Digital Commons Network^™

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Silver Bow Creek Conservation Area (Sbcca) Draft Final Leak Detection Monitoring Plan, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

High-Performance Simulations Of Higher Representations Of Wilson Fermions, Vincent Drach, Sofie Martins, Claudio Pica, Antonio Rago

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We present HiRep v2, an open-source software suite for high-performance lattice field theory simulations with dynamical Wilson fermions in higher representations of SU(Ng) gauge groups. This new version fully supports graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration, optimizing both gauge configuration generation and measurements for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. HiRep v2 integrates improved gauge and fermionic lattice actions, advanced inverters, and Monte Carlo algorithms, including the (Rational) Hybrid Monte Carlo ((R)HMC) with Hasenbusch acceleration. It exhibits excellent scalability across multiple GPUs and nodes with minimal efficiency loss, making it a robust tool for large-scale simulations in physics beyond the Standard Model.

An Open-Label, Clinical Feasibility Study Of The Efficacy Of Remdesivir For Long-Covid, Helen Neilens, Victoria Allgar, Kayle-Anne Sands, Jade Chynoweth, Amber Lord, Paigan J Aspinall, Helen Hambly, Anton Barnett, Lindsay Skipper, Tom Bewick, Ian Maidment, Hairil Abdul Razak, Ruth Ashton, David Strain, Karen Knapp, Mark A Faghy

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Long COVID (LC) affects around two million people in the UK and over 65 million people globally. Antiviral medications have shown positive effects in reducing the risk of progression to severe disease in high-risk patients during an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and have improved outcomes in those living with LC. Research testing the feasibility and efficacy of antiviral medications is ongoing, and clinical trials should determine the use of Remdesivir and its impact on LC symptoms, patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and functional status.

METHODS: Seventy-two patients ≥ 18 years of age who have a confirmed LC diagnosis will be …

Flicking Fibres: Microfibres Act As Sensory Disruptors In A Marine Crustacean, Ari Drummond, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Lucy M. Turner, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Anthropogenic inputs to the environment—including microplastics and microfibres—are global stressors known to impair multiple facets of organismal biology. However, the effects of these pollutants on sensory structures remain critically understudied. Sensory systems mediate organism-environment interactions, and pollution-derived impairment at these interfaces may cascade through bioprocessing, from information acquisition to behaviour and ultimately fitness. Microfibres, in particular, pose an additional threat, potentially physically obstructing sensory organs and chemically interfering with sensory processes. Using an invertebrate model of sensory biology, Pagurus bernhardus, we tested whether dryer lint—a complex, heterogeneous mix of treated microplastic and cellulose fibres, and other anthropogenic contaminants—acts as a …

Technology Based Assessment Of Workplace Biomechanical Risk: A Roadmap For Process Improvement, Tamer Adel Mohamed, Noha Mostafa, Ahmed Elsayed

Mechanical Engineering

The main objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for assessing the biomechanical risk in the workplace and design and apply improvements to reduce this risk by redesigning the working process. The risks are measured using Ergonomics tools to assess body posture and lifting index. Kinect sensor and video recordings are utilized to evaluate the joints' positions as an input for body posture data. Then, the specialized CATIA V5 software [26] is used to simulate the workers' bodies in the form of 3D models. Risk factors were assessed, and a new design was developed to be implemented in …

Experimental Investigation Of A Shrouded Dual-Rotor Wind Turbine For Small-Scale Applications, Ahmed Elbaz, Mahmoud Alghrieb Mr

Mechanical Engineering

Small-scale wind power faces significant challenges in areas characterized by low wind speeds and turbulent wind patterns, limiting its contribution to the global energy demand. To spread the use of wind energy even at regions of low wind speeds, the turbine with wind lens concept was introduced in the literature. This device increases the free stream wind speed at the turbine section which enhances power output of the turbine. Other methods involved using dual rotors to augment power output of the turbine too. In the current study, the performance of single and dual rotors was investigated using wind lens to …

