, Egypt, and Spain to compare domestic examples at multiple California universities.

Sustainability In Global Shrimp Supply Chains, Michael Behr

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This chapter explores sustainability challenges within the global shrimp supply chain, comparing the environmental impacts of wild-caught shrimp trawling and shrimp aquaculture. While trawling has historically met global demand, its high levels of bycatch and damage to marine ecosystems make it increasingly incompatible with modern environmental standards. In response, aquaculture now supplies more than half of global shrimp production and is becoming a preferred sourcing option for major buyers.

From a supply-chain perspective, the chapter examines how trade dependence, regulatory pressure, and ESG commitments are shifting procurement strategies toward farmed shrimp. Using examples from large retailers, it shows how buyer-driven …

Paper Straws At Usd, Rodrigo J. Mor Gimeno

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This learning journal reflects my experience throughout the semester learning about sustainability, climate change, and supply chains. Through class discussions, documentaries, and assignments, I explored topics such as carbon footprint, circular economy, ethics, and life cycle analysis. The paper on plastic straws and the group life cycle project helped me understand how everyday products have environmental, social, and economic impacts, and how consumer choices and global systems are strongly connected.

Spatiotemporal Ecology Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans And Mycolactone Functions In French Guiana And Southeastern United States Aquatic Environments, Magdalene Dogbe

Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, produces mycolactone, a polyketide toxin traditionally studied for its role in human pathogenesis. This dissertation presents a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of M. ulcerans and mycolactone producing mycobacteria (MPM) ecology in the Americas and also reveals mycolactone's role in the environment as a microbial community regulator. Through comparative studies in French Guiana (endemic) and the southeastern United States (non-endemic), combined with experimental microcosm investigations, this research contributes to environmental pathogen ecology understanding. Environmental surveillance across 2,226 samples from French Guiana revealed complete MPM restriction to freshwater environments, with zero detections from 1,226 coastal …

Study Of Isocyanate-Free Vegetable Oil-Based Polyurethane Coating With A Silicon-Based Compound For Coating Properties, Ajay Kumar

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The development of sustainable and environmentally friendly polyurethane coatings has garnered significant attention in recent years. This research focuses on the development of isocyanate-free coatings derived from carbonated soybean oil (CSBO) using a solvent- and catalyst-free approach. The coatings were synthesized by reacting CSBO with ethylenediamine (EDA) and varying weight percentages of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), which were added to enhance the coating property, as it contains silicon in it, to evaluate their mechanical and thermal properties. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful formation of urethane linkages, with a significant reduction in C=O peak intensity after 10 days of curing, …

California Water Reuse: State Of The Industry As Direct Potable Reuse Comes Online, Guy Gutterman

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since the early 1900’s, California has found ways to reuse its wastewater, and in 2023 the state added a new method, Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), to its toolkit. DPR allows for advanced treated wastewater to be sent directly to a drinking water system, without an environmental buffer. Through a synthesis of the literature and related government documents of the state's water reuse history, an analysis of regional water recycling trends, and a survey of water utility professionals, this paper aims to understand DPR's future role in securing California's water supply. Historically, public perception has delayed adoption and development of California's …

Multiple Oceanic Sources Of Alkylamines In Southern Ocean Atmospheres, Manuel Dall´Osto, Mark F. Fitzsimons, James Brean, Preston Chebai Akenga, A. Jones, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Ana Sotomayor, Elisa Berdalet, Dolors Vaque, Roy M. Harrison, Karam Mansour, Matteo Rinaldi, Stefano Decesari, David Beddows, Marco Paglione

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Measurements of pre-industrial conditions are of paramount importance for understanding historical climate change. The Southern Ocean and Antarctic continent are some of the least polluted environments on planet Earth. Alkylamines can rapidly partition into aerosols, increasing their mass, as well as form new particles altogether. We demonstrate the importance of pelagic “open ocean” (OO) and sympagic “sea ice” (SI) regions in supplying distinct organic nitrogen aerosol components. In the aerosol phase, dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) are both secondary, though DMA likely originates mainly from pelagic regions, while TMA is associated mainly with sympagic regions. Parallel measurements in ice and …

2023g_Approved_Sm07_Pm_Evs_Ms-Bf-Fmb-Jch040623, Graduate Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

2023g_Approved_Sm06_Pm_Evs_Phd-Bf-Fmb-Jch040623, Graduate Council

All Approved Curriculum

No abstract provided.

