Digital Commons Network^™

Spn 316, Introduction To Hispanic Linguistics, Bernardita Chaigneau Castro

Open Educational Resources

The present syllabus includes the structure for an Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics class. The topics range from basic concepts in linguistics to the specific study of Spanish in the United States. The syllabus also includes different Open Access Resources in Spanish, as the class was thought to be taught mainly in Spanish.

Private Standards As Liability Shields: A Pro-Innovation Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Approach For States, Gary E. Marchant, Jordan Buckwald

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

States face a dilemma. The federal government is not regulating artificial intelligence (AI), and is threatening states that regulate the technology with preemption and funding restrictions. Moreover, piecemeal state regulation with different substantive requirements risks impeding AI innovation and harming our national interest and security. And yet, AI creates a whole host of problems relating to accuracy, safety, security, bias, transparency, privacy, and autonomy that needs to be governed. This Article presents a solution to this dilemma that can protect against AI risks without harming innovation and the national interest. The proposal is for states to provide a liability shield …

The Right To Share: Affording Americans Meaningful Control Over Their Data, Kevin Frazier

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

Americans today face unprecedented opportunities to leverage their personal data for health, education, and economic benefit; yet state and federal privacy laws increasingly restrict their ability to do so. This Article argues that the prevailing regulatory paradigm—rooted in paternalism, behavioral assumptions, and a deep distrust of both firms and individuals— has produced a system that paradoxically denies people meaningful control over their own information. As artificial intelligence tools grow more capable, the inability of individuals to share data freely threatens to entrench inequities, concentrate access to high-quality AI systems among the wealthy, and accelerate the formation of an “AI abyss” …

Sentinels Of Security -- A Case For State Leadership In The Quantum Era, J.T. Ayotte

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

You'll Loan Nothing And Be Happy, Becky Chambers

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

Digital lending of eBooks offers flexibility to patrons, but it also exacerbates the existential threats libraries face. Libraries cannot own eBooks—they can only license and lend them on publishers’ terms—which means libraries are paying more for less. This is known as the “digital lending problem.” Access to older books is even more limited, as publishers and copyright holders rarely offer them as eBooks, creating the “20th century book problem.” These problems are chilling libraries’ creative approaches to digital lending and are further exacerbated by the Trump Administration’s attacks on libraries and the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These developments …

Trends In Pharmaceutical Patent Settlements Since Actavis And Private Plaintiffs' Causation Requirement, Kelly Lear Nordby

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

In January 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that a new form of “possible compensation” from brand drug manufacturers to generic (or biosimilar) manufacturers, specifically “quantity restrictions,” has become “increasingly prevalent” in pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements filed with FTC under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. As the FTC noted, “quantity restrictions” may reduce the settling firm’s incentives to compete, resulting in supracompetitive prices for the brand and generic drug. This article summarizes trends in pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements and reverse-payment antitrust litigation since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in FTC v. Actavis. Focusing …

Say Yes To Drugs: Rescheduling Ibogaine From Schedule I, Autumn Zierman

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Shedding Light On Cellular Glycolysis Pathway Kinetics: Combining Kinetic, Mechanistic Modelling Approaches With Label Free Microspectroscopic Imaging. (Spectralomics), Nitin Patil

Doctoral

Cellular metabolism and its intricate biochemical mechanisms which allow the conversion of nutrients into energy to sustain life are well understood, leading to numerous breakthroughs in science and technology, human health and wellbeing. From an industrial perspective the pathway kinetics are significant for monitoring cellular bioprocesses, screening desired metabolite phenotypes in drug discovery processes, etc.

An initial review of glycolysis pathway kinetics highlighted the lack of sophisticated approaches to monitor the metabolic pathway kinetics as a function of time in a non-destructive, non-invasive, label-free manner. Fluxomics, a metabolomics based approach providing high-throughput insights, can be considered a gold standard approach, …

Transitioning To Life After Sport: Empowering Former College Varsity Athletes To Live More Healthfully, Linda Piacentine, Taylor L. Wolf, Jacob J. Capin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: 

The transition out of competitive sport comes with a range of psychosocial challenges for athletes, particularly when retirement is involuntary (e.g., due to injury). Little is known about the health of former athletes who often manage prior injuries and changing biopsychosocial factors.

