Digital Commons Network^™

Voices That Matter: Boston Area Residents Of Color Discuss Climate Change, Lorena M. Estrada-Martínez, Paul Watanabe, Katsyris Rivera-Kientz

Sustainable Solutions Lab

This report presents findings from a qualitative study conducted by the Sustainable Solutions Lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston, centering on the climate change perspectives of 70 residents of color from the Greater Boston area. Through focus group discussions with Asian American, Black, Latino/a, and Native American participants, the study examines three core areas: the health impacts of climate change, levels of community preparedness, and individual and governmental responses. The findings reveal a shared concern over climate-related health vulnerabilities, structural barriers to climate preparedness, and a general mistrust of governmental leadership stemming from historical and ongoing racial inequities. Participants …

Technology-Enhanced In Vivo Exposures In Prolonged Exposure For Ptsd: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Tanya C Saraiya, Amber M Jarnecke, Alex O Rothbaum, Bethany Wangelin, Lisa M Mcteague, Ron Acierno, Delisa G Brown, Emily Bristol, Hayley Feigl, Mclain Reese, Adam R Cobb, Bill Harley, Robert J Adams, Sudie E Back

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In vivo exposures (IVEs) are a key component of exposure-based treatments, during which patients approach fear-provoking, yet safe, situations in "real life." This pilot study assessed the use of a wearable technology (Bio Ware) during IVEs to enhance Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy for PTSD. Bio Ware provides a clinician dashboard with real-time physiological and subjective data for clinicians to use for virtually guided IVEs. Participants (N = 40) were randomized to a Guided group that received standard PE and virtual, clinician-guided IVEs with the Bio Ware device, or a Non-Guided group that received standard PE and used the Bio Ware …

Multilingualism And Memory: Investigating Possible Differences In The Abilities Of Monolingual And Multilingual College Students, Clara E. Barned

Honors Projects

This study investigated whether there is a difference in the memories of monolingual and multilingual undergraduate students using simple memorization tasks. There were 46 participants, 30 of which were monolingual (only knew one language) and 16 of which were multilingual (knew two or more languages). There was found to be no significant difference between the performance of the two groups, with the data generating a p-value of 0.557. This study further suggests related avenues of research and ways in which the study could be improved in the future.

Optogenetic Heart Pacing And Heart Arrest In Drosophila Melanogaster Using Integrated Ocm Imaging And Light Stimulation System, Yuxuan Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Optogenetics has been widely applied to cardiovascular research using different models. Among them, Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) outstands for its similarity of human genes for disease modeling and short life cycle for rapid screening to analyze genetic mechanisms of heart disease. However, most of the current models only allow either activation or inhibition of the heartbeat, which is not sufficient to model complex arrhythmia. Our lab developed a novel Drosophila transgenic model based on a double transgenic line containing two light-sensitive genes, Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and Halorhodopsin2.0 (NpHR2.0), that enable dual-directional control of the heartbeat rhythm. Real-time optical control of the …

Modeling And Stability Analysis Of Single Phase Voltage Source Converter Rectifier Based On Harmonic Transfer Function, Dongqiang Jia, Wenjun Liu, Hongchuan Li, Wanfang Xiao, Bin Li, Xiangyang Xia, Yunfeng Li

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

Single phase VSC has a wide range of applications, and studying its operating characteristics is of great significance for harmonic generation mechanism, harmonic suppression and stability improvement. Firstly, the second-order generalized integrator is used to construct the synchronous phase-locked loop for the main circuit structure of single-phase VSC rectifier. Secondly, according to the requirements of DC voltage outer loop control and unit power factor operation, the equation of inner current control loop is established using the quasi-proportional-resonant controller. Thirdly, based on the linearization principle of the running trajectory of the time-varying period system, the harmonic transfer function matrix of the …

Detection Method Of Terminal Number Of Secondary Circuit Based On East, Xingyuan Wang, Chunyu Wang, Zhi Li, Jinquan Zhao

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

The field inspection of the secondary circuit is an important step in the field inspection of the gateway electrical energy metering device. However, the method of finding a secondary circuit terminal to be tested was rather complicated in the past. In order to optimize the process of finding terminals to be tested, this paper proposes a terminal number detection method based on EAST. In this method, the training dataset is first established, and the EAST model is trained. The trained model is used to detect the text in the terminal block image and outputs the size and position information of …

