Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Analysis Of Groundwater Vulnerability And Pfas Contamination In Maine, Eli Boesch Dining

Standard Theses

As more information is learned regarding the long-term health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), increasing regulatory measures are being taken to protect the public from these chemicals. States like Maine are on the forefront of such legislation, banning land-applied biosolids in 2022 for fear of PFAS contamination, with plans to halt sales of all unnecessary PFAS products in the state by 2030. The state has conducted some testing of groundwater supplies, but the near-ubiquitous nature of PFAS in manufacturing indicates contamination may be widespread. To prioritize testing in Maine’s most vulnerable aquifers, a groundwater susceptibility map has been …

8,000 Years Of Forests In Maine: A Story Told By The Eastern Hemlock, Sugar Maple, And American Chestnut, Catherine (Cici) Conroy

Standard Theses

Forests have dominated Maine’s landscapes since the recession of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The outmigrations of glaciers gave way to a tundra environment, later transforming into the northern hardwood forests. Trees such as the Eastern hemlock, sugar maple, American chestnut, Eastern white pine, and brown ash form unique relationships with plants, fungi, animals, and humans. This paper examines the unique history of Maine’s forests from 8,000 years ago to today, emphasizing the changes brought by European colonization. Big history argues that history should be studied at large time scales, ranging from thousands to even millions or billions of years. It …

Understanding And Quantifying Phosphorus Transport From Septic Systems To Lake Auburn, Evan Ma

Standard Theses

Rural areas often use septic systems to treat household wastewater, which may pose a phosphorus (P) loading risk to nearby water bodies if systems fail or if the soil types are unsuitable for P retention. In the Lake Auburn watershed, septic systems may be a source of phosphorus loading to Lake Auburn, an unfiltered drinking water supply. Site evaluations from municipal permits reveal patterns of septic system locations and soil types in septic drain fields. Many septic drain fields have shallow depths to groundwater or a restrictive layer, which may lead to inadequate P retention in the soil. Areas with …

Management Recommendations To Facilitate Wild And Farmed Scallop Fishery Co-Existence In The Gulf Of Maine, Alysse E. Cleasby

Standard Theses

The established Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) inshore fishery and the growing scallop aquaculture industry compete for access to marine space and scallop larval resources in the Gulf of Maine. Entities concerned with scallop resource management (Maine Department of Marine Resources and fisheries-focused NGOs) are interested in solutions to facilitate wild-aquaculture co-existence. One such NGO, the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), launched a collaborative research project in 2022 to determine the abundance and distribution of scallop larvae along the Maine coast, involving scallop fishermen and farmers in the process to begin co-existence conversations. Using this project as a case …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Rosemary Essential Oil On The Shelf Life Of Ground Beef Under Different Lighting Conditions, Jordan Looper

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of rosemary extract on the shelf life of ground beef patties under different retail display conditions. Ground beef patties were produced from an 85% lean and 15% fat blend purchased from a local grocery retailer, finely ground through a 0.953 cm plate and separated into 151.2 g patties (n=64). Patties were randomly assigned into a control group (no antioxidants added) or a 0.20% concentration rosemary extract group. Patties were individually packaged using polyvinyl chloride overwrap. Antioxidant and control patties were randomly assigned into one of two lighting intensity …

Psychometric Evaluation Of Phq–9 And Gad–7 Among Community Health Volunteers And Nurses/Midwives In Kenya Following A Nation-Wide Telephonic Survey, Sabina Odero, Paul Mwangi, Rachel Odhiambo, Brenda Nzioka, Constance Shumba, Eunice Ndirangu, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Nurses/midwives and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are exposed to chronic stressors putting them at risk of developing mental health problems. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited empirical evidence of the burden of mental health problems among health care workers partly due to the lack of adequately standardized and validated measures for use among health care workers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to perform the psychometric evaluation of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 administered to nurses/midwives and CHVs across 47 counties in Kenya.

Methods: Between June and November 2021, a national survey on mental well-being …

Integrated Deterrence And Cyberspace: Selected Essays Exploring The Role Of Cyber Operations In The Pursuit Of National Interest, Joseph L. Billingsley, Heidi K. Kerg , Usn, Jim Q. Chen, Michael Navicky, Benjamin Tkach, J.D. Work

Strategic Monographs

This edited volume represents an important contribution to our thinking on cyberspace and national security. It also serves as one example of an enduring and fruitful relationship between the U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and the College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) at the National Defense University (NDU).

Periacetabular Osteotomy With Tibial Derotation And Fai Repairs As A Treatment For Symptomatic Hip Dysplasia In An Athlete: A Case Study, Marlie M. Maanum

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: This case study details a 16-year-old patient following periacetabular osteotomy surgery with labral repair and tibial derotation. In reading this case, you will learn about interventions performed and ideas to consider for any patient hoping to return to sports following orthopedic procedures.

