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How Do Health Insurer Practices Affect Health Equity For Gay And Bisexual Men And Transmasculine Individuals? A Qualitative And Health Policy Assessment, Alexa D'Angelo

Dissertations and Theses

In the U.S. there continue to be stark disparities in health that affect LGBTQ+ communities. These disparities include those related to mental health, sexually transmitted infections, along with chronic illnesses and some cancers. Higher health needs across diagnostic categories mean that LGBTQ+ individuals require access to the healthcare system both to prevent conditions disproportionately affecting the community, and to treat conditions as they arise. In the U.S., access to healthcare often requires either reliable insurance coverage or another payer to cover costs associated with care. Thus, health insurance status and coverage of care, along with coverage regulations and health policies …

News From Uab Libraries, 06 2025, Uab Libraries

UAB Libraries News

No abstract provided.

Basal Autophagy Promotes Accurate Chromosome Segregation In Drosophila Oocytes And Declines During Oocyte Aging, Diana C. Hilpert

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The frequency of trisomic pregnancies exponentially increases with advanced maternal age, a phenomenon known as the maternal age effect. The majority of these aneuploid pregnancies arise from meiotic segregation errors in the oocyte and premature loss of sister chromatid cohesion is a contributing factor. However, the mechanisms that lead to premature cohesion loss during oocyte aging are not fully understood.

Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism, work described in this dissertation demonstrates that basal levels of autophagy, a degradation process for damaged organelles and protein aggregates, are required during meiotic prophase for arm cohesion maintenance and accurate meiotic segregation …

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identified Molecular Variants Linked To The Progression Of Gastric Precancerous Lesions In Patients From Southwestern Colombia—An Exploratory Approach., Lizeth Mejia-Ortiz, Jovanny Zabaleta, Jone Garai, Luis Eduardo Bravo, Andres Castillo

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Moving Pieces Of Corporate Disclosure: Truth, Falsity, And Half-Truths In Between, Donald C. Langevoort

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The half-truth doctrine is made operational in the common statutory and rule-based admonitions in the securities laws (particularly Rule 10b-5) not to omit “material fact[s] necessary in order to make . . . statements made . . . not misleading . . . .” It cabins the temptation to exploit the privilege of nondisclosure through what has been called “artful paltering.” Unfortunately, the evolution of the half-truth doctrine has become more of a poor stepsister than a muscular companion. It carries less than a full load in the complex ecosystem that exists for public company disclosure today. And it is …

Assessing The Relationship Between Combat Exposure, Wartime Service, And Barriers To Substance Use Disorder Treatment In Post 9/11 Veterans., Robert Near

Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUDs) represent a critical public health concern, particularly within military and veteran populations. The complex interplay of mental health challenges, combat exposure, and the unique stressors associated with military service contribute to a heightened vulnerability among veterans. Research from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) underscores the prevalence of these issues, indicating that approximately 1 in 10 veterans from the Iraq or Afghanistan wars treated by the VA are diagnosed with a SUD (Veterans Affairs, 2023). Additionally, veterans from all eras show a higher propensity for binge drinking when compared to the general population, further …

The Rose That Grew From Concrete: Exploring The Romantic Experiences Of Black Men With Histories Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Tatyana Nichelle Smith

Dissertations

Contemporary research typically characterizes Black heterosexual relationships by dismal marriage and divorce rates, largely ignoring the reality of how Black men develop attachments with their romantic partners and therefore continuing to perpetuate deficit perspectives of Black men (e.g., the cause of conflictual romantic relationships and “broken” Black families). What may be less understood about these relationships is the influence of childhood trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse, and Black men’s experiences of gender role conflict. Research shows that Black men’s experiences of childhood sexual abuse and socialization about masculinity have important implications for how they come to view themselves and …

Predicting Federal Third-Party Funding Regulation, Victoria Shannon Sahani

Utah Law Review

Third-party funding is a global phenomenon, although regulatory enforcement is local. Regulatory approaches vary widely from country to country and within countries, especially in federal legal systems, such as Canada, Australia, and the United States. The United States federal government is learning about third-party funding with an eye toward potential future regulation. Congress has been investigating funding, as evidenced by testimony in congressional hearings, proposed federal legislation, and a nonpartisan study on third-party funding by the Government Accountability Office. In addition, after more than a decade of observation, the United States Federal Civil Rules Advisory Committee recently formed a committee …

