Digital Commons Network^™

Towards A Robust Hydrologic Data Assimilation System For Hurricane-Induced River Flow Forecasting, Peyman Abbaszadeh, Fatemah Gholizadeh, Keyhan Gavahi, Hamid Moradkhani

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Hybrid Ensemble and Variational Data Assimilation framework for Environmental Systems (HEAVEN) is a method developed to enhance hydrologic model predictions while accounting for different sources of uncertainties involved in various layers of model simulations. While the effectiveness of this data assimilation in forecasting streamflow has been proven in previous studies, its potential to improve flood forecasting during extreme events remains unexplored. This study aims to demonstrate this potential by employing HEAVEN to assimilate streamflow data from United States Geological Survey (USGS) stations into a conceptual hydrologic model to enhance its capability to forecast hurricane-induced floods across multiple locations within …

No. 109 An Order For Tennessee To Lead The Nation In Workforce Development, Bill Lee

Executive Orders

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Rural Women Of Color Seeking Police Intervention During An Intimate Partner Violence Crisis, Michelle Angelica Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exploring the lived experiences of rural women of color in the United States who seek police intervention during an intimate partner violence crisis is a necessity. In rural regions, many African American and Caribbean Blacks in rural communities endure physical assaults perpetrated by their partners throughout their lives. IPV among women of color, especially the obstacles that they face in requesting police intervention. The findings of this research study provide valuable insights that can support the establishment of intervention centers for rural women of color by involving key stakeholders, such as police departments in these regions. This study used semi-structured …

Neat Vs. Scruffy: How Early Ai Researchers Classified Epistemic Cultures Of Knowledge Representation, Lindsay Poirier

Statistical and Data Sciences: Faculty Publications

Accounts of the history of symbolic artificial intelligence (AI) often categorize researchers and their programs through binary oppositions: logicist versus procedural, or alternatively, neat versus scruffy. These terms were often referenced throughout the 1970s and 1980s by AI researchers at institutions in the United States and Europe to document epistemic and esthetic differences in approaches to knowledge representation. In this article, I historicize and situate these binary oppositions, showing how researchers leveraged them in discourse to demarcate the beliefs and commitments underpinning certain AI approaches. I argue that the labels helped knowledge representation scholars identify, trouble, and grapple with the …

Plan Mano Dura: A Punctuated Political Act? Addressing Gang Violence In El Salvador, Carlos A. Arias

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

On July 23, 2003, Salvadoran President Francisco Flores introduced a punitive and militaristic gang-prevention measure, Plan Mano Dura (Plan Iron Fist), in an attempt to solve the gang phenomenon plaguing El Salvador. Although it turned out to be an abject policy failure, its future effects and significance would far outweigh its intended impact, essentially dictating how El Salvador would combat gang violence for the next 20 years and beyond. As such, it is essential to better understand how such an ineffective policy could arise as a policy approach. This paper examines whether Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET) can account for the …

Transportation Policy And Indigenous Ways Of Knowing: What Counts As Evidence In Tribal Policy Contexts?, Cole Grisham Aicp

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

Evidence-based policy making is the notion that policy decisions should be based on (1) rigorous data collection and research and (2) focus on ‘what works.’ This approach aligns with the broader theory of New Public Management (NPM), which contends that the public sector should adopt the practices of and operate more like the private sector, including a reliance on measuring performance. That said, the application of evidence-based policy approaches to Tribal contexts is often difficult, if not impossible, due to the reliance on oral traditions rather than data collection. The result is that Tribal contexts are often underrepresented in contemporary …

One Health Integration To Control And Prevent Zoonoses: Application Of Organizational Theory Literature, Lisset M. Dumet Poma, Sherril Gelmon, Julia M. Goodman, Seth E. O’Neal

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

Zoonoses are infectious diseases transmitted between animals and people that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The One Health (OH) approach aims to integrate systems, incentivizing collaboration among animal, human, and environmental systems to address zoonoses and improve health. Innovative solutions for effectively and sustainably achieving systems integration are needed. Organizational theories can facilitate the study of the context of OH implementation, applying comprehensive approaches that recognize the interconnections among organisms, the environment, and social systems, including the diverse entities needing integration (e.g., policy, community, public organizations). This narrative review examines organization and systems literature to provide recommendations for …

Evaluating The Elder Justice Act: Challenges In Funding, Implementation, And Coalition Dynamics, Annabelle Weberg

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

The Elder Justice Act (EJA) was a significant policy that passed in 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The goal of the EJA was to provide public health and social service programs for preventing, detecting, and treating elder abuse. Due to limited federal discretionary spending, most programs authorized under the Elder Justice Act have not been fully funded or implemented as intended.