Comparative Experimental Analysis Of Vertical And Inclined Bifacial Pv Panels Under Varying Azimuthal Angles In Egypt For Agrivoltaics Systems, Ahmed Elbaz, Yahia Hassanein Nr, Iman Elmahallawi Dr, Tarek Abdelsalam Dr

Mechanical Engineering

The growing deployment of photovoltaic (PV) technologies across a wide range of applications, from residential rooftops to agrivoltaic systems, has created new opportunities, such as harnessing albedo from bright surroundings, as well as challenges, including limited space availability and adverse shading effects, which urge the need for optimising space along with energy use. While vertical bifacial photovoltaic (VBPV) systems may offer a potential solution, their effectiveness against their conventional inclined counterparts remains largely unexplored in different locations. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the energy performance of vertical and inclined Bifacial PV configurations under the different climatic conditions of …

The Profitability Of Basis Trading Strategies In Futures Markets, Evan W. Eifling

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

There have been few studies on post-harvest strategies related to hedging and speculation in futures and options markets and their returns in agricultural economic literature. In this thesis, we examine whether basis trading, a common strategy used by elevators to hedge their position, generates superior returns than simply storing physical cash grain following harvest and accounting for risk. Specifically, the purpose of my research is to study the returns and risks generated by each of these strategies using empirical analysis of the historical data of the post-harvest cash and future prices for the crop years from 1992-2020. The results of …

Pour & Ponder: A Gen Z Evaluation Of Hospitality And Communication In Wineries Of The Ozarks, Evan W. Seay

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Generation Z represents an emerging consumer group within the hospitality and tourism industry, yet winery experiences are often designed with more traditional audiences in mind. As younger consumers increasingly value authenticity, communication, and experience-driven hospitality, wineries must consider how their practices align with evolving expectations. This honors thesis explores winery hospitality and communication practices in the Ozarks through a Generation Z perspective using a creative, experience-based approach. The final product of this project was Pour & Ponder, a podcast created to document reflective discussions following visits to three wineries: Sassafras Springs Vineyard, St. James Winery, and Ozark Hills Winery. …

Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation, Honors College

Honors Convocation

The Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation Awards Program for Spring 2026, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.

The Quiet Persistence Of Dreams: Searching For Belonging Within The Latino Student Journey, Isveydi Moreno Vera

Theses & ETDs

This thesis explores the tension between belonging and aspiration among first-generation Latino students navigating higher education. Through a series of surreal and symbolic paintings inspired by memories, transformation, and cultural imagery, I visualize the emotional negotiation between personal identity and societal expectations. Rather than portraying “The Dream” as a singular goal, my work reimagines it as a space where belonging is continually shaped, questioned, and redefined. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Tanya Arguiniga, Tony Ortega, and Yvette Mayorga, I build upon their use of storytelling, surrealism, and materiality to express complex cultural experiences. My series aims to honor the …

Upr Report Submissions: Compiled By The International Human Rights Clinic At The University Of Illinois Chicago School Of Law And The Human Rights At Home Litigation Clinic At The Saint Louis University School Of Law, Sarah Dàvila A., Lauren E. Bartlett

Faculty White Papers

This unofficial summary compiles information from reports submitted by civil society and others for the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United States.

The authors reviewed the submissions, which are reports from civil society and others, and grouped issues thematically, using the 2020 UPR themes and recommendations as the organizing framework. Within each theme, the authors synthesized recurring issues, patterns, and concerns identified across multiple submissions. For each issue, the unofficial summary follows a structured approach that presents international obligations first, followed by United States domestic law, and then facts drawn from the submissions. However, where reports …

A Full System Co-Simulation Platform For Evaluating Edge Machine Learning Inference Using Compute-In-Memory, Belsen Lee

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MS) Theses

We present a full-system co-simulation platform for evaluating embedded machine learning (ML) inference using compute-in-memory (CIM). CIM architectures aim to reduce data movement overhead by performing matrix operations in memory, but end-to-end benefits depend on system-level integration costs that are difficult to assess with isolated hardware models alone. To address this gap, we develop an integrated RISC-V QEMU-SystemC co-simulation environment that allows standard embedded Linux to interact with a transaction-level CIM accelerator model via memory-mapped I/O, direct memory access (DMA), and interrupts. To evaluate performance, we benchmark an MNIST image inference workload and a synthetic fully connected neural network, comparing …

