Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Corporate Marine Plastic Pollution Reduction Pledges: Achieving Plastic Reductions Or Contributing To Greenwashing, Ansar Z. Mohammed

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

This paper examines major corporations' commitments and performance in reducing virgin plastic production, aligning corporate initiatives with tangible outcomes. It draws on sustainability governance literature and analyzes plastic reduction strategies by industry leaders such as SC Johnson, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Borealis, Nestlé, and Unilever. By synthesizing corporate reports and scholarly literature, the research provides an understanding of corporate plastic reduction within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), which focuses on marine conservation. The study evaluates the alignment of corporate commitments with SDG 14, identifying genuine environmental stewardship and potential greenwashing. It employs three methodologies: transparency, accountability, and science-based …

In-Vitro Time-Kill Assays And Semi-Mechanistic Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling Of A Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Combination Against Enterococcus Faecalis: Optimizing Dosing Regimens For The Geriatric Population, Zeel Saumin Shah

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling and simulation have emerged as pivotal tools in drug development and usage. Such models characterize typical trends in data and quantify the variability in relationships among dose, concentration, and desired effects. For antibacterial applications, models characterizing bacterial growth and antibiotic-induced bacterial killing offer insight into interactions between antibiotics, bacteria, and the host. Simulations from these models predict outcomes for untested scenarios, refine study designs, and optimize dosing regimens.

Enterococcus faecalis, a significant opportunistic bacterial pathogen with increasing clinical relevance, is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract but can lead to severe infection, such as endocarditis. Treatments for …

Voter Support For Bond Referenda: Does It Matter If Costs Are Presented As Aggregate Vs. Personal Costs?, Corey Lang, Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz, Zachary Scott

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Faculty Publications

We explore whether voters' willingness to approve government spending in bond elections is affected by how costs are presented. Using an original survey experiment, we examine willingness to approve bonds, randomizing both the total cost of the bond and the framing of the cost as either a personal cost or an aggregate amount. We find that respondents are less supportive of bonds when the bond is framed as a personal expense and that respondents are more cost-responsive when they see personal costs. There is also substantial heterogeneity based on the respondent's partisanship and the policy domain of the bond.

Creative Technologies: A Conversation With Roy Magnuson, Roy Magnuson, Maureen Russell

Faculty Publications - Music

[In lieu of an abstract, the introduction is provided.] Today I am speaking with Roy Magnuson, Associate Professor Creative Technologies in the School of Music at Illinois State University (ISU). (see Figure 1) His music has been performed throughout the United States and Europe at venues such as the World Saxophone Congress, WASBE, CBDNA, the RED NOTE New Music Festival, and the Robb Composers’ Symposium. Magnuson is also the creator of the virtual reality composition software solsticeVR and the conducting software RibbonsVR. He is a member of ASCAP, and his music is recorded on Albany Records and NAXOS.

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Effects Of Small Pull-Out Instruction In English Language Arts On Students With Interrupted Formal Education From Central American Countries At The Secondary School Level, Barbara Jean

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This study investigated the effectiveness of small pull-out instruction in English Language Arts (ELA) on the academic performance of Central American Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) at the secondary level. Specifically, the study explored the perceptions of ENL teachers regarding the impact of small-group instruction on SIFE students. A mixed methods approach was used to achieve the research objectives, including a survey questionnaire and interview questions. The study also explored themes such as how small group instruction can positively impact SIFE students, the challenges of academic readiness and reading skills, and the roles of specialized programs and resources. This …

Implementing Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education With The Food-Energy-Water (Few) Nexus, C. B. Romulo, S. Venkataraman, S. Caplow, S. Ajgaonkar, C. R. Allen, A. Anandhi, S. W. Anderson, C. B. Azzarello, K. Brundiers, E. Blavascunas, J. M. Dauer, D. L. Druckenbrod, E. Fairchild, L. R. Horne, K. Lee, M. Mwale, J. Mischler, E. Pappo, N. S. Patel, N. D. Sintov, C. S. Ramsdell, S. G. Vincent

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Molecular Dynamics Study Of Alpha-Synuclein Repeat Mutations And Sars-Cov-2 Nucleocapsid Linker Phosphorylation, Coby Yeung

Theses and Dissertations

The study aimed to utilize molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) molecules and regions, focusing on IDPs such as alpha-synuclein and the SAR-CoV-2 nucleocapsid linker segment and their variants. Methodologically, the research employed MD simulation with implicit solvent methods, GaMD enhanced sampling, Python-based analysis, and VMD visualization. The study's significance lies in revealing structural dynamics insights of IDP regions. Key findings include the average structures of target sequences from k-means clustering analysis. The impact of mutations in alpha-synuclein KTKEGV repeat mutations is also revealed. Mutations introducing hydrophobic residues, like KGV and KLK, increased surface hydrophobicity, with …

Wright State University Magazine, 2024, Wright State Alumni Association And Wright State Foundation

Wright State University Magazine

Fifty-two page issue of the Wright State University Magazine. This magazine is published once a year and focuses on news related to Wright State alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university.

