Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Impact Of Forest Vegetation On Nuclear Weapon Prompt Radiation Energy Deposition, Paul A. Clement

Theses and Dissertations

This work seeks to answer the unstudied questions “Does a layer of vegetation impact the prompt radiation energy deposition in the soil from an atmospheric nuclear detonation?” and “If yes, by how much?” A new methodology was developed to repeatably automate and streamline a process of generating a three-dimensional geometry for subsequent radiation transport simulations and statistical analysis. The methodology streamlined three diverse applications: a three-dimensional mesh generator, a radiation transport simulation code, and a sensitivity analysis & uncertainty quantification software. The methodology was tested by simulating the quantitative influence that vegetation has on changing the energy deposition into the …

Spin State Of Positronium In Two Dimensions, Emille Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the spin state of the electron-positron system positronium to determine experimental criteria that can identify a positronium anyon. Anyons have been posited to be the basis for a truly fault-tolerant quantum computer, but they have not been indisputably observed in experimental systems. Through the analysis of the fully relativistic symmetry group of fermions and bosons in three dimensions, we investigate the symmetry of its subgroups to determine that positronium in two dimensions behaves as a scalar with respect to rotations. We conclude that positronium in two dimensions has an arbitrary relative spin orientation of annihilation photons and only …

Sustaining Progress—Investing In Adolescent Girls Amidst Global Challenges: Learnings From A Donor Roundtable, Coalition For Adolescent Girls, Akili Dada

Adolescents and Young People

The Coalition for Adolescent Girls (CAG), hosted by the Population Council, in collaboration with Akili Dada, convened a high-level donor roundtable on June 4, 2025. Against the backdrop of funding freezes, policy shifts, and widening global crises, this convening brought together funders, grassroots organizations, adolescent and youth leaders, and global experts, to reflect on emerging trends, lived experiences, and actions needed urgently to ensure adolescent girls remain at the center of global development priorities. This knowledge brief synthesizes key insights from the roundtable discussion. It underscores the critical need for long-term, flexible, and intersectional funding approaches that center adolescent girls …

No Law Is An Island: A Dialogical Rejoinder To Authoritarian Legalism, Julen Etxabe

All Faculty Publications

A new form of “autocratic legalism” (Scheppele) that relies on law rather than guns raises a serious challenge to democratic constitutionalism. While authors tend to focus on the “illiberal” challenge, this article is concerned with its jurisprudential dimension: what exactly is wrong with autocratic legalism? That is, to what extent does legalism, understood as the formalistic and one-sided instrumentalization of law, represent a hollowed-out, defective, and potentially harmful theory of law? And if legalism is such a theory of law, perhaps prone to authoritarianism, whence can we draw the resources to flesh out a “non-legalistic” and democratic conception of …

The Significance Of Blockchain Technology In Preserving Digital Evidence Integrity In Forensic Investigations, Marwa Popal, Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Arshad

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Digital forensics is the application of technology to the investigation and accounting of digital crime and the extraction and analysis of digital evidence from systems and networks. As the number of IoT [Internet of Things] devices has proliferated, the complexity inherent in forensic investigations has skyrocketed. While IoT forensics addresses the challenges of a lack of standardized security protocol and ensuring the integrity as well as security of evidence data, it brings to bear all the difficulties existing in classic forensics. Unfortunately, traditional digital forensic tools are generally inadequate in shielding that evidence from tampering or unauthorized access. Digital evidence …

Airway Management In Patients With Vocal Cord Paralysis: A Review Of Intubation Techniques, Intraoperative Challenges, And Outcomes., Rayyan Bhutta, Ali Osman, Tala Maya, Justin Ma, Ali Al Saeed, Sumit Sidhu, Mariya Wood, Bilal Akhtar, Sirimas Lau, Matthias Franzen

Surgery Articles

Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) presents with unique challenges when managing airways, particularly during endotracheal intubation. This literature review explores the effects of unilateral and bilateral VCP on intubation technique, first-pass success, extubation safety, and perioperative airway planning. While video laryngoscopy (VL) is becoming increasingly favored for its superior airway visualization, it does not always confirm successful placement in patients with VCP. Complications such as airway edema, aspiration risk, and cuff misplacements are increased in this patient population, and they may be more vulnerable to post-extubation complications, especially without the use of steroid prophylaxis or intensive post-operative planning. A comparison of …

