Digital Commons Network^™

Advanced Nanophotonics For Gas Spectroscopy, Ajmal Thottoli

Theses

This thesis introduces advanced nanophotonic integrated devices aimed at improving miniaturized, cost-effective multi-gas detection and on-chip spectroscopic systems. Traditional spectroscopic techniques often require bulky optical components and multiple detectors, limiting their scalability for multi-gas sensing. The proposed integrated duplexers and triplexers enable switching between lasers to detect multiple gases using a single system. The work focuses on the design and optimization of broadband angled multimode interference duplexers, directional coupler-based duplexers, and cascaded directional coupler-based triplexers for combining spectroscopically relevant wavelengths in the near-infrared region. The target gases include ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide. Through comprehensive simulations and experimental investigations, the …

Walk Portland: A Downtown Pedestrian Wayfinding Strategy And Pilot, Gena Gastaldi, Gwen Sullivan, Ryan Sullivan

PSU Transportation Seminars

Walk Portland, a partnership between the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Travel Portland, seeks to make it easier than ever for pedestrians to explore the city. In 2024, PBOT and Travel Portland, in partnership with sparks+sullivan, teamed up to develop a wayfinding strategic plan. In 2025, with grant funding from Travel Oregon, the team launched a short-term pilot wayfinding system to help people explore Portland as a pedestrian: the Downtown Portland Walking Route. The pilot, up from August-October 2025, is designed to see what works and what doesn’t in helping people navigate downtown. The long-term goal of this project …

Digital Danger: A Mixed-Methods And Comparative Analysis Of Cyberstalking Victimization, Kylie E. Mccarthy

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

Stalking, and cyberstalking are singular forms of violence, predicated on a victim’s interpretation and perception of events (Campbell & Moore, 2011; Korkodeilou, 2017). With no universal definition, and ambiguity as to which behaviors constitute the crime, understanding remains limited (Maple et al., 2012; Reyns et al., 2012). As technology advances and tech-based harassment rises (Short et al., 2022), it is imperative research examine both the scope of victimization, and the experiences of those victimized. This study analyzed the characteristics and consequences of cyberstalking victimization in a national US sample (n= 73), comparing findings to the 2010-2011 UK Electronic Communication Harassment …

Citytech Algebra Based Physics Exam1 (Brightspace Quiz), Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

This Brightspace-based Exam 1 assesses foundational concepts in algebra-based physics through short, auto-graded items designed to provide clear feedback. The exam targets core learning outcomes from the opening units of the course: measurement and unit analysis, significant figures, one-dimensional kinematics with constant acceleration (relationships among 𝑥, 𝑣, 𝑎, 𝑡), and basic problem-solving with proportional reasoning. Question formats include numerical entry multiple choice focused on common misconceptions, and brief conceptual prompts that test qualitative understanding before calculation. The item set emphasizes translating among verbal descriptions, diagrams, formulas, and graphs; checking the reasonableness of results; and communicating precision. Randomized parameters and pooled …

Halal-Friendly Wellness Tourism In Non-Muslim Countries: Perceptions Of Muslim Tourists, Ann Suwaree Ashton, Rasmee Islam

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores the perceptions of Muslim tourists regarding wellness-related activities while travelling in non-Muslim countries. Although halal tourism has witnessed significant global expansion, there remains a notable gap in the literature concerning the development of halal-compliant wellness products and services in destinations outside the Muslim world. Employing a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 40 Thai Muslim participants who travelled to non-Muslim countries between 2022 and 2023. The investigation centres on four primary categories of wellness activities: spa, therapy, and massage services; sports, leisure, and adventure experiences; spiritual well-being practices; and the slow food movement. The findings underscore …

Religious Reinterpretation In The Pilgrimage Experience To The Ganges River, India Of Balinese Ethnic Hindus, I Gede Sutarya, Thanakorn Chooksukhserm

