Digital Commons Network^™

Draft State Legislation: "Cycle-Based Adoption Of The International Code Council’S Model Building And Energy Conservation Codes", Hailey M. Mattingly

Commonwealth Policy Papers

This draft state legislation crafted with nonprofit partners is created in order to update building codes across the Commonwealth of Kentucky with uniform professional standards also adopted by surrounding states which are provided by the ICC, in order to improve resilience to natural disasters. This bill draft is accompanied with a short brief published in the same volume.

Crossing Schools, Language, And Migration Borders: The Experiences Of Latinx And Caribbean Emergent Multilingual Mothers In K-12 Public Schools, Michelle Angelo-Rocha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anti-immigrant sentiment and "English-only" ideologies have a significant impact on educational policies, practices, and processes. This includes parental engagement, the quality of education and life opportunities offered to immigrant children, and families’ well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine how Latinx and Caribbean mothers in Florida with various immigration statuses (i.e., undocumented, asylum seekers, refugees, international students, and mixed-status) and often with limited financial resources attempt to steward their children through the U.S. educational system. The research question was: How did emergent multilingual immigrant mothers experience the K-12 education system in Florida? The sub-question was: How did schools …

Public Perceptions And Legal Dimensions Of Juvenile Sexting, Corey Call

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The sending of sexually explicit messages, or “sexting” has been recognized as a common practice among youths. As sexting may involve the creation and distribution of sexually explicit images and videos, juvenile sexters can be charged with offenses related to child pornography. This study examined public attitudes toward juvenile sexting and demographic influences on these views. Based on a quantitative survey of 1,023 U.S. adults, the majority of respondents (51.8%) disapproved of criminalization in cases of consensual sexting, but 80% supported legal repercussions for nonconsensual sharing. Respondents primarily favored educational interventions (67.4%) and restrictions on technology use (53.4%) over harsh …

Still A Good Investment: Charter School Productivity In Nine Cities, Alison H. Johnson, Josh B. Mcgee, Patrick J. Wolf, Jay F. May, Larry D. Maloney

School Choice Demonstration Project

Charter schools are public schools that operate free from some government regulations in return for a commitment to achieve a set of student outcomes specified in their charter. Nearly 8,000 public charter schools enrolled 3.7 million students in the U.S. in 2020-21. Our team has studied charter school funding across the United States since 2005, consistently finding that, in major cities, charter schools receive less funding per pupil compared to traditional public schools (TPS). We have also found that charter schools use their funding more efficiently, achieving better short- and long-term outcomes per dollar invested, relative to TPS.

Criminal Justice Update - November 2023, Delaney Rabenold

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents:

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no updates this month)
• Updates from the PA Legislature
• Updates from the Courts
• U.S. Supreme Court (no updates this month)
• PA Supreme Court
• PA Superior Court

Strategies For Culturally Safe Research With Native American Communities: An Integrative Review, Teresa Brockie, Kyle X. Hill, Patricia Davidson, Ellie Decker, Lydia Koh Krienke, Katie E. Nelson, Natalie Nicholson, Alicia M. Werk, Deborah Wilson, Deana Around Him

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Background: A history of unethical research and deficit-based paradigms have contributed to profound mistrust of research among Native Americans, serving as an important call to action. Lack of cultural safety in research with Native Americans limits integration of cultural and contextual knowledge that is valuable for understanding challenges and making progress toward sustainable change. Aim: To identify strategies for promoting cultural safety, accountability, and sustainability in research with Native American communities. Method: Using an integrative review approach, three distinct processes were carried out: (1) appraisal of peer-reviewed literature (Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest), (2) review of grey literature (e.g. policy documents …

Enhancing Classification Of Energy Meters With Limited Labels Using A Semi-Supervised Generative Model, Chun Fu, Hussain Kazmi, Matias Quintana, Clayton Miller

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

In the energy domain, the classification of power meters has become an increasingly significant area of interest, such as appliance identification and characteristics prediction, enabling targeted and efficient energy management. However, the limited availability of labeled data for power meters and the inconsistencies in labeling and naming conventions have constrained the potential of metadata for further application. This study aims to bridge the gap by employing semi-supervised Generative Adversarial Networks (SGAN) to classify 1805 power meters distributed globally. This approach explores and assesses the advantages of incorporating unlabeled power meter data into the learning process. A comparative analysis is performed …

A Guaranteed Income Intervention To Improve The Health And Financial Well-Being Of Low-Income Black Emerging Adults: Study Protocol For The Black Economic Equity Movement Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial, Sheri A. Lippman, Margaret Libby, Michelle K. Nakphong, Abigail Arons, Monica Balanoff, Rain Mocello, Emily A. Arnold, Starley B. Shade, Marguerita Lightfoot, Multiple Additional Authors

