Digital Commons Network^™

It’S Gone To The Dogs: The Need For Regulation In Professional Service Dog Training, Crystal J. Elsner

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Currently, no state requires professional service dog trainers to pass any test or obtain any occupational licensure to prove their competency. While the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementing regulations do not require that dogs complete a professional training program to be considered service dogs, many individuals with disabilities choose to use such programs. The unregulated nature of the industry allows inexperienced individuals to market themselves as professionals, which can harm not only the dogs receiving training but also the humans that will eventually take them home. Further, the lack of industry oversight leaves room for bad actors to …

Front Matter

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Title Ix After House V. Ncaa, Abigail Perkiss

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

In October 2025, attorneys representing current and former Division I college athletes filed preliminary briefs in the Ninth Circuit, calling on the appellate court to reverse the settlement in House v. NCAA,¹ which in April 2025 turned intercollegiate athletics on its head. The brief argued that the terms of the settlement stand in violation of Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, the legislation that prohibited sex-based discrimination in education programs and related activities that receive federal funding. According to the settlement terms, 90 percent of the backpay is earmarked to fund men’s football and basketball players, 5 percent …

Advocating For Cause: The California Recall Process Needs A Purpose, Mary-Beth Moylan

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Democratic systems and the tools that sustain them need to operate by the people and for the people with consideration to the realities of the era in which they exist. The use of direct democracy, and in particular the recall process, in recent decades suggests that what was once a progressive reform intended to ensure good government has now become a political tool for stoking partisan disruption. It is time for a close look at how and why some states continue to allow for recall and the circumstances under which a recall election should be called. During the COVID-19 pandemic, …

A Level Playing Field: Title Ix, The House Settlement, And A Sustainable Solution For College Athletics, Delaney Sniffen, Kirk Wolff

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Collegiate student-athletes are increasingly viewed as employees by scholars, judges, and the market, though not yet by colleges or Congress. As stakeholders press Congress to clarify, universities must balance NLRA labor rights for athletes who likely meet the employee test with Title IX obligations tied to federal funding; neither can be sacrificed. This Essay traces gender discrimination that constrained women’s sports; explains why many athletes satisfy the NLRA employee test; and underscores Title IX’s central role in women’s equal participation. It shows how recognizing athletes as employees would modify the Title IX analysis and create tension between collective bargaining and …

Administrative Self-Constitutionalism, Brian Lipshutz

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

Since the days of the Interstate Commerce Commission, federal agencies have generally refused to address the constitutionality of statutory provisions. They have offered little reasoning to justify that refusal, yet scholars have generally accepted it. This Article explains why agencies can—and should—address constitutional challenges to statutory provisions.

Agencies have the power to assess the constitutionality of statutory provisions. They already exercise a similar authority when they apply the canon of constitutional avoidance and consider the constitutionality of individual actions. There is no basis for stopping short of addressing challenges to statutes. And many scholars have recognized that, as a formal …

Legislative Debate-Attributed Suicidality Among Lgbtq+ Adults: The Buffering Effect Of Community Belongingness, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Laneshia R. Conner, Nicole Campbell, Louis G. Baser, Dekeitra Griffin, Sydney P. Howard, Missy Spears, Justin X. Moore

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, the sociopolitical landscape in the United States has shifted due to an increase in state-level legislation regarding LGBTQ+ rights, a trend that has been particularly pronounced in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While the mental health impacts of enacted laws are increasingly documented, a critical gap remains in understanding the psychological toll of the legislative debates themselves—the prolonged periods of public discourse surrounding the restriction of rights. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2025 Queer Kentucky Survey (N = 817), this exploratory study examined the association between LGBTQ+ community belongingness and acute suicidality attributed specifically to anti-LGBTQ+ legislative …

Asynchronous Lgbtq+ Affirming Counseling Training With Early Career Counselors: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation, Amber L. Pope, Kelli Hartzell, Matt B. Siroty, Jeff Moe, Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Bianca R. Augustine, Amanda St. Germain-Sehr, Tai Lexumé

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

A growing body of research shows that training in LGBTQ+ affirming counseling (LGBTQ+ AC) positively impacts counselors’ perceived knowledge and skills in providing mental health services to LGBTQ+ communities. Existing program evaluations of LGBTQ+ AC, however, have primarily used synchronous delivery formats and cultural competency models for the training design. This study is part of an action research agenda to develop an introductory training in LGBTQ+ AC, using asynchronous online delivery and cultural humility as the conceptual framework for the training design. We used a fixed convergent parallel mixed methods quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of our LGBTQ+ AC …

