Digital Commons Network^™

Disorderly Conduct: An Investigation Into Police And Prosecutor Practices, Michael Cicchini

Lincoln Memorial University Law Review Archive

Disorderly conduct is usually a misdemeanor statute that criminalizes a broad range of behavior. Law professors have recently called for the abolition of such statutes, arguing that the police are surveilling African American neighborhoods “for signs of disorder” and using the statute “as a means of social control against people of color.”This Article investigates this claim of racist policing by examining a sample of disorderly conduct cases. The sample confirms that African Americans are indeed charged at a disproportionately high rate relative to their percentage of the population. However, the disproportionate charging is not due to racist police surveillance. Rather, …

Mixed Messaging: Should Judges On The Tennessee Supreme Court Be Called Justices?, Ryan E. Cox

Lincoln Memorial University Law Review Archive

Originally published on the LMU Law Review Blog--Off the Record--in February 2021.

An Experimental Test Of The Impact Of Varying Questionnaire Response Format On Prevalence Rates For Sexual Violence Victimization And Perpetration, Raeann E. Anderson, Kelly Cuccolo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: This study examined the impact of a dichotomous versus scaled response format on prevalence rates of sexual violence perpetration and victimization, thus conceptually replicating Hamby et al., 2006 and extending those findings to the context of sexual violence.

Methods: Two samples were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and were randomly assigned to either a dichotomous or scaled response format of the same questionnaire. Sample 1 was used to examine perpetration and received a perpetration specific version of the Post-Refusal Sexual Persistence Scale (PRSPS). Sample 2 was used to examine victimization and received a victimization specific version of the PRSPS. …

Regional Topological Aberrances Of White Matter- And Gray Matter-Based Functional Networks For Attention Processing May Foster Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Attention Deficits In Adults, Ziyan Wu, Meng Cao, Xin Di, Kai Wu, Yu Gao, Xiaobo Li

Publications and Research

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is highly prevalent in adults. TBI-related functional brain alterations have been linked with common post-TBI neurobehavioral sequelae, with unknown neural substrates. This study examined the systems-level functional brain alterations in white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) for visual sustained-attention processing, and their interactions and contributions to post-TBI attention deficits. Task-based functional MRI data were collected from 42 adults with TBI and 43 group-matched normal controls (NCs), and analyzed using the graph theoretic technique. Global and nodal topological properties were calculated and compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses were conducted between the neuroimaging measures that …

Dielectric Relaxation Studies Of Hydrogen Bonded Complexes Of Benzamide And Acetamide With Halogenated Phenols Using X-Band Microwave Frequency, Basha A. Aathif, Khan F. Liakath Ali

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

At 308 K, using a 9.37 GHz dielectric relaxation setup, dielectric studies of hydrogen bonded complexes of benzamide and acetamide with 4-fluorophenol, 4-bromophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 4-iodophenol in benzene were performed. Various dielectric parameters (such as ?', ?'', ?0, ??) were tested. The steric interactions of the proton donor determined the group rotation relaxation time t(2), whereas the significance of the single frequency method of Higasi et al. for multiple relaxation time t(1) was determined by the hydrogen bonding power of the phenolic hydrogen. The presence of a 1:1 complex system between the prepared samples, as well as a charge transfer …

Treatment-Specific Hippocampal Subfield Volume Changes With Antidepressant Medication Or Cognitive-Behavior Therapy In Treatment-Naive Depression., Hua-Hsin Tai, Jungho Cha, Faezeh Vedaei, Boadie W Dunlop, W Edward Craighead, Helen S Mayberg, Ki Sueng Choi

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Background: Hippocampal atrophy has been consistently reported in major depressive disorder with more recent focus on subfields. However, literature on hippocampal volume changes after antidepressant treatment has been limited. The first-line treatments for depression include antidepressant medication (ADM) or cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). To understand the differential effects of CBT and ADM on the hippocampus, we investigated the volume alterations of hippocampal subfields with treatment, outcome, and chronicity in treatment-naïve depression patients. Methods: Treatment-naïve depressed patients from the PReDICT study were included in this analysis. A total of 172 patients who completed 12 weeks of randomized treatment with CBT (n …

Phenotypic Evaluation And Genetic Analysis Of Seedling Emergence In A Global Collection Of Wheat Genotypes (Triticum Aestivum L.) Under Limited Water Availability, Michael G. Francki, Grantley Stainer, Esther Walker, Gregory J. Rebetzke, Katia T. Stefanova, Robert J. French

