Digital Commons Network^™

Pro Bono, Supplied And Demanded, Anita Bernstein

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

. Of the fifty-six blackletter provisions in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the rule about pro bono is the only one that tells lawyers they “should”—rather than must, must not, or may—take a particular action. This verb, which in effect says: “You deserve praise if you do it but hey, no pressure,” embodies the partial perspective that dominates pro bono—partial in the sense of both incomplete and biased. Valorizing pro bono while imposing no consequences on people who fail to perform it indulges and flatters what this Article calls pro bono’s supply side. Bar leaders, rule writers led by …

Private Money: Stablecoins, Bitcoin, And The Genius Act, Henry H. Perritt Jr.

UC Law Science and Technology Journal

Cryptocurrency has been legalized in the United States. The 2025 GENIUS Act provides a sensible regulatory framework for cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange while avoiding predicted monetary chaos. The Act correctly distinguishes between volatile fiat cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which are unsuitable as payment mechanisms, and stablecoins backed by traditional currencies and reserves.

Historical analysis spanning American monetary systems from the “free banking era” before 1860 through modern digital payments demonstrates that private money has long coexisted with government currency but requires appropriate regulation to prevent bank runs, fraud, and monetary instability. The GENIUS Act addresses key cryptocurrency risks—technological failures, …

Loss Of Twist1 Leads To Disruption Of Ciliary Length, Endocytic Vesicle Dynamics, And Cell-Cell Junctions During Neural Tube Formation, Derrick Thomas, Brittany M Hufft-Martinez, Zarna Lalwani, Vi Pham, Mary Elmeniawi, An J Tran, Jianming Xu, Irfan Saadi, Walid D Fakhouri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Endocytosis constitutes a fundamental cellular process governing development through coordinated regulation of plasma membrane remodeling and ciliogenesis, processes essential for cell shape changes and tissue development. Although Twist1 null embryos display complete cranial neural tube (NT) closure defects and conditional knockout in neuroectoderm disrupts cranial neural crest cell fate determination and delamination, the function of TWIST1 in NT morphogenesis remains unknown. We investigated the basis underlying neuroectodermal morphological abnormalities in TWIST1 mutant embryos, specifically the formation of ectopic lateral bending points and cellular disorganization, by examining Twist1's role in cilia formation, adherens junction integrity, and endocytic vesicle dynamics.

Results: …

N-Palmitoyl Glutamine Is A Candidate Mediator Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Jeremy M Robbins, Mark Benson, Anthony R P Verkerke, Gaurav Tiwari, Shuliang Deng, Prashant Rao, Usman A Tahir, Julian Avila-Pacheco, Xu Shi, Yuntian Guan, Foje-Geh Tendoh, Jacob L Barber, Patricia E Miller, Andrew S Perry, Michael E Hall, Alexis C Wood, Kent D Taylor, Wendy S Post, Stephen S Rich, Matthew Nayor, James G Wilson, Gregory D Lewis, Ravi V Shah, Jerome I Rotter, Scott A Summers, Laura M Raffield, Shingo Kajimura, Claude Bouchard, Clary B Clish, Mark A Sarzynski, Robert E Gerszten

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is an integrative measure of cardiometabolic health and predictor of survival, yet little is known about its molecular underpinnings. Small molecule metabolites and lipids are increasingly recognized as exercise-stimulated signaling molecules and candidate molecular transducers of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Methods: We performed nontargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based plasma metabolomics in 654 participants (mean age, 35 years; 55% women) from the HERITAGE Family Study (Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Training, and Genetics) who had cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max]) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and underwent 20 weeks of supervised endurance training. Metabolite-VO2max relationships were assessed using linear regression …

Latin American Refugees To The U.S. Experience More Discrimination Than Refugees From Other Regions, Sobia Mushtaq, Janet M. Wilmoth

Population Health Research Brief Series

Discrimination is a serious challenge for refugees trying to rebuild their lives in new countries. This data slice presents findings from the 2022 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR), a nationally representative survey of refugees who arrived in the United States between 2017 and 2021 (N=1,364). The probability of experiencing discrimination was substantially higher among refugees from Latin America compared to other origin regions. Latin American refugees have a 62.4% probability of experiencing discrimination, compared to 12.6% for Southeast Asian refugees. The findings suggest that service providers and policymakers should not assume that all refugees face the same challenges.