Broaching The Intersectionality Of Race And Disability In School Counseling, Aaron Albright, Emily Goodman-Scott, Jenna Alvarez, Rawn Boulden

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Students of color with disabilities experience compounded inequities. This conceptual article details these compounded inequities. The authors provide a review of the literature related to inequities in education, culturally affirming antiracist school counseling, intersectionality, and broaching. Next, the authors provide a rationale for implementing Day-Vines and colleagues’ multidimensional model of broaching behaviors (MMBB) in school counseling with students of color with disabilities. Then, the authors use the MMBB heuristic to conceptualize practical guidelines for school counselors to engage in direct broaching with their students. These guidelines are tabulated with a description of the four broaching dimensions and their aim within …

"Oh, You've Come To Visit The Yard?": Phenotypic Capital, Intragroup Marginalization, And The Gated Sanctuary In Black Lgbtq+ Communities, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Nicole Campbell, Laneshia R. Conner, Julian K. Glover, Janet K. Otachi, Dekeitra Griffin

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Identity-based communities that share common characteristics, beliefs, and experiences (e.g., Black LGBTQ+ communities) have historically been conceptualized as protective bubbles that buffer Black LGBTQ+ individuals against the deleterious effects of systemic racism and cisheterosexism. However, this monolithic narrative often masks the internal power dynamics that divide belonging. This study explores the exclusionary dynamics embedded within these safe spaces, examining how internal hierarchies of skin tone, socioeconomic status, and gender performance function as proximal stressors. Guided by a critical constructivist paradigm, this study utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze open-ended survey responses from 74 Black LGBTQ+ adults. Data were drawn from …

Silence For The Sake Of “Security”: Bop Regulations Stifle Incarcerated Journalism In Federal Prisons, Sydney Poppe

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Segmenting Principle On Learner Performance And Attitude In A 3d Environment: A Mixed-Method Multiple Case Study, Kristin Herman, Mohan Yang, Jim Shifflet, Noah Glaser

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This study presents a conceptual replication of Moreno’s (Appl Cogn Psychol 21:765–781. 10.1002/acp.1348, 2007) study on the benefits of adhering to the segmentation principle when utilizing multimedia learning objects. Furthermore, this study expands upon the original by taking place in a low-immersive virtual reality environment, allowing for further understanding on the extent to which multimedia principles are still relevant. Both a synchronous and an asynchronous case are presented. Results indicate benefits for both cases in far transfer of learning. Furthermore, synchronous learners indicated a significant reduction in cognitive load and increased overall attitudes towards learning due to segmented instruction.

Optimizing Kidney Allograft Years: Underutilization Of Pediatric Donors, Nicholas Herrera, Ana Cortez, Diane Cibrik, Bradley A. Warady

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background. 

The Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) score drives kidney allocation in the United States for both adult and pediatric donors, despite the calculation being primarily derived from adult donor data. A KDPI of ≤20% is considered to have the longest graft survival potential and is typically prioritized for recipients who have a low Estimated Posttransplant Survival (EPTS) score. Using KDPI to assess pediatric donor quality may underestimate graft survival and result in underutilization of these kidneys for recipients with a low EPTS score.

Methods. 

Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data, we analyzed 5-y posttransplant death-censored graft survival of …

Genocide, Memory & Prevention: Ethical Inquiry And Critical Thinking Through Research & Ai, Linda Humes

Open Educational Resources

This assignment engages students in ethical inquiry and critical analysis by examining lesser-known or silenced genocides within a global and historical context. Using academic sources alongside responsible use of generative AI, students compare dominant and marginalized narratives, analyze recurring patterns and causes of genocide, and reflect on prevention strategies. The assignment emphasizes ethical AI use, historical memory, and the development of civic awareness, empathy, and critical thinking in the study of race, power, and inequality.

(Re)Discovering The Streets Of Nyc: Honorary Signs, Sticker Street Art & Collective/Collaborative Investigations, Mark Mcbeth

Open Educational Resources

In a scaffolded series of assignments, students investigate NYC honorary street signs and sticker art through photography, research, individual essays, and a collaborative project.

