Digital Commons Network^™

Interpretable Machine Learning For Bridge-Pier Scour Prediction And Flood Resilience, Adil Khan, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Bridge-pier scour is a leading cause of flood-induced bridge failure, yet practice still lacks transparent, physics-informed tools that link data-driven prediction with design guidance. This study develops an interpretable, physics-aware machine-learning framework to predict equilibrium scour depth and translate those predictions into actionable strategies for flood-resilient infrastructure. Using the 2014 U.S. Geological Survey Pier-Scour Database (569 laboratory cases), five models: Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost (Tree), XGBoost, Gaussian Process (RBF kernel), and Kernel Ridge (polynomial), were trained and evaluated with K-fold cross-validation. Model performance was evaluated using R², RMSE, and MAE. Gradient Boosting performed best, achieving training and testing R² of 0.99 …

Using A Study Journal To Support Class Engagement And The Development Of Entrepreneurial Mindset Habits, Otilia Popescu, Dimitrie C. Popescu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Engineering Technology programs were historically introduced to support non-traditional students and offer college pathways for students working and having already a developing career. This is even more true in the current academic environment, with a large percentage of students enrolled in engineering technology programs being either fully or part-time employed, active or retired military, and at different stages in their lives, usually with families to care for. Often, non-traditional students attend classes online, either synchronously or even more often asynchronously, due to their schedule constraints. Course instructors regularly face schedule or time management constraints from the students’ side, and they …

Npd Winner's Circle: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome In New Clinical Specialties, Leanna Ross

Publications 2026-present

No abstract provided.

Mirror, Mirror On My Screen, Can You Feel Like A Human Being?, Lauren A. Newell

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Can Federalism Protect Subnational Liberal Democracy From Central Authoritarianism?, James A. Gardner

Journal Articles

Liberal democracy is eroding rapidly around the globe, including in the United States, raising alarming questions about whether American democratic institutions will endure. Nevertheless, some have speculated that federalism may protect liberal democracy at the subnational level when the central government turns authoritarian. This article argues that such optimism is premature: there is no a priori basis on which to predict the effect of central democratic backsliding on the quality of subnational democracy. Federal theory does suggest that internal heterogeneity in basic political commitments is likely to produce an escalating pattern of severe and possibly intractable intergovernmental conflict. Empirical evidence …

Immigration Adjudication, Judicial Review, And The Uneven Incorporation Of Administrative Law Norms, John Harland Giammatteo

Journal Articles

This article examines the interaction between immigration law and administrative law. Scholars and courts regularly treat immigration as outside of, or exceptional to, the normal operation of administrative law and its norms of judicial review. Yet in the past decade, the Roberts Court has radically reshaped administrative law. This broader administrative law project has largely emphasized the primacy of the federal courts and judicial review, enlarging the putative rights of regulated parties, at the cost of agency power. Within that project, immigration adjudication is a frequent conversation partner. Immigration adjudication is used to undermine the administrative state’s claim to policymaking …

Limits Of Machine Learning For Predicting Stillbirth At Term: A Population-Based Cohort Of 302,192 Pregnancies In Northern Italy, M. Benuzzi, T. Kawakita, F. Monari, B. Melis, G. Guariglia, A. La Marca, I. Neri, G. Saade, F. Facchinetti, I. El Moudden

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Objective

Study Design

Prepregnancy Overweight And Obesity In Kuwait Birth Cohort Study, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Ali H. Ziyab, Eelaf A. Husain, Maryam M.Y. Mohammad, Maryem A. Shamsah, Noor Salah Alali, Reem Sharaf-Alddin, Majeda S. Hammoud

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of prepregnancy obesity and overweight, and to identify a set of sociodemographic factors that could guide weight management interventions for women prior to conception.

Design, Sample, and Measurements: Pregnant women (N = 989) were recruited in the Kuwait Birth Cohort Study during the period June 2017 to February 2020. Prepregnancy weight and height were self-reported, while current weight and height were measured in a standardized procedure. Data on sociodemographic factors were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by a trained data collector. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the association between sociodemographic …

The Impact Of Substance Abuse Problems And Serious Mental Illness/Serious Emotional Distress On Post-Discharge Residential Status Among Clients With Behavioral And Cognitive Disorders: Evidence From Samhsa Mh-Cld Data, Eden Moges, Norma Rochez, William Peycha, Aditya Chakraborty

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and cognitive disorders can undermine housing stability, a key determinant of mental health recovery, with persistent disparities across demographic and socioeconomic groups. This study examined the associations of substance abuse problems (SAP) and serious mental illness/serious emotional distress (SMISED) with residential status at discharge from mental health facilities.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the utilized data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics, whereas univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess associations between the covariates and the residential outcome, adjusting for a variety of …

Paneugenesis: A Regenerative Systems Hypothesis For Advancing Health Promotion, Craig M. Becker, Leslie Hoglund, Beth Chaney, Joseph G. L. Lee, Michael Stellefson, Alex Davis

