Digital Commons Network^™

Social Inflation: Rising Tides In The Insurance Markets, Noah E. Heim

University Honors Program

Social inflation, despite its relative recency, has been a strong concern for some of the largest insurance carriers in the world. With claims costs increasing across broad markets, especially in casualty markets, insurers are racing to find the reason why. Increased claims costs can result in a number of negative effects on both insurance carriers as well as insurances buyers. Social inflation seems to be a key driver of these increased costs. Doing a deep dive into the validity of this claim and studying some potential causes as well as markets in which social inflation is occurring has led to …

Gender Analysis Of Publishing Among Medical Students In Dermatology, Michelle Militello, Mindy D. Szeto, Kayd J. Pulsipher, Abigail L. Meckley, Kristen H. Ward, Taylor Harp, Colby L. Presley, Cara Barber, Hope R. Rietcheck, Taylor M. Runion, Chandler W. Rundle, Robert P. Dellavalle

Research and Historical Works - 2021

No abstract provided.

Odei Pathways, Office Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

Newsletters

GREETINGS 1-2

TOPIC OF THE MONTH

Diverse End of the Year Holidays 2-7

Supporting LGBTQIA+ People During the Holidays 7

PROGRAM UPDATES ODEI

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council 8-9

Burundi Presentation 9-10

Moving Beyond Bias 10

equity arcata 11

Network Updates Ongoing Learning Modules 11

PCSI381S Community Leadership in Action 12

WAYS TO ENGAGE

NCFDD-National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity 12-13

AUB 1.0 and 2.0 14

Equity Advocate 14

Training Calendar 15

Whiteness Accountability Space 15

Home Away from Home equity arcata distribution 12/11 16

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HSU Recognized as Equity Champions 17

MENSA Scholarship Opportunity BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ 18

Forum Selection Clauses, Non-Signatories, And Personal Jurisdiction, John F. Coyle, Robin J. Effron

Notre Dame Law Review

Who is bound by a forum selection clause? At first glance, the answer to this question may seem obvious. It is black letter law that a person cannot be bound to an agreement without her consent. In recent years, however, courts have not followed this rule with respect to forum selection clauses. Instead, they routinely enforce these clauses against individuals who never signed the contract containing the clause. Courts justify this practice on the grounds that it promotes litigation efficiency by bringing all of the litigants together in the chosen forum. There are, however, problems with enforcing forum selection clauses …

New York State Birth Through Five (Nysb5) Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment Update Report (2021), Center For Human Services Research, University At Albany

Education & Early Childhood Development Reports and Research Briefs

In 2019, the New York State Council on Children and Families (CCF) in partnership with the Center for Human Services Research (CHSR) at the University at Albany, State University of New York conducted a comprehensive needs assessment of the state’s early childhood care and education system (ECCE). As noted in the 2019 New York State Birth Through Five (NYSB5) Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment Report, the state’s expanded investment in ECCE infrastructure reflects a strong commitment to supporting young children and families. See https://www.ccf. ny.gov/files/4915/7773/1159/nysb5_na_report.pdf.

In March 2020, the lives of New Yorkers were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic in …

Identifying Functional Profiles Of Challenging Behaviors In Autism Spectrum Disorder With Unsupervised Machine Learning, Emily Daskas

Computational and Data Sciences (MS) Theses

Machine learning and deep learning methods are becoming increasingly used in the understanding, identification, and improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. People with ASD often exemplify challenging behaviors that can put their safety, education, and general quality of life at risk. Challenging behaviors are driven by one of four functions. The combination of common occurrences of challenging behaviors and their respective behavioral functions are unique to the individual and circumstance, and the most successful therapies account for both challenging behaviors and their respective functions. Therefore, it is important that research is done on these concepts to …

The Relationship Between Principal Support And First-Year Teacher Job Satisfaction, Beau Hannah

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between the four dimensions of principal support and first-year teacher job satisfaction. First-year teachers responded to an online questionnaire that collected demographic data and information regarding principal support importance and overall job satisfaction, using a Likert scale. This questionnaire was developed to measure principal support and first-year teacher job satisfaction. The researcher used a combination of the Principal Support, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a collected of items addressing the importance of the principal supports, along with demographics of the respondents.