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

The challenge in establishing an early-sown wheat crop in southern Australia is the need for consistently high seedling emergence when sowing deep in subsoil moisture ( > 10 cm) or into dry top-soil (4 cm). However, the latter is strongly reliant on a minimum soil water availability to ensure successful seedling emergence. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate 233 Australian and selected international wheat genotypes for consistently high seedling emergence under limited soil water availability when sown in 4 cm of top-soil in field and glasshouse (GH) studies; (2) ascertain genetic loci associated with phenotypic variation using a genome-wide association study …

Personalized Nutrition As A Key Contributor To Improving Radiation Response In Breast Cancer, Anuradha A. Shastri, Joseph Lombardo, Samantha C Okere, Stephanie Higgins, Brittany C Smith, Tiziana Deangelis, Ajay Palagani, Kamryn Hines, Daniel A. Monti, Stella Volpe, Edith P. Mitchell, Nicole L Simone

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Understanding metabolic and immune regulation inherent to patient populations is key to improving the radiation response for our patients. To date, radiation therapy regimens are prescribed based on tumor type and stage. Patient populations who are noted to have a poor response to radiation such as those of African American descent, those who have obesity or metabolic syndrome, or senior adult oncology patients, should be considered for concurrent therapies with radiation that will improve response. Here, we explore these populations of breast cancer patients, who frequently display radiation resistance and increased mortality rates, and identify the molecular underpinnings that are, …

Spontaneous Visual Perspective-Taking: Level 2 Representations Of Another's Perspective Are Not Related To What They Actually See, Louis Aldrich

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The ability to understand what another person can see is a fundamental feature of human interaction, commonly referred to as ‘visual perspective-taking’ (VPT). Traditionally, this ability has been conceptualised along two ‘levels’, in line with developmental observations (Flavell, Everett, Croft & Flavell, 1981). ‘Level-1 VPT’ is a simple, automatic, and rapid process enabling understanding of what another individual can see. In contrast, ‘Level-2 VPT’ is a more complex process requiring conscious control, which enables understanding of how features of the environment look from another’s location. This has led to a widely accepted hypothesis that Level-1 VPT is necessary in the …

Who Owns These Objects? - Impact Of Social And Personal Conditions On Self-Prioritisation, Sammy Parkin

The Plymouth Student Scientist

A relatively new development concerning literature pertaining to the concept of self-bias has highlighted that humans tend to self-prioritise when completing tasks based on perceptual judgements (the self-prioritisation effect). Since then, further exploration into the role that other tasks can have on this effect have been demonstrated, including the idea that object-ownership tasks show the same effects (Golubickis et al., 2018). As recent focus has been on the association between this effect and the task used, it means that there has been little exploration into the possible role that other variables have on predicting levels of self-prioritisation. Based on this, …

Parameters Controlling Large Landslide Propagation, Taylor Wood

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Landslides are an ever-present natural hazard and understanding factors such as propagation are vital for the management of such events. This natural hazard has increased in frequency in recent history which further highlights the importance of the research. This study aims to determine which parameters contribute to large rock avalanche propagation using an experimental approach within a laboratory environment. The experiment was designed to simulate a granular flow event using equipment formed of an inclined slope and a flat horizontal plane with a confined zone. A range of material flow combinations and two different slope inclinations were used throughout. The …

Using Remote Sensing Techniques To Investigate The Detection Of Sargassum Blooms In The Caribbean And Possible Causes For These Events, Louise Ely

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Sargassum was thought to originate from a single source, the Sargasso Sea in the central west Atlantic. This has been challenged over the past decade after excessive amounts of the macroalgae began washing up on Caribbean coastlines in June 2011, leading the scientific community to investigate causes of this phenomenon. These, now yearly, events are having detrimental environmental and socioeconomic impacts in areas of the Caribbean and central America, providing motivation for uncovering any regime shifts or severe changes in anthropogenic activity. Anthropogenic sources of nitrate from three rivers surrounding the CWA in addition to wind stress and chlorophyll-a levels …

Variations In Thermal Performance Of Cardiac Function Of Pure And Hybrid Mytilus Spp. As A Factor Influencing Hybrid Zone Dynamics, Isabelle Hann

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Interspecific hybridisation within the Mytilus complex has been well documented. Distribution patterns of Mytilus congeners in mosaic hybrid zones are hypothesised to reflect differences in their thermal tolerances. In this present study, the relative thermal performance of adult Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus edulis and their hybrids, from a sympatric population within the Southwest England mosaic hybrid zone was assessed using cardiac function as a proxy for thermal performance. As indices of cardiac performance, the Arrhenius break temperature (ABT), the maximum heart rate, the slope post-ABT and the flat line temperature were used. Examination of the response of cardiac activity under emersion …

