Digital Commons Network^™

Diffusion Of The Decision To Drain Agricultural Land In Delaware County, Indiana, T. Silas Kasambira, Jr.

The Geographical Bulletin

The amount and quality of land are vital production factors in agriculture. In some Indiana counties, the agricultural land resource base is limited by the presence of excess water. The decision to drain potential agricul­tural land in Delaware County, In­diana, and the subsequent diffusion of that innovation has increased the amount and quality of land available for agriculture. Draining agricultural land is a practice which began in the eastern United States and diffused rapidly across the country during the 1800's. The practice was introduced into northern Indiana, which has a great deal of flat, marshy terrain as early as 1850. …

Editor's Comments, James W. Gallagher

The Geographical Bulletin

Whoops! Much to my surprise Volume 17 was not to be my last issue. This one is. Well, even though time has passed, my comments regarding our new Editor, Robert Ward, still apply. Please give him your support. Although his health did not allow him to be with us, I am pleased that GTU honored Dr. Buzzard on the 50th anniversary of the Society. Dr. Buzzard died this past summer and following this series of comments is Dr. Buzzard's last correspon­dence to GTU. I hope we will not forget his efforts to found our society; an effort which has been …

Jonas Wenger Hoover - 1889-1979 Dr. Commeaux, Malcolm Commeaux

The Geographical Bulletin

Jonas Wenger Hoover, a faculty member at Arizona State University from 1924 to 1943 died recently at the age of 90. His life was somewhat like a roller coaster, reaching highs and lows; for the first half of his life he was considered a gifted, in­telligent, and well-rounded man, and he was highly regarded as an author and teacher, but for much of his life he lived in obscurity and near the bottom of society. He is a forgotten man today, but his life can be a lesson to us all. Mr. Hoover was considered gifted in several respects. He …

Mastering Enterprise Networks-Security Textbook, Bernard Correa Iii, Kyle Wheaton, Nichole Thomas, Dante Rocca

Discovery Day - Prescott

Effective cybersecurity education requires theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare students for real-world challenges . While foundational concepts are presented in textbooks, many lack practical applications, resulting in insufficient preparation for troubleshooting and securing complex network systems. Additionally, as cybersecurity tools rapidly evolve, educational resources must be continuously updated to support relevance. To address this issue, Mastering Enterprise Networks 2nd Edition is being developed as an updated and expanded replacement aimed at enhancing cybersecurity education . The new edition builds upon the first version, which served as a comprehensive guide to building, securing, and attacking enterprise networks. A hands-on …

Rfid Security For Iot Airport Infrastructure, Owen Guerra-Mondragon Saenz, Aaron Tulino, Benjamin Higgins, Philippe Shchetinin, Sawyer Hansen

Discovery Day - Prescott

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses active and passive tags to communicate via radio signals at various frequencies. Currently, it is being used in several applications in areas like merchandise tracking during transit, inventory management, access control for authorized personnel, and data sharing via Near Field Communication (NFC). RFID technology is used in airports to track both people (passengers and employees) and luggage. For employees, RFID helps control access to specific areas based on their role or hierarchy within the organization, allowing them to enter restricted zones based on their permissions. For passengers, RFID plays a crucial …

An Exploration Of The Use Of Supplementary Materials By English Teachers In The Uae, Nour M. Hammo

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study explores the use of supplementary materials in English classrooms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), exploring their types, how teachers integrate them, and the challenges they encounter when implementing them in their English language classrooms. Using materials in language teaching and learning is important and widely recognized. Understanding these materials and their use is crucial as educational institutions evolve in teaching English, particularly in multicultural-speaking countries like the UAE.
The study employed a qualitative case study approach, collecting data through triangulation, which comprised classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and artifacts. Thematic analysis revealed patterns in the types of supplementary …

Facilitating Women's Success In Software Engineering Through The Exploration Of Non-Traditional Educational Environments, Fiya Clerget, Chanel Davis, Taylor Hobbs

