Digital Commons Network^™

Transfer Learning Neural Networks For Nuclear Forensic Image Morphology Using Image Splitting Techniques, Niko A. Petrocelli, Lee C. Lambert, Brett J. Borghetti, Abigail A. Bickley

Faculty Publications

Manual morphological analysis of actinide particles from scanning electron microscope (SEM) imagery is a critical component of nuclear forensics but is prone to significant inter-analyst variability. To address this challenge, this work develops and evaluates an automated classification method using deep learning. We introduce a methodology based on partitioning 1906 SEM images, representing 13 classes of uranium compounds, into smaller patches for analysis. Three convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures of increasing complexity were compared: a custom baseline CNN, a simple transfer learning model using ResNet50v1, and a complex model featuring hierarchical feature extraction and a spatial attention mechanism built upon …

Design And Development Of A 12-Degree-Of-Freedom Quadruped Robot, Kai De La Cruz

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the design, analysis, and experimental validation of a 12-degree-of-freedom (DOF) quadruped robot developed as a research platform for legged locomotion and control. The system builds upon the Cal Poly Legged Robotics Group’s prior 8-DOF quadruped, addressing key limitations in manipulability, load distribution, and mechanical robustness by introducing a 3-DOF leg architecture.

The mechanical design emphasizes lightweight construction, structural integrity, and modularity to support future research extensions. Static and dynamic loading models were developed to inform component sizing and material selection. A carbon-fiber chassis and redesigned leg assemblies were fabricated and validated through finite element analysis and physical …

The Application, Construction, And Validation Of Hidden Markov Model Profiles For Carbonic Anhydrase Enzymes, Samuel F. Kaplan

Master's Theses

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyze the reversible hydration of CO2 and have evolved independently at least eight times, resulting in structurally distinct enzyme families (α, β, γ, δ, ζ, η, θ, ι). Traditional sequence alignment methods struggle to classify these convergently evolved proteins because their sequential similarity does not reliably indicate functional or evolutionary relationships. Many CA sequences in public databases are annotated generically without family assignments, and prior computational approaches have focused predominantly on the three well characterized families (α, β, γ), leaving the five recently discovered classes without robust classification tools. Family level assignment is often a prerequisite for …

Sea Level Trends Near Critical Levees In The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Reyna Sanchez Gomez

Master's Theses

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) levee system faces threats from rising sea levels, land subsidence, and deteriorating levees, all of which pose risks to California’s primary surface water supply. The purpose of this thesis is to assess relative sea level rise (RSLR) and estimate the spatially varying factors that influence water levels in the Delta. This thesis extends the work of Baranes et al. (2023) to the period 1975-2022 by appending recently acquired water-level records (1975-1982) to modern datasets (1982-2022) from 10 water-level stations. These water level datasets were digitized, quality-assured, and referenced to a common geodetic datum, as described …

Covering Spaces, Mapping Class Groups And Heegaard Splittings, Tri Tran

Master's Theses

One studies the symmetries of an algebraic object by looking at its automorphism group. For example, the automorphism group of a regular n-gon is generated by rotations and reflections, and the automorphism group of {1,...,n} is generated by transpositions. We study the group of symmetries of a closed, oriented 2- and 3-dimensional manifold M, called the mapping class group of M. In the 2-dimensional case, it is known explicitly what the generators of the mapping class group are. We present a proof of this fact following Farb and Margalit's exposition. The question about the mapping …

Exploring Non-Conventional Substrates: The Role Of Hibiscus And Whey In Kombucha Fermentation, Benjamin J. Lee

Master's Theses

This study evaluated the impact of hibiscus and whey as alternative fermentation substrates on the physicochemical, phytochemical, and microbial properties of kombucha. A 2 × 2 full factorial design was used to compare four treatments: black tea + water (BW), black tea + whey (BH), hibiscus + water (HW), and hibiscus + whey (HH). The fermentation solvents (water or whey) were heated to 88 °C, infused with 0.6% (w/v) black tea or hibiscus for 10 minutes, sweetened with 10% (w/v) sucrose, cooled to 22 °C, and inoculated with 20% (v/v) kombucha starter culture. Fermentations were carried out at 22 °C …