A Systematic Review Of Artificial Intelligence For Software Requirements In Open-Source Software, Amal Alharbi, Khaled Slhoub

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Software stakeholders have seamlessly integrated artificial intelligence technologies into the requirements engineering processes for open-source software, which presents both opportunities and challenges. This systematic literature review examines the current state of artificial intelligence application in requirements engineering for open-source software and emphasizes the opportunities and challenges faced by practitioners. Based on the reviewed literature, artificial intelligence technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, large language models, and deep learning techniques, have been increasingly applied to support key requirements engineering activities, particularly requirements elicitation, classification, prioritization, and stakeholder analysis. However, the lack of structured data in open-source software directly challenges …

A Comparison Of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) And Silorane-Based Cements As Carriers For Local Doxorubicin Delivery., Grahmm A. Funk, Elizabeth M. Menuey, Zachary D. Denton, Dalan M. Pittz, Alejandro Parrales, Tomoo Iwakuma, Kathleen V. Kilway, Terence E. Mciff

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Orthopedic osteosarcomas and metastatic lesions can be difficult to treat with systemically delivered chemotherapy agents alone. Following removal of the primary tumor, implantation of cement to fill the lesion is often done to stabilize weight-bearing bones. One of the commonly used treatments to address osteosarcoma is systemic delivery of doxorubicin. Therefore, research on the incorporation and release of efficacious doxorubicin for local delivery from cement is important. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cements are the gold standard in orthopedics but have inherent disadvantages. Efforts to overcome some of these deficiencies led to the development of a novel silorane-based biomaterial (SBB). This …

Identification Of Neural Crest And Melanoma Cancer Cell Invasion And Migration Genes Using High-Throughput Screening And Deep Attention Networks., J C Kasemeier-Kulesa, S Martina Perez, R E Baker, Paul M. Kulesa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Cell migration and invasion are well-coordinated in development and disease but remain poorly understood. We previously showed that the neural crest (NC) cell migratory wavefront shares a 45-gene panel with other cell invasion phenomena. To rapidly and systematically identify critical genes, we performed a high-throughput siRNA screen and statistical and deep learning analyses to determine changes in NC- versus non-NC-derived human cell line behaviors.

RESULTS: We find 14 out of 45 genes significantly reduced c8161 melanoma cell migration; four of the 14 genes altered leader cell motility (BMP4, ITGB1, KCNE3, and RASGRP1). Deep learning identified marked disruptions in cell-neighbor …

Safety And Effectiveness Of Emicizumab In People With Haemophilia A Enrolled In The Athn 7 Haemophilia Natural History Study., Tyler W. Buckner, Shannon L. Carpenter, Nabil Daoud, Christine L. Kempton, Lucy Lee, Lynn Malec, Thomas W. Mclean, Paul Morton, Carrie O'Neill, Janice M. Staber, Michael Wang, Stacy E. Croteau, Michael Recht

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The Natural History Study of the Safety, Effectiveness, and Practice of Treatment for People with Haemophilia (ATHN 7) monitors use of contemporary haemophilia therapies, including emicizumab, a bispecific antibody substituting for activated factor (F)VIII in people with haemophilia A (HA).

AIM: To report participant characteristics and real-world safety and effectiveness of emicizumab in ATHN 7.

METHODS: ATHN 7 is a prospective observational cohort study conducted across 26 American Thrombosis and Haemostasis Network (ATHN)-affiliated sites. People with HA receiving emicizumab were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. Clinical information was collected quarterly through participant interview and medical record review. Safety …

Preoperative Patient Sentiment Is Associated With Postoperative Outcomes In Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, Ross J. Gore, David Mazur-Hart, Mohan K. Sunkara, Aaqib Ali, Qizar Ali, Christopher J. Lynch

Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) Publications

Study Design:

Prospective observational pilot study of adult spinal deformity surgery patients.

Objective:

To determine whether preoperative patient sentiment, quantified using a 21-class valence scale extending the CARP paradigm implemented through an offline Large Language Model, predicts postoperative outcomes.

Summary of Background Data:

Predicting adult spinal deformity surgery outcomes remains challenging with traditional clinical and radiographic parameters alone. Although patient psychological factors and expectations significantly influence postoperative satisfaction and quality of life, systematic approaches to capture these factors are underdeveloped. Offline Large Language Models offer scalable, privacy-preserving psychological risk stratification.