Discovery Day - Prescott

STEM fields face persistent challenges with diversity, equity, and inclusion. For example, while women make up 56% of students enrolled in undergraduate degrees, women account for only 22% of the students in engineering programs. This number drops even further in the workforce, where women comprise only 15.9% of the engineering industry (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Consequently, the industry of equity-focused coding education has grown rapidly, leading to the rise of coding boot camps, workshops, and community-based coding education specifically designed to increase the participation of women and underrepresented programmers in tech (Rea, 2022; Jabbari, 2023). While the impacts …

Prescott Observatory Team For Analyzing Telescopically Observed Echelle Spectra, Kaitlyn Casciotti, Hailey Widger, Hailey Beier, Em Biegler, Taylor Brown, Jasmine Downing, Sami Garcia Flores, Maze Herr, Alex Mellot, Shannon Moore, William Punches, Blake Scheutz, Kaeya Siriam, Dario Walter-Cardona, Adler Williams

Discovery Day - Prescott

The Prescott Observatory Team for Analyzing Telescopically Observe d Echelle Spectra (POTATOES) has created a team of observers to utilize the campus observatory to collect data and train new observers . By teaching these skills earlier in their college careers, students are better prepared for creating and working on their own research projects in upcoming years. This year, POTATOES has collected both spectroscopic and photometric data on several Be stars and the massive binary WR 140. The team will look at the ways in which disks grow and dissipate spectroscopically and with brightness changes during times when the stars are …

Dentists Beyond The Chair: Caitlynn Haas, Dds, Holland, Mi, Rachel Sinacola Dds, Ms

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

"Dentists Beyond the Chair" focuses on the out of office interests and lifestyles of West Michigan dentists. This article features Dr. Caitlynn Haas: a Holland, MI dentist and fitness center owner.

2025 Silent Bell Recipient: Richard W. Panek, Dds

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

The West Michigan District Dental Society’s highest award is the Distinguished Service Award. This award, also known as the “Silent Bell,” is given to recognize contributions to organized dentistry. These contributions include service to dental professionals, patients, and the community.

Dr. Richard Walter Panek, a devoted oral surgeon and community leader, is honored with the 2025 Silent Bell Award. His life reflects compassion, practicality, and service, shaped by his Polish roots, faith, and deep commitment to family, dentistry, and the broader West Michigan community.

Wmdds Bulletin Winter 2025

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

In the Winter 2025 issue, the reader will find the following articles:

• 2025 Silent Bell Recipient: Richard W. Panek, DDS, as well as Silent Bell Night Celebration Highlights and a list of Past Recipients

• Dentists Beyond the Chair: Caitlynn Haas DDS, Holland, MI

Also included are your monthly tripartite update, news from West Michigan counties, the President's Message and Editor's Letter.

Nutrition Education Intervention For Patients Living With Hiv Attending An Outpatient Clinic In Dubai, Uae, Souheir Mahmoud Alia

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Nutrition is crucial to HIV/AIDS management. HIV affects the immune system, making infections and illnesses harder to resist. Despite the importance of nutrition for people living with HIV (PLHIV), there have been no studies of nutritional interventions for PLHIV in the MENA region. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the baseline status of PLHIV and the impact of a lifestyle intervention on various aspects of their health and lifestyle status, including nutritional knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), and intake of immune-boosting food/nutrients. Methods: Sixty-three patients attending an outpatient clinic in Dubai were randomly assigned to an intervention …

Association Between Arsenic And Other Heavy Metal Exposures Through Drinking Water And Food With Lung Function And Respiratory Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sofia I. Chapela Lara, Seth O'Neal Md, Mph For The Cysticercosis Working Group In Peru

