Digital Commons Network^™

Rebecca Leonard V. Secretary Pennsylvania Department Of Human Service

2024 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

On The Use Of Introspection In The Study Of Consciousness, Yaojun Lu

Dissertations - ALL

For the past half century, introspection has once again become a trusted source of knowledge in the study of consciousness. Some philosophers reflect on their own consciousness to draw metaphysical conclusions; some psychologists hypothesize observable regularities of consciousness by collecting introspective reports. They operate under the doctrine that first-person perspective provides a privileged access to the conscious mind. This dissertation is a critical examination of the use of introspection in the scientific and metaphysical study of consciousness. I first develop classic criticism of the privileged access, with a diagnosis of the failure of introspective psychology and a reflection on the …

Knighthood In The Wilderness: Ecocritical Readings Of Nature And Chivalry In The World Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight, Dajana Memko

Theses and Dissertations

Many interpretations of the Green Knight portray him as a personification of nature or as nature’s embodiment. Ecocriticism, however, challenges a more anthropocentric approach, calling into question deeply ingrained ideals of chivalry and human dominion over nature. The Green Knight is a hybrid creature whose striking features mark his otherness; yet, through his familiarity, he challenges the knight of Camelot and asks them to consider their chivalric identities as well as the nature of their Trojan ancestry and legacy. Among them, Gawain is forced to confront his identity as he ventures into the wilderness of Wirral, and his interactions with …

A Conversation With Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Brett M. Kavanaugh, J. Joel Alicea

Catholic University Law Review

On Thursday, September 26th, 2024, the Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition at The Catholic University of America hosted a conversation between Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh and Professor J. Joel Alicea. This was the inaugural event of the new Center. The conversation covered topics such as constitutional interpretation, the separation of powers, religious liberty, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. This is a transcript of the conversation, and the text appears substantially as it was delivered. The video of the event may be found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sKvSwzkmqo.

All’S “Fair” In Love & Copyright: Copyright’S Incentivization Of Fiction Through The Second Fair Use Factor & Idea/Expression Dichotomy, Peyton J. Smetana

Catholic University Law Review

Copyright Law is supposed to encourage authors to create works of authorship, both factual and fictional. However, Copyright jurisprudence has developed to only protect expression, and not idea, to ensure the continued dissemination of knowledge. In solidifying this belief, two doctrines—Fair Use and the idea/expression dichotomy—allow for individuals to utilize other works of authorship without it being considered copyright infringement. Though widely used throughout the judicial system, the analysis for both the second Fair Use factor—Nature of the Copyrighted Work—and the idea/expression dichotomy are left without clear guidelines, leaving judges with an insurmountable task of determining what is and is …

Colliding Doctrines: How Sffa V. Harvard Impacts Public University Officials' Legal Protections, Christo Fosse

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (Tpdc) And Its Role In Self-Reliance And Sustainability, Ladislaus Norbeth Tumbu

Theses - ALL

Tanzania possesses significant natural gas reserves, currently estimated at 57.54 trillion cubic feet, with the potential for further discoveries. This thesis examines the socio-economic impacts of Tanzania’s substantial natural gas reserves, focusing specifically on the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and its engagement with the local communities in Mtwara and Lindi. TPDC is the national oil company and owner of all licenses for energy development in the country, wholly owned by the government of Tanzania with all its shares held by the Treasury Registrar. Through comprehensive literature review and field visits to production sites, the study examines TPDC’s management of …

P85Α Degradation Mediated By Ubiquitin E3 Ligase Fbxo21 Offers Therapeutic Potential In Leukemia, Kasidy K. Weber

Theses & Dissertations

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex and heterogeneous disease characterized by the clonal expansion of myeloid blasts in the bone marrow. Despite significant therapeutic advances over the years, the prognosis for AML patients remains dismal, with high relapse rates and poor overall survival. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating the degradation of proteins involved in essential processes such as cell cycle control, DNA repair, apoptosis, and various signaling pathways. Given this vital function, targeting ubiquitin E3 ligases within the UPS presents a promising strategy for developing more effective and targeted therapies …

Native Freshwater Mussel Communities In The Lower Grand River, Michigan: Assessing Tributary Confluence Effects And Updating Survey Information, Grayson L. Kosak

Masters Theses

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are ecosystem engineers and keystone species vital to stream ecosystems yet represent the most imperiled group of freshwater fauna. Conservation of unionids necessitates further understanding how assemblages interact with watershed features. This study investigates mussel occupancy, distribution, and assemblage structure upstream and downstream of tributary confluences in the lower Grand River, Michigan, alongside updated surveys of the unionid community with comparisons to previous assessments conducted by Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) in 2002–2003. Unionid density, richness, and diversity were greater upstream of confluences. No significant distance-gradient effects were observed. Assemblage structure differed between upstream and downstream reaches …