How Play-Based Learning Impacts Students With Specific Learning And Social-Emotional Needs, Michaela Mt Duncan

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of play-based learning has unique implications for educational settings, children, and families.,In recent years play-based learning in education, especially for students with specific learning and social-emotional needs, has had increasing recognition. Play-based learning provides an approach for students that focuses on not just academic development, but also social skills, emotional regulation, and problem-solving abilities. For students with diverse needs, such as those with learning disabilities or emotional difficulties, play-based learning offers a safe and inclusive environment where they can explore, experiment, and engage with their peers in a meaningful way. Through play, these students can enhance their communication …

Explainable Ai For 6g Use Cases: Technical Aspects And Research Challenges, Shen Wang, M. Atif Qureshi, Luis Miralles-Pechu{\'A}N, Thien Huynh-The, Thippa Reddy Gadekallu, Madhusanka Liyanage

Articles

Around 2020, 5G began its commercialization journey, and discussions about the next-generation networks (such as 6G) emerged. Researchers predict that 6G networks will have higher bandwidth, coverage, reliability, energy efficiency, and lower latency, and will be an integrated “human-centric” network system powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This 6G network will lead to many real-time automated decisions, ranging from network resource allocation to collision avoidance for self-driving cars. However, there is a risk of losing control over decision-making due to the high-speed, data-intensive AI decision-making that may go beyond designers’ and users’ comprehension. To mitigate this risk, explainable AI (XAI) methods …

Are Parental Nonstandard Work Schedules A Barrier To Their School Involvement?, Kess Ballentine, Alejandra Ros Pilarz

Social Work Faculty Publications

Parental school involvement is consistently associated with better child development outcomes. Although parental work schedules are expected to shape school involvement, little empirical research examines this relationship. Using nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Cohort 2010-11, (N=6,047), we estimated associations between parents’ work schedules and multiple indicators of school involvement. Compared to daytime schedules, flexible variable schedules were associated with more parental school involvement. Working a regular nonstandard schedule or employer-set variable schedule was not associated with school involvement, except that working nights was associated with attending fewer school events. We found limited evidence of heterogeneity …

Contributor Biographies

Obsculta

No abstract provided.

Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical And Anthropological Explorations., Noreen L. Herzfeld, Matthew J. Gaudet, Paul Scherz, Jordan J. Wales

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Books

What does it mean to consider the world of AI through a Christian lens? Rapid developments in AI continue to reshape society, raising new ethical questions and challenging our understanding of the human person. Encountering Artificial Intelligence draws on Pope Francis's discussion of a culture of encounter and broader themes in Catholic social thought in order to examine how current AI applications affect human relationships in various social spheres and offers concrete recommendations for better implementation. The document also explores questions regarding personhood, consciousness, and the kinds of relationships humans might have with even the most advanced AI. Through these …

How Improving Policies Around Immigrants And Refugees Can Help The Us Economy, Lisa Leedy

Community Engagement Student Work

The United States (US) has been grappling with the issue of immigration for decades. Using mixed research methods, this capstone analyzes the current US immigration policies around work visas in the US, focusing on the challenges faced by employers who wish to sponsor foreign workers. The analysis found that the process of sponsoring a visa worker can take an average of 8.6 months and cost between $7,000 to 15,000, which can be a significant barrier for many employers. Gaps in acceptance of credentialing contribute to the barrier for employers to engage highly skilled foreign workers fully. Additionally, the study found …

Untitled Musings From The City, Grace Gillio

Intertidal

No abstract provided.

Delivering And Evaluating Climate Services: The North Central Climate And Drought Webinar Series, T. Haigh, D. Kluck, D. Todey, L. Nowatzke

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Can Functional Traits Predict Turnover Of Alpine Plant Species In Yosemite National Park?, Brooke L. Wallasch

Biological Sciences

Alpine species are a useful tool for predicting the effects of climate change on lowland species. A growing body of research has begun assessing the question of how alpine species will change in response to changing climate. In the study of alpine plant species, some researchers have begun exploring the idea that functional traits could be predictive of turnover in alpine plant communities. In this study, I used a species’-level approach to assess the ability of six functional traits (vegetative height, generative height, leaf thickness, leaf area, leaf dry weight, specific leaf area) to predict species turnover in alpine plants …

Common Data Set 2023-2024, Clemson University

Common Data Sets

No abstract provided.

Sacred Heart University Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 1, Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Pay Differences In The Absence Of Discrimination: Legislative Fallacies And Statistical Truths, Allan G. King, Stephen G. Bronars

Journal of Legislation

No abstract provided.