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The interaction between Balinese ethnic Hindus and India in the modern era is reestablishing a connection between Balinese local knowledge with Hindu religious destinations in India. Balinese folklore mentions various holy places, including the Ganges River, which is considered part of Bali's sacred worship domain. This ceremonial tradition causes the ethnic groups to worship the Ganges and request for holy water, eliminating the need for the direct pilgrimage to the holy place. In the modern era, the tradition of seeking holy water has evolved into a driving force behind the interest in the pilgrimage to the Ganges River. This leads …

Exploring The Drivers Of Tourist Satisfaction At Religious Sites: A Study Of Lumbini In Nepal, Bhim Bahadur Khadka, Prof. Anjani Kumar Malviya, Dipak Singh Rawat

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a religious destination attracting millions of tourists annually from Nepal and abroad, Lumbini offers a rich cultural and historical heritage. This study is, therefore, significant in exploring drivers of tourist satisfaction and the religious significance of Lumbini. This study employs a correlational research design and a quantitative approach to examine relationships among variables using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Data are collected using a survey questionnaire, yielding 403 valid responses after excluding incomplete data and outliers out of 500 returned questionnaires. Purposive sampling ensured the relevance of …

Santiago Pilgrims Travelling The Portuguese Routes In The Modern Age: A Global Phenomenon, João A.G.R. Nunes Prof. Dr.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The aim of this work is to study the pilgrims who travelled along the Portuguese Ways to Santiago de Compostela in the Modern Period, namely between XVI and XVIII centuries, regarding their origins, ages, genders, and motivations. Moreover, it attempts to perceive the social and cultural interactions and experiences of the pilgrims. The Jacobean pilgrims, who travelled along the Portuguese routes, were a heterogeneous group. There were not only Portuguese pilgrims, but also many foreigners. There were pious and zealous people, fulfilling the religious precepts of piety and penance. But there were also people, of different ages, who disguised themselves …

Christopher Devine V. Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Pathlength, Altitude And Angle Of Incidence Dependence Of Remote Water Raman Scattering, Whitney E. Schuler, Paige K. Williams, Zechariah B. Kitzhaber, Caitlyn M. English, Tammi L. Richardson, Nikos Vitzilaios, Michael L. Myrick

Faculty Publications

A small remote Raman sensor was used to measure the Raman scattering signal from clear, still water as a function of water depth (12 cm and 396 cm depth), sensor distance above the water surface (20–300 cm), and angle of incidence (0–80°) to the normal of the water surface. Under thick- and thin-sample conditions, the signal depends on either the inverse, or the inverse square, of sensor distance from the water surface, respectively. A model is derived that fits data for different sensor distances, water depths, and angles of incidence. Fits to the measured data are consistent with the known …

Impact Of Social Media Use On Public Behavior Regarding Covid-19 Vaccination Refusal, Rismi Juliadi, Chininta Rizka Angelia, Aazelia Faramita

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

This study explores the impact of social media use on the behavior related to the refusal of the COVID-19 vaccination. Social media has been one of the most widely used sources of information during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides easy access to a wide range of content, including information about the COVID-19 vaccination campaign carried out by the Indonesian government. However, content shared via social media is vulnerable to disinformation, fake news, and hoaxes. The use of social media during the pandemic has had a significant impact on people's attitudes toward vaccination, with vaccine hesitancy often stemming from multiple factors. …

Lived Experiences Of Obese Women In Mississippi Concerning The Role Of Psychosocial Factors In The Development Of Obesity, Temitope Olabode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the highest rates of obesity in the United States is in Mississippi, where middle- aged obese women deal with a variety of social, cultural, and personal issues, including shame, discrimination, and stigma based on weight, mental anguish, cultural norms, financial limitations, and restricted access to healthcare. This study investigated the psychosocial factors that contribute to obesity in women aged 40- 60 years, and the effects of obesity on body image, self-esteem, health behaviors, and quality of life. A qualitative phenomenological study using the social ecological model (SEM) framework looked at the individual, interpersonal, and policy levels of the …

Promotion Of Religious Tourism In Pakistan Through Destination Marketing Strategies, Noor-Ul- Huda, Musa Khan, Noman Ahmed Ansari