Purpose: 

Identify the unique experiences of varsity athletes during college and as they transition to life after college sports and determine the facilitators, barriers, and needs of college varsity athletes to engage in a physically active and healthy lifestyle after competitive sport retirement.

Methods: 

Thirty former college varsity athletes (15F, 15M; mean age 23 ± 1 yrs; …

Quantifying Hemodynamics In Implantable Cardiac And Renal Support Devices Using Computational Modeling, Alexander D. De Oliveira

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Occupational Exposure To Pesticides Increases The Risk Of Amyotrophyc Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, France Labrèche, Pamela Prudhomme, Maryse Gagnon, Nicolas Dupré, Sabrina Gravel

Études primaires

Objective To systematically review the evidence on the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods A systematic search, conducted in eight bibliographic databases for publications between 1990 and 2025, identified observational studies estimating the risk of ALS after occupational pesticide exposure. Study quality was assessed using the WHO Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment instrument for systematic reviews, with the ROBINS-E (RoB in non-randomised studies of exposure) tool domains of bias. Pooled risk estimates were produced using random-effects models with restricted maximum likelihood, heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics, and meta-regressions and publication …

Childlessness And Health In Middle Age And Older Adulthood: Evidence From Singapore, Christine Ho, Dahye Kim, Rohan Ray, Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan

Research Collection School Of Economics

Health and well-being in mature adulthood are important concerns given the prevalence of individuals aging without children. We exploit two new instruments for childlessness— infertility and the number of childless siblings—and condition our analyses on a rich set of covariates including childhood health and financial status, to investigate the causal relationship between childlessness and health in middle age and older adulthood. Using a nationwide dataset of 1,500 Singaporeans aged 50 and above, we show that OLS underestimates the negativeeffects of childlessness on health. We find that childlessness leads to higher likelihood of poorer self-reported health and mental distress. The results …

Parental Beliefs And Behaviors Surrounding Childhood Vaccination, Kamara Braylock, Caitlin Davis, Avery Huff, Alex Springer

MSN Research Projects

Parental hesitancy toward childhood vaccinations continues to present challenges for healthcare providers, public health agencies, and communities striving to protect children from preventable diseases. This project explored the factors that influence parents' decisions about vaccinating their children, using Rosenstock's Health Belief Model (HBM) as the guiding theoretical framework. A review of the literature indicated that vaccine hesitancy rarely stems from a single cause; rather, it reflects a combination of concerns, including fear of side effects, mistrust in the healthcare system, inconsistent information, cultural influences, and varying levels of confidence in medical recommendations. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used to …

Perspectives On Friendship And Social Participation Following Aphasia, Amanda Prinzi

SURF Posters 2026

Aphasia can affect friendships, social participation, and overall quality of life. This qualitative study explored how people with aphasia perceive changes in their friendships and social participation following aphasia onset and how speech-language pathology services can address those changes. Participants completed semi-structured interviews and a Convoy Model of Social Relations. Interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and thematic analysis. Preliminary findings highlight changes in relationship closeness, reduced social contact, communication challenges, and the importance of supportive relationships and connections with others with aphasia. Findings emphasize the need to consider friendship and social participation as important components of person-centered aphasia …

Microsolvation Effects Of 1,1-Dimethyl-Biguanide (Metformin), Jasmine L. Sanders

Honors Theses

The microsolvation of a 1,1-dimethyl-biguanide hydrochloride molecule in the presence of water molecules illustrates the initial interactions between the common drug metformin and water. This explicit water-solvation approach employs coupled-cluster theory with an explicit-correlation F12 correction and the cc-pVTZ-F12 basis set to determine the optimalgeometry of the molecule and to observe intermolecular interaction energies. 1,1-dimethyl-biguanide hydrochloride (an antidiabetic agent, metformin) is constantly in contact with water molecules in the human body, where it reduces intestinal glucose absorption, lowers hepatic glucose sensitivity, and improves overall insulin sensitivity to lower blood-glucose concentration. The B3LYP method with an aug-cc-pVTZ basis set is used …

