Digital Commons Network^™

Identifiable To Whom? Clarifying Biometric Privacy Rights In Illinois And Beyond, Hana Ferrero

University of Chicago Law Review

Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) is the country’s most powerful law governing biometric data—data generated from an individual’s biological characteristics, like fingerprints and voiceprints. Over the past decade, BIPA garnered a reputation as an exceptionally plaintiff-friendly statute. But from 2023 to 2024, the Illinois legislature, Illinois Supreme Court, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals all sided with BIPA defendants, largely for the first time. Most significantly, in Zellmer v. Meta Platforms, Inc., the Ninth Circuit dismissed the plaintiff’s BIPA claim because the face scan collected by the defendant could not be used to identify him.

It is unclear whether …

Improving Student Outcomes, Brenda Burton

Education Theses and Dissertations

This improvement science dissertation in practice was conducted to make an improvement in education practice to positively affect student outcomes. Plan -> Do -> Study -> Act cycles (Bryk et al., 2015) were employed to identify a specific problem of practice, determine root cause(s), advance change theory, and define potential solutions. Many stakeholders were consulted and the initial phase evaluated the existing condition. Results informed the design of an intervention which was then implemented and evaluated in a second phase. Findings showed that a novel way of communication, the introduction of video technology, was correlated with improved student perceptions, self-regulation, …

Policing In The Age Of Criminal Records, Eisha Jain

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Making Of A Juvenile Record: The Insidious Consequences Of Criminalizing Race, Adolescence, Disability, And Trauma, Kristin N. Henning, Rebba D. Omer

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Desegregating Criminal Codes, Root And Branch: The Duty Not To Enforce Unconstitutional Laws, Gabriel J. Chin

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Adoption Of Sustainable Land And Water Management Practices And Their Impact On Crop Productivity Among Smallholder Farmers In Sub-Saharan Africa, Cool Dady Mangole, Charles Mbogo Maina, Kelvin Mulungu, Maurice Tschopp, Nichole Harari, Roopa Suresh, Menale Kassie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Land degradation and water challenges threaten sub-Saharan Africa's agricultural productivity and food security. This study uses panel secondary data from the World Bank Living Standards Measurement Study—Integrated Surveys on Agriculture project to evaluate land degradation variations, the adoption of sustainable land and water management (SLWM) practices, and their impacts on crop yields among smallholder farmers in four sub-Saharan African countries: Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The study used a high-dimensional fixed effects model to control for time-invariant unobserved and time-varying observed household and plot-level confounders. The results indicate that while many households experienced land degradation and water problems, SLWM adoption …

Competition In The Global Law Market: Offshore Development Of The Statutory "Rule In Hastings-Bass", Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

This Article examines the competitive dynamics in the global law market through the lens of the statutory evolution of the Rule in Hastings-Bass across various International Financial Centers (IFCs). Following the UK Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Pitt v Holt and Futter v Futter, which significantly restricted the judiciary's ability to void trustee decisions under the Rule, seven IFCs (Jersey, Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Dubai International Financial Center, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands) enacted statutes to preserve and clarify the Rule within their jurisdictions. These legislative actions highlight the strategic adaptations by IFCs to enhance their legal …

Curative Identity Formation Themes To Counteract Law School’S Hidden Curriculum, Aric K. Short

Faculty Scholarship

Especially given the sensitive and malleable life stage that many of our students are in, law schools should take meaningful steps to blunt and counteract the negative effects of the hidden curriculum, including in ways suggested in other articles in this symposium. One direct way to present countervailing messaging is through a required 1L course on professional identity formation (PIF). As described in this article, there are a number of benefits of explicitly addressing PIF topics early in law school, and doing so not only more effectively prepares our students to become practicing attorneys, it also responds directly to some …

Ai For Good: Expanding Legal Services For Immigrants, Huyen Pham, Bryan Garcia

Faculty Scholarship

In this Essay, we explore the possibilities for putting AI technology in the hands of clients themselves, considering the advantages and disadvantages. Thinking about the specific context of immigration law, we could envision apps that help individuals to prepare for interviews for affirmative asylum, visas, or naturalization; to educate them about their rights in ways that are more specific, timely, and convenient than current know-your-rights formats; or, in a more attorney-adjacent interaction, using an app to conduct the initial intake interview and organize that information, making the usual time-consuming intake process more efficient and effective. We are not envisioning apps …

