Digital Commons Network^™

Scalable Roof Polygon Extraction And Geometric Characterization From Remotely-Sensed Data For Snow Load Assessment, Jashon Newlun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Heavy snow accumulation on rooftops is a serious structural risk in cold climates, and understanding how much snow builds up on different types of roofs is essential for safe building design. Currently, most data on roof snow loads comes from small, labor-intensive field surveys that cover only a handful of buildings at a time. This results in far too few measurements of buildings to draw confident conclusions about how snow behaves across communities. This thesis develops and demonstrates a new automated approach for measuring roof snow accumulation and extracting key building characteristics across thousands of buildings at once using airborne …

Targeted Therapy With Braf/Mek Inhibitors And Immune Check Point Inhibitors In Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer - A Case Report, Yagnapriya Ammakola, Muhammad Ibrahim Majeed, Ishmael Jaiyesimi

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction- Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a highly aggressive malignancy constituting about 1% of all the thyroid neoplasms. It has poor prognosis with median survival of around 3 to 6 months. Recent advancements with targeted therapies have improved the survival outcome in these patients. We report a case of anaplastic transformation of papillary thyroid cancer with BRAF V600E mutation who responded to targeted therapy. Case presentation- A 54 year old male presented with a palpable left sided mass. Labs were unremarkable but imaging with contrast enhanced CT scan showed a 3 cm left thyroid nodule with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Biopsy …

When “Voice” Becomes Law: A Caution Against Emancipatory Complacency In Anti-Sexual Violence Feminism, Samantha Lillian To

LL.M. Essays & Theses

This Essay destabilizes a feminist project that seeks to emancipate sexually violated women in the United States through a rhetoric of voice. There is a body of feminist literature that imagines voice as unconstrained self-expression through which sexually violated women resist patriarchal oppression and heal from trauma. When projected onto the courtroom, however, this framework becomes an ideal that the legal process, by its structure, cannot fully accommodate. This Essay presents three claims. First, despite the emergence of a legal promise of “voice” after the enactment of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, feminists should not treat it as the culmination …

Men’S Courts Or Women’S Laws? Domestic Violence, Men’S Rights Activism, And The Specter Of False Cases, Arushi Gupta

LL.M. Essays & Theses

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Indian newspapers and magazines began reporting stories of domestic abuse in matrimonial homes ranging from women subjected to dowry demands, beatings, everyday mistreatment, financial control, expulsion from the home, and even being burnt to death. Feminists recognized this as an urgent issue to respond to as these reports highlighted that domestic violence is endemic. Everybody knew a victim. Their own mothers, sisters, friends and, in some cases, they themselves were facing violence within marriage. The lobbying of women’s groups helped prompt the passage of Section 498A in 1983, which criminalized cruelty against women …

Understanding How Latinx Millennials Attend To Their Mental Health And Emotional Well-Being: A Phenomenological Study, Natalie A. Nieves

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Latinx millennials represent over half of the millennial population in the United States. Yet, existing research on how this population attends to their mental health and emotional well-being remains largely absent from the counseling literature. This descriptive phenomenological study asked: How do Latinx millennials attend to their mental health and emotional well-being? Twelve participants, identifying as Latinx millennials born between 1981 and 1996, residing in the United States, and actively engaging in practices supporting their mental health and emotional well-being, participated in a two-part, semi-structured interview process. Data were collected and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. The findings …

Artificial Intelligence In Dental Education: A Literature Review Of Global Adoption, Pedagogical Outcomes, And Ethical Implications, Betti Shahin, Jeremiah D. Ghodsi, Toleen Mazloum, Denise Hale

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many fields by enabling machines to accomplish tasks that previously required human intelligence, such as learning, decision-making, and problem-solving. In dentistry, AI is increasingly applied to diagnostics, treatment planning, and clinical training. Its integration enhances educational experiences for students while supporting more accurate and efficient patient care.

Objective: This review synthesizes recent research on AI in dental education, highlighting global adoption trends and key pedagogical, ethical, and practical considerations.