Revised Draft Final Bpsou Unreclaimed Sites: Ur-05 Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Inferring The Timing Of Antiretroviral Therapy By Zero-Inflated Random Change Point Models Using Longitudinal Data Subject To Left-Censoring, Hongbin Zhang, Mckaylee Robertson, Sarah L. Braunstein, David B. Hanna, Uriel R. Felsen, Levi Waldron, Denis Nash

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

We propose a new random change point model that utilizes routinely recorded individual-level HIV viral load data to estimate the timing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in people living with HIV. The change point distribution is assumed to follow a zero-inflated exponential distribution for the longitudinal data, which is also subject to left-censoring, and the underlying data-generating mechanism is a nonlinear mixed-effects model. We extend the Stochastic EM (StEM) algorithm by combining a Gibbs sampler with a Metropolis–Hastings sampling. We apply the method to real HIV data to infer the timing of ART initiation since diagnosis. Additionally, we conduct simulation …

The Positive Association Of Physical Activity On Sadness And Suicide Behaviors For Youth Who Have Been Bullied, Katelon Kerns, Kahir Jawad, Yana Feygin, V. Faye Jones, W. David Lohr, Jennifer Le, Kiana Fields, Jennifer Porter, Sarah Ouellette, Theresa Kluthe, Deborah Winders Davis

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Youth mental health is a public health crisis. Bullying has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes including depression and suicidal ideation. We aimed to update information regarding the associations between bullying and sadness and three suicide-related outcomes, along with the potential moderating effect of physical activity (PA). Methods: Using the 2017–2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) with students in grades 9–12 we used descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regressions to examine the association between students who have been bullied and who reported feeling sad or hopeless, as well as considered, planned, and/or attempted suicide, within …

Foot Pedal Assistive Device, Julian Rubinstein, Connor Jessen, Isabelle Utsler, Sydney Alexander

Mechanical Engineering

Individuals with lower-limb mobility problems may have trouble accurately locating the pedals of a three-pedal manual transmission car, and some medical conditions cause individuals to fatigue more quickly when driving. This project aimed to create a device that assists in locating the user’s feet, indicates to the user which pedals are currently in use, and provides a visual and physical warning if they are not in the correct place. The project sponsor, Alan Keizer, is the primary stakeholder in this project. This device will be designed specifically for Alan’s Subaru BRZ and will address Alan’s specific lower-limb mobility issues that …

Van Accessibility, Ann Larson, Camelia Anne Noureddine, Stephanie Rose Ruzicka, Kayla Joanne Gowey

Mechanical Engineering

The SLO Achievement House provides resources and activities for their clients, including daily trips to different parts of the community, to keep their clients connected to society. These trips require the clients, many of whom struggle with general mobility and strength, to step up to the high entrance of a van or company car. This daily activity poses a challenge both physically and emotionally for the clients. The current solution utilizes commercially available step stools, which lack handrails, overall stability, and adequate step depth. The Achievement House needs a stool or ramp tailored to their client’s needs and their specific …

7lr-C Upper Limb Dancing Prosthetic, Victor Ochoa, Zoe Kelemen, Ged Mulingtapang, Marley Paltiel

Mechanical Engineering

Ella Wallis, a student at Cal Poly and performer in the Cal Poly Drag Club with a trans humeral upper limb difference, wants a prosthetic device that allows for a large range of motion and high degree of articulation to help them better dance in the style of voguing, allowing them to express themselves further while performing. The prosthetic arm is body-driven and relies on momentum to reposition. It attaches to the user through a harness, which is clipped to a socket with elastic straps to not impede the shoulder’s range of motion. The design contains urethane resin, aluminum, stainless …

Uv Vessel Hoist Scope Of Work, Quinn J. Horak, Harvey Perkins, Andrew A. Osborn, Mikayla H. Nieman

Mechanical Engineering

The San Luis Obispo Wastewater Treatment Plant uses ultraviolet (UV) tubes to purify water. These tubes are cleaned by an internal wiping mechanism that must be removed for servicing and replacing damaged tubes. Currently, this is accomplished by using an engine hoist, but this method requires a large amount of effort and is not safe. Technicians have requested a new method of lifting wiper mechanisms that is safer, faster, and easier to use than their current method.