Accidental Ingestion Of Extended-Release Guanfacine In A Toddler., Dina R Assali, Alek Q Adkins, Jonathan Chang

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

This case report describes the clinical presentation and treatment following an exploratory ingestion of extended release (ER) guanfacine in a healthy toddler. Guanfacine, an alpha-2a agonist, can cause transient hypertension as it moves from the serum into the CNS where it causes the more commonly seen central nervous system (CNS) depression, hypotension, and bradycardia. Persistent hypertension requiring intravenous (IV) vasodilatory medication is a rare and life-threatening complication of an alpha-2 agonist with only one other published report. This case report re-emphasizes and further expands available literature on this rarely reported effect.

The Road To Montana: Exploring The Decision Paths To Visiting Montana, Kika Bradford, Glenna Hartman, Matthew Pettigrew, Melissa Weddell

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Montana’s big skies, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage attract millions of visitors each year. However, a segment of potential travelers remains unaware and/or disengaged from the state’s tourism market. This study identifies barriers and opportunities in engaging travelers who have never been to Montana.

Reduction In Opioid Requirements Following Changes To Regional Anesthesia For Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty, Jeffrey Mauras, Michael Mcmahon, Jaudé Petrie, Ryan Roubion, Amy Bronstone, Claudia Leonardi, Vinod Dasa

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Newer analgesic techniques to reduce opioid use and pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include preoperative cryoneurolysis, adductor canal block (ACB), and local anesthetic infiltration between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee (iPACK) block. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether changing the regional analgesic from ropivacaine to liposomal bupivacaine would provide superior pain relief and reduce opioid requirements at 2 and 12 weeks following TKA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical records review of 140 consecutive patients who underwent primary TKA at a single site and received ACB with ropivacaine (multimodal-ropivacaine [MM-R] group, n …

Hospitality At The End Of The World: An Ideological Rhetorical Criticism Of Tactical Technical Communication In The Prepper Journal, Ryan Cheek

English and Technical Communication Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Reimagining School Leadership: Latinx Administrators Leveraging Community Cultural Wealth To Support Latinx Student Success: A Qualitative Study In East San Jose Grounded In Counter-Storytelling, Critical Race Theory, And Latino Critical Theory, Alexis Corona Pimentel

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how Latina administrators in East San Jose leverage their Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005) to support Latinx student success in K-12 education. Although Latinx students comprise the largest racial/ethnic group in California public schools (California Department of Education, 2021), Latinx leaders remain significantly underrepresented in educational leadership. Guided by Critical Race Theory (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) (Solórzano & Bernal, 2001), and Yosso’s (2005) framework of Community Cultural Wealth, this study centers the counter-stories of three Latina administrators to explore how their cultural identities, lived experiences, and relational practices inform leadership.

Data …

Navigating Con Ganas: How Latina Leaders Transform Leadership Through Values Within The California Community College System, Vianey Topete

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

Despite Latine students comprising 48% of California Community College (CCC) enrollment, only 20% of CCC senior leadership is Latine, with the specific percentage of Latinas remaining unknown (Community College League of California, 2024; EdSource, 2024; Gonzalez, 2023). This disparity reflects broader patterns, as Latinas nationwide hold less than 1% of senior administrative roles in higher education institutions (Eiden-Dillow & Best, 2022), underscoring the importance of examining this underrepresented group. This qualitative study examined how Latina leaders navigate and transform leadership spaces within the CCC system through their decision-making processes. Using testimonio methodology grounded in Critical Consciousness, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, and …

Thailand V. Katanyu Muenkhamruang “Pan”, Andrew Khoo, Human Rights Institute

Human Rights Institute

The criminal proceedings against Ms. Katanyu Muenkhamruang (“Pan”), a 27-year-old Thai student and pro-democracy activist, violated international fair trial standards and Thailand’s human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Pan was convicted under Thailand’s sedition law and the Computer-Related Crimes Act for Facebook posts promoting peaceful anti-government protests in 2021. The trial revealed numerous due process violations, including violation of the presumption of innocence, reliance on unsubstantiated claims, and a lack of reasoned judgment. Despite the absence of direct evidence linking Pan to the alleged posts, the court inferred guilt, and arbitrarily disregarded exculpatory …

Igniting Action To Reduce Gas Flaring: Real Opportunities. Real Projects. Real Results., Andrew Bernstein, Mark Davis, Thomas Mitro, Perrine Toledano

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Gas flaring is a major global challenge. Despite bold commitments from governments, national oil companies (NOCs), international oil companies (IOCs), and leading independents, global flaring levels have stagnated at around 140–150 BCM per year, emitting up to 1 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases annually, while representing as much as $30 billion per year in potential lost revenue.

