Digital Commons Network^™

Unlocking The Benefits Of Transparent And Reusable Science For Climate Risk Management, Adam B. Pollack, Lisa Auermuller, Casey D. Burleyson, Jentry Campbell, Madison Condon, Courtney Cooper, Matteo Coronese, Sönke Dangendorf, James Doss-Gollin, Prabhat Hegde, Casey Helgeson, Robert E. Kopp, Jan Kwakkel, Corey Lesk, Justin Mankin, Robert E. Nicholas, Jennie Rice, Samantha Roth, Vivek Srikrishnan, Moira Scheeler, Nancy Tuana, Chris Vernon, Mengqi Zhao, Klaus Keller

Faculty Scholarship

People around the world seek climate risk information to guide their decisions. For instance, projections about future flood risk inform where households choose to live, how lenders manage credit risks, and which communities receive federal funding. Yet data limitations and fundamental validation challenges raise important concerns about the reliability of such projections. The principles of transparency and reusability help address these concerns by enabling scrutiny of assumptions and methods, development of foundational data and tools, and consistent application of evaluation standards. While there is ongoing debate about how much transparency commercial climate risk services should provide, many expect noncommercial actors …

Codazzi Normalized Null Hypersurfaces, Théophile Kemajou Mbiakop, Cyriaque Atindogbe, Ferdinand Ngakeu

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

We introduce a class of null hypersurfaces of Lorentzian manifolds, namely Codazzi normalized null hyper surfaces, whose (screen) shape operator associated with the rigged vector field is a Codazzi tensor. Several examples are given to support our study. Moreover, we investigate conditions implying that the induced Riemannian screen structure on a Codazzi-type normalized null hypersurface of a Lorentzian space is locally a nontrivial warped product.

Advancing The Rights Of Nature: Lessons From Sauk-Suiattle V. City Of Seattle, Harry S. Katz

American Indian Law Journal

Advocates for the “rights of nature” seek recognition of legal rights for natural elements such as mountains, rivers, and non-human species as a means of protecting the environment. In the United States, Tribal Nations have been at the forefront of this nascent movement. In a 2022 Washington state case, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe sued the City of Seattle, alleging that the City’s hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River infringe upon the rights of salmon. Those rights, they claim, include the salmon’s rights to exist, flourish, regenerate, and evolve. The case, known as Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle, …

Native History Is United States History: How United States History Censorship Leads To Passive Acceptance Of Racial Discrimination And Furthers The Decline Of Tribal Sovereignty, Nickolasa A. Jackson

American Indian Law Journal

Native stories are embedded in the United States Constitution, property law, and the nation’s legal and political framework, but education frequently omits these truths. Such erasure perpetuates misunderstanding, invisibility, and hostility toward Native communities, obscuring the reality that the United States was built through the dispossession, coercion, and suffering of Indigenous Peoples. Whitewashing history has allowed the nation to claim moral virtue and industriousness while denying the foundational role of Indigenous Peoples. The Article emphasizes that Native rights, whether land, water, or other treaty-protected entitlements, as well as inherent rights such as tribal sovereignty, are not charitable or discretionary; they …

A Neutrosophic Homological-Gröbner Framework For Ai-Driven Media Education Evaluation, Mona Gharib, Hafiz Muhammad Athar Farid, José M. Merigó, Muhammad Riaz

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with media technologies has transformed teaching in Journalism and Communication, introducing new challenges for quality evaluation. Traditional assessment methods fail to capture the uncertainty, inconsistency, and incompleteness inherent in modern educational data. This paper proposes a Neutrosophic Homological–Gröbner Framework, which unifies three perspectives: neutrosophic sets to encode uncertain evidence, homological algebra to analyze structural coherence, and Gröbner bases to systematically simplify interdependent evaluation rules.

