Digital Commons Network^™

One Union Soldier's Service With The 141st Regiment Of Pennsylvania Volunteers And That Regiment's Remarkable Record Of Heroism And Sacrifice During The Civil War, Arthur E. Wilmarth Jr.

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Christopher C. Wilmarth (my great-great-uncle) served with the 141st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers from August 1862 until June 1863. On May 3, 1863, Christopher was wounded in his leg during the third day of the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was left on the battlefield when the Union army retreated, and he was captured by the Confederates. He remained a Confederate prisoner for at least ten days, and he suffered from exposure to the elements and a lack of adequate medical care until he was returned to the Union army. After multiple amputations, Christopher died in a Union army hospital on …

Money, Money, Money: Universities, Government Funding, And Academic Freedom, Mary-Rose Papandrea

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Since the federal government began its large-scale funding of research at the start of World War II, the United States and American universities have been in a mutually beneficial relationship. The federal government has reaped the benefits of countless scientific, social science, and technological discoveries that have promoted national security and served the general welfare. In return, American universities have developed extraordinary research enterprises that are regarded as among the best in the world.

From the outset of this relationship, however, scientists and university administrators expressed concern that federal funding would interfere with institutional autonomy and academic freedom. President Trump’s …

Zoning Report: Virginia, Matthew Harris, Scott Markley, Rama Karlapalem, Diana Drogaris, Sara C. Bronin

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Virginia is rapidly growing and transforming. Its population, now near nine million, is concentrated in Greater Richmond, Hampton Roads, and the urbanized crescent of Northern Virginia. While population growth has been strong, housing construction has struggled to keep pace. With the state facing a shortage of multi-family homes, housing costs continue to outpace incomes. That means too many Virginians are paying too much for their housing.

A significant factor in the cost of housing in Virginia is zoning: the local regulation of land uses, lots, and structures. This report analyzes National Zoning Atlas data on statewide zoning conditions. Part I …

Sharing The Algorithm: The Tax Solution To Generative Ai, Jeremy Bearer-Friend, Sarah Polcz

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This article argues that tax policy offers a core tool for mitigating the sweeping public policy challenges of generative Artificial Intelligence ("AI"). Specifically, we propose a tax that would allow the public to own a share of AI itself, not just through future income tax liabilities or new excise taxes, but a proposed ownership structure that requires a one-time tax payment by generative AI firms in the form of equity.

Fractional public ownership of AI would directly address four of the key harms of AI that have been well-documented in a deep and still expanding literature. First, many types of …

The Uptake Puzzle In Expungement Of Criminal Records, Jessica K. Steinberg, Elenore Wade

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Expungement has an uptake problem. A recent explosion of state-level rights allows people with felony convictions to expunge their criminal record, but only 1 to 6 percent of eligible people avail themselves of the remedy. Expungement is a powerful policy tool that promotes social and economic reintegration. It also serves a dignitary purpose, allowing people with criminal records to unshackle themselves from past mistakes. One might assume people would rush to court to clear their records. That the opposite is occurring—and new laws are idling on the books—suggests that rights-creation in this space has not been efficacious. This demands a …

Erisa And The Failure Of Employers To Perform Their Fiduciary Duties: Evidence From A Survey Of Health Plan Administrators, Barak D. Richman, Amy Monahan, Sara Singer, Jeffrey Pfeffer

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Employers purchase health benefits for more than 60% of the nonelderly population, making employers both important custodians of employee well-being and important actors in the healthcare ecosystem. Because employers typically have unilateral control over health and retirement benefits, the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), enacted in 1974, imposes fiduciary obligations on employers when they manage or administer benefits. We provide evidence, from a novel survey of respondents who administer or oversee health benefits for their companies, that many employers appear to neglect even the most basic of their fiduciary obligations to their employees. This neglect may help explain …

What The "Good Moral Character" Test Reveals About Eugenics In Immigration Law, Tania N. Valdez

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This Essay explores how disability factors into immigration and citizenship law by focusing on three naturalization cases that reveal aspects of the “good moral character” element. A noncitizen’s own disability has been used as grounds for exclusion since the earliest immigration laws. Yet, as it turns out, noncitizens who participate in the eugenic mission of immigration law have been greatly rewarded.

The Eu Versus The Platforms And The First Amendment: Regulating Online Hate Speech, Dawn C. Nunziato

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

What speech should be allowed on social media platforms—and what speech should be prohibited—is a pressing and timely question. Given the recent changes in major social media platforms’ moderation of harmful speech—with the tacit blessing of a 2024 Supreme Court decision and the Trump Administration—and the European Union’s increased regulation of hateful speech and platform content moderation, a clash of these titans is inevitable.

