Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Numbers: A Patterson School Of Accountancy Practicum, Olivia R. Mardis

Honors Theses

This practicum comprises six case studies that explore a range of accounting topics. While each case stands independently, the work collectively emphasizes the interpretation of financial information. Although financial statements may appear to some as a series of abstract figures, accountants are trained to understand and apply the “language of business,” transforming numerical data into meaningful insights that inform decision-making.

The first case provides an objective analysis of a company’s Form 10-K, focusing on interpreting financial statements and using that interpretation to evaluate performance and guide decisions. The second case examines the Corporate Transparency Act, analyzing its intended purpose, potential …

Benefits Of A Teacher Created Mathematics Resource Website For Teachers And Students, Callista Hull

Honors Theses

For my Honors College capstone project, I created a math resource website for teachers and students. I chose to develop this website because often resources available for teachers to use for student support are not always linked to state standards, so developing a website with resources linked directly to state standards made sense to me. Resources are plentiful for teachers and students but they are not always exactly what teachers need because they are not directly linked to a state standard. This led me to my idea to create a resource that would be easily accessible, beneficial, and helpful to …

Functionalized Nanodiamonds As Binding Platforms For Single-Stranded Dna, Mallory A. Chapman

Honors Theses

Nanodiamonds (NDs) offer a promising platform for biomolecular applications due to their stability, biocompatibility, and three-dimensional structure. This study focused on developing a nanodiamond–DNA complex in which streptavidin-functionalized NDs would form a protective shell around biotinylated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), creating a core–shell system like an “M&M” candy with DNA at the center and a protective coating on the outside. DNA has many uses in nanotechnology, including DNA origami, nanomachines, and drug delivery systems, but its degradation limits its practical use, making protective strategies essential.

ND–DNA conjugates were prepared using biotin–streptavidin interactions and analyzed using gel electrophoresis. Initial separation on agarose …

Prematurity And Special Education: Raising Awareness Of The Connections Between Preterm Births And Special Education, Nadia R. Corder

Honors Theses

In this thesis, the goal was to find the link, if any, between prematurity and special education, with regards to probability of special education and outcomes, and to create a means of professional development for not only special education teachers about prematurity risks and effects on students but also parental education about the possible procedures of their child’s education. This is accomplished through the organization of infographic pamphlets for parents and an online professional development presentation. Both these formats are compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility parameters. A literature review was conducted to achieve this goal using …

The Isoperimetric Inequality And Wirtinger’S Inequality, Mason Neal

Honors Theses

In this thesis, we present Hurwitz’s proof of the Isoperimetric Inequality, which roughly states that the area enclosed by a simple closed curve is always less than or equal to the area of a circle with the same perimeter. Hurwitz’s proof relies on Wirtinger’s Inequality. We survey results about periodic functions and Fourier series, and we use them to provide a proof of Wirtinger’s Inequality. We then give a new proof of a variant of Wirtinger’s Inequality due to Alzer and generalize this variant to higher powers.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Quarterly Operation And Maintenance Report: Butte Treatment Lagoons (Btl) System– Fourth Quarter 2025 (Dated March 30, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Spectro-Polarimetric Observations Of Tev Sources (Spots): First Results, Joleen Barnard, B. Van Soelen, I. P. Van Der Westhuizen, M. Böttcher, A. Martin-Carrillo, H. M. Schutte, S. Van Der Merwe, M. Zacharias

Michigan Tech Publications

Blazars are jetted active galactic nuclei, with the jet aligned along the observer’s line of sight. Their spectral energy distributions are dominated by non-thermal emission, with an underlying thermal component at optical/ultraviolet wavelengths. However, the underlying jet magnetic field structure and particle acceleration mechanisms requirements for the non-thermal emission are still under debate. Polarization measurements can provide critical insights, and we investigate the optical polarization properties of TeV-emitting blazars using long-term optical monitoring. We present results from the first 21 months of the Spectro-Polarimetric Observations of TeV Sources campaign, using the Southern African Large Telescope, of 14 blazars. Overall, observations …

Posttraumatic Symptoms As Predictors Of Engagement With A Mobile App For Coping After Military Sexual Trauma: Public Usage Data Analysis Study, Shilpa Hampole, Shannon Mccaslin-Rodrigo, Valerie Carr, David Schuster, Sofia Reyes, Sarah Senti, Kelly M. Ramsey, Jason E. Owen, W. Christopher Skidmore, Amy E. Street, Katherine Taylor, Margaret Anne Mackintosh

