Digital Commons Network^™

Justin De La Cruz Martinez V. Court Administration Office Of Westmoreland County

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

The Spring 2025 Issue, Destiny Dehart, Laura K. Clark Hunt, Crystal Walker, Austin Bello, Lauren Nimon-Viola, Sarah Gonzalez

Fonds and Feathers

This issue, edited by Destiny DeHart, features “Advances in Storytelling” by Assistant Professor Laura K. Clark Hunt, Ph.D., “Evolving Storytelling in Libraries: Project Techne” by Crystal Walker, “Who’s Rewriting History” by Austin Bello, “Soldiers in Disguise: Women’s Stories from the Civil War” by Lauren Viola, “Once Upon a Map: Storytelling in Libraries with ARCGIS Storymaps” by Sara Gonzalez, “Mold in the Archives: How Bias Influences Stories” by Destiny DeHart, and interview with managing reference archivist Devin McGeehan Muchmore of the GLBT Historical Society. In addition, upcoming conferences are listed. A list of students who will graduate in December 2024 with …

Multi-Label Classification Of Acoustic And Electronic Drum Sounds Using Machine Learning, Sean Perman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a system for multi-class classification of drum sounds using audio signal processing and machine learning techniques. The project utilizes a diverse dataset of both acoustic and electronic drum samples and extracts ten distinct audio features to capture the timbral and temporal characteristics of each sound. The methodology includes signal preprocessing, feature extraction, and the application of supervised classification algorithms to distinguish between multiple drum classes. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the selected features significantly enhance classification accuracy across a varied dataset. These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining traditional audio processing with modern machine learning, offering promising applications …

Enhancing Multi-Step Stock Price Forecasting With Social Media Sentiment And Engagement Metrics, Damilare Olaniyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates whether social media sentiment can improve the accuracy of stock price prediction beyond traditional historical data. While financial markets have long relied on structured numerical indicators, the growing influence of public discourse on platforms like Twitter has introduced new opportunities for extracting market-relevant signals from unstructured text. The study focuses on four major technology firms and combines sentiment features derived from Twitter with historical stock prices in a hybrid machine learning framework. Engagement-weighted sentiment, linguistic complexity, and polarity intensity were extracted using natural language processing techniques and incorporated into classification and regression models. Results show that including …

Artists In The Alternative Genre: Communication Through Music, C. L. Noë

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Musicians throughout time and genre have strived to connect with their audience through music, whether they are trying to communicate a story or their own unique style. Musicians in alternative rock genres are no different, and therefore, this thesis looks at three different bands and analyzes the ways they convey meaning through their music for their audiences. Starting with Green Day, in the American Idiot album, they communicate the inner turmoil of the characters through a rhythmic motif and the different ways it presents in the music. Next, Fall Out Boy communicates authenticity to their fans through lyrics, vocal style, …

Collaborative Federated Learning For Robots In Heterogeneous Environments, Karlan Schneider

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the performance of Federated Averaging (FedAvg) in simulated Federated Learning (FL) scenarios with varying degrees of environmental heterogeneity among robotic agents. The study explores the impact of data heterogeneity on both the convergence of FedAvg and the fairness of learning, with regard to consistency of performance across agents. Experiments were conducted with simulated robots trained to perform a target collection task, where a subset of agents encountered an unfamiliar environment. The results demonstrate that while FedAvg exhibits resilience to the introduction of new environmental data, it struggles to ensure both convergence and fairness in heterogeneous settings. Specifically, …

Photochemistry Of Quinones And Combustion-Derived Particles, Desiree J. Sarmiento

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quinones are ubiquitous species that can be produced from the photochemical aging of combustion-derived particles (CDPs). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major component of CDPs and are precursors to quinones and other oxidized products (OPAHs). My work first expanded on the PAH and OPAH photochemistry research of Dr. John Haynes, who showed that anthracene (ANT) oxidizes into 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NAPQ), 1,4-anthraquinone (1,4-ANTQ), and 9,10-anthraquinone (9,10-ANTQ), and of Dr. Heather Runberg, who demonstrated the ability of ANT and these quinones to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Then at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), I was given the opportunity to investigate …

