Digital Commons Network^™

Passive Sampler Derived Profiles And Mass Flows Of Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances (Pfass) Across The Fram Strait In The North Atlantic, Matthew Dunn, Simon Vojta, Thomas Soltwedel, Wilken-Jon Von Appen, Rainer Lohmann

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of pollutants of high concern due to their ubiquity and negative human health impacts. The long-range marine transport of PFAS was observed during year-long deployments of passive tube samplers in the Fram Strait across three depth transects. Time weighted average concentrations ranged from 2.4 to 360 pg L^–1, and 10 different PFAS were regularly observed. PFAS profiles and concentrations were generally similar to those previously characterized for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at these sites. The detection of several anionic PFAS in “old” water demonstrated that they are not perfect …

From Lay Apostles To Missionary Disciples: Father Thomas A. Judge, C.M., And The Future Of The Catholic Laity, William L. Portier Ph.D.

Vincentian Studies

In the early twentieth century, Father Thomas Judge founded the Cenacle, a lay movement consisting of the secular Blessed Trinity Missionary Institute and two religious communities, the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Inspired by Vincent de Paul and the French School of spirituality, Father Judge envisioned the Cenacle as a group that would help return people to the Church. William Portier explains what a lay apostle was in Judge’s time and how we might interpret the term in ours. Pope Francis has called the Church to a “synodal journey,” …

Vincentian Formation In Africa For Missionary Preaching In The Footsteps Of Saint Vincent De Paul, Linus Umoren C.M.

Vincentian Studies

Vincent de Paul was deeply concerned with the proper preparation of the clergy so that the poor could be evangelized. Linus Umoren outlines Vincent's method of preaching and the challenges the Church faced in reforming the clergy during the Counter-Reformation. Many of today’s new priests, including Vincentians, are coming from Africa. It is therefore necessary to develop a formation program that is uniquely suited to the African cultural context. Because of colonialism, the Church in Africa still needs to develop its own theological perspective instead of the one that had been brought to it by Europeans. It also faces several …

Vincentian Heritage 37:2

Vincentian Studies

No abstract provided.

Fifty Years Of 'Cut To Grow': How Changing Narratives Around Corporate Tax Policy Have Undermined Child And Family Well-Being, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Emily Divito, Niko Lusiani

Articles

What follows in this report is an assessment, though not exhaustive, of the central worldviews and set of assumptions driving key US corporate tax reform moments in history—and their consequences for the well-being of children and families in the US. Though political narratives of all kinds are never cleanly chronological (and this remains true of those pertaining to corporate taxation and well-being policies), we aim to build on existing understanding of how dominant narratives come to be and how they, to the extent that they do, drive corporate tax policy outcomes in the US. Looking back over the past 50 …

Corporate Taxpayers And Frivolous Arguments, Part 2, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

In my previous column, I discussed the Liberty Global cases and argued that the taxpayer’s positions were frivolous or lacked economic substance. I also argued that a corporate tax director who knows that a return position is frivolous or that a transaction has no economic substance should “just say no.” Until the day arrives that most tax directors take this view (I am not holding my breath), the IRS must rely on a combination of the uncertain tax position schedule and penalties under section 6662.

Answering The Right Questions In Rawat, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

The Rawat case, which is currently before the D.C. Circuit, has generated a huge amount of commentary. The problem is that much of this commentary has focused on the partnership tax issues in the case and not on the international tax issue, which is the source of the relevant income. In my opinion, the international tax issue should be dispositive.

Should Digital Services Taxes Be Creditable?, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

The impending collapse of pillar 1 of the OECD’s base erosion and profit-shifting 2.0 project means that many countries are likely to join Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom in enacting digital services taxes. There is a moratorium on new DSTs that has been extended until the end of 2024, but any extension beyond that is unlikely because the elimination of DSTs was premised on pillar 1 coming into effect, and that cannot happen without U.S. ratification of the multilateral tax convention (MLC). It is safe to predict that there will not be 67 votes in the Senate …

Why The United States Needs A Gaar, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, has over 1 million words and more than 5,600 pages. It is by far the longest and most complicated law in the U.S. code. The regulations add over 4 million words. Why?