Case Description: Throughout the rehabilitation there was a large focus on the patient returning to sports, specifically basketball. The physical therapy prescription focused on mobility and strengthening of the entire lower extremity due to this surgery’s aggressive nature at the ankle and hip joint. It is accepted throughout the orthopedic world that there …

The Effect Of Physical Therapy Intervention On Fatigue, Balance, Depression And Quality Of Life In Clients Following Medical Treatment For Cancer: A Pilot Study, Mckenna N. Johnson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

People who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatment are at great risk for developing long-term side effects such as fatigue, balance deficits, depression, and decreased quality of life months and even years following treatment. With approximately 16.9 million people in the United States with a history of invasive cancer, and an expected steady increase in this number in the coming years, a better understanding of these side effects and how they can be treated would be instrumental for health care professionals. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of exercise intervention on fatigue, …

Connecting Eastern And Western Massachusetts With High Speed Rail, Mary Piecewicz, An Pham

School of Professional Studies

No abstract provided.

Building A Representative Workforce: How We Can Help Our Gateway Cities Recruit And Retrain Employees Reflective Of Their Communities, Jessica Lynn Feldman, Andrew J. Russo

School of Professional Studies

No abstract provided.

2023-May-01-Etsu/Norc Study Finds Rural People Face Greater Challenges To Substance Use Disorder Treatment, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – In early May, 11 cadets at East Tennessee State University received their commission as second lieutenants. Hailing from across the Southeast, these recent ETSU graduates joined a proud tradition – one that has been happening on campus for 70 years.

This year marks seven decades since what was then East Tennessee State College held its first commissioning ceremony in 1953.

“As we consider the past 70 years, ETSU’s Army ROTC program has not just been a source of outstanding officers for the United States military,” said Lt. Col. Kent Monas, a professor of military science at ETSU. …

2023-May-01-Discovering His Place In Politics, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY (May 2023) – Aiden Graybeal felt drawn to politics from an early age.

“I’ve always been a weird political kid,” he said, “and there aren’t a lot of opportunities to explore that in high school and elementary school. My parents don’t know anything about politics – they don’t care to – so I had to do this all on my own. When I came to college, a friend said, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this TISL thing. Have you heard of this?’ I discovered there’s this whole world I was missing out on – all these things I’d …

2023-May-01-Etsu's Rotc Celebrates 70 Years, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

A new analysis from the East Tennessee State University/NORC Rural Health Equity Research Center finds that people living in rural areas of the United States face greater challenges accessing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment than people living in urban areas.

The ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center is a partnership between the Addiction Science Center and Center for Rural Health Research, in the ETSU College of Public Health.

The study shows that rural residents are four-and-a-half times more likely than urban residents to be admitted to inpatient treatment through a court order or by law enforcement and nine times less likely …

2023-May-01-Eye Toward The Underserved, These 66 Will Change The World, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

The Class of 2023 at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy received their doctoral hoods this morning, officially becoming part of the college’s 14th graduating class. 

The Hooding and Commencement ceremony was held in the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts, where 66 student pharmacists earned the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.  

This ceremony, which was live-streamed at youtube.com/@etsupharmacy for those unable to attend, was part of ETSU’s commencement weekend. 

Dr. Debbie Byrd, dean of ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, thanked the graduating class for the mark they left on the college. 

“We are so pleased you …

A Multi-Agent Modeling Social Network Analysis Of Cooperative Learning Groups Within A Simulated Adult Education Classroom Learning Environment, Leverett Bruner

All Dissertations

Illiteracy and a lack of a high school diploma are impediments to a fulfilled and meaningful life. Low or reduced literacy and non-attainment of a high school diploma are significant problems in the United States. Adult education can be a vehicle to address these ever-present issues. A disproportionate number of students in adult education are minorities, members of lower socioeconomic statuses and traditionally marginalized groups who lack effective literacy skills and/or a high school diploma. Adult education and its related entities can serve as a vehicle to address these pervasive issues, but adult education as a program type is a …

Iii-Nitride Triangular Microcantilevers For Multimodal Sensing Applications, Balaadithya Uppalapati

All Dissertations

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors have gained significant attention due to their ability to sense, measure, and process various physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The small size of MEMS sensors provides numerous advantages, including low power consumption, high sensitivity, and rapid response time, making them suitable for various applications in healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics.

In the past few years, AlGaN/GaN MEMS devices have been found to offer several advantages over silicon-based MEMS devices. One of the main advantages of AlGaN/GaN MEMS is their high sensitivity to surface stresses and forces due to their high piezoelectric coefficients. This sensitivity allows …

Mesoscale Modeling And Machine Learning Studies Of Grain Boundary Segregation In Metallic Alloys, Malek Alkayyali

All Dissertations

Nearly all structural and functional materials are polycrystalline alloys; they are composed of differently oriented crystalline grains that are joined at internal interfaces termed grain boundaries (GBs). It is well accepted that GB dynamics play a critical role in many phenomena during materials processing or under operating environments. Of particular interest are GB migration and grain growth processes, as they influence many crystal-size dependent properties, such as mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.