Within this framework, diverse evidence is encoded into neutrosophic triplets, daggregate into course-level indicators, and organized into neutrosophic chain complexes, where Betti indices reveal coherence and fragmentation. Educational policies are …

High-Performance Deep Learning Techniques For Plant Disease Detection: Performance Analysis, Validation, And Applications, Doaa El-Shahat, Ahmed Elmasry

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

The early detection of plant diseases is an indispensable task to improve crop yields and production quality. Crop disease observations by experienced pathologists are difficult and might take a long time. Therefore, deep learning (DL) techniques have been utilized to present an automated detection technique that could accurately and timely detect plant diseases. Several DL models in the literature were proposed, but no paper conducted a comparative study between those models to determine which of them was the best alternative for this task. Therefore, twenty-one DL models are compared in this review paper to show which of them could achieve …

An Enhanced Optimization Algorithm For Estimating Pem Fuel Cells Parameters: Performance Comparison And Real-World Applicability, Ibrahim Alrashdi, Karam M. Sallam

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Accurate modeling is critical for the efficient design, control, and optimization of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This problem is regarded as a multi-modal, multi-variate, non-linear optimization problem, and several methods in the literature have been presented to tackle it. However, those methods still suffer from either being stuck into local optima or a slow convergence rate. To solve this problem more accurately in terms of final results and convergence speed, this study proposes a hybrid optimization algorithm based on enhancing the recently proposed crested porcupine optimizer (CPO) using two new optimization methods, namely ranking-based optimization and exploration-exploitation …

Feeding The Youngest In Crises: Infant And Young Child Feeding Preparedness In High-Income Setting, Aileen Kennedy, Elizabeth J. O’Sullivan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is a critical public health priority during emergencies, yet remains poorly integrated into emergency preparedness planning in many high-income countries (HICs). Despite the availability of international guidance, such as the Operational Guidance on IYCF in Emergencies the implementation of these tools in national systems has been inconsistent within HICs. This review examines recent emergencies in HICs to identify policy and operational gaps affecting breastfeeding support, the management of commercial milk formula (CMF), and the distribution of commercially available complementary foods (CACFs). The present review focuses on the practical translation of Infant and young child …

Vigilante Violence, The Rise Of The New Right, And The Persistence Of The Texas Farmworkers, 1975–1980, Brent M. S. Campney, Tim Bowman

History Faculty Publications

This study charts the ineffective vigilante violence perpetrated by growers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to suppress farmworker activism from the mid-to-late 1970s and their abrupt shift in tactics with a 1980 strike in Hereford, Texas, toward the adoption of strictly nonviolent and tediously legalistic new methods associated with the neoconservative backlash. It does so in two major sections. In the first, grower violence is chronicled in detail that underscores both its rage and ineffectiveness. The second section shows how the New Right usurped the longstanding usage of physical violence against ethnic Mexicans in Texas, prompting conservatives to …

Volumetric Wear Analysis Of Polyethylene Orthopedic Liners Using Point Clouds, Gabriel Landi

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

In vivo wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic bearings represents a major problem in shoulder and knee arthroplasty, with significant amounts of devices failing due to the complication itself, and even more due to associated reasons for retrieval, including aseptic loosening. However, quantification of UHMWPE wear has largely been limited to linear and in vitro volumetric analyses, obscuring the understanding of the amount of clinically relevant material loss. This study proposes new methods to measure articular, rim, and backside surfaces of retrieved shoulder and knee UHMWPE liners, centered around the coordinate measuring machine (CMM)-based collection of high density …

Employee Well-Being At Risk During Times Of Hyper Disruption, Jill Roof, Anneliese Orr, Mandy Sharp Eizinger

Research, Reports, and Publications

No abstract provided.

Small Courageous Minds, Desirae Bach

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the barriers, agreements, and disagreements between mental health and Christianity, specifically as it relates to helping Christian children with anxiety. The following investigation explores how God defines and reacts to anxiety in the Bible and how anxiety is explained through scientific research. By explaining both scientific and biblical views of anxiety, the Christian community can grasp a better understanding of how to help children with anxiety. The research also builds a foundational investigation on how anxiety affects children and possible solutions for relieving anxiety in children. Educating children at a young age about mental health and offering …

Factors Influencing Sugary Drink Consumption Among Residential Students At Liberty University, Chinonso Felistas Eziechi

Masters Theses

Introduction/Background: Sugary drink consumption among college students remains a public health concern due to its association with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Despite high awareness of health risks, consumption among emerging adults remains elevated. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory, this study examined the psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental determinants of sugary drink consumption among residential students at Liberty University. Objective: To identify key predictors of sugary drink consumption and evaluate how expectations, self-regulation, and environmental factors shape beverage behaviors. Design, Setting, Participants: This cross-sectional study used an anonymous Qualtrics survey distributed on campus. Of approximately 745 eligible residential students, 473 …

