Digital Commons Network^™

Probabilistic Analysis Of The Service Life Of Concrete With Recycled Aggregates In Marine Environments, Pietra Guasti Vande Meerssche, Mauro De Vasconcellos Real, Fábio Costa Magalhães, María Noel Pereyra Domínguez, Rita De Cássia Taveira De Oliveira, Gustavo Bosell Wally

Seatific Journal

In marine environments, the main cause of degradation of reinforced concrete structures is corrosion induced by the penetration of chloride ions. Durability design approaches have gradually evolved toward performance-based approaches, which are capable of more accurately assessing the behavior of structures over time and their resistance under specific environmental exposure conditions. Due to the high variability of the parameters affecting the durability of these structures, a probabilistic performance-based approach tends to provide results closer to reality by considering the uncertainties of materials and degradation phenomena as random variables. In this work, a probabilistic service life analysis is carried out for …

Flexible Modeling Of Non-Gaussian Longitudinal Data: Some Approaches Using Copula, Subhajit Chattopadhyay

Doctoral Theses

Longitudinal data are common in medical and biological sciences, where measurements are gathered from subjects over time to explore relationships with explanatory variables (covariates) and to uncover the underlying mechanisms of dependence among these measurements. The responses observed at each instance can be either discrete or continuous. One of the primary challenges in longitudinal data analysis lies in the non-Gaussian nature of the response variables. As a result, there are relatively few multivariate models in the literature that effectively address the specific characteristics observed in such datasets. In this dissertation, we address four problems concerning longitudinal data analysis by developing …

A Review Of Oer Math Homework Systems, Rachel Bailey, Nathan Carter

Open Educational Resources Publications

This report evaluates four leading open educational resource (OER) math homework systems—MyOpenMath, WeBWorK, Ximera, and XYZ Homework—for their suitability in Bentley University’s first-year mathematics courses. The review compares cost, usability, LMS integration, available content, and alignment with Bentley curricula. MyOpenMath emerges as the strongest option due to its usability, robust problem libraries, and fully free access. XYZ Homework offers comparable features but includes student fees. Ximera and WeBWorK provide powerful capabilities but require greater technical expertise. The report concludes with recommendations for implementation and needed faculty support.

Within Sacred Walls: Cloister Architecture And The Virgin Mary As The Hortus Conclusus In 14th- And 15th-Century Italian Art, Catherine Howard

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The practice of cloistering allows women to exist in spaces dedicated to meditation and religious devotion. The physical nature of the cloister, which involves walls separating these religious women from the world, maintains a distinction between the cloister as spiritual and the world as secular.

One of the many titles of the Virgin Mary is the hortus conclusus, or “walled garden.” This metaphor is intended to emphasize her spiritual separation from the sins of the world, as well as her perpetual virginity. Artistic depictions of the Virgin in this role, particularly from Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries, often …

The Impact Of The Legalization Of Marijuana On The Under 21 In New Jersey, Sharon Mesmer

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Geochemistry Of The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Limestone Of The Bilecik Formation In The Dümrek Area (Eskişehir, Western Central Anatolia): Implications For Depositional Environment And Paleotemperature, Asuman Kahya, Meti̇n Bağci

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous limestones of the Bilecik Formation are exposed near the village of Dümrek (Eskişehir Province) within the Sakarya Zone. Mineralogical analyses reveal that these limestones are predominantly composed of calcite and include intraclasts, fossil shell fragments, ooids, and peloids, cemented by sparry and micritic calcite. The U/Th, Ni/Co, V/(V+Ni), V/Cr, and Ce/Ce* ratios indicate that these carbonates were deposited in an oxic environment. Furthermore, the Mn/Sr ratios imply no diagenetic alteration, indicating preservation of the original geochemical signature. The PAAS-normalized REE+Y patterns of these limestones display depletion in light rare earth elements, a pronounced positive La anomaly (La/La* …