Student Perceptions And Use Of Genai For Writing: "Great Tool" Or "Pandora's Box"?, Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy Ph.D., Rose Helens-Hart Ph.D., Stephanie M. Weigel Ph.D.

English Faculty Publications

WAC/WID programs are uniquely positioned to lead the response to generative AI (GenAI) in student writing—not by policing its use, but by guiding ethical, effective integration across and in the disciplines. This study shares findings from a spring 2024 survey of 226 students at a midwestern university, exploring how students use GenAI in their writing, what they perceive as its benefits and risks, and whether they’re receiving instruction on how to use it well. Students reported frequent use of GenAI for brainstorming and revising but noted limited faculty guidance. Many expressed nuanced views: they recognized GenAI’s potential to support learning …

Rapid Inpatient Methadone Induction In The Fentanyl Era: A Systematic Review Of Safety, Efficacy, And Protocols For Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Lorik Berisha, Sapan Patel, Charlotte Pirquet, Navina Magesh Kumar, Yousef Soliman, Ahsan Ullah, Daniel M. Matassa

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose of Review: The potency of illicit fentanyl has rendered standard methadone inductions inadequate for many hospitalized adults with opioid use disorder. Standard protocols often fail to achieve therapeutic doses quickly enough to manage withdrawal and cravings in fentanyl-tolerant individuals, contributing to poor retention and higher self-discharge rates. This review examines emerging evidence on dosing strategies, outcomes, and safety of rapid methadone inductions in acute-care hospitals. Recent Findings: Nine studies (five retrospective cohorts, four case series/reports) encompassing 380 patients met inclusion criteria. Median starting doses were 30–40 mg (range 20–90 mg), with daily or symptom-triggered increases achieving 60–100 mg within …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 01/06/2026, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Knowledge And Perception Of Human Milk Donation Among Pregnant, Lactating, And Postpartum Women In Rochester, Ny, And Near Hmbana Milk Banks, Samantha Allen

Theses

Human milk banks provide pasteurized donor milk for premature infants whose mothers are unable to produce sufficient amounts of milk, offering critical nutritional and immunological benefits for this high-risk population.1–4 Although 28 HMBANA-accredited milk banks operate in the United States, none are located within 4.5 hours of Rochester, NY. This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of human milk bank donation among pregnant, lactating, and postpartum women in Rochester, NY, and in communities near HMBANA-affiliated milk banks, and assessed if there is a correlation regarding the proximity of milk banks.  A cross-sectional study design was used, and participants completed a …

Erratum For Nachman Et Al., “Increased Fungal Burden In The Gastrointestinal Tract Of Brain-Dead Organ Donors”, Erika J Nachman, Colleen K Ardis, A Kyle B Ardis, Javier Nieto, Madeline M Bresson, Clare M Robertson, Maggie N Seale, Nora M Villafuerte, Zhe Lyu, Eva C Preisner, Heather A Danhof, Sara C Di Rienzi, Yolanda T Becker, Robert A Britton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Stimulus-Driven Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics Is Impaired In Glaucoma Patients, Ji Won Bang, Carlos Parra, Kevin Yu, Hyun Seo Lee, Gadi Wollstein, Joel Schuman, Kevin Chan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), partly driven by sensory stimulation, is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and clearing metabolic waste. Whether such stimulus-driven CSF flow is disrupted in age-related neurodegenerative diseases of the visual system remains unclear. This study examined the CSF flow during visual stimulation in glaucoma patients and healthy older adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging. In glaucoma, CSF inflow becomes progressively decoupled from the visually evoked blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) response. Specifically, the characteristic stimulus-locked CSF patterns, which decrease after stimulus onset and increase after offset, diminish with disease severity. Mediation analysis suggests this flattened CSF pattern is driven by a flatter …

Multiple Myeloma Risk Linked To Dna Damage Response Genes, Michael Conry, Irina Ostrovnaya, Yelena Kemel, Saloni Sinha, Linda B. Baughn, Brian Avery, Kylee Maclachlan, Victoria Groner, Lauren Banaszak, Aaron Norman, Nicholas J. Boddicker, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Shaji Kumar, Ellen Kim, Sita Dandiker, Mitul Waghmare, Susan Slager, Douglas Sborov, Judy Garber, Elizabeth E. Brown, Michelle Hildebrandt, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Background DNA damage response genes (DDRG), implicated in several cancers as both predisposing risk factors as well as biomarkers for aggressiveness, have not been fully explored in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods Herein, we analyzed disease associations of pathogenic variations in nine putative candidate genes using 3 446 MM cases and 323 233 cancer-free controls.

