Digital Commons Network^™

The Limits Of Immigrant Resilience, Huyen Pham, Natalie C. Cook, Ernesto Amaral, Raymond Robertson, Suojin Wang

Faculty Scholarship

Economists have identified important adaptations that immigrant workers have made to weather economic crises. During times of economic contraction, immigrant workers have moved across industries or geographical locations, downshifted to part-time work, and accepted lower wages to stay employed. Evidence from the Great Recession (2007–2009) shows the benefits of that economic resilience: immigrant workers were more likely than native-born workers to remain continuously employed, to have shorter periods of unemployment when they lost their jobs, and to regain jobs more quickly in the recovery period. Of course, these adaptations had significant personal costs for immigrant workers and their families, but …

A Framework For The Foundation Of The Philosophy Of Artificial Intelligence, Emily Barnes, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has sparked profound questions about the nature of machine intelligence and the possibility of AI consciousness. As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, examining their philosophical foundations has become imperative. This article investigates the intricate relationship between AI and existential thought, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding AI's philosophical underpinnings. The historical development of AI, from symbolic AI to contemporary machine learning paradigms, highlights the increasing complexity and sophistication of AI systems, prompting significant philosophical debates about machine consciousness. Theoretical models such as the Independent Core Observer Model …

Materials Data Science Using Cradle: A Distributed, Data-Centric Approach, Thomas G. Ciardi, Arafath Nihar, Rounak Chawla, Olatunde Akanbi, Pawan K. Tripathi, Yinghui Wu, Vipin Chaudhary, Roger H. French

Faculty Scholarship

There is a paradigm shift towards data-centric AI, where model efficacy relies on quality, unified data. The common research analytics and data lifecycle environment (CRADLE™) is an infrastructure and framework that supports a data-centric paradigm and materials data science at scale through heterogeneous data management, elastic scaling, and accessible interfaces. We demonstrate CRADLE’s capabilities through five materials science studies: phase identification in X-ray diffraction, defect segmentation in X-ray computed tomography, polymer crystallization analysis in atomic force microscopy, feature extraction from additive manufacturing, and geospatial data fusion. CRADLE catalyzes scalable, reproducible insights to transform how data is captured, stored, and analyzed. …

Why Mlp Legal Care Should Be Financed As Health Care, William M. Sage, Keegan D. Warren

Faculty Scholarship

Medical-legal partnership (MLP) integrates the unique expertise of lawyers into collaborative clinical environments. MLP teams meet the needs of individual patients while also detecting structural problems at the root of health inequities and advancing solutions at the institutional, community, and system levels. Yet MLPs today operate in limited settings and survive on scant budgets. Expanding their impact requires secure funding. Financing MLPs as health care can do the following: (1) help address inequity at the point of care; (2) enable expert diagnosis and treatment of nonmedical drivers of health; (3) enhance team-based practice in health care organizations; (4) offer another …

Bridging The Gap: Ai And The Hidden Structure Of Consciousness, Emily Barnes, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The quest to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that possess human-like consciousness necessitates a deep dive into both theoretical and practical aspects underpinning this ambitious goal. This article builds on initial philosophical explorations of AI consciousness by examining the intricate and often hidden structures that may facilitate conscious experiences in AI. Drawing from concepts in cognitive science and neuroscience, the article elucidates how AI systems can be designed to replicate the structural and functional aspects of human consciousness. The discussion includes the Hierarchy of Spatial Belongings proposed by Forti (2024), frameworks like the Integrated Information Theory (IIT), and models linking …

Beyond Automation: Ai As A Catalyst For New Job Creation In Software Development, Jill Willard, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, its impact on software development and programming is profound, drawing parallels to the shift from assembler to object-oriented programming. This article explores how AI is reshaping the landscape of software jobs, creating new opportunities rather than diminishing them. By simplifying complex tasks and lowering barriers to coding, AI is expanding the technology "pie," introducing new use cases, and enhancing efficiency. The transition from monolithic services to microservices has reduced risks and accelerated deployment processes, and AI is poised to further this evolution by managing the complexities of service interactions through advanced orchestration layers. …

Diagnosis And Management Of Hypertension In Adolescents With Obesity, Shradha M. Chhabria, Sarah D. Ronis, Courtney E. Batt

