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 …

Protective Potential Of Minimally Processed, Plant-Derived Foods Against Steatotic Liver Disease In Early Adulthood, Yasmina Tashkent, Jocelyn M. Choo, Steven L. Taylor, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Dujinthan Jayabalan, Sophie J. Miller, Richard Woodman, Luis Calzadilla-Bertot, Oyekoya T. Ayonrinde, Lawrence J. Beilin, Trevor A. Mori, John K. Olynyk, Alan J. Wigg, Kate R. Muller, Leon A. Adams, Geraint B. Rogers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background & aims: The incidence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) among younger adults is increasing globally. While poor diet is a recognised risk factor, the impact of specific dietary components is unclear. We investigated associations between dietary patterns and SLD markers in younger adults. Methods: Analysis involved 887 members of the Raine Study Generation 2 cohort, assessed at age 27. SLD was defined using a validated MRI volumetric liver fat fraction equation. Dietary intake, assessed by food frequency questionnaires, was summarised using a modified Overall Diet Score (ODS) that classified foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy.” Associations between diet and SLD …

Dynamism By Design: The Zoom Effects In Short Video Tourism Marketing, Lujun Su, Yuxi Yang, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Xuehuan He

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As tourism short videos have become central to destination marketing, camera zoom motion stands out as a simple yet powerful tool. However, theory-driven guidance on when and how to deploy zoom effects remains limited. Drawing on construal level theory, this research examines how zoom motions (zoom-in vs. zoom-out) interact with visual content to affect tourists’ responses. Five main studies across eastern and western cultures demonstrate significant interaction effects between zoom motion and visual content. Specifically, for activity-centric content, zoom-in motion enhances persuasiveness by eliciting objective mental imagery; for site-centric content, zoom-out motion proves more effective, as it evokes feelings-based mental …

Aviation Accident Investigation Analysis Methodologies Used By 12 Government Safety Investigation Authorities, Kym Bills, Leesa Costello, Marcus Cattani

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Leading government Safety Investigation Authorities (SIAs) that investigate major aviation accidents are members of the International Transportation Safety Association (ITSA). Investigation analysis methodology details are rarely included on SIA websites, in final accident reports, shared with peers, or specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Some ‘New View’ safety researchers assume SIAs don't use systemic methodologies and that accident investigation has little value. Because of the sensitivity of SIA work and need to prioritize safety value from available investigation funding, there has been little academic research on choice and use of investigation analysis methodologies to address these issues …

Higher Sodium Intake Is Associated With Episodic Memory Decline In Cognitively Unimpaired Older Males: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study, Francisca Chuwa, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Hamid Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Samantha L. Gardener

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recent evidence has suggested an association between high sodium intake and development of cognitive impairment. However, while animal studies demonstrate consistent relationships between sodium intake and cognitive impairment, this relationship remains less clear in humans. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between self-reported baseline sodium intake and cognitive decline over 72 months. Cognitively unimpaired participants (n = 1208) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study were included (70.87 years of age; 41 % male). Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to quantify sodium intake and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at baseline and four additional timepoints, 18 months apart. …

Airline Strategy Research: A Bibliometric And Thematic Analysis (1980–2025), Mustafa Kaya, Tuba Bayar, Renan De Oliveira, Gui Lohmann, Ferhan K. Sengur

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research on strategic management in airlines has rapidly expanded since its inception in the 1980s, with studies providing valuable insights into topics such as alliances, competitiveness, sustainability, and digitalisation. To contribute to this effort, the present study presents an integrative bibliometric analysis of 306 documents indexed in either the Web of Science or Scopus (1980–2025). Using Bibliometrix (R), a performance analysis indicated that although this research topic shows steady growth, its citation impact is concentrated among a limited number of authors, institutions, and specialist journals. Competitive advantage, service quality, alliances, low-cost airlines, financial performance, business strategy, revenue management, and pricing …

Defining Varus Thrust Assessment And Measurement: A Scoping Review, Haonan Shen, Nicole D'Souza, Claire E. Hiller, Marnee J. Mckay, Kun Hu, Zhiyong Wang, Milena Simic

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: The primary aim of this scoping review was to identify and evaluate the methodologies used for classifying and quantifying varus thrust of the knee during walking. The secondary aim was to report outcomes of reliability, validity, prevalence, and quantitative cutoffs of varus thrust in existing studies. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across five electronic databases from inception to April 2024. Studies that reported varus thrust during gait in adults were included. Two independent reviewers extracted data, and data were synthesized based on thrust classification methods, prevalence, reliability, and validity results. Results: A total of 59 studies were …

Enhancing Urban Refueling Efficiency: Strategies For Sustainable Mobility And Economic Impact, Navid Hashemi Taba, Iftekhar Ahmad, Ahdieh Sadat Khatavakhotan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In response to increasing concerns about operational inefficiencies and environmental impacts at petrol stations, this operational research investigates strategies to enhance refueling efficiency across 103 stations in Perth. A pilot study employing observational methods and time-motion analysis established ideal benchmarks for core refueling activities. Empirical analysis of driver behavior during high-demand periods—often driven by fuel price discounts—and regular off-peak hours revealed significant performance gaps, highlighting substantial opportunities for efficiency improvements. Eliminating non-essential tasks could yield time savings of up to 67% during peak periods and 45% during off-peak periods. Economic analysis demonstrated mutual benefits when refueling processes align with these …