The Role Of Adolescent Depression Heterogeneity And Resilience Resources In Adulthood Cardiometabolic Health And Depressive Symptoms, Samantha R. Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Depression in adolescence is a major public health problem and is a risk factor for early-onset cardiometabolic disease. Although adolescent depression is a risk factor for poor cardiometabolic health, depression is heterogeneous and associations may differ by sex. Additionally, if risk factors such as depression can predict adulthood cardiometabolic health, resilience factors (e.g., social, school, neighborhood) that are protective for depression may also be protective for physical health, but this is an ongoing area of research. The goals of the current dissertation were to gain a better understanding of what depressive symptom presentations in adolescents are most concerning for adulthood …

Peering Into The Past And Future: Connection, Challenge, Growth, And Rural Peer Mentors, Tinker Elizabeth Jacobs Duclo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peer mentoring is a recognized strategy for supporting student success, academic persistence, and belonging in higher education. However, while mentee benefits are well-documented, the long-term effects on peer mentors (PMs) remain underexplored, particularly at Rural-Serving Institutions (RSIs). My evaluation bridges that gap by examining the lasting impact of PM service through a qualitative evaluation of the Rifle Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Peer Mentor Program. Guided by Rural Cultural Wealth (RCW) theory and using the Most Significant Change (MSC) model within a constructivist framework, my evaluation centers alumni PM voices, gathering their reflections on the significant changes and impacts of their …

A Multilevel Analysis Of Arrest For Sexual Assault In The United States: The Effect Of Incident, Police Department, And Community Factors, Erin Elizabeth Hoffman

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Police officers play an important role for sexual assault survivors seeking help from the criminal legal system in the United States. One of their main responsibilities is to investigate the crime to determine if there is enough evidence to arrest a suspect. Previous literature has documented police arrest decisions in sexual assault cases are influenced by legal and extralegal factors—factors that are legally relevant (e.g., presence of DNA evidence) and irrelevant (e.g., victim race) in a case. These factors span multiple levels of analysis, namely the incident (e.g., whether a weapon was used) and police department (e.g., % of woman …

A Qualitative Examination Of Homelessness Risk Factors And Housing Histories Of Single Room Occupancy (Sro) Tenants In Chicago, Shadman Syed Saquib

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) housing is among the most affordable private market housing options and serves tenants who often have multiple oppressed identities, including economic marginalization, carceral histories, and disabling conditions. However, SRO buildings are often sold for redevelopment, displacing tenants with few alternative housing options and at risk of homelessness. Research suggests that multiple ecological factors, such as prior housing instability, predict future homelessness, which may be compounded for individuals with oppressed identities. Thus, the current study explores the housing histories and identities of displaced SRO tenants to understand their vulnerability to post-displacement homelessness. Seventeen participants who were displaced from …

Image Recognition Algorithm For Pork Freshness Based On Yolov 8n, Wang Lian, Liu Jun, Pi Jie, Wang Daoying

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To realize precise,swift,and non -invasive detection of pork freshness in large -scale cold meat industry chains based on computer vision technology.［Methods］ An image recognition algorithm for pork freshness is proposed based on YOLOv 8n.Various data augmentation methods are employed to enhance the pork feature extraction from images.The transfer learning experiment method is utilized,an appropriate optimizer is selected,and the training weights of the model are improved for higher accuracy in the final identification.Based on the YOLOv 8n image recognition algorithm,the improved YOLOv 8n-cls model is developed by data augmentation and optimizer improvement for the algorithm.［Results］ After transfer learning and improving …

Dataset For Cholesterol And Q147e Deamidation Modulates Aa-Crystallin Membrane Binding Elucidating Protective Role Of Lens Membrane Composition Changes With Aging, Preston Hazen, Nawal K. Khadka, Laxman Mainali

Biophysics Research Data

Purpose: αA-Crystallin (αAc) binding with lens membranes increases with age and cataract formation. However, the role of lipids and cholesterol (Chol) in Q147E-αAc membrane binding remains unclear, which we aim to elucidate in this study.

Methods: We have used the electron paramagnetic resonance spin-labeling method to probe the Chol/ 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) and Chol/ sphingomyelin (SM) membranes binding with wild-type (WT) and Q147E-αAc.