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Despite major advances in health promotion science, dominant approaches remain largely prevention-and risk-reduction-oriented. The prevailing orientation creates a substantial opportunity to advance generative, system-design strategies that intentionally produce well-being rather than merely prevent disease. This article proposes paneugenesis as a regenerative systems framework and a testable theoretical model for the intentional creation of net-positive outcomes, thereby extending health promotion beyond its traditional pathogenic emphasis. Paneugenesis integrates systems science, salutogenesis, behavioral science, complexity theory, and quality management principles into a unified four-function process: operationalizing idealized outcomes, identifying key precursors, optimizing processes, and continually plotting progress through feedback mechanisms. The central hypothesis …

The Moderating Role Of Social And Emotional Support In The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adult Mental Health Across Racial Groups: The Need For Investing In Social Capital, Syeda S. Jesmin, Aditya Chakraborty

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

The sustained impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) on mental health outcomes in adulthood is well documented in the literature. ACE survivors may be especially vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes if they have limited or no social support. This study examined the moderating role of social support on the association of ACEs and mental health across different racial groups.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 14,327). The nine ACE questions about traumatic events in childhood were used to create ACE scores. Chi-square tests were used for bivariate comparisons. Both stratified …

Prevalence Of Dengue Infection In Bangladesh: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Md. Estiar Rahman, Abdullah Al-Taiar, May Salama, Michele A. Kekeh, Ahmed N. Albatineh

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective: 

To estimate the pooled prevalence of dengue infection in Bangladesh.

Methods:

Literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Hinari between December 2024 and April 2025, supplemented by references searching. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used for evaluating study quality. A random effects meta-analysis of proportion, including subgroup analyses, was performed with R software (version 4.5.1).

Results:

Out of 2 087 records, 28 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of confirmed dengue infection among clinically suspected patients was 49.3% (95% Cl 36.1-62.6), with a significant high heterogeneity (I²=99.2%, τ²=1.81, P< 0.001). Stratified analysis showed a pooled prevalence of 47.9% (95% Cl 34.0-62.2, I2=99.1%, …

Understanding Cancer Information Burden And Quality Concerns: The Roles Of Medical Statistics Literacy, Online Health Information Confidence, And Social Media, Aditya Chakraborty, Sikta Das, Amy Myat Phyo

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Understanding factors shaping perceptions of cancer-related information is important for public health communication. This study examined associations of three information-related predictors, understanding medical statistics, confidence in online health information, and difficulty interpreting social media information, with two outcomes: cancer information was too hard to understand (CTU) and concern about cancer information quality (CCQ). Data came from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey. The cross-sectional study included 1972 participants. Survey-weighted univariable and multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations between the three predictors and CTU and CCQ, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance, and cancer history. LASSO logistic regression, random forest, …

Teacher Perceptions Of School Leadership: Trust, Fairness, And Support As Predictors Of Student Achievement, Kevin Hub, Trevor Smith

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

This descriptive, nonexperimental quantitative study examined the relationship between staff–leadership working conditions and student achievement variables in Kentucky high schools. This research makes use of extant data from the Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey for the 2023-2024 school year. The researchers particularly studied the correlation between teacher perceptions of trust, fairness, and support from principals and student achievement in the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). Teacher perceptions of working conditions were generally favorable, though trust and perceptions of school leadership emerged as weaker areas. Correlation analyses indicated only weak, nonsignificant associations between leadership working conditions and student achievement variables at the …

Students Shouting Louder Than School Bells: An Analysis Exposing Anti-Youth Rationales In Federal Courts, Edward D. Scott Jr., Christopher L. Mathis

Missouri Law Review

In a paradigm-shifting departure from conventional First Amendment analysis, this study is the first empirical examination of First Amendment rights, spanning every level of the federal judiciary, for students in public schools. Departing from conventional narratives, our scholarship examines how the federal court adjudicates the nuances surrounding the First Amendment within public K-12 educational institutions.

Unbridled: Immigration And The Prerogative Presidency, Daniel Tichenor

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

On Probation, Ji Seon Song

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Cultural Genocide’S Surrogates, Anne-Marie Carstens

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Defending Imperfect Victims From Self-Managed Abortion Criminalization: Why Evidence Of Intimate Partner Violence Matters, Sara L. Ainsworth, Leigh Goodmark

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Gendered Coverage In Sports Media: An Analysis Of Espn’S Representation Of Women’S Sports, Abigail C. Leonard

Honors Theses and Capstones

Despite growing participation in women’s sports, media coverage continues to reflect significant gender disparities. This thesis examines how ESPN, as a leading sports media network, contributes to the construction of gendered narratives through its coverage of women’s sports and female athletes. Drawing on framing theory, agenda-setting theory, and social identity theory, this study analyzes headlines, visuals, language, narratives, and broadcast patterns to explore how meaning is constructed in sports coverage.