Integrating Automated Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Into University Of Alaska Anchorage's Applied Environmental Research Center, Alec Blake

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

This project developed a custom trained artificial intelligence (AI) video‑analysis agent minimum viable product (MVP) for the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Applied Environmental Research Center (AERC) fisheries projects that utilize a VAKI Riverwatcher CS system. The project involved collaboration with the UAA AERC and the UAA College of Engineering (CoE) Project Management (PM) program and the Computer Science and Computer Engineering (CSCE) program. The project served as the first phase of a broader program that will expand into an all-in-one commercial product, eventually replacing the Icelandic-made VAKI Riverwatcher CS with a fully automated, American-made fish monitoring system to comply …

The Delivery And Evaluation Of The Diabetes Prevention Program Through A Distance Education Modality, Celine Siddall

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Type 2 diabetes is a significant and growing public health concern, disproportionately affecting American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing diabetes risk through lifestyle modification. However, implementation in rural and geographically isolated regions presents unique challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted in-person delivery models, creating the need for rapid transformation to virtual formats.

This graduate project evaluated the implementation of a virtually delivered Prevent T2 at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center program in the Tana Chiefs Conference region. This program was adapted for distance delivery using Zoom and supported by collaboration …

Biopsychosocial Mechanisms And Management Of Pain And Emotional Health In Fibrous Dysplasia/Mccune-Albright Syndrome, Camryn Berry

Doctoral Dissertations

Fibrous Dysplasia (FD) is a rare disease where healthy bone is replaced by lesions of fragile, porous tissue. FD lesions may affect a single bone or occur throughout the entire skeleton and can grow rapidly. A diagnosis of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is made when FD is accompanied by endocrinopathies and skin hyperpigmentation. FD/MAS can cause debilitating complications, including disabilities, deformities, fractures, and chronic pain. Pain is one of the most common symptoms of FD/MAS and can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life. However, FD/MAS pain is complex and varies substantially between patients. This complexity and a lack …

Turbulence And Kinetic Instabilities In The Near-Sun Solar Wind: From Theory To Observation, Nooshin Sierra Davis

Doctoral Dissertations

The near-Sun solar wind provides a natural laboratory for studying the nonlinear and kinetic processes that govern the dynamics of collisionless astrophysical plasmas. This thesis investigates plasma turbulence and kinetic instabilities in the inner heliosphere using theoretical analysis, numerical modeling, and in situ observations.First, young solar wind observations collected by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) are used to examine the radial evolution of nonlinear solar wind turbulence by analyzing magnetic-field power spectra. I investigate the presence and radial evolution of the well-known 1/f spectral behavior in the energy-containing range during a single fast solar wind stream. Measurements close to the Sun …

Support, Collaboration, And Trust: A Mixed Methods Social Network Perspective Of Teacher Turnover, Danielle S. Donovan

Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: Despite decades of research, teacher turnover remains a consistent challenge for schools and communities. In an effort to better understand why teachers continue to leave the classroom, this dissertation focuses on support, collaboration, and trust ties as an aspect of social working conditions through a social network lens. Methodology: Guided by critical realism as an ontological and epistemological framework, this study uses a sequential research design to implement an ego-centric mixed-methods social network perspective (MMSNP). Findings: Instrumental (pedagogical and instructional resources) and expressive social capital (emotional support and a sense of belonging) exist within teacher networks. Teachers who maintain …

Computationally Probing Quantum Subgroups Via Graph Planar Algebra Embeddings, Caleb Kennedy Hill

Doctoral Dissertations

Tensor categories are algebraic objects used by physicists to describe symmetry, by computer scientists to describe programs, and by logicians to describe theorem and proof. Mathematicians invented them to capture the similarities of the representation theories of common algebraic objects including groups, algebras, and Lie algebras. In this dissertation we give presentations in terms of graphical generators and relations for two tensor categories arising from the two quantum subgroups of quantum G2.