Line Loss Allocation Method Considering The Dg Influence Level Division And Weight Characteristics, Han Wu, Yangsen Ou, Weitian Cheng, Zhen Zhang

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

In view of the current situation that the existing line loss allocation methods do not reasonably consider the actual impact of distributed generator (DG) grid connection on the line loss of distribution network, this paper proposes a line loss allocation method which takes into account DG impact levels and weight characteristics. Firstly, a set of impact index system is designed in terms of the planning, operation and management of distribution network so as to comprehensively characterize the impact of DG grid connection on distribution network. On this basis, the line loss allocation strategy is developed to deduce the economic cost …

A Value Evaluation Method Of Power User Based On Ahp And Bp-Adaboost Algorithms, Jiran Zhu, Di Zhang, Zhidan Zhang, Tao Peng, Jinliang You, Xiaowei Tang, Rui Ma

Journal of Electric Power Science and Technology

The traditional value evaluation of power users does not consider the high and low voltage levels generally. In fact, the applicable indicators of high voltage and low voltage users are different, especially, there is no corresponding indicator system for the current low voltage power user value evaluation. Therefore, this paper proposes a low voltage power user value evaluation method based on the AHP and BP Adaboost algorithms. Firstly, a set of low-voltage power user value evaluation index systems are established, and the scoring rules and grading rules are defined. Then the comprehensive scores and grades of low-voltage power user value …

Aha! Examining Insight In Exploratory Learning Versus Traditional Instruction., Olivia Kaiser

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

In undergraduate classrooms, students are typically first taught the concepts and procedures for solving problems, then practice. With exploratory learning methods, students explore novel problems and generate original solutions before receiving instruction, which benefits conceptual understanding and future learning. The current study examined whether students who explore before instruction experience greater insight moments, and whether insight leads to better learning. Prior research demonstrates that individuals remember problem solutions better if they experience a sudden moment of solution clarity (Aha! Experience). Participants (N = 83) were randomly assigned to instruct-first or explore-first conditions and taught three types of magic tricks …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of The Adenylate Kinase Enzyme And Its Mutant States, Beata Izabella Dulko Smith

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

Adenylate kinase (AK) is a small, monomeric enzyme present across all domains of life. It is responsible for maintaining homeostasis of an intracellular adenylate pool and catalyzes a reversible transfer of the phosphoryl group from NTP (nucleoside triphosphate) to NMP producing two NDP molecules. While most known isoforms take ATP as phosphate donor, AK3 present in mitochondrial matrix employs GTP. Crystallographic investigations revealed that the basis for its selectivity for GTP over ATP came from an additional hydrogen bond between guanosine’s O6 and backbone nitrogen of threonine is responsible for recognition of GTP. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have demonstrated that …

Probing Short-Range Structural Distortion Of Stereochemically Active Lone Pairs In Extended Solid-State Materials, Uyen Phuong Dang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

The structural and electronic effects of the lone pairs play an important role in magnetic, photocatalytic, and semiconducting behaviors of materials. Investigating the role of stereochemically active ns2 lone pairs derived from p-block cations in solid-state materials is important to phenomena associated with polarizable bonding, e.g., ferroelectricity. The effect of lone pairs in ferroelectric polarization has been studied on the lead metaniobate in which the covalency between Pb and O stabilizes the in-plane polarization which leads to orthorhombic symmetry. PbTiO3 has been widely studied for ferroelectric polarization associated with the off-centering of Ti in TiO6 due to the characteristic 6s2 …

Philosophy For Children As A Form Of Spiritual Education, Olivier Michaud, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

In the last two decades, some authors in the philosophy for children movement have theorized that the community of philosophical inquiry can be a form of spiritual practice, of the care of the self, or a wisdom practice (De Marzio, 2009; Gregory, 2009, 2013, 2014;Gregory & Laverty, 2009). Yet, it is unclear if philosophy for children is, by itself, a form of spiritual education, or if it requires some sorts of modification to be one. And, if it is or can be a form of spiritual education, we can interrogate in what ways and to what extent is it one. …

December 2022 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Administrative Law, Moses M. Tincher, Chelsea J. Harris

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys cases from the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals from June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, in which principles of administrative law were a central focus of the case. Review of decisions by administrative agencies will be the first topic discussed, followed by cases discussing discretionary appeals, followed by cases discussing procedural requirements, with scope of authority to follow. The Article will conclude with cases discussing statutory construction.

