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2013

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Oral Language Development In Title I Preschools In Central Alabama: A Multi-Case Study, Suzanne O'Rear Snow Jan 2013

Oral Language Development In Title I Preschools In Central Alabama: A Multi-Case Study, Suzanne O'Rear Snow

All ETDs from UAB

Among risk factors associated with reading difficulties, underdeveloped oral language skills can be detrimental to students' reading success. Many educators are teaching early reading skills without prior knowledge of scaffolding methods and developmentally appropriate developmentally appropriate factors from research (Kirkland & Patterson, 2005). This multi-case study examined aspects of how five preschool personnel developed oral language development in two Titles I preschool by answering the following questions: How do preschool teachers and paraprofessionals describe the ways in which oral language development is developed in a preschool setting? The research sub-questions included were: Two Title I schools were purposefully chosen for …

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Host Genetic Factors Associated With Cervical Human Papillomavirus Clearance, Staci Lynn Sudenga Jan 2013

Host Genetic Factors Associated With Cervical Human Papillomavirus Clearance, Staci Lynn Sudenga

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation research focuses on how variants in various host genes are associated with clearance of HPV in three longitudinal cohorts from the United States. I first examined the definition of the intermediate phenotype to cervical cancer, HPV persistence and then I incorporated this phenotype in all my three aims by examining variations in xenobiotic metabolism genes in HIV-1 negative and immune-related genes in HIV-1 positive females and how these contribute to HPV infection outcomes. Several significant variants were associated with HPV clearance for the three aims. For the first aim, in ALTS assessing functional variants within xenobiotic metabolism genes …

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A Phenomenological Study Of Principals' Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Alabama Torchbearer Schools, Mark Anthony Sullivan Jan 2013

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals' Self-Efficacy Beliefs In Alabama Torchbearer Schools, Mark Anthony Sullivan

All ETDs from UAB

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF PRINCIPALS' SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS IN ALABAMA TORCHBEARER SCHOOLS MARK A. SULLIVAN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the self-efficacy beliefs of 10 principals of Torchbearer schools in Alabama. Principals who serve in schools that have high concentrations of students who are living in poverty face challenges in improving student achievement. Principals of these schools are required to promote school environments that are conducive to learning for all students. In February 2005, the Alabama State Department of Education began recognizing high-poverty public schools and their principals for overcoming …

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Biocomposite Material Evaluation And Processing For Automotive Interior Components, Theresa Lee Sullins Jan 2013

Biocomposite Material Evaluation And Processing For Automotive Interior Components, Theresa Lee Sullins

All ETDs from UAB

There is growing demand for materials that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. One of the areas of focus right now is the transportation/automotive field where more energy efficient vehicles are needed to meet growing government regulations and to reduce the negative impacts on global air quality, human health and global climate. Several researchers are focusing on bio-based composites with natural fibers being the prime choice for fiber reinforced composites. The processing and characterization of 30 wt. % industrial hemp fiber reinforced PP composites for automotive interior components are discussed. The material was compounded by a twin screw and then processed …

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The Effect Of Incentive Strategy On Health Behaviors And Outcomes In The Workplace, Lindsay M. Sutton Jan 2013

The Effect Of Incentive Strategy On Health Behaviors And Outcomes In The Workplace, Lindsay M. Sutton

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined participation, engagement, and achievement of health-related targets under two sequentially administered wellness programs for approximately 2,000 full-time city personnel of a Southern municipal government. Program A utilized paper fliers and community posters as the primary communication strategy and incented employees for achieving 3 health outcomes only by a lump-sum, one-time monetary reward distributed at the end of the year. Program B subsequently utilized a web-based site where employees logged into individualized accounts and received points that accrued for both completing behaviors and achieving health outcomes. Both electronic and paper communication strategies were utilized to as primary mediums …

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Three-Dimensional Photography Of Facial Morphology Of Adult African-Americans Compared To Various Population Sets, Leslie Talbert Jan 2013

Three-Dimensional Photography Of Facial Morphology Of Adult African-Americans Compared To Various Population Sets, Leslie Talbert

