Digital Commons Network^™

Outlawing Corporate Prosecution Deals When People Have Died, Peter Reilly

Faculty Scholarship

Two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crashes, occurring less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, resulted in 346 deaths—possibly the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) used an alternative dispute resolution tool called a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) to resolve criminal charges against Boeing and to immunize the company’s senior-level managers from prosecution. In the end, the company admitted to engaging in the criminal behavior, paid a monetary fine, and agreed to cooperate fully with the government—meaning there would be no courtroom trial, no formal adjudication of guilt, and no possibility of …

Association Between Trigeminal Neuralgia And Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Cross‐Sectional Study Using Us Data, Robert J. Trager

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Limited research has suggested that trigeminal neuralgia (TN), an often-idiopathic pain disorder affecting the face and head, may arise from compression of the cervical spinal cord due to involvement of the spinal trigeminal tract. We hypothesized that adults with TN would have a greater likelihood of concurrent degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) compared to matched adults without TN. Methods: We retrieved de-identified data from a US network (TriNetX, Inc.) including medical records of >113 million patients, with a query date of October 1, 2023, and data spanning the previous 20 years. We created two groups of adults (aged ≥18 years): …

Low-Cost, 3d Printed Irradiation System For In Vitro Photodynamic Therapy Experiments, Chris Acquah, Zachary Pabis, Sourav Kanti Seth, Liraz Levi, Carlos E. Crespo-Hernández

Faculty Scholarship

The development of a suitable irradiation setup is essential for in vitro experiments in photodynamic therapy (PDT). While various irradiation systems have been developed for PDT, only a few offer practical and high-quality setups for precise and reproducible results in cell culture experiments. This report introduces a cost-effective illumination setup designed for in vitro photodynamic treatments. The setup consists of a commercially available light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, a cooling unit, and a specially designed 3D-printed enclosure to accommodate a multiwell plate insert. The LED lamp is versatile, supporting various irradiation wavelengths and adjustable illumination fields, ensuring consistent and reliable performance. …

Limitations And Possibilities Of Digital Restoration Techniques Using Generative Ai Tools: Reconstituting Antoine François Callet’S Achilles Dragging Hector’S Body Past The Walls Of Troy, Charles O'Brien, James Hutson, Trent Olsen, Jay Ratican

Faculty Scholarship

Digital restoration offers new avenues for conserving historical artworks, yet presents unique challenges. This research delves into the balance between traditional restoration methods and the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, using Antoine François Callet’s portrayal of Achilles Dragging Hector’s Body Past the Walls of Troy as a case study. The application of Easy Diffusion and Stable Diffusion 2.1 technologies provides insights into AI-driven restoration methods such as inpainting and colorization. Results indicate that while AI can streamline the restoration process, repeated inpainting can compromise the painting’s color quality and detailed features. Furthermore, the AI approach occasionally introduces unintended …

Healthaichain: Improving Security And Safety Using Blockchain Technology Applications In Ai-Based Healthcare Systems, Naresh Kshetri, James Hutson, Revathy G

Faculty Scholarship

Blockchain as a digital ledger for keeping records of digital transactions and other information, it is secure and decentralized technology. The globally growing number of digital population every day possesses a significant threat to online data including the medical and patients’ data. After bitcoin, blockchain technology has emerged into a general-purpose technology with applications in medical industries and healthcare. Blockchain can promote highly configurable openness while retaining the highest security standards for critical data of medical patients. Referred to as distributed record keeping for healthcare systems which makes digital assets unalterable and transparent via a cryptographic hash and decentralized network. …

The Effect Of A Mn(Iii)Tetrakis(4-Benzoic Acid)Porphyrin (Mntbap) Coating On He Chronic Recording Performance Of Planar Silicon Intracortical Microelectrode Arrays, George F. Hoeferlin, Lindsey N. Druschel, Olivia K. Krebs, Dhariyat M. Menendez, Jonathan L. Duncan, Jichu Zhang, Gaurav Mittal, Jeffrey R. Capadona

