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Into The Thick Of It: Using Antitrust Law To Trim Patent Thickets And Lower The Price Of Prescription Drugs, Nachtrieb, William

Santa Clara Law Review

What would you do if the only drug that could potentially save your lifeispricedsohighthatyouwouldfacefinancialruintopayforit? For many Americans, this dilemma is not a hypothetical but a reality. Those who decide to follow doctor’s orders and pay for their prescriptions sometimes face crushing financial burden. It is not a secret that the price of pharmaceutical drugs in the United States is crippling for many patients. Indeed, the high price of prescriptions is one of the few issues that has garnered bi-partisan concern, with both Joseph Biden and Donald Trump vowing to fight to lower costs. This Note identifies the practice of “patent …

Program And Proceedings: Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2025, 145th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Fifth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program

Aeronautics and Space Science

Biological and Medical Sciences

Biology

Chemistry

Earth Sciences

Science Education

Anthropology

Applied Science and Technology

Physics and Engineering

Forensic Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Maiben Lecture: Mary Ann Vinton, "State of the Academy"

Friends of Science Awards: David Crouse and Daniel Sitzman

Introduction To The Kritike Special Issue On Philosophy Of The City, Remmon E. Barbaza

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Aquinas And Arendt On Friendship And The Life We Live With Others, Joseph A. Guillermo

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

This paper explores how Thomas Aquinas and Hannah Arendt, emerging from radically different metaphysical and historical contexts, each engage Aristotle’s concept of friendship to respond to the crises of political life in their respective eras. Aquinas, working within a medieval theological framework, elevates Aristotle’s virtue-friendship (philia) into a teleological union grounded in caritas, where human beings, through grace, may even be called friends of God. Both thinkers resist the reduction of human relations to utility or private preference. Aquinas affirms that political life, properly understood, participates in a divine order where friendship sustains community through mutual moral striving. Arendt, by …

Religious ‘Mature Care’ As An Ethical Framework For Pastoral Caregiving: Justification, Adaptation, And Mental Health Benefits, Carl Jayson D. Hernandez

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

Pastoral caregivers often carry the task of caring for their community’s holistic wellbeing, especially the spiritual dimension. However, religious doctrines and practices often highlight the altruistic understanding of care. An overemphasis on this perspective can lead to a form of solaltrism—the opposite of solipsism. Given this risk, this paper explores and proposes the paradigmatic shift toward mature care as a viable ethical framework for pastoral caregiving. Mature care is an ethical framework that considers the interests of all involved and affected parties in the decisionmaking process. When applying such an ethical framework, I postulate possible consequent mental health benefits, especially …

Placing The Good Life: Towards A Phenomenology Of Place, Chloe Nicole D. Piamonte

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

This paper stresses the place of a phenomenology of place in philosophical discussions on the constituents of what various philosophers designate as the good life. A phenomenological approach to place aids in addressing the taken-for-grantedness of our lifeworld and its implications—including but not limited to—questions on embodiment, freedom, and intersubjectivity. Phenomenology reveals the layers of meaning behind the varying dimensions of human experience that constitute our lived emplacement. In turn, a phenomenology of place examines the onset of a conscious and subjective interpretation of places, as well as the things and concepts surrounding them. Making sense of the importance of …

Context Matters: Practices And Experiences Of Instructional Leaders In Non-Academic Settings, M. A. Aribon, Lianne Grace O. Gomez, Roy Allan B. Tolentino

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

Leadership skills can be refined and cultured through various experiences. However, it is further required that good mindset, right attitude, and openness to new learnings are factors to a successful leadership development. The purpose of this study is to determine contrasting and similar practices and experiences between the two teaching and learning contexts in non-academic settings. In this study, two (2) instructional leaders were interviewed using convenience-purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that contexts determine the functions of leadership, clients determine the approaches to be implemented, mentorship is valuable during the leadership formation process, …

Burnout In Youth Sports: A Guide For Parents To Navigate Youth, Sean Rafferty Ii

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Youth sports have become a territory where the pressure to be the best is more important than enjoying the game and playing for fun. The commercialization of all youth sports has pushed many parents to make their children specialize in one sport at an early age, by putting them in multiple leagues for a single sport and signing up for private lessons. Parents do this because they are told to do so by travel team officials and if they do not, they are judged. This mindset has created unrealistic expectations, convincing parents that their child is going to be an …

Attendance Of College Recreation Centers: An Analysis Of College Recreation Centers Attendance Benefit To College Age Students, Evan Strahan

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the numerous factors and barriers that would cause an individual to use or not to use their campus recreation center. The results will provide management plans for the service provider based on the secondary data analysis. College recreation facilities are at the center of universities. They are a place where all students are welcome and can use during their free time. There are several reasons a person would go to a recreation center. There is something that everyone can do, which is why it is so important that recreation centers are used …

Three Essays On Homophily, Heterophily, And Network Inequality In Organizations And Markets, Yiftach Yarmar

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Homophily, the tendency to form relationships with similar others, is a defining feature of social networks that shapes access to resources and market outcomes. While homophily fosters trust and coordination, it also risks reinforcing existing inequalities by concentrating opportunities within dominant groups. This dissertation examines the dual role of homophily and heterophily in professional transactions, focusing on how these dynamics affect underrepresented groups in client-facing industries.

