Digital Commons Network^™

Voting Matters: Materiality Considerations And The Shareholder Vote, Renee M. Jones

Seattle University Law Review

For the shareholder franchise to have meaning, shareholders must have access to relevant information to inform their voting decisions. The securities laws’ disclosure requirements play an essential role in informing the shareholder vote.

This Essay focuses on the question of the materiality of information in the context of shareholder voting. It addresses the question of whether ESG-related information is material, positioning the materiality inquiry within the context of shareholders’ voting decisions. It explores the definition of materiality with a focus on the “reasonable investor” concept embedded within the definition. The Essay argues that the implicit expectations of many commentators that …

Volume 48 Masthead, Seattle University Law Review

Seattle University Law Review

Volume 48 Masthead

Understanding The Big Three’S Wavering Support Of Environmental And Social Shareholder Proposals, Jeff Schwartz, Jefferson Jensen

Seattle University Law Review

Because of their substantial equity portfolios, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street (the Big 3) are central players in corporate governance. It is, therefore, critical to understand how they vote. One puzzle is that their support for shareholder proposals on environmental and social matters appears to waiver. In 2020, for instance, BlackRock supported 11.1% of environmental proposals at S&P 500 firms. In 2021, it seemingly reversed course, supporting 55.2%. It then flipped again, supporting 32.1% in 2022. Such statistics suggest that the Big 3 are constantly changing their views on these topics. This Article seeks to better understand whether this is …

Volume 48 Masthead, Seattle University Law Review

Seattle University Law Review

Volume 48 Masthead

Investigating Pronunciation Teaching Practices And Teachers’ Beliefs About Pronunciation Instruction In Efl/Esl Classrooms, Barry Moussa

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review aims to explore existing research on pronunciation teaching practices and teachers’ beliefs about pronunciation instruction in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms. To achieve this, I will first delve into teacher cognition research, intending to find current reported and actual practices surrounding pronunciation teaching. The importance of pronunciation instruction has been widely discussed and acknowledged by scholars in applied linguistics and teacher education programs. Various studies have identified pronunciation instruction as a key component for fostering effective oral communication skills in second language acquisition, specifically enhancing intelligibility (i.e., accuracy …

The Role Of Financial Literacy Education In Shaping Students’ Future Financial Decisions, Arianna Shornock

Honors Program Theses

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the effectiveness of financial literacy programs and their influence on students' future decision-making. In this study, survey data were collected from a random sample of young adults aged 18-25 years, primarily located in the Midwest region of the United States. This study suggests that students who took a financial literacy class are less likely to perform better on financial literacy topics and are less likely to have higher perceived confidence when making financial decisions, which contrasts with the existing evidence in the literature over financial literacy programs. Possible explanations for this deviation …

Designing An Affordable Motion Capture System For Multi-Robot Research And Education, Hojune Kim , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

In this work, we propose a low-cost motion capture system for real-time tracking of multiple robots’ positions and orientations in indoor environments, specifically tailored for research and educational applications. Precise localization is essential for evaluating robotics algorithms such as decentralized multi-agent control, cooperative path planning, and collision avoidance. [1-3] However, commercial motion capture systems like Vicon and OptiTrack cost between $50,000 and $150,000, making them inaccessible for many smaller institutions, student clubs, and low-resource labs. To address this challenge, we developed an affordable alternative based on three ceiling-mounted 1080p USB cameras and AprilTags. Our system operates at 30 Hz and …

Progress Toward The Synthesis Of Pyridine-Containing Macrocycles Using Dynamic Alkyne And Olefin Metathesis, Stephen Kwas , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Tubular structures are ubiquitous in nature and possess functions ranging from the structural ones played by microtubules to transporting necessary ions across cell membranes by membrane proteins. In addition, the excellent electronic and structural properties of carbon nanotubes have made them of great interest to chemists. Yet, the functionalization of these nanotubes is hindered by unselective post-modification, often requiring harsh reaction conditions. As such, the assembly of macrocycles into nanotubular structures has been widely studied by chemists. One such way to make these materials is by using dynamic, reversible reactions to synthesize pyridine-containing macrocycles in high yields. Due to inherent …

Teaching Functional Skills To Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Intellectual Disability Using Behavior-Analytic Curricula, Catrina Barber