The findings suggest that while coverage of women’s sports has increased, it often remains positioned as secondary to men’s sports. Female athletes are more frequently described using language that emphasizes …

"That She May Bear On My Knees:" An Adoption Ritual In The Hebrew Bible, Claire Ellen Hobbs

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Flood Damage And Social Vulnerability In Coastal New Hampshire, Mitchell S. Berry

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study investigates the relationship between flood-induced building damage and social vulnerability in coastal New Hampshire, with a focus on communities increasingly affected by sea-level rise, storm surge, and high tide events. Using a dataset of 2,528 single-family homes, the analysis integrates flood depth maps (coastal, pluvial, and fluvial), building-level damage estimates, and a housing-burden-based metric to assess how physical and social factors interact to shape flood impacts. Results show that flood depth is the primary driver of building damage, with the most severe impacts concentrated in coastal areas experiencing deeper inundation. However, when buildings are grouped by vulnerability, higher …

Novel Socially Assistive Robot For Alzheimer's And Dementia Home Care; Lived Experiences Of Families, Audrey V. Downs

Honors Theses and Capstones

Informal caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) typically experience high levels of subjective caregiver burden due to strenuous role demands, notably the need to provide frequent reminders and 24/7 monitoring to address care recipient cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of informal caregivers using a novel Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to care for individuals with ADRD in a home setting and evaluate SAR impact on caregiver subjective burden. SARs are autonomous, interactive devices that can provide timed reminders and monitor home environments, potentially alleviating some caregiver role demands and …

Evaluating The Use Of Precision Technology To Understand Differences Between Ketotic And Non-Ketotic Jersey Cows, Emily Kathryn Palermo

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Micro- And Nanoplastics On Human Monocytes, Caitlin G. Valerian

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Surveillance Of A Novel Vesivirus Discovered In An Urban Mephitis Mephitis Population, Amanda E. Diggins

Honors Theses and Capstones

Caliciviridae is a family of non-enveloped, positive-sense, single stranded RNA viruses, including eleven defined genera that contain important pathogens of humans and animals. Within the Caliciviridae family, the genus Vesiviridae includes feline calicivirus, a leading cause of upper respiratory disease in cats, and vesicular exanthema of swine virus, a historical disease of domestic swine that has now been implicated in several marine mammal vesicular diseases, one of which has been confirmed zoonotic. Urban landscapes create a unique environment for rapid intra- and interspecies transmission of viruses. Clustered resources attract high-density populations of synanthropic wildlife species, increasing spatial overlap and heightening …

Exploring Biopsychosocial Influences On Hookup Culture And Disrupting Compulsory Behaviors In Emerging Adults: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Of A Contemporary Public Health Concern, Catherine Benjamin

Honors Theses and Capstones

Multidisciplinary analysis, including biology, psychology, and sociology, to better understand the compulsory Hookup Culture that exists as a contemporary public health concern among the age group defined as emerging adults. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnoses are steadily rising in the United States and disproportionately affecting college students. Early socialization and current educational resources that contribute to shame and stigma are discussed to explain how lifestyle and social conditions can act as risk factors for individual health outcomes.

Enhancing Nursing Education To Improve Care For Women Experiencing A Substance Use Disorder During Pregnancy, Sadie Caddell

Honors Theses and Capstones

Introduction: Nursing education prepares students to care for patient populations by enhancing knowledge of clinical pathophysiology and applying foundational nursing skills to tailor to the unique care requirements of each patient. When analyzing the nursing course curriculums as guides for what is included in nursing education, it is essential to consider relevant patient populations to ensure adequate representation in lectures. Inclusivity of relevant patient populations within curriculums equips students to encounter a variety of patients in a clinical setting. Perinatal substance use has prevalence in the local community of this university, with 6% of all births in New Hampshire in …

Ethical Considerations For Hospice Patients In Inpatient Settings: A Systematic Review And Thematic Analysis, Matthew D. Harry

Honors Theses and Capstones

Hospice care is intended to prioritize comfort, dignity, symptom management, and quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illness. However, when hospice-eligible patients are managed within inpatient hospital settings, significant ethical challenges frequently emerge due to the tension between comfort-focused care and the curative, intervention-driven structure of acute care medicine. This paper presents a systematic literature review and thematic analysis examining the ethical considerations surrounding hospice patients in inpatient settings, with particular attention to clinical decision-making, communication, prognostic uncertainty, moral distress among nurses, and conflicts involving patient autonomy and family wishes. A structured review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using …

Μmodules: A Low-Cost, Eurorack-Compatible Modular Audio Synthesis System, Nolan K. Juneau

Honors Theses and Capstones

The modular audio synthesizer is one of the fastest-growing industries in contemporary music technology. Unlike a traditional audio synthesizer, a modular synthesizer allows for the user to directly control the signal path and effects of the synthesized sound, allowing for a workflow that is completely customizable to an individual musician and their creative vision. However, the modules and cases currently in production for the common “Eurorack” design standard can be prohibitively expensive to new users, often costing thousands of dollars for even a small system. The µModules project aims to eliminate this financial barrier to modular synthesis by using inexpensive …