Digital Commons Network^™

“A Chill Wind Sweeps The High Places”: Audre Lorde’S And June Jordan’S Black Feminist Pedagogies For Remaking Higher Education, Maddie Albanese

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In this paper, I center the University as one site for radical pedagogy towards social justice.  This paper examines texts written on anti-racist, anti-sexist educational movements within the City University of New York, as well as archival materials from CUNY professors on the topic of radical, social justice-oriented learning. Conor Tomás Reed’s 2023 book New York Liberation School is one recent text on how CUNY activists dismantled the distinction between the University and its surrounding community, inextricably linking academic work with social-political activism. I take his extensive history of CUNY in tandem with various pedagogies developed by CUNY feminist educators …

Supramolecular Assembly In Short Peptide Systems For Selective Metabolite Recognition And Drug Nanoencapsulation, Maithreyi Ramakrishnan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Short peptides can form adaptive supramolecular assemblies, and understanding how minimal sequences organize around neurometabolites or hydrophobic cancer drugs enables the rational design of functional materials. This thesis combines molecular dynamics with experimental validation to establish design rules linking peptide sequence to emergent structure and function. Chapter 1 outlines the molecular determinants governing peptide assembly. Chapter 2 reviews computational workflows that reveal sequence-dependent conformations and supramolecular organization. Chapter 3 applies these principles to Dynamic Peptide Libraries which identify tetrapeptides that selectively interact with neurometabolites. Chapter 4 extends the same interaction-driven framework to design tryptophan-rich pentapeptides that co-assemble with kinase inhibitors …

Managing Migration And Political Change: Lessons From Sweden’S 2015 Asylum Crisis For South Korea’S Emerging Immigration Era, Sean Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project is to analyze how two nations that have little in common in terms of geography or politics have been required to deal with immigration issues in ways that their institutions did not anticipate. One nation has been dealing with immigration-related issues for some time now, while the other nation has yet to do so. In 2015, when Sweden received approximately 162,000 asylum applications in one year alone, Sweden’s housing systems were strained, many of the municipalities were unable to keep up with the demand, and the political climate began to shift in ways that …

Assessing The Influence Of Disability Views On Perceptions Of Hearing Aids Among Older Korean Adults, Stasha Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background

Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, is highly prevalent among older adults, yet hearing aid adoption remains low, in part due to concerns about stigma and negative social perceptions. This study aimed to examine whether attitudes towards disabilities influence perceptions of individuals wearing hearing aids among older Korean adults. It also explored the potential effects of cultural identity and the age of the individual wearing the hearing aid on these perceptions.

Methods

Ten participants completed the Attitudes and Perspectives on Persons with Disabilities (APPD) questionnaire and rated 8 different images of individuals (one younger male and one older …

Goddess In A Trash Can: Religious Ritual Disposal In New York City Public Parks, Zoe Oro-Hahn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Practitioners of Afro-Caribbean religions, including Santería, Vodou, Espiritismo, and Las 21 Divisiones, utilize the New York City Public Parks system to hold rituals, connect with spirits and ancestors, and dispose of religious remains leftover from trabajos (workings) and brujería (witchcraft). Utilizing photos from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, my thesis considers the religious, political, social, and practical rationale behind this phenomenon, explores the rituals occurring, and provides policy suggestions that balance religious needs of practitioners with the safety and wellbeing of New York City’s parks.

Reimagining Puerto Rican Sonic Identity: Musical Style And Creation After Hurricane María., Gabriel E. Bouche Caro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the manifestation of Puertorriqueñidad (Puerto Rican identity) in concert music composed after Hurricane María (2017), a catastrophe that catalyzed a profound shift in Puerto Rico's cultural consciousness. Focusing on four composers whose early careers were shaped by this period—Johanny Navarro, John Rivera Pico, Iván E. Rodríguez, and Christian Quiñones—the study combines close readings of scores and recordings with extensive original interviews to understand how musical identity is constructed in the wake of collective trauma. The analysis reveals that while the composers share a generational bond, their aesthetic practices are strikingly diverse: Navarro preserves Afro-Caribbean rhythmic structures, Rivera …

Sexual Communications, Digital Intimacy, And The Extremely Limited Admissibility Of Evidence Of A Complainant’S Intention To Consent, Elaine Craig

