Digital Commons Network^™

Re: Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area Repository Data Gap Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Draft Final Annual Operations And Maintenance (O&M) Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon (Btl) System – 2023, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Design Of Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithms For Vlsi Floor Planning, Srinivasan B

Theses and Dissertations

VLSI floorplanning is a key design step that determines the optimal placement of circuit modules to minimize chip area, wire length, and heat generation. Existing swarm intelligence–based metaheuristics improve area and wire length but often ignore thermal effects.

To address this, the Multi-Objective Firefly Optimization–based Floorplanning (MOFO-FP) technique is introduced, using a Heat-Aware Firefly Optimization (HAFO) algorithm that minimizes heat, space, and wire length under fixed outline constraints. Each firefly represents a floorplan, with brightness indicating solution quality; dimmer fireflies move toward brighter ones to find optimal placements.

A second method, the Hybridized Multicriteria Ant Colony and …

Global Product Liability For Dumb ‘Smart’ Home Devices, Michael L. Rustad, Layth Hert

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

The number of smart homes globally has increased to 300 million, and the smart home market is expected to reach approximately $181.4 billion by 2025. These new developments, however, are accompanied by related security risks. The attack surface for smart home devices poses latent dangers because of inadequate security that enables cybercriminals to gain access to such devices.

This Article proposes extending product liability to address security vulnerabilities in smart home devices. Part I examines the ubiquity of smart home devices. Part II sets forth the breadth of security vulnerabilities in connected devices, confirming the need to clarify that product …

Induced Cd8Α Identifies Human Nk Cells With Enhanced Proliferative Fitness And Modulates Nk Cell Activation, Celia C. Cubitt, Pamela Wong, Hannah K. Dorando, Jennifer A. Foltz, Jennifer Tran, Lynne Marsala, Nancy D. Marin, Mark Foster, Timothy Schappe, Hijab Fatima, Michelle Becker-Hapak, Alice Y. Zhou, Kimberly Hwang, Miriam T. Jacobs, David A. Russler-Germain, Emily M. Mace, Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott, Jacqueline E. Payton, Todd A. Fehniger

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The surface receptor CD8α is present on 20%-80% of human (but not mouse) NK cells, yet its function on NK cells remains poorly understood. CD8α expression on donor NK cells was associated with a lack of therapeutic responses in patients with leukemia in prior studies, thus, we hypothesized that CD8α may affect critical NK cell functions. Here, we discovered that CD8α- NK cells had improved control of leukemia in xenograft models compared with CD8α+ NK cells, likely due to an enhanced capacity for proliferation. Unexpectedly, we found that CD8α expression was induced on approximately 30% of previously CD8α- NK cells …

Why We Should Stop Talking About Violent Offenders: Storytelling And Decarceration, Mira Edmonds

Articles

The movement to decarcerate risks foundering because of its failure to grapple with so-called violent offenders, who make up nearly half of U.S. prisoners. The treatment of people serving sentences for offenses categorized as violent is a primary reason for the continued problem of mass incarceration, despite widespread awareness of the phenomenon and significant bipartisan interest in its reduction. People convicted of “violent offenses” are serving historically anomalous and excessively long sentences, are generally denied clemency and compassionate release, and are excluded from a wide array of legal reform and policy changes with decarceral aims. Keeping these people in prison …

Labor Law, Ownership, And The Firm, Sanjukta Paul

Law & Economics Working Papers

Labor law has its own working theory of the business firm, not derivable from another area of law. This "theory of the firm," which the affirmative provisions of labor law are taken to both modify and preserve, is more overtly hierarchical than in other areas. This is true across the main functional domains of labor law: union formation; expressive and associational rights; and the scope of collective bargaining. A rich vein of existing scholarship deals with both hierarchy and deference to property within labor law. The arguments of this essay emerge from considering these aspects of labor law in conjunction …

Ripl: Recursive Inference For Policy Learning, Kunal Jha, Jeremy R. Manning, Alberto Quattrini Li