This Article will examine the underlying forces that brought about these conflicts—including First Amendment, CDA Section 230, international, and EU law governing free expression, hate speech, and platforms’ rights and duties regarding content moderation. It will …

Zoning Report: Colorado, Sara C. Bronin, Scott Markley, Matthew Harris, Diana Drogaris

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Colorado is rapidly growing and transforming. Since 2020, more than 180,000 new residents have decided to call the state home. While housing construction has kept pace with this influx, home types and geographic distribution have not met the changing needs of Colorado’s diverse households. Indeed, housing is being offered at a cost that many Coloradans cannot afford and located in places that are far from jobs and other opportunities. As a result, the state grapples with a housing affordability gap.

This report, a first-of-its-kind analysis of zoning conditions in Colorado, was developed by the authors, affiliates of the National Zoning …

A National Zoning Atlas To Inform Housing Research, Policy, And Public Participation, Sara C. Bronin, Wenfei Xu, Scott Markley, Diana Drogaris

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

Through a unique combination of data science and legal analysis techniques, the National Zoning Atlas is creating the first public, online repository of standardized data about zoning. This article first discusses the context for and methodology behind the atlas. It then establishes three possibilities for using the atlas, including facilitating research (including fair housing research), strengthening planning, and empowering the public.

Whose Burden Is It Anyway? A Comprehensive Proposal To Reshape Food Safety Review By Treating Food As Medicine, Katya S. Cronin

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

With more than sixty percent of U.S. adults struggling with at least one diet-related health condition, the relationship between nutrition and public health has never been clearer. Indeed, for the first time in over a century, food has a prominent place on the national political stage and is one of the exceedingly few issues that has garnered bipartisan support. The recent rise in popularity of "Food Is Medicine" initiatives, which seek to provide medically tailored or healthy meals to vulnerable populations, underscores the critical importance of food to public health. Yet, while "Food Is Medicine" is shifting the insurance, business, …

Prediction Of Snatch And Clean And Jerk Performance From Physical Performance Measures In Elite Male Weightlifters, Ingo Sandau, Kristof Kipp

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study aimed to build a valid model to predict maximal weightlifting competition performance using ordinary least squares linear regression (OLR) and penalized (Ridge) linear regression (penLR) in 29 elite male weightlifters. One repetition maximum (1RM) or 3RM test results of assistant exercises were used as predictors. Maximal performance data of competition and assistant exercises were collected during a macrocycle in preparation for a competition. One repetition maximum snatch pull, 3RM back squat, 1RM overhead press, and body mass were used to predict the 1RM snatch; and 1RM clean pull, 3RM front squat, 1RM overhead press, and body mass were …

Confining Rights: The Neuroscientific Challenge To Long-Term Solitary Confinement Under The Eighth Amendment

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Prima Facie Regulatory Capture: Lessons From Epa’S Regulation Of Glyphosate And Pfas ‘Forever Chemicals’, Jason Maclean

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The United States’ New Direction On Digital Trade

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Perspectives Of Midwives And Nurse Practitioners In Kentucky On Exercise Counseling During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study, Madhawa Perera, Taniya S. Nagpal, Maire M. Blankenship, Dano Tolusso, Jordyn Cox, Dilini Prashadika, Mark Schafer, Rachel A. Tinius

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role.

Objectives

This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face.

Methods

Twenty-one midwives and nurse practitioners were recruited until the sample size reached saturation. A survey with open-ended questions was distributed to potential participants in regional hospitals, universities, and professional associations. The framework method was …

Effect Of Trauma Type And Trauma Burden On Self-Efficacy For Physical Exercise In Military Veterans, Kaley E. Davis, Meghan M. Bennett, Cecilia J. Hillard, Jeffrey Whittle, Zeno Franco, Rachel E. Bollaert, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

United States (U.S.) military veterans experience significant physical health problems. Lifestyle modifications, such as increasing daily physical activity, are often considered the first course of action in treatment for the general public. However, veterans report low levels of physical activity, often due to perceived barriers to engaging in exercise. Trauma exposure type and cumulative trauma burden may be differentially associated with exercise attitudes and behaviors.