From 5g To 6g: A Survey On Security, Privacy, And Standardization Pathways, Mengmeng Yang, Youyang Qu, Thilina Ranbaduge, Chandra Thapa, Nazatul Haque Sultan, Ming Ding, Hajime Suzuki, Wei Ni, Sharif Abuadbba, David Smith, Paul Tyler, Josef Pieprzyk, Thierry Rakotoarivelo, Xinlong Guan, Sirine Mrabet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The vision for 6G aims to enhance network capabilities, supporting an intelligent digital ecosystem where artificial intelligence (AI) is a key. However, the expansion of 6G raises critical security and privacy concerns due to the increased integration of IoT devices, edge computing, and AI. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of 6G protocols with a focus on security and privacy, identifying risks that have not been experienced in preceding 5G systems, and presenting mitigation strategies. While many vulnerabilities from earlier generations persist, the introduction of AI/ML introduces novel risks like model inversion and malicious manipulation of AI. Vulnerabilities in emerging …

Green-Synthesised Nh₂-Mil-101(Cr) Mof–Reinforced Starch Bioplastic Films For Sustainable Food Packaging, Shima Jafarzadeh, Yasaman Esmaeili, Moon Paul, Seyedeh Zahra Haeri, Colin J. Barrow, Mina Dokouhaki, Masoumeh Zargar, Minoo Naebe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study introduces a green, aqueous synthesis approach for NH₂-MIL-101(Cr), avoiding toxic organic solvents while preserving its high crystallinity, porosity (>1000 m2/g), and amino functionality. To develop sustainable packaging materials the synthesized MOF was incorporated into sago starch-based bioplastic films across control 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% treatments. Nanoparticle characterizations via SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms confirmed a porous, crystalline structure (100–300 nm) with a surface area exceeding 1000 m2/g. Film characterizations using SEM, FTIR, color analysis, tensile testing, TGA, and UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that the 3% treatment offered the best balance, with tensile strength increasing …

La Espiritualidad: Transmitting Peruvian Culturo-Spiritual Elements Into Occidental Systemic Spaces, Deisy Amorin-Woods

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper is a decolonising, Indigenous qualitative inquiry that integrates elements of critical autoethnography, narrative methods and conceptual analysis to explore how Peruvian Andean cosmology can inform contemporary systems thinking and family therapy practice. Writing as a mestiza, a Peruvian migrant in Australia, the author traces the lived experience of cultural erosion within Western, individualistic contexts and her reconnection with ancestral Andean teachings. These teachings—rooted in reciprocity, ecological attachment, collective responsibility and relational balance—are presented as living epistemologies that offer timely contributions to working therapeutically. The author examines core Andean concepts including ayll (kinship-based community), ayni (sacred reciprocity), Yachay (aprenderes …

Gas Adsorption Behavior In Organic-Rich Carbonate Source Rocks: Insights Into Hydrogen Storage, Methane Recovery, And Co2 Sequestration In Oil Shales, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Ali, Tawanda Matamba, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Hussein Hoteit, Volker Vahrenkamp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Gas adsorption in unconventional petroleum source rocks, e.g. organic-rich mudrocks and shales, is influenced by significant heterogeneities in organic and inorganic composition, structure, and pore networks. An understanding of the interplay between these properties is essential for optimizing hydrocarbon extraction, CO2 sequestration, and hydrogen storage in such reservoirs. Herein, the factors controlling hydrogen, methane, and CO2 adsorption in unconventional organic-rich Jordan source rock samples are investigated, focusing on the roles of organic matter, mineral composition, and textural properties. The samples are characterized via multiple techniques, followed by adsorption experiments. The results reveal that H2 has the lowest adsorption capacity, being …

An Integrated Analytics Model For Evaluating Strategic Investments Under Volatile Conditions, Atul Chandra, R. Hartley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Strategic projects are exposed to multiple uncertainties within a competitive environment that result in trade-off between two decisions, early investment that pre-empts competitors versus delay to allow resolution of uncertainties. Unlike the binary net present value (NPV) based decision to invest or abandon now, our multiple volatility real option games approach (MVR games) frames strategic investment decisions as a dynamic process for future options. It is a decision tree framework that computes and analyses strategic net present value (SNPV) using four MVR games modules and decision making. SNPV combines NPV with two offsetting real option and strategic values. Real option …

Being Reflexive About Reflexivity: The Ethical Imperative Of Reflexive Practice When Engaging In Sensitive And Contentious Research, Giselle Woodley, See, Sian Tomkinson, Stephanie Milford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research topics involving sex, sexuality or sexual content online including pornography, are often considered sensitive or contentious. These topics can evoke strong attitudes, values, beliefs, biases, and potential prejudices from researchers themselves. As such, it is ethically imperative to identify and critically examine one's own perspectives in relation to the research on such topics to ensure transparency, acknowledge the researcher's positionality, and prioritise participant perspectives. Reflexivity offers a valuable way to sustain critical reflection and engage with one's own position and assumptions towards the topic in question. This paper offer a vulnerable exploration and reflection on the reflexive process within …