To solve this problem, we have developed a design that consists of a custom gantry crane with a hoist on a trolley. The …

Trailer Transport System For Multi-Ton Bins, Joanna Lizbeth Bendy, Kevin Matthew Creel, Annelise Vaara Cuneo, Hugo Alonso Valdez

Mechanical Engineering

This project aimed to improve the process of transporting 10,000-pound industrial waste bins. The current method for relocating these bins poses safety risks and requires significant manual effort. This project presents a conceptual solution that enables a single operator to efficiently and safely move roll-off bins using a custom-designed trailer system. The design incorporates three main subsystems: a trailer frame, an integrated winch system, and an off-the-market puller device to guide and secure the bin during transport. Two scaled proof-of-concept prototypes were fabricated to evaluate key aspects of the system's functionality. Testing and analysis suggested that the system is viable …

Brush Seal Cycling Test Rig, Angelo J. Reis, Neil M. Bedagkar, Max A. Soury, Eoin K. Lenham

Mechanical Engineering

To prevent backflow from the high pressure compressor stages of their gas turbines to lower pressure regions, Solar Turbines utilizes brush seals along their driveshafts. Due to manufacturing limitations, no shaft is perfectly symmetric about its rotating axis, leading to orbiting that creates asymmetric friction on the shaft through rubbing. With this biased application of friction comes a hotspot on one side of the shaft, causing bowing of the shaft and cascading into an amplified vibrational response. Our goal is to gather data on this phenomenon and offer a potential solution.

Micro Mobile Home R3, Roha Y. Ali, Yuka M. Iwashita, Luke C. Douglas, Joshua Q. Le

Mechanical Engineering

Homelessness is an ever-growing issue all around the world. In 2023, over 250,000 or ~40% of all people experiencing homelessness did not have access to shelter spaces in the U.S. [1]. All people have the right to a place where they are safe from violence, crime, and the constant fear that they will be forced out.

Both homeless people and outdoor enthusiasts need a new way to keep themselves and their belongings safe when living outdoors, since existing products do not offer adequate security, portability, or versatility.

Large Backflow Check Valve Life Cycle Test Stand, Colin Bentley, Christopher Carloni, Ethan Gray, Luke Romanini

Mechanical Engineering

Backflow preventers are plumbing devices containing internal check valves used to prevent cross-contamination between downstream contaminants and potable water supply. Zurn Wilkins needs a life cycle test stand to mechanically force open check valves submerged in contaminated water and verify check performance. The stand needs to be modular to work with a range of check types and sizes.

Zurn Wilkins is the primary stakeholder for this project. Secondary stakeholders include commercial and residential building owners, contractors, and water utility companies, who rely on their products for safe and efficient water management. The team for this project consists of four Cal …

Bridging Worlds, Singapore Management University

Asian Management Insights

How philosophy, culture, and ethics shape leadership and learning.

Criminal Law, Thomas D. Church, Whitney Baker

Mercer Law Review

This Article provides a brief examination of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s most important criminal law opinions in 2024. Rather than engage in an exhaustive review of the facts and laws in each case, we focus on the key holdings from only the most noteworthy, published decisions. Section II of this Article addresses substantive criminal offenses, such as economic crimes, drug offenses, and firearm offenses, while Section III covers criminal procedure, the rules of evidence, and constitutional issues arising in criminal prosecutions. Section IV deals with the federal sentencing guidelines and other sentencing issues, and …

To Keep Our Nation Breathing: The Impact Of State Legislation And The Prep Act On Covid-19 Liability Immunity Defenses For Healthcare Providers In The Eleventh Circuit, J. Bailey Hotard

Mercer Law Review

This Comment is not intended to patronize you with statistics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The odds suggest that you or someone you love dealt with these gruesome realities in real-time. Instead, allow me to paint a picture:1 You direct hospital operations. You have built your career at a trauma hospital, so you are familiar with the stress that comes with a daily ratio of six patients to one nurse—and yet, COVID-19 brings constantly evolving challenges that no one anticipated. On a typical day, during the height of the pandemic, your consecutive twelve-hour workdays become a blur as you and …

Anything No Longer Goes: How The Eleventh Circuit Has Settled On One Standard To Determine Deliberate-Indifference Claims, Sarah Beth Scarborough

Mercer Law Review

Deliberate indifference to the medical care of a loved one, or oneself, rightly causes outrage. When such an occurrence takes place behind prison walls, inmates or loved ones on their behalf, file a deliberate indifference claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983,and they allege a violation of their Eighth Amendment right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment. However, the test for deliberate indifference has been misconstrued and misapplied for decades within the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Such a malleable test leads to different standards of proof for a plaintiff to meet, and confusion among …

Repugnant Verdicts For $1000: Navigating The Intersection Of Double Jeopardy And Conflicting Verdicts In Mcelrath V. Georgia, Talia Levine

Mercer Law Review

“No man is to be brought into jeopardy of his life, more than once, for the same offense.” This ancient maxim, preserved in the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment, is a hallmark of the American justice system. The Double Jeopardy Clause gives a criminal defendant the constitutional right not to be tried again for the same offense after being acquitted. This guarantee stands as “[p]erhaps the most fundamental rule in the history of double jeopardy jurisprudence.”