Measurement And Control Of The Oxidation-Reduction Potential And Its Chemical And Sensory Consequences In Wines, William Jordan Wright

Master's Theses

The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) is a measurement thought to reflect the overall ability of a solution to oxidize or reduce substances within that solution. In wine, there is no absolute agreement as to which substances control or dominate the ORP; however, oxygen, ethanol, iron-tartrate and copper-tartrate complexes, and glutathione are suspected to play key roles, while sulfur dioxide and phenolics may act as buffers. Anecdotally, some varieties of Vitis vinifera are prone to oxidation while others are prone to reduction, though the chemical basis of this remains unclear. The following works aim to further elucidate the influence of specific chemical …

Designing For Trust In Chat-Based Question Answering Systems: An Exchange-Based Retrieval Approach, Nathan Mccutchen

Master's Theses

Community chat platforms such as Discord and Slack support spontaneous, collaborative communication but make it difficult to retrieve previously discussed information. As conversations accumulate, valuable exchanges become buried, leading to repeated questions and sustained burden on experienced community members.

This work contributes a set of design requirements for question-answering systems operating over unstructured chat data, a Discord bot prototype implementing those requirements named Echo, and an empirical evaluation of how such a system affects user trust. Rather than encoding discrete question-answer pairs or generating synthetic responses with a language model, Echo indexes conversation topics for semantic retrieval and presents results …

Associations Between Nutrition-Related Chronic Disease And Food Insecurity: Data From The California State University, Elizabeth Ochoa

Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a growing public health concern consistently associated with elevated rates of nutrition-related chronic disease (NRCD) across the general population. Despite young adulthood being a critical window for dietary pattern formation, this relationship remains minimally explored among college students. This thesis examined associations between food insecurity and NRCD diagnosis, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease, among undergraduate students across the California State University (CSU) system. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the Spring 2021 CSU National College Health Assessment, administered across all 23 campuses. After exclusions, the analytical sample comprised 13,762 students. Bivariate analyses assessed relationships between key …

A Ship Between Worlds: Illicit Trade, Empire, And Enslavement In The Voyage Of The Nuestra Senora De Las Nieves, 1819-1820, Carly Eastham

Master's Theses

This study examines the illicit Spanish transatlantic slave trade to Cuba during the post-abolition era through a microhistorical analysis of the 1819 voyage of the schooner Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. Despite international efforts to suppress the trade following abolition treaties, this voyage illustrates how Spanish traders adapted their practices to continue trafficking enslaved Africans, fueling Cuba’s booming sugar economy amid shifting geopolitical and economic pressures. Drawing on primary documents seized by the British navy and analyzed alongside relevant secondary scholarship, this research situates the Cuban trade within the broader Atlantic world’s complex cultural, legal, and economic transformations.

The case …

Claude Humphrey: A Biography, Candace Joy Lewis

Tennessee State University Notable Alumni

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Impact Of A Culturally Adapted Parent-Directed Training Program For Latine Parents Of Children With Autism, Noe Ramos, Valerie Leija, Javier Cavazos Vela, Deyanira Bedolla Maldonado, Susana Perez

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore the impact of a culturally adapted parent-directed training program in the United States on 90 Latine parents' perceptions of their child's strengths and social functioning. In addition, the study aimed to investigate the impact of the program on Latine parents' stress and their empowerment to advocate for their children. Participants were 90 Latine parents who participated in a 10-session culturally adapted training program. Quantitative analyses of pre-post data on the Family-Outcome Survey-Revised Scale, the stress subscale of the DASS-21, and Quality of Play Questionnaire indicated statistically significant improvements. Estimates of …

Learn More About Article Processing Waivers And Discounts, Joanne Romano

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

Analysis of the Library’s Publishing Support program reveals over 300 authors benefitted from waivers and discounts from 2023-2025, saving members and institutions around $845,000. Learn more and check your eligibility for this program at the guide Publishing Support at the TMC Library.  The list of participating publishers and details for each agreement are available in the guide. The newest publisher agreement added for 2026 is Springer Nature.