Computer Science Senior Theses

Humans excel at understanding the thoughts and intentions of others (theory of mind) and leverage this ability to learn and adapt in social environments. However, replicating this capability in artificial agents remains a challenge. This paper explores the gap between fast, efficient learning often achieved by Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms and the interpretability and adaptability desired in agents interacting with humans. We propose a novel approach that integrates an inference network within existing RL frameworks. This allows agents to reason about the beliefs of others (nested reasoning) while learning optimal actions. Our method leverages approximate solutions to the I-POMDP framework, …

An Archer's Deceit, Alexandria Marie Brazle

English Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Inspired by the grand legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood, my novel, “An Archer’s Deceit,” blends these well-beloved stories with fantasy elements and the innovation of the 19th century Industrial Revolution. Set in a Victorian Camelot, sixteen-year-old Sybilla must survive living a dual life as one of Prince Arthur’s ruthless knights while playing a role in usurping the monarchy for the freedom of outlawed magic users, like herself. Forced to deal with her morals and her personal story while instigating a government coup, Sybilla must eventually choose a side, or it’ll end up killing her and those she’s grown …

Methods To Manage Survey Error Within Economic Contribution Analysis, Madison Jane Plaisance

LSU Master's Theses

The primary objective of this research was to employ strategical methodological approaches to assess the economic value of specific sub-sectors of the green industry within Louisiana. I specifically focused on addressing errors associated with utilizing survey data as the primary data source in such analyses and utilizing approaches such as post-survey stratification and bootstrapping techniques to mitigate these errors.

To achieve this aim, a group of green industry professionals and I selected sectors for analysis based on horticultural licenses issued by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF). Through collaboration with advisors from the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association …

The Impact Of Divided Attention Tasks On Stress: Insights From Heart Rate Variability And Galvanic Skin Response, Kira Stefanie Uluave

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of divided attention tasks on stress using physiologic measures. The divided attention conditions included speech tasks (conversation or procedural discourse) and non-speech computer-based tasks (visuospatial, mathematical, language, data entry, or text editing). Participants included 60 adults divided into two groups of 30 by age. The young adult group ranged in age from 18-30 years and the older adults ranged from 55-82 years. Participants were required to perform the speech task and the non-speech task in isolation as well as a speech task performed concurrently with each of the non-speech tasks. The order of the tasks …

Digitally Beamformed 2d Scanning Phased Array Radar For Networked Unmanned Air Vehicle Detection And Tracking, Carson Reed Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Radar systems vary significantly in size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) characteristics with many high SWaP-C models being inaccessible to consumers. Recognizing this, we have engineered an effective but low SWaP-C networked radar system tailored for detecting and tracking unmanned air vehicle (UAV) traffic. Using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and custom-designed printed circuit boards (PCBs), our system achieves remarkable efficiency without compromising performance. We use patch antennas for our transmitter and in our 4x4 receiver array. With our low SWaP-C system we have successfully concluded outdoor range testing, detecting corner reflector targets at a remarkable 10dB above our noise floor …

Why You Should Use The New Ota Open Fracture Classification (Ofc3), Thomas A. Decoster, Meir Marmor

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Open fracture classification has traditionally used a modified Gustilo Classification (GOFC). There are many recognized problems with the Gustilo classification. The Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) produced an open fracture Classification (OTA OFC) in 2010 to overcome problems with GOFC. However, it has not been widely adapted, partially because there are too many categories. The OTA OFC has proven to be more effective in identifying particular parameters that affect outcome and treatment for open fractures than GOFC. Numerous authors have called for a reconciliation of the two classifications. The OTA Classification Committee has proposed a modification called the OTA OFC3, which …

Radiographic Identification And Treatment Prioritization Of Pediatric Elbow Fractures, Hoang M. Nguyen, Bryce Clinger, Casey Slattery, Selina R. Silva, Patrick Bosch

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Background: Constituting approximately 15.0% of fractures, pediatric elbow fractures often require surgical intervention. Accurate diagnosis in pediatric patients is challenging, demanding proficient radiographic expertise. Initial diagnosis falls to emergency medicine (EM) physicians and pediatricians, who may lack sufficient radiographic training. Previous research by Shrader found a 58.0% accuracy in non-academic EM physicians for pediatric elbow fractures. The purpose of the study is to build on Shrader’s work and assess orthopaedic surgery (OS), pediatric, EM, and residents’ ability to accurately interpret pediatric elbow radiographs.