The Plasmodium Falciparum Ncr1 Transporter Is An Antimalarial Target That Exports Cholesterol From The Parasite's Plasma Membrane, Zhemin Zhang, Eva S Istvan, Daniel E Goldberg, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Malaria, a devastating parasitic infection, is the leading cause of death in many developing countries. Unfortunately, the most deadliest causative agent of malaria,

Bile Acids In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Pathophysiology To Treatment, Samantha H Bai, Arun Chandnani, Siyan Cao

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that affects about 7 million people worldwide, and new therapies are needed. Understanding the complex roles that bile acids (BAs) play in IBD may lead to the development of novel IBD treatments independent of direct immunosuppression. This review discusses the latest discoveries in the roles BAs play in IBD pathogenesis and explores how these discoveries offer promising new therapeutic targets to treat IBD and improve patient outcomes. Several therapies discussed include specific BA receptor (BAR) agonists, dietary therapies, supplements, probiotics, and mesenchymal stem cell therapies that have all been shown to decrease …

Pancreaticoduodenectomy In Trauma Patients With Grade Iv-V Duodenal Or Pancreatic Injuries: A Post Hoc Analysis Of An East Multicenter Trial, Rachel Leah Choron, Rami Al-Aref, Jordan Michael Kirsch, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: The utility of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for high-grade traumatic injuries remains unclear and data surrounding its use are limited. We hypothesized that PD does not result in improved outcomes when compared with non-PD surgical management of grade IV-V pancreaticoduodenal injuries.

METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis from 35 level 1 trauma centers from January 2010 to December 2020. Included patients were ≥15 years of age with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade IV-V duodenal and/or pancreatic injuries. The study compared operative repair strategy: PD versus non-PD.

RESULTS: The sample (n=95) was young (26 years), male (82%), …

When Do States Outsource Repression: Evidence From Hong Kong, Ming Kong

Student Theses and Dissertations

What explains the variation in states using state versus nonstate actors in responding to civil unrest? Prior research on state repression has predominantly focused on the direct use of force by state authorities, often neglecting the critical role of third parties, such as organized crime groups, in executing repression. This practice, known as "outsourcing repression", enables states to maintain control while preserving plausible deniability, particularly in contexts requiring substantial coercion. This study aims to elucidate the conditions under which states opt to outsource repression. I propose a two-step logical framework. First, I argue that outsourcing repression depends on the availability …

Copyright And Research In Latin America: Law, Courts, And Perceptions, Mariana G. Valente, Alice P. Lana, André P. Houang

Joint PIJIP/TLS Research Paper Series

Research on the intersection of copyright law, research activities, and innovation in Latin America reveals significant deficiencies in the legal framework and public discourse surrounding copyright limitations and exceptions (L&Es) for research purposes. The problem is more visible with modern data assembling and analyzing techniques, such as through artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This study highlights the scarcity of explicit provisions for research-related exceptions in the region by examining copyright legislation, case law, and stakeholder perspectives in six Latin American countries. Despite indications that judicial interpretation is expanding the scope of L&Es, particularly in Brazil, awareness of legal nuances remains low …

Statins Decrease The Risk Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Zahid Ijaz Tarar, Umer Farooq, Faisal Inayat, Sanket D. Basida, Faisal Ibrahim, Mustafa Gandhi, Gul Nawaz, Arslan Afzal, Ammad J. Chaudhary, Faisal Kamal, Ahmad H. Ali, Yezaz A. Ghouri

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with a significant risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent clinical evidence indicates the potential benefits of statins in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics. However, it is still unclear if these drugs can lower the specific risk of HCC among patients with MASLD.

AIM: To investigate the impact of statin use on the risk of HCC development in patients with MASLD.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of all the studies was performed that measured the effect of statin use on HCC occurrence in patients with …

Synthetic Studies On Ship Activators And New Oxidative Methods Utilizing Ddq And Hypervalent Iodine Catalysts, Christos Nixarlidis

Dissertations - ALL

One important cell signaling pathway is the PI3K pathway because it influences many key cellular functions such as proliferation and apoptosis. Among the enzymes that are involved in this pathway, the SH2-containing inositol-5’-phosphatase (SHIP) plays an important role by maintaining the balance of PI(3,4,5)P3 and PI(3,4)P2. SHIP activation promotes a higher rate of hydrolysis of PI(3,4,5)P3 and thus reduces the downstream activation of AKT, which influences many cell processes. Activation of SHIP using small molecules may be useful for certain diseases such as inflammatory disorders and some types of cancer. The synthesis and evaluation of a new class of sulfonamide …

