Digital Commons Network^™

Discrepancies In Pediatric Oral Health, Tyler B. Truong

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

In 2024, data was collected by the CDC on untreated tooth decay. From that data, children living in low-income households had an estimated 18.8% of tooth decay untreated, almost triple the amount when compared to children from middle to high income households (6.6%). As the income disparity continues to grow in the US, it is critical that we implement strategies to aid lower income communities in providing their children with proper oral hygiene tactics. In order to understand how communities can help promote healthy oral hygiene for their children, a survey of dentists from various areas was conducted to see …

Behind The Self-Report: Cognitive Symptoms And Moderating Variables During Covid-19 Quarantine, Ashley H. Jo

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

A lesser-known impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is the impairment of cognitive functioning among seemingly unsusceptible, healthy, and young populations. Research suggests that the circumstances of extreme social isolation, incited by the pandemic, have had significantly negative effects across various social, cognitive, and psychological dimensions, with a specific focus on adolescents who are at a unique and more extreme risk than adults and children. By applying the cognitive load theory (CLT) to the COVID-19 quarantine landscape, this study measured the effects of the COVID-19 quarantine on cognitive functioning among those who were adolescents and young adults at the time …

Breaking Down A.B.C.D. (American Born Confused Desi): Dual Identity Struggles & Mental Health Outcomes In South Asian American Youth, Sanchi Kohli, Desiree Crevecoeur-Macphail

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

South Asian American youth are an understudied population in mental health-related research. When looking at data, we saw that in Asian American youth, suicide is the leading cause of death. The current study examined South Asian youth mental health and the confounding factors that lead to suicidality. Including parental pressures, dual identity struggles, and internalized racism. This was done specifically under the guidance of Benet-Martínez & Haritatos’ (2005) theory of Bicultural identity integration. The study described how individuals with compatible or opposing cultural identities perceived their dual identities. In the case of this study, we identified whether South Asian American …

“Sink Or Swim” : Autonomy And Hustle Culture As Products Of Negotiations Between Restaurant Servers And Restaurant Structure, Coco Ridge

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Industrial and white-collar work has been thoroughly examined as exploitative and alienating in the sociological study of work. As the nature of work rapidly evolves, service work has emerged as the dominant sector of the economy. The literature identifies significant structural differences in service work, which complicate the historical understanding of workers’ experiences. Existing food service ethnographies have found that workers ultimately experienced autonomy in their work across varying conditions. I seek to examine how restaurant servers experience their work within the restaurant structure. This ethnography examines a large brewery in Orange County, CA, drawing on four months of detailed …

Blue, Red, And Bordered, Estefania Morales Vilchis

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The paper will explore the various social and individual variables that will impact how people perceive immigration as either beneficial to society or a societal threat. Some of the primary variables that will be examined in detail are one’s political affiliation, age, and geographical location; this will address the profound "why" behind our current beliefs on newcomers. The study will particularly address the "Contact Hypothesis" versus "Group Threat Theory" through the lens of how one's personal experiences with immigrants, or lack of, will shape public opinion. The study will focus on the rising psychological issue of "demographic anxiety", specifically, fears …

Kl Dra As A Benchmark Laboratory For Accretion-Disk Physics: Constraints From Tess And Ground-Based Surveys, Luis E. Salazar Manzano, Liliana E. Rivera Sandoval, Jean-Marie Hameury, Craig O. Heinke, Iwona Kotko, Thomas J. Maccarone, Manuel Pichardo Marcano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present the longest-term optical analysis of the AM CVn system KL Dra using ∼11 yr of monitoring from TESS and wide-field ground-based surveys. The continuous TESS coverage allows us to characterise its frequent outbursts with unprecedented detail, providing the first comprehensive study of an AM CVn during outbursts and enabling detailed modelling of these systems. The superoutbursts in KL Dra generally include a precursor and are followed by a series of rebrightenings after which a sequence of 3–4 large amplitude normal outbursts is observed. We fit parametric profiles to each superoutburst component (precursor, rise to plateau, plateau, and decay), …