Exploring Adolescent Hearing Aid Usage And Appearance Of Psychiatric Symptoms In Adolescents Using Hearql-28 Surveys, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Approximately 2% of DHH people in need of mental health services actually receive these services. Among pediatric hearing loss populations, co-occurring cognitive and physical impairments are risk factors for poor mental health status. Due to language barriers and isolation, more children with hearing loss do not have access to mental health services. Cochlear implants have been shown to improve mental health status among the DHH population. Current literature focuses on the mental health status of children with cochlear implants, with little focus on hearing aid users. Using HEAR28 data and surveys, we can quantify the incidence of psychiatric symptoms among …

Molecular Techniques: A Project-Based Undergraduate Laboratory, Ming-Mei Chang

Milne Open Textbooks

This book can be read online at: milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/molecular-techniques

Molecular biology, examining the structures and functions of nucleic acids and proteins, is crucial to advancing biological science and improving human life, particularly in agriculture and medicine. Advances in the field can transform a crop to resist disease or uncover clues to fight illness by manipulating DNA. Techniques for molecular biology research and applications have advanced rapidly over the past decades, and undergraduates need hands-on experiences in this vital field of science. This text provides a structured approach to learning and practicing those techniques, covering DNA, RNA, and protein across five modules …

Sustainabake, Kevin Kunta Swanson Ii

Electrical Engineering

This senior project outlines the development of an oven that utilizes renewable energy to operate safely and effectively. It aims to test building an oven using mostly basic hardware students acquired during their time at Cal Poly and provide a starting point for those interested in creating a solar-powered oven. As our society continues to innovate and increasingly relies on electricity, it is important to place more emphasis on how we can make our lives sustainable to take care of our environment without introducing excessive pollutants. Food preparation is a daily activity that typically involves significant energy consumption, making this …

Cultivating The Future Of Dentistry: Evolution Of Dental Education, Eric Mediavilla Dds, Fagd

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

This article explores how dental education and practice are rapidly changing with rising enrollment, growing female representation, and advanced digital technologies like VR simulators, 3D scanning and AI imaging. As educators balance innovation with foundational techniques, dentistry continues to evolve.

Credit Card Reform Tops Legislative Wins For Dentistry, Lance Plunkett Jd, Llm

The New York State Dental Journal

Several new laws of interest to dentistry were passed in 2025 and two of them were NYSDA’s own proposals, making the 2025 legislative session a productive one for the State Association, arguably the best in years.

Extraction Of Teeth Or Root Tips From Underneath Fixed Partial Denture Abutments Or Pontics: A Case Report, John S. Mamoun D.M.D.

The New York State Dental Journal

A dental patient may present with a fixed partial denture such that a tooth or a fractured tooth root that was once a terminal abutment or a pier abutment of the fixed partial denture may need extraction from underneath the abutment without removing the fixed partial denture. The patient may need to retain the fixed partial denture for financial or esthetic reasons, or to use the fixed partial denture as a long-term provisional restoration until the extraction site heals, or until a new fixed partial denture is fabricated.

This article presents a clinical report describing a technique for extracting a …

N Y State Dent J March 2026

The New York State Dental Journal

In the March 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• Pebbly Gingival Nodule in an Older Male
• Extraction of Teeth or Root Tips from Underneath Fixed Partial Denture Abutments or Pontics
• Successful Regenerative Endodontic Therapy of an Immature Dens Evaginatus Mandibular Second Premolar with Apical Periodontitis

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Capitalization Quick Guide, Dawn Atkinson

Writing

No abstract provided.