A Fractured Supreme Court: Select Criminal Law And Procedure Cases From The Supreme Court’S 2023-24 Term, Eve Brensike Primus, Jordan Schuler

Articles

In its 2023-2024 Term, the Supreme Court outlined the contours of when a former President of the United States would be immune from criminal prosecution; issued important decisions interpreting the scope of the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause, the Double Jeopardy Clause, the Confrontation Clause, and the Second Amendment right to bear arms; decided a number of important statutory interpretation cases; and continued to avoid Fourth Amendment issues, only addressing them in the context of a malicious prosecution charge. Perhaps more striking than the Court’s decisions in these cases, though, was the Justices’ lack of consensus. Of the 16 criminal …

Mitochondrial Dna Genetic Variation Of Feral And Managed Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera, Colonies From Oklahoma, Allen Szalanski

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding the genetic diversity of honey bees in North America provides valuable insight into the conservation, ecology, and evolution of this economically important insect. Here, we characterized the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variation in populations of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., in Oklahoma by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI-COII) intergenic region. The samples were primarily of feral origin (n = 164), as well as from 24 managed colonies. Samples were obtained from 50 of Oklahoma's 77 counties, which represented six distinct ecoregions. Of the 188 colonies sampled,19 distinct haplotypes were observed, which included: A (African) …

Mitochondrial Dna Variation In Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera) Colonies From Arkansas, U.S., Allen Szalanski

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study characterized the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variation in Arkansas honey bee, Apis mellifera L., by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI-COII) intergenic region). The samples were primarily of hobbyist-managed origin (n=180), as well as 32 feral colonies and two swarms. Of the 214 honey bee colonies and swarms sampled, 23 haplotypes were observed. The haplotypes were from the: A (African) (1.87%); C (South eastern European) (92.52%); M (Northern and Western European) (3.27%); and O (Near East and Middle East) lineages (2.34%). Six C lineage haplotypes were predominantly detected (n=189, 88.31%), all of which are common …

Characterization Of Curing Kinetics Of An Anisotropic Conductive Adhesive Using Rheology And Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Connor Kirkpatrick

Theses

A kinetic study performed to further the understanding of a novel magnetically aligned anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) was performed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a rheometer, under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Isothermal data was collected at 70, 80, and 90°C, whereas non-isothermal data was collected at 5, 10, 20, and 30°C/min, with results interpreted through the use of an autocatalytic model. For isothermal experiments, the rate of conversion was found to increase with increasing isothermal curing temperature, and this was reflected in the kinetic rate constant. Moreover, the rate constant determined by DSC was found to range from …

Advancing Elastomer Cutting Tool Development Through Material-Centric Cutting Mechanism Analysis, Shuhuan Zhang

Theses

Cutting elastomers is a very common procedure that is used in a wide variety of applications, including rubber product manufacturing, food processing, and surgical process. To conserve energy and improve cutting accuracy, decreasing the cutting force and elastomer deformation is always of interest. Numerous studies have concentrated on methods for reducing cutting force and deformation, but only a few have explained the underlying mechanics of these cutting techniques. Without a deep understanding of elastomer cutting mechanics, it's difficult to improve or develop a new cutting method. To understand the cutting mechanics, the mechanical, tribological, and rheological properties of the elastomer …

Cognitive, Behavioral, And Circadian Rhythm Interventions For Insomnia Alter Emotional Brain Responses, Jeanne Leerssen, Moji Aghajani, Tom Bresser, Lara Rösler, Anderson M. Winkler, Jessica C. Foster-Dingley, Eus J.W. Van Someren

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Methods

Predictive Modeling In Healthcare, Ibrahim Essa Abdulla Ali Alattar

Theses

Predictive modelling, especially the use of horizontal lines, has become an important tool in clinical practice to help make informed decisions and accurate predictions. This study focuses on the use of horizontal regression in clinical practice, evaluating its effectiveness in revealing patterns and improving the accuracy of predictions. This study introduces the process of developing a linear model, emphasizing the importance of preliminary data analysis, feature selection, and model evaluation. To make sure your model's predictions are accurate, consider key assumptions such as sampling, independence, and homoscedasticity. The main goal is to provide doctors with the knowledge and skills needed …

Access And Other Arterial Road Characteristics Influencing Pedestrians And Bicyclists’ Crashes In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Yully Tatiana Chaves Lasso, Lisa Lorena Losada-Rojas Phd., Nick Ferenchak Phd., Yan Lin Phd.