Predicting Emergency Repairs Using Classification Method, Jacqueline Tan, Qing Zhang, Sia Wang Ying, Yutong Qin

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This paper discusses how each explanatory variable affects the possibility of having an emergency repair to people’s home with the help of machine learning. Here, the outcome variable is binary. The aim of this is to determine whether increasing the frequency of routine repairs would decrease the frequency of emergency repairs, and the predicted probability of having an emergency repair based on the variable statuses for each property. Data exploratory is first carried out to understand and simplify the dataset obtained from a Housing Association. Statistical models such as logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, linear discriminant analysis and k-nearest …

The Extent To Which Autistic Traits Are Predictive Of Impairments In Allocentric Spatial Navigation, Amber Presley

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This research is centred around how individuals with autistic traits navigate using both allocentric and egocentric spatial reference frames. Previous research suggests differences in the way that those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) navigate with much research indicating that those with ASD struggle particularly with allocentric navigation. In this study, 256 participants completed a place learning task followed by two self-report questionnaires, the Navigation Inventory and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Results showed that AQ scores correlated with better performance in the allocentric condition of the place learning task, this was in the opposite direction than predicted. Further to this, …

Public Perceptions Of Indecent Image Offenders, Joshua Samuel Taylor-Smith

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Indecent images of children (IIOC) offences are on the rise year by year, in part due to the easy accessibility to this content with the augmentation of the internet. This has led to increased attention from the public and those involved with law enforcement. However, research into the public perceptions of these offences is very limited. While they do not directly dictate law enforcement, the views of the public have become dominant in penal policymaking and therefore, understanding their current perceptions and beliefs is paramount. One of the only items of research into this area was conducted by Lam et …

How Do Personality Traits Influence The Experience Of Positive Emotions?, Elenie Shotton

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Neuroticism is a personality trait known to be associated with negative emotions (Tellegan, 1985), but little is known about how it affects the experience of positive emotions, and more specifically, hope. Positive emotions can have long lasting effects on well-being, by broadening thought-action repertoires and undoing lingering negative emotions (Frederickson, 1998). Cognitive strategies strongly influence state positive emotions in individuals low in neuroticism, but have no effect on those with high neuroticism (Ng & Diener, 2009). We expected individuals high in neuroticism would experience a smaller increase in state hope following hope emotion induction. Participants completed an online survey involving …

The Effect Of Onshore Wind On Wave Overtopping Of A Vertical Sea Wall, Sarah Durbridge

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Strong winds can produce overtopping rates that are considerably higher than predicted by the EurOtop formulae, which do not make provision for wind. However, no detailed industry guidance exists about the quantification of those wind effects. Physical modelling tests (scale 1:21) investigated how the mean rate of overtopping changed with wave frequency under the influence of various wind speeds. The nature and quantity of overtopping was found to be strongly related to the frequency of the incident wave. The wind had a significant effect on the mean overtopping rate, with the most pronounced effect occurring when the overtopping was at …

An Isotropic Neo-Hookean Finite Element Model Of Healthy Elastic Arterial Walls Within Commercial Software, Reece Ambrose

The Plymouth Student Scientist

A non-linear isotropic finite element model of an elastic arterial wall is developed within the ANSYS commercial software package. While progressively increasing complexity of the model, it is validated with analytical theory. Geometric nonlinearity is investigated and an iterative convergence method for the calculation of a solution-dependent axial force, which increases with artery deformation, is presented. Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material models are fitted to existing uniaxial, biaxial, and shear experimental data from literature for both rubber and polyurethane elastomer to introduce material nonlinearity into the arterial wall model. A mesh independence study was performed to determine a suitable mesh and the …

Exploring The Minimum Number Of Trials Needed To Accurately Detect Concealed Information Using Eeg, Rhian Graham

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Deception can have serious consequences, therefore detection methods such as the Electroencephalogram (EEG) are vital. However, they can be perceived as time-consuming thus causing limited usage. The purpose of this study was to discover the minimum number of trials needed to accurately detect deception. It was hypothesised that accuracy would increase with number of trials (due to reduced effects of noise) but would then fall (due to subject’s fatigue). Due to the Coronavirus, this study was restricted to 9 participants within our ‘Lab Bubble’ of third-year Psychology students at the University of Plymouth. A Concealed Information Test (CIT) was conducted, …

Scarcity Or Economic Insecurity? Two Yardsticks For Measuring Capitalism’S Performance, Costas Panayotakis

Publications and Research

This article argues that capitalism’s relationship to economic insecurity is as important for the evaluation of that system as its relationship to scarcity. Critically analyzing the neoclassical and Marxist focus on capitalism’s relationship to scarcity, the article describes how capitalism’s relationship to economic insecurity offers a more cogent elaboration of these traditions’ shared belief that the economic system should serve people. In particular, while critical of the neoclassical portrayal of capitalism as a system using scarce resources efficiently, this paper also argues, against Marxism, that an alternative to capitalism might be preferable even if scarcity is not abolished.