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Impaired lung function is a major health concern, particularly in children, as it increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases and long-term morbidity. Environmental exposure to heavy metals (HMs) such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and manganese has been associated with reduced lung function and respiratory symptoms. However, findings vary by exposure context and population, with limited research in pediatric populations and few studies evaluating the combined effects of multiple HMs. These exposures disproportionally affect marginalized rural communities, especially in low and middle-income countries with mining activities. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between exposure to As and other HMs through …

Asynchronous Texture Creation For Unique Web Graphics Library Rendering, Iain Maclachlan Hamilton, Swati Ardeshna

Defensive Publications Series

Web-based diagrams can be useful for illustrating or viewing many types of information. However, unique elements in web-based diagrams can carry many attributes that define the elements, which can be difficult to render for large diagrams. An asynchronous image rendering technique is proposed herein that provides for the ability to improve rendering for web-based diagrams. The proposed technique may be particularly useful for scenarios in which a large number of elements are displayed on-screen.

Scaling Web Graphics Library Accessibility Screen Reader Support, Iain Maclachlan Hamilton, Swati Ardeshna

Defensive Publications Series

Proposed herein are techniques that provide for the ability to overcome the status quo of accessibility versus performance regarding utilization of Web Graphics Library (WebGL™) applications to facilitate screen reader support for such applications. Broadly, the proposed techniques provide a dynamic mapping framework that tightly manages Document Object Management (DOM) elements to represent interactive items within a WebGL-rendered topology diagram that eliminates the need for a 1:1 relationship between interactive WebGL elements and static DOM elements, which is a common source of performance degradation in accessible web applications. The proposed techniques may improve accessibility for networking diagrams and may also …

Techniques To Generate Integer Texture Identities To Improve User Interface Processing, Iain Maclachlan Hamilton, Swati Ardeshna

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are proposed herein that allow for faster processing of identifiers that are used in a user interface to assign virtual features. The improved processing can be enabled by representing cache identifiers (IDs) as integers rather than as strings.

Dynamic Creation Of Uml Diagrams Using Generative Ai, Shobhit Sahai Saxena, Irshad Alam, Vaibhav Sharma, Umesh Vats, Vijay Kumar Chundury

Defensive Publications Series

Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams are useful for visualizing system architectures and module correlations. However, manual creation of such diagrams can be tedious and time consuming. Techniques are proposed herein to leverage generative artificial intelligence (AI) to automate the creation and updating of UML diagrams, such as Class and Sequence diagrams, by dynamically analyzing codebases. This approach ensures accurate, up-to-date diagrams with approximately 80% efficiency, significantly reducing manual effort. By combining generative AI with dynamic code analysis, the proposed techniques generate comprehensive and accurate UML diagrams across multiple programming languages and frameworks, enhancing communication among stakeholders, improving software quality, maintainability, …

The Composite Projection System That Projects A Composite Virtual Content Viewing Area Where A One Central Area Will Be Surrounded By 4 Surrounding Areas., Punarjeewa Abeysekera

Defensive Publications Series

This paper describes a composite projection system that projects a composite virtual content viewing area where a one central area will be surrounded by 4 surrounding areas. The entire composite projection system will consists of a projection configuration that will project a single projection, a larger composite projection configuration that will project 2 concurrent projections and a smaller composite projection configuration that will project 2 concurrent projections. The entire composite projection system will have the capability to collectively project 5 projections where they will be visible as 5 virtual content viewing areas in the field of view of the user …

Assessing Behavioral Health Services In Oregon's Rural Health Clinics, Sanya M. Surya

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

The purpose of this research project was to conduct an assessment of the current state of Behavioral Health Services (BHS) in Oregon’s Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). This project was housed within and funded by a grant received by The Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH), an organization at OHSU with a mission to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of health care for rural Oregonians. In this project, I collected, compiled, and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data through a mixed-methods approach, using surveys and interviews, to evaluate the state and delivery of BHS in RHCs. Surveys and interviews aimed to …

Book Review: Jill Elaine Hasday, We The Men: How Forgetting Women's Struggles For Equality Perpetuates Inequality, Taylor King

ConLawNOW

This essay reviews Jill Elaine Hasday’s book, We the Men. It explains how Hasday traces key historical cases and stories of women’s demand for equality that have been forgotten. These important histories include the Nineteenth Amendment, Title VII equal employment, and the Equal Rights Amendment, among others. The book makes the claim that erasing women’s history is problematic for protecting gender equality in the future.