Results: Compared to WT-αAc, the Q147E mutant had increased binding to POPC and decreased binding to SM membranes without Chol. Adding 33 mol% Chol to the POPC and SM membranes decreased the binding of WT and, to a …

Design, Manufacturing, And Engineering Design Validation Of A Fetal Activity Monitor, Hector Andres Pena Vega

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Fetal movement monitoring is an important indicator of fetal health, but

current methods often rely on subjective self-reporting or medical equipment that

may not be universally available. The research described in this thesis describes

the design, manufacture, and engineering validation of a wearable fetal activity

monitor based on nanocomposite wide-range strain gauge technology. Embedded

in a wearable maternity band garment, the technology is designed to discreetly

record fetal movements with the eventual goal of providing real-time information

that can assist pregnant women and medical professionals in monitoring patterns

of fetal activity.

The scope of the described research focuses on the …

Intersectional Resistance: German Working-Class Adaptation To Nazi Control, Nyhan O’Sullivan

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Prior to the Nazi seizure of power, the working class in Germany held political power at the local and national level. Once the Nazi state obtained control, they took decisive action and dismantle workers institutions and control the working class. The working class was forced to adapt to these rapidly changing circumstances and push back against the Nazi state in ways dictated largely by the conditions in which workers found themselves. Workers with vastly different experiences, from forced laborers to enthusiastic fascist volunteers experiences the Nazi states contempt for workers and resisted. By examining this resistance and the effects it …

Synthesis Of Anti-Schistosomal Heterocyclic Compounds Targeting Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase, Alexander Stewart

Lawrence University Honors Projects

chistosomiasis is a deadly and debilitating parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma mansoni which affects 200+ million people annually who come into contact with contaminated water. Currently only one drug (Praziquantel) has been used to treat this disease for almost 50 years, and fear of resistance is growing, thus a new drug and new target is needed. Inhibition of the organism-specific redox defense protein Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase (TGR) has lead to the death of the worm in vitro, indicating that it would be a good druggable target. Fragment based analysis and x-ray crystallography have returned the outline of a lead compound …

Burned In Berlin – Banned In Boston: Censorship Of Booksellers During The Interwar Period In The U. S. As Compared To Germany, 1919-1939, Aleksandra Jimerson-Mckinnies

Lawrence University Honors Projects

During the twenty-year interwar period from 1919-1939, two vastly different nations faced their own personal wars with the censorship of booksellers. Germany—at first the Weimar Republic, then later the Nazi Regime—underwent such a transformation that Berlin went from one of the literary capitals of the world to the site of the most infamous of censorship crimes: the book burnings. Meanwhile, the United States was a long-standing democratic nation in which freedom of speech was one of its cornerstone tenants. Despite the differences of governments and the scope and scale of the censorship, there were major similarities between the tactics and …

Evolutionary Conservation Of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein In Clarthrin-Mediated Endocytosis, Jonah Friedmann

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a cellular process for internalizing extracellular materials and recycling parts of the plasma membrane into intracellular vesicles. When a threshold of membrane-bound receptors is met at the cell surface, endocytic proteins organize into a conformation that can invaginate the membrane and separate a vesicle into the cytosol. Our current model for understanding CME has been derived from studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Previous research has led to a model for how Las17, a homolog of Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome Protein (WASP), contributes to CME. WASP proteins are critical actin nucleators involved in multiple processes. In S. cerevisiae, Las17 …

4th Sbs International Conference 2025: Transforming Business For People And Planet, School Of Business Studies (Sbs)

Conference Proceedings

The IBA-SBS International Conference (IBA-SBSIC) brings together scholars, professionals, and policymakers from around the world, providing a platform for learning, collaboration, and cutting-edge research. As we enter the 4th edition in 2025, the conference embraces the theme "Transforming Business for People and Planet."

The business landscape is evolving rapidly, with companies increasingly held accountable for their environmental footprint, ethical responsibilities, and social impact. Governments, regulators, and consumers now demand responsible business practices that align with sustainability and long-term financial resilience. Sustainability is no longer a choice—it is a necessity. Global movements toward climate action, social equity, and responsible governance are …

Study Of Agn Jet And Possible Connection Among Different Agn Classes, Shahjahan Iqbal

University Departments

No abstract provided.