We accomplish this by embedding a tensor-generating object's planar algebra into the graph planar algebra on that object's module fusion graph. Such an embedding allows one to explore …

Permeability And Mechanical Response Of Propped Fractured Rocks Under Varied Fluid Viscosities, Hebatalla A. Ghoneim

Doctoral Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing relies on proppants to preserve fracture conductivity under reservoir stresses. The long-term performance of propped fractures is influenced by grain crushing, redistribution of fines, pack rearrangement, proppant–rock embedment, and shear deformation. These mechanisms are not fully understood under combined compression and shear stress paths, particularly when viscous carrier fluids interact with fractured rock and proppant packs. This dissertation provides experimental data and device development to characterize proppant and rock behavior relevant to these coupled mechanical and hydraulic processes.Proppant grain-scale strength and pack-scale mechanical response were first examined through uniaxial grain tests, crushing tests, and drained and undrained triaxial …

Leveraging Dna Intercalation For The Development Of Tunable, Versatile Supramolecular Hydrogels, Shaina Marlene Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations

Supramolecular hydrogels have emerged as a versatile class of biomaterials capable of mimicking the dynamic behavior of natural tissues due to their inherent hydrophilicity, stimuli-responsiveness, and viscoelastic behavior. However, achieving both biocompatibility and mechanical tunability remains a challenge. This work utilizes DNA intercalation to create a programmable, sustainable hydrogel platform. By utilizing the reversible insertion of planar aromatic molecules between DNA base pairs, we demonstrate that the network’s dissociation kinetics and thermodynamic response are directly governed by the intercalator structure, offering a highly tunable strategy for stimuli-responsive biomaterials.To demonstrate the versatility of double stranded DNA (dsDNA) intercalating supramolecular hydrogels (DISHs), …

Linking Environmental Change, Microbial Community Assembly, And Function During A Novel Marine Phytoplankton Bloom Using Multi-Omics, Madison Renée Hurley

Doctoral Dissertations

Phytoplankton are central to marine ecosystem functioning, driving primary production, nutrient cycling, and higher trophic level dynamics. In the spring and summer of 2023, the Gulf of Maine experienced an unprecedented bloom of the dinoflagellate Tripos muelleri, reaching densities exceeding 50,000 cells L-1, an order of magnitude higher than previously recorded, and disrupting the region’s typical spring diatom-dominated succession. This bloom provided a unique opportunity to examine the metabolic strategies, ecological interactions, and environmental drivers underlying the bloom persistence and decline. An integrative approach was used, combining 18S and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, pigment and image analysis, network modeling, functional …

Who Works From Home, What Is It Worth, And Where Do They Live? Occupational Classification, Work Arrangement Preferences, And Residential Location Choice, Logan Robert Malone

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines work-from-home (WFH) arrangements through three complementary lenses: occupational feasibility, worker preferences, and residential location choice. The first chapter develops a continuous tools-based measure of WFH potential using the Department of Labor's O*NET Tools and Technology Supplement, which documents the tools used in each occupation. By categorizing tools according to their consistency with remote work and aggregating to the occupation level, I construct a measure that closely aligns with existing classifications while offering finer-grained distinctions than the binary categorizations common in the literature. The tools-based measure agrees with a widely cited task-based measure for approximately 80% of occupations …

Neutral Giant: The United States And The Costa Rican Civil War Of 1948, James Irving

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is a narrative microhistory of American diplomacy during Costa Rica’s transformative 1948 civil war. Emerging out of a contested presidential election, the war pitted the Costa Rican government of Teodoro Picado and its communist allies against an anticommunist, nationalist rebel movement led by José Figueres in a monthlong fight for political power. While existing histories of American policymaking have concluded almost unanimously that the United States intervened to support the rebels as part of its Cold War strategy in Latin America—labeling the civil war a precursor to the more infamous coup in Guatemala in 1954—this dissertation seeks to …