Through three empirical studies, the dissertation investigates homophily in organizational restructuring, client-agent selection in service industries, and real estate transactions. Across these settings, homophily does not yield uniform advantages or disadvantages. Rather, its effects …

The Jingle Jangle Fallacy Of Organizational Identification: An Exploration Of Its Meaning And Measurement Through Cluster And Meta-Analytic Methods, Leah Aiken Rossett

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the conceptual and operational definitions of organizational identification (OID) across primary studies included in meta-analyses, with a focus on identifying the prevalence and impact of jingle and jangle fallacies. Using a systematic literature review, definitions were analyzed and coded. Cluster analysis revealed significant inconsistencies between how OID is defined and measured, exposing widespread jingle fallacies—where distinct constructs are labeled the same—and jangle fallacies—where similar constructs are labeled differently. Meta-analytic techniques further demonstrated that conceptual and operational clusters labeled as “OID” vary in their relationships with three key outcomes of interest: specifically, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover …

Total Governance, Sergio Alberto Gramitto Ricci, Daniel J.H. Greenwood

Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship

Everyone has values which conflict with the sheer maximization of profit. When those conflicts occur, virtually no one will consistently choose profit over conflicting values, especially when the potential profit is small or conflicts with other economic values, promoting the common good or preserving a functioning ecosphere. This Article explores a multi-stakeholder approach that will increase the quantum of humanity in the governance of American large public companies in the era of social media and online communication. We dub this crowd-based strategy of steering public corporations “total governance.” Total governance recognizes that individuals can engage with public corporations from multiple …

Predicting Lung Cancer Severity Using Machine Learning Algorithms: Enhanced By Statistical Analysis, Esin Bilgin

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Cancer is a serious and severe cause seen in every region of the world and severely affects the quality of life and life span. Among the various types of cancer, lung cancer is one of the most critical, having a fatal impact on life. While medical imaging techniques, laboratory results, and biomarkers play a significant role in diagnosis and prognosis, clinical studies are also crucial in monitoring the progression of cancer and identifying diagnostic and prognostic factors. The findings demonstrate satisfactory accuracy, and the analysis incorporates statistical data with machine learning techniques. These findings play a pivotal role in supporting …

Neuroimmune Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Modulates C. Elegans Feeding Behavior In A Hunger State-Dependent Manner, Retwika Ganguly

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Animals face the risk of encountering pathogenic microbes while searching for nutritive resources. Assessing the interplay between the benefits of nutrition vs. the risk of infection might influence the behavioral regulation of immune processes. In Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a nematode roundworm, behavioral immunity is partially regulated by the innate immune molecule TOL-1: a homolog of vertebrate Toll-like Receptor (TLR) proteins. TOL-1 influences C. elegans pathogen avoidance behaviors by promoting the development of CO2-detecting chemosensory neurons, which detect a signal linked to the presence of harmful pathogens. While TOL-1′s role in pathogen avoidance is well established, its impact in an …

Quantitative Preventive Approaches To Diabetes: Mathematical Modeling And Analysis, Rushi P. Bhatt

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The rising prevalence of diabetes presents a pressing global health concern, necessitating effective control strategies. This study aims to construct a mathematical model to analyze the influence of diverse factors on blood sugar levels, with a focus on identifying optimal methods for maintaining healthy glucose levels. Employing ordinary differential equations (ODE), the model investigates variables including leptin resistance, fat mass, glucose, insulin resistance, beta cell mass, daily physical activity, and dietary intake. Utilizing parameter estimates from existing literature, the model’s framework is established, and simulation results elucidate the intricate interplay between lifestyle choices and blood glucose dynamics. Furthermore, the model …