Characterizing Core Outcomes Of Responsible Stewardship For Human Genomic Data In The Cloud, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Bronwyn Walsh, Heidi L Rehm, Mildred Cho, Amy L Mcguire

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

We present findings from a scoping review of the genomic data sharing literature used to inform a core outcomes set for responsible data stewardship in the cloud. Genomic and related health data stemming from government funded research have undergone mass migration to the cloud where they can be more securely stored, accessed, and analyzed within shared computing environments. While this migration reflects a shift in privacy and security infrastructure for cloud-based repositories as oversight becomes more globalized, it also necessitates new data stewardship responsibilities to align authorized data access with ethical data use. Responsible data stewardship refers to the ethical …

The Narrative Style In Abdo Khal’S Novel “Throwing Sparks”, Saeed Hadi Saad Alqahtani

UB Journal for Humanities

This study investigates the narrative configuration of Throwing Sparks by Abdo Khal through a contemporary narratological lens, employing the analytical framework of Gérard Genette. It addresses a critical gap in Saudi novel criticism, where thematic approaches predominate at the expense of systematic analysis of narrative techniques. Adopting a qualitative narratological methodology, the study examines temporal structure (order, duration, frequency), spatial construction, characterization, focalization, and linguistic style to uncover the mechanisms through which meaning is generated. The findings reveal a complex narrative system structured around layered temporal disruptions, spatial binaries that encode social hierarchy, and sustained internal focalization through a morally …

Belief That God Believes In His Servants As Described In The Prophetic Tradition "An Objective Study", Ahmed Bin Mashi Bin Awda Al-Anzi

UB Journal for Humanities

This research explores Manifestations of God’s sufficiency for His believing servants as mentioned in the Prophetic Sunnah. It highlights that this sufficiency represents one of the highest levels of trust (tawakkul) and faith in Allah. The study explains that Allah’s sufficiency covers all aspects of a servant’s life—religious, worldly, sustenance, protection, victory, and the prevention of harm and attainment of benefit. The paper analyzes various hadiths that demonstrate Allah’s sufficiency for those who rely on Him, such as the saying: “Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal wakeel (Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs),” and the famous …

Satire In Classical Criticism: A Reading Of The Book Uncovering The Equals Of Al-Mutanabbi’S Poetry By Al-Sahib Ibn ‘Abbad, Jihan Bint Saad Bin Rashid Al-Hazzani

UB Journal for Humanities

Despite the abundance of writings about Al-Mutanabbi by his adversaries, he remained a uniquely distinguished poet whose creativity is clearly manifested in his poetry. Within this context, the treatise of Al-Sahib ibn Abbad, Revealing the Flaws of Al-Mutanabbi’s Poetry, emerges as a critical attempt aimed at evaluating his poetry. However, it does not rely on a balanced and objective critical perspective.Ibn Abbad heavily depended on the use of satire as a principal critical tool in his treatise. This approach can be attributed to the nature of the Abbasid era, which witnessed a flourishing of literary criticism, where satire emerged …

The Importance Of Enhancing Heart’S Servitude In Raising Children, Alaa Abdullah Ajaj

UB Journal for Humanities

This study, entitled “The Importance of Enhancing Heart’s Servitude in Raising Children” addresses the significance and necessity of fostering the servitude of the heart in the upbringing of children. It aims to highlight the evidences supporting this concept from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, as well as to identify the means that facilitate its development and the consequences of neglecting it in the educational process. The researcher adopts an inductive, analytical, and inferential methodology. The study is structured into an introduction and four main sections: (1) the importance of childhood as a stage for instilling creed, (2) the …

The Spatial And Temporal Weeping Over Ruins A Reading Of The Poem “On The Heights Of Pain”, Sami Bin Saleh Bin Yahya Al-Ghamidi

UB Journal for Humanities

This study, entitled “The Spatial and temporal weeping over ruins”A reading of the poem “On the Heights of Pain’ by the Poet Saleh Al-Zahrani,” aims to explore the features of pain in contemporary Saudi poetry through an approach that examines grief and lamenting the ruins, and their creative impact on Saleh Al-Zahrani’s poetry. The reading, in its essence, is suggestively directed towards psychological and stylistic horizons this is what is brewing in the poet’s consciousness and what is happening with the reasons for vision and formation towards the poetic self and its relationship with the other in multiple contexts, the …

