Digital Commons Network^™

Vaccine Clinical Trials And Data Infrastructure, Ana Santos Rutschman

All Faculty Scholarship

We find ourselves at a momentous turn in the history of vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a quasi-global vaccine race that not only compressed vaccine research and development (R&D) timelines, but also paved the way for the administration of a new type of vaccine technology – mRNA vaccines, which work in substantially different ways from the vaccines in use before the pandemic.

While the process of bringing emerging COVID-19 vaccines to market has taken place in an unusually short timeframe, it was largely predicated on the same scientific and regulatory processes that govern the development, approval and deployment of new …

Social Media Self-Regulation And The Rise Of Vaccine Misinformation, Ana Santos Rutschman

All Faculty Scholarship

This essay examines the main characteristics and shortcomings of mainstream social media responses to vaccine misinformation and disinformation. Parts I and II contextualize the recent expansion of vaccine information and disinformation in the online environment. Part III provides a survey and taxonomy of ongoing responses to vaccine misinformation adopted by mainstream social media. It further notes the limitations of current self-regulatory modes and illustrates these limitations by presenting a short case study on Facebook—the largest social media vehicle for vaccine-specific misinformation, currently estimated to harbor approximately half of the social media accounts linked to vaccine misinformation. Part IV examines potential …

Queering Bostock, Jeremiah A. Ho

All Faculty Scholarship

Although the Supreme Court’s 2020 Title VII decision, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, is a victory for LGBTQ individuals, its doctrinal limitations unavoidably preserve a discriminatory status quo. This Article critically examines how and why Bostock fails to highlight the indignities experienced by queer minorities under decades of employment discrimination. In Bostock, Justice Gorsuch presents a sweeping textualist interpretation of Title VII that protects against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. Yet, the decision sparsely recognizes queer lived experiences, compared to prior pro-LGBTQ cases where such recognition contributed to developing an anti-stereotyping framework that confronted some of the heteronormative biases …

Challenges For Black Workers After 2020: Antiracism In The Gig Economy?, Michael C. Duff

All Faculty Scholarship

Black workers’ fortunes in the coming decades are tied to the expansion of the Gig economy, the impact of which is to destroy employee status. Because much antiracism law and policy has been transmitted to society through the medium of employment law, the disappearance of employee status should be of concern to all foes of racism. This short essay argues that Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 should be expanded to cover all forms of racist workplace conduct. Regulatory arbitrage will continue to challenge the definition of employment for the foreseeable future. It is fitting that one …

Exploring The Diagnostic Journey Of A Preschool-Aged Female: A Retrospective Case Study, Lindsay Nicole Crafton

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the diagnostic route of a preschool-aged female initially suspected of having ASD with communication deficits and explore her journey to seek and receive services. In any diagnostic experience, it is imperative that caregivers understand the steps to seek appropriate evaluations and receive necessary services to improve their child’s quality of life. While there are some systemic procedures in place aimed to identify children with communication disorders or other developmental concerns such as ASD early; the ultimate responsibility falls on the caregiver to follow up and follow through. Although diagnostic criteria for …

Retention And The Sophomore Slump: Understanding Whether Campus Residency Predicts Retention Of Sophomore College Students, Raglena Salmans

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Retention in higher education is an ongoing challenge in America. Traditional research claims a multitude of reasons for freshman college students to stop out, drop out, or transfer colleges. The term sophomore slump was created many years ago as an all-encompassing phrase for the large amount of students who do not return to campus for their sophomore year or end up leaving during the sophomore year. Institutions of higher education are on a continuous journey to retain students and to understand what the cause of students leaving their university is. Campus housing has morphed through the years to provide programming …

Earthworm Density Differences Among Tallgrass Prairies Over Time In The Ozark Highlands, Carlee Hensley, Kristofor R. Brye, Mary C. Savin, Edward E. Gbur, Lisa S. Wood