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Military sexual trauma (MST) can have significant adverse effects on mental health and well-being, often leading to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and maladaptive beliefs. Although effective psychotherapies exist, stigma, confidentiality concerns, and systemic barriers often hinder help-seeking among service members and veterans. Mobile mental health apps offer an accessible and anonymous support alternative, potentially addressing such barriers. However, app effectiveness depends on user engagement and emerging evidence suggests that engagement may be shaped by symptom severity. Objective: This retrospective observational study aimed to explore the relationship between posttraumatic symptom severity and user engagement with Beyond MST (US Department …

An Integrated Artificial Intelligence–Circular Economy Framework For Sustainable Industrial Waste Management System: Case Study From The Carpet Industry Supply Chain, Noha Mostafa

Mechanical Engineering

Waste management has become a critical issue in industry due to its environmental and  economic impact. This urges societies to move towards circular economy and sustainability in managing wastes to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits that cannot be achieved by using traditional disposal methods. Artificial intelligence technologies can play an effective role in developing systems and applications that help in realizing circular economy approaches. This research explores using circular economy in the carpet industry with a focus on being eco-friendly and achieving operational excellence. Circular economy aims to use resources efficiently within a reduce, reuse, recycle paradigm. Critical literature …

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Ai) To Strengthen Mtss Within Catholic Schools, Kaitlin D. Reichart, Adam B. Lockwood, Jessica Pizzute (Kukura)

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

Many Catholic schools face resource challenges that result in limitations surrounding the implementation of multi-tiered systems and support (MTSS). Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a potential tool for Catholic schools to strengthen systems of support. This article provides a conceptual analysis regarding opportunities for AI to strengthen core components of MTSS, such as identifying evidence-based interventions, developing progress monitoring tools, analyzing student data, and facilitating personalized instruction. The article also discusses the challenges and limitations of leveraging AI within Catholic schools, specifically when supporting staff and students. Although the article is focused on US contexts, there are conceptual implications that may …

Inconsistencies Emerge Between Regional And Local-Scale Water Security Metrics At Military Installations, Abigail Birnbaum, Michael L. Berg, Caitlin Grady, Daniel J. Weeks, Christopher M. Chini

Faculty Publications

Recent United States federal policy for military installations has emphasized the importance of developing a standardized approach for water security assessment to monitor changes in water resources and the ability for an installation to meet both its civilian and mission needs. For military installations in the United States, these assessments must consider demands both inside and outside the installation’s fence line, as regional resources are required to meet mission readiness. Focusing on physical water scarcity, this study compares four water security metrics with unique formulations and spatial resolutions, including an installation-scale metric and multiple regional metrics defined for either baseline …

Current Options And Future Trends In Green Fuels Storage, Muhammad Anas Maqbool, Md Jahir Rizvi, Yeaw Chu Lee, Pablo Borja Rosales

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The global transition to renewable energy underscores the urgent need for safe, efficient, and cost-effective storage solutions for green hydrogen and green ammonia. This review critically examines their fundamental characteristics and unique behaviours, emphasising storage, handling, and integration engineering challenges. To identify the influential studies, knowledge gaps and future trends in the research area, a systematic Scopus-based bibliometric and data analysis is conducted. A novel approach is adopted to identify the better green energy storage option between green hydrogen storage and green ammonia storage, combining a risk-mitigation assessment framework, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis, and a multicriteria taxonomy based …

Uncovering Cytoskeletal Length Control From Growth Trajectories Using Sparse Dynamical Modeling, Carson Hearn

Theses

Understanding the governing equations of biological filament dynamics is essential for predicting cellular behavior, yet these equations are often difficult or impossible to derive directly from first principles. This thesis investigates the use of Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (SINDy) as a unified, data-driven framework for discovering, validating, and refining governing equations from both simulated and experimental data. Focusing on biological filament processes, including growth, disassembly, and severing, this work is designed not only to apply SINDy, but to systematically demonstrate that it is a reliable and generalizable tool for modeling complex biophysical systems. To establish this, SINDy is first …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Bedstraw Broomrape (Aphyllon Epigalium Ssp. Epigalium), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Bedstraw broomrape (Aphyllon epigalium ssp. epigalium) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

A Novel Geospatial Tool For Assessing Risks And Opportunities For Conversion Of Ccr Closures Into Productive Solar Energy Generation Sites, Marc Theisen

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Closure of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and landfills offers unique opportunities for conversion to solar power sites with the potential to offset costs of post-closure care via generation of clean electricity. In 2023 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to create a report entitled “Coal Ash Disposal Sites and Opportunities for Solar Photovoltaic Development” (EPA Publication #540-S-23-004). The purpose of this document was to identify closed CCR units and provide key factors for their potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) development. In 2022, the EPA’s RE-Powering Initiative identified 772 current CCR …

The Modern Hydraulic Containment System: Using Automation, Telemetry And Data Dashboarding To Meet Client And Regulatory Objectives At A Coal Combustion Residual (Ccr) Site, Brian Hennings, Christopher Glidden, Vic Modeer, J. Austin Bond

