Digital Commons Network^™

Safety Effectiveness Of Unsignalized Restricted Crossing U-Turn (Rcut) Intersections In Mississippi Using Empirical Bayes Before After Study, Gaurav Aryal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

At-grade intersections on high-speed highways can be hazardous, particularly where lower-speed vehicles from minor roads must cross fast-moving traffic on major roads. To address this, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) converted more than 20 unsignalized rural and urban intersections to the Restricted Crossing U‐Turn (RCUT) configuration between 2012 and 2022. This study provides the first before-after safety evaluation of these implementations, applying three analytical approaches: naïve before-after annual crash frequency comparison, an Improved Prediction Method (that accounts for changes in duration and AADT in before vs. after period), and a rigorous Empirical Bayes (EB) framework considering two definitions of …

Levee Breach Analysis Using Numerical Simulation Aided By Machine Learning, Mudhaffer Alqudah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a multi-faceted framework for the prediction of geotechnical and hydraulic failure mechanisms in earthen structures, with a focus on levees and embankments. The study integrates laboratory testing, numerical modeling, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the assessment and forecasting of levee performance under static and dynamic loading conditions.

The first component of the research applies various machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of soils using basic geotechnical parameters. Experimental data from lab-tested soil mixtures were used to train and compare models including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Gradient Boosting, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Support …

Les Conditions De Vie De La Classe Ouvrière Dans Les Chefs-D’ Œeuvre De Ousmane Sembène, Sawel Awuni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Francophone African literature emerged as a vehicle for criticism of the colonial system, subsequently shifting its focus to neocolonialism as a new stage of imperialism. Literature and film served as instruments for critiquing imperialist structures, which engendered societal issues and fostered division among Africans. This study examines how Sembène’s books and films satirize society and their continued relevance to contemporary issues in the countries and cities depicted in these literary and cinematic works. To conduct this study, two books and a film were selected as primary sources: Le Docker Noir, Les Bouts de bois de Dieu, and “La Noire de…”. …

Because Kids: Improving Reading Outcomes For Students In A Low-Performing Rural School, Cornishee Jekee Bruce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this applied research study, I aimed to improve reading growth among at-risk, low-performing fifth and sixth-grade students at West Upper Elementary School, which was designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement school. I employed a data-driven decision-making framework, introduced the iReady reading computer program, and used high-quality instructional materials to address students' ongoing literacy issues. The research revealed a slight decline in the lowest reading percentiles by integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection methods through a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for continuous improvement. However, significant gains emerged in lower performance tiers, including significant decreases in the number of students at the …

Designing Security Primitives Using Digital And Analog Discrete-Time Chaotic Systems, Mrittika Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we explore the design of lightweight, reconfigurable, and entropy-rich security primitives using both digital and analog discrete-time chaotic systems. By leveraging the inherent unpredictability, sensitivity to initial conditions, and nonlinear dynamics of chaos theory, we present two distinct architectures: a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) built using digital chaotic maps and a physically unclonable function (PUF) constructed from a compact analog chaotic oscillator. Each system is tailored for efficient implementation on resource-constrained platforms while maintaining strong statistical and security properties.

Boundaries And Barriers: A Study On The Factors Influencing Bachelor’S Degree Attainment For Women In Arkansas At Regional Public Universities, Meagan Rochelle Bowling Fudge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arkansas consistently ranks among the bottom five states nationally for bachelor’s degree attainment. To explore the factors contributing to this trend and identify opportunities for increasing degree completion, this study focuses on women attending Regional Public Universities (RPUs) in Arkansas. By examining the barriers these women face, this research aims to uncover critical gaps and inform future areas for research, policy, and investment.