Analisis Kesenjangan Ketahanan Daerah Dan Risiko Bencana Serta Rekomendasi Berbasis Masyarakat Di Kabupaten Kebumen, Cahyo Riyadi

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

Kebumen Regency is one of the regions in Central Java with high disaster risk. Its Regional Resilience Index (IKD) reached the high category (0.93 in 2025). However, the Disaster Risk Index (IRB) continues to fluctuate in the moderate category (78.88 in 2025). This condition indicates a gap between strengthening institutional capacity and reducing disaster risk. This study aims to analyze the causal factors of this gap and formulate priority policy alternatives to strengthen the linkage between regional resilience and disaster risk reduction. The research employs a descriptive-analytical approach based on secondary data and the USG (Urgency, Seriousness, Growth) method to …

Coal Ash-Derived Aluminosilicate Precursors: A Chemical Engineering Approach To Geopolymer Characterization, Hafiz Abdul Basit, Abdullah Bashir, Abdur Raafey

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The chemical and microstructural evaluation of coal-derived aluminosilicate precursors is critical for understanding their suitability in advanced construction material systems. In this study, a characterization of Class F fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and Silica Fumes (SF) was conducted to elucidate their morphological and elemental features. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess particle morphology and surface characteristics (porosity, particle diameter, particle geometry), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to determine elemental composition and distribution. The analysis revealed distinct morphological and compositional differences among the precursors, including spherical fly ash particles, calcium-rich slag phases, and ultra-fine silica …

State Permitting Program Update, Jessica Reiss

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

State Permitting Program Update Jessica L. Reiss, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, 11 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 KEYWORDS: states, permitting, permit program, rulemaking ABSTRACT At the end of 2016, the United States Congress authorized states to establish permit programs for coal combustion residuals (CCR) surface impoundments and landfills.[1] Since then, several states have established such programs, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has approved programs for Oklahoma,[2] Georgia,[3] Texas,[4] and North Dakota,[5] proposed approval for Wyoming,[6] and denied approval for Alabama.[7] Other states, such as Indiana,[8] are actively working through the state rulemaking process and plan …

Zero-Waste And High-Value Valorization Of Coal Combustion Residues Via Critical Minerals Recovery And Cementitious Materials Production, Hongyan Ma

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Coal combustion residues (CCRs) pose significant environmental and disposal challenges, yet they also represent an untapped resource rich in aluminosilicates and critical minerals. This work presents a zero-waste, high-value valorization pathway that integrates critical mineral recovery with the production of cementitious materials. Advanced separation and extraction techniques are employed to recover strategically important elements such as gallium and rare earths, while the mineral-rich residues are simultaneously processed into supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) for blended cements and concretes. This integrated approach not only offsets the environmental burden of CCR disposal but also supports domestic supply chains of critical minerals and reduces …

Revolutionizing Closure Systems: The Performance Advantages Of Structured Geomembranes, Scott Perugia

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Coal combustion residual (CCR) containment facilities have traditionally been closed using methods that have changed little over several decades, but structured geomembranes are now reshaping closure design by improving slope stability, increasing interface friction, enhancing drainage, and providing long-term durability. Two systems are emerging as leading solutions: a structured geomembrane paired with a geotextile and vegetative cover, and a structured geomembrane paired with engineered turf. This presentation compares these approaches using field performance data, laboratory testing, and lessons learned, with emphasis on key factors such as infiltration control, drainage efficiency, slope stability, constructability, and regulatory compliance. The engineered turf system …

Developing Concentrated Brines / Salt Slurries For Disposal Of Coal Ash Wastewaters., Lance Edling