Independent- September 2025, Leslie Lozada

The Independent (1988-present)

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Out-Of-School Time Stem Educators Working With Youth Experiencing Diverse Abilities, Joelle Lemer, Rasha Elsayed, Kirsten Daehler, Nena Bloom

Journal of Youth Development

Out-of-school time learning occurs in a variety of settings including formal-learning environments, such as afterschool programs, or informal-learning environments, such as museums or youth clubs. Educators in out-of-school time contexts serve diverse youth populations. Many educators often have limited experience or preparation in how to support STEM learning, particularly with learners experiencing diverse physical and/or sensory abilities, such as mobility, dexterity, vision, or hearing. The purpose of this article is to share research-to-practice strategies for STEM in out-of-school time settings for professionals working with youth experiencing diverse physical and/or sensory abilities. These strategies are derived from a review of available …

Media And Mindfulness: Associations Between Adolescent Mindful Social Media Use, Chenae Christensen-Duerden, Sarah Coyne

Journal of Youth Development

The objective of this study is to examine social media mindfulness and other social media habits as predictors of depression in adolescents. As depression and poor mental health increase for American adolescents, so does the research surrounding the positive outcomes associated with mindfulness. It is possible that mindfulness could be an effective tool in managing individual social media habits, however, very little research exists exploring the effects of mindfulness on media use. The sample for the current study includes a national quota sample of 1,158 adolescents (between the ages of 10 and 17 years old) from the United States. Participants …

Igniting Curiosity In Business Students To Explore The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Amy Foshee Holmes

School of Business Faculty Research

Essential skills needed in a global marketplace include curiosity. The ability to adapt and respond to change enables individuals to take advantage of new opportunities and overcome obstacles that arise. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Sheryl Sandberg all emphasize curiosity as an essential quality in achieving success. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a range of topics that can serve as the basis for igniting curiosity through a research project that engages students in learning about sustainability and business impacts on environmental and societal issues. Students share information and cultivate curiosity by exploring global issues and innovations in …

A Critical Literature Review Of Canadian Anti-Trafficking Policies And Their Impacts On Sex Work, Autonomy, And Marginalized Communities, Gabriella Raslic

Social Justice and Community Engagement Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

The Floodnet Community Engagement Guide, Véronëque Ignace, Sofia Mariyamis, Kendra Krueger, Polly Pierone, Hayley Elszasz, Hannah Eisler Burnett

The Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, SRIJB

"At the Intersection of Science, Policy, and Community: The FloodNet NYC Community Engagement Strategy” is a public-facing community engagement guide that documents the strategies, tools, and lessons developed through FloodNet NYC, a cross-sector partnership among researchers at NYU and CUNY and New York City agencies. Designed as a practical resource, this guide shares our approach to community engagement and dissemination so that researchers, practitioners, community organizations, and public agencies can adapt these methods to their own urban climate science projects and other community-centered efforts that address climate challenges.

Grounded in community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, the guide presents community engagement …

Age & Dementia Friendly Bellingham: Assessment Of Community Needs And Ideas For Action, Caitlin E. Coyle, Katherine Burnes, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

In 2022 a steering committee of three Bellingham residents involved in the COA/Senior Center served as a catalyst in helping Bellingham attain the designation of Age and Dementia Friendly. A Task Force including an impressive mix of individuals from town government, schools, local organizations and older residents was formed to help Bellingham set and implement annual goals of activities designed to make Bellingham a good place to grow older for all residents.

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston on behalf of …

Korea’S Unification: Unifying Visionary Leadership, Paul Hong

KAUPA Letters

This third essay highlights the critical role of unifying visionary leadership in advancing Korea’s unification—a goal that cannot be achieved through policy frameworks or economic integration alone. While shared history, language, and culture provide the foundation for national unity, it is bold and ethical leadership that transforms these foundations into strategic action and reconciles entrenched ideological and institutional divides. A brief analysis of prominent figures in Korean history—Dangun, Kim Choonchu, Wang Geon, Yi Seong-gye, King Sejong, Yi Sun-sin, Kim Gu, Syngman Rhee, and Park Chung-hee—reveals recurring leadership traits such as moral authority, long-term vision, cultural stewardship, and inclusive governance. These …

Korea At The Crossroads: Steering Between Two Paths In The New Global Trade Order, Paul Hong