Neotectonics Of The Malatya Basin, Se Türkiye; Implications Of The Reactivations Of The Faults Of The Basin During 6 February 2023 Earthquakes Of The East Anatolian Fault System, Yaşar Ergun Gökten, Doğan Kalafat

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Malatya Basin (MB) is a fault-controlled superimposed sedimentary basin situated in the SE of Anatolia, near and to the north of the East Anatolian Fault System (EAFS). The rock units ranging from the Permo–Carboniferous to the Upper Miocene form the basin’s basement. The thickening of the Upper Cretaceous–Upper Miocene sequence toward the Malatya Fault (MF), the basin’s northwestern boundary, indicates a dip-slip-dominated character for the MF and its control on the first-step sedimentation of the basin. The MF changes its character from dip-slip normal to the strike-slip in the Late Pliocene, and today presents a 1700-m left lateral offset, …

Numerical Study Of Porosity Effects On Temperature And Fluid Flow In Black Sea Gas Hydrates, Bahar Güvem, Doğa Doğan

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Numerical temperature and fluid flow simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to investigate the influence of porosity variations on the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer. The study was carried out in the Black Sea region, where the gas hydrate deposits are of particular interest due to their potential for energy resources. The simulations explored various porosity levels within the hydrate layer to observe their effect on thermal behavior and fluid dynamics. The results revealed that porosity plays a significant role in modulating the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer, with lower porosity models exhibiting higher temperatures compared …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. Gut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.

METHODS. In a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were …

Mediation Analysis Investigating The Mechanisms Of Two School-Based Smoking Prevention Interventions In Adolescents From Northern Ireland And Bogotá, Jennifer M. Murray, Sharon C. Sánchez-Franco, Olga L. Sarmiento, Erik O. Kimbrough, Christopher Tate, Shannon C. Montgomery, Rajnish Kumar, Laura Dunne, Allen Thurston, Aideen Gildea, Abhijit Ramalingam, Erin L. Krupka, Felipe Montes, Huiyu Zhou, Laurence Moore, Linda Bauld, Blanca Llorente, Frank Kee, Ruth F. Hunter

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Reviews have highlighted a lack of evidence on how successful intervention strategies for adolescent smoking prevention can be effectively adapted for low-middle income countries (LMICs). The MECHANISMS study compared behavioral mechanisms between two school-based smoking prevention programs for adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI; a high-income setting) and Bogotá, Colombia (middle-income). ASSIST works via peer education and diffusion. Dead Cool uses conventional classroom pedagogy. Both interventions were previously trialed in the UK and were culturally adapted for Bogotá. We investigated whether changes in smoking/vaping outcomes differed by intervention or setting. Mediation analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized intervention mechanisms. …

Optimizing High-Density Uas Integration In Tbo Airspace: A Federated Contingency Management Framework For Singapore, Jianxiang Wang

Student Works

In Singapore's high-density urban airspace, integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into NextGen Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) faces a significant scalability challenge due to reliance on centralized, legacy Command and Control (C2C) architectures. The problem lies in the latency and inefficiency inherent to centralized Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems when managing heterogeneous, low-altitude traffic. This is particularly true during non-nominal events, such as unpowered ballistic descents. Currently, these events necessitate disruptive airspace segregation, such as Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). This paper presents a conceptual and architectural framework for federated UAS Traffic Management (UTM), utilizing intent sharing and …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDGut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.METHODSIn a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were held constant. Serum …

"That Others Might Be Free”: Pride, Prejudice, And Paternalism In The Imperial Period, Bridget Goguen

History & Classics Student Scholarship

The goddess of wisdom and war models intellect without complacency, valor without rashness. Claiming this duality—a civilized militancy—from their patron goddess Athena, an ancient Athenian citizenry could rationalize imperial conquest as democratic goodwill. Millennia later, the United States, seeking subtle proclamation of classical succession, crafted their national personification Columbia from the mold of Athena. Amidst the politics of territorial expansion in the aftermath of the 1898 Spanish-American War, the Americans called on Columbia to symbolically marshal and disguise their own imperial ascent. This paper explores the American adaptation of Greco-Roman rhetoric through the mediums of cartoons, sculptures, and paintings in …

Optimizing Sacrificial Core Formation In The Fabrication Of Nanopore Biosensors, Ephraim Ong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study is part of an ongoing project to create a universal diagnostic tool using nanopore technology. Diagnosis of disease and other conditions of the body can often be linked to biomarkers such as the RNA sequence of a disease-causing virus.