The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly upheld these principles; by refusing to allow retrial following an acquittal, the Court …

The Application Of Lidar For Classifying Wildland Fuels, Madison Muschetto

Master's Theses

Accurate vegetation classification is critical for modeling wildfire behavior, particularly in fire-prone ecosystems where fuel type influences fire spread and intensity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of UAV-based aerial LiDAR, supplemented by multispectral imagery, for classifying grass, shrub, and tree vegetation types across a grass-dominated landscape. Using canopy height thresholds, vertical profile analysis, LiDAR predictions were compared against field-verified vegetation observations at 80 survey points. Results showed that LiDAR classified grass with high accuracy but was less reliable for detecting shrubs and trees, especially under canopy cover. Misclassifications were most common beneath tree canopies and in areas where low-stature shrubs …

Topodino: Self-Supervised Topological Representation Learning For Neuronal Morphologies, Yasser Binbisher

Master's Theses

Neuronal cell types are categorized by transcriptomic identity, yet their morphological heterogeneity defies this classification. In response, researchers have adopted unsupervised graph representation learning as a tool to reveal morphological variation within single-class transcriptomic types. However, the complex geometry of neuronal morphology—especially long axons and dense dendrites—challenges graph neural networks, which struggle with message propagation across extended structures. To mitigate this, current approaches enforce sub-sampling on neuronal graphs and omit axons entirely, sacrificing critical biological features for computational efficiency. To overcome this trade-off, this thesis introduces TopoDINO, a self-supervised, topology-aware representation learning model designed to preserve the full hierarchical organization …

Characterization Of Indoor Air Quality And Thermal Comfort Of University Classrooms, Andrew Sugamele

Master's Theses

Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly affects cognitive performance, yet many older buildings at Cal Poly, such as Building 20, struggle to maintain healthy indoor environments due to outdated ventilation systems. This thesis aims to identify issues and provide suggestions on how we can improve the learning environment to improve student success within Building 20. Temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration inside Building 20 were measured from January to April 2025. To determine the effects of different ventilation strategies, a model of Building 20, room 128, was developed and validated using DesignBuilder. Additionally, ventilation rates were measured …

"The Effect Of Methylobacterium Symbioticum On The Growth And Yield Of Dent Corn And Romaine Lettuce", Sinead Carney

Master's Theses

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and is often a limiting nutrient in cropping systems. An estimated half of applied N fertilizers are lost from cropping systems by processes that can be environmentally destructive, such as leaching and volatilization, and cause economic loss for growers. Effective N biofertilizers offer a means to mitigate the need for high inputs of synthetic N. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of leaf inoculation with the N-fixing bacteria, Methylobacterium symbioticum, in combination with different rates of urea-N fertilizer on the physiology and yield of dent corn …

From Tree To Shrub? The Fate Of Tanoak Through Fire And Nonnative Disease, Jacqueline Rose

Master's Theses

Invasive plant pathogens have killed an uncountable number of trees and disrupted ecosystem processes throughout the world. Newly introduced pathogens may interact with historically occurring disturbances in unexpected ways to cause amplified mortality and change to ecosystem processes. Here, I examine the a natural experiment created by three wildfires in Big Sur, a portion of the central coast of California impacted by the nonnative pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, to forecast the future of a species susceptible to the pathogen. Using a plot network which spans the length of Big Sur, I track the survival of individual tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) stems and …

Pension Funds For Housing Development In Indonesia: Challenges And Strategies, Thomas Soseco, Anggari Marya Kresnowati, Ayu Dwidyah Rini

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

Housing infrastructure is necessary to improve the quality of life of the community, yet a recent assessment of housing infrastructure development in Indonesia highlights a low level of performance. Therefore, actions are needed to stimulate it through pension funds, which remain minimally utilized for direct investment in the housing sector. This research investigates the potential and challenges of using pension funds for housing investment in Indonesia, employing Input Output (IO) Analysis with data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The findings reveal a significant gap between the potential and realized pension fund investments, indicating the substantial capacity of pension funds to be …