Digital Commons Network^™

A Human-Centric Approach To Data Fusion In Post-Disaster Managment: The Development Of A Fuzzy Set Theory Based Model, Mubarak Banisakher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is critical to provide an efficient and accurate information system in the post-disaster phase for individuals' in order to access and obtain the necessary resources in a timely manner; but current map based post-disaster management systems provide all emergency resource lists without filtering them which usually leads to high levels of energy consumed in calculation. Also an effective post-disaster management system (PDMS) will result in distribution of all emergency resources such as, hospital, storage and transportation much more reasonably and be more beneficial to the individuals in the post disaster period. In this Dissertation, firstly, semi-supervised learning (SSL) based …

Accessing Law: An Empirical Study Exploring The Influence Of Legal Research Medium, Stefan H. Krieger, Katrina F. Kuh

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

The legal profession is presently engaged in an uncontrolled experiment. Attorneys now locate and access legal authorities primarily through electronic means. Although this shift to an electronic research medium radically changes how attorneys discover and encounter law, little empirical work investigates impacts from the shift to an electronic medium.

This Article presents the results of one of the most robust empirical studies conducted to date comparing research processes using print and electronic sources. While the study presented in this Article was modest in scope, the extent and type of the differences that it reveals are notable. Some of the observed …

Blivits!, Charles Sutter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blivits! is a feature-length documentary produced, written, and directed by Charles Sutter in pursuit of the Master of Fine Arts in Film & Digital Media from the University of Central Florida. This thesis examines the ethical questions of making a documentary in the digital era. In accordance with the restrictions of the program's guidelines, this film was completed a budget of less than $50,000. The film was shot over 18 days, in various locations up and down the east coast of the United States. This thesis is the record of Blivits!'s journey through development until completion of picture lock.

Much Ado About Cyber-Space: Cyber-Terrorism And The Reformation Of The Cyber-Security, Christian Pedersen

Pepperdine Policy Review

The threats residing in cyber-space are becoming well understood by policymakers and security experts alike. However, cyber-security defenses and strategies cannot solely be directed towards nation states, as non-governmental actors – such as transnational crime groups and terrorist organizations are becoming increasingly reliant upon internet technologies. Attacks on the digital components of the critical infrastructure, have the potential to unleash devastation on the United States. In a time when reliability and ethnicity of the National Security Administration, the Nation’s leading digital intelligence organization, are becoming increasingly questioned; defensive measures need to be improved to prevent future attacks and improve the …

Multilevel Examination Of Facility Characteristics, Social Integration, And Health For Older Adults Living In Nursing Homes, Skye Leedahl, Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, Todd D. Little

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objectives. Testing a model based on past research and theory, this study assessed relationships between facility characteristics (i.e., culture change efforts, social workers) and residents’ social networks and social support across nursing homes and examined relationships between multiple aspects of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social engagement, social support) and mental and functional health for older adults in nursing homes.

Methods. Data were collected at nursing homes using a planned missing data design with random sampling techniques. Data collection occurred at the individual-level through in-person structured interviews with older adult nursing home residents (N = 140) and …

Financial Adaptation Among College Students: Helping Students Cope With Financial Strain, Joyce Serido, Soyeon Shim, Jing Jian Xiao, Chuanyi Tang, Noel A. Card

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

This study examines the impact of the recent financial crisis on co-occurring patterns of change in financial strain and financial coping behaviors of college students (N=748) using two-timed, longitudinal data collected prior to the 2008 financial crisis and again one year later. Using a stress and coping framework, we found that different measures of perceived change in financial strain acted as antecedents of change in types of financial coping behaviors. We discuss the importance of these findings in developing the financial decision-making skills that young adults need in an era of increasing responsibility for their financial future

A Pilot Examination Of Self-Esteem, Depression, And Sleep In College Women, Jessica R. Conti, Sue K. Adams, Tiffani S. Kisler

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

While sleep deficits in adulthood are common and worsening, college women experience significantly more sleep problems and depression than their male counterparts. In recent years, sleep has been investigated as one of the primary contributors to college functioning and GPA. No known study, however, has investigated the connection between self-esteem, depression and sleep. Questionnaire assessments were given to 43 female college juniors and seniors, including: demographic information, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Pittsburg Quality Sleep Index. This pilot study investigates the relationship between college self-esteem and sleep quality, as mediated by depression. The results of the study indicate …

Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use And Adherence To Asthma Medications Among Latino And Non-Latino White Families, Elizabeth L. Mcquaid, David A. Fedele, Sue K. Adams, Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, Jessica Mithcell, Sheryl J. Kopel, Ronald Seifer, Barbara Jandasek, Gregory K. Fritz, Glorisa Canino

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objective: The current study sought to evaluate patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a sample of Latino and Non-Latino white (NLW) children with asthma, to determine whether parental beliefs about conventional medications and barriers to obtaining these medications were related to CAM use, and to assess whether CAM use was associated with decreased adherence to controller medications.