Composite Magnetic Monopoles, Moreshwar Pathak

University Departments

No abstract provided.

Spin Precession In Magnetized Kerr Spacetime, Karthik Krishnamurthy Iyer

University Departments

No abstract provided.

Interacting Galaxy Clusters As A Probe To Cosmic Filaments, Shreya R. Kamath

University Departments

No abstract provided.

Photometric And Spectroscopic Properties Of Hydrogen-Rich Supernovae, Chaitrika B. M

University Departments

No abstract provided.

Research Progress On The Protective Effect And Mechanism Of Inulin Against Liver Injury, Yun Hang, Guo Yifan, Wang Peiwen, Xu Yanrui

Food and Machinery

Liver injury is caused by one or more factors acting on the liver,damaging liver cells and resulting in pathological changes in the liver,as well as elevated serum transaminases.In severe cases,it may lead to liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy.Inulin is a common dietary fiber with various biological activities,including anti -inflammatory,antioxidant,anti -cancer properties,and the regulation of gut microbiota.These biological activities are closely related to the protection of liver health.This article reviews the protective effects of inulin against various types of liver injury,summarizes the mechanisms underlying its protective effects on the liver,and looks forward to future research directions.

Abstract 2587 Recombinant Expression And Purification Of A. Vinelandii Cown In E. Coli, Julie Takei, Cedric P. Owens, Katie Sanders, Neeraja Gajendran

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The goal of this project is to study the protein CowN in the diazotroph Azotobacter vinelandii (Av) in comparison to CowN in Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd). Nitrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitrogen gas into ammonia in diazotrophic bacteria. In many diazotrophs, the protein CowN prevents nitrogenase inhibition from the environmental gas carbon monoxide (CO). Previous work studied CowN in the diazotroph G. diazotrophicus. In G. diazotrophicus, CowN binds to nitrogenase and weakens CO binding to its active site. The mechanism of CowN has only been investigated in G. diazotrophicus. Thus, we are interested in determining if CowN's …

How Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Mbsr) Techniques Affect Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Literature Review, Piper Ritke

Honors Theses

This literature review examines the potential effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) as a non-invasive therapeutic intervention for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Traditional treatments for OCD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP), are evidence-based but can be distressing for some patients. MBSR, originally developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, emphasizes nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts and may offer a less intrusive alternative. Three peer-reviewed studies were analyzed: a randomized controlled trial comparing MBSR with cognitive therapies, a technology-supported mindfulness intervention utilizing EEG feedback, and a case study documenting individualized MBSR treatment. All studies demonstrated reductions in …

Marketing Management Of Cemetery-Based Religious Sites To Improve The Economic Level Of Society, Dian Mohammad Hakim, Imam Wahyudi Karimullah, Winarto Winarto, Maskuri Maskuri

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study discussed the potential of cemetery-based religious tourism as an economic development strategy, with the Sunan Ampel Cemetery in Surabaya, Indonesia, as a case in point. By analysing its marketing management strategies, the study demonstrates that successful tourism development requires more than just pulling in tourists; it requires an integrated approach that includes infrastructure and technology development, stakeholder collaboration, and local community involvement. With close to two million visitors each year, Sunan Ampel is an excellent example of the huge economic gains from successful religious tourism efforts. This paper emphasises the need to convert historical religious sites from passive …

Ijrtp Volume 13(Ii) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Darius Liutikas, Imam Wahyudi Karimullah, Sonny Elfiyanto

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Table of Contents for IJRTP Volume 13(ii)

Dark Tourism And ‘Partial Religiosity’: Ontological-Aesthetic Pilgrimage In Camiguin Island, Philippines, Jan Gresil Kahambing

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper theorizes the contrast between dark tourism and what is referred to as ‘partial religiosity’ in the context of travel to selected tourist destinations on Camiguin Island, Philippines. Also called ‘thanatourism’, dark tourism is about visiting places that challenge the value derived from the association with death either from tragedies of naturally occurring catastrophes (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or typhoons) or disasters produced by humans (such as genocides and violations of human rights). Focus is on three spots that sufficiently fit the description of dark tourist sites in Camiguin in the sense of naturally-caused disasters, namely: the Sunken …