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The aim of this study is to identify the key factors that attract religious tourists to Pakistan and the strategies that are effective in promoting religious tourism. The paper takes a comprehensive approach to guide Pakistan’s development by evaluating international literature, focusing on religious tourism as a pivotal source of revenue. The study explores diversification prospects, aiming to equip policymakers and tourism authorities with actionable insights. This research establishes the groundwork for realising the economic, social, and cultural potential of religious tourism in Pakistan by studying marketing techniques using a qualitative methodology, examining revival approaches, and investigating cutting-edge communication technologies. …

Generation And Detection Of Photo-Thermal And Photo-Acoustic Waves In Solids For Advanced Near-Field Ir Imaging, Yide Zhang

Theses

Atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy has become an essential tool for nanoscale chemical imaging, offering spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit of conventional infrared spectroscopy. A typical AFM-IR setup directs a pulsed IR laser onto the sample, precisely at the tip of an AFM cantilever, detecting local absorption indirectly as photothermal expansion via the tip. This combination of AFM’s high spatial resolution and infrared spectroscopy’s chemical specificity enables detailed studies of a wide range of materials, from polymers and biological tissues to nanomaterials. However, the factors influencing AFM-IR signal generation and spatial resolution-especially in complex and inhomogeneous samples-remain challenging to …

Interdisciplinary Narratives On Artificial Intelligence & Personnel Selection Systems, John Hunter, Melissa Intindola, Neil Boyd, Thiago Serra Azevedo Silva

Faculty Journal Articles

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly and persistently become a daily presence in our lives, and its omnipresence has eclipsed the speed with which scholars can fully assess its efficacy and pitfalls. AI’s ubiquity and the lack of a clear understanding of its implications for humanity has spurred scholars across disciplines to action, and scholars in the field of Human Resource Management (HR) have certainly joined the fray. As scholars with a variety of experience and scholarship across disciplines, we believe that the burgeoning conversation in the HR literature would significantly benefit from a greater presence of interdisciplinary knowledge.

The Beacon, October 3, 2025, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2025-2026

Stand out Raider alumni return home; Homecoming traditions over the years; Sneak peek into Taylor Swift’s new album; “The Senior” truly is a heartwarming story; New nursery mural at Trinity Church; “Coffee and Canvas” event encourages arts; The consequences of the October Rule; The indepth history of NW's theatre; The Gen Z goldfish brain; The dreamy art of slowmaxxing; Dordt ekes out first win of 19 year rivalry; Raiders wallop Waldorf on Wednesday; Banana Ball: a grand slam for casual viewers; A good start to this years NGAGE; North suites: same building, new name

The Antimicrobial And Antibiofilm Effects Of Marine-Derived Crude Extracts, Monica Murphy

Theses

Marine-derived compounds are promising candidates in the search for new antimicrobials. This thesis explores their potential against a suite of clinically relevant bacterial strains. Saltwater environments were screened for antimicrobial compounds, leading to the identification of two lead bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis_MTUA2 and Bacillus velezensis_MTUC2. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) of these strains significantly reduced the growth of MRSA and clinical S. aureus isolates (50%), inhibited biofilms by 99% and 90%, respectively, and reduced E. coli biofilms by 90%. To expand the scope of bioactive marine sources, crude extracts from two seaweeds, Codium fragile and Fucus vesiculosus, obtained using methanol and water …

Evaluation Of Existing Grazing Infrastructure And Development Of A Cost- Optimal Infrastructure Upgrade Methodology For Commercial Dairy Farms, Paul Maher

Theses

Grazing infrastructure is a critical component of pasture-based dairy systems, yet its performance on commercial Irish farms has not been fully quantified. This thesis aimed to: (1) assess current pasture allocation practices, (2) evaluate roadway network efficiency, (3) identify factors influencing herd movement and roadway suitability, and (4) explore cost-effective strategies to reduce labour input related to herd movement. Chapter 3 assessed pasture allocation frequency and the configuration of roadway networks across 135 commercial Irish dairy farms over the grazing season of 2020. Data were gathered from PastureBase Ireland and detailed maps of each farm. The distance between the milking …

Replacement Reply Brief For Plaintiff-Appellant Mona Salcida Murillo, Madeline H. Meth

Faculty Scholarship

Defendants’ response brief contains a laundry list of all the ways they think Mona Murillo fell short in trying to vindicate her rights to be free from sex discrimination and retaliation while incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison. They devote page after page to cataloging the regulations that govern her claims, describing the intricacies of the three-tiered grievance system, and recounting her repeated efforts to navigate that morass. And from all of that, they draw the conclusion that Murillo’s lawsuit should be thrown out of court.