KAUPA Letters

Korea stands at a pivotal crossroads in global trade, caught between the twin forces of rising protectionism and the emergence of a multipolar economic order. Once a major beneficiary of U.S.-led free trade, its export-driven growth thrived under predictable rules and open markets. That stability is now eroding as the United States shifts toward protectionism—driven by mounting debt, persistent trade deficits, and the burdens of overextended global commitments—through tariffs, reshoring incentives, and strategic restrictions on key sectors like steel, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. These measures have disrupted Korea’s supply chains, complicated market access, and heightened uncertainty, even as China’s economic …

Practicing The Art And Craft Of Screenwriting: Analysis And Opportunity From A Faith-Informed Perspective, Kevin R. Crawford

KAUPA Letters

This paper describes the commitments and standards of practice required by those wishing to write from a faith-informed perspective – particularly, a Christian worldview frame. It highlights elements of Minkyu Lee’s award-winning animation Adam and Dog (2011) by way of illustration and argues a new role for faith-informed storytelling that correctly resists the temptation to preach especially in a world where any project deemed to promote an organized religious agenda, however simple or subtle, is apt to be ridiculed, marginalized, and ignored.

Combining Prose And Poetry: The Aesthetic, History, And Uses Of Haibun And Tanka Prose, John J. Han

KAUPA Letters

This chapter introduces the defining features, formal structure, and literary functions of haibun and tanka prose—two Japanese hybrid poetic forms that artfully merge lyrical narrative with short-form poetry. After tracing their classical origins and modern development in both Eastern and Western contexts, the chapter explores six thematic categories through original examples: travel, nature, memory, spiritual and philosophical reflection, social critique, and humor. These themes showcase the versatility and emotional range of the forms. The chapter concludes with a hands-on writing guide and practical advice on publication, encouraging readers to engage personally and creatively with these genres. Blending scholarship, lived experience, …

“Afrolatines In Los Angeles”: Curatorial Process And Personal Reflection, Nicole Murph

Librarian Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Certainty-Based Approach To Implementing Zero Trust Architecture Using Nist Sp 800-207 And Nist Sp 1800-35, Young B. Choi

KAUPA Letters

This paper proposes a certainty-based methodology for implementing the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) as defined in NIST SP 800-207 and NIST SP 1800-35 (NIST, 2020; NIST, 2025). By applying a probabilistic model that quantifies the certainty of security-related facts, the proposed approach enhances decision-making for access control and security policy enforcement. This method utilizes major security databases to assess and compute certainty of facts, thereby improving the resilience, adaptability, and accuracy of Zero Trust systems (Liu, Chandramouli, & Kuhn, 2020).

Light & Faith: September 2025, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

How To Be An Indispensable Professor: An Administrator’S Perspective, John J. Han

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Reminiscences On My Visit To North Korea: Put Down Your Swords And Money And Think Hard, Yeomin Yoon

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Color Change In Commercial Resin Composites With Different Photoinitiators, Feng Gao, David W. Berzins

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

The yellowing effect of camphorquinone (CQ) has led manufacturers to add alternative initiators into resin composites (RCs) to reduce the amount of CQ used. The aim of this study was to investigate the color change in commercial RCs with alternative photoinitiators besides CQ. Color change upon polymerization and aging in air and artificial saliva for up to 3 months was tested for seven commercial RCs (traditional and bulk-fill) with either CQ only or CQ and additional photoinitiators (CQ+). Color measurements were obtained with a spectrophotometer. Color change (ΔE) was calculated using the CIELab and CIEDE2000 formulae. ANOVA and a post …

Dental Care For Patients With Congenital Bleeding Disorder: A Systematic Review, Afsary Jahan Khan, Sydur Rahaman Riyadh, Mohammed Gh Abd Ali Al-Naser, Norjehan Yahaya, Mas Suryalis Ahmad, Aminda Faizura Omar, Altaf H. Shah

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Dental management in patients with congenital bleeding disorder (CBD) can be complex, as even minor oral surgery may precipitate prolonged bleeding. Effective treatment requires a thorough medical and dental history evaluation, including pre-, intra-, and post-operative planning. This systematic review (SR) aims to analyze data on CBD patients, including age, treatment techniques, outcomes, and recommendations for minimizing bleeding risks.