Methods: Participants included 574 families of children with asthma from Non-Latino White, Puerto Rican, and Dominican backgrounds from RI and from Island Puerto Rico. All parents completed a brief checklist of barriers to medication use and an assessment …

Maternal Anxiety During And After Pregnancy: Effects On Child Internalizing Behaviour, Sue K. Adams, Jennifer F. Daly, Kathleen N. Morgan

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Background: Anxiety during pregnancy can have significant effects on both a developing fetus and long-term developmental outcomes. In animal and human models, prenatal anxiety has been associated with characteristics of inhibited temperament in infants, which may be a precursor to later anxiety disorders. This pilot study examined if maternal report of anxiety during pregnancy differentially explained preschool-aged children’s internalizing behaviour over and above a mother’s trait anxiety. In addition, using multi-reporter methodology, the study examined if maternal anxiety during pregnancy predicted multiple reporters’ ratings of child internalizing behaviour.

Method: Participants in this pilot study included preschool-aged children, their …

Associations Between Family Food Behaviors, Maternal Depression, And Child Weight Among Low-Income Children, Karen Mccurdy, Kathleen S. Gorman, Tiffani S. Kisler, Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Although low-income children are at greater risk for overweight and obesity than their higher income counterparts, the majority of poor children are not overweight. The current study examined why such variation exists among diverse young children in poor families. Cross-sectional data were collected on 164 low-income, preschool aged children and their mothers living in two Rhode Island cities. Over half of the sample was Hispanic (55%). Mothers completed measures of family food behaviors and depression while trained assistants collected anthropometric data from children at seven day care centers and a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach project. Multivariate analysis of covariance …

Prescribing Multiple Neurostimulants During Rehabilitation For Severe Brain Injury., Amy A. Herrold, Theresa Louise-Bender Pape, Ann Guernon, Trudy Mallinson, Eileen Collins, Neil Jordan

Clinical Research and Leadership Faculty Publications

Background. Despite a lack of clear evidence, multiple neurostimulants are commonly provided after severe brain injury (BI). The purpose of this study is to determine if the number of neurostimulants received during rehabilitation was associated with recovery of full consciousness or improved neurobehavioral function after severe BI.

Method. Data from 115 participants were extracted from a neurobehavioral observational study database for this exploratory, retrospective analysis. Univariate optimal data analysis was conducted to determine if the number of neurostimulants influenced classification of four outcomes: recovery of full consciousness during rehabilitation, recovery of full consciousness within one year of injury, and meaningful …

Review Of Klansville, U.S.A.: The Rise And Fall Of The Civil Rights-Era Ku Klux Klan, Peter Simi

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

A review of Klansville, U.S.A.: The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights–Era Ku Klux Klan by David Cunningham.

All That Heaven Will Allow: A Statistical Analysis Of The Co-Existence Of Same Sex Marriage And Gay Matrimonial Bans, Deirdre Bowen

Faculty Articles

This article offers the first analysis to date of national data evaluating whether defense of marriage acts (mini or super-DOMAs) preserve and stabilize the family. After finding that they do not—just as same sex marriage does not appear to destabilize families—the article analyzes what variables are, in fact, associated with family stability. Specifically, those variables are: families below the poverty line; men and women married three or more times; religiosity; percent conservative versus liberal in a state; disposable income; percent with bachelor’s degree; and median age of first marriage. Next, the article applies the sociological concepts of moral entrepreneurism and …

Meta Rights, Charlotte Garden

Faculty Articles

Are individuals entitled to notice of their constitutional rights or assistance in exercising those rights? In most contexts, the answer is no. Yet, there are some important exceptions, in which the Court has held that special circumstances call for notice and procedural protections designed to facilitate rights invocations. This article refers to these entitlements as “meta rights” — rights that protect rights. The most famous of these is the Miranda warning, which notifies suspects of their Fifth Amendment rights to silence and an attorney. There are others as well — among them, the First Amendment right of individuals represented by …

Presumed Incompetent: Continuing The Conversation, Carmen Gonzalez, Angela P. Harris

Faculty Articles

On March 8, 2013, the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice hosted an all-day symposium featuring more than forty speakers at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law to celebrate and invite responses to the book entitled, Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia (Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, Yolanda Flores Niemann, Carmen G. González & Angela P. Harris eds., 2012). Presumed Incompetent presents gripping first-hand accounts of the obstacles encountered by female faculty of color in the academic workplace, and provides specific recommendations to women of color, allies, and academic leaders on ways …

Impeachment By Unreliable Conviction, Anna Roberts

Faculty Articles

This article offers a new critique of Federal Rule of Evidence 609, which permits impeachment of criminal defendants by means of their prior criminal convictions. The article draws on three aspects of the contemporary criminal justice system to show that in admitting convictions for impeachment courts are wrongly assuming that they are necessarily reliable indicators of relative culpability. First, courts assume that convictions are the product of a fair fight, despite the adversarial collapse revealed by the nature of plea-bargaining, the crisis in public defense, and the data on wrongful convictions; second, courts assume that convictions demonstrate relative culpability, despite …