In the process, Defendants take the exhaustion requirement to an extreme that even the …

Clubhouse Versus Ips Outcomes In Terms Of Hours Worked And Pay Earned, Daniel Scott Reynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals balance personal needs and societal norms as they attempt to achieve self-fulfillment. However, those who have mental illness face marginalization from the workforce and diminished quality of life. Of the two prominent vocational programs – the Clubhouse and the Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) – that assist this population in integrating into the workforce, and therefore into society. It is unknown which program does better at helping the mental illness population meet their objectives of integration. Such a comparison is important because it will help these people to integrate into the workforce and into society, thereby increasing their quality …

Functional Foods For Older Adults: Comparing The Bioactive Properties Of Cheese To Identify Products That Promote Healthy Ageing, Aimee Plante

Theses

Functional foods for the elderly: comparing the bioactive properties of cheese to identify products that promote healthy ageing.

People are living longer, and a healthy ageing population is a key goal of our National Positive Ageing Strategy. One approach to support this initiative is to promote and develop functional foods that can support healthy ageing by reducing age-related conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Cheese particularly aged and fermented varieties like cheddar show great potential as a functional food with inherent and established health properties. It naturally contains bioactive peptides, vitamins, minerals, protein and possible cultures that confer …

The Effect Of Astaxanthin On Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (Tnf-Α) And Interleukin 10 (Il-10) Expression In Uv-B-Induced Rats Model, Akhmad Setyo Rahman, Theresia Indah Budhy, Jusak Nugraha, Nur Lailatul Fadhilah

Folia Medica Indonesiana

The skin, the largest organ in the human body, serves as a protective barrier against external factors. Exposure to UV-B radiation accounts for approximately 90% of skin damage, leading to aging characterized by dryness and wrinkles. Proper nutrition has been associated with skin repair and delayed aging. Astaxanthin, known for its pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities has garnered attention for its ability to improve damaged skin when administered as a daily supplement. This study investigated the roles of TNF-α and IL-10 as inflammatory markers in skin damage and repair, which remain underexplored. A true experimental randomized …

R12 Equivalent Resistance Reduction Steps, Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

We present a concise, step-by-step reduction of a symmetric resistor network to its equivalent resistance 𝑅₁₂, emphasizing visual reasoning over algebraic brute force. By redrawing the circuit to expose symmetry, we identify equipotential node pairs joined by ideal conductors; the “bottom” bridging resistor is shown to carry zero current and is removed from consideration. The remaining topology reduces by two repeated series combinations, where each left/right pair of equal resistors collapses to 2R. The final network is a three-branch parallel combination (2𝑅∥𝑅∥2𝑅), yielding the closed-form result 𝑅₁₂=𝑅/2. The procedure illustrates three transferable techniques for introductory circuit …

Challenges In Developing Physical Intuition In College General Physics Courses, Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

Many students can memorize formulas but struggle to feel what a newton, joule, or volt means; they treat formulas as plug-and-chug templates rather than descriptions of relationships among physical quantities. This presentation introduces three types of learning activities: (1) text-free (“no-text”) problems, in which carefully designed visuals replace prose to convey relationships and constraints; (2) anti-problems, which begin with a mathematical expression and ask students to imagine a physical situation it could describe; and (3) lab games that turn routine measurement into purposeful play, emphasizing estimation, scaling, and unit sense. We provide ready-made, Brightspace-compatible assessments alongside low-tech implementation options. The …

Digging Deeper With Deep Ram Networks, Andrew J. Wagner

Dissertations and Theses

While Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have driven major breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, their internal complexity often makes their behavior hard to explain, resulting in the well-known “black box” dilemma. This thesis addresses the challenge of interpretability in DNNs and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) through two main contributions.