Faculty Scholarship

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are used to record neural activity. However, their implantation initiates a neuroinflammatory cascade, involving the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to interface failure. Here, we coated commercially-available MEAs with Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin (MnTBAP), to mitigate oxidative stress. First, we assessed the in vitro cytotoxicity of modified sample substrates. Then, we implanted 36 rats with uncoated, MnTBAP-coated (“Coated”), or (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)-coated devices – an intermediate step in the coating process. We assessed electrode performance during the acute (1–5 weeks), sub-chronic (6–11 weeks), and chronic (12–16 weeks) phases after implantation. Three subsets of animals were euthanized at different …

Unraveling The Twist: Spatial Navigational Challenges In Cervical Dystonia, Hanieh Agharazi, Alexander Wang, Aratrik Guha, Palak Gupta, Aasef G. Shaikh

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Cervical dystonia (CD) is an intricate neurological condition with motor and nonmotor symptoms. These include disruptions in visual perception, self-orientation, visual working memory, and vestibular functions. However, the specific impact of CD on perceiving self-motion direction, especially with isolated visual or vestibular stimuli, remains largely unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of CD on linear motion perception, hypothesizing impaired heading discrimination in both vestibular and visual tasks, and that such deficits correlate with the disease severity. Methods: We employed a cutting-edge motion platform to precisely control whole-body linear motion. Through repeated two-alternative forced-choice tasks, we assessed …

Crypto In Real Estate Finance, R. Wilson Freyermuth, Christopher K. Odinet, Andrea Tosato

Faculty Scholarship

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have ushered in a digital gold rush. But all that glitters is not gold. The latest fad is the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to purchase and finance real estate. Typically, crypto real estate transactions begin with the transfer of title for a residential property into a dedicated business entity, such as a limited liability company. Thereafter, an NFT is ‘minted’ and used to represent the ownership interest in that entity. The real property is then marketed online specifying that, to acquire it, one simply purchases the relevant NFT via a blockchain transfer. Crucially, buyers are expected …

Individuality And The Collective In Ai Agents: Explorations Of Shared Consciousness And Digital Homunculi In The Metaverse For Cultural Heritage, James Hutson, Jay Ratican

Faculty Scholarship

The confluence of extended reality (XR) technologies, including augmented and virtual reality, with large language models (LLM) marks a significant advancement in the field of digital humanities, opening uncharted avenues for the representation of cultural heritage within the burgeoning metaverse. This paper undertakes an examination of the potentialities and intricacies of such a convergence, focusing particularly on the creation of digital homunculi or changelings. These virtual beings, remarkable for their sentience and individuality, are also part of a collective consciousness, a notion explored through a thematic comparison in science fiction with the Borg and the Changelings in the Star Trek …

Special Challenges In Execution Of Arbitral Awards In Public Private Partnerships, Srividhya Ragavan, Niraj Kumar Seth

Faculty Scholarship

With around 47 million pending cases at various stages of Indian judiciary and one of the lowest levels of judges per million of population in the world, India’s arbitration regime presents a ray of hope for millions of Indians who face the prospect of justice being denied to them due to inordinate delays caused by a clogged judicial pipeline. The enactment of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 was presented as a viable alternative to resolve commercial disputes in a timely manner. This paper uses a case study to discuss how arbitration in India has not fulfilled the timeliness promise …

Reclaiming Regulatory Intermediation For The Public, Daniel E. Walters

Faculty Scholarship

Managerial governance is often operationalized through outsourcing the regulatory function from public institutions—for example, administrative agencies—to private organizations. In virtually any sector, it is possible to identify private “regulatory intermediaries” that step between public agencies and regulated parties to perform tasks traditionally played by government actors—for example, the development of regulatory standards, auditing, compliance assurance, enforcement, and more. Although this reliance on private regulatory intermediaries may in some cases be highly advantageous to government institutions since it may sometimes allow government agencies to do more regulatory work than their own resources and capacity might allow—it comes at significant costs of …

Ai And The Creative Process: Part One, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Article discussing the effects of artificial intelligence on the creative process in the art world.

