Digital Commons Network^™

Confirming Judges In The 2016 Senate Lame Duck Session, Carl W. Tobias

Law Faculty Publications

In this piece, Professor Carl Tobias descriptively scrutinizes the nomination and confirmation regimes throughout the administration of President Barack Obama. The article critically evaluates selection finding that persistent Republican Senate obstruction resulted in the greatest number of unoccupied posts for the longest duration, briefly moderated by the 2013 detonation of the “nuclear option,” which constricted filibusters. Nevertheless, the article contends when the Grand Old Party (GOP) attained a chamber majority, Republicans dramatically slowed the nomination and confirmation processes after January 2015. Therefore, openings surpassed ninety before Congress is scheduled to reassemble. Because this dilemma erodes rapid, inexpensive, and equitable disposition, …

Honoring Rick Mckinney And Llsdc’S Legislative Source Book, Roger V. Skalbeck, Joyce Manna Janto, Kathleen Klepfer

Law Faculty Publications

In this essay, through three vignettes inspired by the Legislative Source Book, we honor Rick McKinney for his role as the collection’s guiding light and leading author. We also provide a list of permanent links suitable for scholarly citation, where major parts of the collection are now archived online.

Looking Through The Parisian Window: Caillebotte, Zola, And The Post-Haussmann Interior, Jennifer S. Pride

Art Inquiries

No abstract provided.

Animal Mourning: Précis Of How Animals Grieve (King 2013), Barbara J. King

Animal Sentience

Abstract: When an animal dies, that individual’s mate, relatives, or friends may express grief. Changes in the survivor’s patterns of social behavior, eating, sleeping, and/or of expression of affect are the key criteria for defining grief. Based on this understanding of grief, it is not only big-brained mammals like elephants, apes, and cetaceans who can be said to mourn, but also a wide variety of other animals, including domestic companions like cats, dogs, and rabbits; horses and farm animals; and some birds. With keen attention placed on seeking where grief is found to occur and where it is absent …

Evidence For Animal Grief?, Carolyn Ristau

Animal Sentience

The nature of evidence appropriate to the study of animal emotion (and cognition) is discussed in this review with reference to Barbara King’s book. How Animals Grieve is beautifully written, but it intermixes examples meeting King’s criteria for evidence of grief with other poignant but far less convincing examples. Yet, as noted earlier by Griffin (1958/1974), “Excessive caution can sometimes lead one as far astray as rash enthusiasm.” King cites strong evidence from long-term scientific field studies, often involving known individuals; from videotapes; from convergent evidence in neurophysiological studies; and, notwithstanding possible emotional bias, from animals living closely with humans. …

Understanding Emotional Suffering, Barbara J. King

Animal Sentience

In responding to insightful commentaries from 7 scholars, for which I am grateful, I offer new thoughts on whether animals can conceptualize and express signs of grief. I also discuss why I included both weak and strong examples of animal mourning, and how this work may help us think about enhanced welfare for animals, including freedom from emotional suffering.

Derivative Racial Discrimination, Kevin Woodson

Law Faculty Publications

This Article introduces the concept of derivative racial discrimination, a process of institutional discrimination in which certain social and cultural dynamics impede the careers of minority workers in predominantly white firms even in the absence of racial biases and stereotypes. Derivative racial discrimination is a manifestation of cultural homophily, the universal tendency of people to gravitate toward others with similar cultural interests and backgrounds. Although not intrinsically racial, cultural homophily disadvantages minority workers in predominantly white work settings due to various race-related social and cultural differences. Seemingly inconsequential in isolation, these differences produce racial disparities in the accrual of valuable …

Constitutional Economics, Luke P. Norris

Law Faculty Publications

This Article argues that the conventional narrative about the decline of Lochnerism and the rise of mid-century substantive due process jurisprudence is incomplete. That narrative focuses initially on how the premises underlying Lochner’s conception of economic freedom were rejected. The Article instead focuses on how the labor movement articulated an alternative conception of freedom that was adopted by Congress, the Executive, and the Supreme Court. While Lochnerism was premised on a negative view of freedom, the labor movement articulated a positive view of freedom and analogized it to republican freedom of association in the political sphere. By reframing the terms …