Civil Engineering ETDs

Pedestrians and bicyclists, known as Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), are disproportionately affected by crashes. Arterial roads significantly impact crash rates, especially for VRUs. Previous research has identified factors contributing to VRU crash frequency. However, limited research focused on the relationship between these factors and VRU crashes in New Mexico, a state with high fatality rates for VRUs. This study aims to answer three research questions: i) Are high-speed, high-access roads more likely to experience crashes than roads with better access management? ii) Do more driveways per mile correlate with more VRU crashes per mile? iii) What other factors related to …

Reconstruct, Jenna Deal

Theses

This thesis explores how construction materials can be used in sculpture, pushing artistic boundaries and challenging traditional perceptions. It examines the potential of materials like mortar, PVC, HVAC duct, carpet, and asphalt roofing, aiming to redefine the relationship between labor, materials, and artistic expression. By breaking free from construction norms and engaging with materials in unexpected ways, the study aims to foster a deeper understanding of the value and creative possibilities inherent in the materials of our built environment.

Identifying Functional And Potential Therapeutic Sites In Reverse Transcriptase Using Comparative Short-Term Molecular Dynamics, Richmond Asare-Bediako

Theses

Drug escapes due to mutations in the HIV-1 virus genome have been a global menace over the last few decades. A major focus in dealing with this issue has revolved around taking advantage of the structural view of the virus to investigate how these mutations affect target drugs. The role of comparative molecular dynamics (MD), which provides valuable insights on motions involved in the functional interactions and dynamic fluctuations of the atoms in the amino acid residues on the protein chains. Although less explored than structural analyses of drug-target interactions, this study provides substantial and critical information needed to fully …

Incorporating Point Of Care Ultrasound In Cardiac Arrest And Pulseless Electrical Activity, Zayneb H. Ghazle

Theses

For decades, cardiac arrests have had a high mortality and morbidity rate despite medical interventions. Statistically, shockable rhythms (ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia) have had a better prognosis than non-shockable rhythms, which includes pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole¹. The reversible mechanical causes of PEA and the role of point-of-care cardiac ultrasound (POCUS) in their diagnosis and management will be discussed. This paper also focuses on the appearance and interpretation of these sonographic findings in order to guide clinicians in their medical management, goal of returning spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and estimating patient prognosis.

Emerging Treatment And Prevention Options In Diet Through The Gut-Brain Axis, And Its Impact On Patients With Alzheimer’S Disease, Jewel Amrich

Theses

Objectives:

To outline the most recent data regarding diet in the role in moderating prevention and progression of Alzheimer’s disease using the relationship between the gut microbiome and central nervous system. In addition, the Mediterranean diet and the components that make up the diet, and those alike will be thoroughly discussed.

Evidence Acquisition:

Using key terms “Alzheimer’s Disease” and “Diet”, Web of Science searched for papers that were published between 2012 and 2023, which yielded 807 results. Refining the search to “Neurodegenerative Diseases” returned 292 results. Adding “Gut-brain axis”, “gut microbiome”, and “Mediterranean diet” to separate search inputs yielded 25 …

Does Alzheimer’S Disease Begin In Your Gut? A Review Of The Gut-Brain Axis Effect On Cognitive Impairment And The Potential For Therapeutic Targeted Interventions., Jane Greenberg

Theses

Objective: To summarize current data regarding the bidirectional communication of the gut microbiota and the brain, specifically in relation to cognitive improvement, microbiota diversity, and dietary interventions. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying these relationships will be explored. Evidence Acquisition: Using the key terms “gut-brain axis" and "Alzheimer’s disease” PubMed and Web of Science were searched for papers published between 2014 and 2023. This yielded 297 results, of which 23 were relevant to this topic. Articles that failed to address cognitive impairment or only studied animal subjects were excluded. After scanning each paper, nine review articles and 14 new studies were selected …

Reflective And Dialogical Approaches In Engineering Ethics Education, Lavinia Marin, Yousef Jalali, Alexandra Morrison, Cristina Voinea

Michigan Tech Publications

This chapter addresses the challenges of implementing reflective thinking in engineering ethics education (EEE). It examines existing methods for teaching ethical reflection in EEE and argues that pedagogical activities aiming to foster ethical reflection need to be infused with dialogical interactions and, at a deeper level, informed by dialogism. Dialogism is understood as a relational approach to inquiry in which interactions between moral agents enable them to develop their own understandings through the process of finding shared meanings with the others in activities such as sharing reasons and deliberation. Drawing on pragmatism and phenomenology, the authors conceptualize reflection as a …

Mixing Measurement On Hydrogen Jet By Libs Under Various Injection Strategies, Youngmin Ki, Jungho Justin Kim, Seong Young Lee, Joonsik Hwang, Choongsik Bae

