Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Associated With Covid-19 Testing In Structurally Vulnerable Populations: An Exploratory Study In Southern Maine, Grace L Price, Kathleen M. Fairfield, Sumayo Awale, Renee Fay-Leblanc, Caroline Fernandes, Ann Marie R. Hess, Elizabeth A. Jacobs, Donna Lawlor, David Ngandu, Leslie Nicoll, Kinna Thakarar, Ellyn Touchette, Andrew Volkers, Gloria D. Sclar

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected structurally vulnerable populations in the United States. COVID-19 testing was instrumental in controlling viral spread and linking people to treatment; however, testing rates were lower among racial and ethnic minority groups. Our objective was to identify factors associated with desired COVID-19 testing behavior among vulnerable populations.

Methods: We conducted an exploratory cohort study of at-home COVID-19 testing between March 2022 and November 2023 in Portland, Maine. Partnering with trusted community organizations, we engaged participants from immigrant, housing-unstable, substance-using, and low-income/uninsured communities. Participants received 5 at-home COVID-19 tests every 8 weeks for 48 weeks. Participants …

Tracking In The Fast Lane: Are License Plate Readers An Invasion Of Privacy?, Lorelai Kline, Madelyn Paul, Catherine Scott, Tessa Mullinix

Student Scholar Symposium

The increasing deployment of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies has sparked significant debate regarding the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights in the digital age. This research investigates whether the use of LPRs constitutes an invasion of privacy, examining the tension between law enforcement's legitimate need for surveillance tools and citizens' constitutional rights to privacy.

This research examines court decisions and legal articles to understand how LPRs affect privacy rights. By looking at important cases like Carpenter v. United States and reviewing what legal experts have written, we can better understand when and how …

Muted Or Moderated: The Fight Over Free Speech, Ashlen Jones, Madaha Lewis, Sophia Shear, Lydia Scoper

Student Scholar Symposium

Social media platforms control online speech through content moderation, raising questions about censorship and First Amendment rights. Traditionally, the First Amendment protects speech from government interference, but private platforms now play a major role in regulating public discourse. This presentation examines how First Amendment principles apply to modern content moderation. By analyzing cases like Murthy v. Missouri and NetChoice v. Griffin, we explore the legal impact of online censorship and the difference between government restrictions and private platform policies. This research looks at the future of constitutional protections and corporate governance of digital spaces, offering insight into the future of …

Ai On Trial: Facial Recognition In Law Enforcement, Mallory Renee Syvertson, Morgan Marie Juillerat, Elijah Willson Ranck, Hayden Joseph Cassetto

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Fasttree-Guided Genetic Algorithm For Credit Scoring Feature Selection, Rashed Bahlool, Nabil Hewahi Prof., Youssef Harrath Dr.

Research & Publications

Feature selection is pivotal in enhancing the efficiency of credit scoring predictions, where misclassifications are critical because they can result in financial losses for lenders and exclusion of eligible borrowers. While traditional feature selection methods can improve accuracy and class separation, they often struggle to maintain consistent performance aligned with institutional preferences across datasets of varying size and imbalance. This study introduces a FastTree-Guided Genetic Algorithm (FT-GA) that combines gradient-boosted learning with evolutionary optimization to prioritize class separability and minimize falserisk exposure. In contrast to traditional approaches, FT-GA provides fine-grained search guidance by acknowledging that false positives and false negatives …

Inclusive Constitutionalism As A Framework For Remedying Past Discrimination In Higher Education, Kyle Jordan Smith

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Will This Too Pass? How The Criminalization And Derogation Of Unhoused People Is One Mark Of Our Descent Into Fascism, Michaela R. Martin Strout

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Linking Shoreline Change, Environmental Forcings, And Sedimentological Resilience In Nourished Beaches Of Cape May And Wildwood, New Jersey, Usa: A Multi-Decadal Synthesis, Divomi Balasuriya, Greg Pope