Modulating Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Through Lipidation, Zhe Zhang

Dissertations - ALL

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a fascinating biological phenomenon that enables cells to form membraneless organelles, creating specialized compartments for orchestrating complex biochemical reactions. While significant progress has been made in deciphering the sequence determinants underlying phase separation, precisely modulating these features remains a challenge. Inspired by biology, post-translational modifications (PTMs) offer a promising approach to modulate the protein condensates formation and their properties in real-time, without altering the sequences. Despite the identification of over 300 types of PTMs, most research has predominantly focused on charge-altering modifications. The effects of non-charged PTMs, such as lipidation, on LLPS remain poorly understood. …

Power-Conscious Legal Work: Building A Roadmap For Rural Access To Justice Through Trust, Accountability, & Trauma-Informed Practices, Cayley Balser, Antonio M. Coronado

Alaska Law Review

The importance of trauma-informed practices has never been greater. In the United States, most of the population has experienced at least one traumatic event in their life. Experiencing a traumatic event may have long-lasting impacts on physical health, including disruption to all major system functioning. Mental health impacts may include behavior changes, memory challenges, inability to complete routine tasks, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and other symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Extant literature examines the association between past trauma experiences and later interactions with the civil justice system, including litigant conceptualizations of legal system engagement as a traumatic event …

Seizing Welfare From The Bankrupt, Michael D. Sousa

University of Cincinnati Law Review

The earned income tax credit (EITC) is currently the largest means-tested antipoverty program in the United States that assists low-income working families surviving along the edges of poverty. A central component of the national welfare system, the EITC has lifted millions of families with children out of poverty and has produced myriad benefits for their everyday lives. But most of the poor and near-poor endure in the low-wage labor market and often lead turbulent financial lives, plagued by precarious employment along with deleterious material and psychological constraints in budgeting for daily expenses. For the segment of these families also burdened …

Dignity Defended, Privacy Preserved: A Call For Improved Legal Safeguards To Shield Victims Of Intimate Crimes From Public Scrutiny, Madeline E. Brown

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Transgenerational Legislative Awareness Issues In Children's Food, Yi Seul Kim

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

Disparities In Kidney Care In Vulnerable Populations: A Multinational Study From The Isn-Gkha, Robin L. Erickson, Nivedita Kamath, Arpana Iyengar, Adebowale Ademola

Open Access archive

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, displaced people, and refugees, often encounter challenges in accessing healthcare. In this study, we used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to describe kidney care access and delivery to vulnerable populations across countries and regions. Using data from an international survey of clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates, we assessed the funding and coverage of vulnerable populations on all aspects of kidney replacement therapies (KRT). Overall, 167 countries or jurisdictions participated in the survey, representing 97.4% of the world’s population. Children had less access …

Efficacy Of Probiotics For Treatment Of Acute Or Persistent Diarrhoea In Children From Birth Till 10 Years: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anmol Minaz, Ridwa Alam, Uswa Jiwani, Khadija Vadsaria, Ahmad Khan, Aqsa Ishaq, Samar Sultan, Marium Mohsin, Ashraf Sharif, Yasir Bin Nisar, Jai K. Das, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Shabina Ariff

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of probiotics in treating acute and persistent diarrhoea. However, probiotics have not been established as a recommended management option for diarrhoeal illness by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy of probiotics for the management of acute and persistent diarrhoea in children.
Methods: A systematic search on PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley Cochrane Library, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) was performed. All studies published in the year 2000 and onwards that assessed the use of probiotics in the …

Modeling And Integration Method Of Sysml Model For Complex Business Scenarios, Bing Yu, Baoran An, Shicao Zhao

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The development process of complex equipment involves multi-stage business processes, multi-level product architecture, and multi-disciplinary physical processes. The relationship between its system model and various disciplinary models is extremely complicated. In the modeling and integration process, extensive customized development is needed to realize model integration and interoperability in different business scenarios. Meanwhile, the differences in modeling and interaction between different modeling tools make it difficult to support the consistent representation of models in complex scenarios. To improve the efficiency of system modeling and integration in complex business scenarios, a system modeling and integration method was proposed. This method took …

If It Was Good Enough To Work Against The Nazis . . . : Revitalizing The Foreign Agents Registration Act To Regulate Modern Foreign Electioneering, Troy Mccurry