Methods: OS, EM, and pediatric residents at a Level 1 trauma center in an academic institution examined …

Psychological Safety Of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Study, Laura Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Previous studies have explored the concept of psychological safety among pre-licensure nursing students; however, the literature is notably sparse on personal descriptions of pre-licensure nursing students' experiences of psychological safety in clinical settings. Individual descriptions of psychological safety will provide added insight and understanding about the elements that shape psychological safety in pre-licensure nursing students. Objectives: This research aimed to longitudinally explore pre-licensure nursing students' experiences of psychological safety during clinical rotations and how their experiences of psychological safety change over time. Methods: This study used a longitudinal, qualitative, descriptive approach. Participants were recruited from a nursing program in …

So, You Think You Can Lead? A Study On The Emotional Intelligence Of Female District Leaders Of K-12 Education, Meocha Williams

Online Theses and Dissertations

Have you ever encountered a leader who just had the “it” factor? They always knew the right thing to do, and it almost felt like they could read the minds of others and anticipate their needs? What if I told you that these are also things that can be learned and strengthened within oneself based on the emotional intelligence framework? Research has shown for years the strong link that exists between emotional intelligence and impactful leadership. Though the research is strong in outlining organizational impacts in all settings, including education, there is still limited research on how this learned trait …

Algorithm As Experiment: Machine Learning, Market Design, And Policy Eligibility Rules, Yusuke Narita, Kohei Yata

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Algorithms make a growing portion of policy and business decisions. We develop a treatment-effect estimator using algorithmic decisions as instruments for a class of stochastic and deterministic algorithms. Our estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal for well-defined causal effects. A special case of our setup is multidimensional regression discontinuity designs with complex boundaries. We apply our estimator to evaluate the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which allocated many billions of dollars worth of relief funding to hospitals via an algorithmic rule. The funding is shown to have little effect on COVID-19-related hospital activities. Naive estimates exhibit selection bias.

Dna-Templated Nanofabrication Of Metal-Semiconductor Heterojunctions And Their Electrical Characterization, Chao Pang

Theses and Dissertations

Bottom-up nanofabrication, although still in its early stages with formidable challenges, is considered a potential alternative method to address the limitations of traditional top-down techniques by offering benefits including process simplification, cost reduction, and environmental friendliness. DNA-templated nanofabrication, one of the most powerful bottom-up methods, presents an innovative way to create advanced nanoelectronics. In this approach, nanomaterials with specific electronic, photonic, or other functions are precisely and programmably positioned on DNA nanostructures from a disordered collection of smaller parts. These self-assembled structures offer significant potential for improving many fields such as biosensing, drug delivery and electronic device manufacturing. This dissertation …

United States National Aeronautics And Space Administration (Nasa) Scientific Integrity Policy

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

US NASA Scientific Integrity Policy

Role Of Transformational Leadership Model In Decisions Making: A Single Case Study Of The Ministry Of Economy And Finance Of The Republic Of Benin., Theodore Mennas Hinnoutondji Yetongnon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous African countries are facing challenges in their socio-economic development due to ineffective leadership. Implementing appropriate leadership styles may help to improve living standards and prevent development delays. To understand the specificities and role of the Transformational Leadership Model (TLM) in the financial decision-making process of the current leaders of the Republic of Benin, a qualitative exploratory single case study was conducted based on the transformational leadership theory. The study involved nine experienced financial leaders and managers who have implemented the TLM in the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Benin for at least 5 years from …

Comparing Editorial And Artificially Generated Fingerings: A Case Study, Lixi Qin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fingering is crucial for piano performance. Unlike other instruments with relatively fixed fingerings, keyboard instruments offer countless fingering combinations. As musical styles have evolved, so too have the instruments themselves, resulting in a rich history of diverse fingering systems, which sometimes conflict with one another. Moreover, due to individual differences in hand shape and size, the fingering advice from editors or teachers may not be universally applicable, and there is a lack of an objective, unified standard for validating these recommendations.

