Digital Commons Network^™

Colorblind And Color Mute: Words Unspoken In U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments, Chris Chambers Goodman

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The U.S. Supreme Court holds oral arguments on 70 to 80 cases each year, with fewer than a dozen most years involving issues around race or ethnicity. When the salience of race is clear, Supreme Court observers would expect to hear racial terms used in the arguments by counsel, as well as in the Justice’s questions.

Surprisingly, this research study demonstrates that is not the case. These racial terms - such as color, discriminate, minority, race, and its various related terms like racial, racially, racist, as well as combinations like race-neutral, and race-blind - only sparsely appear in oral argument …

The Witch-Hunt For Spies - A Critique Of The China Initiative And National Security’S Outsized Influence In Equal Protection Analysis, Winni Zhang

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The U.S. Government has increased its focus on Chinese espionage in the last decade in a randomized and unpredictable way. Primarily targeting Chinese scientists and academics, the “China Initiative” has resulted in widespread targeting of individuals based on their race, ethnicity, and national origin. The program was formally terminated and said to now be a part of a broader approach to nation-state threats. However, the outcomes and effect of the economic espionage charges in the last 15 years has greatly skewed towards prosecuting Chinese individuals irrespective of the name of the program. While protections typically exist in the law to …

Reflections Of A Non-Abolitionist Admirer Of The Police Abolition Movement, Corey Stoughton

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

To acknowledge that the abolition movement made reform better is not to reduce the movement to that purpose. For the non-abolitionist, the end of reform is better policing. For the abolitionist, reform is at best “a strategy or tactic toward transformation,” meaning contesting and ultimately eliminating policing. These are not compatible visions. But even if the collaboration between holders of these visions is just a tactical alliance, it is a tactical alliance that is producing good results. Perhaps those good results will lay a foundation for abolition, or perhaps they will seed in abolitionists’ fertile imaginations a positive vision of …

Battle Of The Lands: The Creation Of Land Grant Institutions And Hbcus – Fostering A Still Separate And Still Unequal Higher Education System, Jasmine Cooper

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

In HBCU culture, the Battle of the Bands is a competition between school marching bands to determine the “best of the best”. It is a cultural celebration that symbolizes friendly competition and showcases students’ pride in their school. Unfortunately, since their inception, Historically Black Colleges, and Universities (“HBCUs”) have been battling for legitimacy in America’s higher education system. From the beginning, HBCUs were often the only place African Americans could receive an education. Today, HBCUs are known for creating some of the most successful Black graduates and serve as a safe haven for Black students seeking an education in an …

More Harm Than Good: How State-Sponsored Gentrification Is Driving The Affordable Housing Crisis, And A Call For Accountability And Source-Of-Income Protections, Tolly Maloney

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The affordable housing crisis in the United States stands at the center of conversations surrounding economic, social, and political reform. The inability of millions of Americans to afford a safe place to live is the result of decades of legislation aimed at fiscally benefitting the individuals developing and managing properties labeled “affordable” as opposed to placing low-income Americans in suitable, long-term housing. This Note argues that state-sponsored gentrification, paired with ineffective housing assistance programs and discrimination, is driving the affordable housing crisis in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This Note studies several policy examples of state-sponsored gentrification in Northern Virginia, Richmond, …

Bivens And Beyond: Creating A Meaningful Remedy For Federal Prisoners In A Post-Boule Landscape, Hannah M. Wilk

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

For nearly 50 years, the Bivens action served as a vehicle to compensate individuals when their constitutional rights had been infringed on by a federal officer. Bivens actions operated as the federal equivalent of Section 1983 claims in state courts against state officers. But in June 2022, with a conservative majority in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bivens framework was gutted by Egbert v. Boule. Boule held that if a Bivens claim is filed in a context that differs from the three previously accepted contexts (the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments), the claim must fail, as Congress is better equipped …