Dalhousie Law Journal

Research indicates that women are less likely than men to have any intention of actually engaging in the sexual activities they communicate about digitally, and men are more likely than women to assume that sexual text messages indicate an intention to engage in sex “in real life.” Sexting often reflects a highly stylized, performance-based, uninhibited and sometimes disinhibited form of discourse that distinguishes it from in-person communications. It is frequently open to interpretation and only rarely can these communications reasonably be said to reveal a reliable and non-discriminatory inference about a complainant’s actual sexual intentions for the future, let alone …

To Lecture Capture Or Not To Lecture Capture? The Answer For Legal Education Appears To Be A “Regulated Yes”, Nikos Harris Kc

Dalhousie Law Journal

The debate over the use of technology in the law classroom is often framed as the necessary use of modern forms of information sharing versus the creation of distractions which undermine deeper learning. One subject of significant debate in law faculties is whether students should have regular access to taped lectures from their courses, often referred to as “lecture capture.” Most universities have systems that can routinely record classes, and there are a number of pedagogical benefits which flow from student use of taped lectures. However, the issue of providing broad access to lecture capture is a complex one which …

Mandatory Minimum Sentences After R V Hill: A Different Way Of “Treating” Reasonably Foreseeable Offenders, Colton Fehr

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Supreme Court of Canada was initially reluctant to strike down minimum sentences for inconsistency with the prohibition against “cruel and unusual treatment or punishment” found in section 12 of the Charter. The Court’s more recent jurisprudence incorporating the experiences of equality-seeking groups and vulnerable offenders played a key role in reversing course. It is principled to take into account the experiences of minority groups to the extent they are capable of illustrating an offender’s reduced moral blameworthiness. The inevitable criticism that this approach unduly expands judicial review is nevertheless more convincingly rebutted by observing that equality plays a …

Eliminating Barriers For The Implementation Of Automation In The Mining Industry, Sefiu O. Adewuyi, Kray Luxbacher, Kanagy David, Miller Ben, Miller Hugh, Michael Moats, Savit Mark

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The integration of new technologies into U.S. mining operations is necessary for achieving continuous improvement in worker health and safety, as well as improving operational efficiency, but many have questioned why uptake of autonomy in the U.S. mining industry has been slow compared to other nations. Despite extensive research on mining automation, there remains a critical gap in understanding and systematically identifying the barriers to its adoption within the U.S. mining industry and globally. To quantify these barriers, a workshop model of data collection was employed. A total of 708 invitations were extended to professionals to participate in nine different …

The Impact Of Carbon Capture Technologies On Energy Prices, Bruktawit M. Ahmed, Mahelet G. Fikru

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite previous literature evaluating the economic feasibility of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the energy and power sector, there are limited studies examining the impact on consumer prices - particularly energy prices and their variability. Using a Monte Carlo simulation based on a profit-maximization model in an oligopolistic market, we examine how production and abatement costs, policy incentives — including a carbon tax, renewable energy subsidies, and CCS subsidies — and energy demand parameters influence the percentage of carbon captured by a producer operating a diverse portfolio of energy-generating technologies. Additionally, we assess how these factors contribute to fluctuations …

Non-Judicial Mechanism For Resolving Past Human Rights Violence In Indonesia; How Does It Redress Women Victims Of Sexual Violence?, Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, Audrey Anggita Ayuningtyas

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This paper examines whether the Indonesian government's non-judicial settlement for addressing past gross human rights violations (PGHRV) offers redress for the victims of sexual violence of past human rights violations. Indonesia has grappled to address past human rights violations through formal justice mechanisms. There are about 12 unresolved cases, more than half of which concerning sexual violence during conflict. This paper combined a socio-legal approach with mixed methods to gather data on the issue PGHRV: desk research and interviews with key persons involved in the non-judicial mechanism. Due to the heavy political pressure, the formal judicial mechanism reached a dead …

Rehabilitation Or Retribution? A Socio-Legal Comparison Of Criminal Sanctions And Social Reintegration In Indonesia And Spain, Ridwan Arifin, Izan Mateo Cassandro

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This study examines the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural mechanisms influencing the social reintegration of ex-offenders in Indonesia and Spain. Despite a global trend toward rehabilitative approaches, practical implementation reveals significant divergence due to structural, cultural, and economic factors. Indonesia’s penal system, guided by Law No. 22 of 2022 and the new Criminal Code (KUHP), emphasizes statutory rehabilitation and vocational and spiritual programs. However, challenges such as prison overcrowding, limited post-release support, and societal stigma constrain effectiveness. Judicial decisions indicate cautious application of restorative provisions, reflecting both public expectations and institutional limitations. In Spain, rehabilitation is constitutionally entrenched under Article 25(2) …