This Is Your Sword: Does Plaintiff Prior Conviction Evidence Affect Civil Trial Outcomes, Deirdre Bowen, Kathryn Stanchi

Faculty Articles

The conventional wisdom in law is that a prior conviction is one of the most powerful and damaging pieces of evidence that can be offered against a witness or party. In legal lore, prior convictions seriously undercut the credibility of the witness and can derail the outcome of a trial. This article suggests that may not always be true. This article details the results of an empirical study of juror decision-making that challenges the conventional wisdom about prior convictions. In our study, the prior conviction evidence did not have a direct impact on the outcome of the civil trial or …

A Continuing Plague: Faceless Transactions And The Coincident Rise Of Food Adulteration And Legal Regulation Of Quality, Denis Stearns

Faculty Articles

Over two decades ago, the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak, in which five victims died, and hundreds more were seriously injured, dramatically changed the way the world looked at food and food safety. Although deemed “trivial” by tort scholars, who nonetheless used legal doctrines first developed in food cases to justify the extension of strict liability to all products, this article uses the Jack in the Box outbreak as a point of departure for exploring not only the relationship between food, being, and knowledge, but to posit that commerce in food, and the inevitability of profit-motivated food adulteration, …

Bearing Children, Bearing Risks: Feminist Leadership For Progressive Regulation Of Compensated Surrogacy In The United States, Sara Ainsworth

Faculty Articles

Compensated surrogacy-an arrangement in which a woman carries and gives birth to a child for someone else in exchange for money-intimately affects women. Yet, feminist law reformers have not led efforts to regulate this practice in the United States. Their absence is notable given the significant influence of feminist lawmaking in a host of other areas where women's interests are at stake. This lack of feminist law reform leadership can be understood, however, in light of the complex issues that surrogacy raises-complexity that has long divided feminists. In response to efforts to pass surrogacy legislation in Washington State in 2010, …

“If They Hand You A Paper, You Sign It”: A Call To End The Sterilization Of Women In Prison, Sara Ainsworth, Rachel Roth

Faculty Articles

The context in which the sterilization of incarcerated women takes place is a deeply coercive one. The practice of sterilizing incarcerated women, whether intentionally coerced or not, takes place against a backdrop of mass incarceration and the long and ignominious history of forced and coerced sterilizations directed at poor people and women of color in the United States. Professor Sara Ainsworth and Dr. Rachel Roth explore this backdrop, and the federal sterilization regulations that arose from this history and from women's activism to change it, in Part I. In Part II, they explain how the appallingly bad and often unconstitutional …

Mass Shootings And Mental Health Policy, Jessica Rosenberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Research suggests that mass shootings can increase mental health stigma, reinforce stereotypes that people with mental illness are violent, and influence public policy. This article examines mental health policy initiatives resulting from the mass shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado within the context of existing research about mental illness, suicide, substance abuse and gun violence. Previous legislation that restricts access to firearms among persons with mental illness is reviewed. The article suggests that gun control legislation that focuses on persons with mental illness is not supported by research, may create barriers to treatment, and may have limited efficacy …

Review Of The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens And The Nation. Leo R. Chavez. Reviewed By Catherine Carballeira., Catherine Carballeira

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Leo R. Chavez, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens and the Nation. Stanford University Press (2nd ed.) (2013). $70 (hardcover); $22.95 (paperback).

A Dark Side Of Virtue: The Inter-American Court And Reparations For Indigenous Peoples, Thomas Antkowiak

Faculty Articles

"The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has now developed a significant jurisprudence on indigenous peoples, far more extensive than the case law of the other regional human rights tribunals. Also, unlike the various United Nations institutions that promote indigenous rights, the Inter-American Court issues binding and detailed judgments. As a result, the Court has become a global leader in the adjudication and redress of indigenous claims. For this reason, this first close and critical examination of the Court’s reparations for indigenous peoples is vital. With respect to non-monetary remedies, the Court has ordered the restitution of communal lands and other …

The Islamic Influence In (Pre-)Colonial And Early America: A Historico-Legal Snapshot, Nadia B. Ahmad

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Standarized Testing And Race: A Reply To Professor Subotnik, Harvey Gilmore

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Time On The Cross: A Meditation On Lethal Injection, Robert Johnson, Rachel Ternes

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

About The Authors

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

"Renounce And Enjoy": The Pursuit Of Happiness Through Gandhi's Simple Living And High Thinking, Nehal A. Patel

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

No One Is Disposable: Going Beyond The Trans Military Inclusion Debate, Gabriel Arkles

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Teach Your Children Well: Preventing Domestic Violence, Jane K. Stoever

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.