The paper seeks to answer this research question: What has caused the limited funding and implementation of the Elder Justice Act, and what role have coalitions played? It analyzes the factors that have …

The Mediating Role Of Intellectual Humility On The Relationship Between Perspective-Taking And Affective Polarization, Daniel Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Affective polarization, a phenomenon characterized by animosity between opposing political parties, has emerged as a growing and intractable problem in the United States. Affective polarization threatens American democracy, as polarized citizens become increasingly unwilling to trust cross-partisans, hold their political leaders accountable, or support the results of free and fair elections. While prior research has investigated the mitigating effect of intellectual humility and perspective-taking on affective polarization, researchers have yet to investigate whether intellectual humility and perspective-taking work synergistically to mitigate affective polarization. Informed by social identity theory, this quantitative study determined if intellectual humility mediated the relationship between perspective-taking …

Securing Americans' Genetic Information: Privacy And National Security Concerns Surrounding 23andme's Bankruptcy Sale. Hearing Before The House Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, United States House Of Representatives, 119th Congress, First Session., Margaret Hu

Congressional Testimony

No abstract provided.

Pluriversal Energy Justice Through An Intersectional Feminist Lens: Analyzing Rural Electrification Injustices And Policy Pathways At Kenya's Garissa Solar Park, Carolyne M. Musyoka

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Located approximately 4 km from Raya village in Garissa County, the Garissa Solar Park spans

85 hectares and was envisioned as a flagship renewable energy project. Yet, despite its scale and proximity, the marginalized pastoralist community of Raya continues to face acute energy poverty, limited irrigation capacity, and exclusion from the material and socio-ecological benefits of the green energy project. This study critically examines the systemic energy injustices embedded within the Garissa Solar Park—specifically procedural, distributive, and recognition-based inequalities—and critiques the project’s failure to deliver on principles of equity, local meaningful and democratic participation, and gender inclusion.

The research assesses …

More Equal Than Others: Taxonomic Bias In Animal Management, Barrett L. Christie

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (2024) point out not only the scarcity of research on fish welfare but also significant taxonomic bias in broader research on these species. This bias extends to the management practices of aquaria and zoos, where the focus is on higher vertebrates. More resources need to be allocated to research to address this disparity. We also need to develop welfare constructs that recognize the inherent differences between aquatic and terrestrial species, taking into account the unique ecological contexts and behavioral patterns of fishes.

Symbiotic International Law: Combatting Uyghur Forced Labor, Preston Jordan Lim

Faculty Publications

Since 2017, the Chinese government has launched a campaign of repression against the Muslim Turkic minorities of Xinjiang, a region located in China’s Northwest. While most scholars have focused on the mass internment of Uyghurs and other minorities, this Article highlights an under-discussed aspect of China’s campaign: the construction of a sophisticated forced labor system. Minority forced labor supplies key sectors of the global economy—from the automotive to the energy sectors—and allows Chinese companies to outcompete foreign firms. The unprecedented scope and sophistication of what I term the “modern Xinjiang forced labor system” imperils the very future of the international …

Building Brains And Relationships Beginning From Birth: Exploring Multilingual Parents' Experiences With A Babies Initiative Family-School Partnership, Diane D. Joyce

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined multilingual families’ experiences in a family-school early literacy program during the critical period of brain development, the Phlournoy Babies Initiative (PBI). Participants included five multilingual (ML) and immigrant families who have participated in this program for multiple years. In addition, this study probed how families were applying the strategies shared during PBI sessions within the context of their culture and home environment. Sociocultural, ecological systems, and culturally responsive teaching theories formed the framework of this study. A narrative inquiry approach was applied, which provided the researcher the opportunity to share the stories and experiences of the participants. …

Barbara Clark V. Hospital Of The University Of Pennsylvania

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Aden Rusfeldt V. Cristian Morar

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Lansana Mansaray V. Robert Wenner

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Ralph Lauren Corp V. Factory Mutual Insurance Co