A Meaningful Floor For "Meaningful Human Control", Rebecca Crootof

Law Faculty Publications

To the extent there is any consensus among States, ban advocates, and ban skeptics regarding the regulation of autonomous weapon systems (AWS), it is grounded in the idea that all weaponry should be subject to "meaningful human control." This "intuitively appealing" principle is immensely popular, and numerous States have explicitly declared their support for it or questioned the lawfulness of weapons that operate without such control. Lack of opposition has led some to conclude that it is either a newly developed customary norm or a preexisting, recently exposed rule of customary international law, already binding on all States.

But this …

Should We Sync? Seascape-Level Genetic And Ecological Factors Determine Seagrass Flowering Patterns, Marlene Jahnke, Jordi F. Pagès, Teresa Alcoverro, Paul S. Lavery, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, Gabriele Procaccini

Research Datasets

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in flowering occur in many plant species with abiotic pollination and may confer fitness advantages through mechanisms such as predator satiation or pollination efficiency. Environmental factors such as light quality or quantity and temperature play an important role in inducing synchronisation on wide geographic scales. On a smaller geographic scale, external factors such as resource availability and herbivory are theorised to trigger flowering, while genetic factors may also play an important role. In this study, we assessed the importance of ecological and genetic factors in shaping seascape-level spatial heterogeneity in flowering of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. …

Sensor-Based Estimation Of Btex Concentrations In Water Samples Using Recursive Least Squares And Kalman Filter Techniques, Karthick Sothivelr, Florian Bender, Fabien Josse, Edwin E. Yaz, Antonio J. Ricco

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This work investigates sensor signal processing approaches that can be used with a sensor system for direct on-site monitoring of groundwater, enabling detection and quantification of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) compounds at μg/L (ppb) concentrations in the presence of interferents commonly found in groundwater. A model for the sensor response to water samples containing multiple analytes was first formulated based on experimental results. The first signal processing approach utilizes only RLSE (recursive least squares estimation) whereas the second, a two-step processing technique, utilizes both RLSE and bank of Kalman filters for the estimation process. The estimation techniques were …

The Evolution Of Institutional Mission In Social And Historical Contexts At The University Of North Dakota: 1883 – 2016, Stacey Leigh Borboa-Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The University of North Dakota, a liberal arts institution founded in 1883, has a mission statement that speaks directly to present-day societal needs and norms. While staying true to its founding object, the mission has specific focus on science, technology, health and diversity. These areas speak directly to national and global economic and societal needs. In order for public institutions to secure funding, they have to respond to legislators and taxpayers; they must respond to current trends. This research looks at the University of North Dakota’s evolving mission, from founding in 1883, to present-day 2016. The research focuses on institutional …

On The Development Of Novel Multifunctional Max Reinforced Polymers (Mrps) Matrix Composites, Sujan Kumar Ghosh

Theses and Dissertations

During this thesis, the design and development of novel multifunctional MAX reinforced polymer (MRPs) matrix composites was studied. MRPs were fabricated with a certain volumetric ratio of polymers and MAX phases. In Chapter II, synthesis and tribological behavior of PEEK-Ti3SiC2 composites have been reported. A decrease in friction coefficient is observed when 10 volumetric % of Ti3SiC2 was added in the PEEK matrix. Also, the wear rate of the composites decreases by 27 times when 5 volumetric % of Ti3SiC2 was added. In Chapter III, novel self-lubricating Teflon-Ti3SiC2 and Nylon-Ti3SiC2 composites are reported. During self-mating, Ti3SiC2-Teflon composites showed better performance …

Utah Air Quality: Pm 2.5, Randy Martin, Roger Coulombe, Roslynn Brain

All Current Publications

Particulate matter two-point-five (PM_2.5) is a tiny suspended particle of air pollution that can penetrate deeply into our lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream. The 2.5 unit means that the particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometers (a micrometer is one millionth of a meter). In Cache Valley and along the Wasatch Front, these tiny particles form and accumulate to unhealthy levels when air is trapped in the bottom of the valley during cold winter days.

Benefits Of Exercise On Mind Function, Cindy Nelson, Shannon Cromwell

All Current Publications

Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to improve overall health. This fact sheet discusses exercise and the brain, exercise and cognition, exercise and stress, and effective strategies for boosting physical and mental health.

Sources, Distribution, And Fate Of Microscopic Plastics In Marine Environments, Richard C. Thompson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Routes Of Contamination Of Ready-To-Eat Vegetables In The Middle East, Dima Faour-Klingbeil, Muhammad Murtada, Victor Kuri, Ewen C.D. Todd

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

On The Use Of The Radon Transform To Estimate Longshore Currents From Video Imagery, Rafael Almar, Stanislas Larnier, Bruno Castelle, Timothy Scott, France Floc'h

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Transfer Rate Of Salmonella Typhimurium From Contaminated Parsley To Other Consecutively Chopped Batches Via Cutting Boards Under Different Food Handling Scenarios, Dima Faour-Klingbeil, Victor Kuri, Ewen Todd

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Are Primetime Diets Congruent With Dietary Recommendations? Content Analyses Of Food Advertisements In The United States, China, And Singapore, Su Lin Yeo, Wonsun Shin, May O. Lwin, Jerome Williams, Ying-Yi Hong

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Despite public programs to promote healthy eating among populations in developed and developing countries, the increase in obesity as a result of poor dietary patterns continues to persist. As food advertising has been implicated for contributing to this global health challenge, this study aims to provide empirical evidence on food advertising in a broader global context, across economically and culturally different nations. We conducted a large scale content analysis of the types of food advertised on primetime television in the United States, China, and Singapore, which resulted in the collection of 1,008 television hours. Using the dietary blue2376s proposed by …

Shareholder Value And Risk Effects Of Strategic Alliances, Thomas Turk, Candace Ybarra, Jeremy C. Goh, Hsu Junming, Li-Ling Li

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study examines how alliances affect the value and systematic risk of smaller and larger alliance partners. We find smaller partners generally gain from alliances and larger partners generally suffer significant losses. We examine this pattern for different types of alliances, experience with alliances, R&D intensity and relatedness of alliance partners. Gains to the smaller partners are particularly pronounced for technical partners, for smaller partners with high R&D intensity, and for related technical alliances. We also provide evidence that the systematic risk of both alliance partners declines following an alliance announcement, possibly explaining why larger firms engage in alliances with …

A Dynamic Perspective On Diverse Teams: Moving From The Dual-Process Model To A Dynamic Coordination-Based Model Of Diverse Team Performance, Kannan Srikanth, Sarah Harvey, Randall Peterson

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The existing literature on diverse teams suggests that diversity is both helpful to teams in making more information available and encouraging creativity and damaging to teams in reducing cohesion and information sharing. Thus the extant literature suggests that diversity within teams is a double-edged sword that leads to both positive and negative effects simultaneously. This literature has not, however, fully embraced the increasing calls in the broader groups literature to take account of time in understanding how groups function [e.g. Cronin, M. A., Weingart, L. R., & Todorova, G. (2011). Dynamics in groups: Are we there yet? The Academy of …

Performance Based Contracting For The Manufacturing Industry By Using Integrated Platform And Dynamic Pricing Model, Lindawati, Aldy Gunawan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Although Performance Based Contracting (PBC) concept is not totally new, the PBC adaptation in Industrial Machinery and Components (IMC) manufacturing, which produces high-value and long life machineries, is rather slow and it is done with extra caution. Three main concerns for manufacturers to implement PBC are the investment cost, the maintenance cost and possible revenue loss. To handle these concerns and accelerate the PBC implementation, we propose an integrated platform that consists of three components: dynamic pricing, sensor data feeding and machinery monitoring. We model the dynamic pricing as an optimization problem and propose Genetic Algorithm to solve the problem. …

Impact Of Technology On Learning And Scholarship, And The New Learning Paradigm, Arnoud Cyriel Leo De Meyer

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Recently I took on the challenge of teaching a course to Undergraduate students at Singapore Management University. It had been more than 20 years since I had taught any Undergraduates, having spent most of my career at Graduate Business Schools. I did it partially because many of my younger colleagues had told me that teaching had changed tremendously. Deep down I may have felt that I was perhaps a little out of touch with what happened inside and, as I would soon discover, outside our classrooms. I was indeed intrigued by the experience. When I entered the classroom for my …

Metabolic Health Has Greater Impact On Diabetes Than Simple Overweight/Obesity In Mexican Americans, Shenghui Wu, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Belinda M. Reininger, Kristina Vatcheva, Joseph B. Mccormick

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

To compare the risk for diabetes in each of 4 categories of metabolic health and BMI. Methods. Participants were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, a randomly selected Mexican American cohort in Texas on the US-Mexico border. Subjects were divided into 4 phenotypes according to metabolic health and BMI: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically healthy overweight/obese, metabolically unhealthy normal weight, and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese. Metabolic health was defined as having less than 2 metabolic abnormalities. Overweight/obese status was assessed by BMI higher than 25 kg/m2. Diabetes was defined by the 2010 ADA definition or by being on a diabetic …

Introduction : Translingual Work., Min-Zhan Lu, Bruce Horner

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This issue both reflects and builds on the efforts prompted by the 2011 College English essay “Language Difference in Writing: Toward a Translingual Approach,” by Bruce Horner, Min-Zhan Lu, Jacqueline Jones Royster, and John Trimbur. Contributions to this symposium contextualize the emergence of a translingual approach, explore the tension and interconnections between a translingual approach and a variety of fields, and explore the viability of a translingual approach in light of existing academic structures.

Springfield Or Bust? A Qualitative Analysis Of The Organization Assimilation Of Young Professionals In Springfield, Missouri, Nii Kpakpo Ekow Abrahams

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate to what extent have Millennial young professionals assimilated into Springfield, Missouri's culture. Using organizational assimilation and sensemaking as the theoretical framework, this qualitative thesis research study utilized four focus groups (n=20) to draw its results. Based on a previous foundational study and additional research, five characteristics Millennials want in a city were identified—affordability, community engagement and involvement, Millennial collaboration, entertainment and meaningful experiences, and authenticity. These characteristics also served as the criterion for the results. The findings revealed that Springfield young professionals, based on the five characteristics, have fully assimilated into Springfield's …

Guiding In And Away, Terry Belew

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

“Guiding In and Away” is a collection of poems exploring shifts in contemporary American culture. Major themes include technology-induced anxiety, human connectivity, isolation, and the importance of nature in a man-made world. These themes are demonstrated throughout the collection through the use of speakers set into situations that reflect what is lost with the recent digitalization of human interaction, the isolation and loneliness caused by these losses, and how natural settings are encroached upon because of digitalization.

The Impact Of Writing Intensive Courses On Writing Apprehension And Academic Motivation, Jacqueline Suzanne Byrket

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Current research in writing apprehension lacks evaluation of psychology course effectiveness in reducing this trepidation. The present study focused on three psychology courses and utilized Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2002) and student instructor rapport to assess changes in writing apprehension. Participants (N = 78) from three upperclass level courses completed the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS), Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), Daly-Miller Writing Apprehension Test-Revised (WAT-R), and Student Instructor Rapport Scale (SIRS-9) at the beginning and end of the semester. Even though pre-/post-test differences were non-significant for all three courses, the Experimental Psychology class exhibited the greatest decrease …

Practicing Positive Coping Strategies For Managing Math Anxiety In A Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Courtney Kathleen Smith-Nelson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The purpose of this action research study was to explore student and teacher perceptions on the usefulness of teaching students to practice positive coping strategies for managing math anxiety in a high school International Baccalaureate mathematics classroom. This study used a reflective action research methodology in which students' math anxiety levels were assessed using Alexander and Martray's Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (1989). Students were then surveyed on their use of coping strategies for managing math anxiety, presented with a variety of positive coping strategies, and asked to rate each strategy on its perceived worth and the likelihood that they …