Integrating Multi-Scale And Multi-Filtration Topological Features For Medical Image Classification, Pengfei Gu, Huimin Li, Haoteng Tang, Dongkuan Xu, Erik Enriquez, Dongchul Kim, Bin Fu, Danny Z. Chen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Modern deep neural networks have shown remarkable performance in medical image classification. However, such networks either emphasize pixel-intensity features instead of fundamental anatomical structures (e.g., those encoded by topological invariants), or they capture only simple topological features via single-parameter persistence. In this paper, we propose a new topology-guided classification framework that extracts multi-scale and multi-filtration persistent topological features and integrates them into vision classification backbones. For an input image, we first compute cubical persistence diagrams (PDs) across multiple image resolutions/scales. We then develop a "vineyard" algorithm that consolidates these PDs into a single, stable diagram capturing signatures at varying granularities, …

Exploiting Underground Mine Topology For Resilient Concurrent Lora Mesh Emergency Communications: Architecture, Protocol Design, And Performance Analysis, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Underground mine emergencies compromise fixed communication infrastructure exactly when situational awareness is most critical for effective rescue operations. Existing LoRa mesh protocols fail in underground mines because they ignore the structured topology of tunnel networks, specifically the waveguide effect along straight galleries, severe signal discontinuity at junctions, and the dead-end geometry of working faces. This paper presents the Topology-Aware Concurrent LoRa (TACL) mesh protocol, in which each node autonomously infers its structural role from local RF observations and packet header information, without GPS, pre-loaded mine maps, or central coordination. Role classification resolves the contender estimation problem (Formula presented.) left open …

Low-Cost Path-Loss Characterization For Underground Mine Tunnels Using Lora Transceivers At 915 Mhz, Hilary Kelechi Anabi, Samuel Frimpong, Muhammad Azeem Raza

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate path-loss models are essential for planning reliable wireless networks in underground mines, yet existing characterization studies rely on specialized channel sounders and vector network analyzers costing tens of thousands of dollars, placing them beyond the reach of most mine operators. This paper demonstrates that LoRa transceivers costing approximately US $15 per node can serve as a self-contained path-loss measurement instrument, logging the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) directly to a CSV file over a standard USB serial connection. A measurement campaign conducted at the Missouri S&T Experimental Mine on 31 March 2026 collected 4801 packets …

Comparing Allometric Models To Machine Learning Models For Aboveground Biomass Estimation In Agroforestry Systems In Kenya, Samuel Irungu Kigotho, Kennedy Senagi, John Olukuru, David Masereti Makori, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Evans Omondi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study compared traditional allometric models with machine learning (ML) techniques for accurately estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) in six Acacia species within Kenyan agroforestry systems. Using tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height as inputs, the research evaluated allometric models (Chave’s, Brown’s, and Henry’s) against ML models, including Gradient Boosting (GB), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Regression (SVR). This research advances the field by benchmarking machine learning and classical allometric models at the species level within Kenyan agroforestry systems and employing SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for interpretability analysis. Model performance was validated using …

A Case Series Of Hypopigmented Confluent And Reticulated Papillomatosis, Fahad Siddiqui, Ann Church, Rajiv Nathoo

GME Publications

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CARP) is a rare keratinization disorder typically presenting as hyperpigmented, scaly papules that coalesce into reticulated plaques on the trunk of adolescents and young adults. Hypopigmented variants have only rarely been reported and are frequently misdiagnosed as tinea versicolor, resulting in delayed diagnosis and unnecessary antifungal therapy. We describe 2 young adults with biopsy-confirmed hypopigmented CARP who initially received multiple courses of oral and topical antifungal agents with minimal to no benefit. Both patients demonstrated widespread hypopigmented, scaly, coalescing plaques. Following histopathologic confirmation, antifungal treatments were discontinued, and oral minocycline was initiated, leading to clinical improvement. …

Happycal: Designing Text And Image-Based Supports For Savouring Positive Work Experiences, Molly Stewart, Minghao Cai, Anthony Tang, Sam Liu, Chris Mosunic, Sowmya Somanath