“Land Back With Strings Attached”: Centering California Indian Perspectives On The Integration Of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Into California Environmental Policy, Lauren Crane

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In response to a changing climate and while reckoning with their treatment of California Indians, the State of California has embraced Traditional Ecological Knowledge (T.E.K.) and is working to integrate it into their environmental policies. While many scientists and policymakers view T.E.K. as an important resource for environmental management, how do the holders of this knowledge perceive its integration? This research centers the perspectives of California Indian tribes who engaged with the state in the 2024 Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program - an example of a State policy to integrate T.E.K. Their perspectives highlight the different concerns, priorities, and preferred methods …

Sustaining People And Planet: A Triple Bottom Line Analysis Of The University Of San Diego’S Initiative To Empower The Community And Climate Through Food Waste Reduction, Iris L. Dao

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Every year, 17% of the world’s food supply is wasted by consumers, contributing to 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When food is unconsumed and disposed of, food waste rots in landfills and open dumps, which is one of the largest contributing factors to the planet’s drastic climate change. As a result, crop yield, growth, and nutrition are negatively impacted, disrupting the food supply chain and food security, while 3.1 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. College and university campuses are one of the most concentrated generators of food waste due to large-scale food preparation and buffet-style services. As …

Abcs Of Behavior: Strategies To Effectively Reduce Challenging Behaviors, Sarah Matthews

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This paper explores the application of the ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) model and functional behavior assessments (FBAs) to understand and manage challenging behaviors in early childhood education settings. Grounded in developmental theory and informed by professional experience as an early interventionist, the paper emphasizes the importance of identifying behavioral triggers and using individualized, developmentally appropriate strategies. The role of collaboration among teachers, families, and specialists is highlighted as essential for consistent and effective intervention. Key strategies discussed include coaching caregivers, embedding interventions within natural classroom environments, and using positive, non-punitive approaches to time-out. The paper advocates for proactive, respectful behavioral guidance practices …

Empowering Future Teacher Leaders Through Peer Mentoring, Stephanie M. Banks

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Ellen White And Environmental Ethics, Joann Davidson

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Evaluation Of The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council: Assessing Organizational Impact And Value, Alexander Mendez

Honors Theses

The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council (KRWC) plays a central role in protecting, restoring, and promoting the long-term health of the Kalamazoo River watershed, a geographically expansive and ecologically complex system facing persistent challenges from legacy contamination, nonpoint source pollution, land-use pressures, and inequitable access to watershed resources. This honors thesis presents an exploratory organizational evaluation of the KRWC, assessing its role and relevance within the watershed, the effectiveness of its programs and partnerships, the strengths and limitations of its governance structure, and opportunities to strengthen its long-term sustainability and impact.

Guided by principles of Practical Participatory Evaluation (PP-E) and Fourth …

Communities With Diverse Subsistence Needs Require A Variety Of Functional Tree Traits, Minoseheno Rakotovao, Cortni Borgerson, Kerry A. Brown, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Steig E. Johnson, Onja H. Razafindratsima, Ruth Mendum, Onjaniaina O. Andrianjatovo, Harisoa B. Ravaomanalina, Seheno Andriantsaralaza, Sheila M. Holmes