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Nationalism And Indian Community In Malaya During The Japanese Occupation, 1941-1945, Ji-Eun Lee

Asian Review

This study examines the transformation of the Indian community in Malaya during the Japanese occupation (1941–45), with a focus on the rise of nationalist consciousness and collective identity. Through the formation and activities of the Indian Independence League (IIL) and the Indian National Army (INA), the Indian community experienced significant organizational and ideological changes. Under Subhas Chandra Bose’s leadership, civilian participation and support for the INA increased dramatically, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. Comparative analysis highlights the differing wartime experiences of Malaya’s major ethnic groups: while Malays benefited from Japanese policies, the Chinese faced harsh repression, leading to …

The Library Of Andrew Rippin The Rise Of A QurʾĀnic Philologist, Majid Daneshgar

Asian Review

Andrew Rippin passed away in Victoria, Canada, on 29 November 2016. The current generation of scholars, many of whom began working on Qurʾānic studies within the last decade, have paid a lot of attention to Rippin’s scholarship.  His books and articles have been translated and reviewed in Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Persian, Turkish and Urdu languages, and are the subject of dissertations and articles throughout the Muslim world. As a contribution to Rippin’s legacy , this communication piece provides an account of the young Rippin and a library collection that he accumulated in the 1970s and 1980s before becoming one of …

A Reconfigurable Framework For Hybrid Quantum–Classical Computing, Pratibha Fnu, Naveed Mahmud

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Hybrid quantum–classical (HQC) computing refers to the approach of executing algorithms coherently on both quantum and classical resources. This approach makes the best use of current or near-term quantum computers by sharing the workload with classical high-performance computing. However, HQC algorithms often require a back-and-forth exchange of data between quantum and classical processors, causing system bottlenecks and leading to high latency in applications. The objective of this study is to investigate novel frameworks that unify quantum and reconfigurable resources for HQC and mitigate system bottleneck and latency issues. In this paper, we propose a reconfigurable framework for hybrid quantum–classical computing. …

Towards The Application Of Graphrag To Network Security, Marco Carvalho, Fitzroy Nembhard, Dhanish Mehta

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

The adoption of large language models (LLMs) has facilitated significant advancements in natural language processing. In a short space of time, LLMs have permeated a wide array of disciplines including healthcare, finance, education, etc. However, in their native form, LLMs retain information in their parameters, which sometimes causes the underlying models to produce inaccurate results or hallucinations. To that end, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) has been proposed to address some of the challenges of LLMs by referencing an external knowledge base while formulating a response to queries. Still, traditional RAG fails to handle the complex structure of relationships among different entities …

Collaboration Is Key: How Collaborative Learning Unlocks The Door To An Inclusive Legal Writing Classroom, Lisa M. White

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Judging Bankruptcy Without Distress, Jack Zarin-Rosenfeld

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

In Harrington v. Purdue Pharma, the United States Supreme Court rejected the bankruptcy plan of OxyContin producer Purdue Pharma, which purported to settle claims against both Purdue (the bankruptcy debtor) and Purdue’s individual owners and managers, all members of the Sackler family who had not themselves filed for bankruptcy (the Sackler Release). Concluding that the United States Bankruptcy Code does not authorize settlement of claims against non-debtors without claimant consent, the Harrington Court appeared set to stem the tide of “bankruptcy without distress,” a flourishing practice in which solvent non-debtors (like the Sacklers) would settle their liabilities within the …

The Use Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Water Quality Index Prediction In The Sai Gon River, Vietnam, Thuy Nguyen Thi Diem, Mai Nguyen Thi Huynh, Tra Tran Quang

Applied Environmental Research

Accurate prediction of the water quality index (WQI) lays the groundwork for integrated river basins and sustainable water resource management. Recent and accelerated advances in machine learning have led to various promising applications in water quality assessment. The present study leverages the predictive performance of several ML algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGB), the gradient boosting model (GBM), support vector regression (SVR), and the radial basic function (RBF), to predict the WQI at three monitoring sites on the Sai Gon River from 2015–2019. In comparison, the results indicate that the XGB model outperforms the other models when eight parameters, including …

Do Courts Get It Right When Piercing The Corporate Veil? An Empirical Study, Franklin A. Gevurtz