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this study is to compare the facial morphologies of an adult African-American population to an adult Caucasian-American population using three-dimensional surface imaging. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional facial images were captured via a stereo-photogrammetric camera system (3dMDfaceTM system). One hundred images of each population (African-American and Caucasian-American) were taken. Subjects were between 19-30 years of age, normal BMI, and no gross craniofacial anomalies. All facial images were aligned and combined using Rapidform 2006 Plus Pack 2 software to produce a male and female facial average for each population. The facial averages were then superimposed for comparison and the …

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Effects Of Light Spectra And Uv Radiation In Relation To Dietary Carotenoids On The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus, James Christopher Taylor Jan 2013

Effects Of Light Spectra And Uv Radiation In Relation To Dietary Carotenoids On The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus, James Christopher Taylor

All ETDs from UAB

An important factor in the marketability of sea urchin gonad is color. A marketable color is suggested to be dependent upon the in vivo accumulation of red and yellow carotenoid pigments within the gonad. Carotenoids obtained through the diet can be modified in sea urchins, but the function of these carotenoids is unknown. We hypothesize that differential light exposure can affect carotenoid deposition and, as a consequence, gonad color in sea urchins. We performed two experiments to determine if light spectra affect gonad color of Lytechinus variegatus. In the first experiment, urchins were fed a formulated feed supplemented with or …

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Patient-Centered Medical Homes: An Analysis Of The Effects Of Practice Capabilities On Costs, Mary Temm Jan 2013

Patient-Centered Medical Homes: An Analysis Of The Effects Of Practice Capabilities On Costs, Mary Temm

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) practice capabilities and costs. Complexity science theory was used to develop a theoretical framework to address three primary and twelve secondary hypotheses. Secondary data from a consortium of physician organizations participating in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Physician Group Incentive Program and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's administrative claims data were used to test hypothesized relationships using fixed effects panel regression models. It was found that higher levels of aggregated PCMH practice capabilities were negatively associated with certain costs, specifically average readmission costs. …

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Plga Nanospheres For Sustained Release Of Rifampicin, Alyssa Brianna Terry Jan 2013

Plga Nanospheres For Sustained Release Of Rifampicin, Alyssa Brianna Terry

All ETDs from UAB

Although Tuberculosis (TB) is often regarded as a disease of the past, it is still one of the leading killers of people worldwide. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium that mostly infects the lungs but can also infect other organs throughout the body. One goal for TB treatment is to create a biocompatible, biodegradable drug delivery system that employs the use of multiple drugs while simultaneously relieving the patient from the burden of self-medicating. For this study, we optimized a procedure for making poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanospheres and loading Rifampicin, one of the most potent and least …

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Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery From The Citronelle Oil Field And Carbon Sequestration In The Donovan Sand, Southwest Alabama, Konstantinos A. Theodorou Jan 2013

Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery From The Citronelle Oil Field And Carbon Sequestration In The Donovan Sand, Southwest Alabama, Konstantinos A. Theodorou

All ETDs from UAB

Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from stationary sources and injecting it into deep underground geologic formations has been identified as a viable method for reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstones overlain by shales or evaporites, are the preferred formations because their morphology and structure provide pore space, and containment for the long term storage of CO2. Sandstone formations have also served as repositories to migrating hydrocarbons, and are the sites of many oil recovery operations. For many depleted oil reservoirs, secondary waterflooding recovery methods are no longer efficient or economically viable, hence the application of tertiary …

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The Origin, Regulation, And Function Of Tbet In Effector Cd4 T Cells During Chronic Autoimmune Disease, Wen-I Yeh Jan 2013

The Origin, Regulation, And Function Of Tbet In Effector Cd4 T Cells During Chronic Autoimmune Disease, Wen-I Yeh

All ETDs from UAB

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting from aberrant immune cells causing demyelination. We utilize the well-studied mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), to decipher the underlying pathogenesis of MS. Effector CD4 T-cells play a critical role during EAE because the disease is induced by adoptively transferring myelin-specific CD4 T-cells into naïve mice. Classically, effector CD4 T-cells have been divided into distinct subsets based on their functional properties: Th1 cells produce IFNγ, Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, Th17 cells make IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, and regulatory T cells produce IL-10. Th1 cells were originally identified as …

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A Generalized Noisy Communication Channel Approach For Quantum Computing, Fan Xiong Jan 2013

