Digital Commons Network^™

The Forever King, Anna Bennett

The Main Thing Devotional

“For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does,” Psalm 145:13, NLT.

The Nature Of Anthropogenically Driven River Drying: Spatiotemporal Causes And Consequences, Eliza Inez Gilbert

Biology ETDs

Streambed drying naturally occurs in over 60% of rivers and streams worldwide. Climate change and human regulation of surface and groundwater have increased drying in naturally intermittent systems and caused perennial systems to transition to intermittency, impacting water security, water quality, and biodiversity. To understand human-induced drying dynamics, we used 12 years of daily drying data along a 154-km regulated reach of the Rio Grande. We conceptualized river drying as a regime analogous to the natural flow regime paradigm and quantified drying magnitude, rate of change, and duration. Although linear models predicting drying magnitude and rate of change were uninterpretable, …

Nitrogen Addition Additively Boosts Climate-Driven Salsola Tragus (Russian Thistle) Invasion Into Southwestern Usa Grasslands, Melissa A. Bacigalupa

Biology ETDs

Effective management of invasive, non-native plants requires understanding key drivers of invasion, including nitrogen enrichment from atmospheric deposition and agriculture. Long-term studies are essential for capturing complex invasion dynamics yet remain uncommon. We used 22 years of observations and 14 years of nitrogen experiments to examine invasion by Salsola tragus (Russian thistle) into three semi-arid grasslands of central New Mexico. Invasion patterns varied, with rapid expansion in Chihuahuan Desert grassland and the Desert-Plains ecotone but stability in Plains grassland. Under ambient nitrogen, precipitation most strongly correlated with Russian thistle biomass and high native grass biomass was associated with Russian thistle …

Michael Miller V. County Of Lancaster

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

In Re: David Richardson

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

A New Exclusionary Rule To Protect Bodily Integrity And Discourage Pretext Stops, Josephine Ross

Seattle University Law Review

The author proposes a novel state-level exclusionary rule to reduce racial profiling and protect bodily autonomy during police encounters. The current Fourth Amendment jurisprudence fails to deter pretextual stops and frisks because the exclusionary rule often turns on officer fault and "good faith," allowing racially motivated practices to go unchecked. As federal rollbacks on diversity and data collection hinder efforts to track racial bias, the author argues for a statutory evidentiary rule that automatically excludes drug evidence found during (1) traffic stops, (2) pat-downs for weapons, and (3) consent searches, regardless of an officer’s intent or the legality of the …

Navahine V. HawaiʻI Dept. Of Transportation: The Keiki Will Lead Us, Catherine Smith

Seattle University Law Review

The author analyzes the landmark case Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, which culminated in the world’s first constitutional climate settlement. Catherine Smith, serving as an expert for the youth plaintiffs, situates the case within Hawaiʻi’s legal tradition of prioritizing children’s rights and intergenerational equity. She explores the evolution of children’s constitutional protections, contrasting Hawaiʻi’s progressive jurisprudence with the dominant adult-centric legal framework on the mainland. She critiques four recurring analytical missteps in U.S. courts that marginalize children’s interests and highlights Hawaiʻi’s public trust doctrine and cultural values, such as the Aloha Spirit, as models for addressing climate-related harms. …

Logic Enriched Over A Quantale, Alexander Kurz

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Many-valued logics have a long history in mathematical logic as well as in applications to the semantics of programming languages and to engineering more generally. Typically these logics are rich with features motivated by the particular applications they stem from. In his 1973 article "Metric Spaces, Generalized Logic, and Closed Categories", Lawvere argued that any quantale Ω gives rise to a generalized Ω-valued logic that has as its models the categories enriched over the quantale. This suggests developing a uniform framework for many-valued logics parameterized in a quantale. In this talk we will review some previous and ongoing work in …

Generative Ai–Powered Mental Wellness Chatbot For College Student Mental Wellness: Open Trial, Jazmin A. Reyes-Portillo, Amy So, Kelsey Mcalister, Christine Nicodemus, Ashleigh Golden, Colleen Jacobson, Jennifer Huberty

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Colleges have turned to digital mental health interventions to meet the increasing mental health treatment needs of their students. Among these, chatbots stand out as artificial intelligence–driven tools capable of engaging in human-like conversations that have demonstrated some effectiveness in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using Wayhaven, an artificial intelligence chatbot, among college students with elevated depression or anxiety symptoms. We also aimed to examine the preliminary effectiveness of Wayhaven in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression, hopelessness, agency, and self-efficacy among students.