A multiple linear regression was used to predict to what …

Employee Engagement And The Role Of Time Perspective, Donna Valestro

Dissertations

Employee engagement is how employees think, feel, and form intentions to decide behavioral actions. A review of related literature indicated a central tension between employees and the work environment requires psychologically adapting and adjusting to cope with their perceptions of internal and external conditions. The employee’s goal is to stay as close to their authentic self as possible within the organizational environment to maintain their well-being. The psychological process comprises a temporal dimension represented as time perspective in this study. The purpose of this research is to determine if a relationship exists between employee engagement and time perspective.

This nonexperimental, …

Obstacles To The Implementation Of Criminal Justice Reform, Matt Allen

Dissertations

Mass incarceration or overincarceration has gained significant attention over the last two decades, and criminal justice reform seeks to address it. This study uses constructivist grounded theory to examine the implementation of criminal justice reform legislation in Mississippi. Mississippi was chosen as the study setting because the state has been recognized as a national leader in enacting reform legislation and it has one of the nation’s highest incarceration rates. It is well established that policy implementation affects outcomes. Therefore, if the policies Mississippi is implementing are effective and they are implemented correctly, it stands to reason the state could benefit …

Understory Vegetation Composition And Small Mammal Abundance In An Exotic Eucalyptus Forest Vs Adjacent Native Habitat, Kelly Mcfadden

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

None provided

Evaluation Of Heat Tolerant Cauliflower Varieties On California’S Central Coast, Lauren Booke

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Heat tolerant trials of vegetable crops will help to improve food security when it becomes affected by rising temperatures due to climate change. By having heat tolerant vegetable crops, we can ensure the well-being of individuals in our society—nutritionally, economically, and socially. California is responsible for 90% of the cauliflower production in the United States. This research aims to determine the overall productivity of three heat tolerant cauliflower varieties (Bishop, Mardi, Flame Star) during the summer months (July- September) on California’s central coast. Stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured throughout the growing cycle to evaluate plant stress and photosynthetic …

Modulating The Tumor Microenvironment To Improve Immunotherapy Treatments, Lleayem Nazario-Johnson, David Rowley

Senior Honors Projects

Advances in immunotherapy are revolutionizing the treatments of certain cancers, especially those in the blood. However, wider applications for eradicating solid tumors have been slow to emerge. A likely reason is the presence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor microenvironment that secrete immunosuppressive molecules which attenuate the attack of immune cells. We hypothesize that small molecule Wnt/Beta- Catenin inhibitors can be used to modulate the immunosuppressive actions of MDSCs and increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, such as with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. The Wnt/Beta-Catenin Pathway has been shown to be a crucial driving force behind the …

Pitch Canker In The Año Nuevo Monterey Pine Stand: A Retrospective Analysis, Davis Harrison

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is a closed cone conifer tree native to California. Although it is an ecologically and economically valuable tree, there are only five remaining native populations, including, the Año Nuevo stand along California’s central coast. All the remaining native populations have faced threats to their survival, none more than the non-native disease pitch canker (Fusarium circinatum). This fungal infection causes lesions, dead branches, tree top death, and can be potentially fatal to infected trees. This paper is a continuation of a study beginning in 2001, aimed at evaluating the impact of silvicultural management practices on pitch canker …

Pacific Magazine 2021, University Of The Pacific

Pacific Magazine and Pacific Review

No abstract provided.

Wearable Technology For Fall Detection In The Rancho Yolo Community, Ashlyn Emberley, Brenda Fonseca, Carolina Mendiola, Hannah Gantuangco, Harleen Pabla, Janelle Candaza, Michelle Drawdy

Occupational Therapy Student Research

● Problem Statement: Community members have shared concern about leaving their home due to their fear of falling. This fear of falling decreases social, occupational, and community engagement.

● Category: Accommodations and Consumer Access, Priorities, and Benefits over the Lifespan

● Overview: Wearable assistive technology devices that assist in the incidence of falls to increase independence and promote engagement in a fulfilling life.

● Solution: Fall detection wearables provide medical help at the push of a button, including low and high technology devices for detection of falls.

Shelter Seeker: A Vision To Connect Individuals Experiencing Housing Insecurities To Community Resources, Lex Acuna, Megan Asher, Jessica Carranza, Lexi Herman, Karinne Osumi, Karina Phan, Naima Reddick, Katie White

Occupational Therapy Student Research

Shelter Seeker is envisioned as a resource-based app and website that connects individuals experiencing housing insecurities to basic necessity services in Sacramento, CA. The ultimate goal is to improve accessibility to resources; listing them close to the user's location. This resource is envisioned to be available in multiple languages.