McGeorge School of Law Scholarly Articles

This Article presents the results of a unique empirical study addressing whether courts achieve rational outcomes when piercing the corporate veil. The study examined a set of over 300 court decisions upholding piercing claims in the last almost four years. It asked whether the courts in these cases could rationally have found either deception of the creditors or improper removal of corporate assets (siphoning)—two grounds generally agreed to justify imposing liability upon the shareholders. The result was an affirmative answer in around three-quarters of the cases. This result provides an important response to the argument that piercing decisions are irrational …

Evaluation Of The Maneuverability Of An 85m Fishing Trawler (Focusing On Dynamic Stability), Chun-Ki Lee, Su-Hyung Kim

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Most fishing vessels are less than 100 meters in length, so IMO maneuverability standards do not apply. As a result, studies on the maneuverability of fishing vessels are considerably fewer compared to those on merchant ships. However, with technological advancements, the size of fishing vessels continues to grow, and as more fishermen are on board, accidents could lead to fatal casualties. In response, the authors determined that research on the maneuverability of fishing vessels is urgently needed. Thus, the authors conducted a maneuverability evaluation on a fisheries training vessel with the hull shape of a fishing trawler, 85 meters in …

A Hybrid Image Filtering Approach For Improving Edge Detection Of Riverbed Particles With Complex Textures, Po-Wei Lin, Hsun-Chuan Chan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The distribution of particle size in gravel-bed rivers affects the flow condition, sediment transport, and river morphology. However, conventional particle size analysis is laborious and time-consuming. To enhance the efficiency of particle size analysis, image-based methods have been widely explored, but complex particle textures increase the difficulty in identifying particle edges during image analysis. This study develops a filtering approach based on the rolling guidance filter and leverages the differences in grayscale gradients between particle edges and textures to design a guidance image tailored for the rolling guidance filter. This design enables the filter to preserve particle edges while smoothing …

The Effect Of Bait Types On Catch Performance In The Vietnamese Swimming Crab Trap Fishery, Nghiep K. Vu, Khanh Q. Nguyen, Luong T. Nguyen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Trapping is a primary fishing method to capture swimming crab species along the coast of Vietnam, because it has low ecological and environmental impacts. In trap fisheries, bait plays a primary role in determining the effectiveness of the gear and is one of the largest operational costs. Fishermen determine bait types based on their experience and what they can find, where trash fish caught by trawl fisheries is preferred and commonly used. However, the catch rates of swimming crab traps are typically low and highly variable and thus, there is considerable interest to improve the catchability. This study examined the …

Comparison Of Canopy Materials To Improve The Performance Of Sea Anchors Used For Fishing Operations, Namgu Kim, Su-Hyung Kim, Yoo-Won Lee, Kyung-Jin Ryu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Sea anchors used for fishing operations help improve catch rates by stabilizing vessel drift speeds to match tidal or ocean currents. The underwater resistance experienced by a sea anchor's canopy significantly impacts its performance, yet there has been limited research on canopy materials. This study investigates how different canopy materials can enhance sea anchor performance. Specifically, we tested sea anchors made from three fabrics: the currently used polyamide (PA) material, PA material with increased yarn density in the weft direction, and polyester (PES). Using Korean national standards, we compared the yarn density, weight, water absorption capacity, drying rate, air permeability, …

Comprehensive Measurements And Analyses Of Ear Canal Geometry From Late Infancy Through Late Adulthood: Age-Related Variations And Implications For Basic Science And Audiological Measurements, Susan E. Voss, Aaron K. Remenschneider, Rebecca M. Farrar, Soomin Myoung, Nicholas J. Horton

Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of ear canal geometry from 0.7 to 91 years, based on high-resolution computed tomography scans of 221 ears. Quantified features include cross-sectional areas along the canal’s length, total canal length, curvature, and key anatomical landmarks such as the first and second bends and the cartilage-to-bone transition. Significant developmental changes occur during the first 10 years of life, with adult-like characteristics emerging between ages 10 and 15 years, likely coinciding with puberty. Substantial interindividual variability is observed across all ages, particularly in the canal area. The canal becomes fully cartilaginous at and lateral to the …

Kreisky, Israel, And Jewish Identity., Matthew P. Berg

2025 Faculty Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Legal, Professional, And Ethical Issues In Identifying Bias In Artificial Intelligence-Based Personnel Selection, Dennis Doverspike, Arthur Winfred, Rosanna Miguel