Reciprocal Learning In The Mentor-Novice Teacher Relationship In Middle School, Catherine R. Gaynor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation examined the mentor-novice teacher relationship in the post-2020 middle school setting in New Jersey to better understand the reciprocal learning that occurs between the mentor and novice teacher. The study addressed the relationship with a focus on learning for both the mentor and the novice teacher through the lens of mentoring. This study employed a qualitative research methodology of intrinsic single-case study and narrative inquiry. The data sources included individual and pair interviews and recorded conversations between the pair as well as instructional and curricular resources as artifacts generated by the pair. To answer the research questions, the …

Examining Strategies For The Recruitment And Retention Of Students Of Color In Health Service Psychology Doctoral Programs, Melissa Sital

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Students of color are significantly underrepresented in the field of health service psychology, including at the doctoral level. Doctoral programs in health service psychology utilize various strategies to foster the recruitment and retention of students of color, though limited research has investigated which strategies are used most frequently. As part of the present study, 18 APA-accredited doctoral programs in health service psychology submitted narrative sections from their APA accreditation self-study report describing their efforts to recruit and retain students of color and evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts, as well as the racial/ethnic breakdown of their students. Qualitative analysis of …

Learning To Teach For Inclusion: A Professional Learning Community Of Elementary And Middle School Educators Collaborate For Inclusion, Laurie Summer

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative research study examines how eighteen elementary and middle school educators within a feminist professional learning community, grounded in a book study, developed inclusive understandings, practices, and actions. My first research question was: How do elementary and middle school educators, working within a feminist PLC, make sense of and enact inclusive teaching practices?, and the sub question was: How did using a shared text act as a catalyst for exploring inclusive practices? My second research question was: How do I enact feminist pedagogy in my facilitation of a professional learning community for inclusive teaching? I constructed and collected data …

Seeking Refuge In The U.S.: Liberian Women's Testimonio Of War, Trauma, And Acculturation, Sailume Walo-Roberts

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Refugees often experience significant traumas due to the circumstances of their forced migration and displacement, including experiencing or witnessing violence, loss of loved ones, and the destruction of their homes and properties (Badri et al., 2012; Caswell al., 2011; Hollifield et al., 2002; 2006; 2009). This can lead to mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety (Fazel et al., 2005; Mollica et al., 2004; Patane et al., 2022; Woodward & Gavin, 2012). Yet, mental health support remains overlooked by UNHCR and host countries (Mathema & Carratala, 2020). The Liberian Civil War (1989-2003) killed around 250,000 people, displacing over a …

Exploring Coupled Land Use -- Climate Change Impacts In The Northeast United States From 2020-2025 With Implications For Bombus Habitat Suitability, Archana Prasad

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The combined impacts of land use and climate change pose significant challenges to bumblebee populations in the Northeast United States (NEUS), a region characterized by dense urbanization, diverse landscapes, and exposure to climate extremes. As urban and suburban areas expand, the loss of agricultural lands and open spaces alters habitat availability for bumblebees, which rely on grasslands, meadows, and forest edges for nesting and foraging. Simultaneously, the NEUS is experiencing an increase in extreme climate events, including prolonged heatwaves, heavy precipitation, and shifts in temperature patterns. Using CMIP6 climate model projections, we analyzed trends in nine climate indices. Our results …

Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Manual [2025], Kristine Nemec, Josh Brandt, Kirk Henderson, Jim Uthe

Faculty Book Gallery

The objective of this publication is to provide basic technical support for new and existing Iowa county roadside programs. This manual is also intended to provide guidance to policymakers and engineers interested in adopting or expanding integrated roadside vegetation management in county rights-of-way.

The Solicitor General, Consistency, And Credibility, Margaret H. Lemos, Deborah A. Widiss

Articles by Maurer Faculty

This Article offers the first comprehensive look at cases in which the Solicitor General (SG) rejects a legal argument offered on behalf of the United States in prior litigation. Such reversals have received considerable attention in recent years, as shifts in presidential administrations have produced multiple high-profile “flip-flops”—as the Justices sometimes call them—by the SG. Even those observers who defend the SG, including veterans of the office, caution that inconsistency in legal argument poses a threat to the SG’s credibility with the Court. Our goal is to better understand the circumstances that lead the SG to change its position on …

Menstruation, Menopause, And The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Marcy L. Karin, Deborah Widiss

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Some workplaces are extraordinarily inhospitable to menstruators, especially those in low-wage jobs. Workers have been denied restroom breaks and then harassed or fired after menstrual blood leaked onto their clothes or their employer’s property. Employers routinely refuse to provide accommodations for menopause symptoms or time off for menstruation-related medical care. The failure to support menstruators is a significant barrier to ensuring workplace equality. This Article explains how federal laws, including the landmark Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), can—and should—be interpreted to help address these inequities. PWFA requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” for “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” Menstruation …