Assistive Technology: Foldable Shower Seat, Bernard Yaghobian, Katherine Enriquez, Dora Vang, Mitchell Johnston, Jennifer Luong, Yuen Ching Tam, Nupinder Kaur

Occupational Therapy Student Research

The goal of the foldable shower seat is to reduce the efforts required for showering, targeting individuals with circumstances that reduce their energy levels so they can reserve energy to carry out other meaningful activities.

Population:

• Older adults
• Individuals recovering from injuries
• Individuals with permanent disabilities

A Decade In Review: A Systematic Literature Review Of Presidential Engagement In Community College Fundraising, Everrett A. Smith

Journal of Research on the College President

Community college fundraising has grown into a visible area of institutional operations. The college president is perhaps the single most important person in directing and sustaining the use of fundraising activities on campus and, in many cases, the face of the institution. To what extent community college presidents have engaged in fundraising has been explored, but a comprehensive, especially over the past decade, is missing from higher education and community college research. Refereed articles were systematically reviewed to present an overarching lens into empirical research focused on community presidents and institutional fundraising. The study includes a review of more than …

A Call For Liberty And Justice For All: Unraveling The Complexities In 2021, Dr. Sheila P. Davis

Journal of Health Ethics

This Preface summarizes the articles in this issue. Seven articles are presented with center on liberty and justice for all populations discussed.

"I Felt What Was Happening In Our Country [Usa] With Race Was So Much Scarier Than The [Covid-19] Virus.” Black Lives Matter Protesters’ Beliefs And Practices During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Evelyn Arana-Chicas, Brooke D. Jones, Francisco Cartujano-Barrera, Ana Paula Cupertino

Journal of Health Ethics

This study describes the COVID-19 prevention practices and beliefs of Black Lives Matter protesters in the U.S. Participants completed a survey on following COVID-19 guidelines and answered interview questions. Twenty participants were enrolled. Mean age was 29 and most were female (80%) and black (75%). Participants almost always wore their masks (75%) and washed their hands (85%) while protesting. Most reported rarely social distancing (55%) and not being concerned about COVID-19 (55%). Themes included: 1) Fighting for social justice, 2) Protesting is more important than COVID-19, 3) Unable to social distance, 4) Masks mostly worn, 5) Protests sparked global movement, …

Health Inequality As A Socially Created Complex System, Michele Battle-Fisher

Journal of Health Ethics

Brought to light by COVID-19, and the Black Lives Matter and Twitter #BlackBioethics movements, bioethics as a discipline has not intentionally accounted for distributive justice in its scholarship. Modern society exhibits gross disparities that affect marginalized populations who suffer amid social, financial, physical and emotional stressors. While marginalized groups that are underserved are not monoliths, disparity persists in disadvantaged communities regardless of social and economic strata. Disparity is the epitome of injustice. The overemphasis on proximal determinants demonstrates ill placed overemphasis on personal culpability whilst ignoring systemic factors that result in structural injustice. The sciences of complexity and systems thinking …

An Ethical Comparison Of The Covid-19 National Disease Control Performance Of China, Canada And The U.S. In The First Year Of The Pandemic, George A. Gellert, Gabriel L. Gellert

Journal of Health Ethics

Objective: First year government pandemic control performance is compared in China, Canada and the USA to understand the ethical bases of different population outcomes achieved.

Methods: Comparative analysis of ethical underpinnings and implications of pandemic performance includes degree of authoritarian power deployed to mitigate disease spread; benefits of single payer health care; impact of socioeconomic, racial/ethnic and health care inequities; anti-government sentiment/distrust; national leadership engagement; and science denial.

Results: National COVID-19 response efforts vary according to the extent to which they leveraged autocratic tactics, from China whose highly autocratic first year pandemic performance was emulated, through liberal democracies like Canada …

Sexual Minority Rights Are Not Just For The West: Health And Safety Considerations In Africa, Robert Scott Stewart Ph.D., Dionne Van Reenen Ph.D., Richard Watuwa Ph.D.

Journal of Health Ethics

In a recent article, C.O. Akpan argues that it is “unnatural for a man to sleep with a man as with a woman, and the idea of marriage in this sense is an abomination” (“The morality of same-sex marriage: How not to globalize a cultural anomie,” Online Journal of Health Ethics, 13(1), 2017, p. 9). Arguments in favor of same sex marriage, he claims, are “driven and motivated by the human right fad” (p. 9) that is inappropriate for African countries.