The nanopore method for detecting biomarkers requires a microfluidic device designed to concentrate a large quantity of biomarker carrier beads near the detecting nanopore. Hollow channels which can conduct fluid and small particles are well used in the field of microfluidics. Many methods exist to fabricate microfluidic channels, however the nanopore method requires a channel with a thin solid-state …

The Capitol’S Punishment: A Disability Theory Reading And Analysis Of The Hunger Games Series, Brynne Farnsworth

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper analyzes how disability is treated in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Through a close analysis of the variety of perspectives on disability, Collins presents the Capitol as having an othering, dehumanizing approach to disability, while District Thirteen makes some accommodations but ultimately reveals itself to have a similar point of view as the Capitol. While not perfect, the perspective of the Districts prevails through its approach of empathy and connection and implies a hope for a society that draws on those connections over divisions. Collins also overarchingly promotes hope for those with disabilities throughout the series …

Fostering Audiation In Band Through Modeling Videos, Zachary T. Larsen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Within band classrooms, teachers have a dual responsibility to nurture students’ growth on their primary instrument and cultivate their ability to audiate. While established pedagogical traditions effectively support the teaching of primary instruments, comparable frameworks for cultivating audiation in band settings remain underdeveloped. This project provides band teachers with scaffolded modeling videos designed to bridge this pedagogical gap and support students' development of audiation.

Task-Based Analysis Of Augmented Reality In Collaborative Robotic Programming For Manufacturing Assembly, Medhavi Kamran, Snehesh Shrestha, Vinh Nguyen

Michigan Tech Publications

Augmented Reality (AR) is often promoted as a solution to the cognitive and physical demands of traditional Teach Pendant (TP) programming for collaborative robots. Although prior work has suggested advantages of the AR interface, many evaluations have been limited in scope and may not fully represent the complexities of real-world manufacturing tasks. This study compares the performance of an AR interface to that of a standard TP interface for manufacturing assembly tasks of varying difficulty. In a between-groups study, one group of operators completed standardized assembly tasks using the TP interface, while a separate group used the AR interface instead. …

Effects Of Seismic Filters On Pretrained Cnn Models For Fault Detection: Application To The Delft 3d Seismic Volume, The Netherlands, Süleyman Alemdar, Ertan Pekşen

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Accurate mapping of faults from 3D seismic volumes is critical for identifying structural traps, assessing reservoir compartmentalization, and guiding drilling decisions. This study evaluates how common seismic conditioning filters affect both the visual quality of a production Delft 3D poststack time-migrated volume and the outputs of two pretrained 3D CNN fault detectors: UNet3D and FaultNet. Seven filters were applied independently—AJAX, DeSmile, SimpleDenoise, Dip-Steered Median Filter (DSMF), Edge-Preserving Smoother (EPS), Fault Enhancement, and Ridge Enhancement—and results were inspected across inline, crossline, time-slice, and full-cube perspectives. The analysis is image-driven, supported by high-resolution comparison figures and view-specific interpretations.Filters that suppress incoherent noise …

Integrated Dinsar And Hvsr Microtremor Analysis For Understanding Ground Deformation And Site Effects: Case Study Of The Bawean Earthquake (M6.5), Joshua Purba, Muhammad Fikri Hayqal Hiola, Ramadhan Priadi, Riska Yulinda, Iham Ilham, Rosa Amelia