Catholic University Law Review

News headlines from the 2016 election to the present have described an ongoing political scandal that is unmatched in modern history: continued attempts of foreign interference in U.S. elections. It is fairly obvious that the United States lacks adequate restrictions to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections. It therefore needs a law that—while passing constitutional scrutiny—prohibits more foreign political activity than what is currently covered, especially in relation to social media. This should be a simple and effective legislative fix, a return to the core aspects of the original Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) that focuses on potential electioneering of …

State Of Utah Plaintiff/ Appellee V. Alan Dudley Hamberlin Defendant/ Appellant : Brief Of Appellee, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appeal from a conviction for wanton destruction of wildlife, a third degree felony, in the Sixth Judicial District, Kane County, the Honorable Mandy Larsen presiding

Freyja Johnson, Rachel Phillips Ainscough, Counsel for Appellant

NATALIE M. EDMUNDSON, SEAN D. REYES, JEFFREY N. STOTT, Counsel for Appellee

Novel Digital Anomalies, Hippocampal Atrophy, And Mutations Expand The Genotypic And Phenotypic Spectra Of Cnksr2 In The Houge Type Of X-Linked Syndromic Intellectual Development Disorder (Mrxshg), Mohammad Reza Ghasemi, Sahand Tehrani Fateh, Afif Ben-Mahmoud, Vijay Gupta, Lara G. Stühn, Gaetan Lesca, Nicolas Chatron, Konrad Platzer, Patrick Edery, Hossein Sadeghi, Bertrand Isidor, Benjamin Cogné, Heidi L. Schulz, Ilona Krauspe-Stübecke, Radhakrishnan Periyasamy, Sheela Nampoothiri, Reza Mirfakhraie, Sahar Alijanpour, Steffen Syrbe, Ulrich Pfeifer, Stephanie Spranger, Kathrin Grundmann-Hauser, Tobias B. Haack, Maria T. Papadopoulou, Tayrine Da Silva Gonçalves, Eleni Panagiotakaki, Alexis Arzimanoglou, Seyed Hassan Tonekaboni, Yves Lacassie, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The Houge type of X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder (MRXSHG) encompasses a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability (ID), language/speech delay, attention issues, and epilepsy. These conditions arise from hemizygous or heterozygous deletions, along with point mutations, affecting CNKSR2, a gene located at Xp22.12. CNKSR2, also known as CNK2 or MAGUIN, functions as a synaptic scaffolding molecule within the neuronal postsynaptic density (PSD) of the central nervous system. It acts as a link connecting postsynaptic structural proteins, such as PSD95 and S-SCAM, by employing multiple functional domains crucial for synaptic signaling and protein–protein interactions. Predominantly expressed in dendrites, …

Predictors Of Sedimentary Organic Carbon In Seagrass Vegetated And Unvegetated Sediment In The Tamar Estuary, United Kingdom, Kathryn Pogson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seagrass meadows are considered significant natural carbon sinks due to their ability to store large amounts of organic carbon (C_org) in their sediments. ‘Blue carbon strategies’ aim to utilise and enhance this ability to mitigate climate change. However, assessing the C_org content and the habitat characteristics that influence this, in both seagrass vegetated and adjacent unvegetated sediments is needed to improve ‘Blue Carbon’ assessments. Currently, adjacent unvegetated sediments are excluded from Blue Carbon assessments as investigations rarely incorporate them into study design, despite evidence suggesting that they can also store significant amounts of C_org. Mean …

Assessing The Factors That Contribute To Marine Protected Area (Mpa) Effectiveness And Whether Global Protected Areas Of 30% Can Be Achieved By 2030, Jil L. Heinimann

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The urgency for effective conservation to mitigate the rapid deterioration of our marine habitats, which provide ecological, social, and economic benefits, is widely recognised. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have emerged as a pivotal tool in marine conservation. However, global MPA performance varies, and employed management schemes differ. This report aims to investigate the factors which contribute to MPA effectiveness, therefore success, and assess the feasibility of achieving the global target to conserve 30% of habitats by 2030; outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF, Target 3). To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted, employing search-strings, inclusion/exclusion criteria, …

An Investigation Into The Current Knowledge And Consumption Frequencies Of Probiotic Products Amongst Uk-Based Athletes, Ella J. Myers

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Growing evidence supports the role of probiotics as modulators of the gut microbiome and subsequent beneficial effects on health, adaptations to exercise, and performance amongst athletes. Despite this, limited literature exists concerning athletes’ current understanding or consumption habits of such products. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the knowledge and consumption frequencies of probiotic products amongst UK-based recreational and competitive athletes using a three-part online questionnaire. A scoring system based on the number of correct responses to questions regarding probiotics was employed to assess athlete knowledge. Subsequent questions allowed for the collection of data regarding respondents’ current consumption habits …