The Impact Of Awareness Of Campus Health Services On Utilization Of Medical Care Among Residential Students At Liberty University, Catherine Pandagade

Masters Theses

College students represent the most prominent group of individuals when considering their lifestyles throughout aging. Therefore, this age group serves as a good opportunity for health education that could build positive health behaviors for life. Existing literature have said that the 18-25 year olds tend to have fewer resources and be often uninsured and have the highest rates of preventable diseases.2 Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of awareness and its subsequent effect on utilization of available health resources on campus among the student population of Liberty University. Additionally, the purpose of the research through …

Reproducible Semantic Data Management Workflow For Materials Data Science: Generating Knowledge Graphs With Robust Fairifcation Pipelines, Kyle R. Henrikson, Van D. Tran, Meredith Francis, Isabella Giammattei, Quynh D. Tran, Laura S. Bruckman, Erika I. Barcelos, Roger H. French

Student Scholarship

Combining data from multiple sources is crucial for efficient knowledge aggregation in materials data science. FAIR data from ontology and Linked Data principles enable this. Semantic data management streamlines data exchange and aggregation, ensuring information is available and extractable. FAIRLinked and GraphDB provide solutions for consolidating, hosting, and extracting meaningful insight from multimodal data.

Determination Of Sample Size In Vaccine Trials, Meghna Bose

Doctoral Theses

Sample size determination is an important as well as delicate problem in clinical trials. Often, prior information available before the beginning of the trial is used to estimate the sample size. Hence, it is of importance to quantify the prior information available in terms of an Effective Sample Size (ESS). The problem of finding Effective Sample Size (ESS) in Phase II clinical trials, where toxicity and efficacy are the two components of the treatment response vector, is considered. In particular, one of the components is assumed to be binary, and the other is assumed to be continuous. Theoretical expressions for …

Supporting Young Carers In Early Childhood: Mapping Power, Threat, Meaning, And Strengths: A Ptmf-Informed Qualitative Study, Carly Ellicott, Ali Bidaran, Felicity Dewsbery, Alyson Norman, Helen Lloyd

School of Psychology

Background/Objectives: This qualitative study examines strengths and strains faced by professionals working with young carers throughout the United Kingdom (UK) in the context of society’s youngest carers; young carers in early childhood (YCEC) (0–8 years). Methods: The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) was utilised to map key findings of three focus groups. This conceptual lens offers a narrative-based understanding of ways in which power operates in society. Increasingly applied to explore experiences of individuals, communities, and groups, the PTMF proposes that concepts of distress are founded in broader contexts of injustice and social inequalities. Twenty-four participants were recruited from throughout …

High Thermoelectric Power Conversion Efficiency Of An Earth-Abundant Janus Silicon Oxy-Sulfide Monolayer: A First-Principles Study, Zakariae Darhi, Mounaim Bencheikh, Ravindra Pandey, Larbi El Farh

Michigan Tech Publications

The tunable properties of Janus monolayers, along with advances in their synthesis, make these low-symmetry materials excellent candidates for thermoelectric power generation. In this study, we systematically investigate the electronic and thermal properties of the Janus silicon oxy-sulfide monolayer. The results based on density functional theory reveal that the monolayer is stable. It exhibits a tunable direct band gap and strong covalent bonding. Its ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (< 0.38 W mK⁻¹ at 300 K) is attributed to the broken phonon selection rule for phonon–phonon scattering and a high level of anharmonicity, as reflected in the large Grüneisen parameter. Furthermore, the inclusion …

Africa's Global Influence, Faez Al-Haq - Abidemi Salami

Masters Theses

This thesis believes in the design and production of an interactive kids' coloring book on Africa's extensive influence on world cultures, history, economies, and artistic heritage. In a bid to reverse centuries of misrepresentation and large-scale miseducation regarding Africa within early childhood textbooks, this work aims to design an interactive, kid-friendly guide that informs young readers about the central role Africa plays in today's world. Informed by thorough literature review and referencing case studies of successful education and culture intervention, the proposal positions Africa's global reach, spanning from its precolonial trading networks, philosophic structures, diaspora contributions, art heritage, and cultural …