Results Increased MM risk was found to be associated with inherited rare pathogenic mutations in TP53, ATM, CHEK2, KDM1A, and ARID1A, with an enrichment of these variants among individuals with early onset or family history of MM. Individuals with TP53 or ATM germline mutations are also …

Environmental Factors Associated With Heatwaves Affecting The Growth Of Harmful Algal Bloom Species Pyrodinium Bahamense, Ketzia Garcia, Camiyah Blanchard, Lydia Ruggles, Lauren D' Amore, Margaret Mars Brisbin

Making Waves REU

• Pyrodiniumbahamenseis a harmful algal bloomdinoflagellate that forms blooms in subtropical and tropical estuarine waters, includingalong Florida's coasts
• The species formsintense harmful algal blooms in theOld Tampa Bayand Indian River Lagoon regions, producing toxins that cause paralytic shellfishpoisoning (PSP)
• Marine heatwaves (MHW), periods of time where ocean temperatures rise 1–3°C or more above the normal, have intensified over the years
• Marine heatwaves may influence microbial interactions and harmful algal blooms (HABS)

Acoustic Analysis Of Prosodic Speech Pause In Autistic And Neurotypical Adults, Rachel Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine prosodic speech pause across two groups: neurotypical and autistic young adults. Conversational speech samples were collected from 11 neurotypical and 11 autistic young adults between the ages of 18 and 26. Speech samples were subsequently transcribed and analyzed using Praat Software. The boundaries of between- and within-utterance pauses were identified, as well as acoustically determining if the pause was filled, silent, or a combination of both. Results found a significant difference in the frequency of pauses as a function of location, pause type, and neurological status. As expected, combination pauses were the …

Modality-Agnostic, Patient-Specific Digital Twins Modeling Temporally Varying Digestive Motion, Jorge Tapias Gomez, Nishant Nadkarni, Lando S Bosma, Jue Jiang, Ergys D Subashi, William P Segars, James M Balter, Mert R Sabuncu, Neelam Tyagi, Harini Veeraraghavan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Twin And Cotwin Predictors Of Fetal Demise After Laser Photocoagulation Therapy In Advanced Stage Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Fetal Heart Society Research Collaborative Study, Shiraz A Maskatia, Fu-Sheng Chou, Betul Yilmaz, Lisa Howley, Vidhya Annavajjhala, Lindsay Freud, Allison Divanovic, Laxmi Ghimire, Anita J Moon-Grady

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current models to predict outcomes in advanced twin-twin transfusion syndrome are limited. We hypothesized that twin and cotwin echocardiographic factors would improve model performance for donor and recipient demise following laser photocoagulation therapy.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of stage 3 to 4 twin-twin transfusion syndrome referred for laser photocoagulation therapy. Fetal echocardiograms were analyzed at a core laboratory. We used multivariable logistic regression models to select variables used for generalized linear mixed-effects modeling. Separate models were developed for donor and recipient demise, using both twin and cotwin variables. Models were assessed by area under the …

Correction: Sadagopan Et Al Reduced Computed Tomography Scan Speed Improves Alignment Errors For Patients Undergoing Thoracic Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Ramaswamy Sadagopan, Rachael M Martin-Paulpeter, Christopher R Peeler, Xiaochun Wang, Paige Nitsch, Julianne M Pollard-Larkin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the original publication [...].

Rogue Waves In Extended Gross-Pitaevskii Models With A Lee-Huang-Yang Correction, Sathyanarayanan Chandramouli, S. I. Mistakidis, G. C. Katsimiga, D. J. Ratliff, D. J. Frantzeskakis, P. G. Kevrekidis

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We explore the existence and dynamical generation of rogue waves (RWs) within a one-dimensional quantum droplet-bearing environment. RWs are computed by deploying a space-time fixed point scheme to the relevant extended Gross-Pitaevskii equation (eGPE). Parametric regions where the ensuing RWs are different from their counterparts in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation are identified. To corroborate the controllable generation—relevant to ultracold atom experiments—of these rogue patterns, we exploit two different protocols. The first is based on interfering dam break flows emanating from Riemann initial conditions, and the second refers to the gradient catastrophe of a spatially localized waveform. A multitude of possible …