Department of Anthropology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Tree species preference is an understudied yet crucial component of sustainable forest management, as unsustainable harvesting can lead to non-random loss of functional traits. We examine wood resource preference across five regions of Madagascar's biodiverse eastern humid forests. We asked forest users in 19 men's and 19 women's focus groups to list their preferred tree species for common short- (charcoal, firewood) and long-term (house construction, furniture, tools) uses. We then measured functional traits of 260 preferred and common tree species: height, DBH, bark thickness, specific leaf area, wood specific gravity, and seed dispersal syndrome in the surrounding landscape. Using household …

Simulating Sustainability: How Resorts Can Balance Freshness And Waste In Produce Supply Chains, Isabella M. Camberos

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Resorts face increasing pressure to reduce food waste while maintaining high levels of service quality and produce freshness. This study examines how discrete-event simulation can be used as a decision tool to analyze and improve produce supply chains in the hospitality industry. A simulation model was developed in Simio to compare local and global produce sourcing strategies under identical demand, storage capacity, and spoilage conditions. The model captures key system characteristics, including batch-based deliveries, cold storage constraints, perishability, and probabilistic guest waste. Results indicate that while both sourcing strategies exhibit efficient flow and minimal congestion, global sourcing generates significantly higher …

From Collision To Coexistence: Data-Driven Approaches To Reducing Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Intakes, Alice Anastos

Honors Projects

This project investigates the primary anthropogenic drivers of wildlife admissions at Lake Erie Nature and Science Center using a quantitative analysis of 10,172 intake records from the WILD-ONe database. Window collisions were by far the leading cause of admission, accounting for 54% of all intakes. Orphaning represented 12%, followed by vehicle collisions (5%) and domestic cat attacks (4%). By integrating findings from current wildlife rehabilitation research, this study identifies evidence-based strategies, such as bird-safe window treatments, public education on natural animal behavior, and targeted urban planning, that can substantially reduce preventable injuries. These results underscore the need for context-specific outreach …

The Interrelationship Between The Use Of The Applications Of The Forth Industrial Revolution, Governance And Combating Administrative Corruption, Abdul Wahab Shabab Al-Shamilan

UB Journal for Humanities

This study aimed at identifying the direct relationship between the usage of the fourth Industrial Revolution and the governance of administrative processes (including its five dimensions of transparency, accountability, justice, integrity and participation). The fieldwork was applied on a sample of 209 cases of the staff of the Industrial College of Jubail using a questionnaire, descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results indicated that there exist positive and significant relationships between the use of the applications of the fourth industrial revolution in the administration domain and combating administrative corruption.

Exploring The Impact Of Talent Management Strategies On Improving Healthcare Service: A Case Study On King Faisal Medical Complex In Taif, Wejdan Mabrook Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Osama Abdelmonge Yousef Akola, Sami Ahmed Saleh Alghamdi

UB Journal for Humanities

The current study aims to identify the role of talent management in improving the service of healthcare service. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers relied on the descriptive analytical approach. A questionnaire was administrated employees at King Faisal Medical Complex (KFMC) in Taif - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The researchers received back 230 responses. Results show that the respondents agreed highly on the imperative role of talent management, with an average score of 76.96%. There was a positive correlation was (r=0.4835), between the dimensions of talent management and the improvement of the healthcare service. The results also …

A Methodology To Reconstruct The Extent And Dynamics Of Historic Wildfires (1850-1950) In The Santa Cruz Mountains Of California, David Vásquez Ospina

Master's Theses

This thesis reconstructs the extent and dynamics of historic wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California between 1850 and 1950 using qualitative archival evidence from historical newspapers, maps, and related documents. A systematically coded database of 225 reports, consolidated into 155 unique wildfire events, was developed to analyze temporal and spatial patterns, ignition sources, vegetation types, suppression strategies, and impacts on communities and infrastructure. Historical rainfall records from the Boulder Creek station were integrated using water-year totals, three-year rolling averages, and standardized precipitation indices to examine how multi-year dryness relates to fire occurrence and size. Linear regressions show only …