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

This study investigates the seismic hazards of Bawean Island following a recent M6.5 earthquake using an integrated approach combining differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) methodologies. The DInSAR analysis revealed ground deformation characterized by subsidence up to 10 cm and uplift up to 8 cm, correlating with the region’s strike-slip fault dynamics. HVSR analysis provided insights into site amplification effects, identifying zones with low Vs30 values (153.77–454.72 m/s), high amplification factors (A0), and elevated seismic vulnerability index values (Kg). The dominant frequency (f0) on Bawean Island ranges from 0.64 to 17.76 Hz, with most areas …

Buffered Strength: A Narrative Review Of Beta-Alanine Supplementation In Weightlifting And Resistance Training, Ian Brunson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid synthesized endogenously through hepatic metabolism of uracil and obtained in small amounts from dietary sources. In skeletal muscle, beta-alanine combines with histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that functions as an intracellular buffer. Beta-alanine is commonly used as a dietary supplement and is frequently included in pre-workout formulations as an ergogenic aid for high-intensity exercise. Beta-alanine supplementation increases intramuscular carnosine concentrations, which may enhance intracellular buffering capacity by regulating hydrogen ion accumulation and delaying fatigue during intense activity.^1,2 Although much research has examined beta-alanine supplementation in endurance, sprinting, and repeated high-intensity exercise contexts …

Pandemic Challenges: Resource-Based Strategies In The Black Belt Region, Valencia D. Winston

College of Business

From 2019 to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected rural small businesses in Alabama and Mississippi's Black Belt Region. Rural communities in the Black Belt face a number of significant economic and structural barriers, such as historic lending inequities, generational poverty, and a lack of access to capital and mentorship, compounded by unreliable broadband and fiber optic connectivity. This study utilizes the resource-based view (RBV) to explore how businesses leverage their assets for success. The research has three main objectives: to determine if the distribution of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan was equitable across demographics, to investigate whether demographic …

Holographic Photopolymerizable Glass: Enhancing Exposure Sensitivity By Tailoring Photoinitiating Systems Based On Bodipy Dyes, Tatsiana Mikulchyk, Aimee Sheehan, Metodej Dvoracek, Izabela Naydenova, Mikhail Filatov

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The photoinitiating system (PIS) is a key component of holographic materials which needs to be carefully selected and optimized to achieve efficient photopolymerization and, as a result, highly efficient holographic structures. Recently, boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes have been introduced as a new class of photosensitizers for holographic materials, including photopolymerizable glass, which is characterized by excellent environmental stability. Here, we present a study of the holographic recording capability of the photopolymerizable glass, where PIS was optimized using two approaches: 1) adding a second co-initiator, diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate (DPIHFP) and 2) exploring a range of BODIPY structures, such as anthracene- and …

Using Deep Learning To Increase Eye-Tracking Robustness, Accuracy, And Precision In Virtual Reality, Kevin Barkevich

Theses

Algorithms for the estimation of gaze direction from mobile and videobased eye trackers typically involve tracking a feature of the eye that moves through the eye camera image in a way that covaries with the shifting gaze direction, such as the center or boundaries of the pupil. Tracking these features using traditional computer vision techniques can be difficult due to partial occlusion and environmental reflections. Although recent efforts to use machine learning (ML) for pupil tracking have demonstrated superior results when evaluated using standard measures of segmentation performance, little is known of how these networks may affect the quality of …

Garnet & Black Spring 2026, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement Project: Implementation Of A Screening Tool For Postpartum Depression, Yaminah Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) remains underrecognized in clinical practice, with many cases going undiagnosed due to inconsistent or absent screening processes. At the project site, only 60% of postpartum patients reported that their mental health needs were adequately addressed, highlight-ing a critical gap in care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence-based PPD screening tool and evaluate its impact on provider confidence and patient outcomes. Guided by Lewin’s Theory of Planned Change and Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, the project aimed to improve physician and nursing staff confidence in screening and increase appropriate interventions for patients who …

Using Zines To Explore Oppression And Musical Gatekeeping In Music Therapy, Kendall Joplin