Lgbtq People's Experiences With Crime, Victimization, And The Criminal Legal System, Vanessa R. Panfil

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The ebb and flow of social control efforts aimed at LGBTQ people necessitate a thorough investigation into their experiences. This review of the literature is organized around four key themes that characterize LGBTQ people's experiences with crime, criminalization, victimization, and the criminal legal system—including police, courts, and carceral facilities. LGBTQ people experience excessive rates of arrest and incarceration and have higher rates of victimization, which illustrate disproportionality. Their experiences differ from those of their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts and are conditioned by age, race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, illustrating intersectionality. The two primary, interrelated mechanisms driving LGBTQ criminalization and …

Revisiting The Rural Folk Devil: Rural 'Othering' And The Connections Between Media Stereotypes And Rural Issues, Brooke Baker, Ida L. Oesteraas, Stephen T. Young, Elizabeth Monk-Turner

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The current study is a discourse analysis investigating anti-idyllic cinematic representations, specifically in the horror genre, of rural people, places, and cultures. Findings reveal that anti-idyllic images and discourses are prominent within recently released horror films, which rely heavily on framing rural people as the deviant “other.” Special attention is given to the cultural work of these stereotypical depictions and the associated social harms for rural communities. Specifically, we argue that (1) corporations, particularly film companies, contribute to social harm in rural areas by disseminating negative and anti-idyllic representations; (2) these portrayals have tangible and detrimental effects on both people …

[Review Of The Book The Prescription-To-Prison Pipeline: The Medicalization And Criminalization Of Pain, By M. Smirnova], Hayley Jackey

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Smirnova’s The Prescription-to-Prison Pipeline offers a critical examination of the impacts of prescription drugs as well as the over-policing and policies created to push individuals into the carceral system rather than providing other options for assistance. Smirnova further captures the social inequalities of race and class of those encased in this pipeline. Within this understanding of the detriment that the system, medical providers, and society place on those who use substances, Smirnova’s use of interviews allows for a clear understanding of how these systems work in conjunction to uphold the pipeline.

Effects Of Differential Stress And Mental Health On Substance Use Among College Students, Avdi S. Avdija, Arif Akgul

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Substance use among college students is often seen as a coping mechanism for some students who are prone to extreme stress, depression, or anxiety. Multiple forms of stress become the leading factors that push students toward substance use. This study tests the effects of college stressors, depression, and anxiety on substance use among college students. The results are based on the data that were collected using a 101-item questionnaire administered to 302 college students at a public university in the Midwest U.S.A. Using Logistic Regression as the primary data analysis technique, the findings of this study show that social stressors …

Reduction Of Cr(Vi) With Infrared Light And Chemical Adsorption Of Cr(Iii) By A God-Crown/Bentonite Composite For Electroplating Waste Remediation, Andre Taufik Kurniawan, Muhammad Djoni Bustan, Sri Haryati

Applied Environmental Research

Heavy metal pollution, particularly chromium (Cr) from electroplating industrial waste, has severely threatened environmental quality and human health. This study aims to develop a composite adsorbent material based on bentonite and god crown biomass capable of removing chromium ions from liquid waste through a combination of reduction and adsorption mechanisms. The god crown/bentonite (GC/Bt) composite was synthesized at a mass ratio of 2:1 and calcined at 900°C. FTIR characterization revealed active functional groups (–OH, C=O, Si–O, and Al–O–Si), whereas BET analysis revealed a mesoporous structure (surface area 31.12 m2 g-1, pore diameter 4.37 nm) suitable for ion diffusion. The reduction …

