Digital Commons Network^™

Carceral Apartheid: Centering State Responsibility For The Racial Order, Ion Meyn

Cardozo Law Review

Racial harms are often attributed to private ordering. But the power of White communities to subordinate communities of color is not a constellation of private acts independent of state violence. When scrutinized, acts of racial exclusion, segregation, and violence persist to the extent they are aligned with the political order and backed by the state’s violent guarantee. The knowledge that any resistance to these acts will be met with state retribution bristles in the background.

There are different ways in which state violence produces and reproduces the racial order: (1) direct violence; (2) a violent guarantee backing communal acts of …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

The Role Of Hope In Recovery From Sexual Assault For Hispanic Women, Esmeralda Rivera

Theses and Dissertations

Despite a growing amount of academic literature, there is a lack of research examining the levels of hope in Hispanic women recovering from sexual assault trauma. This quantitative survey investigates hope in Hispanic women healing from sexual assault trauma. The Miller Hope Scale (MHS) examines the variations and correlations between degrees of hope and demographic, personal, and self-advocacy factors. The research employs the Trauma Symptom Checklist—40 to investigate the correlation between levels of hope and trauma among women who have undergone sexual assault. Ninety-one Hispanic women from a crisis center in the U.S. were recruited for the study. Descriptive statistics, …

Detecting Anomalies In Dynamic Attributed Graphs: An Unsupervised Learning Approach, Austin Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic attributed graphs, which evolve over time and hold node-specific attributes, are essential in fields like social network analysis, where anomalous node detection is a growing area. Vehicular social networks (VSNs), a subset of these graphs, are ad hoc networks in which vehicles exchange data with one another and with infrastructure. In this dynamic context, identifying anomalous nodes is challenging but crucial for maintaining trust within the network. This work presents an unsupervised deep learning approach for anomalous node detection in VSNs. This model achieved an accuracy of 71% while detecting synthetic anomalies in a simulated network based on real-world …

A Guide To Parole Preparation In New York State, Parole Preparation Project, Michelle L. Lewin

All Categories

No abstract provided.

Suspicious Activity Recognition Using Computer Vision, Chaitanya Krishna Karanam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This culminating experience project explored innovative methods for enhancing anomaly detection in video surveillance systems, a vital concern for public safety and security management. The research questions addressed were: Q1) What emergent approaches in Activity-based Human Action Recognition (AbHAR) lead to significant advancements in surveillance technology driven by human cognition? Q2) How can the processing and detection phases of video monitoring systems be optimized for improved efficiency? Q3) What are the advantages of ensemble approaches over individual algorithms in enhancing the robustness and accuracy of anomaly detection systems in video surveillance?

The findings were: (Q1), That deep learning methodologies, particularly …

Foreword, Carl Tobias

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Wills, Trusts, And Estates, Allison A. Tait, Hunter M. Glenn

University of Richmond Law Review

This year could be considered quiet in both legislative and judicial activity, lacking as it was in any substantial new legislative enactments or major opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia on core wealth transfer issues. Nevertheless, a set of modest legislative changes helped bring the rules for revocable trusts in line with the rules for wills, standardizing estate planning and wealth transfer regulation, while other changes also brought clarity to existing rules by amplifying procedures and providing additional de- tail for administrative processes. In the judicial setting, while guidance for this practice area was primarily provided by the Court …

Aid Or Abuse? A Review Of U.S. Police Assistance Programs In Latin America During The Early Cold War, Brianna Mcnally

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

During the Cold War, the United States used police assistance programs in under-developed countries to stop the spread of communism. Police aid aimed to improve a country’s economic stability and internal security to curb the rise of communist revolutions. The U.S. government charged the Office of Public Safety (OPS) within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with managing police assistance programs around the world, including in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Despite its seemingly good intentions, the OPS became a short-lived program now known today for its ties to human rights abuses, especially throughout Latin America. Several Latin American …

Recovery Resiliency Of Interdependent Power Systems Infrastructure Subject To Extreme Events, Partha P. Sarker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

When Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, it devastated the island’s aging power systems infrastructure and inflicted an island-wide power outage that left Puerto Rico in total darkness for an entire week before the system slowly started to recover. This unprecedented failure of the critical power systems infrastructure exacerbated the failure of other critical infrastructures or lifeline systems of the island. This research explores and quantifies the relationships or interdependencies that exist between the power systems and other critical infrastructure systems by investigating the post-hurricane recovery data of these lifeline systems. Subsequently, the research …

A Qualitative Study Of School Resource Officers In A Borderland School, Myrna Lozano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, there has been growing concern over the role of school resource officers (SROs) in enforcing discipline in K-12 public schools. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences of SROs involved with discipline issues at schools. By conducting interviews with SROs and examining official school documents, this study will shed light on how these officers navigate the complexities of the job while balancing the need for security with the goal of promoting positive outcomes for students. It is crucial to explore the perspectives and experiences of SROs to better understand their involvement with the K-12 public school …