Perceptions And Use Of Behaviour Change Interventions For Physical Activity In Chronic Respiratory Disease In The Republic Of Ireland, Ciara Hanrahan, Joseph G Mcveigh, Terence M O'Connor, Thierry Troosters, Julie Broderick

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objectives: Behaviour change interventions may support physical activity behaviour in people with chronic respiratory disease. The most effective interventions for long-term physical activity behaviour change in this cohort remains unclear. This aim of this study was to explore the use and perceptions of behaviour change interventions by both providers of physical activity programmes for people with chronic respiratory disease and by people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in The Republic of Ireland.

Design: Two anonymous online and paper-copy cross-sectional surveys, piloted and mapped to the COM-B model of behaviour change, were distributed via social media and relevant gate-keepers …

Rmdc: Dig Deeper. Grow. Connect. Have Fun., Bryan Savage

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

The 2026 Rocky Mountain Dental Convention (RMDC) brought together approximately 6,500 dental professionals for a three-day event organized by MDDS. The convention featured top national speakers, a dynamic Expo Hall, and emerging research connecting oral and systemic health. Insights from ADA Forsyth Institute researchers highlighted advances in understanding the oral microbiome, inflammation, and environmental impacts on dental development. The RMDC continues to emphasize medical-dental integration through expanded programming and hands-on diagnostic experiences, fostering collaboration across disciplines.

Incidence Vs. Prevalence, Allen Vean Dmd

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Despite advances in dental technology, dental caries remain the most common chronic disease in children and adults. This reflection highlights the ongoing challenge of early childhood caries and the critical role of parental supervision, preventive care and collaboration with medical providers.

Courageous Conversations: A Dental Professional’S Most Powerful Skill, Katherine Eitel Belt

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Many professionals avoid difficult conversations out of fear of conflict or failure, but avoidance only worsens problems and erodes trust. This article by Ms. Katherine Eitel Belt offers practical tools for having courageous, productive dialogues. The author shared tips, including listening first, starting from agreement, suspending judgment and emphasizing choice. Ms. Eitel Belt makes a case that by approaching conversations with empathy, openness, and curiosity, leaders can resolve issues more effectively, strengthen relationships, and build healthier, more collaborative teams.

Pebbly Gingival Nodule In An Older Male, Victoria L. Scarpa D.D.S., M.S., Yussra O. Mahmud M.P.H., B.S., Daria Vasilyeva D.D.S., Ph.D.

The New York State Dental Journal

We herein present a case of a giant cell fibroma in an older adult male that clinically has a pebbly or bosselated surface architecture, mimicking a squamous papilloma. The giant cell fibroma is a fibrous tumor distinct from the common irritation fibroma and may easily be mistaken for a papilloma based on clinical features. This case is reported to provide diagnostic value to the general practitioner.

Successful Regenerative Endodontic Therapy Of An Immature Dens Evaginatus Mandibular Second Premolar With Apical Periodontitis Case Report, Jake Horowitz D.D.S., Prashant Sukhani D.M.D., Aaron Brandwein D.D.S., Fagd, Ficd, James Sconzo D.M.D.

The New York State Dental Journal

Background: Dens evaginatus cusps typically have pulpal tissue, and fracturing of the cusp leads to necrosis. Immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis have traditionally been treated with apexification, which eliminates infection but does not promote root development.

Methods: Regenerative endodontics utilizes revascularization by infiltrating stem cells from the apical papilla and using them to treat an immature necrotic tooth with periapical infection.

Results: Periapical radiolucency completely resolved, root length and thickness increased, and vitality returned at the one-year follow-up.

Conclusion: Regenerative protocols promote root development, reducing fracture risk. This treatment offers improved outcomes with fewer appointments and shorter treatment duration.

There’S A Vaping And Marijuana Crisis. Dentists Can Help Stem It, Bernard Fialkoff D.D.S.

The New York State Dental Journal

Dentists are perfectly positioned to deliver important information to their patients about the dangers of toxic alternatives to tobacco smoking.

All The King’S Lawyers, Rebecca Aviel

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

Law Firm Silence, Katrina Lee

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.