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Beach nourishment is a widely used strategy to mitigate coastal erosion, yet its long-term geological impacts remain poorly understood. This study provides a multi-decadal synthesis of shoreline change and sedimentological evolution on the nourished beaches of Cape May and Wildwood, New Jersey, USA. Using shoreline positions from 1991 to 2024, we identify contrasting trajectories: Wildwood exhibits ‘persistent transition’ with severe northern erosion (EPR: −10.0 m/yr) feeding southwards accretion, while Cape May demonstrates a ‘managed equilibrium’ with widespread accretion (mean EPR: +1.15 m/yr). Wave energy correlations account for less than 15% of shoreline variability, indicating natural drivers have been superseded by …

Cybernest: A Step Forward For Training Cybersecurity Professionals, Justin Mott

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of cyber threats has exposed a critical gap between academic cybersecurity education and the operational demands of the workforce. This thesis presents a pilot study for a use-case of CyberNEST, a simulation-based training platform that integrates adversary emulation and threat-informed learning to create realistic, hands-on experiences for cybersecurity students.(17) The system was designed to replicate Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and incident response workflows, allowing participants to investigate, analyze, and respond to simulated attacks under authentic conditions. This pilot-study performed training simulations using the CyberNEST platform, developed by Brigham Young University, with students, collecting data from pre- …

Impact Of Gas Supersaturation On The Development Of Gas Bubble Trauma In Paedomorphic Eurycea Salamanders, Trent Furr

Biology Theses

There are eleven species of paedomorphic lungless salamanders endemic to Texas. Of these, eight are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). One of these, the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum), is found only in springs and aquifers in and around Austin, Texas. A large population of this species is found in Barton Springs, located in Austin, TX–where dissolved gas saturation has been measured as high as 134%. Morbidity and mortality events in Barton Springs Salamanders have been documented coinciding with periods of dissolved gas supersaturation. This study seeks to understand what environmental conditions lead to …

Power Solutions For Large Loads: Mastering Electrical Supply For New Industrial Facilities, Chris Boyer, William Bourgeois, Skyler Bryant

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

The next 25 years will see unprecedented growth in U.S. electricity demand, driven primarily by data centers for AI and industrial electrification. This surge presents unique challenges for power generation, especially for large loads requiring hundreds of megawatts to gigawatts from a single location. Conventional grid expansion is inadequate, prompting the need for innovative, flexible, and sustainable solutions. This book explores the opportunities, challenges, and hybrid generation strategies to support the evolving landscape of large-scale electric loads.

Book Review: Code Name Puritan: Norman Holmes Pearson At The Nexus Of Poetry, Espionage, And American Power, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Greg Barnhisel

Reviewed by: Wylie W. Johnson

In this riveting biography, Greg Barnhisel uncovers the extraordinary life of Norman Holmes Pearson—a Yale professor, literary tastemaker, and covert intelligence officer. Seamlessly blending poetry, espionage, and Cold War politics, Code Name Puritan reveals how Pearson helped shape both American cultural identity and national security strategy. From championing modernist women poets to dismantling Nazi spy networks, Pearson’s story is a fascinating portrait of influence at the intersection of intellect and power.

©2025 Wylie W. Johnson

Reimagining Success In Specialty Courts: Developing A Recovery-Oriented Success Model (Rosm) To Guide Funding, Evaluation, And Participant Outcomes In Massachusetts, Kerri Cianciarulo

Master’s Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Turtlebot4 For Inventory Delivery Tasks: Practical Implementation In An Academic Setting, Aisha Alchaar

Master’s Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: 3d Printed Tools And Assembly Techniques For Repeatable Lab-Scale Coin Cell Manufacturing, Daryl Miranda, Tosif Aliyev, Lamija Kovacevic, Sivapriya Voleti, Jaydie Lee, Kathleen Meehan, Monica C. So, Philip T. Dirlam

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The coin cell form factor has become a standard in energy storage research owing to its relatively low cost, low quantity of requisite electroactive material, fast experimental turnover, and capability to generate publishable quality data. Coin cell assembly at the lab-scale requires precise manual alignment of the many internal components of a cell to yield a properly functioning device. Truly repeatable device assembly presents a significant challenge to the acquisition of reliable data. In this report, we present a three-dimensional (3D) printable design for a coin cell alignment device and describe techniques for a generalized workflow to achieve reproducible coin …