Labor And Employment Law, W. Jonathan Martin Ii, Alyssa K. Peters, Patricia-Anne Brownback, David S. Cromer

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys revisions to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) and decisions interpreting Georgia law from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022, that affect labor and employment relations for Georgia employers.

Legal Ethics, Patrick Emery Longan

Mercer Law Review

This Survey covers the period from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. The Article discusses developments with respect to attorney discipline, bar admission, malpractice and other civil claims, ineffective assistance of counsel, disqualification of counsel, contempt, prosecutorial misconduct, judicial conduct, amendments to the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, and formal advisory opinions of the State Bar of Georgia Formal Advisory Opinion Board.

You Can’T Simply Say “No!” Almighty Ceo: Georgia’S View On The Apex Doctrine And Discovery Abuse, W. Warren Hedgepeth

Mercer Law Review

Discovery is the process that allows litigants to gather information from the opposing party in a civil lawsuit. Discovery practices differ among states, and each state’s discovery laws generally determine (1) the scope and limits of what information can be gathered, (2) how it is gathered, and (3) when it is gathered. Depositions are included in discovery methods and allow parties to ask the deponent questions relating to the case. Depositions are not only expensive but can be disruptive, especially to high-level corporate executives whose time and dedication to their companies should be their primary focus. In some jurisdictions, corporate …

Transgender Health: Exploring Medicalization And The Interactions Of Race/Ethnicity, Disability, And Education, Evan Thomas England

Master's Theses and Capstones

There is a wide range of experiences among and between transgender, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) and disabled groups, but they all share histories of medicalization that result in marginalized health experiences and access to health care. To what extent do these health experiences and outcomes vary for U.S. adults with multiply marginalized intersectional identities? How, if at all, does the established moderating capability of education impact health outcomes for people who are transgender? Using data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this study utilizes regression modelling to explore the interactions of race/ethnicity, disability, and education with …

The Effects Of Endogenous And Exogenous Progesterone On Ingroup Affiliative Bias, Abby Sibson

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Millions of women use hormonal contraceptives around the world and though the physical side effects are thoroughly described in the literature and clinical setting, the psychological effects have been largely ignored until recently. Recent studies have found that the use of hormonal contraceptives has an effect on women’s hormones and psychological well-being. The goal of the present research was to expand the current knowledge of the effect of hormonal contraceptives on women’s hormones and social behavior by examining how women with differing levels of progesterone due to menstrual cycle fluctuations (follicular or luteal phase) or using hormonal contraceptives (birth control …

Against Bankruptcy Exceptionalism, Jonathan M. Seymour

University of Chicago Law Review

Bankruptcy courts conceive of their mission differently than other courts do. For the Supreme Court, bankruptcy cases are ordinary statutory cases to be resolved “clearly and predictably using well established principles of statutory interpretation.” Many bankruptcy judges, though, believe that bankruptcy courts serve a distinctive mission for which ordinary adjudicative methods do not suffice. Often, that mission is characterized using the language of equity. Judges and commentators alike have observed that among the most spoken words in the bankruptcy courts are: “the bankruptcy court is a court of equity.” Others have contended that bankruptcy necessitates “creativity and flexibility,” pursuant to …

Here’S Your Number, Now Please Wait In Line: The Asylum Backlog, Federal Court Litigation, And Artificial Intelligence In Agency Adjudication, Youssef Mohamed

University of Chicago Law Review

Asylum seekers are individuals who flee to other countries to find sanctuary from the persecution suffered within the borders of their home countries. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that by mid-2021 there were nearly 4.4 million individuals actively seeking asylum worldwide, and the most recent data available surprisingly suggest that the United States granted asylum to only 31,429 persons in 2020.