Materials and Methods

A comprehensive electronic search was conducted across five databases—PubMed via MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science—using expert-validated keywords. Manual searches complemented the selection process, covering studies from first January 2009, to December 31, 2024. …

Comparing Dental Microwear In The Populations At An Iron Age (C. 4010 Bp) And Early Historic (C. 2600 Bp) Site In South India, Ruokuonuo Rose Yhome, Kalavathy Rajan, R. Sivanantham, M. Ramesh, R. Ajaykumar, R. Kaviya, M. Suresh, T. Arun Raj, V.P. Yathees Kumar, Peter Ungar

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) has proven to be a valuable tool for separating bioarchaeological samples by subsistence practice, preferred diet, food-processing technology, and cooking method. In this study, we compared samples of individuals from two South Indian sites-an Iron Age site (Adichchanallur, similar to 4010 BP, n = 27) and an Early Historical site (Keeladi, similar to 2600 BP, n = 31). Both samples represent farming communities that likely had broadly similar diets dominated by cultivated rice and mung beans, wild nuts and pulses, and both domesticated cattle and wild game. Moreover, the archaeological evidence indicates that both communities …

Boundless Possibilities: Reimagining Blackness In Wilson Kwamogi Okello’S On Blackness, Liveliness, And What It Means To Be Human, Duane Ebesu

Journal of Research Initiatives

Wilson Kwamogi Okello's *On Blackness, Liveliness, and What It Means to Be Human* theorizes the inheritances of systemic anti-Blackness while affirming Blackness as a site of creativity, vitality, and world-making. Okello examines how Western humanism and the coloniality of knowledge have excluded and restricted Black life both socially and within educational systems and epistemology. The volume is composed of three parts and critiques the regulative logics of higher education, the aesthetics and relationality of Black life, and the pervasive reach of carceral systems. At its core, Okello proposes a reconceptualization of Blackness in terms of "liveliness," viewing it as a …

Sustainable Purpose- And Passionpreneurship: New-Age Lifestyle Or A Necessity For Sustainable Development?, Veronika Pereseina

All Works

Entrepreneurship has proven to be a dynamic force for societal change in urgent global transformation toward sustainability. While governments and established institutions often move slowly, a new wave of entrepreneurs—guided by passion, purpose, and a holistic worldview—are actively shaping alternative paths to sustainable development. This study investigates how entrepreneurs integrate personal purpose, well-being, and a holistic approach into their businesses and lifestyles. Drawing on observations and interviews with selected entrepreneurs, the research employs thematic analysis to explore their motivations, decision-making processes, and the role of environments in shaping their ventures. The findings highlight a distinctive approach of conscious entrepreneurs: a …

The Disappearance Of The Popular Song: Authenticity In The Age Of Ai Generated Music, Leah C. Kinzer

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

In the past several years, the prevalence of AI has become undeniable. From AI features on Google to ChatGPT, AI is providing us with instant knowledge and answers. But what happens when AI enters the creative sphere? Specifically, what happens when AI is used to create music mimicking the style and voice of artists who already exist? Is this stealing? Can this be described as true, authentic art? This paper discusses difference instances of AI generated music (AIGM) in pop culture as well as the philosophical and legal implications in an attempt to further the discussion about the role of …

Ai, Celebrities, And Their Fans: The Cyber-Pseudo-Event*, Gabbie Iorio

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Tech companies often use celebrities to facilitate adoption of new technologies, and they’re doing the same with AI. For example, Meta is employing celebrities to attract users to their AI products, not only to adopt the technology, but to provide the company data for testing and optimizing the products. Fan communities, such as Nicki Minaj’s Barbz, have also taken up AI technology as a new medium for fandom expression. This paper will explore the varying degrees of success of these applications of AI technology, while putting them in conversation with scholarship on images, celebrity, and fandom.

*Top Graduate Paper

Good Vibrations: Folk Circles As Communication Environments, Missy Alexander

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

For over 25 years, I have participated in the creation of music and community through what are commonly called folk circles. Typically run as monthly gatherings, participants who range from complete beginners to seasoned pros, join together and share their favorite songs. These environments have clearly defined rules for participation (although rarely stated overtly), a strong ethos of mutual support, and frequently function as a path to friendships for people new to a community. This essay examines the folk circle as a communication environment and posits an explanation of why it is impervious to digital invasions.