Phase Shift Between Joint Rotation And Actuation Reflects Dominant Forces And Predicts Muscle Activation Patterns, R. D. Quinn, Hillel J. Chiel

Faculty Scholarship

During behavior, the work done by actuators on the body can be resisted by the body's inertia, elastic forces, gravity, or viscosity. The dominant forces that resist actuation have major consequences on the control of that behavior. In the literature, features and actuation of locomotion, for example, have been successfully predicted by nondimensional numbers (e.g. Froude number and Reynolds number) that generally express the ratio between two of these forces (gravitational, inertial, elastic, and viscous). However, animals of different sizes or motions at different speeds may not share the same dominant forces within a behavior, making ratios of just two …

Antioxidant Dimethyl Fumarate Temporarily But Not Chronically Improves Intracortical Microelectrode Performance, George F. Hoeferlin, Tejas Bajwa, Hannah Olivares, Jichu Zhang, Lindsey N. Druschel, Michael Sobota, Pierce E. Boucher, Jonathan L. Duncan, Jeffrey R. Capadona

Faculty Scholarship

Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) can be used in a range of applications, from basic neuroscience research to providing an intimate interface with the brain as part of a brain-computer interface (BCI) system aimed at restoring function for people living with neurological disorders or injuries. Unfortunately, MEAs tend to fail prematurely, leading to a loss in functionality for many applications. An important contributing factor in MEA failure is oxidative stress resulting from chronically inflammatory-activated microglia and macrophages releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) around the implant site. Antioxidants offer a means for mitigating oxidative stress and improving tissue health and MEA performance. …

Synthesizing Sentience: Integrating Large Language Models And Autonomous Agents For Emulating Human Cognitive Complexity, Jay Ratican, James Hutson, Daniel Plate

Faculty Scholarship

The paper aims to present a novel methodology for emulating the intricacies of human cognitive complexity by ingeniously integrating large language models with autonomous agents. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the modular mind theory-originally espoused by Fodor and later refined by scholars such as Joanna Bryson—the study seeks to venture into the untapped potential of large language models and autonomous agents in mirroring human cognition. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence, exemplified by the inception of autonomous agents like Age in GPT, auto GPT, and baby AGI, underscore the transformative capacities of these technologies in diverse applications. Moreover, empirical studies …

Borges's Most Problematic Translator, Wes Henricksen

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Opinion: How Software Stifles Competition And Innovation, James Bessen

Faculty Scholarship

Innovation is not what it used to be, and software is part of the reason. In many industries—industries well beyond Big Tech—dominant firms have built large software-based platforms delivering important consumer benefits, but these platforms also slow the rise of innovative rivals, including productive startups.5 Because access to these platforms is limited, competition has been constrained, creating a troubling market dynamic that slows economic growth.

The Evolution Of Sodomy Decriminalization Jurisprudence In Transnational And Comparative Constitutional Perspective, Ayodeji Kamau Perrin

Faculty Scholarship

In this Article, I demonstrate that legal mobilization by activist litigants combined with a comparative methodological jurisprudence has been central to the “transnational legal process” of the generation and diffusion of the sodomy decriminalization norm since the 1950s. My analysis of the transnational comparative jurisprudence relies on a comprehensive legal survey of seven decades of decriminalization jurisprudence (1954–2022), primarily using successful cases. Although the scholarship on the well-known Dudgeon, Toonen, and NCGLE cases often asserts the influence that these cases had on subsequent domestic court constitutional jurisprudence, I suggest that it is the domestic privacy jurisprudence of lobbyists, …

Flourishing, Virtue, And The Common Good Constitutionalism, Lawrence B. Solum

Faculty Scholarship

In Common Good Constitutionalism, Professor Adrian Vermeule articulates a conception of the common good. Vermeule has much to say about the common good, but very little to say about the substantive component of his conception, which he describes as “happiness or flourishing.” This Article articulates a conception of the common good that is grounded in a virtue-centered conception of human flourishing. Humans are rational and social creatures, and therefore, flourishing for humans consists in rational and social activities that express the human excellence or virtues. The common good requires communities that facilitate human flourishing in three ways: (1) by creating …