A Generalized Noisy Communication Channel Approach For Quantum Computing, Fan Xiong

All ETDs from UAB

Quantum computing is considered to be a promising technology for some specific types of computing purposes. Modeling of quantum computing could help study and research of this field. In this dissertation, we approach quantum computing from a communication perspective that is to model quantum computing with a generalized noisy communication channel approach. We proposed a generalized noisy communication channel approach (GNCom) for quantum computing. The proposed GNCom approach is applied to quantum computing as a universal quantum register. GNCom further extended the noisy communication channel framework by associating it with Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). Based on GNCom and QED, we proposed …

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High-Tech Services And Hospital Performance In The United States, Ferhat Devrim Zengul Jan 2013

High-Tech Services And Hospital Performance In The United States, Ferhat Devrim Zengul

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation examined the relationship between high-technology medical services and hospital performance by focusing on financial and quality performance dimensions. An initial systematic review disclosed the paucity of research and mixed findings about the technology-performance relationship. The review indicated the need for further analyses by emphasizing some limitations of existing studies. The resource-based view (RBV) of a firm was used as a conceptual framework in examining the relationship between high-tech medical services and hospital financial performance. It was hypothesized that large breadth (number) of high-tech services and the use of rare high-tech services would be positively associated with hospitals' financial …

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Regulation Of Stim1 By O-Glcnacylation In Cardiomyocytes, Xiaoyuan Zhu-Mauldin Jan 2013

Regulation Of Stim1 By O-Glcnacylation In Cardiomyocytes, Xiaoyuan Zhu-Mauldin

All ETDs from UAB

In non-excitable cells, STIM1 and Orai1 are the primary mediators of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE); however little is known about their roles in cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling. We have previously shown that acute increases in the levels of O-GlcNAcylation (the attachment of O-linked N- acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to target proteins) are cardioprotective through attenuating Ca2+-mediated injury and increased O-GlcNAcylation blunts SOCE in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, the goals here were to determine the regulation of STIM1 and STIM1-mediated SOCE by O-GlcNAcylation in cardiomyocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the co-localization of STIM1 with SERCA and RyR in adult cardiomyocytes. NRVMs were transfected with the eYFP-tagged STIM1 …

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The Role Of Nr4a3 And Its Agonists In Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport And Insulin Sensitivity, Qinglan Liu Jan 2013

The Role Of Nr4a3 And Its Agonists In Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport And Insulin Sensitivity, Qinglan Liu

All ETDs from UAB

Insulin resistance plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and involves diminished stimulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Improvements in insulin sensitivity are essential for both prevention and treatment of T2DM. However, the limitation of current medications highlights the need for alternative molecular regulators of insulin action and developing new insulin sensitizers. Our laboratory has initially identified roles for the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A3 in insulin-sensitization and stimulation of glucose transport. However, the cellular effect and downstream mechanisms of NR4A3 and its agonists (e.g. 6-mercaptopurine/6-MP) on insulin effector system in skeletal muscle remain unknown. …

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Investigation Of Death Receptor-5 Mediated Apoptosis And Inhibition Of Wnt/Ss-Catenin Signaling In Basal-Like Breast Cancer Stem Cells, Angelina Ix-Ik' Londono-Joshi Jan 2013

Investigation Of Death Receptor-5 Mediated Apoptosis And Inhibition Of Wnt/Ss-Catenin Signaling In Basal-Like Breast Cancer Stem Cells, Angelina Ix-Ik' Londono-Joshi

All ETDs from UAB

Basal-like breast cancers (BLBC) display aggressive clinical behavior attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). TRA-8, a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to TRAIL death receptor 5, preferentially induces apoptosis in BLBC subtype cells; however it is unknown if TRA-8 is also cytotoxic to the CSC population. Moreover, some BLBC cell lines are resistant to TRA-8, and overcoming resistance is critical for clinical translation of this therapy. One potential approach to overcome TRA- 8 resistance is to target the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. LRP6 is a cell surface receptor that is an indispensable element of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway that …

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Blood Pressure And Tobacco Exposure Among Rural Adolescents Ages 15-18, Luz Huntington-Moskos Jan 2013

Blood Pressure And Tobacco Exposure Among Rural Adolescents Ages 15-18, Luz Huntington-Moskos