A Phase 1, First-In-Human, Dose Escalation Study Of Jnj-80038114, A Psmaxcd3 Bispecific Antibody, In Participants With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Andrew Hudson, Anuradha Jayaram, Benjamin Garmezy, Nicholas Zorko, Kevin Zarrabi, Ligi Mathews, Brent Rupnow, Mengjie Li, Debopriya Ghosh, Karen Urtishak, Peter Francis, Sherry Wang, Edward Attiyeh, Johann De Bono

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been identified as a therapeutic target for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The recent success of radioligands targeting PSMA spurred development of new PSMA-targeting agents including immunotherapy. JNJ-80038114 is a bispecific antibody that binds PSMA on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells to induce anti-tumor activity.

METHODS: This was a phase 1, open-label, multicenter study of JNJ-80038114 in participants with mCRPC and ≥ 1 prior systemic therapy. JNJ-80038114 was administered subcutaneously every 3 weeks (Q3W), starting at 0.1 mg. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and prostate-specific antigen …

Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Via Telehealth For Anxiety In Survivors Of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Kevin T. Liou, Joke Bradt, M. Beatriz Currier, Raymond Baser, Katherine Panageas, Jodi Macleod, Desiree Walker, Susan Q. Li, Ana Maria Lopez, Kelly Mcconnell, Jun J. Mao

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Anxiety is prevalent, disruptive, and undertreated among survivors of cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, but not all individuals have access, respond to treatment, or prefer this option because of stigma. Music therapy is effective for short-term anxiety reduction, but it is unknown whether it is noninferior to first-line CBT for long-term anxiety reduction.

METHODS: This comparative effectiveness trial randomly assigned English- or Spanish-speaking survivors of cancer to seven weekly telehealth sessions of music therapy or CBT. The coprimary end points were changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety score at weeks 8 …

Inhibition Of Gpx4 Induces The Death Of P53-Mutant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, William M Tahaney, Amanda Lanier, Jing Qian, Cassandra L Moyer, Nghi Nguyen, Yanxia Ma, Jamal Hill, Reid T Powell, Clifford C Stephan, Peter J A Davies, Abhijit Mazumdar, Powel H Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by high rates of tumor protein 53 (TP53) mutation and with limited targeted therapies. Despite being clinically advantageous, direct targeting of mutant TP53 has been challenging. Therefore, we hypothesized that p53-mutant TNBC cells rely upon other potentially targetable survival pathways.

Methods: In vitro and in silico screens were used to identify drugs that induced preferential death in TP53-mutant cells. The effect of the ferroptosis inducer ML-162 was tested both in vitro and in vivo and the mechanism of cell death following ML-162 treatment or GPX4 knockout was …

Peripheral Nerve Injury Reduces Macrophage Efferocytosis To Facilitate Neuropathic Pain, Vipul K Pandey, Tusar K Acharya, Kendal F Willcox, Sandeep Dembla, Ajeena Ramanujan, Anamaria R Grieco, Younus A Zuberi, Rajasekaran Mahalingam, Andrew J Shepherd, Cobi J Heijnen, Peter M Grace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

For reasons not fully understood, proresolving immune processes sometimes fail to engage after peripheral nerve injury (PNI), leading to enhanced neuropathic pain and inflammation. Here, we implicate reduced efferocytosis due to proteolytic cleavage of surface MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) from macrophages at the site of PNI. After PNI, the proportion of macrophages expressing MERTK progressively decreased, while soluble (cleaved) MER increased. Using male and female knock-in mice encoding cleavage-resistant Mertk, we demonstrated that cleavage of MERTK from macrophages at the PNI site led to exaggerated pain-related behaviors. PNI-induced hyperactivity of TRPV1+ sensory neurons and damage to myelin and myelinated …

Neuronal Subtype Governs Amyloid Structure, Cellular Response, And Cognitive Outcome In Genetically Targeted App Mouse Models, Gabriella A Perez, Zoe Lai, George A Edwards Iii, Jacob M Dundee, Shannon N Leahy, Chuangye Qi, Yanyan Qi, Ye-Jin Park, Tzu-Chiao Lu, M Danish Uddin, Rong Zhao, Hui Zheng, Hongjie Li, Joanna L Jankowsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pathological heterogeneity is increasingly appreciated in Alzheimer’s disease, yet we do not know how distinct aggregate conformations arise or influence cognitive outcomes. In an amyloid mouse model, we found that different brain regions formed structurally distinct Aβ deposits, prompting us to test whether neuronal subtypes shape aggregate conformation. To address this, we created transgenic mice expressing the same APP construct in either glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons. APP expression in GABAergic neurons resulted in diffuse plaques with high Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios and minimal gliosis, while glutamatergic expression produced neuritic plaques with activated glia. Despite similar Aβ levels, only mice with neuritic plaques …