Materials and Methods:

We prospectively enrolled 18 patients undergoing adult …

Adaptive Boundary-Aware Fact-Checker Placement For Misinformation Suppression In Social Networks, Mostafa Taghizade Firouzjaee, Ghazal Naderi, Ross Gore, Neda Moghim

School of Cybersecurity Faculty Publications

The spread of fake news on online social networks is driven by imitation-based user behavior and network topology, often leading to persistent misinformation clusters and echo chambers. In this study, we develop a spatial evolutionary game-theoretic framework in which agents update their latent opinions through payoff-biased imitation, while external fact-checkers act as non-imitative intervention nodes. Building on this formulation, we propose an adaptive, boundary-aware intervention mechanism that dynamically regulates both the density and spatial allocation of fact-checkers according to real-time system conditions. Competing information clusters are identified through local neighborhood composition, enabling boundary nodes, i.e., interfaces between fake-news and non-fake-news …

Enhancing Leisure Opportunities For People With Disabilities In Rural Communities, Joslyn Mary Nordmark

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose. The purpose of this scholarly project was to promote access to leisure opportunities for people with disabilities in rural areas. The author addressed unmet needs among this population considering personal, occupational, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. The goal was to develop a product that provided opportunities regardless of abilities to promote leisure exploration and participation, social engagement, and life skill development for people with disabilities

Methods. The author conducted a needs assessment through a literature review following the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), collaborations with site staff, and an on-site observation and environmental analysis. Data was examined to identify …

Occupation-Based Transition Planning Guide For High School Students With Disabilites., Kelsey Milleson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: The transition from high school to adulthood is a critical period influencing independence, employment, and community participation for students with disabilities (Carroll et al., 2025; Rosner et al., 2020). Despite mandates under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), many students experience poor postsecondary outcomes, including limited employment and increased reliance on caregivers (Benson et al., 2021; U.S. Department of Education, 2020). Effective transition planning should begin early, be individualized, and emphasize real-world skill development such as daily living, vocational skills, and self-advocacy (Cleary & Persch, 2020). However, school-based programs often lack consistency, structure, and performance-based outcome measures, reducing …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Prevention Of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (Suid), Natalie Ryan Mcfarren

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Each year, 3,700 infants die from SUID; this equates to about ten infants per day. SUID is an umbrella term that covers three separate subcategories: suffocation and strangulation in bed, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and unknown (Cribs for Kids, 2026). Suffocation and strangulation in bed is the only subcategory that is 100% preventable with safe sleep practices, while the risk of SIDS can be decreased by adhering to safe sleep guidelines. While the prevalence of SUID has decreased since the 1992 Back to Sleep campaign, current data indicate a plateau, if not a slight increase, in SUID cases …

Holistic Occupational Therapy Approach In Addressing Women’S Health Needs & Access To Care, Lilja Jurva

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: As women across the lifespan experience complex physical, emotional, and occupational challenges related to maternal transitions, mental health needs, chronic conditions, and rural healthcare disparities, occupational therapy is uniquely equipped to address the complex challenges. Services have been proven to be directly correlated to lower incidence of preterm birth, cesarean delivery, low birth weight, excessive gestational weight gain, diabetes mellitus, and hypersensitive disorders, and higher incidence of vaginal delivery. A clear gap for maternal support services was identified in the Grand Forks community through literature review, interviews, and community engagement, leading to the development of NoDak Therapy and Wellness. …

Sport Training Day Affects Adolescent Athletes’ Sleep Schedules, Abigail Larson, Jena Heck Street, Roman De Guia, Jacob J. Capin

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Sufficient sleep is integral to overall health whereas suboptimal sleep puts athletes at greater risk for injury, lengthens their recovery time, and decreases their performance. Our purpose was to compare sleep across training days (i.e., competition, practice, and rest) in adolescent athletes, specifically identifying differences between nights before and after training.

Methods: Participants [n = 33 (14 male, 19 female), aged 15.6 ± 1.0 years] wore an activPAL accelerometer continuously for 14 consecutive days and completed a sleep log noting training day status (i.e., competition, practice, rest).

Results: Athletes slept less on the day after competition compared to …

Socio-Spatial Patterns Of Suicide Mortality In The United States, Kushagra Tiwari, M. Amin Rahimian, Marie-Laure Charpignon, Philippe J. Giabbanelli, Praveen Kumar

VMASC Publications

Suicides cause more than 49,000 deaths per year in the United States, including 55% associated with the use of a firearm. Across states and counties in the US, suicide mortality exhibits substantial geographical and sociodemographic heterogeneity. However, the role of large-scale social networks in shaping this variation remains underexplored. To assess how both the risk of suicide mortality and the effect of firearm restriction policies propagate through inter-county social ties, we integrate data on county-level suicide mortality (2010–2022) and the Facebook Social Connectedness Index (SCI), a continuous measure of the strength of social ties between counties used to derive weighted …

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

Assuming Accent: Recognizing The Intersection Of Race And National Origin In Title Vii Discrimination, Eun Hee Han

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Indelible Flaws Of Conviction Integrity Units, Sarah Gottlieb

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.