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Economic inequity systematically affects Black emerging adults (BEA), aged 18–24, and their healthy trajectory into adulthood. Guaranteed income (GI)–temporary, unconditional cash payments–is gaining traction as a policy solution to address the inequitable distribution of resources sewn by decades of structural racism and disinvestment. GI provides recipients with security, time, and support to enable their transition into adulthood and shows promise for improving mental and physical health outcomes. To date, few GI pilots have targeted emerging adults. The BEEM trial seeks to determine whether providing GI to BEA improves financial wellbeing, mental and physical health as a means to address …

The Ethical Data Practices Framework And Its Implications For Data Privacy Relations Between The United States And The European Union, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Restricted Powers, Special-Purpose Districts, And Path Dependence: Economic Graveyards In Downstate Illinois, Bethany Behrhorst

Dissertations

Property taxation in the United States is a critical issue warranting examination because it involves the directed distribution of government costs and benefits for citizens. The central question exists: Why are Illinois’ property taxes so high? Path dependence was explored as a theory to explain Illinois’ property tax reliance issues, asserting that as local governmental units in the State face budget limitations, they find alternative revenue streams. For example, restricted powers could lead to the development of quasi-governments, which are known as special-purpose districts. In such cases, once general-purpose municipalities charter a course by creating special-purpose districts, it is difficult …

Risk Governance Framework For Recreational Vessels' Safety In Mozambique And South Africa, Yara Hortense Alberto Tembe

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Bargaining Power In The International Crude Oil Market : An Analytical Exploration Of China's Trade Dynamics With Leading Oil-Exporting Nations, Adama Jatta, Farouq Umar Sani

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Ofthe Implementation In The Chilean Domestic Fleet Of Energy Efficiency, Ship Energy Efficiency Management And Carbon Intensity Indicator, According To The Rules Established By The International Maritime Organization, Jorge Sebastian De La Fuente Manríquez

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Policy And Regulatory Framework To Enhance Thailand’S Casualty Investigation, Shinabhat Maneerin

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Notes For Contributors, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Building Beyond Samba And Soccer: Why Brazil Ventured A Nuclear Program, Saint-Clair Lima Da Silva

Space and Defense

Contrary to conventional wisdom on Brazil as a case of nuclear proliferation, archival evidence indicates that, rather than geopolitical rivalry with Argentina, enduring desire for national autonomy—honor more than sword or shield—drove Brazil during the 1980s to master its own uranium enrichment cycle.

Communicating Cyber Consequences, Timothy Goines

Space and Defense

More consideration ought to be accorded “loud” cyber weapons for signaling resolve in 21st century deterrence contests.

“Deterrence is at times a necessary or useful instrument of foreign policy, but the correct and prudent use of deterrence strategy is by no means self-evident or easily determined in all circumstances.”

In their seminal text, Alexander L. George and Richard Smoke thoroughly examined the topic of deterrence, tracing its historical roots and conducting case studies on its use. The product of this intense study was a formula that encapsulates the essence of deterrence theory. “In its simplest form, deterrence is merely a …

Notes For Contributors, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Managing Criminalized Power Structures: The Predominant Spoilers Of Peace Processes, Michael Dziedzic

Space and Defense

Criminalized Power Structures (CPS) exploit illicit wealth acquisition to usurp political power and constitute a leading source of obstruction when the international community intervenes in states struggling to emerge from civil conflict. Structures operating outside domestic or international law may constitute a crucial barrier or spoiler for UN and coalition peace operations. This held true in the post-Cold War interregnum before 9/11 and is likely to continue for stabilization operations, regardless of outcomes from enormous international security investments in Afghanistan and Iraq. By understanding the different types of spoilers acting across cases, the United States and partners in the international …

Notes For The Contributors, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Tom Nichols, The Death Of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge And Why It Matters (Ny: Oxford University Press, 2017) 252 Pp., Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

This review is dedicated to Lt Gen (ret.) Brent Scowcroft, twice National Security Advisor and one-time head of the Department of Political Science, U.S. Air Force Academy. If he is looking down on our work today, we hope he liked this book, Death of Expertise, by a much admired Naval War College professor and enjoyed our department’s enthusiasm for participating in the conversation. Thank you, Gen Scowcroft (1925-2020).

Naval War College professor Tom Nichols built upon his popular essay in the Atlantic to deliver a blunt warning.1 After a venomous election in 2016 that swept the incumbent party from power, …

Cadet Voice: Artificial Intelligence And Stability In Nuclear Crises, Marshall D. Foster

Space and Defense

The following USAFA cadet independent study, with the exception of minor grammatical corrections, is produced as presented at the winter conference of the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI), Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2019 (https://www.csis.org/events/poni- 2019-winter-conference).

Technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) by the United States, China and Russia jeopardize the longstanding nuclear peace that the world has enjoyed since the end of the Cold War.1 The desire to obtain AI capabilities for the purpose of strengthening defense and security postures could spur a new arms race among these powerful nuclear states, and the United …

Cooperation Achievements And Outlook Of Oil And Gas Exploration And Development Under The Belt And Road Initiative, Zuoqian Wang, Qing Wei, Zhe Fan, Xi Chen, Yun Peng, Baolei Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Taking the initiative as an opportunity, China’s oil companies have accumulated rich experience by accelerating their overseas deployment and carrying out extensive cooperation with countries along the route in the field of oil and gas energy. This study reviews the fruitful achievements of China’s oil companies in the transnational oil and gas exploration and development cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, summarizes the cooperation status and analyzes the potential and opportunities presented in the cooperation. In response to many challenges, such …

The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction Issue 27.3 (2023), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

The Public's Perception Of An Earthquake Early Warning System: A Study On Factors Influencing Continuance Intention, Marion Lara L. Tan, Lauren J. Vinnell, Alvin Patrick M. Valentin, Raj Prasanna, Julia S. Becker

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the perceptions of the New Zealand public towards the Android Earthquake Alert (AEA) system, a public-facing earthquake early warning system. Specifically, it examines the public’s continuance intention towards the AEA system and the influencing factors of satisfaction, confirmation, perceived usefulness, and perceived trust. To gather insights into the public’s perceptions regarding the AEA system, this study distributed online surveys following two separate earthquake alert events on 12 October and 22 October 2021. A total of 524 and 671 participants responded to the two events’ surveys, providing valuable data for analysis and exploration. Structural Equation Modelling of the …

The Impact Of Bail Reform On Arrest Rates For Aggravated Assault In Two Cities, Brion P. Gilbride

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the recent push to implement bail reform in various U.S. cities and states, the impact of such reform was studied using aggravated assault arrest statistics for Philadelphia, a city that implemented bail reform via prosecutorial discretion, and for Pittsburgh, which had not implemented bail reform. Using the time period of January 2017 through December 2019, a quantitative analysis was completed on aggravated assault arrest counts in both cities to ascertain whether the removal of bail as a deterrent caused aggravated assault arrests to increase. Using a t-test, linear regression, and ANOVA, it was determined that bail reform had minimal …

Women’S Empowerment As A Determinant Of Child’S Nutrition: Evidence From A Cambodia Demographic And Health Survey, Vatana Chea, Socheata Sar

Journal of Demography

Does the empowerment of women improve a child’s long-term health outcome? Although the relationship seems intuitive in daily life, most studies done globally have found no association. This paper explicates the relationship between women’s empowerment and children’s malnutrition by taking Cambodia as a case study and adding new empirical evidence to the debate. Data were drawn from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2014, with a sample of 4,118 children nationwide. To measure children’s nutritional status, this study employed the WHO’s height-for-age (HFA) and weight-for-age (WFA) metrics, and at the same time, used the Survey-Based Women’s emPowERment Index (SWPER), …

The Challenge Of Misclassification Error In The European Union’S Deforestation Regulation, Caleb T. Gallemore

I-GUIDE Forum

The European Union’s Regulation 2023/1115, which requires firms to undertake significant due diligence efforts to minimize the import of deforestation-linked commodities into the Union, relies heavily on cutting-edge geospatial technologies. While several studies of zero-deforestation supply chain efforts have pointed to the political and logistical challenges such initiatives face, there has been less consideration of the role that the measurement errors that are unavoidable in geospatial technologies might affect emerging zero-deforestation governance systems. Using information on misclassification error rates for forest areas from 20 recent validation studies of global land-cover datasets, I simulate the misclassification risks we might expect from …

Artificial Intelligence Applications For Social Science Research, Megan Stubbs-Richardson, Lauren Brown, Mackenzie Paul, Devon Brenner

SSRC Publications

Our team developed a database of 250 Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications useful for social science research. To be included in our database, the AI tool had to be useful for: 1) literature reviews, summaries, or writing, 2) data collection, analysis, or visualizations, or 3) research dissemination. In the database, we provide a name, description, and links to each of the AI tools that were current at the time of publication on September 29, 2023. Supporting links were provided when an AI tool was found using other databases. To help users evaluate the potential usefulness of each tool, we documented information …

Criminal Justice Update - October 2023, Delaney Rabenold

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents:

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no updates this month)
• Updates from the PA Legislature: Criminal Law and Procedure
• Updates from the Courts
• U.S. Supreme Court (no updates this month)
• PA Supreme Court
• PA Superior Court