Review—Concentration Measurements In Molten Chloride Salts Using Electrochemical Methods, Tyler Williams, Rankin Shum, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

The electrochemical measurement of concentration in molten chloride salts is a valuable tool for the control of existing and potential industrial processes, recycling of precious materials and energy production. The electrochemical techniques commonly used to measure concentration and each techniques’ associated theory are discussed. Practices which improve measurement accuracy and precision are set forth. Exceptionally accurate and precise measurements published in the literature are evaluated based on their performance in specified concentration ranges. The strengths and weaknesses of the most accurate measurements are briefly explored. Chronopotentiometry (CP) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) are accurate and precise with low concentration measurements. …

Negative Order Kdv Equation With No Solitary Traveling Waves, Miguel Rodriguez, Jing Li, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We consider the negative order KdV (NKdV) hierarchy which generates nonlinear integrable equations. Selecting different seed functions produces different evolution equations. We apply the traveling wave setting to study one of these equations. Assuming a particular type of solution leads us to solve a cubic equation. New solutions are found, but none of these are classical solitary traveling wave solutions.

Analysis Of Some Farm Driving Variables And Its Relation With Milk Production In A Pastoral Dairy Farm Of Buenos Aires, Argentina, J. L. Rossi, A. Ayala Torales, G. Acosta, V. A. Deregibus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The quantity of milk solids produced determines a dairy farm income and contributes to its profit. Total pasture production, forage quality and herd consumption are factors to be managed in this production system. The outcomes of two years were analyzed. Primary production showed its dependence on climatic conditions and use of technological inputs. Forage quality was promoted through interseeding legumes, applying fertilizer and maintaining the pasture young and leafy. Total forage removed by the herd was similar in both years although pasture production decreased. It was possible to cope with seasonal variations in forage production, by varying the grazing pressure …

Containerized Deployment Of Webrtc-Sip Interworking Function To Interoperate With Legacy Sip Line-Side Edges, Faisal Siyavudeen, Ram Mohan R, Sachin Mehrotra, Krishna Kumar Rai

Defensive Publications Series

Conventional Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) line-side edges are not always distributed, and they require that registrations and calls be handled by the same entity. Servers that support Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) clients do not require a hard state and with cloud deployments they are increasingly being deployed as containerized workloads. Containerized deployments (such as Kubernetes) are typically stateless, and even with stateful implementations special handling is required to ensure that registrations and calls are consistently sent to the same SIP edge node, with high availability, in the face of frequent pod failures. To address such challenges, techniques are presented herein …

Vol.49 N.23 December 23rd 2021, Voice Media Ventures

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

Juliana Arreaga Bravo V. Attorney General United States

2021 Decisions

Agency

December 23 Roundtable Update, Marissa Zanfardino

Elections, Census & Redistricting Updates

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Prolonged Serotonin And Ergovaline Pre-Exposure On Vasoconstriction Ex Vivo, Eriton E. L. Valente, David L. Harmon, James L. Klotz

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Ergot alkaloid mycotoxins interfere in many functions associated with serotonergic neurotransmitters. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate whether the association of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and ergot alkaloids during a 24 h pre-incubation could affect the vascular contractile response to ergot alkaloids. To evaluate the effects of 24 h exposure to 5-HT and ergot alkaloids (ergovaline, ERV), two assays were conducted. The first assay determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀)following the 24 h pre-exposure period, while the second assay evaluated the effect of IC₅₀ concentrations of 5-HT and ERV either individually or in combination. There was an interaction …

A Modest Proposal: Leveraging Private Enforcement Mechanisms And The Bayh-Dole Act To Reduce Drug Prices In The U.S. Healthcare Industry, Brittany Day

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

The United States healthcare system is one of the most expensive in the world. Unlike other products, when drug prices skyrocket, people may die. While advocating for various solutions, both the Biden and Trump administrations have recognized the importance of halting the rise of prescription drug prices. Most of the solutions advanced are focused on government-side initiatives, such as allowing Medicare to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies. Yet, the "march-in rights" built into the Bayh-Dole Act create an opportunity to set up a mechanism that would invite private actors to sue pharmaceutical companies for unconscionable drug pricing. The Bayh-Dole Act …