Conclusion: AI has significant potential to enhance dental education through innovative teaching, clinical training, and data-driven decision-making. Effective integration depends on institutional …

The Cobalt Curse: Cobalt’S Role And Risks, Marley Jackowitz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the hidden environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social costs of the cobalt supply chain. Fueled by the demand for battery technology and electric vehicles, cobalt has become an essential element to the green energy transition. With the largest share of global cobalt deposits, the Democratic Republic of the Congo bears a disproportionate share of the industry’s harms. Cobalt mining in the DRC is marked by environmentally degrading practices and inhumane working conditions, compromising Congolese health, safety, and well-being. Chapter 1 discusses the environmental impacts of DRC cobalt mining and its adverse effects on public health. Environmentally degrading mining …

Consumerism In The Digital Age: Environmental And Cultural Consequences, Danielle Andrea Montoya

Student Theses 2015-Present

Overconsumption has emerged as a significant environmental problem, characterized by persistent patterns of buying, using, and discarding goods at rates that exceed ecological limits. In the digital age, these patterns of consumption are reinforced by economic systems, technological advancements, and cultural norms that make constant consumption feel normal and convenient. While consumption is necessary for everyday life, consumption beyond basic needs contributes to increased waste, resource depletion, pollution, and climate change. Overconsumption is embedded in daily habits such as online shopping, food consumption, and frequent product replacement. Therefore, understanding and addressing overconsumption is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability and social …

A Forecasting Framework For Distribution Center Capacity Utilization: An Applied Industry Study, Jordan J. Shortt

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project develops and evaluates a predictive modeling framework for forecasting distribution center capacity utilization at Company Y, with monthly forecast horizons up to one year. Motivated by the operational challenges of seasonal demand volatility, promotional cycles, and the absence of a formally defined capacity metric, the study first constructs a historical capacity utilization measure from raw warehouse management system data — reconciling item volumes, location dimensions, and utilization factors across all DCs — which serves as the target variable for all modeling work. Four models are developed and evaluated against a naïve seasonal baseline: SARIMA, LightGBM, LSTM, and a …

Splitting Shores: Comparative Analysis Of Italy’S And Spain’S Reactions To Immigration, William E. Montgomery V

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

The divergence in public immigration sentiment between Italy and Spain, two countries with striking historical, geographic, and demographic similarities, is seen as a mystery for popular theoretical frameworks. Although both nations transitioned from net emigration to net immigration beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, Italy has consistently exhibited more negative attitudes toward immigration relative to the European average, while Spain has seen sustained improvement in immigration sentiment despite receiving immigrants at historically unprecedented levels. Employing a Most Similar Systems Design and drawing on quantitative demographic and survey data, primary legislative texts, and secondary scholarly literature, this thesis tests Group Threat …

Supremacy Politics: The Coding Of Power In Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Dana G. Jones

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

School Resource Officers: Why And How We Should Demand Change, Jillian La Serna

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

White Predominance Is The Point, Kimberly West-Faulcon

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Protecting Abortion By Protecting Speech: Revisiting North Carolina's Mandatory Ultrasound Law After Dobbs And Nifla, Kathryn S. Rowe

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

More Than Just An "Atypical" Hardship: How Courts Are Missing The Mark On Solitary Confinement, Kyra Goins

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Discrimination Disguised As Parental Empowerment: A Title Ix Challenge To North Carolina's Bill Of Rights, Beth Lecroy

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Forgotten Campesinos, Forgotten Counties: The Rampant, Fatal Civil Rights Abuses Against H-2a Laborers In North Carolina And Their Fight For Bargaining Power In N.C. Farm Bureau Federation V. U.S. Department Of Labor, Luke O. Smith

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Punishment, Cruelty & Justice: Critically Interrogating Grants Pass V. Johnson, Sara K. Rankin

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Examining Organizational Factors Contributing To Burnout In Community College Employees: An Anthropological Perspective, Jesse N. Blue

Leadership Education Capstones

Organizational culture and systemic inequities remain under-researched factors driving the mental and physical deterioration of community college employees. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the lived experiences of job-related burnout among community college employees. This qualitative short-term ethnography was conducted at Big Rock College, a rural community college in central Arkansas. The sample consisted of six volunteer participants across administrative, faculty, and staff roles. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom®. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and triangulated with institutional document analysis. Findings indicated that 84% of participants experienced varying degrees of burnout, driven by …

Second-Class Justice: Making The Case For Reforming Military Appellate Review, Shekinah I. Tony-Oyeleye

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Fourth Uniform Parentage Act, Jeffrey A. Parness

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Kicking Away Jurisdiction: Why Mls Must Submit To Fifa Authority And Reform Its Unilateral Extension Framework, William Cellitto

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Teaching Legal Thinking In The Age Of Ai: Reimagining Legal Education Through Cognitive Science And Deliberate Practice, Joan R. M. Bullock

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Unitary Executive’S Removal Power, James Bernstein