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

To mitigate the loss of tallgrass prairies through fragmentation and conversion to other land uses, prairie restoration efforts have been undertaken to reclaim areas that have been previously used for agricultural production. Earthworms are a key component of the soil ecology of natural, undisturbed ecosystems. However, limited research exists on earthworm populations in prairie restorations and how earthworm densities may change over time. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate earthworm densities in the upper 20 cm of soil over time (i.e., May 2007 and May 2019) in a native prairie and chronosequence of three prairie restorations (i.e., …

Strategic Implications Of Covid-19: Considerations For Georgia’S Rural Health Providers, Bettye A. Apenteng, Linda G. Kimsey, Charles F. Owens, Samuel T. Opoku, Angela Peden, William A. Mase

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Whether rural hospitals and providers have seen a surge in COVID-19 cases or a reduction in patients seeking care since the pandemic began, their financial condition has been negatively impacted. Many providers have now received some emergency funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and the Payroll Protection Program but these are likely only short-term fixes. For many, the crisis has exacerbated already existing problems. Notable among these problems are volume declines, supply chain disruptions, and workforce concerns. While these problems require immediate action, two longer-term systemic changes to rural healthcare delivery are needed to address them. …

Coercion, Consent, And Time, Michelle Madden Dempsey

Faculty Publications

This article sets out a framework for distinguishing three kinds of norms governing past sexual (mis)conduct and our responses to it: wrongfulness norms,excusability norms, and accountability norms. The framework provides conceptual tools for making sense of (and understanding the limits of ) three distinct responses commonly offered by those accused of past sexual misconduct: “But that used to be okay!” “But everybody used to think that was okay!” and “But thatwas so long ago!”

Inconspicuous Victims, Itay Ravid

Faculty Publications

Recent debates on racial inequalities in the criminal justice system focus on offenders while neglecting the other side of the criminal equation—victims of crime. Such scholarly oversight is surprising given the similarly deep racial disparities in the treatment of victims, manifested in different stages of the criminal justice system. Delving into the underexplored territory of racialized victimization, this project bridges that gap and exposes the roots of the disparate treatment of Black victims in the American criminal justice system. These unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial tensions bring to the fore questions about governmental allocation of resources and …

Worse Than Human?, Michael Risch, Derek E. Bambauer

Faculty Publications

The rise of algorithm-driven decision making enabled by Big Data has generated widespread concern among legal scholars. However, few critics have considered data on people’s existing preferences about the role of algorithms in decision systems. This Article uses empirical analysis of a novel, large dataset of consumer surveys to elucidate those preferences. The surveys explore whether people prefer to have an algorithm or a human determine an outcome affecting their welfare in a range of representative scenarios with varying stakes. The Article examines how preferences change when one type of decisionmaker produces results that are more accurate, faster, cheaper, or …

Blockchain Neutrality, Samuel N. Weinstein

Articles

Blockchain technology is transforming how markets work. Blockchains eliminate the need for trusted gatekeepers like banks to execute, verify, and record transactions. In the financial markets, their disruptive potential threatens both Wall Street banks and Silicon Valley venture capitalists. How blockchain technology is regulated will determine whether it encourages or inhibits competition. Some blockchain applications present serious fraud and systemic risks, complicating regulation. This Article explores the antitrust and competition policy challenges blockchain presents and proposes a regulatory strategy, modeled on Internet regulation and net neutrality principles, to unlock blockchain’s competitive potential. It contends that financial regulators should promote blockchain …

The Pure Theory Of Law Is A Hole In The Ozone Layer, Peter Goodrich

Articles

The article critiques the Pure Theory of Law, arguing that it is inadequate and detached from the dynamic and creative aspects of legal practice. The author advocates for a reimagined legal theory that integrates critical perspectives, embodiment, and a connection to the natural world, emphasizing the need for adaptability and responsiveness over static dogma.