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Savouring positive work experiences can promote positive affect and well-being at work, yet there is limited guidance on how digital applications can support workers to engage in savouring. We developed HappyCal, a work-focused savouring application offering two forms of savouring support: text-based, a common modality in workplace reflection tools, and images, a largely unexplored approach in work-related savouring. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study where participants (N=36) used HappyCal over five days and engaged in savouring through either a text-only modality (n=17) or text input paired with image output (n=19). We found that (1) participants in both groups reported heightened …

Kolonialisme Iklim Dan Tercerabutnya Pengetahuan Ekologi Tradisional: Sosio-Bioekonomi Sebagai Reorientasi Epistemologis, Viky Arthiando Putra

Antropologi Indonesia

Abstract The global climate change has brought with it a growing stack of conceptual proposals – from green economy to bioeconomy – each presenting itself as a non-extractive economic alternative. Unfortunately, these conceptual claims continue to reproduce colonial logic that subordinates local knowledge. The loss of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is not merely an ecological setback: it is a systematic epistemological violence – a product of climate colonialism operating within the architecture of global green programs. This article traces the discourse of green economy, analyzes the loss of TEK as an epistemological problem, and proposes a socio-bioeconomy reorientation as a …

Selama Ibu Dan Bayi Aman: Lotus Birth Dan Negosiasi Keselamatan Dalam Praktik Kebidanan Di Indonesia, Dyah Pratitasari

Antropologi Indonesia

This article reads lotus birth—the practice of leaving the umbilical cord intact until it separates naturally—as an ethnographic event that illuminates how biomedical power operates in contemporary Indonesian midwifery. Drawing on reflexive ethnography of two births attended by the author as a doula—one at a maternity clinic in South Tangerang (2020) and one at a home birth in South Jakarta (2022)—the article argues that the phrase "as long as mother and baby are safe" does not function as a neutral condition. Rather, it operates as Gramscian hegemonic common sense: appearing self-evident and beyond question, while simultaneously determining which …

Understanding Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Disabilitiesto Improve Out-Of-School Programs, Vanessa Spero, David C. Diehl, John M. Diaz, Serap Gorucu

Journal of Youth Development

This study explores adolescents’ attitudes and perceptions toward individuals with disabilities in out-of-school time (OST) settings. Gaining insight into these attitudes can help inform future initiatives and interventions to develop programs that foster inclusion and greater participation of people with disabilities in OST programs. This study employed quantitative methods using the Brief Questionnaire for Adolescents on Attitudes Toward Persons with a Disability (CBAD-12A), developed by Álvarez-Delgado et al. (2020), to survey adolescents about their attitudes and perceptions toward individuals with disabilities. The results of the study revealed no statistically significant differences in attitudes toward individuals with disabilities based on whether …

The Heart Of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, And Growth Of Character And Skills, Alecia Moser, Nila Rosen, Maurice Elias, Sarah R. Sprayberry, Andrea Vest Ettekal

Journal of Youth Development

This study examined how campers’ experiences of belonging, counselor support, and new close friendships relate to life skill and character development in North American Jewish youth. Residential summer camps are relational settings that promote positive youth development. Although belonging and supportive relationships are theorized to drive such development, few studies have tested these camp features in current camper populations, and less is known about how friendship formation and perceptions of counselors distinctly interact with belonging to shape development. In this study, end-of-summer surveys were administered to middle- and high-school-aged campers at five Jewish residential summer camps. Measures included assessing belonging, …

4‑H Efforts Toward Demographic Representation, 1980–2025: A State‑Of‑The‑Art Review (Part 1), Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Jeff Wayne Howard

Journal of Youth Development

This state-of-the-art review synthesizes 45 years of scholarship (1980–2025) to assess how effectively the 4-H program has worked to serve a demographically representative youth population. Drawing on academic and gray literature (n=99) sources, the review traces 4-H’s evolution from its segregated land grant origins to contemporary efforts focused on access, equity, inclusion, and belonging. It documents progress in culturally responsive programming and national diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) initiatives while highlighting persistent disparities in participation and benefit distribution. The review identifies effective strategies, enduring structural barriers, and areas where research and practice remain limited, offering a comprehensive foundation for understanding 4-H’s …

The Fivestar Method: An Interchangeable Intervention For Ptsd Nightmares And Waking Traumatic Events, Gregory Sparrow, Valerie Leija, Mark Thurston