2024 Guide To Planned Giving Booklet, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

2024 Morehead State University Guide to Planned Giving Booklet.

Special Education Teacher Attrition: The Role Of School Leaders And Administrators In Supporting And Retaining Qualified Staff, Amanda N. Koop

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines studies relating to special education teacher attrition and retention. The primary focus of this literature is to gain an understanding of the factors leading to the rising attrition in special education, potential implications on student achievement, and what school leaders can do to combat this attrition and retain qualified staff. Results identify variables such as extreme workloads and accountability pressures, overall dissatisfaction with school climate, lack of administration support, and low wages as leading factors to why special educators are leaving the field. Studies suggest that losing high quality special education staff negatively affects the learning …

Cold-Season Precipitation Sensitivity To Microphysical Parameterizations: Hydrologic Evaluations Leveraging Snow Lidar Datasets, W. J. Rudisill, A. N. Flores, H. P. Marshall, E. Siirila-Woodburn, D. R. Feldman, A. M. Rhoades, Z. Xu, A. Morales

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cloud microphysical processes are an important facet of atmospheric modeling, as they can control the initiation and rates of snowfall. Thus, parameterizations of these processes have important implications for modeling seasonal snow accumulation. We conduct experiments with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF V4.3.3) Model using three different microphysics parameterizations, including a sophisticated new scheme (ISHMAEL). Simulations are conducted for two cold seasons (2018 and 2019) centered on the Colorado Rockies’ ∼750-km² East River watershed. Precipitation efficiencies are quantified using a drying-ratio mass budget approach and point evaluations are performed against three NRCS SNOTEL stations. Precipitation and meteorological outputs …

Millennium School: An Experiment In Transpersonal Education For Early Adolescents, Jenny Wade

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

This article describes the design, curriculum, culture, and values of an experiment in transpersonal education for young adolescents, the Millennium middle school in San Francisco, CA. The overarching design of the school was to help children exiting the latency period of child development, who exhibit the rudiments of Wade’s Authentic consciousness or Maslow’s Self-actualization motive stage, consolidate that level rather than losing it, as the vast majority do, because of social pressures that make earlier stages of development more adaptable in most contemporary societies. Early adolescence is a time when peer pressure, individuation from the family, and puberty are strong …

Lack Of Access To Quality Education For Rural Indigenous Communities In Chiapas, Mexico, Elizabeth Sanchez

Ballard Brief

The Mexican state of Chiapas has the highest indigenous population in the country and the least educated population of any state. The confluence of historical government neglect (in infrastructure and politics), gender inequality, language barriers, and low family income of these populations seriously hinders indigenous Chiapanecos from receiving a high-quality education—if any education at all. A history of indigenous marginalization and government unwillingness to recognize and remedy this creates a serious roadblock to any permanent change in indigenous education levels. These low levels of education lead to an increase in reproductive health illiteracy, lower occupational attainment and advancement, and decreased …

Bridgewater College Catalog, Session 2024-25, Bridgewater College

Bridgewater College Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Flash Droughts Across The South-Central United States In 2022: Drivers, Predictability, And Impacts, J. I. Christian, T. M. Grace, B. J. Fellman, D. F. Meshaske, S. G. Edris, H. O. Olayiwola, J. B. Basara, Brian Fuchs, J. C. Furtado

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

W. Carter Johnson Papers, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University

University Archives

Dr. W. Carter Johnson, a Distinguished Professor of Ecology at South Dakota State University, has been a prominent figure in wetland and ecology science for over 40 years. His research, spanning river regulation, riparian ecology, climate change impacts on wetlands, and more, has resulted in numerous publications. Notably, his work on riparian wetlands has influenced conservation efforts along rivers like the Platte, Missouri, and Snake. The W. Carter Johnson Papers offer a diverse array of ecological research organized into series covering topics such as blue jays, forests, ranch management, and wetland ecosystems. These papers serve as a valuable resource for …

Racism Detection In Tweets, Ndjeuha Gihane

All Graduate Projects

Since the advent of social networks in 1997, businesses and people’s lives have changed in a good way. From promoting companies to reaching out to friends and family, social networking has become a major element in our lives. X is a very popular platform that is used by many people, including celebrities and politicians, to communicate with their audience. Like other platforms, X is not spared by the racism contained in the tweets. We should be able to catch those racist comments on any social media and block the accounts of those responsible for them. To do so, we have …

Computing The Roots Of Twisting Sheaves Over The Projective Line Arising From Monodromy Representations, Diego Yepez

Wayne State University Dissertations

Given a monodromy representation of the projective line minus a finite number of points, one can extend the resulting vector bundle with connection map canonically to a vector bundle with logarithmic connection map over all of the projective line. Now, since vector bundles split as twisting sheaves over the projective line, the focus of this work regards knowing the exact decomposition.