Amazon's Pricing Paradox, Rory Van Loo, Nikita Aggarwal

Faculty Scholarship

Antitrust scholars have widely debated the apparent paradox of Amazon seemingly wielding monopoly power while offering low prices to consumers. A single company’s behavior thereby helped spark an intellectual renaissance as scholars debated why Amazon’s prices were so low, whether antitrust enforcers should intervene, and, eventually, how the field should be reformed for the era of large online platforms. One of the few things that all parties have agreed upon amidst those contentious conversations is that Amazon offers low prices. This Article challenges that assumption by demonstrating that Amazon charges higher prices than commonly understood. More importantly, unraveling the disconnect …

Using Multiple Lenses To See An Invisible Group, Kathleen J. Farkas, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Social work in Poland and in the United States shares the values of human dignity and self-determination, but there are often value conflicts in terms of how various groups experience social roles and social expectations. This paper explores the use of multiple lenses to understand the past and current conditions for LGBT+ people in Poland. An international, university-level collaboration uses a framework of “invisible groups” to highlight the needs of those who are on the margins of society and whose human and individual rights are suppressed. The article reviews the results of a recently published on-line survey of LGBT+ populations …

Ai Is Here. Here’S How New Mexicans Can Prepare, Sonia Gipson Rankin, Melanie E. Moses

Faculty Scholarship

Last December we asked the AI chatbot ChatGPT to solve a programming assignment given to computer science students at UNM. It wrote some Python code, but it generated an error. We gave the chatbot the error message and were astounded by how good its response was.

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Role-Playing In Debating Repatriation Of Artworks In Active Learning Art History Classes, James Hutson, Trent Olsen

Faculty Scholarship

This paper addresses the pressing issue of repatriation debates for artworks, heightened by notable instances like the return of the Benin Bronzes and discussions around the Elgin Marbles. Given the challenges in conducting effective classroom debates on such sensitive topics due to the pandemic, generational shifts in learning preferences, and increased student anxiety, this study identifies a gap in the integration of active learning strategies in a virtual setting. The primary aim of this research is to examine the efficacy of virtual reality role-playing games (VR-RPGs) in enhancing student engagement, immersion, presence, and learning outcomes within a virtual learning environment …

To Democratize Algorithms, Ngozi Okidegbe

Faculty Scholarship

Jurisdictions increasingly employ algorithms in public sector decisionmaking. Facing public outcry about the use of such technologies, jurisdictions have begun to increase democratic participation in the processes by which algorithms are procured, constructed, implemented, used, and overseen. But what problem is the current approach to democratization meant to solve? Policymakers have tended to view the problem as the absence of public deliberation: agencies and courts often use algorithms without public knowledge or input. To redress this problem, jurisdictions have turned to deliberative approaches designed to foster transparency and public debate.

This Article contends that the current approach to democratization is …

Perceptions And Barriers To Adopting Artificial Intelligence In K-12 Education: A Survey Of Educators In Fifty States, Karen Woodruff, James Hutson, Kathryn Arnone

Faculty Scholarship

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making significant strides in the field of education, offering new opportunities for personalized learning and access to education for a more diverse population. Despite this potential, the adoption of AI in K-12 education is limited, and educators’ express hesitancy towards its integration due to perceived technological barriers and misconceptions. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of K-12 educators in all 50 states of the USA towards AI, policies, training, and resources related to technology and AI, their comfort with technology, willingness to adopt new technologies for classroom instruction, and needs assessment for …

Self-Assessment Tool (Sat) For Improving How Higher Education Institutions And Stem Units Address Sexual Harassment By Faculty And Administrators, Susan Saab Fortney, Theresa Morris

Faculty Scholarship

Based on their systematic review of studies related to sexual harassment and higher education, researchers describe sexual harassment as an epidemic in higher education that constitutes one of the major challenges to an inclusive work and study environment. Persons involved in addressing sexual harassment recognize the extremely high institutional and individual costs associated with dealing with sexual harassment. Rather than reacting to sexual harassment that occurs, this Self-Assessment Tool assists institutions in examining and improving how they prevent and address sexual harassment.