Women represent the largest segment of undergraduate enrollment in the state, consistently enrolling in college at higher rates than their male peers. RPUs enroll more bachelor's degree-seeking students than any other type of institution in Arkansas, including …

Multi-Hazard Analysis Of Bridges Under Seismic, Flood-Induced Scour, And Hydrodynamic Loading, Raul Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes pose significant threats to the resilience of highway transportation systems, particularly compromising the safety and serviceability of bridges. In regions susceptible to both seismic activity and flooding, the combined effects of earthquake loading, flood-induced scour, and hydrodynamic forces create a critical multi-hazard scenario. This research develops a comprehensive multi-hazard analysis framework to evaluate bridge performance under combined seismic and flood-induced hazards. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of representative three- and six-span steel girder bridges are developed and analyzed under varying scour depths and hydrodynamic loading conditions. Modal analysis, static pushover analysis, and non-linear …

Access To Pharmacies: Implications For Theory, Outcomes, And Policy, Emily Gravlee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation achieved the following objectives: (1) developed a patient-centered access to pharmacies framework; (2) evaluated the impact of pharmacy closures on immunization rates among Medicare beneficiaries; and (3) examined the influence of state-level pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulations on rates of pharmacy closures.

For objective 1, a grounded theory methodology was used to identify a patient-centered access to pharmacies framework (PcAP). This framework asserts that patients determine whether they have access to a pharmacy through evaluation of their characteristics, the characteristics of pharmacies, and their own needs or values within the context of a health-related need. This evaluation of …

Measuring The Dynamic Exponent Across The Excitation Spectrum Of The Fredkin Spin Chain, Coleman Kristopher Irby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spin chains are thoroughly studied models used throughout statistical physics. They make considerable simplifications to complex many-body systems that allow us to analyze complex behaviors such as phase transitions. With these large interacting systems, it is often impossible to solve them analytically. However, with the advent of digital computers, we are able to investigate these models numerically and to extrapolate to the thermodynamic limit. Our area of study concerns the Fredkin Spin Chain model. The Fredkin Spin Chain is a well studied model which has an exactly solvable ground state and an unusually large dynamical exponent, z. Much analysis has …

The Underrepresentation Of African American Male Educators In K-12 Education, Nisa Lewis Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American education system has struggled with a significant teacher shortage for years. Alongside this shortage is the underrepresentation of African American male teachers. Despite the increasing diversity of the student population, African American men make up less than 2% of teachers nationwide (Aftunion, 2020). This disparity denies all kids access to diverse perspectives in the classroom and limits the presence of role models for students of color. Research studies have shown that African American students who have African American teachers show improvement in their grades, standardized test scores, attendance records, and graduation rates (Breazeale, 2023). This study aimed to …

Asking Pharmacists About Over-The-Counter Oral Contraceptives: Intention Among Adolescents And Young Women, Ivy Leong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recent availability of over-the-counter oral contraceptives eliminates many barriers to accessing birth control. Even with this easier accessibility, pharmacists can still play an important role in educating users, especially adolescents and young adults. However, hesitation to reach out to pharmacists among younger populations has been documented. Additionally, little is known about the underlying driver of this hesitation.

This study aimed to examine predictors of young females’ willingness to seek assistance from pharmacists for over-the-counter oral contraceptive use and to determine the difference in the effect of these predictors between adolescents (age 16 to 17) and young women (age 18 …

Copulas And Applications Of The Multivariate Central Limit Theorem In Statistics, Mous-Abou Hamadou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We first investigate the mixing properties of copula-based Markov chains,

Secure Wireless Communication With Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces, Babita Pradhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the promising use of Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) for enhancing the security in wireless communication, this dissertation explores secure wireless communication facilitated by IRS to improve the secrecy rate of the system. We consider a multiple-input single-output (MISO) communication system supported by the IRS in the presence of a single legitimate user (Bob) and an illegitimate user (Eve).

First, we focus on maximizing the secrecy rate of the system through joint optimization of transmit beamforming and the phase shifts of the IRS elements. We examine two methods: (1) Method 1, which directly optimizes the secrecy rate as the objective …

Exploring Aging And Bone Health In Normal Weight Obesity And The Prevalence Of Unhealthy Lean Phenotypes, Pouria Sefidmooye Azar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a complex chronic condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat. While numerous studies have highlighted the risks of adverse complications associated with obesity, limited research has explored the relationship of body composition phenotypes, more specifically normal weight obesity with aging, and bone health. Also, the prevalence of unhealthy lean phenotypes in adults in the U.S. is not clear. A secondary-data analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 were performed to further examine the relationship between body composition phenotypes—normal weight lean (NWL), overweight/obesity with normal body fat percentage (OBL), normal weight obesity (NWO), …

A Profile Of Contempt: Its Expressive Function In The Age Of Profilicity, Eric Michael Servatius