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose of Review: Hypertension (HTN) and obesity are increasing in prevalence and severity in adolescents and have significant implications for long term morbidity and mortality. This review focuses on the diagnosis and management of HTN in adolescents with obesity with an emphasis on co-management of the two conditions. Recent Findings: Recent studies affirm the increasing prevalence of abnormal blood pressures and diagnoses of HTN associated with increased adiposity. Current guidelines recommend routine screening with proper technique for HTN in patients with obesity. Additionally, obesity and HTN related co-occurring medical conditions should be evaluated as there is frequently a bidirectional impact …

Cross-Correlation Increases Sampling In Diffusion-Based Super-Resolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging, Jeanpun Antarasen, Benjamin Wellnitz, Stephanie N. Kramer, Surajit Chatterjee, Lydia Kisley

Faculty Scholarship

Correlation signal processing of optical three-dimensional (x, y, t) data can produce super-resolution images. The second-order cross-correlation function XC2 has been documented to produce super-resolution imaging with static and blinking emitters but not for diffusing emitters. Here, we both analytically and numerically demonstrate cross-correlation analysis for diffusing particles. We then expand our fluorescence correlation spectroscopy super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (fcsSOFI) analysis to use cross-correlation as a postprocessing computational technique to extract both dynamic and structural information on particle diffusion in nanoscale structures simultaneously. Cross-correlation maintains the same super-resolution as auto-correlation while also increasing the sampling rates to reduce aliasing for …

Materials Data Science Using Cradle: A Distributed, Data-Centric Approach, Thomas G. Ciardi, Arafath Nihar, Rounak Chawla, Olatunde Akanbi, Pawan K. Tripathi, Yinghui Wu, Vipin Chaudhary, Roger H. French

Faculty Scholarship

There is a paradigm shift towards data-centric AI, where model efficacy relies on quality, unified data. The common research analytics and data lifecycle environment (CRADLE™) is an infrastructure and framework that supports a data-centric paradigm and materials data science at scale through heterogeneous data management, elastic scaling, and accessible interfaces. We demonstrate CRADLE’s capabilities through five materials science studies: phase identification in X-ray diffraction, defect segmentation in X-ray computed tomography, polymer crystallization analysis in atomic force microscopy, feature extraction from additive manufacturing, and geospatial data fusion. CRADLE catalyzes scalable, reproducible insights to transform how data is captured, stored, and analyzed.

Machine Learning Boiling Prediction: From Autonomous Vision Of Flow Visualization Data To Performance Parameter Theoretical Modeling, Cho Ning Huang, Issam Mudawar, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Flow boiling is a highly efficient configuration for meeting the high heat dissipation demands of thermal management systems. However, the complex physics of two-phase flow has hindered its broader application, especially in terms of quantifying visual information. Recent advancements in machine learning vision tools have revolutionized the analysis of phase change phenomena by enabling the digitalization of physically meaningful features such as void fraction, vapor-liquid interfacial behaviors, and liquid-solid wall wetting front areas en masse. In this study, we systematically investigate two-phase models that compute void fractions, heat transfer coefficients, and critical heat flux using live bubble data streams under …

L-Pbf High-Throughput Data Pipeline Approach For Multi-Modal Integration, Kristen J. Hernandez, Thomas G. Ciardi, Rachel Yamamoto, Mingjian Lu, Arafath Nihar, Jayvic Cristian Jimenez, Pawan K. Tripathi, John J. Lewandowski, Roger H. French, Laura S. Bruckman

Faculty Scholarship

Metal-based additive manufacturing requires active monitoring solutions for assessing part quality. Multiple sensors and data streams, however, generate large heterogeneous data sets that are impractical for manual assessment and characterization. In this work, an automated pipeline is developed that enables feature extraction from high-speed camera video and multi-modal data analysis. The framework removes the need for manual assessment through the utilization of deep learning techniques and training models in a weakly supervised paradigm. We demonstrate this pipeline’s capability over 700,000 high-speed camera frames. The pipeline successfully extracts melt pool and spatter geometries and links them to corresponding pyrometry, radiography, and …