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications

There is a variety of trauma resolution methods that focus on reducing the emotional impact of nightmares and/or waking traumatic memories. The revision of nightmares through imagery rescripting represents one of the effective evidence-based methods. In contrast, traditional dream analysis represents an unlikely intervention for trauma resolution, given cultural assumptions regarding the presumed fixed or predetermined nature of dreams. The co-creative dream paradigm, in contrast, introduces the notion that the dream ego can intervene to shift the dream’s unfoldment toward resolution, both retroactively by reliving the original dream in a new way, and prospectively by preparing for new responses in …

Tracking Continuous Non-Differentiable Trajectories In Euler–Lagrange Systems With Continuous Dynamics, Nilay Kant

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tracking controllers for Euler–Lagrange systems are designed under the assumption that reference trajectories are continuous, and at least twice differentiable with respect to time. However, this assumption precludes several use cases, such as when a robot end-effector must track a path with corners at constant speed. This paper introduces the control design for tracking continuous but non-differentiable trajectories in fully actuated Euler–Lagrange systems that have continuous-time dynamics. The proposed controller combines a continuous feedback law with impulsive inputs, that are intermittently applied at the instants of non-differentiability. A Lyapunov stability analysis establishes global exponential convergence of the tracking error to …

A Carbon Fiber-Based Self-Sensing Approach For Monitoring Damage Evolution In Coal Pillars, Shan Ning, Weibing Zhu, Jie Gao, Wei Qin, Guang Xu, Jingmin Xu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Under long-term high stress and dynamic disturbances, damage accumulation within underground coal masses can induce sudden instability, posing a considerable threat to coal mine safety. Real-time acquisition of coal damage information is essential for disaster prevention and control. This study proposes a coal damage and fracturing monitoring approach based on a carbon fiber composite mortar (CFCM) coating. By applying the CFCM coating to coal specimen surfaces and monitoring resistance changes, the dynamic evolution of damage can be tracked. The study combines experimental mechanical loading, continuous electrical resistance monitoring and acoustic emission recording with detailed numerical modelling to comprehensively evaluate sensing …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Vibration On Signal Reflection In Coaxial Cable Connectors For Vibration Sensing In Aircraft Structures And Systems, Saidanvar Esanjonovich Valiev, Anthony C. Okafor, Jeremiah J. Rittenhouse, Daniel S. Stutts, Jie Huang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper investigates the effects of vibration on signal reflection (S11) in aerospace data transmission line (ADTL) and commercial data transmission line (DTL) connectors for their alternative use as vibration sensors. The impact of vibration on the S11 signal was investigated on five ADTL and four DTL connectors at six vibration frequencies (20 Hz, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 320 Hz, and 640 Hz) and four vibration accelerations (0.5G, 1 G, 2 G, and 4G). The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design with a cable type assigned as the main-plot factor, with vibration frequency and acceleration as subplot …

A Hybrid Mechano-Thermal Route To Synthesize Reactive Pozzolans From Clay Minerals: A Case Of Kaolinite, Oluwadamilare Charles Adesina, Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes, Brian R. Cherry, Luciano A. Gobbo, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aluminosilicate resources from unconventional sources offer promising potential for developing low-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), yet their activation typically requires energy-intensive thermal processing. Kaolinite is a geographically abundant and highly attractive precursor clay mineral to reduce the clinker factor in concrete. By integrating mechano- and thermo- chemistry sequentially in a novel hybrid mechano-thermal activation (MTA) strategy for clay mineral activation, the dehydroxylation of pure kaolinite polymorphs KGa-1b and KGa-2 for enhanced pozzolanic reactivity is unlocked at temperatures that are lower than those needed for conventional thermal activation (TA). The mechano-chemical activation (MCA) step that induces significant structural defects and disorder …

Public Preferences For Critical Mineral Mining In The U.S.: Evidence From A Discrete Choice Experiment, Bamidele Ajiga, Kwame Awuah-Offei, Mahelet G. Fikru

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Even though there is widespread recognition that we need to mine more critical minerals for national security and energy needs, concerns about environmental impacts often lead to public opposition to proposed new mining projects. The literature lacks sufficient data from communities with proposed mineral projects to assess drivers of differences in support. This study investigates public preferences for mining projects in three states in the United States with proposed critical minerals projects, using a discrete choice experiment. Respondents evaluated projects that vary in job creation, state tax revenue, tailings reprocessing content, groundwater impacts, and surface water impacts. We also randomly …