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Usa V. Jose Marte

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Developing Indicators For Comprehensive Evaluation Of Equity In Transportation Systems, Ruqaya Emad Alfaris

Theses and Dissertations

Achieving transportation equity is essential for social inclusion, access to opportunities, and reducing disparities. However, traditional evaluation methods are often fragmented and fail to capture equity’s multidimensional nature. This dissertation develops a comprehensive framework for creating indicators to evaluate transportation equity effectively. It begins with a literature review to comprehend the theoretical background, followed by expert interviews highlight gaps in current evaluation practices. Statistical modeling and machine learning analysis was conducted to first explore indicators’ impact on transportation equity, and then investigate transportation safety disparities in underserved communities. Findings from literature review, interview with professionals, and analysis results are used …

The Role Full-Time Faculty Play In Retaining Students With New Initiatives Implemented By The Administration: A Qualitative Case Study, Kenyatta Collins

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the role full-time faculty play in supporting student retention within the context of new administrative initiatives at a New Jersey community college. Grounded in the framework of faculty as institutional agents, the research investigated how faculty understood their role, engaged with retention efforts, and perceived their alignment with institutional goals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with full-time faculty involved in or impacted by retention initiatives. Thematic analysis revealed that while faculty were committed to student success, they experienced limited involvement in the development and communication of these initiatives. Participants expressed a need for consistent communication, …

Human Rights And Foreign Policy: South Africa's Genocide Complaint Against Israel At The International Court Of Justice, Penelope Andrews

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Angela Asante And Anita Asante As Administrators Of The Estate Of John Asante V. Westfield

All Decisions

In a holdover proceeding, the tenant moved to dismiss for lack of standing, asserting the landlord, as administrators, transferred property title to themselves individually prior to commencement. The court found that a proceeding initiated by an improper party is a nullity and cannot be cured by amendment or substitution, as standing must exist at the time of commencement. Since the estate did not own the premises, the proceeding was dismissed without prejudice, denying the landlord's motions to amend and substitute as moot.

37-07 147th Realty Llc V. Tibaguy

All Decisions

The court granted reargument, allowing the tenant discovery on the legal regulated rent and defectiveness of the rent demand. However, it adhered to striking the pre-HSTPA rent overcharge counterclaim as time-barred. The court held that the 2023 DHCR amendment to RSC § 2526.7(a)(1), which sets an earliest base-date of June 14, 2015, cannot circumvent the appellate courts' interpretation of *Regina Metro. Co.*, which limits review of pre-HSTPA overcharge claims to a four-year look-back period absent a showing of common law regulatory fraud, which was not demonstrated here.

Jerome Enters. Llc V. Javed

All Decisions

The court granted the tenant's motion to dismiss the landlord's nonpayment case because the building lacked a valid Certificate of Occupancy, which prohibits the collection of rent. The court also held the landlord in civil contempt for failing to comply with a prior so-ordered stipulation to make repairs, which prejudiced the tenant's ability to secure a Section 8 voucher. The landlord's petition was dismissed, but the case was restored to the calendar for a pre-trial conference to address the tenant's counterclaims and determine damages for the contempt finding.

June 9 Elections, Census & Redistricting Update, Jeffrey M. Wice

Elections, Census & Redistricting Updates

No abstract provided.

Indigenous Science Network Bulletin - June 2025

Indigenous Science Network

The editorial for this issue of the indigenous Science Network Bulletin has been provided by Woppaburra Elder Bob Muir, who works with the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Bob explores his journey in promoting Indigenous cultural perspectives and working closely with communities when monitoring and supporting the health and long-term future of sea country.

Hector Huertas V. Gina Clark

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Norberto Castillo-Lopez

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Neural Representations Of Valence And Arousal In Kung Fury, Jason A. Davis

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

Emotions are a core component of human experience and behavior, yet after decades of scientific research, it is still difficult to uncover the neural substrates related to emotion. Recent advances in neuroscience have examined how we interpret emotional signals from static images of facial expressions, but less work has sought to understand how the brain constructs our emotional experiences (Chen, 2020). To investigate such idiosyncratic experiences across participants, we employed naturalistic stimuli to model the real-time, reliable changes in activity that correspond to changes in emotional experience. A primary element of emotional experience is core affect, defined as the mental …