Methods

We surveyed U.S. military veterans on perceived self-efficacy to overcome barriers to engaging in exercise and physical activity levels. Additionally, we explored the relationship between the type of traumatic event exposure and cumulative …

A Survey On Non-Invasive Computing: Neurological-Hematological Framework For Early Infection And Stroke Detection With Future Directions, Masud Rabbani, Nafi Us Sabbir Sabith, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

This paper introduces a novel, non-invasive tool for building a holistic neurological-hematological diagnostic framework that can be used for early detection of infection and stroke. We proposed and developed a multimodal sensing approach, where an ear canal–based acoustic system can be used to identify brain activities and a smartphone-based facial video analysis platform to estimate white blood cell (WBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Our ear-based EEG methodology achieved a remarkable 96% classification accuracy from the low-frequency level (>30hz), with regression models with mean R2 scores above 0.96 across all EEG bands. For hematological diagnostics, the system predicted WBC counts …

Fine-Tuned Large Language Models (Llms): Improved Prompt Injection Attacks Detection, Md Abdur Rahman, Hossain Shahriar, Guillermo Francia, Fan Wu, Alfredo Cuzzocrea, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Large language models (LLMs) are becoming a popular tool as they have significantly advanced in their capability to tackle a wide range of language-based tasks. However, LLMs applications are highly vulnerable to prompt injection attacks, which poses a critical problem. These attacks target LLMs applications through using carefully designed input prompts to divert the model from adhering to original instruction, thereby it could execute unintended actions. These manipulations pose serious security threats which potentially results in data leaks, biased outputs, or harmful responses. This project explores the security vulnerabilities in relation to prompt injection attacks. To detect whether a prompt …

Vulnerability To Stability: Scalable Large Language Model In Queue-Based Web Service, Md Abdul Barek, Bajlur Rashid, Mostafizur Rahman, A.B.M. Kamrul Islamc Riad, Guillermo Francia, Hossain Shahriar, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are now widely used in various applications globally. However, one of their major challenges is handling high-concurrency workloads, especially under extreme conditions. When too many requests are sent simultaneously, LLMs often become unresponsive which leads to performance degradation and reduced reliability in real-world applications. To address this issue, this paper proposes a queue-based system that separates request handling from direct execution. By implementing a distributed queue, requests are processed in a structured and controlled manner, preventing system overload and ensuring stable performance. This approach …

Contextual Embedding-Based Clustering To Identify Topics For Healthcare Service Improvement, K M Sajjadul Islam, Ravi Teja Karri, Srujan Vegesna, Jiawei Wu, Praveen Madiraju

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Understanding patient feedback is crucial for improving healthcare services, yet analyzing unlabeled short-text feedback presents challenges due to limited data and domainspecific nuances. Traditional supervised approaches require extensive labeled datasets, making unsupervised methods more practical for extracting insights. This study applies unsupervised techniques to analyze 439 survey responses from a healthcare system in Wisconsin, USA. A keyword-based filter was used to isolate complaint-related feedback using a domain-specific lexicon. To identify dominant themes, we evaluated traditional topic models such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Gibbs Sampling Dirichlet Multinomial Mixture (GSDMM) - alongside BERTopic, a neural embedding-based clustering method. To improve …

Reliability Of An Extended Version Of The 3m™ Eargage Tool To Assess Earcanal Size And Assist Earplug Selection, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Laurence Martin, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Olivier Doutres, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Objective: Evaluate the ability of an extended version of the 3 MTM Eargage to estimate the earcanal size and assess the likelihood that a particular earplug can fit an individual’s earcanal, ultimately serving as a tool for selecting earplugs in the field. Design: Earcanal morphology, assessed through earcanal earmolds scans, is compared to earcanal size assessed with the extended eargage (EE) via box plots and Pearson linear correlations coefficients. Relations between attenuation measured on participants (for 6 different earplugs) and their earcanal size assessed with the EE are established via comparison tests. Study sample: 121 participants exposed to occupational noise …

Measuring Toluene Diisocyanate Concentrations In Accordance With Acgih® Inhalable Fraction And Vapor (Ifv) Notation, Charles Larocque, Pierre-Luc Cloutier, Sébastien Gagné, Loïc Wingert, Sylvain Canesi, Jacques Lesage, Simon Aubin

Études primaires

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is an irritant (skin, eye and respiratory) and a sensitizer. This compound is used to manufacture polyurethane materials such as flexible foams. The use of isocyanates may lead to exposure by inhalation and/or skin contact and isocyanates are recognized as a cause of occupational asthma. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH^®) recommends a threshold limit value (TLV) for TDI of 1 part per billion (ppb) (7 µg m-^³) with inhalable fraction and vapor (IFV) notation. This notation means that the inhalable fraction of particles and the vapor phase of TDI may …

Évolution Des Troubles Mentaux Liés Au Travail Au Québec Entre 2012 Et 2021, Jaunathan Bilodeau, Martin Lebeau, Marc-Antoine Busque, Alain Marchand

Études primaires

Introduction : Plusieurs pays ont connu une augmentation du nombre de troubles mentaux acceptés au cours des dernières années, mais les variations possibles de cette évolution dans la main-d’œuvre demeurent à explorer.