2025 Faculty Bibliography

Although still in its infancy, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in personnel selection has sparked concerns regarding potential implications for bias, fairness, discrimination, and unethical decision-making. This article delves into the complex issue of AI-based personnel selection as it pertains to the preceding concerns, exploring key definitions, bias-assessment methodologies, legal frameworks, professional and government considerations, and ethical dilemmas unique to AI-based selection. The critical role of consulting and industrial-organizational psychologists in ensuring fairness, validity, and nondiscrimination in the selection process is emphasized. The need for transparency, informed consent, and a holistic consideration of diversity/validity in the design of AI-based …

Effect Of Creatine Monohydrate On Spatialworking Memory, Body Weight, And Food Intake In Male And Female Rats, Cyrilla H. Wideman, Alexandria Iemma, Olivia Janolo, Anastasiya Kalinina, Helen M. Murphy

2025 Faculty Bibliography

Background/Objectives: Creatine monohydrate supplementation has gained popularity in the fitness industry due to its ability to enhance athletic performance and has sparked curiosity about other possible effects of the supplement. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of creatine supplementation on spatial working memory, body weight, and food intake in male and female rats.

Methods: Experimental rats, six male and six female, were administered creatine while six male and six female rats served as controls. The Morris water maze (MWM) was employed to assess spatial working memory. Body weight and food intake were measured daily.

Results: Neither …

A Lament For The Perishing Barbarians Of Edith Wharton’S Summer, Anna Marsh

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis considers Edith Wharton’s Summer through a Darwinian perspective. Wharton studied Darwin’s works extensively, so applying The Descent of Man to Summer’s communities has merit. Specifically, I consider Darwin’s writings on evolution as evolution may be altered by feelings of sympathy. In Summer, it is sympathy, loyalty, and ultimate benevolence for one’s people that furthers community evolution as a whole. This relationship between sympathy and community evolution seems to be one Wharton focuses on in Summer. The urban communities of Wharton’s novel pretended to be the most civil and therefore the most evolved, but it is their Mountain neighbors …

Reimagining Coach Evaluations: High School Athletic Directors' Perspectives On Program Evaluation Practices, Ashley Gerome

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

High school athletic programs increasingly face the challenge of ensuring coaches not only are technically proficient but also how well the coaches support their student-athletes’ personal growth, well-being, and development. As traditional, performance-focused evaluation models fall short in addressing these broader goals, there is a growing need for more effective, holistic approaches to coaching evaluation. This study explores how athletic leadership is evolving to meet that need, focusing on the shift from results-driven metrics to athlete-centered, developmental evaluation practices. Though interviews with seven athletic directors to understand how coaching experience, professional identity, and evaluation methods affect leadership and program growth. …

A Design For Teaching Strength And Conditioning In High School Physical Education: Curriculum Development, Kamren Mullican

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

This project was developed out of an interest in providing an example of a flexible, evidence-based curriculum for teaching strength and conditioning in high school physical education. Rather than viewing the weight room as simply a place for exercise, the curriculum presented here positions strength and conditioning as a structured, safe, and standards-aligned instructional component of physical education. It is designed to be organized and adaptable across a variety of high school physical education settings.

Swing Into Strength: A Golfers' Guide To Bodyweight Exercise, William Welker

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

The purpose of this guide is to improve your overall fitness which can potentially lead to better sport performance. Golf is a sport that is continuing to grow in popularity. More people are playing the sport than ever, and people are looking for different ways to get an edge against their opponents. Not everyone has the time to go to the course and spend hours at the driving range or short game area, so it is worthwhile to learn other ways you can get results. If you are not regularly engaging in exercise, then following this guide will serve as …

Atomic Physics For Everyone: An Introduction To Atomic Physics, Quantum Mechanics, And Precision Spectroscopy With No College-Level Prerequisites, Will Raven

Open Educational Resources: Textbooks

This open access textbook introduces beginning undergraduate students and high school students to the world of quantum mechanics and atomic spectroscopy. Requiring no previous knowledge of physics and no math beyond basic algebra and sines and cosines, this book focuses on concepts to make the excitement of atomic physics more accessible for learners than ever before. It comes replete with learning goals, exercises and solutions, and an optional experimental component, making this text readily adoptable for both the classroom and the undergraduate lab. The book takes the reader on a lively and engaging tour through topics at the forefront of …