The asylum system that is with us today was created when Congress enacted the Refugee Act with the goal of “respond[ing] to the urgent needs of persons subject to persecution in their homelands” and “provid[ing] a permanent …

State Policy In Federal Courts: Stabilizing The Burford Abstention Doctrine, Virginia Robinson

University of Chicago Law Review

The federal abstention doctrines govern the narrow circumstances under which a district court can decline to hear a case even though it has proper jurisdiction. One of those doctrines—Burford abstention—has generated a morass of confusion over when it applies and what goals it is meant to achieve. To find a way out of the morass, this Comment looks at contemporaneous developments in doctrines of federal court review—and at the procedural history of Burford itself—to pinpoint the precise problem that Burford abstention was created to solve. It argues that the Burford Court was wary of federal courts exercising jurisdiction in cases …

Deciphering The Genetic Architecture Of Key Female Floral Traits For Hybrid Wheat Seed Production, Juan David Jimenez

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple cereal that provides 20% of the calories and proteins in human intake (Ray et al., 2013). Global population is projected to increase to 9.7 billion by 2050. Food production must increase by 70% to feed this future population. Wheat production is in crisis due to political and environmental challenges and is projected to decline by 0.8% in 2022 (FAO, 2022). To ensure food security yield genetic gain must increase by around 1.4% annually. Taking advantage of heterosis, hybrid wheat has the potential to boost grain yield. However, hybrid wheat seed production systems …

Light & Faith: December 2022, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Firearms And Initial Aggressors, Cynthia Lee

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Countercyclical Corporate Governance, Aneil Kovvali

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Chinese Celebrities’ Political Signaling On Weibo, Dan Chen, Gengsong Gao

Political Science Faculty Publications

In China, celebrities can dominate public discourse and shape popular culture, but they are under the state’s close gaze. Recent studies have revealed how the state disciplines and co-opts celebrities to promote patriotism, foster traditional values, and spread political propaganda. However, how do celebrities adapt to the changing political environment? Focusing on political signaling on Weibo, we analyze a novel dataset and find that the vast majority of top celebrities repost from official accounts of government agencies and state media outlets, though there are variations. Younger celebrities with more followers tend to repost from official accounts more. Celebrities from Taiwan …

Appearance-Preserved Portrait-To-Anime Translation Via Proxy-Guided Domain Adaptation, Wenpeng Xiao, Cheng Xu, Jiajie Mai, Xuemiao Xu, Yue Li, Chengze Li, Xueting Liu, Shengfeng He

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Converting a human portrait to anime style is a desirable but challenging problem. Existing methods fail to resolve this problem due to the large inherent gap between two domains that cannot be overcome by a simple direct mapping. For this reason, these methods struggle to preserve the appearance features in the original photo. In this paper, we discover an intermediate domain, the coser portrait (portraits of humans costuming as anime characters), that helps bridge this gap. It alleviates the learning ambiguity and loosens the mapping difficulty in a progressive manner. Specifically, we start from learning the mapping between coser and …

Rapamycin Inhibits Light-Induced Necrosome Activation Occurring In Wild-Type, But Not Rpe65-Null, Mouse Retina, Chunfeng Lu, Songhua Li, Minghao Jin

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE. Both photodamage and aberrant visual cycle contribute to disease progress of many retinal degenerative disorders, whereas the signaling pathways causing photoreceptor death remain unclear. Here we investigated the effects of intense photo-stress on (1) necrosome activation in wild-type and RPE65-null mice, (2) interaction of p62/Sequestosome-1 with the necrosome proteins, and (3) the effects of rapamycin on photodamage-induced necrosome activation and retinal degeneration in wild-type mice. METHODS. Dark-adapted rd12 mice and 129S2/Sv mice with or without rapamycin treatment were exposed to 15,000 lux light for different times. Expression levels and subcellular localization of proteins were determined through immunoblot and immunohistochemical …

Molecular Characterization Of Nitrogenase Regulation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Melissa Chanderban

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogenase is the metalloenzyme only found in bacteria and archaea that is essential for biological nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy), but it can also serve as a catalyst in biofuel production. All diazotrophs contain a molybdenum (Mo) nitrogenase, while some species contain additional alternative nitrogenases where either vanadium (V) or iron (Fe) replace Mo in the active site cofactor. Nitrogen fixation by bacteria has been extensively studied. The limited investigation of nitrogen fixation in methanogenic archaea (methanogens) indicates production of nitrogenase is simpler than in bacteria and methanogen nitrogenase has different biochemical properties. Thus, methanogen nitrogenases provide a promising alternative for genetic …