Michigan Tech Publications

Favorable fuel properties of hydrogen for combustion system opens a new avenue to achieve deep decarbonization in transportation sector. Meanwhile, various technical challenges including low volumetric energy density, nitrogen oxide emissions, and backfire impede successful implementation of hydrogen in combustion engines. To overcome those issues, stratified charge combustion (SCC) is considered to optimize engine performance and emissions. As direct injection approach is utilized in SCC mode, ensuring quality of air-fuel mixing in combustion chamber is crucial. This study aims to understand hydrogen mixing behavior by quantitative measurement on equivalence ratio using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This measurement has been conducted …

The Uae’S Readiness For Technology Export: The Case Of Ai, Reem Tamer Aldandashi

Theses

Export diversification is one way for the UAE to sustain and flourish its economy. Although UAE is an oil-rich country, it needs to search for and incubate future exports besides the existing ones to keep the wheel of the economy moving, increase the employment rate, and strengthen the country from any future economic strokes. While looking at the technology spread and Artificial Intelligence (AI) focus and efforts in UAE, much research investigated the outcomes of digitization on the UAE economy and its technological strength and competitiveness. At the same time, no one has searched for the possibility of having one …

Ownership Topology Of Vertically-Scaled Agile, William Dabney

Theses

Much as Scrum, Kanban, and XP are used to structure team-level agility, those wishing to take agility beyond the team level often turn to proven solutions. The most popular, which aim to scale development by adding teams under a shared collective ownership rather than separating them into discrete units, are the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Large Scale Scrum (LeSS), and Nexus. These frameworks advocate for aligning ownership subdivisions along features rather than code, which allows teams working on the same product to do so autonomously. While the benefits of this have been researched, the topology of ownership in these frameworks …

Riemannian Frameworks For The Harmonization Of Resting-State Functional Mri Scans, Nicolas Honnorat, Sudha Seshadri, Ron Killiany, John Blangero, David C. Glahn, Peter T. Fox, Mohamad Habes

School of Medicine Publications

Magnetic Resonance Imaging provides unprecedented images of the brain. Unfortunately, scanners and acquisition protocols can significantly impact MRI scans. The development of statistical methods able to reduce this variability without altering the relevant information in the scans, often coined harmonization methods, has been the topic of an increasing research effort supported by the recent growth of publicly available neuroimaging data sets and new possibilities for combining them to achieve greater statistical power. In this work, we focus on the challenges specifically raised by the harmonization of resting-state functional MRI scans. We propose to harmonize resting-state fMRI scans by reducing the …

Florescence, Evan D. Jaccodine

Theses

Florescence is a photographic project that provokes conversation between mediums, methods, and attitudes in art and design. Starting as grainy, screened Risograph prints mounted into custom wood frames, the uniformity of mechanical reproduction is distorted by handmade craft elements. The images examine the materiality of making as part of the message they produce; they are both eclectic handmade objects and mass-produced products. These pictures intend to communicate an idea like an advertisement, except the message, meaning, or intention isn’t clear. I am interested in the moment when the viewer comes close enough to the image to see the prints' poor …

Novel Method Of Isolating Nuclei Of Human Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Reveals Substantial Developmental Changes In Gene Expression And H3k27ac Histone Modification, Alexey Kozlenkov, Ramu Vadukapuram, Ping Zhou, Peter Fam, Michael Wegner, Stella Dracheva

School of Medicine Publications

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) generate differentiated mature oligodendrocytes (MOs) during development. In adult brain, OPCs replenish MOs in adaptive plasticity, neurodegenerative disorders, and after trauma. The ability of OPCs to differentiate to MOs decreases with age and is compromised in disease. Here we explored the cell specific and age-dependent differences in gene expression and H3K27ac histone mark in these two cell types. H3K27ac is indicative of active promoters and enhancers. We developed a novel flow-cytometry-based approach to isolate OPC and MO nuclei from human postmortem brain and profiled gene expression and H3K27ac in adult and infant OPCs and MOs genome-wide. …

Tunable And Parabolic Piezoelectricity In Hafnia Under Epitaxial Strain, Hao Cheng, Peijie Jiao, Jian Wang, Mingkai Qing, Yu Deng, Jun-Ming Liu, Laurent Bellaiche, Di Wu, Yurong Yang

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Piezoelectrics are a class of functional materials that have been extensively used for application in modern electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologies. The sign of longitudinal piezoelectric coefficients is typically positive but recently a few ferroelectrics, such as ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) and van der Waals ferroelectric CuInP₂S₆, were experimentally found to have negative piezoelectricity. Here, using first-principles calculation and measurements, we show that the sign of the longitudinal linear piezoelectric coefficient of HfO₂ can be tuned from positive to negative via epitaxial strain. Nonlinear and even parabolic piezoelectric behaviors are further found at tensile epitaxial strain. …