Usa V. Namir White

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Clemson Commencement Program, December 2025, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Cmsi Translations #25: A New Pillar For Distant Oceans: Concepts For The Chinese Navy's New Generation Of General-Purpose Destroyers, Ying Tian

CMSI Translations

A recent unconfirmed rumor about the Chinese Navy developing a new general-purpose guidedmissile destroyer has stirred debate online. Many commenters argue that the Type 055 already offers exceptional capability across air defense, missile defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and general warfare roles, and is more than capable of meeting current mission needs. But because it’s expensive to build, it is not practical to produce in large numbers or to use for routine tasks, so it will likely remain a smaller part of the fleet. In contrast, the more affordable Type 052D class is limited by its size and displacement, which restricts how …

Looking Down The Road: The First Steps To A Public Interest Law Career, Amy Leipziger

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

April 4, 1968: A Law Student’S Night In The Memphis Jail, Alex Jay Hurder

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Pivotal Poland: Europe’S Rising Power, Magnus Petersson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Janusz Bugajski

Reviewed by: Magnus Petersson, professor of international relations, Stockholm University

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has emerged as the strategic anchor of NATO’s eastern flank, reshaping the continent’s security landscape. Janusz Bugajski explores how Warsaw’s military modernization, economic resilience, and assertive diplomacy have positioned it as a rising power capable of countering Russian imperialism and leading regional defense efforts. This timely and incisive book reveals Poland’s transformation from a peripheral actor to a pivotal force in Europe’s evolving geopolitical order.

©2025 Magnus Petersson

Book Review: Sir Basil Liddell Hart: Life, Thought, Legacy, Kevin Mcaleer

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Bruce Oliver Newsome

Reviewed by: Kevin McAleer

Bruce Oliver Newsome’s book examines the life of Sir Basil Liddell Hart, and his claim to have invented the Blitzkrieg style of war used by the Germans during World War II. Newsome provides evidence that disputes this claim, which the reviewer commends for its thoroughness and nuanced point of view.

©2025 Kevin McAleer

Estoppel Without Regard To Equity? The Puzzling Omission Of Promissory Estoppel’S Inequity Condition In Canada, Marcus Moore

All Faculty Publications

Promissory estoppel plays an important role in enabling the enforcement of promises not made for consideration in cases where the promise was intended to and did induce a party to change its position in regard to preexisting legal rights. However, Canadian law on estoppel has been plagued by confusion and misunderstanding. This article addresses the internationally notable absence of an inequity requirement from promissory estoppel in Canada. The requirement’s absence is peculiar, in that estoppel’s very foundation is in equity, and it must assure that its effect is indeed equitable. Drawing on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Trial …

Trematodes Detected In An Exotic Population Of Red Swamp Crayfish From An Urban Storm Drain In Los Angeles, Jason M. Post, Emily S. Bailey, Rachael J. Post

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii is an exotic aquatic crustacean with global prevalence. Native to the Southeastern United States, this species has been introduced for aquaculture as it is a popular food fishery resource. A well-documented host for trematodes, P. clarkii is a known vector for parasitic, fungal, and viral infections. Procambarus clarkii has demonstrated the ability to consume exotic snails such as Melanoides tuberculata as a means of controlling snail-borne infections. In this study, an isolated exotic P. clarkii specimen was collected from an urban waterway in Los Angeles, California adjacent and draining into the largest remaining wetland …

Book Review: Men Of God, Men Of War: Military Chaplains As Ministers, Warriors, And Prisoners, Geoff Bailey

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert C. Doyle

Reviewed by: Chaplain (Colonel) Geoff Bailey, PhD, US Army War College chaplain and director of ethical development, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Robert C. Doyle offers a sweeping historical study of chaplains in American wars, revealing how faith and duty intersected on battlefields and in prison camps.