Understanding The Factors Associated With The Targeting Of Prison Gangs By Specialized Gang Units (Sgus) In The United States, Bruno Aldair Zapata

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Specialized gang units (SGUs) are prominent in police departments in the United States with their sole purpose to respond to gang activity across the country. SGUs vary in the types of gangs they target, resources available, officer composition, and the types of enforcement activities they use. SGUs have encountered various controversies such as exaggerating the gang problem in the media, for distorted intelligence in their gang databases, and for racial stereotyping and harassment among Hispanics in particular. Research regarding SGUs is limited in general, but even fewer studies exist on the targeting efforts of prison gangs by SGUs. Prison gang …

Miscarriages Of Justice In Immigration Detention, Louis Century, Kent Roach

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Search Incident To Arrest And The Role Of Law Enforcement Interests, Colton Fehr

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Grant Writing: The Essentials, Jayme Renfro

Faculty Book Gallery

Welcome to the exciting and impactful world of grant writing! Whether you are a student embarking on a career in nonprofit management, a budding researcher eager to secure funding for your projects, or a professional looking to hone your grant writing skills, this textbook is designed to guide you through every step of the grant writing process. Grant writing is not just about securing funds; it's about crafting a story, building relationships, and making a tangible impact on communities and fields of study. This book aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to excel in this …

Nebraska Department Of Transportation Strategic Audit, Chloe Hoover

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is a state government agency that is responsible for the planning, development, design, construction, maintenance, and administration of the state highway system. Two strategic analyses are completed about NDOT: a PESTEL analysis and Porter’s Five Forces analysis. Both of these analyses showed that since NDOT is a state agency, it impacts foundational aspects of its strategy. NDOT’s strategy is influenced by its financial strategy, policies or political influence, and public importance. NDOT competes with other companies in its workforce and employees and/or applicants leaving NDOT for other companies. This report details NDOT’s strategy, competitive …

Sorry Not Sorry: Presentational Strategies And The Electoral Punishment Of Corruption, Dean C. Dulay, Seulki Lee

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

A growing literature has explored various factors that hamper the electoral punishment of corruption. Most studies have focused on how voters react to a corruption allegation, but this focus leaves out an important, common aspect of corruption allegations that voters also encounter: politicians' blame avoidance strategies. This study examines how politicians' presentational strategies in response to corruption allegations affect voter sanctioning. Employing an online survey experiment on a sample of 3531 U.S. citizens, we find that politicians' action-oriented strategies, such as denying allegations, acknowledging a problem but denying responsibility, or acknowledging a problem and taking responsibility, are more effective than …

Smile! You’Re On Camera: Police Use Of Automatic License Plate Readers And The Need For Statewide Legislation, Cailyn Hoang

University of Dayton Law Review

No abstract provided.

Disposal Deficiency: Single-Use Battery-Powered Smoking Devices, Isaiah A. Zuniga

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There exists a critical issue in the disposal process for single-use battery-operated smoking devices, including cannabinoid and tobacco products in Monterey County, which pose significant social and health ramifications. The County of Monterey Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program aims to educate youth and adults and support cessation services. This project focuses on spreading awareness through educational media about the proper disposal of single-use battery-operated smoking devices, with the long-term aspiration of developing a comprehensive disposal process to reduce environmental contamination and encourage healthier habits. Initial findings revealed that many users are unaware that vapes and similar devices cannot be disposed …

Impact Of Delphi-Developed Rubrics On Rater Consistency In 14 Cfr 141 Flight Training Assessment Environments, Lewis Robert James Archer

Theses and Dissertations

Pilot schools operating in accordance with 14 CFR 141 provide a substantial supply of pilots to the aviation industry. Recent high industry demand for pilots has created turnover among the flight instructor workforce, often considered an entry-level position used by aspiring aviators to build flight experience. This in turn means that check instructors, evaluators who are often selected from the more senior flight instructor population at a pilot school, are generally less experienced than in the past. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is low consistency among these check instructors when conducting performance-based assessments. This study sought to determine the existing …

Outage Prediction And Detecting Influential Factors Under Extreme Weather Events Using Shap Analysis, Farishta Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

As electricity demands continue to grow and extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for resilient energy infrastructure is increasingly urgent. This thesis addresses three critical areas of power system resilience and monitoring. The first section of the thesis reviews the Texas power blackout in February 2021, which highlighted severe vulnerabilities in energy systems under extreme weather conditions. This analysis investigates the blackout event's causes, including generation capacity limitations and over-reliance on specific energy sources. The second section presents another weather event (ice storms) in North Dakota causing a multi-day blackout. Multiple machine learning approaches are deployed to predict …

Ai At The Helm: Transforming Crisis Communication Through Theory And Advancing Technology, Timothy Whims