Climate Change And Corporate Law In The United States: Not "Woke" But Eyes Open., Cynthia A. Williams

Articles by Maurer Faculty

This Essay discusses the evidence that climate change and nature loss create financially material risks for corporations that must be carefully considered by officers and directors pursuant to their fiduciary duties of loyalty and care. This analysis concludes that under the current state of fiduciary duty law and the known financial risks presented by climate change and nature loss, officers and directors of corporations may breach their fiduciary duties by failing to implement and monitor a robust system to identify and manage each type of industry-specific climate-related and nature related risk. Risk of breach is particularly acute for entity-specific compliance …

Brain Tumor Classification Using Deep Learning: Custom Cnn Vs. Resnet50, Rayen Bentemessek

ICT

The project presents a deep learning solution to classify brain tumors through MRI images. Following the CRISP-DM framework, two Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models were developed and evaluated, a custom CNN designed from scratch and a pretrained ResNet50 that was transfer learned and fine-tuned. Both models were assessed using standard performance metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score. Despite the higher test accuracy achieved by the custom CNN, further interpretability indicated inconsistent attention to the actual tumor regions also known as shortcut learning. On the other hand, ResNet50 showed more reliable and clinically relevant focus which supported its selection …

Fake News Detection Using Machine Learning Models., Anne Higgins

ICT

This project investigates the use of machine learning to detect fake news, addressing the societal and political challenges posed by the widespread dissemination of false and misleading information. Using automated classification techniques, the project analyses news content to predict the likelihood of intentional deception. The methodology follows the CRISP-DM framework, encompassing data preparation, model development, and evaluation. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to support organisations, governments, and digital platforms in mitigating misinformation, while also considering ethical, interpretability, and strategic implications. The findings provide actionable insights for enhancing content moderation and reducing the influence of disinformation in digital media …

Comparative Evaluation Of Ai-Generated Synthetic Data And Real-World Data Performance In Predictive Analytics., Corey Louise Hughes

ICT

There are growing restraints when it comes to Real World Data (RWD), these include topics such as privacy regulations, ethical concerns, and the cost of collecting the data, and they have drove an interest in AI-generated synthetic data as a potential alternative in predictive analytics. This project examines the possibilities of synthetic data and if it can act as a reliable substitute for RWD in predictive modelling. This project uses Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) to generate synthetic reproductive health data and evaluates its predictive performance against RWD using linear regression and key metrics, including Mean Absolute …

Identifying Skills Gaps And Labour Market Trends Using Machine Learning: A Data Analysis Of Tendencies Within The Irish Online Job Market., Stephen Ray

ICT

The Irish labour market is a dynamic system characterised by overlapping and distinct demands. The skills required to maintain competitiveness within today's labour market are constantly evolving in response to the needs of corporations, non-governmental organisations, and capital. Labour market participants, fulfilling specific roles, contribute to a skill-based relationship where supply and demand operates in new and innovative ways. With the advent of the internet, the labour market has shifted towards a digital environment, leading to the rise of online job advertisement platforms that cater to geographically defined regions. These platforms attract vast numbers of users and prospective employees daily …

Tour Demand Forecasting In Ireland: Development And Evaluation Of Classical, Deep Learning, And Hybrid Models, Ruben Elias Charleston Montfort

ICT

Tourism plays a significant role in global economies by supporting employment, infrastructure, and national development. As international travel continues to grow, accurate tourism demand forecasting has become increasingly important for effective planning and decision-making. In Ireland, tourism is a key economic sector attracting millions of visitors annually. For tour operators such as Irish Day Tours, reliable demand forecasting is essential for optimizing logistics, resource allocation, marketing strategies, and customer satisfaction. Advances in machine learning and deep learning techniques offer new opportunities to improve forecasting accuracy and support data-driven decision-making within the tourism industry.

Daily Anxiety And Dual Use Of Cigarettes And Vaping Products: Disparities By Sex, Race, And Ethnicity In U.S. Adults, Maggie K. Richardson, Delvon T. Mattingly, Osayande Agbonlahor, Alison C. Mcleish, Joy L. Hart, Kandi L. Walker

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective:

Despite a decline in cigarette use, the dual use of cigarettes and electronic vaping products (EVPs) is a concerning pattern of nicotine consumption in the United States. Anxiety, a risk factor for tobacco use, may contribute to dual-use patterns; however, the association between daily anxiety symptoms and dual use of cigarettes and EVPs is not known. This study investigated associations between daily anxiety symptoms and dual cigarette and EVP use overall and by sex, race, and ethnicity.

Method:

Data are from the 2020–2022 National Health Interview Survey (n = 83,544). Multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, …