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contempt permeates modern political discourse and popular media. Nevertheless, within the psychological and philosophical literature on reactive attitudes, moral emotions, and negative sentiments, contempt remains comparatively understudied. In this paper, I examine contempt’s intimate connection with social identity and argue that existing accounts of contempt largely overlook the broader social role it plays in a contemporary moment characterized by digital communication and fluid group dynamics. I contend that public expressions of contempt serve two primary expressive functions in modern society: (1) to signal group identification and (2) to enforce group norms—not for the target of contempt, but for third party …

An Examination Of Community Formation Through The Lens Of Transvestia Magazine, Amanda Elaine Shinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transvestia magazine was important for the creation of the modern transvestite community. This project shows how the editor of the magazine defined her readership and how the stories, letters to the editor, and advertisements published within the magazine helped to develop this sense of community within the readership. The contents of the magazine were tabulated into spreadsheets and counted along with relevant data, including word counts, what issues the items appeared in, where they appeared inside the magazine, etc. The first five years of the magazine were compared with the last five years, showing how it changed editors, length, frequency, …

A Catalyst For Change: A Program Evaluation Of Professional Learning Communities At Title I Elementary Schools, Sheila R. Wright

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation analyzed the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) in four Title I elementary schools within a North Carolina district. This study examined stakeholders' perceptions regarding the impact of the PLC framework on instructional practices, the significance of collective efficacy within the framework, and the characteristics that define an effective PLC, as defined by Hord's (1997) five dimensions. The North Carolina Educator Effectiveness System (NCEES) requires educators in North Carolina to implement PLCs to promote collaboration and improve student achievement (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 2018). The study's results were utilized to assess stakeholders' perceptions …

Factors That Motivate Special Education Teachers To Stay In Their Profession In A Rural South Carolina School District, Sherrod J. Davis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was designed to contribute to our understanding of the different motivating factors that contribute to the long-term retention of special education teachers after they have been in the field for over 5 years. They set out to ascertain predominant mechanisms that motivate these teachers to stay in their positions as well as to inform on the associated struggles and support structures that are helping to both retain their teaching workforce as well as to support their commitment to their teaching lives. Using a descriptive convergent parallel mixed methods design, the study combined quantitative data from online surveys with …

A Phenomenological Study On The Assistant Principal's Preparation For Culturally Responsive Leadership, Lakechisa Phillips

Doctor of Education Dissertations

American public schools today are facing an influx of a more diverse student population. This diversity, driven by changes in demographics, is impacting our public schools and the administration of those schools. The role of the assistant principal in promoting culturally responsive leadership in those schools is critically needed. This study explored the significance of culturally responsible leadership by assistant principals and how that leadership can impact student engagement and the culture and climate of the school. The literature review highlighted the importance of administrators having the time and training to become culturally responsive leaders. Twelve administrators were interviewed to …

Exploring Commonalities Of Effective Elementary Teachers, Doneen Johnson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Low performing schools have consistently faced challenges in narrowing the achievement gap and meeting the needs of diverse learners, especially those living in high poverty situations. Effective teaching can significantly influence student outcomes and positively shape students’ academic trajectories through the use of high-impact strategies and relationship-centered instruction. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to define and understand the characteristics of effective teachers, investigate the perceptions of effective teachers about the reasons for their success, and identify the strategies effective teachers use to support students in low performing elementary schools in a North Carolina school district. Quantitative data sources included a …

Through Their Own Eyes: A Mixed Methods Study On Perceptions And Reflections Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy Of North Carolina Elementary School Teachers, Bria C. Wright

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Historical inequities disproportionately impacting historically marginalized communities continue to persist in classrooms today. Culturally responsive teaching plays an important role in addressing these inequities by recognizing and affirming diverse cultural identities. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary school teachers’ culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy (CRTSE) perceptions. This mixed methods convergent parallel study examined CRTSE across five domains: culturally congruent instruction, cross-cultural communication, culturally relevant curricula, cultural diversity knowledge, and cultural caring learning communities. Quantitative data were collected from 147 North Carolina elementary teachers using the CRTSE Scale, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 16 participants. …

Dwelling Overheating In Risk In Cool Climates: Assessing The Risk In The Context Of Retrofit And Climate Change In Ireland, M. Mulville, S. Harrington, C. Li, K. Raushan, E. Essien-Thompson, C. Ahern

Articles

No abstract provided.