Book Review: Disputed Decisions Of World War Ii: Decision Science And Game Theory Perspectives, James Allen Knechtmann

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Mark Thompson

Reviewed by: James Allen Knechtmann, supervisory archivist, chief, Ridgway Library Branch, Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In this innovative analysis of World War II, Thompson applies decision science and game theory to reexamine some of the conflict’s most controversial strategic choices. By modeling the logic behind pivotal decisions, he challenges conventional narratives and reveals the complexity of wartime leadership. This book offers a fresh lens for historians, strategists, and analysts seeking deeper insight into the calculus of war.

Sankcja Kredytu Darmowego Jako Skutek Ryzyka Braku Zgodności W Zakresie Kontraktowych Obowiązków Informacyjnych W Umowach Kredytu Konsumenckiego – Kilka Wybranych Uwag Na Tle Interpretacji Art. 45 Ustawy O Kredycie Konsumenckim, Edyta Rutkowska-Tomaszewska

internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation)

Wynikająca z art. 45 u.k.k. sankcja kredytu darmowego (dalej: SKD) niesie za sobą duże ryzyko dla kredytodawców (tzw. ryzyko braku zgodności) za naruszenie kontraktowych obowiązków informacyjnych w umowach kredytu konsumenckiego. Jest obecnie niezwykle żywotnym i doniosłym na rynku konsumenckich usług kredytowych problemem tak dla praktyki rynkowej (kredytodawców), jak i dla wymiaru sprawiedliwości oraz organów ochrony konsumenta (szczególnie Rzecznika Finansowego i Prezesa UOKiK), z uwagi na masowe dochodzenie roszczeń z nią związanych. Celem niniejszego opracowania jest dokonanie analizy art. 45 u.k.k. pod kątem możliwej wykładni tego przepisu i udzielenia odpowiedzi na pytanie: czy naruszenie przez kredytodawcę wszystkich wskazanych w art. 45 …

Pooled Randomised Quartet Trials Assessing Effectiveness Of A Single Pill For Hypertension, Simone Marschner, Mark D Huffman, Desi Quintans, Jody Ciolino, Abigail Baldridge, Danielle Lazar, Emily R Atkins, Graham S Hillis, Mark R Nelson, Markus Schlaich, Anthony Rodgers, Clara K Chow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide, controlled by only one in five adults. Two trials (Australia and USA) found a single quadpill containing a quarter dosage of four classes of medication effective in reducing blood pressure (BP) among participants with hypertension. By pooling these trials, we can estimate the overall benefit of the quadpill and its heterogeneity across subgroups and two important barriers for BP control: clinician medication inertia and participant medication adherence.

METHODS: In a prespecified pooled individual participant data analysis of two QUARTET randomised, multicentre, double-blinded trials in people with hypertension using ≤1medication, quadpill …

College Athlete Mental Health: Identifying Sources Of Support In Collegiate Athletics, Levone Lee, Lauren Beasley, Kaylee A. Palomino, Patricia M. Kelshaw, Joycelyn Kennedy, Deborah Chanan, Elinah Russell, Tarkington J. Newman

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Despite having access to resources and services, college athletes continue to encounter negative mental health experiences and outcomes. Prior research has begun to identify key sources of social support within collegiate athletics, including teammates and athletic trainers. However, there is limited understanding of with whom college athletes feel most comfortable discussing their mental health. The current study aims to identify preferred sources of social support when athletes wish to discuss their mental health and, in turn, examine differences in preference among unique college athlete populations. In total, 247 college athletes participated in the study, representing eight universities within an NCAA …

The Equity Dead Zones: Legal Intersectionality Failure Points In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Tearria N. Simmons

The Guardianship Journal

Legal intersectionality failure points describe the systemic fractures that occur where overlapping legal, social, and economic inequalities converge, potentially producing compounded barriers to relief. Each failure point marks a site of marginalization. In what ways do individuals already recognized as vulnerable in Chapter 13 bankruptcy face a heightened risk when multiple forms of disadvantage intersect? When these intersections combine in mutually reinforcing ways—racial, economic, and relational disparities colliding with structural deficiencies in family, property, and bankruptcy law—does it result in pronounced negative outcomes, and, if so, what are those outcomes? Within this convergence, could there be a space where compounded …