A Qualitative Study On The Integration Of Artificial Intelligence In Cultural Heritage Conservation, Kholoud Ghaith, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technologies heralds an era of expanding possibilities in the domain of cultural heritage conservation. This paradigm shift is marked by a confluence of innovative methodologies, including digital twin mapping, digital archiving, and enhanced preservation strategies, aimed at safeguarding the vestiges of our shared past. The application of AI within this field represents a frontier where technology and tradition intersect, offering new vistas for the preservation of historical structures and artifacts that are at risk of deterioration or oblivion. This article endeavors to elucidate the perspectives of professionals within the conservation domain on …

Three-Year Outcomes Of 6-Month Paliperidone Palmitate In Adults With Schizophrenia: An Open-Label Extension Study Of A Randomized Clinical Trial, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Importance: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have the potential to improve adherence and symptom control in patients with schizophrenia, promoting long-term recovery. Paliperidone palmitate (PP) once every 6 months is the first and currently only LAI antipsychotic with an extended dosing interval of 6 months. Objective: To assess long-term outcomes of PP received once every 6 months in adults with schizophrenia. Design, Setting, and Participants: In a 2-year open-label extension (OLE) study of a 1-year randomized clinical trial (RCT), eligible adults with schizophrenia could choose to continue PP every 6 months if they had not experienced relapse after receiving PP once …

Elevating Black Fathers' Experiences In The National Fatherhood Initiative: Strengths And Areas For Improvement Of 24/7 Dad® Curriculum And Case Management Services, Laura A. Voith, Katie N. Russell, Ashley Withrow, Tian Xia, Darrell Coleman

Faculty Scholarship

The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant program is one of the most robust mechanisms supporting fatherhood programming in the United States, with the gold standard of care including fatherhood curriculum (e.g., 24/7 Dad®) and case management services. Despite the fact that fatherhood in the United States is not a monolith and Black fathers make up over 40% of those served through Responsible Fatherhood (RF) program, little research explicitly centers the lived experiences of low-income Black fathers. The current study used focus groups with fathers (n = 23) and staff (n = 8) enrolled in a RF grantee program. Thematic …

Satellite Group Infall Into The Milky Way: Exploring The Crater-Leo Case With New Hst Proper Motions, Stacy S. Mcgaugh

Faculty Scholarship

Context. Within Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) simulations, Milky Way-like galaxies accrete some of their satellite galaxies in groups of 3–5 members rather than individually, and this has been suggested as a possible mechanism driving the formation of satellite planes. Objects accreted in groups are expected to share similar specific total energy and angular momentum, and to also have identical orbital planes and directions. Aims. Looking at observatio ns of Milky Way satellites, the dwarf galaxies Leo II, IV, V, and Crater II, and the star cluster Crater 1 were proposed to be a vestige of group infall. The suggested …

Psychedelic Experiences And Long-Term Spiritual Growth: A Systematic Review, William A. Schutt, Julie J. Exline, Kathleen C. Pait, Joshua A. Wilt

Faculty Scholarship

Psychedelic substances, which can occasion mystical experiences, are sometimes used for religious and spiritual reasons. Despite strong links between psychedelics and spirituality, no previous systematic review has investigated connections between psychedelics and indicators of long-term spiritual growth. Thus, 34 empirical studies were analyzed with 19,724 total participants from 32 independent samples. A variety of methodologies were used among the reviewed studies, and some studies included international samples. Results showed that psychedelics—especially classic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin, LSD, and DMT)—have been studied more often in this context than other substances. Findings indicate that psychedelic use is linked with a variety of subjective …

The History Of Diapers And Their Environmental Impact, Cansu Tokat, Nicholas C. Rickman, Cynthia F. Bearer

Faculty Scholarship

Impact: This article examines diaper practices around the world throughout history. This article reviews the innovation of the modern diaper and the environmental effects of disposable diapers.