Numerous studies have outlined how flared gas can be captured and monetized – through power generation, fertilizers, petrochemicals, LNG and pipeline exports, among other use cases. Substantial reductions in flaring are not only technically achievable but can often create significant commercial value …

From Promise To Performance: Reforming Blended Finance For Scale, Perrine Toledano, Ana M. Camelo Vega, Tucker Wilke

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Blended finance has the potential to help close the sustainable development financing gap. Strategically combining public and philanthropic capital to unlock private investment, it has proven to be an effective tool to de-risk impact investments. But without bold, structural reform, it risks remaining a niche tool – promising in theory, underperforming in practice. Drawing on over 65 expert interviews and in-depth analysis, this report from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) maps the systemic barriers preventing blended finance from operating at scale, and outlines a practical path forward. With bold leadership and coordinated reform, blended finance can become a …

The Benefits To New York State Of The Local Roads Program, Theresa Lagasse

Applied Economics Theses

ABSTRACT:

This paper explores the history of the Cornell Local Roads Program and how it helps to satisfy Cornell’s land grant mission as an extension program. Then the paper will look at the programs impact both directly and indirectly on the economy of New York State, via its role in improving local road infrastructure and providing highway departments with trainings and technical support.

The focus of the paper examines the four primary components of the Local Roads Program at Cornell, including workshops, research initiatives, technical assistance, and the Local Roads library, each of which contributes to better road management and …

The Hdip In Medical Science, Kathleen Brosnan

Case studies: Digital Education

The HDip in Medical Science is offered as a part time three-year programme or a full-time two-year programme. These 2 programmes are taught alongside the BSc in Medical Science, therefore any changes to teaching modalities have to be carefully considered across all 3 programmes. Learners on the part time course are also in full employment within clinical laboratories in Ireland. To facilitate a maximum of 2 days onsite, hyflex teaching was introduced for this cohort on a third day so that they can attend on-site, online live or access a recording. The full time BSc and HDip cohort can access …

National Alzheimer’S & Brain Awareness Month, Alice Sherwood

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related conditions. According to The Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, marking a significant milestone in the nation's public health.

For more information, visit the Library Blog.

Looking For The Public In Public Law, Nikhil Menezes, David E. Pozen

Faculty Scholarship

The “public” is everywhere and nowhere in contemporary public law. Everywhere, in that the term is constantly invoked to justify and explain existing arrangements. Nowhere, in that serious attempts to identify a relevant public and elicit its input are few and far between. Scholars and officials depict the U.S. public as playing myriad roles in governance — checking, guiding, approving, repudiating—without offering an account of how public preferences are formed or how they exercise influence on questions of interest.

This Article seeks to identify and call attention to the foundational dilemmas underlying this disconnect, to clarify their normative contours and …

The Administrative State's Second Face, Emily R. Chertoff, Jessica Bulman-Pozen

Faculty Scholarship

We often assume that there is one administrative state, with one body of administrative law that governs it. In fact, the administrative state has two distinct faces: one turned toward regulation and benefits distribution, and one turned toward physical force and surveillance. The two faces are growing further apart under the Roberts Court, which has hemmed in the first face with decisions like Loper Bright while showing solicitude for national security and law enforcement agencies.