Expanded Patient Reach At New Student Run Free Medical Clinic Location, Olivia Krol, Hana Warmflash, Alex Foster

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Background: Critical to modern medical education, student run free medical clinics (SRFCs) are present at more than 75% of AAMC member institutions. SRFCs educate students while providing low-barrier, free healthcare to underserved populations. SRFCs provide unique leadership and health systems management opportunities not traditionally emphasized in training, including leading logistical and operational changes.

In this project, we highlight the impact of a student-led operational initiative that transitioned our clinic from the River District Navigation Center (RDNC) to the Resource Center (RC), improving accessibility.

Methods:

Deidentified patient data from medical clinics from January 2024 to February 2025 were analyzed using RStudio …

Sounds Of Battle And Battle Of Sounds: Belliphonic In Tolkien, Ali Mirzabayati

Journal of Tolkien Research

This paper explores the concept of the belliphonic—a term denoting the acoustic dimensions of warfare—within the context of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, focusing on the Battle of the Five Armies. While modern war studies have mainly centered on the mechanized soundscapes of twentieth-century conflict, this study engages with recent scholarly efforts to recover the sonic textures of medieval battle. Drawing on theories of wartime acoustics and examples from medieval literature, the paper examines how Tolkien, informed by his expertise in Old and Middle English texts and his lived experience in World War I, crafts a dynamic and psychologically …

Detection And Quantitation Of Drugs And Pesticides In Food Products Of The Uae (Dates And Camel Milk) By Liquid Chromatographic Techniques, Afnan W. Alanqar

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In this thesis the detection and quantification of the traces of multi-residue pesticides in 26 dates samples as well as the presence of the anthelmintic drug thiabendazole in pasteurized commercial milk consumed in the United Arab Emirates is examined. The main objective of this thesis is two folds. First is to determine whether a selected group of 12 pesticides of 8 different groups- in the case of dates- and the drug thiabendazole-in case of camel milk- exists in the randomly collected samples of corresponding matrices. Second, is to quantify these compounds and compare their amount to the established maximum residue …

Study Of Falaj Paths And Their Unknown Extension In Al Ain City Using Geophysical Methods, Saud Mohammed Alsenaani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Historically, the city of Al Ain has relied on its Falaj systems for freshwater, which is vital for drinking and irrigating its oases. These historic water resources have been essential for supporting life in the region for centuries, providing the foundation for communities and farming. The remarkable rainfall in 2024 uncovered several hidden ancient Falaj systems, and newly enlarged versions of previously recorded ones, highlighting the importance of ongoing research for their preservation. The research project aims to examine the current Falaj systems in Al Ain, particularly Falaj Mazyad, by applying geophysical methods to identify uncharted extensions. The aim of …

How Taste Shaped The Use Of Botanical Drugs, Marco Leonti

Oxford ICSB

The perception of taste and flavour (a combination of taste, smell and chemesthesis) also referred to as chemosensation, enables animals to find high-value foods and avoid toxins. Humans have learned to use unpalatable and toxic substances as medicines, yet the importance of chemosensation in this process is poorly understood. We generated tasting-panel data for botanical drugs and applied phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models to test whether intensity and complexity of chemosensory qualities as well as particular tastes and flavours can predict ancient Graeco-Roman drug use. We found chemosensation to be strongly predictive of therapeutic use: botanical drugs with high therapeutic …