Animal Sentience: History, Science, And Politics, Andrew N. Rowan, Joyce M. D'Silva, Ian J.H. Duncan, Nicholas Palmer

Animal Sentience

This target article has three parts. The first briefly reviews the thinking about nonhuman animals’ sentience in the Western canon: what we might know about their capacity for feeling, leading up to Bentham’s famous question “can they suffer?” The second part sketches the modern development of animal welfare science and the role that animal-sentience considerations have played therein. The third part describes the launching, by Compassion in World Farming, of efforts to incorporate animal sentience language into public policy and regulations concerning human treatment of animals.

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Ingrid Weiss Slikkers, Erick Pena

Faculty Publications

It was in the late 1990’s that the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs- https:// www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html) study through CDC-Kaiser Permanente was done. This groundbreaking research opened the door to the reality that childhood and household challenges, including but not limited to abuse, neglect and even divorce, can dramatically impact a person’s health and well-being throughout life. Much work has been done since 1997 to further study and subsequently reduce ACEs’ impact, but the sad truth is that although much effort has been put forth to combat adverse experiences, ACEs are still very prevalent today and even our own congregations are touched. …

Change In The Nomenclature Of Library And Information Science Discipline: Perceptions Of Lis Faculty Members, Practitioners And Students, Midrar Ullah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Objectives: To know the perceptions of LIS professionals and students regarding change of nomenclature of LIS discipline and the location of LIS schools (departments) under the appropriate faculty in the universities.

Methodology: Data for this descriptive study were collected from the university websites and through discussion with the chairpersons of LIS departments in Pakistan. A web-based questionnaire was also posted on Facebook, mailing groups, WhatsApp groups to ascertain the perceptions of LIS faculty members, practitioners and students in Pakistan. The data were analyzed and presented with frequency and percentage.

Findings: There is no uniformity in the nomenclature …

Information Needs And Seeking Behaviour Of Researchers At African Regional Aquaculture Centre (Arac) In Rivers State, Veronica Emenogu, Anthonia Omehia Prof, Emmanuel Okwu Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined the relationship between information needs and seeking behavior of researchers at the African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC), Rivers State. The population of the study was made up of thirty-four researchers at ARAC, Buguma, Rivers State. The study employed a correlational- Descriptive research design. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire titled ‘Questionnaire on Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of ARAC Researcher (QINSB)’ whose reliability index calculated using Cronbach alpha was 0.922. The collated data from the responses of the respondents was organized using count/frequency, percentages and mean. The data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlational statistical …

Building A Robust E-Learning Module Scorecard: The Nebraska E-Learning Scorecard (Nescore), Tammy Webster, Alissa Fial, Peggy Moore, Shireen Rajaram, Ronald Shope, Dele Davies

Library Faculty Research and Publications

Teaching during a pandemic has compelled educators to transform traditional strategies towards more innovative solutions. These innovative solutions use a variety of educational technologies, and often, shift delivery modalities to an online or blended approach to learning. A key strategy in online teaching is the development of quality e-learning modules based on the core tenets of e-learning. E-learning modules aim to enhance knowledge, performance, and retention through interactive and engaging strategies. While the value of a quality e-learning module is well-supported in the literature, there are limited resources available for developers to assess if the module adheres to the core …

Create Or Curate: An Environmental Scan Of Digital Learning Object Development, Eric A. Kowalik

Library Faculty Research and Publications

A 2012 survey focused on the sharing of information literacy teaching materials (PDF) found that current practice amongst many librarians creating digital resources is to find existing learning materials before developing their own.

In 2017 we conducted a survey to examine whether this continued to be true for librarians creating or reusing Digital Learning Objects (DLOs) and what best practices regarding design and development of DLOs were being used.