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The site, a former coal-fired power plant in southern Illinois, generated coal combustion residuals (CCR) such as bottom ash and fly ash stored in surface impoundments. Adjacent to the Ash Pond, boron was detected in groundwater above the state standard of 2 mg/L. In late 2025, a groundwater extraction system was installed to control hydraulic conditions and prevent boron migration offsite until source control measures are completed. The system is expected to operate for up to 11 years. Three-dimensional groundwater modelling was used to support system design, helping to identify optimal well locations and flow rates for effective containment. Components, …

Strategic Workforce Solutions In The Coal Ash Industry, Stuart Keeter

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The coal ash industry stands at a pivotal moment, shaped by legacy environmental events, evolving engineering standards, and a rapidly shifting workforce landscape. This session explores the strategic talent challenges facing consultants, civil engineering firms, and utilities in 2026 and beyond. Drawing from data sources including MRI, LaborIQ, AGC, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the presentation highlights: • The impact of historic coal ash incidents (TVA Kingston, Duke Dan River) on industry best practices. • The convergence of civil, environmental, and power sectors in driving remediation and innovation. • Alarming workforce trends, including the retirement of 12,000 professionals …

Establishing A Roadmap For The Planning, Design, And Construction Of A Water Treatment System For A Ccr Unit Closure, Mariah Schroeder, Matthew Balance

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The treatment of water from a CCR unit is an important step in the closure strategy for surface impoundments to comply with 40 CFR §257.102(d)(2)(i) of the CCR rule. The unwatering and dewatering of a surface impoundment is a necessary first step in ensuring that the eventual closure of the unit will meet the requirements for closure in place described in 40 CFR §257.102(d). Depending on the operational conditions and requirements of the plant, the NDPES discharge limits, and the impacted water quality, the water treatment system needs can vary greatly. This presentation will outline a roadmap for assessment, evaluation, …

Establishing Sustainable Vegetation On A Challenging Legacy Ccr Site, Derek Oosterhouse, Blake Arthur

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

American Electric Power (AEP) is closing and restoring a legacy Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) site in Ohio that once held a power plant that pioneered innovative steam generation technology. The plant was closed in 1975. Today, the legacy CCR site is being transformed back to natural, sustainable vegetation. To comply with and close the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) permit, permanent stabilization is required on the site. AEP, one of the largest electric companies in the country, holds a core principle to respect the environment through creative sustainable solutions. AEP connected with Profile Products, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier …

Horizontal Wells For Ccr Applications – Results And Lessons Learned, David Bardsley

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Closure Of A Process Water Impoundment, Todd Stong, Shane Stockdill, Erin Hunter

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Rainbow Energy Center’s (REC’s) Coal Creek Station manages process water in various engineered impoundments across the facility. As part of the ongoing life of the plant, one of the site process water ponds has been decommissioned to allow for construction of a new coal combustion residuals (CCR) impoundment within the same footprint. In order to transition from a non-CCR impoundment to construction of a CCR impoundment, the existing impoundment was closed and decommissioned in 2025. The composite-lined process water impoundment intended for closure previously operated from the early 1990s. To effectively close the impoundment, a closure verification plan was developed …

Future Strategies For Beneficial Use Harvesting, Gabe Lang, Patrick Kiser

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

TVA is the largest public power company in the U.S. and has historically operated a fleet of 12 coal-fired plants as part of their diverse generating portfolio. To date, eight of the coal plants have been retired and the remaining four plants are projected to shut down in the next couple of decades. The decommissioning of these plants is driving a transition to harvesting of ponded and landfilled CCR’s to continue to support ready-mix concrete and other industries that enable infrastructure development. However, the regional market demand limits the ability to initiate widespread harvesting activities during near-term CCR Unit closure …

An Australian Case - Harvesting And Processing Salt Water Sluiced Dam Coal Ash For Use In Conventional Concrete, Massimo Capasso

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The Cement & Concrete sector account for 8% of the worlds emissions . "hard to abate" sector is the substitution out of highly emissive cement with very low emissive SCMs. (Industry by-products) In the region of South Australia , 100% of SCM's are imported at great cost, no sovereign "Australian Standard" sources are locally available. The focus of this study is on the local Pt.Augusta dam ash, a dam repository that remains since the station closure in 2016. The uniqueness of this study is that , like many unused dam repositories globally, seawater was used to sluice coal ash at …

Methods To Enhance Groundwater Remediation During Cbr And Mass Transfer Controls On Post-Closure Groundwater Cleanup At Ccr Impoundments, Sean Larkin, Jacob Chu, John Blue