All Theses

This thesis investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models, into crisis communication, focusing on how AI technologies can enhance response strategies and stakeholder engagement during crises. By leveraging established communication frameworks such as Image Repair Theory, Situational Crisis Communication Theory, and the Discourse of Renewal, this research explores the potential for AI to improve both the speed and precision of crisis responses. The study highlights how AI can assist in monitoring public sentiment, drafting tailored responses, and managing real-time information during crisis events. However, it also addresses the limitations of AI, such as its inability to …

Exploring The Interactive Effects Of Officer, Subject, And Encounter Factors On Police Use Of Force Outcomes, Jeremy David Barnum

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Police use of force incidents are highly complex events that can be characterized by factors pertaining to the officers, subjects, and immediate encounter. These factors and the dynamic interrelationships between them encompass the situational context of use of force and have been widely studied in the criminological literature (Bolger, 2015). However, extant research has almost exclusively focused on identifying the main effects of situational factors on use of force with little consideration of how effects may vary across specific situational contexts. This limits our understanding of police use of force and complicates efforts to develop policy or training that ensures …

Social Network Analysis: How Social Media Groups Can Influence Policies Among Hispanic Families, Valeria Gurr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 impacted the entire world in various ways. On March 15, 2020, education in Nevada was significantly impacted when the Governor announced the closure of public schools due to the pandemic. When the schools were closed, students were forced to stay home and receive their education through virtual instruction. This transition to distance education affected the Hispanic/Latino(a) communities in pronounced ways and highlighted issues such as limited access to the Internet, technology, lack of hardware devices, as well as language barriers and more. This study uses social networking analysis techniques to examine the nature of …

Volume 108, Number 2 (2024)

Judicature

No abstract provided.

Domain-Specific Machine Learning Approaches For Geospatial Problems, Shine Bedi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores novel algorithms for complex geospatial problems at the intersection of environmental, social, and computational sciences. Emphasizing the unique challenges of the geospatial domain, particularly the deviation from the independent and identical distribution (IID) assumption, the research spans various methodologies across different domains, demonstrating the benefits of specialized approaches in spatial analysis.

First, we show that machine learning techniques can be effectively used in environmental modeling, which often has severe class imbalance challenges. Using artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) and techniques to address class imbalance provides insights into groundwater quality …

Innovative Practices And Safety Culture In Modern Construction: A Case Study Of The Millstone Weber Reconstruction Project, Ariana Alexander

Honor’s College Freeman Research Journal

This thesis explores the operations of Millstone Weber, a leading construction firm formed through the merger of Millstone Bangert, Inc., and Fred Weber, Inc., with a focus on its innovative practices and safety culture. Highlighting the Runway 17L-35R reconstruction project in Denver, Colorado, the study examines the multifaceted role of a Field Engineer and Safety Intern. Responsibilities included data management, QA/QC inspections, subcontractor coordination, and the application of advanced tools like Bluebeam for project planning and execution. The internship revealed key insights into balancing safety with efficiency, managing communication gaps, and addressing task allocation disparities. Observations highlighted challenges such as …

Dynamic Key-Based Privacy-Preserving Authentication Scheme For Internet Of Drones, Zain Chaudhary

Honors Theses

The Internet of Drones (IoD) proliferation has catalyzed transformative changes across various industries, from agriculture to urban management. However, expanding drone networks also presents significant security challenges concerning secure communication and authentication. This paper introduces a robust privacy-preserving key-based authentication scheme tailored explicitly for the IoD, utilizing a matrix key generated by Hierarchical Message Authentication Codes (HMAC) and the SHA-256 algorithm to address these vulnerabilities. Our system enhances security by ensuring each drone in the network can authenticate securely and reliably with a central unit, preventing unauthorized access and securing communications against common threats like eavesdropping and impersonation attacks. Our …

Landslide Inventory And Unstable Slope Monitoring Along Highways In Eastern Tennessee, Robert Mcsweeney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces an unstable slope management program (USMP) for Tennessee based on federal slope management standards, along with improved methods for landslide monitoring with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) lidar and photogrammetry. In mountainous regions, monitoring slope hazards is a critical function of transportation management. A mobile field assessment form created with Survey123 was used to collect 22 unstable slope ratings in eastern Tennessee. Location points were appended with photographs, notes, and site information. Landslide scores ranged from 325 (Fair) to 1005 (Poor). UAS monitoring of a slow-moving soil landslide along I-40 near Rockwood, TN, produced high-resolution lidar and photogrammetry …

Enhancing Smart Grid Security And Resilience Using Programmable Networks, Zheng Hu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The security and resilience of smart grids are essential to ensuring reliable and efficient energy distribution, especially as these cyber-physical systems grow more interconnected and complex. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems play a critical role in smart grid operations by enabling essential infrastructure control and real-time monitoring. However, SCADA systems are highly vulnerable to modern cyber threats, which target weaknesses in industrial protocols and real-time data requirements.

This dissertation investigates the potential of programmable network technologies, with a focus on P4 (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) switch, to deliver adaptable, in-network security solutions tailored to the needs of smart …