We adopted the New Media Consortium (NMC) definition for DLOs which describes them as “any grouping of materials that is structured in a meaningful way and is tied to an educational …

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2020/2021, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Degrees Granted 2020/21
--- Degree Summary 2020/21
--- Program Certificates 2020/21
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Systematic Incorporation Of Gold Nanoparticles Onto Mesoporous Titanium Oxide Particles For Green Catalysts, Jian Hou, Wongi Jang, Jaehan Yun, Franklin Obinna Egemole, Dianguo Geng, Hongsik Byun, Dong-Woo Kang, Jun-Hyun Kim

Faculty Publications – Chemistry

This report describes the systematic incorporation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto mesoporous TiO₂ (MPT) particles without strong attractive forces to efficiently serve as reactive and recyclable catalysts in the homocoupling of arylboronic acid in green reaction conditions. Unlike using nonporous TiO₂ particles and conventional SiO₂ particles as supporting materials, the employment of MPT particles significantly improves the loading efficiency of AuNPs. The incorporated AuNPs are less than 10 nm in diameter, regardless of the amount of applied gold ions, and their surfaces, free from any modifiers, act as highly reactive catalytic sites to notably improve the yields …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 53, Number 1, Fall 2021 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Just Txt Me: How Digital Platforms Shape The Close Relationships Of Generation Z, Kurt Sernett, Abigail Reinhardt, Lillian Smithson, Mitchell Hollingshead

Iowa Journal of Communication

The rise of texting and social media usage, primarily among Millennials and Generation Z, has led to the emergence of new communication behaviors in the last decade. While many studies have focused solely on the behaviors of Millennials in the digital age, we examine the behaviors of Generation Z and how the usage of digital communication shapes the close relationships of America’s college-aged youth population. After identifying the advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face communication and digital communication, we argue that today’s youth seek a healthy balance between in-person and online communication to cultivate fulfilling interpersonal relationships with their friends and …

Book Review: Communication Ethics Literacy: Dialogue & Difference, Maryl Mcginley

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Front Matter - Table Of Contents - Preface

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 53, Number 2, Fall 2021 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Facebook Top Fans, Opinion Leadership, & Percieved News Bias: A Modern Application Of Two-Step Flow To Online News Distribution, Sherice Gearhart, Bingbing Zhang, Sydney E. Brammer

Iowa Journal of Communication

News distributed via Facebook feature comments, which influence audiences. Integrating hostile media bias and two-step flow, this study tests whether an individual’s issue positions, experiences, and exposure to comments influence how Top Fans and others perceive news bias. A survey experiment using a nationwide sample of Facebook users (N = 319) tested the influence of the opinion climate on COVID-19 vaccinations and federal student loan forgiveness. Results show visible opinion leaders (i.e., Top Fans) differently perceived bias in news content.

Ssentiaa: A Self-Supervised Sentiment Analyzer For Classification From Unlabeled Data, Salim Sazzed, Sampath Jayarathna

Computer Science Faculty Publications

In recent years, supervised machine learning (ML) methods have realized remarkable performance gains for sentiment classification utilizing labeled data. However, labeled data are usually expensive to obtain, thus, not always achievable. When annotated data are unavailable, the unsupervised tools are exercised, which still lag behind the performance of supervised ML methods by a large margin. Therefore, in this work, we focus on improving the performance of sentiment classification from unlabeled data. We present a self-supervised hybrid methodology SSentiA (Self-supervised Sentiment Analyzer) that couples an ML classifier with a lexicon-based method for sentiment classification from unlabeled data. We first introduce LRSentiA …

Detecting Incentivized Review Groups With Co-Review Graph, Yubao Zhang, Shuai Hao, Haining Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Online reviews play a crucial role in the ecosystem of nowadays business (especially e-commerce platforms), and have become the primary source of consumer opinions. To manipulate consumers’ opinions, some sellers of e-commerce platforms outsource opinion spamming with incentives (e.g., free products) in exchange for incentivized reviews. As incentives, by nature, are likely to drive more biased reviews or even fake reviews. Despite e-commerce platforms such as Amazon have taken initiatives to squash the incentivized review practice, sellers turn to various social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook) to outsource the incentivized reviews. The aggregation of sellers who …