This Article delineates the two faces of the administrative state. It provides a descriptive account of the second face and the distinctive administrative law that …

Addressing Missingness In Serialized Bureaucratic Data: The Case Of Chinese Courts, Xiaohan Wu, Margaret Roberts, Rachel E. Stern, Benjamin L. Liebman, Amarnath Gupta, Luke Sanford

Faculty Scholarship

Courts around the world are putting their data online, making information about caseloads, parties, and decisions available to the public. Yet, this data is far from complete, and often only reflects a portion of courts’ dockets. We offer and validate a set of tools for leveraging serialized bureaucratic data from courts to estimate the proportion of cases available to the public and the time courts take to make decisions. Using data from more than 3,000 courts in China, our methods allow us to assess patterns of missingness in court data across provinces and cities by type of case and to …

Presidential Supremacy Over Administrative Agencies, Gary Gensler, Lev Menand

Faculty Scholarship

In the United States, the public has long benefited from the role played by administrative agencies with a degree of autonomy from the White House, each agency with distinct duties and authorities to implement the law as set out by Congress.

In its first hundred days, the second Trump administration has moved rapidly to centralise control over all administrative agencies, including so-called independent agencies, which have long operated at a greater remove from the White House than ‘executive’ agencies like the Department of State and the Department of Commerce. The administration is asserting an interpretation of the Constitution known as …

From Idea To Action: Defining And Measuring Voice Implementation, Ann E. Schlotzhauer, Mark G. Ehrhart

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite increasing interest in the topic, research on managerial responses to voice is underdeveloped. In this article, we differentiate voice implementation from voice appreciation to add much-needed nuance to our understanding of how voice targets respond to voice behavior. We define voice implementation as the extent to which a voice target undertakes voluntary effort with the goal of enacting a suggestion from a voicer, including attempting to put a suggestion into action and/or advocating for the idea to those with the power to enact the suggestion. A 5-item scale based on this definition demonstrated strong content validity, construct validity, and …

Assessment Of White Matter Changes Using Quantitative T1Ρ Mapping In An Open-Field Low-Intensity Blast Mouse Model Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Mtbi), Dina Moazamian, Shengwen Xie, Jiyo S. Athertya, Qingbo Tang, Roland R. Lee, Eric Y. Chang, Jeffrey M. Tomlin, Catherine E. Johnson, Jiang Du, Yajun Ma

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) occurs when shock waves travel through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid, leading to cerebral demyelination, which results in cognitive impairments and neuropsychiatric issues that impact quality of life. This study aims to evaluate myelin changes in white matter in mice with mTBI induced by an open-field low-intensity blast (LIB) using a newly implemented 3D adiabatic T1ρ prepared fast spin echo (Adiab-T1ρ-FSE) sequence for quantitative T1ρ MRI mapping. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice, including 15 mTBI and 15 sham controls, were scanned on a 3T Bruker MRI scanner. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to …

Getting Help When The Going Gets Tough, Michelle C. Dziurgot D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In her editorial, Dr. Dziurgot emphasizes the importance of emotional support and mental health resources for dentists. She shares her own experiences of turning to family in tough times and offers practical alternatives for those without such support. Strategies include journaling, creative expression, and seeking professional counseling through programs like the MDA Member Assistance Program and ADA Talkspace. She encourages open dialogue and mutual support within the dental community.

The Mda's Impact: Going Beyond Insurance Reimbursements, Todd Christy D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Todd Christy, MDA Immediate Past President, acknowledges that inadequate insurance reimbursement rates are a major concern for dental practices. He explains that federal antitrust laws restrict the MDA from directly intervening to "fix" these rates. However, the article emphasizes that the MDA provides significant value and advocacy in many other areas crucial to dentists. Key achievements include eliminating the tax on dental prosthetics, legislating network leasing protections, expanding kindergarten oral health assessments, and regulating mobile dentistry. The MDA also offered vital support during the COVID-19 pandemic, advocated for increased Medicaid facility fees for anesthesia procedures, and assists members with …

Stress And Burnout: Is There A ‘Happily Ever After’?, Margaret S. Gingrich D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Executive Summary Dental professionals experience significant stress and burnout due to high patient expectations, challenging patients, employee management issues, and insurance complexities. Dr. Margaret Gingrich outlines Christina Maslach's six stages of burnout, from the honeymoon phase to reduced personal accomplishment. Recovery requires intentional rest following the "rule of 42" - dedicating 42% of daily time to various forms of rest, including physical, emotional, sensory, mental, spiritual, social, and creative restoration. Key strategies involve setting boundaries, saying no, taking breaks, seeking social support, and, when necessary, terminating problematic patient relationships. The Michigan Dental Association and American Dental Association provide wellness resources, …