All ETDs from UAB

High blood pressure is a prevalent precursor to cardiovascular disease. An estimated 3% of US adolescents have hypertension. In addition, prehypertension is predictive of hypertension in adolescents, with progression between these stages at approximately 7% per year. Tobacco use/exposure is strongly linked to cardiovascular risk and disease in adults. Further, rural communities have higher tobacco use prevalence and fewer community policies restricting tobacco use. Little is known about the effects of tobacco exposure on blood pressure and the mediating effects of inflammation (salivary C-reactive protein (CRP)) in rural adolescents. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between …

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Spectrum Therapy Center, Lindsay Wilson Jan 2013

Spectrum Therapy Center, Lindsay Wilson

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

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Intracellular Quantitation And Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Nucleoside Analogs In The Female Genital Tract, Amanda Marie James Jan 2013

Intracellular Quantitation And Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Nucleoside Analogs In The Female Genital Tract, Amanda Marie James

All ETDs from UAB

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the leading infectious diseases in the world. In spite of substantial progress in the advancement of antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment, new infections outpace the number of infected persons initiating ART. Therefore, the prevention of HIV remains a crucial health issue. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, (PrEP), which involves using one or more antiretroviral agents to reduce the risk of HIV infection prior to potential exposure, has shown effectiveness at reducing HIV transmission in study volunteers with different sexual orientation around the world. The clinical pharmacology of antiretroviral drugs, specifically tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC), in …

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Interracial Couple Status In Relation To Birth Outcomes Among Singleton Infants Born To U.S. Resident Mothers, 2004-2008., Su Jin Jeong Jan 2013

Interracial Couple Status In Relation To Birth Outcomes Among Singleton Infants Born To U.S. Resident Mothers, 2004-2008., Su Jin Jeong

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the growing trend in interracial marriages in the United States, the issue of birth outcomes to infants born to such couples deserves more attention and examination. The purpose of this population-based, cross-sectional, observational study is to examine the association between interracial couple status and birth outcomes (i.e. low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm birth, very preterm birth, small for gestational age) among singleton infants delivered in the United States. Interracial couples are defined as those in a relationship who are not of the same race or ethnic designation. Non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Asian, Chinese, Filipino, …

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Book Review Of "The Road To Maxwell's Demon: Conceptual Foundations Of Statistical Mechanics", Valia Allori Jan 2013

Book Review Of "The Road To Maxwell's Demon: Conceptual Foundations Of Statistical Mechanics", Valia Allori

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

No abstract provided.

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A Longitudinal Analysis Of The U.S. News Law School Academic Reputation Scores Between 1998 And 2013, Robert L. Jones Jan 2013

A Longitudinal Analysis Of The U.S. News Law School Academic Reputation Scores Between 1998 And 2013, Robert L. Jones

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

This article is a revised update to a previously released study of the U.S. News academic reputation scores (“peer assessment scores”). The revised study incorporates the results from the 2013 U.S. News rankings and encompasses the period between 1998 and 2013. The study reveals that there has been a significant downward trend in the academic reputation scores of law schools since 1998. While the academic reputation scores tended to be relatively stable throughout the sixteen year period, over 60% of the law schools in the 172 school data set finished the sixteen year period with academic reputation scores that were …

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Interpretive Theorizing In The Seductive World Of Sexuality And Interpersonal Communication: Getting Guerilla With Studies Of Sexting And Purity Rings, Jimmie Manning Jan 2013

Interpretive Theorizing In The Seductive World Of Sexuality And Interpersonal Communication: Getting Guerilla With Studies Of Sexting And Purity Rings, Jimmie Manning

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

The author explains how interpretive studies of sexuality will be of benefit to relationship studies in and out of the communication discipline.