Kinetics Of Selenate Reduction Mediated By Underpotentially Deposited Cu On Polycrystalline Au Electrodes In Aqueous Perchloric Acid, Jonathan Strobl, Saurabh Pathak, Daniel Scherson

Faculty Scholarship

The reduction of selenate, SeO²₄⁻(aq),in 0.1 M HClO₄ solutions, induced by underpotential deposition, UPD, of Cu on polycrystalline Au electrodes was investigated using the rotating ring-disk electrode, RRDE, technique. Design and implementation of electrode potential-rotation rate protocols made it possible to determine the rates of SeO²₄⁻(aq)reduction as a function of Cu coverage, θCu, as determined by the Bruckenstein method (Swathirajan et al. J. Phys. Chem. 1982, 86, 2480–2485). In agreement with the results reported recently for Au(111) film electrodes (Strobl et al. Electrochimica Acta 2024, 493, 144,298), the reaction was found to proceed only for θCu above a critical value, …

Improving Performance Of Tpu By Controlled Crosslinking Of Soft Segments, Lucivan P. Barros Jr., Lucio R. De Souza, Rasoul Rahimzadeh, Ica Manas-Zloczower

Faculty Scholarship

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are a family of thermoplastic elastomers with great properties such as high elongation and excellent chemical and abrasion resistance, which are processable by conventional melting methods. Nevertheless, TPUs lose mechanical properties and thermal stability at higher temperatures. In this work, we designed and synthesized a new TPU with limited crosslinking of the soft segments in order to improve its performance at high temperatures while preserving processability. Additionally, the new TPU maintains its transparency. With the incorporation of 10% trifunctional polyol, the T was increased by 7°C, the storage modulus at room temperature (25°C) was improved by 412 …

Spontaneous Repolarization Alternans Causes Vt/Vf Rearrest That Is Suppressed By Preserving Gap Junctions, Kenneth R. Laurita, Joseph S. Piktel, Laken Irish, Michelle Nassal, Aurelia Cheng, Matthew Mccauley, Gary Pawlowski, Adrienne T. Dennis, Yi Suen, Soufian Almahameed, Ohad Ziv, Lance D. Wilson

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) rearrest after successful resuscitation is common, and survival is poor. A mechanism of VT/VF, as demonstrated in ex vivo studies, is when repolarization alternans becomes spatially discordant (DIS ALT), which can be enhanced by impaired gap junctions (GJs). However, in vivo spontaneous DIS ALT–induced VT/VF has never been demonstrated, and the effects of GJ on DIS ALT and VT/VF rearrest are unknown. Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether spontaneous VT/VF rearrest induced by DIS ALT occurs in vivo, and if it can be suppressed by preserving Cx43-mediated GJ coupling and/or connectivity. Methods: We …

Expanding Time Covered For Medical Nutrition Therapy: A Need For Clear Reporting On The Intensity Of Nutrition Interventions, Rosa K. Hand

Faculty Scholarship

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is an evidence-based health care service that helps people improve their food and nutrition habits to positively influence health outcomes and quality of life, and is part of a suite of complementary interventions that can be implemented for effective disease prevention and management. However, the dose (ie, length and number of sessions) of MNT that is covered by health care payers in outpatient settings is highly variable and may not be adequate to achieve the desired clinical outcomes and cost savings. Interest in improving access to adequate doses of MNT provided by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), …

False Start On Nil: Public And Private Law Should Treat College Athletes Like Any Other Student, Jodi Balsam

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Fund Kinship Caregivers To Help Keep Families Together, Not Separate Them, Joshua Gupta-Kagan

Faculty Scholarship

Money impacts relationships. And when the money involved is a foster care subsidy to kinship caregivers, it can drive a wedge in relationships between parents and kinship caregivers that should be strengthened, not strained. Unfortunately, foster care funding incentivizes the “relational disruption”1 endemic to foster care, when it should instead support family members coming together to support each other and their children.

In contrast, Medicaid funding has increasingly supported family members taking care of each other and can provide child welfare with a model for funding family caregiving without disrupting relationships and without even requiring a family court or foster …

Enhancing Adult Learner Success In Higher Education Through Decision Tree Models: A Machine Learning Approach, Emily Barnes, James Hutson, Karriem Perry

Faculty Scholarship

This article explores the use of machine learning, specifically Classification and Regression Trees (CART), to address the unique challenges faced by adult learners in higher education. These learners confront socio-cultural, economic, and institutional hurdles, such as stereotypes, financial constraints, and systemic inefficiencies. The study utilizes decision tree models to evaluate their effectiveness in predicting graduation outcomes, which helps in formulating tailored educational strategies. The research analyzed a comprehensive dataset spanning the academic years 2013–2014 to 2021–2022, evaluating the predictive accuracy of CART models using precision, recall, and F1 score. Findings indicate that attendance, age, and Pell Grant eligibility are key …

The Hidden Monetary State, Gabriel Rauterberg, Joshua Younger

Faculty Scholarship

Money is a motley. While the state enjoys a monopoly on issuing new physical currency, a variety of instruments serve money-like roles in the financial system. The commercial banking system significantly augments the money supply through issuing deposits. Alongside it, a shadow banking system has also developed, offering a range of deposit substitutes.