Predicting Sepsis In Heart Failure Patients Supported By Left Ventricular Assist Devices: The Role Of Ve-Cadherin And Adam10, Shiyi Li, Iván Murrieta-Álvarez, Ismael Garcia, Katherine V Nordick, Rishav Bhattacharya, Shreyo Ghosh, Ronald A Shaju, Adel M Hassan, Carl P Walther, Camila Hochman-Mendez, Alexis E Shafii, Kenneth K Liao, Nandan K Mondal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin) is a major endothelial adhesion molecule and can be cleaved explicitly by metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10). Vascular hyperpermeability may contribute to a greater susceptibility to sepsis in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support patients. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of VE-Cadherin and ADAM10 for predicting sepsis in LVAD patients. We prospectively recruited 50 patients with advanced heart failure receiving LVAD therapy. Baseline and weekly postoperative blood samples (weeks 1-4) were collected, and plasma VE-cadherin and ADAM10 levels were measured. Sepsis occurred in 9 of 50 patients (18.0%). Across all sampling points, plasma VE-cadherin and …

State Prior Authorization Prohibitions And Buprenorphine Retention Among Privately Insured Patients, Ju-Chen Hu, Shashi N. Kapadia, Hao Zhang, Ali Jalali, Kristen Underhill, Christina Andrews Ph.D., Yuhua Bao

Faculty Publications

Importance  Buprenorphine is the most commonly prescribed medication for opioid use disorder, but rates of retention in treatment remain low. Prior authorization (PA) has been identified as a barrier to the administration of buprenorphine, and patients may need multiple PAs to continue treatment; thus, many states have passed laws to prohibit the use of PA for buprenorphine in private insurance.

Objective  To examine the association between PA prohibitions and buprenorphine treatment retention overall and by branded vs generic drug status.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This cross-sectional study used a difference-in-differences design and private insurance claims data from 49 states and …

Tectonic Implications Of Transitional Melting Regimes From Petrological, Geochronological, And Compositional Characterization Of The Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane, Alaska, Usa, Erin Todd, Johnathan Saul Caine, Michael Bizimis, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark, Robert Reece Hammond, Alicja Wypych

Faculty Publications

New geochemical, U-Pb geochronology, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data provide evidence for the tectonic evolution of the Seventymile terrane in interior Alaska, USA. Ultramafic and mafic rocks of the Seventymile terrane are thought to represent components of a dismembered ophiolite and provide unique constraints on regional terrane evolution and accretion. The Seventymile ophiolite represents fragments of the Devonian to Permian Slide Mountain Ocean (SMO) that separated allochthonous and parautochthonous continental fragments of western North America. It now occurs as multiple thrust sheets containing Permian mafic and ultramafic rocks overlying and/or possibly imbricated with amphibolite-facies supracrustal rocks of allochthonous Yukon-Tanana terrane and …

A Lyrical Life: An Interview With Doug Van Gundy On Teaching, Writing, And The Influence Of Music, Doug Van Gundy, Megan Hutchinson

Critical Humanities

Interview

"You Will Never Leave Us", Hilda Downer

Critical Humanities

No abstract provided.

Poetry Special Issue: Editor’S Introduction, Megan Hutchinson

Critical Humanities

Editor's Introduction

From Homeland To Here: Diasporic Belonging And Ethiopian Youth Performance In The Twin Cities, Tsedenia H. Lozenski

Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities

In Amharic, Tizita is often referred to as a type of musical scale or ballad, but the word itself means so much more. Tizita is also a way of expressing a feeling of longing and memory for the homeland of Ethiopia. As a practitioner and now researcher of Ethiopian cultural dance, this proposed American Studies Senior Capstone project examines the significance of Ethiopian cultural dance within diasporic identities, how it can unite different people of different ethnic groups within the Ethiopian diaspora through mutual understanding, and how it connects diaspora to roots that we only know through the stories of …