In Part I, we revisit and extend the use of Deep RAM Networks (DRNs) within the Arcade Learning Environment (ALE), showing that, with modern architectures and careful hyperparameter tuning, RAM-based agents can achieve performance competitive with established pixel-based baselines on Atari 2600 games, while offering additional advantages for research and analysis. We also …

Detecting Polar Ring Galaxies Via Deep Learning, Fawad Kirmani, Anathavishnu S. Unnii, Varsha P. Kulkarni, Kyle Lackey, John R. Rose

Faculty Publications

Polar ring galaxies (PRGs) are peculiar galaxies that show a ring of stars, gas, and dust oriented roughly over the poles of the central ‘host’ galaxy (i.e. roughly orthogonal to the disc of the host galaxy). The formation models for these rings involve mergers or tidal interactions of the host galaxy with another galaxy. Although the identified PRGs look different from each other, they all have a ring that is not in the same plane as the disc of the host galaxy. Unlike in galaxies such as our Milky Way, where stars form in spiral arms, the rings exemplify an …

Assessment And Identification Of Bacteria In Sagu Lempeng Sold In Ambon City, Indonesia, Dilya Maghfirah Taher, Melda Yunita, Yuniasih Mulyani Jubeliene Taihuttu, Siti Nur Azizah

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Maluku Province in Indonesia is known for its diverse traditional foods, including sagu lempeng, which is widely consumed across different social groups. However, poor hygiene during its preparation, packaging, and sale in traditional markets can serve as a medium for microbial contamination, posing potential health risks. In Ambon City, the capital of Maluku, no research had been conducted concerning the total plate count (TPC) analysis and identification of food-contaminating bacteria in sagu lempeng, which are crucial for ensuring its microbiological safety. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of sagu lempeng according to Indonesian National Standards …

Re: Approval Letter For Bpsou Blacktail Creek Riparian Actions Revised Draft Final Uniform Federal Policy Quality Assurance Project Plan (Dated September 30, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Spatially Resolved [O Iii] Emission Line Kinematics Of Reverberation-Mapped Active Galactic Nuclei With The Keck Cosmic Web Imager, Raymond P. Remigio, Vivian U, Aaron J. Barth, Nico Winkel, Vardha N. Bennert, Tommaso Treu, Matthew A. Malkan, Sebastian Contreras, Peter R. Williams, Jordan N. Runco

Physics

We present optical integral-field spectroscopic data of ten nearby (0.02 ≤ z ≤ 0.05) Seyfert 1 galaxies taken with the Keck Cosmic Web Imager. We map the spatially resolved kinematics of the [O iii] gas and stars, and investigate the alignments between their global kinematic position angles (PAs). Large-scale gas motions are primarily dominated by rotation and are kinematically aligned with the stars (ΔPA ≤ 30°). However, eight galaxies exhibit nonrotational kinematic signatures (e.g., kinematic twists, possible outflows) in their ionized gas velocity fields near the nucleus. We compare aperture-wide measurements of the gas and stellar velocity dispersions (σ …

Household Dysfunction And Dating Violence Perpetration: The Moderating Effects Of Parental Monitoring And Closeness Among Middle School Adolescents In Southeast Texas, Sumaita Choudhury, Emily T Hébert, Timothy J Walker, Christine M Markham, Ross Shegog, Robert C Addy, Melissa F Peskin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adolescent dating violence (DV) perpetration is a significant public health issue affecting millions of adolescents in the United States. Adverse childhood experiences such as household dysfunction (HD) have been exhibited to be risk factors for DV perpetration during adolescence and adulthood. Furthermore, the literature is scant regarding how positive parent-child relationships can mitigate these risk factors and decrease HD-related consequences among sixth-grade adolescents. Thus, our study examined the moderating effects of parental monitoring and closeness regarding the association between HD and DV perpetration among middle schoolers in Southeast Texas.

Methods: In our cross-sectional study, we used the baseline data …