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Utilities are implementing closure‑by‑removal (CBR) of coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments as part of corrective action programs to meet groundwater protection standards (GWPSs) and are evaluating closure strategies for Legacy Units. Although CBR and associated decanting and dewatering systems can substantially reduce source mass and improve groundwater quality, lingering “tail” concentrations in the aquifer are often observed after closure because groundwater remediation typically requires extended timeframes. These persistent concentrations may be compounded by secondary source zones beneath the former impoundment, where constituent mass stored in low‑permeability materials or immobile pore spaces is slowly released into the transmissive aquifer after CBR. …

Increase Drying Rate And Reduce Heavy Metals In Legacy Coal Ash Landfills With Biochar Addition, David Schmidt

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

A northern US power plant is preparing for the closure of 40-year-old coal ash and wet FGD (flue gas desulfurization) ponds per CFR 257.102. The pond’s contents must be dried before capping to allow heavy machinery to operate on the surface to spread the cover and liner materials. However, the high moisture content (55%) and the water holding capacity of the pond mixture, combined with a wet, cold climate, are preventing adequate drying to achieve the mandated closure dates. The US Forest Service funded this project to determine whether biochar made from waste wood can aid in ash pond remediation. …

Engineered Turf And Solar Renewable Performance On Ccr In Extreme Weather, Tate Niekamp, Bryan Scholl, Ming Zhu, Thomas Orzech

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The engineered turf final closure system, ClosureTurf®, is installed on a 309-acre coal combustion residual (CCR) unit at the TVA Shawnee Fossil Plant in West Paducah, KY. Approximately 100 megawatts of the PowerCap® solar photovoltaic (PV) system is currently being deployed directly atop the engineered turf cover. An overview of the ClosureTurf® and PowerCap® systems are presented along with a comparison to traditional soil covers and conventional utility-scale solar arrays. From August 2023 through July 2025, onsite and local weather data stations reported over 20 storm events including severe thunderstorms, tornado outbreaks, winter storm systems, atmospheric rivers, and post-tropical cyclones. …

A Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Remedial Approach For Metals: Utilizing Phyto-Enhancement To Accelerate Ph Adjustment Of Shallow Groundwater, Jerry Wylie, Thomas Colton

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

SynTerra will present a unique, low-cost, low-impact approach to metals remediation in shallow groundwater at a former industrial site located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The approach employs pH adjustment of groundwater using agricultural lime coupled with the use of daikon radish to augment lime contact time and to increase depth of soil augmentation. This method is designed to be a more sustainable, less resource-intensive, and less technically challenging remedial alternative with lower estimated overall costs. The primary corrective action—source removal—has been completed. However, the oxidation of residual sulfide-bearing minerals has resulted in persistent low-pH groundwater, which increases the solubility …

From Ash Pond To Concrete: A Two-Step Treatment For Enhancing Reactivity Of Reclaimed Ashes, Aysan Farajnia

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The closure of coal-fired power plants has led to a shortage of fly ash for concrete, increasing interest in alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). Reclaimed or harvested fly ash represents a promising SCM, but often fails to meet ASTM specifications due to impurities, variable composition, and low reactivity. This study highlights a two-phase evaluation of harvested coal ash from a local ash pond in Illinois. The first phase characterized ashes from different depths and locations based on chemical composition and pozzolanic reactivity. The second phase focused on a novel two-step treatment consisting of magnetic separation and mechanical grinding. On average, …

Ccr Impoundment Closure: Encapsulation Design Using Closure Cap And Cutoff Wall, John Klamut, A. Edward Sciulli, Kevin Bortz

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

When closing a CCR Impoundment while leaving CCR in place, 40 CFR 257.102 requires minimizing post-closure infiltration of liquid into the CCR. This presentation will provide a description of a closure plan for a 16-acre impoundment in Indiana to accomplish this criteria. Key components of the closure plan which will be presented including consolidation of CCR into a smaller footprint due to questionable underlying clay layer identified in a portion of the impoundment and the design of a geosynthetic and soil cap system. A Soil-Cement-Bentonite (SCB) cutoff wall will be constructed to enclose the portion of the impoundment where CCR …

Narrative Power: Strengthening Coal Ash Communications In A Shifting Policy And Media Environment, Tamara Hinton

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

As coal ash management and beneficial use practices continue to advance and regulatory frameworks evolve, the industry still faces a persistent challenge: sharing its story clearly, credibly, and proactively to audiences beyond engineers and regulators. Public perception, media narratives, and stakeholder understanding increasingly influence policy decisions, project timelines, and market opportunities. This session focuses on how strategic communications can serve as a critical tool to support responsible coal ash management and beneficial use. This presentation explores how utilities and industry partners can move from reactive communications to a more deliberate, strategic approach that strengthens trust, mitigates risk, and reinforces the …