But de l’étude : Cette étude examine la distribution dans le temps des troubles mentaux acceptés selon la profession, le secteur industriel, le sexe et l’âge au Québec.

Résultats : Les taux d’incidence des troubles mentaux et leur évolution varient selon la profession et le secteur industriel. Alors que le taux est généralement plus élevé dans les professions mixtes et le secteur tertiaire, l’augmentation de ces taux s’observe …

Improving Student Support On A Decentralized Campus, Delaney Ybarra, Andrea Garrity, Erica L. Wagner

Office of Academic Affairs Publications

Project management has been a key tool in many industries, such as technology and construction, yet it remains underutilized in the higher education sector. In 2013, Portland State University’s Office of Student Success adopted a project management framework to improve student outcomes. This article describes how in using project management we developed a pilot program that helped administer hardship funds to students, what the outcomes were, and how it advanced the project across a decentralized landscape.

Factors Affecting The Quality Of Life Of Residents In The United States: Lessons From Virginia, Daniel K. Pryce

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Evaluating community members' views about their quality of life is important for improving quality of well-being in society, as most societies are interested in the collective well-being of the people. Moreover, quality-of-life research helps public officials to understand how well they are meeting the needs of the electorate. Using the theoretical framework of Maslow's Developmental Perspective, which argues that the higher the need satisfaction of the majority in a given society the greater the quality of life of that society, I explore the effects of multiple variables on quality of life in the Hampton Roads region of Southeast Virginia (this …

Is The Defendant Mad Or Bad? The Association Between Mental Health, Race And Sex In Sentencing In Federal Courts, Tracy Sohoni, Sylwia Piatkowska, Briana Paige

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Although US courts regularly sentence individuals with mental health problems, to date, there has been little research on whether mental health indicators are related to sentencing decisions. The focal concerns perspective suggests that sentencing decisions reflect perceptions of the blameworthiness of the defendant, concerns about protecting the community, and practical considerations. Potentially, mental health issues could serve as a mitigating factor in sentencing decisions by making defendants seem less culpable for their actions and more deserving of assistance rather than punishment, and/or due to concerns about practical considerations related to higher costs of incarceration or of exacerbating current mental health …

Impact Of Bundled Care: Optimizing Pain Management Outcomes In Acute Care, Mary Kelly, Denise Danna, Marsha Bennett, Karen Rice, Helen Calmes, Paige Fisher, Mary Dioise Ramos

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Purpose: Despite therapeutic advances, inadequate pain management in hospitalized patients often leads to chronic pain and opioid dependency. Nonpharmacologic strategies offer potential benefits, especially when integrated into a bundled care approach that enhances pain management and patient engagement. This research aimed to test the effect of a standardized bundle of evidence-based pain care strategies on medical-surgical patients' perceived pain quality outcomes. Design & Methods: This study employed a 2-group, quasi-experimental design to assess the impact of a unit-based intervention, PAIN-X Therapy, on pain care quality outcomes compared to usual pain care. Results: There were 365 participants included in the study …

Defining Spine Cancer Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review And Proposed Terminology, Markian Pahuta, Ilya Laufer, Sheng-Fu Larry Lo, Stefano Boriani, Charles Fisher, Nicolas Dea, Michael H Weber, Dean Chou, Arjun Sahgal, Laurence Rhines, Jeremy Reynolds, Aron Lazary, Alessandro Gasbarrinni, Jorrit-Jan Verlaan, Ziya Gokaslan, Chetan Bettegowda, Mohamed Sarraj, Ori Barzilai, Ao Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Formalized terminology for pain experienced by spine cancer patients is lacking. The common descriptors of spine cancer pain as mechanical or non-mechanical is not exhaustive. Misdiagnosed spinal pain may lead to ineffective treatment recommendations for cancer patients.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of pain terminology that may be relevant to spinal oncology patients. We provide a comprehensive and unbiased summary of the existing evidence, not limited to the spine surgery literature, and subsequently consolidate these data into a practical, clinically relevant nomenclature for spine oncologists.

RESULTS: Our literature search identified 3515 unique citations. Through …

The Influence Of The Microbiome On Radiotherapy And Dna Damage Responses, Aadil Sheikh, Michael A Curran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in terms of diagnosis and mortality. Radiotherapy (RT) remains a mainstay of CRC therapy. As RT relies on DNA damage to promote tumor cell death, the activity of cellular DNA damage repair pathways can modulate cancer sensitivity to therapy. The gut microbiome has been shown to influence intestinal health and is independently associated with CRC development, treatment responses and outcomes. The microbiome can also modulate responses to CRC RT through various mechanisms such as community structure, toxins and metabolites. In this review we explore the use of RT in the …