This Article seeks to cast new light on the U.S. financial system by exploring how, over the course of the twentieth century, federal policymakers engaged in a series of distinct and largely uncoordinated monetary experiments. As we show through historical case studies, federal authorities designed, promoted, and …

Negotiating Police Reform, Cynthia Alkon

Faculty Scholarship

In the summer of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, the national conversation around police reform intensified and was part of a conversation with students at Texas A&M University School of Law. Students wanted more discussion and teaching about police, police misconduct, police reform, and defunding the police. Following those discussions, I created a simulation on local level police reform that, as of this writing, I have used twice in my negotiation class. Simulations are helpful teaching tools in a variety of settings, including law schools. Simulations can be particularly useful to help students discuss difficult topics in different …

Investigation Of Fluid Flow During Flow Boiling Inside A Horizontal Rectangular Channel With Single-Sided Heating Using Particle Image Velocimetry, Chinmay Shingote, Farshad Barghi Golezani, Chirag R. Kharangate

Faculty Scholarship

Subcooled flow boiling is a highly efficient cooling systems for thermal management systems. This study explores the intricate dynamics of subcooled flow boiling within a horizontal channel, investigating the impact of vapor generation on liquid-phase velocity using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and advanced image processing techniques. Four mass flow rates ranging from 5–20 g/s with subcooled inlet conditions are investigated in a rectangular channel with single-sided heating. Three regions of interest along the heated channel are investigated for instantaneous PIV analysis. The PIV system captures detailed velocity profiles, illustrating the impact of varying mass flow rates and heat flux levels …

Theoretical And Experimental Evaluation Of The Electronic Relaxation Mechanisms Of 2-Pyrimidinone: The Primary Uva Absorbing Moiety Of The Dna And Rna (6–4) Photolesion, Sean J. Hoehn, Sarah E. Krul, Carlos E. Crespo-Hernández

Faculty Scholarship

The (6–4) photolesion is a key photodamage that occurs when two adjacent pyrimidine bases in a DNA strand bond together. To better understand how the absorption of UVB and UVA radiation by the 2-pyrimidinone moiety in a (6–4) lesion can damage DNA, it is important to study the electronic deactivation mechanism of its 2-pyrimidinone chromophore. This study employs theoretical (MS-CASPT2/cc-pVDZ level) and experimental (steady state and femtosecond broadband spectroscopic) methods to elucidate the photochemical relaxation mechanisms of 2-(1H)-pyrimidinone and 1-methyl-2-(1H)-pyrimidinone in aqueous solution (pH 7.4). In short, excitation at 320 nm leads to the population of the S1¹(ππ*) …

The Prohibition Of Annexations And The Foundations Of Modern International Law, Ingrid Brunk, Monica Hakimi

Faculty Scholarship

The international legal norm that prohibits forcible annexations of territory is foundational to modern international law. It lies at the core of three projects that have been central to the enterprise: (1) to settle title to territory as the basis for establishing state authority; (2) to regulate the use of force across settled borders; and (3) to provide for people within settled borders collectively to determine their own fates. Prohibiting forcible annexations is integral to each of these projects independently, and by tying them together, has had a transformative effect on the legal system as a whole. However, its significance …

Mitigating Algorithmic Bias: Strategies For Addressing Discrimination In Data, Sonia Gipson Rankin

Faculty Scholarship

This article examines the pervasive issue of algorithmic bias, particularly within large language models (LLMs) and the legal system. It argues that unlike simple programming bugs, these biases are deeply ingrained in the design and training data of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. By understanding the historical roots of bias and its realworld consequence across various sectors, we can develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact and ensure AI serves as a tool for progress. Weaving together historical insights, case studies, and forward-looking recommendations, the article aims to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead the charge …