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

If coal ash wastewater is not fully concentrated to the greatest extent possible, then this results in greater disposal volumes and costs. However, concentrating a wastewater stream high in scaling compounds can be difficult. Membranes are prone to scale and Vacom thermal systems are higher in operating cost. This presentation will discuss the need to minimize disposal volumes by concentrating wastewater that is readily prone to scale and foul. The discussion will present past project examples of waste streams that were concentrated until salt crystals formed and the method used to minimize fouling and scaling during the concentration process. In …

Recinis™ Wet Beneficiation Process For Landfilled Coal Ash, Tim Sambrook

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The decline of coal-fired power generation has reduced fresh “Run-of-Station” ash availability, increasing reliance on reclaimed ash from landfills to meet supplementary cementitious material (SCM) demand. This shift has lowered OPC replacement rates and raised concrete costs due to inconsistent ash quality. ReCinis™ offers a low-capex wet beneficiation solution for landfill-aged, saturated, and variable-quality coal ash. With over 5 billion tons of ash impounded in the U.S., this process enables long-term supply security where dry beneficiation is unsuitable. Combining proven mineral processing techniques with coal ash expertise, ReCinis™ can be deployed as a 150,000 tpa skid-mounted plant or scaled to …

Lessons Learned From A Full-Scale Discrete In-Situ Stabilization Project For Ccr Impoundment Closure, Tony Moran, Paul Jennings, Jacob Susser, Tim Silar

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

ENTACT, in collaboration with Silar Services, Inc., the patent holder of Discrete In-Situ Solidification (DISS) technology, has successfully performed a full-scale implementation of DISS in a Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) impoundment. DISS hydraulically isolates ash from surrounding groundwater by constructing a low-permeability barrier at the impoundment bottom to treat a layer of ash and tying into underlying natural soil layers. DISS enables targeted stabilization within a designated treatment zone, minimizing the disturbance of overburden compared to traditional excavation methods and reducing the use of costly cementitious reagents. The process starts with Reagentless Drilling of the overburden CCR utilizing a specialized …

From Clogs To Compliance: Overcoming Persistent Leachate Head Issues In Ccr Landfills, Breanne Kahnk, Zachary Bauman

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

State and federal regulations require that landfills, including coal combustion residual (CCR) landfills, be designed and operated to maintain leachate head levels of less than 30 centimeters (approximately 1 foot). While proper leachate collection system design and routine maintenance are critical for meeting this requirement, challenges such as clogging of drainage media, pipes, fittings and/or pipeline perforations, settlement of collection pipes, and breaks in the piping system can lead to elevated leachate levels, posing risks to compliance and long-term system performance. TRC will provide an overview of leachate collection system regulatory requirements along with design, operation, and maintenance strategies that …

Plasma Coal Ash Processing For Enhanced Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements & Precious Metals: Proven From R&D To Commercial Plants, George Paskalov, Victoria Campbell, Jason Honigberg

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Our Radio-frequency Plasma System is an ash pretreatment before the application of extractive metallurgy and addresses current elemental, methodological, and technological limitations of complex and refractory coal ash. Our system data shows from 10-20% improved recovery, to 9x-100x. RFP can access all metals contained in coal ash. Our focus is not on the alteration of established methodologies, such as cyanidation for non-refractory ore, which has a proven return and capacity to achieve target revenue at-scale. Using the RFP systems, no waste is created, overburden can be more easily dealt with, and no metal content will be left behind. We assert …

Probing The Critical Element Chemistry Of Coal-Combustion Fly Ash: Electron Microbeam Investigations Of The Spent Ash From The Pilot-Scale Acid Extraction Of Rare Earth Elements From A Beneficiated Kentucky Fly Ash, James Hower

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Fly ash derived from the combustion of an eastern Kentucky high volatile bituminous coal blend was beneficiated to yield a <75-μm product with a reduction in the carbon and spinels and reacted with a strong acid in a pilot-scale unit to extract rare earth elements. Electron microscopy showed a wide range of rare earth-bearing minerals. The acid-extracted fly ash had a rim that was depleted in REE and in most other elements except silicon.