Heavy Metals And Organic Carbon In Sediments Of Seagrass Sediments Of Trang Province, Thailand, Siriporn Pradit, Pornthep Wirachwong, Thongchai Nitiratsuwan, Sujaree Bureekul, Supraewpan Lohalaksanadech, Thawanrat Kobkeatthawin, Monticha Jirajaras, Prakrit Noppradit, Sanya Sirivithayapakorn

Applied Environmental Research

In this study, the accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb) in water, suspended sediments, sediments, and seagrass in Kalase Bay, Trang Province, Thailand, during the 2024 dry season was investigated. These findings indicate that the enrichment factor (EF) for all the metals was less than 1, suggesting that anthropogenic contamination is not a significant concern in the area. The translocation factor (TF) values were less than 1 for all the metals except Cu, whose TF was greater than 1; however, these values were not statistically significant, indicating limited phytoextraction capacity. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) values for …

Spatial Modeling Of Natural Disaster Risk By Integrating Hazard, Vulnerability, And Exposure Factors Using Geospatial Techniques : Evidence From Mueang Tak District, Thailand, Suphatphong Ruthamnong

Applied Environmental Research

This study presents a comprehensive multihazard risk assessment for Mueang Tak District, Thailand, that integrates hazard, vulnerability, and exposure (H-V-E) dimensions. By utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to prioritize critical risk factors. GIS analysis integrated multisource spatial data, including Landsat 9 and Sentinel-2 imagery, CHIRPS precipitation, and SRTM-derived topography, while AHP weights were established on the basis of expert judgment and socioeconomic indices such as the relative wealth index (RWI) and population statistics. The results delineate distinct spatial risk clusters: high landslide potential is concentrated in the steep terrain of …

Carbon Stock Assessment In Sonneratia Apetala Afforested Mangroves : A Case Study From Cox’S Bazar, Bangladesh, Mohammad Ismail, Sayed Abu Johany, Tanmoy Dey, Zakia Sultana Teasa, Trishna Das, Prabal Barua, Tonima Hossain, Sajib Ahmed

Applied Environmental Research

Sonneratia apetala is a key species for mangrove afforestation projects in Bangladesh and plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration. The research on how the total carbon stock (TCS) varies across S. apetala plantations in Cox’s Bazar remains limited. Thus, in this study, the biomass and soil carbon stock were quantified across nine S. apetala afforested sites in Cox’s Bazar to assess spatial variation and influencing factors. The total biomass carbon (TBC) was calculated by summing the aboveground (AGBC) and belowground (BGBC) biomass carbon, while the soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) was determined from the 0–40 cm …

Seasonal Wastewater Monitoring And Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Of Escherichia Coli In A University Wastewater System, Pathum Thani, Central Thailand, Natsima Tokhun, Natagarn Tongphanpharn, Weerawat Ounsaneha, Montip Jankeaw, Wiriyabhorn Klomsungcharoen, Patsara Wongsudi, Yawanart Ngamnon, Cheerawit Rattanapan, Kwang Mo Yang

Applied Environmental Research

In this study, the physicochemical properties of wastewater were characterized, and a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of E. coli was conducted in the wastewater treatment system of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University, under the Royal Patronage, Pathum Thani, Thailand (VRU-SciTech). This study was conducted because the current water-quality assessment does not include the QMRA or evaluate the occupa-tional and incidental public risk of infection. Over a one-year monitoring period, this study quantified wastewater generation (~6.09 L person-1 day-1; ~3.21 × 103 m3 year-1) and analyzed its physicochemical parameters and E. coli concentrations. High concentrations …

Evaluation Of Soil Moisture Content, Ph, And Dominant Microorganisms In Crude Oil–Contaminated Soil Treated With Cow Dung, Indole-3-Acetic Acid (Iaa), And Simulated Microgravity, Amenze Ovenseri, Tawari-Fufeyin P.