Intersectional Experiences Of Stem Students With Disabilities, Sandy Heath, Jade Metzger, Tarah Loy-Ashe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities experience barriers to accessing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers during academic preparation for these careers. This pilot project explored the experiences of postsecondary STEM students who have a disability. The six students interviewed gave their insights into the need to further diversify who has access to STEM careers by describing that cultural and structural barriers posed more of a barrier than the course content during their STEM education. Academic preparation often starts in early childhood education with exposure to STEM topics and continues through postsecondary education. The implications impact both the individual student and society. …

Study Of The Extension Of Cavities In Jebel Hafeet By Implementing Geophysical Methods, Mai Rashed Alkaabi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Subsurface cavities pose challenges to the buildings and their stability, leading to ground instability and subsidence. In Al Ain City, UAE, particularly in Jebel Hafeet, cavities within carbonate formations and sedimentary rocks present risks to infrastructure and urban development. This study employs Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Gravity Surveys to detect, locate, and determine the depth of these cavities, enhancing geological understanding and geohazard assessment. The ERT survey, using a pole-dipole array, was conducted along eight lines to identify subsurface anomalies. It revealed high-resistivity anomalies (> 45 Ω·m), indicative of air-filled cavities, and low-resistivity zones (< 6 Ω·m), corresponding to water-saturated or clay-rich deposits. The ERT survey detected resistivity variations, highlighting anomalies ranging from 45 to 120 Ω·m at depths between 1 m and 17 m. The gravity survey, conducted at 28 stations, detected low-density anomalies, whichaligned with high-resistivity ERT zones, confirming subsurface cavities at depths between -20 m and -200 m (a.s.l.). Five 3D gravity inversion models visualized density variations, revealing cavities at different depths from 50 m to 250 m. The integration of ERT and gravity methods significantly improved cavity detection accuracy, demonstrating a strong correlation between low-density gravity anomalies and high-resistivity features. This study recommends increasing gravity station density and avoiding heavy infrastructure in cavity-prone areas. The findings contribute to the geological understanding of Jebel Hafeet, providing insights for sustainable urban planning, risk mitigation, and infrastructure safety in Al Ain City.

Ligo Mirror Birefringence Testing, Ambroise Juston, Ari Chai

Discovery Day - Prescott

Ever since the discovery of lasers in 1958, measurements - most notably those that use interferometry - have greatly advanced. Interferometry is the process of measuring or observing certain quantities/qualities through the use of interference of waves. Since light is a wave and lasers are simply and very focused and directed source of light that is very well characterized and controlled, the use of lasers in interferometry was quickly used as the new standard wave source. Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), as its name implies, is an interferometry device that uses the interaction of lasers with itself to observe the …

Determination Of The Effects Of Biogenic Metal Nanoparticles Concentrations On Soil Properties, Vicia Faba Growth And The Toxicity On Black Aphid, Ayoub Sabir Karim, Halala Rahman Qadr, Sakar Abdulqadr Saeed, Nashmeel Saeed Khudhur

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The development of nanomaterials could support more extensive agricultural uses, including nano-pesticides. Current study was conducted to observe the effects of different concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) on soil, faba bean and toxicity on black aphid (Aphis fabae). The synthesized ZnO NPs from Musa paradisiaca L. characterized by ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Transmission electron microscopy. Al₂O₃ NPs was prepared by calcination of Iraqi kaolin via evaporation process. Highest pH …

The Relevance Of Gut Microbiota For The Activity Of Herbal Drugs, Rudolf Bauer

Oxford ICSB

Despite intensive research, the active principles and mechanisms of action of many herbal drugs are still not clear. Moreover, the bioavailability of many polar plant constituents is rather limited, why they are not likely to act systemically. Therefore, alternative approaches to explain their activity have to be considered. Gut microbiota and the human body form a symbiosis which is essential for our health and well-being. Dysbiosis can lead to various diseases, like inflammation, obesity, asthma, diabetes, and even cancer. Therefore, gut microbiota are a relevant target for herbal drugs, and may help to understand their effects. For example, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii …