Digital Commons Network^™

Rethinking Autocracy At Work, Cynthia Estlund

Faculty Articles

Book review of Private Government: How Employers Rule Our Lives (and Why We Don't Talk about It) by Elizabeth Anderson. Princeton University Press. 2017.

Arrested Development: Rethinking Fourth Amendment Standards For Seizures And Uses Of Force In Schools, Alexis Karteron

Faculty Articles

Fourth Amendment standards regarding seizures and uses of force against juveniles in schools require a critical reassessment. Although jurists and scholars have paid it scant attention, this branch of Fourth Amendment doctrine offers a valuable lens for understanding the school-to-prison pipeline and the power of law enforcement officers to detain, handcuff, and use force against schoolchildren. While the Supreme Court has announced principles regarding the Fourth Amendment in schools generally, it has never addressed this issue directly. This Article explores empirical findings on the role of law enforcement in schools and the unique characteristics of juveniles that should impact Fourth …

The Use Of Smart Devices For The Detection Of Aflatoxin In Ground Corn Feeds, Gil Nonato C. Santos, Mary Gillian Santos, Karen Doniza, James Salveo L. Olarve

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced predominantly by two fungal species: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus (Gourama, H., & Bullerman, L., 1995). These fungal species are contaminants of food crops as well as animal feeds, and are responsible for aflatoxin contamination of these agricultural products. The toxicity and potency of aflatoxins make them the primary health hazard as well as responsible for losses associated with contaminations of processed foods and feeds (Gourama, H., & Bullerman, L., 1995). Determination of aflatoxins concentration in food crops and animal feeds is thus very important for Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FRSA) to …

Urban Organic Farming For Diversified Agriculture, Jose Santos Carandang, Robert W. Taylor, Josemari S. Calleja, Edito A. Busayong, Eric Camilio R. Punzalan

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

Urban organic farming had been shown in previous projects as well as the present one to have the potential of addressing the fundamental requirements of food security by addressing issues of availability since production is just in the vicinity, which also addresses the carbon footprint of food production because food need not be transported to far distances. The use of organic methods also contributed to increased food safety. More importantly, the practice of urban agriculture empowers local residents in the stewardship, specifically of their barangay’s green spaces and more broadly the whole urban environment (see Mogk, Kwiatkowski, &Weindorf, 2010). However, …

Book Review: Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation By Renate Klein, Kate Rose

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Designing Water Systems For Climate Change: A Case Study In Cumayasa, Dominican Republic, Kayla R. Kurtz

Open Access Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to design a climate-ready drinking water system for a newly constructed school in Cumayasa, Dominican Republic while developing components of a Community Climate Change Strategy (CCCS). The goal of the CCCS is to bridge the gap between macro-scale climate change science and drinking water system development at the community level.

In this proposed CCCS, “no-regrets” and “low-regrets” decision-making is applied to water system design for small, rural or peri-urban communities. The CCCS was designed to be used in all phases of a project’s lifecycle, with adaptation actions corresponding to each phase of the project …

Evaluating The Social And Technological Benefits Of An Intergenerational Program For Older Adults, Itza Serrano

Open Access Master's Theses

Intergenerational programs are on the rise. While studies have shown benefits to participation in these programs, most of the research has been focused on students and less on older adult outcomes (see Andreoletti & Howard, 2016 for a review). Currently, the University of Rhode Island (URI) is host to the Engaging Generations: Cyber-Seniors Program, which connects older adults with undergraduate technology mentors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of intergenerational programming participation for older adults related to social isolation, loneliness, social engagement, and digital competency, as measured by the pre/post surveys given to participants. SPSS software …

Electrotransfer Of Different Control Plasmids Elicits Different Antitumor Effectiveness In B16.F10 Melanoma, Masa Bosnjak, Tanjo Jesenko, Urska Kamensek, Gregor Sersa, Jaka Lavrencak, Loree Heller, Maja Cemazar

Bioelectrics Publications

Several studies have shown that different control plasmids may cause antitumor action in different murine tumor models after gene electrotransfer (GET). Due to the differences in GET protocols, plasmid vectors, and experimental models, the observed antitumor effects were incomparable. Therefore, the current study was conducted comparing antitumor effectiveness of three different control plasmids using the same GET parameters. We followed cytotoxicity in vitro and the antitumor effect in vivo after GET of control plasmids pControl, pENTR/U6 scr and pVAX1 in B16.F10 murine melanoma cells and tumors. Types of cell death and upregulation of selected cytosolic DNA sensors and cytokines were …

A Body A Day: Constructing Deviance At The Mississippi State Asylum, Rachel Christine Childs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though the first graves of assumed-former asylum patients were discovered at the University of Mississippi Medical Center over 25 years ago, it wasn’t until 2017 that the estimated body count—which had been rising in reports for several years—rose above 7,000. Along with national attention, the growing burial site has prompted large-scale efforts by a consortium of scientists and scholars to determine how best to utilize and memorialize the remains, and yet to date, a complete cultural study that explores the sociopolitical context which these people represent has yet to be published. Consisting primarily of archival material and interviews, my research …

Acute And Chronic Skeletal Muscle Response To Very Low Load Resistance Exercise With And Without The Application Of Blood Flow Restriction In The Upper Body, Samuel Louis Buckner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on skeletal muscle. Methods: The acute study examined changes in torque, muscle thickness (MTH), and surface electromyography (EMG) in response to resistance exercise with high load [70% 1RM,(7000)], low load [15% 1RM,(1500)], low load with moderate (BRF) [15% 1RM+40%BFR(1540)], or low load with greater BFR [15% 1RM+80%BFR(1580)]. The chronic study investigated changes in MTH, strength, and endurance following 8-weeks. Acute results: Following exercise, the 7000 condition had lower (p<0.05) MTH [4.2(1.0) cm] compared to the 1500 [4.4 (1.1)cm], 1540 [4.4(1.1)cm], and 1580 [4.5(1.0cm] conditions. This continued 15 minutes post. Immediately following exercise torque was (p<0.05) lower in the 1500 [31.8 (20) Nm], 1540 [28.3(16.9) Nm] and 1580 [29.5 (17) Nm] conditions compared to the 7000 condition [40 (19) Nm]. 15 minutes post, 1500 and 1540 conditions demonstrated lower torque compared to the 7000 condition. For the first three repetitions of EMG the 7000 condition displayed greater amplitude compared to all low load conditions (p<0.001). For the last three repetitions percentage EMG was greater in the 7000 compared to the 1580 condition. Chronic results: 1RM strength changes were greater in the 7000 condition [2.09 (95% CI=1.35-2.83) kg] compared to all low load conditions. For isometric and isokinetic strength there were no changes. For endurance there was a main effect for time [mean pre to post change = 7.9 (4.3–11.6) repetitions]. At the 50% site, the mean change in MTH in the 7000 condition [0.16 (0.10-0.22) cm] was greater than all low load conditions. For the 60% site, the mean change in MTH [0.15 (0.08-0.22)] was greater than all low load conditions. For the 70% site there was a main effect for time [mean pre to post change = 0.09 (0.5–0.14 cm]. Conclusions: Very load loads produce a similar acute response regardless of pressure. This response was greater than that observed in the 7000 group. Very low loads produce skeletal muscle growth. However, this response is not as robust as that observed following high load training.

Summer Research Fellowship Project Descriptions 2018, Clark Science Center's Summer Research Fellows Program

SURF Abstracts (Women in Science)

A summary of research done by Smith College’s 2018 Summer Research Fellowship (SURF) Program participants. Ever since its 1967 start, SURF has been a cornerstone of Smith’s science education. Supervised by faculty mentor-advisors drawn from the Clark Science Center and connected to its eighteen science, mathematics, and engineering departments and programs and associated centers and units. At summer’s end, SURF participants were asked to summarize their research experiences for this publication.

Reflector Magazine, Georgia Southern University, Student Media

Reflector Magazine

• A Transylvanian lost in Statesboro: Meet "Rocky Horror" director Megan Bowen
• Remembering Birdhaus. A DIY Music Venue
• The Roots of Southern: GS in the 1950's
• Holiday Recipes
• From Thailand to New York to Statesboro: Kamolwan Kawpunna's Journey
• Southern Limelight: Student Features
• Financial Struggles Among College Students
• Thrift Fashion
• Mental Health at Georgia Southern
• Fitness Tips & Tricks

No Laughing Matter: Failures Of Satire During The 2016 Presidential Election, Jamie Noelle Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

The 2016 presidential election was so full of unusual characters and unprecedented scandals, that media outlets, from the nightly news to late-night, had to adjust to this new normal in politics. Indeed, not even the jokesters on the handful of political satire shows on television were immune to the necessary changes that all the media had to take in covering Donald Trump. Given how many people tuned into to these shows each week, it is no surprise that the role that political satire television may have played in the election results was fodder for those giving post-election hot takes. Many …

Comparing Bird Communities Within Shrubby Transmission Line Rights-Of-Way Managed By Mowing Or By Selective Herbicide Application In Maine And New Hampshire, Kathleen P. Wadiak

Honors Theses and Capstones

In the northeastern U.S., thousands of miles of shrub-dominated transmission line rights-of-way (ROW) extend across the landscape and provide some of the largest and most stable shrubland habitats in the region. These ROW are used as nesting and post-fledging habitat by the region’s entire community of shrubland-dependent songbirds, but evidence for how ROW are used by songbirds that require other habitats for nesting is lacking. Mist-netting surveys conducted in regenerating clearcuts indicate that adult and fledgling mature-forest songbirds comprise a large proportion of the bird community in clearcuts during the post-fledging portion of the breeding season, a time when juvenile …

Preferences For Local And Organic Food: A Comparison Of New Hampshire And Vermont, Victoria Smith Lorvig

Honors Theses and Capstones

Annies bunnies or Kraft elbows? Supermarket or farmers market? Organic and local foods have been on the rise in the global market since the new millennium began (Darnhofer, 2010: 68, Schupp, 2016: 319). The growth in organic is attributed to consumers wanting their food to be healthier and more environmentally friendly (Aschemann-Witzel et. Al, 2017: 211, Van Doorn et. A, 2011: 167). The appeals of local foods are similar, plus the added component of boosting the local economy and building community (Hempel & Hamm, 2016: 732). Income is not the only factor affecting preferences and willingness to pay (WTP). Actors …

An American Hugo Chávez? Investigating The Comparisons Between Donald Trump And Latin American Populists, Charlotte Blair Harris

Honors Theses and Capstones

Following the 2016 presidential election of populist outsider Donald Trump, several think pieces throughout the popular press conjectured a comparison between Trump and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Citing their populist rhetoric, brash and coarse sense of humor, and shared propensity for fiery tirades against the press, these articles made foreboding predictions about the status of American democracy. However, these short and sometimes anecdotally-based opinion pieces failed to acknowledge several important differences between Trump and Latin American populists like Chávez. This paper will address this gap in understanding by evaluating the comparison from an academic perspective. Through in-depth case studies …

The Molecular Analysis Of Hawaiian Bird Diets, Alissa C. Scinto

Honors Theses and Capstones

The aim of this project is to utilize high-throughput molecular methods to investigate the diets of three non-native and one native Hawaiian bird species. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has made it possible to produce thousands of sequencing reads of DNA in a relatively short amount of time. This metabarcoding technology has been used to identify a range of different taxa, from bacteria in the human gut to fungi in the soil. More recently, this approach has been used to identify insects in the diets of birds and other species, including bees and bats. Samples underwent genomic sequencing using a targeted approach …

Representação Da Raça Negra Na Literatura Escolar E Juvenil Norteamericana Do Seculo Xix, Karl M. Lorenz

Education Faculty Publications

Esta trabalho tem como objeto de estudo o conceito de “raça” e a representação do negro na literatura escolar e juvenil norteamericana no século XIX.. Trata-se de um estudo documental e bibliográfico que se insere na vertente da História Cultural. As principais fontes analisadas consiste de uma amostra de libros didaticos de geografía e história e de livros de leitura publicados nos Estados Unidos e adotados nas escolas primárias entre os anos de 1790 e 1890. Também foram analisadas revistas infantis e juvenis e publicações para adultos. A informação contidas nestes fontes revelam que os textos abordavam temas tais como …

Gas County: A Case Study On How West Virginia's Recent Gas Boom Is Transforming A County, Egill Karlsson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A case study on horizontal hydraulic fracturing through the eyes of Doddridge County, WV; how it's affected the residents and various stakeholders in different ways, from economy to health and environment.

Family, Social Class, And Evangelism: Developing A Strategic Evangelistic Plan To Engage The Middle And Upper-Class Families In The Dennery Community Of Saint Lucia, Dolston L. Morian

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In the St. Lucia Mission of Seventh-day Adventist traditional evangelistic tent meetings have resulted in a steady growth in church membership. However, the majority of converts added to the church has consistently come from the lower-class individuals of the society. Not surprising therefore, there has been a small increase in new members from the middle and upper-class communities. Arguably, the traditional approach to evangelism conducted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Lucia is not as effective in reaching the middle and upper-class subgroups as it is with members of the lower social class groups. The need to pay …

State Action And The Constitution's Middle Band, Louis Michael Seidman

Michigan Law Review

On conventional accounts, the state action doctrine is dichotomous. When the government acts, constitutional limits take hold and the government action is invalid if those limits are exceeded. When the government fails to act, the state action doctrine leaves decisions to individuals, who are permitted to violate what would otherwise be constitutional constraints.

It turns out though that the modern state action doctrine creates three rather than two domains. There is indeed a private, inner band where there is thought to be insufficient government action to trigger constitutional constraints, but often there is also a public, outer band where there …

Renovations Needed: The Fda's Floor/Ceiling Framework, Preemption, And The Opioid Epidemic, Michael R. Abrams

Michigan Law Review

The FDA’s regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals uses a “floor/ceiling” model: administrative rules set a “floor” of minimum safety, while state tort liability sets a “ceiling” of maximum protection. This model emphasizes premarket scrutiny but largely relies on the state common law “ceiling” to police the postapproval drug market. As the Supreme Court increasingly holds state tort law preempted by federal administrative standards, the FDA’s framework becomes increasingly imbalanced. In the face of a historic prescription medication overdose crisis, the Opioid Epidemic, this imbalance allows the pharmaceutical industry to avoid internalizing the public health costs of their opioid products. This Note …

The Consensus Myth In Criminal Justice Reform, Benjamin Levin

Michigan Law Review

It has become popular to identify a “consensus” on criminal justice reform, but how deep is that consensus, actually? This Article argues that the purported consensus is much more limited than it initially appears. Despite shared reformist vocabulary, the consensus rests on distinct critiques that identify different flaws and justify distinct policy solutions. The underlying disagreements transcend traditional left/right political divides and speak to deeper disputes about the state and the role of criminal law in society.

The Article maps two prevailing, but fundamentally distinct, critiques of criminal law: (1) the quantitative approach (what I call the “over” frame); and …

Place In Shakespeare’S Coriolanus: The Intersection Of Geography, Culture, And Identity, Richard Raspa

English Faculty Research Publications

Coriolanus, the last of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies (1608), continues to draw on the poet’s fascination with Rome and the Mediterranean as places. In this paper, I will explore the impact of Rome on the characters of Coriolanus from three perspectives: place as an incarnation of values, as an internal cognitive and emotional map, and as a nest of belonging.

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Contributor Biographies, "The Sacrifice Of Survival", Natalie Garza, Valerie Garza

Journal of South Texas English Studies

No abstract provided.

The Dance Of Partisanship And Districting, Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

Academic studies of redistricting tend to be either doctrinal or empirical, but not both. As a result, the literature overlooks some of the most important aspects of the mapmaking process and its judicial supervision, like how they relate to the broader American political context. In this Article, I try to fill this gap. I first observe that the half-century in which federal courts have decided redistricting cases can be divided into two periods: one lasting from the 1960s to the 1980s, in which voters and politicians were both comparatively nonpartisan; and another reaching from the 1990s to the present day, …

A Regulatory Classification Of Digital Assets: Toward An Operational Howey Test For Cryptocurrencies, Icos, And Other Digital Assets, M. Todd Henderson

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

Digital assets are hot right now. Whether cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, or initial coin offerings and tokens, this new asset class has captured the imagination of American investors. While it remains to be seen if this phenomenon has staying power, there is no doubt that these assets and their promoters have attracted the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission. But neither Congress nor the SEC has formally elucidated which digital assets are securities and which are not.

This Article seeks to provide clarity in determining which digital assets are securities. It proposes two tests that operationalize the Supreme Court’s test …

Article Ii And Antidiscrimination Norms, Aziz Z. Huq

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

The Supreme Court’s judgment in Trump v. Hawai’i validated a prohibition on entry to the United States from several largely Muslim-majority countries, and at the same time repudiated a longstanding precedent associated with the Japanese-American internment of World War II. This Article closely analyzes the relationship of these twin holdings. It uses their dichotomous valances as a lens onto the legal scope for discriminatory action by the federal executive. Parsing the various ways in which the internment of the 1940s and the 2017 exclusion order can be reconciled, the Article identifies a generative tension between the two holdings. Contrary to …

Legal Or Political Checks On Apex Criminality: An Essay On Constitutional Design, Aziz Z. Huq

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

How should constitutional designers address the problem of apex criminality, or criminal actions by those elected or appointed to high positions in a national government? I offer three general observations about this difficult question of constitutional design. First, it is not at all clear that a constitutional designer ought to expend effort on creating accountability mechanisms to address apex criminality. Second, if a designer does choose to address the question, she must opt between two highly imperfect options—a ‘legal’ mechanism embedded in a nonpartisan body such as a prosecutor’s office, or a ‘political’ mechanism, which runs through an elected body …