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Early Stage Visual-Orthographic Processes Predict Long-Term Retention Of Word Form And Meaning: A Visual Encoding Training Study, Fan Cao, Ben Rickles, Marianne Vu, Ziheng Zhu, Derek Ho Lung Chan, Lindsay N. Harris, Joseph Stafura, Yi Xu, Charles A. Perfetti Jan 2013

Early Stage Visual-Orthographic Processes Predict Long-Term Retention Of Word Form And Meaning: A Visual Encoding Training Study, Fan Cao, Ben Rickles, Marianne Vu, Ziheng Zhu, Derek Ho Lung Chan, Lindsay N. Harris, Joseph Stafura, Yi Xu, Charles A. Perfetti

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Adult learners of Chinese learned new characters through writing, visual chunking or reading-only. Following training, ERPs were recorded during character recognition tasks, first shortly after the training and then three months later. We hypothesized that the character training effects would be seen in ERP components associated with word recognition and episodic memory. Results confirmed a larger N170 for visual chunking training than other training and a larger P600 for learned characters than novel characters. Another result was a training effect on the amplitude of the P100, which was greater following writing training than other training, suggesting that writing training temporarily …

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Universal Reading Processes Are Modulated By Language And Writing System, Charles A. Perfetti, Lindsay N. Harris Jan 2013

Universal Reading Processes Are Modulated By Language And Writing System, Charles A. Perfetti, Lindsay N. Harris

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

The connections among language, writing system, and reading are part of what confronts a child in learning to read. We examine these connections in addressing how reading processes adapt to the variety of written language and how writing adapts to language. The first adaptation (reading to writing), as evidenced in behavioral and neuroscience data, is achieved through a universal constraint that language places on writing and through the tuning of reading procedures imposed by specific features of writing systems. Children acquire skill in reading through increasing specialization of procedures tuned to their writing system, while also acquiring more general (universal) …

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Domain 3: Situation Analysis, Yihui Tang Jan 2013

Domain 3: Situation Analysis, Yihui Tang

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

No abstract provided.

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Civil Non-State Actors In Peacekeeping And Peacebuilding In West Africa, Abu Bakarr Bah Jan 2013

Civil Non-State Actors In Peacekeeping And Peacebuilding In West Africa, Abu Bakarr Bah

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

This paper advances the notion of civil non-state actors in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Using Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire as cases studies, the paper identifies three kinds of civil non-state actors in war-torn countries: international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based NGOs, and ad hoc community organizations. In addition, it argues that civil non-state actors play a critical problem-solving role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and complement the role of state actors. The paper examines the role of civil non-state actors through their dialectical affinity with state actors in the peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes. It further expands the notion of non-state actors …

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Federal Constitutional Childcare Interests And Superior Parental Rights In Illinois, Jeffrey A. Parness Jan 2013

Federal Constitutional Childcare Interests And Superior Parental Rights In Illinois, Jeffrey A. Parness

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Even without a majority rationale, the opinions in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000), support the notion that there are federal constitutional “liberty interests of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children” which generally foreclose state – compelled nonparent childcare over parental objections. They also recognize there can be exceptions, including perhaps when parental wishes are accorded “at least some special weight;” when “harm or potential harm” to children may ensue; when there are already “substantial relationships” between children and nonparents; or when states legitimately seek to preserve “established familial or family-like bonds.” As well, the …

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Parentage Law (R)Evolution: The Key Questions, Jeffrey A. Parness Jan 2013

Parentage Law (R)Evolution: The Key Questions, Jeffrey A. Parness

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

American state parentage laws have evolved significantly in the past half century in response to changes in both reproductive technologies and human conduct. Yet further evolution, if not a revolution, seems inevitable. In particular, American state laws increasingly recognize parenthood by consent for a nonbiological and nonadoptive parent-like figure in an intimate or familial relationship with a child’s biological or adoptive parent. Lawmakers, especially state legislators, will need to consider who may be granted standing as parents to seek court-ordered childcare, including former stepparents, former boyfriends and girlfriends, and present and former grandparents. As well, they must ponder whether standing …

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The Challenges “Facing” Copyright Protection For Tattoos, Yolanda M. King Jan 2013

The Challenges “Facing” Copyright Protection For Tattoos, Yolanda M. King

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

This Article addresses the ambiguity regarding the legal protectability of tattoos and the negative impact such ambiguity has on the rights of tattoo artists and their clients/customers. Notwithstanding the lack of federal court decisions in this area of the law, this Article determines that tattoos meet the requirements of copyrightability in the United States—originality and fixation in a tangible medium of expression. This Article examines the challenges presented by providing copyright protection for tattoos. In particular, this Article responds to the expert testimony of Professor David Nimmer, the author of a treatise often cited in the field of copyright law, …

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