The tool focuses on issues related to sexual harassment by faculty, administrators, and persons in supervisory positions, including …

Thermoresponsive Polymers With Lcst Transition: Synthesis, Characterization, And Their Impact On Biomedical Frontiers, Yichun Yuan, Konpal Raheja, Nathalie B. Milbrandt, Sophia Beilharz, Steffy Tene, Solomon Oshabaheebwa, Umut A. Gurkan, Anna Cristina S. Samia, Metin Karayilan

Faculty Scholarship

Advances in thermoresponsive materials have significantly impacted many biomedical fields. The unique behavior of reversible phase transition close to the physiological temperatures makes these types of materials a great candidate for a wide variety of biomedical applications including bioimaging, biosensing, injectables, smart surfaces, adhesives, biomanufacturing, and tissue engineering. Thermoresponsive behavior, mainly lower critical solution temperature (LCST) can be easily tuned by shifting the balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity (e.g., by using comonomers or changing end groups) and modifying the molecular weight and architecture of the polymer. Hence, synthetic and characterization tools are critical in tailoring and precisely determining these properties. …

Hydrodynamic Voltammetry Of Fe2+/3+ In Aqueous Deep Eutectic Solvents Towards Redox Flow Batteries, Desiree Mae Prado, Xiaochen Shen, Robert Savinell, Clemens Burda

Faculty Scholarship

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have recently attracted much attention as potential green electrolyte solvents for redox flow batteries. DESs are considered not only as environmentally sustainable but also economically attractive electrolytes because they can be resourced from biological feedstock (alcohols, urea, choline) and are earth-abundant and of low toxicity. Despite these advantages, DESs still have limitations in important aspects such as reactant and ion transport, which is inhibited due to hydrogen-bonding-induced viscosity. Thus, improving the transport properties of redox species in DESs is essential. In addition, we explore the quantitative addition of water to ethaline (a 1:2 choline chloride: ethylene …

Polyethylene Glycol-Mediated Directional Conjugation Of Biological Molecules For Enhanced Immunoassays At The Point-Of-Care, Dheerendranath Battalapalli, Purbali Chakraborty, Disha Jain, Umut A. Gurkan, Robert A. Bonomo, Mohamed S. Draz

Faculty Scholarship

Rapid and reliable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests can have a significant impact on global health. One of the most common approaches for developing POC systems is the use of target-specific biomolecules. However, the conjugation of biomolecules can result in decreased activity, which may compromise the analytical performance and accuracy of the developed systems. To overcome this challenge, we present a polymer-based cross-linking protocol for controlled and directed conjugation of biological molecules. Our protocol utilizes a bifunctional thiol-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-hydrazide polymer to enable site-directed conjugation of IgG antibodies to the surface of screen-printed metal electrodes. The metal surface of the electrodes …

Neuroaffirmative Approaches To Extended Reality: Empowering Individuals With Autism Spectrum Condition Through Immersive Learning Environments, James Hutson, Caitlyn Mcginley

Faculty Scholarship

Traditional teaching and working environments often prioritize extroverted qualities, disadvantaging individuals with conditions that impact social engagement, such as autism spectrum condition (ASC). These individuals usually thrive in calmer, low-key learning environments but face challenges in lecture-style classes, and traditional office environments leading to marginalization in academic and professional settings. This study explores the neuroaffirming potential of extended reality (XR) in creating immersive learning and working environments tailored to the unique needs of individuals with ASC. By focusing on four key factors—indirect social engagement, digital communication preferences, sensory sensitivity, and avatar-based communication—XR technologies can provide a supportive and accommodating environment …