In metallic alloys, GBs offer a plethora of preferential atomic sites for alloying elements to occupy. Indeed, recent experimental studies employing in-situ microscopy revealed strong GB solute segregation …

University Of Baltimore Law Review, Volume 52, Issue 3, Summer 2023

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Acorporation, Inc.: Corporate Form As Art Project And Advocacy, Chad Erpelding, Ruth Jebe, Jeff Lingwall

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

To Hear Or Not To Hear?—Resolving A Federal Court’S Obligation To Hear A Case Involving Both Legal And Declaratory Judgment Claims, Katherine A. Gustafson

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

When Justice Depends On It: The Need For Professional Standards For Mitigation Development In All Criminal Cases, Elizabeth S. Vartkessian, Thea Posel, Anthony Ginez, Lela Hubbard

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reasonable For Whom? A Consideration Of The Appropriate Reasonableness Standard Where Battered Woman Syndrome Evidence Is Relevant To A Duress Defense, Samantha Stephey

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Uibee: An Improved Deep Instance Segmentation And Classification Of Ui Elements In Wireframes, Cahi̇t Berkay Kazangi̇rler, Caner Özcan, Buse Yaren Teki̇n

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

User Interface (UI) is a basic concept in which individuals interact with any computer program or technological device to create a graphical design. In the initial stages of app development, UI prototype is a must. An automatic analysis system for the basic execution of UI designs will considerably speed up the development of designs according to old-fashioned methods. In this approach, it is aimed at saving cost and time by automating the process. For the aforesaid objective, we present a new approach rather than the traditional methods. For this reason, a high amount of elements in wireframes are detected and …

Nebraska’S Medico-Legal System: A Death Investigation Analysis, Ashley Novak

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A large part of the founding of the United States of America focused on the idea of state control over their internal affairs. For this reason, the United States is home to a largely decentralized medico-legal system. The State of Nebraska hosts a coroner-based death investigation system as is written into their legislation regarding the establishment of their medico-legal system. By studying legislation, federal and state reports, as well as publications by academics within the field, merits and weaknesses of the Nebraskan coroner system can be uncovered. Additional considerations and understandings that are needed to be understood include: understanding what …

Of Word And Stone: The History Of Medieval Spain Through The Lens Of Architecture And Language, Samantha Hernandez

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Medieval Spain is a unique summation of religious and cultural communities. Through the built forms of Al-Andalus, there is unique preservation of societal imprints that parallel the formation of the Castilian language. These two mediums—architecture and language—are a telling of the culture and history of the region. By first observing the historical formation of Spanish, and in turn the various communities which inhabited the Iberian Peninsula, one may find many correlations with architecture created at the same time. After understanding the historical making of the Spanish language, it is important to analyze the language itself and how it differs from …

Early Childhood Educational Toys Through An Architectural Perspective, Anindhitha Sudhakaran

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This capstone explores the overlaps between architectural training and early childhood education, and how architectural design can inform the design process of creating educational toys for young children. Through an analysis of pedagogies used throughout history in early childhood education and my own personal experiences of architecture school, an understanding of how an architectural perspective can influence activities for three- to five-year-olds is developed. Precedent studies of open-ended educational toys designed by educators and designers introduced the design thinking mindset necessary to create an effectively enriching toy. The next phase of this project involves designing an educational toy for the …

Adhd In Classroom Design, Conley Lents

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper identifies interventions that primary schools should implement to make their physical environments more conducive to learning for students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, by extension, the entire student body. The school environment's impact on children is often underestimated, leaving children to be blamed for issues that could have been prevented. This oversight is mainly caused by a general need for more understanding of these students and this environment's vital role because of the limited research on both. The evidence-based interventions developed are based on a review of research on the impact of the school environment and ADHD …

Designing For Mass Customization Housing Through Generative Design, Tania Salgueiro

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research proposal aims to investigate computational design strategies for sustainable, affordable, and more equitable housing. The study will focus on the use of generative design tools, such as parametric modeling, rule-based modeling, and optimization, to aid architects and designers in creating custom housing complexes for single families in small and medium urban lots. The goal is to develop a computational method that considers sustainability, affordability, and long-term usage parameters to create housing designs that meet the desired spatial qualities. The research question asks how generative design tools can support designers in approaching affordable housing given the increasing demand for …

Environmental Injustice In Fayetteville, Arkansas: Investigating Unjust And Racist Conditions In Fayetteville's Industrial Park, Chloe Devecsery

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Environmental racism refers to how minority neighborhoods are burdened with a disproportionate number of environmental hazards and pollution that lower the quality of life and create health disparities. Despite the growing awareness of the national and global problem, environmental injustice and racism can be found in nearly every place. There is little being done regarding policy, public awareness, and government action. The fight for environmental justice is still needed across America, in Arkansas, and in our community. This disciplinary-oriented capstone gives a brief overview of the environmental justice movement and uses publicly available maps and statistics from government and academic …