Methods: Participants were 50 racially …

Some Nonparametric Tests For High-Dimensional And Functional Data, Bilol Banerjee

Doctoral Theses

The advancement of information technology and sciences over the last few decades has facilitated the collection, storage and analysis of huge data sets. Many of these data sets contain observations having large number of features, and in some cases, this number is comparable to or even much larger than the sample size. Many traditional statistical methods cannot be meaningfully used in such situations. We develop some inferential tools for such high dimensional data. In particular, we consider the two-sample problem and the problem of testing spherical symmetry of a multivariate distributions. We construct some nonparametric tests in these contexts and …

Rescon: Residual Consistency For Real-World Super-Resolution, Erdi̇ Saritaş, Hazim Kemal Ekenel

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Real-world super-resolution is a highly challenging problem in the field of computer vision. Besides enhancing image resolution and improving visual details, information loss due to complex real-world degradations is desired to be restored. One of the primary hardness of this problem is finding sufficiently large paired datasets for training. Researchers have developed techniques that generate synthetic low-resolution pairs using high-resolution images with a generative adversarial network-based degradation generator to address this issue. In these approaches, the degradation generator is trained by utilizing real-world low-resolution images as the target domain, generating a degraded low-resolution counterpart of the high-resolution input. However, in …

Research Progress On Thermal Management Of Lithium-Ion Batteries, Hong-Da Li, Qiu-Wan Shen, Zhao-Yang Zhang, Xin-Yue Zhao, Yuan Wei, Shi-An Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nowadays, new energy technologies are developing rapidly, energy storage systems are widely used, and lithium-ion batteries occupy a dominant position among them. Therefore, it is also very important to ensure their performance, safety and service life through thermal management technology. In this paper, the causes of thermal runaway of lithium batteries are reviewed firstly, and three commonly used thermal management technologies, namely, air cooling, liquid cooling and phase change material cooling, are compared according to relevant literature in recent years. Air cooling technology has been widely studied because of its simple structure and low cost, but its temperature control effect …

House Finches Lose Feeding Preferences During Infection: Behavioral Changes With Implications For Pathogen Spread, Francis Edward Tillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Foraging is a fundamental behavior that animals use to acquire food resources. Because these resources are critical for survival and reproduction, animals are often thought to forage optimally, maximizing resource intake per unit of time. While the foraging behaviors of healthy animals often align with such predictions, we know little about how or if these predictions hold true in sick animals. This is especially relevant when considering sickness behaviors, or changes in behavior that accompany infection and frequently include lethargy and anorexia, both of which may alter foraging decisions or ability. Because food resources often cause animals to aggregate, a …

Enhancing Public Transit By Integrating On-Demand And Fixed Route Transit Services: A Focus On Implementation, Adaption, Equity, And Acceptance, Avani Aravind

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

As cities seek to build inclusive, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems, the integration of on-demand mobility services with traditional fixed-route transit (FRT) offers a promising solution to enhance coverage and connectivity. However, challenges persist in evaluating the cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and user acceptance of such integrated systems. This dissertation presents a comprehensive, three-part framework that addresses these gaps by (1) developing a simulation-based, pre-implementation cost evaluation model, (2) assessing the accessibility and equity outcomes of integrated systems, and (3) exploring the effectiveness of behavioral nudges in influencing transit adoption. The first study introduces an agent-based simulation model to evaluate generalized system …

Do Mergers Drive Smbh-Galaxy Coevolution? Comparison Of Feeding And Feedback In Single And Dual Agn, Mason Ruby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

While super massive black holes (SMBHs) are known to exist at the center of all massive galaxies, we have yet to understand the processes by which gas flows from kpc scales to within pcs of the SMBH, thereby accreting and triggering an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Additionally, while AGN-driven feedback in the form of kpc-scale winds and jets is induced to explain the observed excess quenching of star-formation, the mechanisms of AGN-driven feedback and its relevance compared to star-formation-driven feedback are not well understood. AGN feeding and feedback are instrumental to SMBH-galaxy coevolution, and determining the processes involved is imperative …

Fathers Using Light Touch On Their Infants And Its Effects On Postnatal Paternal Depression, Christopher Dirkes

DNP Projects

Background:
During the postpartum period there are multiple resources available to address maternal postpartum depression. However, there are limited resources available to help fathers during this transition period. Currently, limited data is available for best practice to decrease postnatal paternal depression, and increase paternal bonding and comfortability when caring for the infant.