For students who do not fully understand fingering principles and have not been exposed to a wide range of …

Thbs1 Regulates Skeletal Muscle Mass In A Tgfβ-Smad2/3-Atf4-Dependent Manner, Davy Vanhoutte, Tobias G Schips, Rachel A Minerath, Jiuzhou Huo, Naga Swathi Sree Kavuri, Vikram Prasad, Suh-Chin Lin, Michael J Bround, Michelle A Sargent, Christopher M Adams, Jeffery D Molkentin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Loss of muscle mass is a feature of chronic illness and aging. Here, we report that skeletal muscle-specific thrombospondin-1 transgenic mice (Thbs1 Tg) have profound muscle atrophy with age-dependent decreases in exercise capacity and premature lethality. Mechanistically, Thbs1 activates transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-Smad2/3 signaling, which also induces activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) expression that together modulates the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) and ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to facilitate muscle atrophy. Indeed, myofiber-specific inhibition of TGFβ-receptor signaling represses the induction of ATF4, normalizes ALP and UPS, and partially restores muscle mass in Thbs1 Tg mice. Similarly, myofiber-specific deletion of Smad2 and Smad3 …

The Experiences Of Stigma Amongst Practicing Music Therapists Living With Depression And/Or Anxiety: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Hally Batterman

Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of stigma amongst practicing music therapists living with depression and/or anxiety. Three study participants were selected from social media groups through purposive sampling. Participants were board-certified music therapists (MT-BC's) living in the United States. They all had been practicing as full-time music therapists for at least 5 years and had depression and/or anxiety for a minimum of 2 years during practice as an MT-BC. Qualitative data sources included in-depth interviews with participants conducted over Zoom. The results of the study suggest that music therapists' experiences of stigma for their mental illness (MI) had a negative …

Elevational Control Of Isotopic Composition And Application In Understanding Hydrologic Processes In The Mid Merced River Catchment, Sierra Nevada, California, Usa, Fengjing Liu, Martha H. Conklin, Glenn D. Shaw

Michigan Tech Publications

Mountain snowpack has been declining and more precipitation has fallen as rainfall than snowfall, particularly in the western US. Isotopic composition in stream water, springs, groundwater, and precipitation was examined to understand the impact of declining snowpack on hydrologic processes in the mid Merced River catchment (1873 km²), Sierra Nevada, California. Mean isotopic values in small tributaries (catchment area < 122 km² ), rock glacier outflows, and groundwater from 2005 to 2008 were strongly correlated with mean catchment elevation (R²= 0.96 for δ²H, n= 16, p< 0.001), with an average isotopic lapse rate of -1.9‰ per 100m for δ²H and -0.22‰ per 100 m for …

Letter Of Intent: Towards A Vacuum Birefringence Experiment At The Helmholtz International Beamline For Extreme Fields, N. Ahmadiniaz, C. Bähtz, A. Benediktovitch, C. Bömer, L. Bocklage, T. E. Cowan, J. Edwards, S. Evans, S. Franchino Viñas, H. Gies, S. Göde, J. Görs, J. Grenzer, U. Hernandez Acosta, T. Heinzl, P. Hilz, W. Hippler, L. G. Huang, O. Humphries, F. Karbstein, P. Khademi, B. King, T. Kluge, C. Kohlfürst, D. Krebs, A. Laso-García, R. Lötzsch, A. J. Macleod, B. Marx-Glowna, E. A. Mosman

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Quantum field theory predicts a nonlinear response of the vacuum to strong electromagnetic fields of macroscopic extent. This fundamental tenet has remained experimentally challenging and is yet to be tested in the laboratory. A particularly distinct signature of the resulting optical activity of the quantum vacuum is vacuum birefringence. This offers an excellent opportunity for a precision test of nonlinear quantum electrodynamics in an uncharted parameter regime. Recently, the operation of the high-intensity laser ReLaX provided by the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) has been inaugurated at the High Energy Density (HED) scientific instrument of the European XFEL. …

Third Circuit Buries The Theft-Robbery Distinction In Graves, Richard Smith

University of Dayton Law Review

To the layperson, the distinction between theft and robbery may not be entirely clear. In fact, outside a law school or a courtroom, it would not be unusual to find people using the terms interchangeably. The similarities of the offenses lend themselves to this confusion. They both involve an offender taking something that does not belong to them from someone else. But there is a reason they were distinguished by the common law and remain distinguished in modern law today. It speaks to our fundamental notions of fairness and justice to treat differently those that engage in “safe” criminal behavior …