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The purpose of this arts-based study was to investigate music therapists’ personal experiences and thoughts on whether the music therapy profession is engaging in oppressive practices and musical gatekeeping in education, training, and clinical practice. Seven participants engaged in either a focus group or individual interviews to discuss their experiences related to the topic, then created a zine article to artistically explore the topic. All participants’ articles were put together to form one full zine, which was sent to everyone for final comments and feedback. Transcripts from the focus group and interviews, the zine articles, and any comments provided about …

Lifestyle Intervention Therapy Modulates Global Dna Methylation And Adipogenic Gene Expression In Severely Obese Hypogonadal Men, Siresha Bathina, Virginia Fuenmayor Lopez, Mia Prado, Salina Biene Teo, Dennis T Villareal, Rui Chen, Clifford Qualls, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that lifestyle intervention (LSI) therapies involving diet and exercise can modulate DNA methylation; however, whether this occurs in severely obese hypogonadal men undergoing weight loss from diet and exercise remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of weight loss from diet and exercise on global DNA methylation as well as on the mRNA expression of specific demethylation enzymes, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B—in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and DNA methylation markers in DNA of severely obese hypogonadal men. This is a secondary analysis of samples of severely obese (body …

Burdigalian–Langhian Flora Of The Çan–Etili (Çanakkale) Basin, Compared With Those Of Western Türkiye, Sari̇ye Duygu Durak, Mehmet Serkan Akki̇raz

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

A palaeofloristic study was carried out on Lower–Middle Miocene deposits of western Türkiye (Çan–Etili Basin). The sediments of the Çan–Etili Basin, which were obtained from measured sections, were deposited in a continental environment. The palaeovegetation of the Çan–Etili Basin (Kazım Oğlak and Keçiağılı successions) during the Early–Middle Miocene was mainly made up of evergreen and deciduous mixed forests (Castanea–Castanopsis, Cyrillaceae–Clethraceae, Engelhardia, Quercus evergreen-type, Quercus deciduous-type), riparian vegetation with high quantities of Alnus and conifers such as Pinus haploxylon-type, Pinus diploxylon-type, and undifferentiated Pinaceae. The reconstructed palaeoclimate data from the palaeoflora (pollen and leaves) imply a warm and temperate climate, with …

Kms-Net: Kolmogorov–Arnold-Based Multi-Scale Attention Network For Cardiac Segmentation, Abid Mehmood, Hassan Ali, David Noule Tolno, Sery Gahouidi Thierry S, Muhammad Saeed, Naeem Ahmed

Research & Publications

Accurate segmentation of cardiac structures in 2D echocardiography is essential for diagnosing cardiovascular disease and computing clinical metrics such as chamber volumes and ejection fraction. Conventional U-Net architectures excel at extracting local spatial features but struggle with long-range dependencies inherent in noisy ultrasound images, while pure Transformer-based models capture global context at the expense of fine boundary detail. To address these limitations, we propose KMS-Net, a novel hybrid segmentation architecture that integrates Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (KANs), a class of learnable, spline-based function approximators that replace fixed activation functions with trainable nonlinear mappings, alongside multi-scale attention mechanisms. Specifically, spline-based KAN layers (grid …

Tpack On Differentiated Instruction: Students' Critical Listening Literacy Skills, Deby Luriawati Naryatmojo, Imam Baehaqie, Mohamad Yusuf Ahmad Hasyim, Ahmad Nur Cahyo, Muhammad Azam

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The integration of Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) has been widely advocated in technology-enhanced learning; however, empirical evidence linking TPACK-based differentiated instruction to the development of critical listening literacy in higher education remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the pedagogical impact of a TPACK-integrated differentiated instructional model on undergraduate students' literal and critical listening competencies. A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was employed involving 72 students from two Indonesian public universities. The experimental group (n = 37) received TPACK-based differentiated instruction, while the control group (n = 35) underwent conventional teaching. Data were analyzed using parametric …