Method:
Fathers were recruited from a Midwestern Public Health Department. After recruitment, fathers were provided with in-home education on how to perform a light touch intervention. Pre-intervention qualitative and quantitative surveys were provided at this time. Fathers were then asked to record their emotions as well as infant …

Use Of A Shoulder-Mounted Wearable Sensor Prototype Designed To Detect Opioid-Related Overdose: A Qualitative User Experience Study, Alexis M. Roth, Ally K. D'Angelo, David Gordon, Benjamin Cocchiaro, Anush Lingamoorthy, Rose Laurano, Matthew Salzman, Jacob S. Brenner, Cameron Baston

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: For over a decade, drug overdose has been the leading cause of injury and accidental death in the United States. Most fatal overdoses involve opioids and occur during solitary drug use events when no one is available to initiate lifesaving responses (eg, naloxone). While there is a growing interest in devices providing early overdose detection and automated responses, little research has engaged end users in a device design process.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe user experience, perceived harms and benefits, and the acceptability of a shoulder-mounted wearable sensor among people who inject drugs who wore a device prototype …

Implementation Of Intimate Partner Violence Education To Improve Practice And Attitude Amongst Healthcare Providers, Abigail Nguyen, Breanna Carpenter

DNP Projects

Background
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious and costly public health issue. It is vital that patients are screened at least annually for intimate partner violence. Screening increases disclosure of abuse and allows primary care clinicians to provide comfort, education, and resources to patients experiencing IPV. Evidence strongly suggests that a major barrier to regular screening for IPV is a lack of knowledge and comfort amongst healthcare providers.

Purpose
This project’s purpose was to provide educational tools for healthcare providers related to the importance of screening for IPV, guidelines for most effective screening, common IPV misconceptions, and local resources. …

Evaluating Dosimetric And Treatment Efficiency In Esophageal Cancer: A Comparative Study Of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, Modified Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, And Hybrid Radiotherapy Techniques, Julia Frost

Masters Projects

This study evaluated and compared the dosimetric outcomes and treatment efficiency of three radiation therapy techniques, Hybrid volumetric arc therapy (H-VMAT), Modified volumetric arc therapy (M-VMAT), and traditional Three-Arc volumetric arc therapy (T-VMAT), in the treatment of lower-third esophageal cancer. Ten patients with esophageal cancer located in the lower third of the esophagus were retrospectively replanned using each technique. H-VMAT combined 3-dimensional anterior-posterior/posterior-anterior (AP/PA) fields with two partial VMAT arcs. The M-VMAT technique included two full arcs and one arc with avoidance sectors. The T-VMAT technique used three full arcs. Each plan was prescribed 5040 cGy in 28 fractions using …

Ndls Communicator: Week Of 07.28.25, Notre Dame Law School

NDLS Communicator

The Latest News

• Notre Dame Law School ranked fourth in federal clerkship placement for third year
• ND Law Professor Paul B. Miller elected to American Law Institute
• Program on Church, State & Society announces winners of 2025 writing competition

Faculty Briefs

• Lloyd Mayer
• Nell Jessup Newton
• Derek Muller
• Rick Garnett
• Mary Ellen O'Connel
• Emily Bremer
• Christian Burset
• Sherif Girgis
• Election Clinic Victory

Around the Watercooler

• July Birthdays Celebrated in Community

The Impact Of Non-Athletic, Flat-Soled Sneakers On Gait Kinematics: A Comparative Analysis With Socks, Aaron Aguilar, Kharen Bautista, Juan Claros, Raquel Dimaano, Ciara Franke, Mason Huber, Evan Kurishige, Anton Lam, Kevin Le, Alohi Sheung, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Sivakumar Rajagopal, Seong Hyun Moon, Michael Shiraishi, Rahul Soangra

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

This study investigates the kinematic effects of non-athletic, flat-soled sneakers on lower extremity joints during walking. Ten healthy gym-goers (24.4 ± 1.7 years) underwent treadmill gait analysis under two conditions: wearing non-athletic sneakers and walking with only socks. Gait was captured using the Gait Real-time Analysis and Interactive Lab (GRAIL). Dependent variables included cadence, support times, and stride length. Walking with socks significantly increased cadence (p <  .0001) and single support time (p = .0103), and decreased initial (p = .018), terminal (p = .0056), and total double support times (p = .0092). No significant difference in stride length was observed. These …

A Study Of The Sequence Xn+2 = Xn + Imxn+1 Where X1 And X2 Are Orthogonal In C, Ryan Avallone, David Duncan, Ogul Duncan, Prashant Sansgiry

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) And Elevated Salinity On Growth, Reproduction, And Movement Of Physa Acuta, Juana Baudrix, Andrea Rizzo, Samuel Richardson, Jason Doll, Daniel Elias

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Freshwater ecosystems face increasing threats from pollutants such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and elevated salinity. This study examined the effects of PFOA (1.69 µg/L) and elevated salinity (2.5 g/L) on Physa acuta growth, reproduction, and movement over a 21-day exposure. Movement increased across treatments, and reproductive output also increased with salinity and salinity + PFOA, with increased egg sac production in the combined treatment (p < 0.05), while PFOA alone reduced total egg production. Growth was higher with PFOA but decreased in the salinity and salinity + PFOA treatments. Our results suggest that P. acuta increases reproductive output when exposed to combined stressors, prioritizing egg sac production at the cost of movement and growth. These trade-offs may influence P. acuta population dynamics and freshwater ecosystem processes. While this study provides insights into the effects of PFOA and salinity, further research is necessary to understand the long-term ecological consequences in field conditions.