We argue that the specific arguments Akpan employs against the morality of homosexuality and same-sex marriage are flawed. Our …

Is There A Doctor In The House? Medical Ethics And The Doctoral Honorific, Kenneth R. Pike, M. Scott Moore

Journal of Health Ethics

The proliferation of professional doctorates has reinvigorated debate over the use of the doctoral honorific. Doctorate holders are often addressed as “doctor” in academic contexts, but idiomatic American English associates “doctor” with physicians—licensed clinicians with doctoral degrees in medicine. The possibility of patient confusion has historically justified proscription of the doctoral honorific by others, including nurses, but recently such proscriptions have been withdrawn. An examination of history, language, and ethical reasoning leads us to conclude that, in the context of patient interaction, clinicians should eschew the doctoral honorific entirely. We think it appropriate for professionals to rely on training-pathway titles …

Higher Education Graduation Rates: Problems, Solutions, And History, Anne Bowen

University Honors Program

This thesis explores how higher education graduation rates and student matriculation have affected stakeholders such as donors, students, taxpayers, and both government and nongovernment organization as well as the overall education rate in America. The ongoing implication of higher education graduation barriers is critical and impacting students across the United States. This thesis examines multiple higher education graduation disparities, including socio-economic status, academic preparation, and students’ sense of belong. Additionally, this thesis reflects on how specific predisposed risk factors, educational history, and admissions processes affect the overall student matriculation through end-phase graduation. Throughout history, higher education has used academic undermatching, …

Table Of Contents—Masthead

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

N/A

The Origin (And Future) Of Transpersonal Psychology In An Open Scientific Naturalism, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A number of scholars well known within transpersonal psychology appear to be converging on open scientific naturalism as a philosophically and methodologically fruitful framework for transpersonal and related fields. This builds on the nascent open naturalism evidenced in the early years of transpersonal psychology, before it entered its metaphysical phase (ca. 1975 to 2000). Since it is necessary for science to assume some kind of world within which it is possible to do science, and not every aspect of that assumed world can be subjected to processes of empirical investigation, some of these necessary background assumptions are unavoidably metaphysical. However, …

Exceptional Human Experiences Among Pilgrims On The Camino De Santiago: A Study Of Self-Reported Experiences And Transformative Aftereffects, Miran Lavrič, Snežana Brumec, Andrej Naterer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is an extraordinary endeavour that tends to trigger exceptional human experiences. Following our previous investigation of this topic, we conducted an online survey of 501 pilgrims in order to assess the frequency of different exceptional experiences (EEs) on the pilgrimage and their transformative aftereffects (TAs) in everyday life afterwards. More than 70% of the respondents reported improvement in terms of self-confidence, personal relationships and letting go of emotional “baggage”. The results show strong correlations between the observed EEs and the (consequent) TAs. We contend that walking the Camino de Santiago often produces exceptional experiences that …

Effects Of Brief Daily Kundalini Yoga Meditation On Self-Esteem, Mood And Emotional Self-Efficacy: A Randomized Comparison Study, Sonia Romero Martinez, Andrés Dueñas, Xavier Ordoñes

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This randomized comparison study measured the impact of brief daily use of two types of kundalini yoga meditation from the Yogi Bhajan lineage on self-esteem, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and positive and negative affect in a non-clinical sample of 46 Spanish-speaking adults residing in Spain. Results of the two meditation types—Kirtan Kriya and Internal Conflict Resolution—are compared. Results showed that both types of meditation had positive impacts on all study variables, though the degree of change and effect size depended on the type of meditation used. Results point to these relevant forms of brief daily meditation as simple and inexpensive tools …

Tripping In The Moment: The Spiritual Journey Of Baba Ram Dass, Charles S. Hamilton

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Ram Dass, the iconic, countercultural, spiritual seeker, brought the wisdom of the East to those of us in the West through his many books and frequent, charismatic dharma talks. This view of his spiritual journey describes the transformation of Richard Alpert, clinical psychologist and product of the Western milieu’s often-shackling conventional expectations, into Ram Dass, the free, embodied soul who, through explication and example, and with witnessing attention, tries to guide us all to the always present abode of loving awareness. Ram Dass’s idea of self in existence was transformed: first, from a psychological object of clinical study, to a …