The Bank Of North America And The Making Of American Public Finance In The Confederation Era, Arya Georgina Martinez Arellano

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the history of the Bank of North America, the first charteredbank in the United States, as a foundational experiment in American public finance during the critical decade between the American Revolution and the founding of the Bank of the United States in 1791. Historians have often interpreted the Bank either as an extension of Robert Morris's career or as a precursor to Alexander Hamilton’s federal financial system. By shifting the focus from individual actors to institutional practice, this project demonstrates how the Bank of North America functioned as a proto-national financial institution in a political environment where …

Performance-Based Assessment Of Asphalt Overlay Cracking With Laboratory And Field Data, Meisam Khorshidi

Doctoral Dissertations

Efficient and effective rehabilitation of existing pavements is a continuing priority for transportation agencies seeking to maintain safe, reliable, and cost-effective networks. Asphalt overlays are widely used to restore ride quality and extend service life of both asphalt and concrete pavements; however, their long-term performance is often limited by thermal and reflective cracking. These distresses accelerate moisture infiltration, increase maintenance demand, and shorten overlay life, especially in cold-climate regions. Ensuring that overlay designs adequately account for structural configuration, traffic, climate, subgrade conditions, and mixture-level fracture resistance is therefore critical to avoid premature failure and excessive life-cycle costs.This dissertation advances performance-based …

Assessment Of Correctness, Content Omission, And Risk Of Harm In Large Language Model Responses To Ophthalmology Continuing Medical Education Questions, Jacqueline L. Chen, Amanda J. Lu, Rohan Verma, Li Wang, Douglas D. Koch, Allison J. Chen

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy and prose responses of 2 large language models (LLMs) to ophthalmology continuing medical education questions.

DESIGN: Question prompts and multiple choice (MC) answer options were input into the 2 LLMs, and responses were analyzed for accuracy and assessed for evidence of correctness, completeness, bias, and potential harm using a previously reported standardized rubric.

SUBJECTS: Basic and Clinical Science Course questions and MC answer options from the American Academy of Ophthalmology question bank were used as inputs into the 2 LLMs (ChatGPT-4 and Google Vertex's Gemini Pro 1.5).

METHODS: The MC responses were assessed for accuracy …

Exploring Social Emotional Learning Competencies In Middle School Theatre Education, Katherine J. Mullins

Honors Theses

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a method of education in which students are taught to grow in multifaceted ways. Students learn and grow as more than just students in their respective subjects, they grow in emotional intelligence, empathy, and interpersonal skills as well. SEL is not always easy to incorporate into teaching practices, but it tends to lend itself well to a theatre education setting. In a middle school specific setting, SEL and theatre-based activities yield positive results in student competencies both in and out of the classroom. In this research, through comparative analysis and reflective inquiry, I aim to …

Expanding The Vocabulary Of Staff Notation By Notating The Vocal Instrument, Ryan J. Berry

Honors Theses

The aspects of vocal music performance that are often the most engaging, expressive, and creative cannot be conveyed with the established vocabulary of staff notation. Consequently, discussion of artistic choices is limited to oral or written-word formats that are neither internationally interpretable or widely shared. This research proposes a remedy by creating notation symbols for the larynx, tongue, and formants so the movements of a singer's instrument can be described in staff notation. These symbols, along with the International Phonetic Alphabet, were applied to four performances to highlight specific artistic choices. Additionally, this paper discusses the history of vocal sheet …

Romantasy's Inevitable Lasting Legacy, Devon T. Gibson

Honors Theses

The “romantasy” subgenre of YA literature has become influential for its novel combination of romance and fantasy as well as its popularity on Booktok, the book-based subsection of the popular social media app, Tiktok. This connection has become somewhat infamous in popular culture and has been underresearched due to how recently both concepts became significant forces within the publishing industry. This thesis argues that romantasy is a novel and lasting YA subgenre that is not dependent on Booktok to maintain it. The analysis of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) and Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing (2023) …