Metabolic Consequences Of Sleep Disorders: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Their Role In Diabetes, Victoria S. Parma

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to grow globally, and more strategies are needed to combat this public health problem. Considering the link between sleep problems and risk of type 2 diabetes, the objective of this review is to discuss the experimental and epidemiological evidence underlying the link between sleep disturbances (such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea), and the development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which are impairments that can eventually result in type 2 diabetes. In order to explore this, PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized to find pertinent peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and …

Optimal Management Of Public Energy Communities: Investment Strategies And Welfare Maximization, Dirk Bergemann, Marina Bertolini, Marta Castellini, Michele Moretto, Sergio Vergalli

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

A municipality (social planner) is seeking to establish a renewable energy community paying the initial investment costs, while also identifying the optimal management framework. In this context, two distinct modes of governance are analyzed: the private and the public one. In the first case, a private (or profit) aggregator oversees the energy community with a monopolistic behavior, while in the other the aggregator is a public owned, or controlled, company following the social approach advocated by the promoter, i.e the municipality. In both scenarios, the effective functioning of the community requires the collection of private data on members’ energy consumption. …

Dosimetric Effects Of Pinnacle³ Version 18.0 Advanced Auto-Planning Settings In Oropharyngeal Vmat Optimization, Emily Sanden

Masters Projects

This study evaluated the impact of Pinnacle³ version 18.0 auto-planning advanced settings modulation amount, monitor unit (MU) level, and dose fall-off priority on volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan quality for bilateral oropharyngeal cancer. A total of 64 plans were generated using all possible combinations of low, medium, high, and very high settings for each parameter. A standardized base of tongue case was optimized once per plan using a single-time point approach, with planned target volume 1 (PTV1) (6996 cGy) and planned target volume 2 (PTV2) (5412 cGy) coverage evaluated. Each parotid gland, the spinal cord, brainstem, and the oral …

Essays On Stablecoins’ Stability, Ravi Joshi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I present three independent essays that contribute to the literature on stablecoins, the run-on stablecoin (Terra), and the information narrative surrounding the run. The first essay offers a comprehensive overview of the stablecoin ecosystem, the structural frictions that challenge peg maintenance, and the evolving regulatory landscape governing stablecoin issuance and use. In the second essay, I investigate the collapse of the TerraUSD (UST) algorithmic stablecoin and provide evidence that the collapse mimicked a run by demonstrating liquidity shortages on centralized exchanges. I show that Terra’s arbitrage mechanism broke on May 7, 2022, and that sustained price deviations …

Characterization Of The Role Of Rsd-6, A Tudor Domain Protein, In Antiviral Rnai Pathway In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Krishna Prasad Dahal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by virus produced dsRNA intermediate offers robust innate immunity against invading viruses in plants, insects and animals. Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively used as a model organism to study host virus interaction. Recently, a forward genetic screen identified RNAi spreading deficient-6 (RSD-6), a Tudor domain protein, as a key component in antiviral RNAi pathway against Orsay virus in C. elegans but its contribution in the pathway remained unclear. Here, we generated a rsd-6 null allele using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, crossed it with other known RNAi mutants and analyzed Orsay virus replication in them and in combination …

Ai-Based Object Detection And Risk Identification For Enhanced Construction Site Safety, Mahdi Bonyaniakbarabadi

LSU Master's Theses

Recent advancements in computer vision for construction site safety have encountered significant hurdles, especially in the nuanced tasks of object detection and the identification of unsafe worker behaviors. These challenges are often exacerbated by complex and cluttered backgrounds, wide variations in object scale, and inconsistent image quality. While existing methodologies have utilized attention mechanisms to analyze spatial and temporal features, they frequently neglect the benefits of adaptive sampling and channel-wise feature adjustments, thereby failing to exploit potential spatiotemporal redundancies. This thesis introduces a two-pronged approach to address these limitations. First, we propose the Optimized-Position Network (OP-Net), a novel architecture for …