Providing Perspective On Arsenic Risks In The Human Health Risk Evaluation Of Coal Combustion Products (Ccps), Ari Lewis

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Arsenic has been a key risk factor in the evaluations for the 2015 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule and the recent “Legacy Rule”, which addresses areas of historical CCP placement not covered by the 2015 rule. These risk assessments concluded that cancer risks from arsenic in various waste management scenarios exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) target of 1 in 100,000 excess lifetime cancer cases, forming part of the basis for national CCP regulations. However, background exposure to naturally occurring arsenic in food, water, and soil also exceeds permissible levels, complicating risk conclusions. The USEPA's recent revision of arsenic …

Cadencias, No. 2 (2013-2014)

Cadencias

The full issue of Cadencias from the 2013-2014 academic year, including the sections:

• Hojas breves: Recuerdos, anécdotas y visiones nuevas
• Tiempo de análisis
• Hispanic Studies: Celebraciones Festividades Eventos

Standardization Of Coal Ash Testing, Classification, And Harvesting, Benjamin Gallagher, Chris Frishcosy, Eric Hageman

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Standards such as product specifications, test methods, practices and guides play a crucial role in supporting both commerce and science. Standardization helps build consistency and reliability whether it pertains to the performance of an ingredient in a product or in the measurement of a material characteristic. Coal combustion products, such as coal ash and synthetic gypsum, exhibit unique characteristics and many standard have been developed to characterize these materials and support their beneficial use. ASTM is a voluntary, consensus-based organization, and publishes many standards related to coal combustion products. Currently, there are seven ASTM standards related to chemical analysis of …

Leachate Quantification And Reduction – One Facility’S Path To Zld, Cedric Ruhl

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) that govern liquids discharged from energy production facilities. According to the ELG, energy production facilities that burn coal beyond December 31, 2034 must convert to a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system by December 31, 2029*. This presentation focuses on one coal-burning facility’s strategy to meet ZLD requirements. The predominant source of liquid that will be treated by the proposed ZLD system is leachate from an active coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill. Is the ZLD’s design capacity suitable for average leachate flow conditions? Is there enough leachate storage volume to manage …

Ai-Guided Upcycling Of Coal Combustion Residues In Blended Cement And Concrete, Hongyan Ma

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Coal combustion residues (CCRs), including fly ash, bottom ash, desulfurization gypsum, etc., on specification or off-specification, remain an abundant yet underutilized byproduct of power generation. While these materials have long been considered as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), their variable chemical and physical characteristics limit broader adoption in blended cement and concrete. This study introduces an AI-guided framework to accelerate the upcycling of CCRs into high-performance construction materials. By integrating materials informatics, machine learning models, and experimental validation, the framework enables rapid property prediction and performance-based preprocessing recommendation or mix design optimization for diverse CCR sources. Preliminary results demonstrate the ability …

Comparison Of Residuals From Neighboring Power Stations With Different Coal Combustion Technologies, Allan Kolker, Denise Levitan, Brett Valentine

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Due to the ongoing need for critical minerals, coal combustion residuals (CCR), like fly ash, have been evaluated as a potential source of critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements (REEs). Previous studies have found that REEs in fly ash are largely contained within aluminosilicate glass from which they are difficult to extract. However, these studies have predominantly studied CCR from conventional pulverized coal fired (PCF) plants. PCF plants use higher temperatures (≥1300°C) than do circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) plants (~900-950°C). Samples of feed coal, fly ash, and bottom ash were collected from two adjacent Vietnamese coal-fired power stations, one with a …

Impacts Of Updating Background Groundwater Statistics For Ccr Compliance, May Raad, Molly Reeves

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

In 2017, many power utilities adopted statistical methods to comply with the EPA’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule under the Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System. By 2017–2018, most owners completed initial statistical evaluations for detection and assessment monitoring to meet CCR deadlines. Groundwater sampling and analysis requirements in Parts 257.95, 257.98, and 257.102 are critical for compliance, yet implementation is complex. Subsections 257.93(f) and (g) lack clarity on which statistical tests to apply or how to address distributions and outliers. Additionally, the Rule does not specify when or how to update background threshold values (BTVs), though EPA’s Unified Guidance …