Applied Environmental Research

Crude oil negatively affects soil physicochemical properties and microbial activity, thereby hindering plant growth and posing notable environmental and agricultural issues. The combined effects of cow dung, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and simulated microgravity on the recovery of soil degraded by crude oil were explored using Zea mays as the test plant. Soil was contaminated with crude oil at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% v/w), with each concentration comprising eight treatments: cow dung, Zea mays seeds exposed to microgravity, and IAA alone or in combination. Changes in plant height, soil pH, soil moisture content, and soil microbial diversity were …

Pension System And Corruption In Sub-Saharan Africa, Folake O. Alomilagba

Research Papers

This paper examines the relationship between corruption and pension coverage across Sub-Saharan Africa, where extending old-age income security remains a pressing developmental challenge. Using an unbalanced panel of 42 countries over 2000–2024, drawn from the Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Development Indicators, the International Labor Organization, and the World Bank's ASPIRE database, the study estimates the effect of the control of corruption on the share of the elderly receiving a pension. Pooled OLS, random effects, and two-way fixed effects estimators distinguish cross-country from within-country variation. Control of corruption is positively and significantly associated with coverage across cross-sectional specifications, with effects of …

Json-Ld 1.2 And Beyond: Extensions For Machine Learning Data Exchange, Muntaser Syed, Marius Silaghi, Sheikh Abujar, Rwaida Alssadi, Sharun Akter Khushbu

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

JSON-LD has become the dominant format for structured data on the web, underpinning schema.org markup, Verifiable Credentials, and knowledge graph serialization. However, the rapid integration of machine learning into data pipelines exposes critical limitations: JSON-LD lacks native mechanisms to express prediction confidence, model provenance, temporal validity, or vector embeddings—metadata essential for trustworthy AI-to-AI and AI-to-human data exchange. Additionally, context injection attacks and unbounded recursion vulnerabilities pose security risks in production deployments. This paper presents a systematic gap analysis of JSON-LD 1.1 against the requirements of modern AI systems, identifying 12 limitation categories spanning security vulnerabilities, performance bottlenecks, validation deficiencies, and …

Zero-Sum Thinking, Meritocratic Beliefs, And Preferences For Basic Income And Universal Healthcare, David Chavanne

Economics Faculty Publications

This study uses survey responses to explore how support for basic income and universal healthcare is linked to zero-sum thinking and meritocratic beliefs. Consistent with earlier work, I find that zero-sum thinking and weaker meritocratic beliefs both lead to greater levels of support for basic income and universal healthcare. Using a path analysis, zero-sum thinking is also found to strengthen support for basic income and universal healthcare along two separate channels -- one via zero-sum thinking’s direct effect on policy support and a second via an indirect effect, whereby zero-sum thinking is attached to weaker beliefs in meritocracy, which in …

Reversing Progress: The Political And Legal Ramifications Of The 2025 Dei Policy Rollback, Bridgette Baldwin

Faculty Scholarship

The year 2025 will mark a significant turning point in the landscape of American civil rights policy, as federal executive orders the Trump administration initiated seek to dismantle longstanding diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") initiatives. Rooted in a historical context of civil rights progress, these orders aim to curtail affirmative action programs, eliminate DEI mandates within federal agencies and contractors, and challenge the legal foundations of inclusive policies across the country. This Article explores the evolving landscape of civil rights and DEI in the United States, examining its historical roots, recent legal and political developments, and ongoing challenges. From landmark …

The Patriarchal Project Of Apartheid: Exploring The Gendered Dimensions Of Apartheid And International Justice Pathways Forward, Akila Radhakrishnan, Alyssa T. Yamamoto

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

Although the South African apartheid regime was first and foremost a race-based project, it was also a gendered project. The regime’s dystopian vision to entrench the systematic oppression of non-white people, particularly black people, was rooted in an ideological commitment not just to white supremacy, but to white male supremacy. This paper unpacks the gendered experiences of apartheid and outlines potential avenues to facilitate a more intersectional approach to justice and accountability efforts. Part I traces the patriarchal vision underpinning the South African apartheid regime—and the distinctly gendered dimensions of apartheid’s operationalization and legacy. Adopting a comparative approach, Part II …