Symposium Transcript, In Re Opioid Litigation: The Trial Phase, Rodger D. Citron

Touro Law Review

In October 2023, Touro Law Center held a two-day conference on “The Past and Future of Opioid Litigation.” The inspiration for the conference was an extraordinary five-month jury trial in Suffolk County presided over by Hon. Jerry Garguilo. The trial, which was the first in the United States to include all parties in the pharmaceutical supply chain, from manufacturers to wholesale distributors to retail sellers, began in the summer of 2021. Ultimately, in 2022, the case settled. This allowed Judge Garguilo and attorneys from the case – Jayne Conroy, who represented one of the plaintiffs, Suffolk County, and Harvey Bartle, …

Opioid Settlements And Profitable Public Nuisances, Clayton J. Masterman

Touro Law Review

The global settlements between state and local governments and opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers require opioid defendants to transform their businesses and pay more than $40 billion to abate the ongoing opioid epidemic. The $40 billion in abatement funds is a substantial pool of money that is likely to help states combat opioid use and abuse. Large as the payments are, however, they are significantly smaller than the profits that the opioid defendants made over the course of the epidemic or the total harm that they caused. This Article argues that the global opioid settlements incentivize future defendants to create …

Masthead

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Controlling The Mischief Of New York’S Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act Through Constitutional Pre-Emption, Shelby D. Green

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Recent Advances In Examining The Factors Influencing The Efficacy Of Biocides Against Listeria Monocytogenes Biofilms In The Food Industry: A Systematic Review, Michael Arthur, Edmund Larbi Afari, Elena‐Alexandra Alexa, Mei‐Jun Zhu, Michael T. Gaffney, Jesus Maria Frias Celayeta, Catherine M. Burgess

Articles

Controlling Listeria monocytogenes and its associated biofilms in the food industry requires various disinfection techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological treatments. Biocides, owing to their ease of use, cost-effectiveness, dissolvability in water, and efficacy against a wide range of microorganisms, are frequently selected options. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised about their efficacy in controlling L. monocytogenes biofilm, as laboratory-based and commercial studies have reported the persistence of this bacterium after cleaning and disinfection. This review systematically examined scientific studies, sourced from the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases between January 2010 and May 2024, that investigated the effectiveness of …

Notre Dame Lawyers Connect: Winter 2025, Notre Dame Law School

Notre Dame Lawyers Connect

Special Education Law Clinic launched to support families of children with disabilities

Dean G. Marcus Cole: State of the Law School for Alumni

Inaugural Justice Amy Coney Barrett Moot Court Tournament at Notre Dame Law School culminates in strong competition and awards top teams

Notre Dame Law School delegation visits Strathmore Law School, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and the University of Cape Town

Notre Dame Lawyer Magazine

Upcoming Events

• Notre Dame Affinity Alumni Reunion Weekend: March 21-22, 2025
• Save the Date: 2025 Law Homecoming Weekend September 19 & 20

Faculty - Rev. Patrick E. Reidy, C.S.C., and Nell …

The Shift Towards Resilience: Disaster Risk Reduction (Drr) In The International And Regional Legal Frameworks, Eleni Polymenopoulou, Flavia Zorzi Giustiniani

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

This article provides an overview of the legal framework applicable in the event of disasters, with an emphasis on resilience and disaster risk reduction (DRR). It provides an overview of the emergence and nature of International Disaster Law (IDL), and the inclusion of DRR in this context. It further explores the array of international and regional standards applicable in the event of disasters, including the International Law Commission (ILC) Draft articles and recent efforts in the context of the European Union (EU) and South-East Asia for a more concerted approach. The chapter further provides examples from the practice of international …

Parallel Proceedings In International And Domestic Courts On Protecting The Environment: Challenges And Opportunities, Milena Sterio

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

This Article analyzes international and regional court cases and requests for advisory opinions regarding the scope of states’ obligations under international law to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change. In fact, such cases have been decided, or are pending, before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. In addition, similar cases have been litigated before domestic jurisdictions, in the courts of the United States, Germany, and Colombia. These cases–parallel proceedings–have the potential to clarify the scope …