Black Girl Magic Is Real, Bethany M. Duff

Masters Theses

This thesis began with an inquiry into the state of representation of Black women authors within the fantasy fiction genre. The artist statement delves into the development of a fantasy story with a Black young woman protagonist written by a Black woman. The story serves as a vehicle for the author to continue the authorial legacy begun by Black women authors decades before. The critical research paper operates as a literature review of five books within the fantasy fiction genre, written by Black women. It discusses the themes of: the connection between race and the narrative, race and the magic …

Trauma-Informed Practices (Tips) And Burnout, Job Satisfaction, And Ptsd In First Responders, Tyler Mcdonough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

First responders are the frontline defense of society and consist of people that push back against chaos to keep our communities civilized and in functioning order. This study aimed to ensure that first responders’ mental health is adequate for home life as well as daily job functions, and to assess which Trauma Informed Practices (TIPs) can lead to positive outcomes in reducing first responder’s feelings of burnout, increasing their job satisfaction, and suppressing frequency of PTSD symptoms. TIPs are different intervention techniques that are designed to assist the individual with a variety of emotions such as anxiety, stress, burnout, and …

What Are The Effects Of Statewide Body-Worn Camera Policy Standardization On Recording Rates And Officer Behavior?, Michael Mcdowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quasi-experimental research tests the hypothesis whether statewide body-worn camera (BWC) policy standardization produces different results than locally autonomous policies in body-worn camera policies in terms of camera activation, use of force, civilian complaints, and officer perceptions of accountability and procedural justice. Drawing on policy diffusion and organizational justice theories, the study analyzed data from 200 officers across two states using t-tests, regression models, and difference-in-differences analysis. Findings showed that there were no statistically significant changes in the rates of activation, force incidents, or the number of complaints regardless of the type of policy used, meaning that statewide standardization had …

Investigating The Reliability And Validity Of The Social Connectedness Instrument Among U.S. Adults, Blake A. Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Growing evidence shows that poor social connectedness is becoming a public health threat, with rising prevalence and connections to poor mental and physical health across the lifespan. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop feasible and effective social connectedness interventions. There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of current interventions, with studies recommending tailoring the intervention to an individual’s specific social connection needs. However, previous measures of social connectedness provide little information about potentially modifiable contributors of poor connection. Thus, the Social Connectedness Instrument (SCI) was developed to fill in this gap by proposing two novel latent constructs of …

Experiences Of Victim Advocates Serving Military Sexual Assault Victims In The State Of New York: A Phenomenological Study, Neisha Louhar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe victim advocates’ (VAs’) experiences serving victims of sexual assault (SA) in the State of New York. Current researchers emphasize experiences in the areas of professional satisfaction, development of new skills, and work relationships. The theories guiding the current research are Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and social cognitive theory (SCT). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that individuals are motivated to meet their needs in a specific order. Social cognitive theory’s observational learning shapes decision-making factors. have an important role in supporting victims of SA emotionally. Understanding victims’ experiences can provide awareness of …

Women, Religion, And Education In North Carolina: How The Feminization Theory Applies From The Nineteenth Century To Present Day, Jennifer Lauren Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the state of North Carolina southern traditions run deep. The strong foundation of religion and family have been a constant in this state. However, not everything about this state’s history has been equal or fair, especially in the case of women and education. It would take the Progressive era for the feminization of southern life and culture to work its way into the lifestyle found amongst North Carolina residents. Women across the state would lay witness to the changes that both feminization and religion brought into their lives. Education would be one major factor that played into the equation …

Vietnam Music Education For Professional Careers In The Music Industry, Dylan Bao Nguyen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia, holds a rich cultural heritage and diverse musical traditions that span more than four thousand years. The country began commercializing its music industry around 1997 and expanded it into a significant national sector by 2015. Even with this expansion, Vietnamese music remains largely unfamiliar to global listeners, creating an urgent need for strong music education programs that support the industry’s development. To understand why Vietnamese music struggles to achieve global visibility in the age of globalization, researchers must examine the current conditions of music education and identify the specific factors that limit its international …

Rethinking The Refugee: From Migrant Hierarchies To Migration As A Human Right, Roni Amit

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Cultural Superimposition In Humanitarian Protection, Jocelyn B. Cazares Willingham

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Go On Take Everything, Take Everything, I Want You To: Corporate Cash Accumulations, Broken Promises, And The Failure Of The Accumulated Earnings Tax, Meredith R. Conway

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Light On The Scale, Heavy On The Problems: How Telehealth’S Accessible Weight Loss Solution Has Compounded Its Risks, Wendy Xia

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.