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sappho’S Flowers: Lyric Ἄνθεσιν And The Aeolic Dative, Jorge Alejandro Wong Medina

Classical Studies Faculty Publications

The retention of -ss- in the Aeolic dialects implies that Proto-Aeolic had s-stem dative plurals with -ss- (ἄνθεσ-σι). Yet the Lesbian lyric poets only have forms with a single -s- (ἄνθεσι). In an influential study, Morpurgo Davies argued that the ἄνθεσιν-type is native to Lesbian and used these forms as crucial evidence for the simplification of -ss- in Proto-Aeolic. However, a closer look at the epigraphic and literary evidence strongly suggests that ἄνθεσιν in Lesbian lyric is a poetic borrowing from Ionic and that Proto-Aeolic maintained -ss- in the dative plural of the s-stems. These findings have important implications for …

Defining My Country: An Appalachian Educator’S Autoethnography Of Linguistic Erasure And Ai, Kimberly B. Wright

Dissertations

When students use AI writing tools to revise their work, the algorithms often erase the cultural and linguistic markers that constitute their authentic voice. This erasure operates through the same mechanisms that linguistic justice scholars have documented for decades: a dominant language ideology that frames non-dominant expression as deficient and “corrects” it into standardized prose. As a first-generation Appalachian educator who spent years suppressing her own voice to succeed in academic spaces, I recognize this pattern from the inside. Using autoethnography as a methodology, this study examines how my journey from voice erasure to reclamation informs my pedagogy to help …

Rekindling Hearth: An Investigation And Discussion Of The Traditional And Evolving Roles Of Hearth In Architecture, Ruth E. Prenzler

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research explores the evolving role of the hearth in domestic architecture, examining its historical significance and its continuing symbolic and architectural significance. Once essential for heat, cooking, and gathering, the hearth has shifted from necessity to nostalgic artifact due to technological advances and changing domestic patterns. This study reexamines the hearth’s spatial, social, and functional roles in architecture through a combination of literature review, theoretical analysis, and visual diagramming. Six case studies, spanning pre-modern to contemporary housing, are analyzed to identify patterns and transformations in hearth placement and significance. Through detailed diagrams, the paper offers a visual and theoretical …

An Exploration Of Aviation Safety Culture In Nigeria, Ernest N. Ogbozor, Jules Yimga, Nicholas Degarmo, Hana Marz, Kathrine Lopez, Michael Chrisman, Cedric Leon, Joao Souza Dias Garcia, Mariateresa Sestito, Harrison Debrah, Albert Obi, Chidinma Chidoka

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Despite sustained regulatory reforms, infrastructural development and capacity-building initiatives, Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies and a key regional aviation market, continues to experience significant safety deficiencies. This study examines how national cultural norms shape safety practices and performance in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Using an exploratory mixed-methods approach, it combines a systematic literature review, structured safety culture surveys, and semi-structured expert interviews to analyze interactions among regulatory frameworks, organizational practices, and human factors. Findings show that deeply embedded norms, particularly authority gradients, rule adherence, reporting behavior, and accountability, significantly influence safety outcomes. Although leadership commitment and safety awareness appear relatively …

Reshoring In The U.S. Textile And Apparel Industry: A Systematic Literature Review, Grace Whittier

Major Papers by TMD Master of Science Students

This systematic literature review examines the renewed movement to reshore textile and apparel production to the United States in response to rising geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and sustainability pressures. Although interest in reshoring has grown, existing research remains fragmented, with industry reports, government documents, and academic articles often working separately instead of building on one another, creating gaps in understanding. To address this, the review synthesizes 45 peer‑reviewed articles, industry reports, and government publications published between 2010 and 2026.

Using PRISMA guidelines and purposive sampling, the study identifies key drivers of reshoring—including tariff exposure, supply chain risk, sustainability demands, …

A Comparative Look At The Training Objectives Of The United States Marine Corps And Corporate America, Davis M. Johnson

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis investigates how divergent institutional objectives influence leader development in two organizational contexts: U.S. Marine Corps officer training and corporate leadership development programs. The study draws on organizational socialization theory, institutional theory, and stress inoculation research. It contends that leadership formation is shaped by the missions, values, and structural demands unique to each institution. The research uses comparative analysis of selection practices, socialization tactics, identity construction, and adaptability development, explicitly contrasting how each institution develops leaders. The Marine Corps uses divestiture socialization, collective identity formation, and structured stress exposure to embed group loyalty and prepare officers for decisive action …