Skirting The Fourth Amendment: How Law Enforcement Agencies Abuse Technology And Constitutional Exceptions To Surveille The Public, Matthew Lloyd

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Existing Fourth Amendment law does not protect against law enforcement use of data gathered through the internet either by private companies who actively search their customer’s data and submit evidence of misconduct to law enforcement or from private companies who acquire the data on behalf of law enforcement. In an effort to pursue criminals, courts have permitted Fourth Amendment jurisprudence to develop in a manner that permits sweeping invasions of privacy without any probable cause through the private search doctrine or without any procedural protections through the third-party doctrine. It will require substantial judicial or legislative action to return the …

Standing Up To Bounty Laws: Examining State Standing Jurisprudence And Its Effect On Laws Enforced Through Private Rights Of Action, Olivia A. Luzzio

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The Texas Heartbeat Act (SB 8) adopted a unique enforcement scheme that succeeded in circumventing Roe v. Wade’s protection of a woman’s right to abortion before viability. By prohibiting enforcement of the Act by public officials and instead authorizing enforcement solely through civil actions by “any person,” SB 8 effectively ended a women’s right to abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The passage of this law placed the protection of other constitutionally endowed rights in jeopardy and facilitated the passage of similarly constructed legislation, such as California’s Senate Bill 1327, which authorizes “any person” to sue anyone who manufactures …

Analyzing Pelvic Asymmetry By Sex And Ancestry: Insights From An Osteological Collection, Bryan O Ren, Robert W Goldberg, Karen D Standefer, Jason R Teplensky, Joseph P Drain, Conor F Mccarthy, John G Birch, Raymond W Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Pelvic asymmetry has been noted in pelvic imaging, and might influence the development of various spinal pathologies, most notably scoliosis. There is a limited understanding of the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and sex and ancestry, and limited use of 3D modeling. The purpose of this study was to identify pelvic asymmetry and morphology differences between sex and ancestry utilizing 3D modeling on young adults in an osteological collection.

Methods: Thirty-three osteological pelvic specimens aged 18-25 years (average age 21.4 ± 2.0 years) were scanned to create virtual 3D models for analysis. Pelvic asymmetry and morphology were measured and compared …

Addressing Workplace Violence In Healthcare, Eric Crane

M.S. in Leadership

This research paper explores the prevalence, consequences, and mitigation strategies for workplace violence in healthcare. The literature focuses on the importance of leadership’s involvement of the implementation of change, providing programing, and obtaining buy-in from staff to combat what has consistently been a factor leading to employee burnout, assaultive behavior, and compromised patient safety. It shows that workplace violence has been a constant in healthcare, however, has escalated post COVID-19 pandemic. Research and statistics show that workplace violence in healthcare is more prevalent than in other fields and is on the rise. A multiple-choice survey was conducted using Survey Monkey, …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2024

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2024

Effect Of Downregulating Lactate Dehydrogenase In Alzheimer’S Disease Using A Drosophila Model, Hannah Higgins

Honors Theses

According to the CDC, approximately 5.8 million Americans suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in 2020. AD is characterized by progressive memory loss and typically develops after the age of 60. There are many studies that suggest different causes of Alzheimer’s such as oxidative damage, amyloid plaque buildup, and metabolic dysfunction. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme that is found in many tissues within the body and functions within cellular metabolism. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible reaction that converts lactate to pyruvate coupled with the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. Pyruvate is then used in the Krebs cycle to create ATP. …

Error Analysis Of Numerical Weather Prediction Forecasts And Remotely Sensed Air Properties, Caleb R. Sease

Honors Theses

Communication and sensing technologies are influenced by atmospheric properties such as the air’s index of refraction, humidity, and temperature in the marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL). Recent research has demonstrated that radar can remotely sense the index of refraction in the MASL and, sometimes, numerical weather prediction models (NWP) can be used to aid this process. These developments are important because they allow for larger spatial coverage and finer temporal resolution than is possible with in-situ atmospheric sensors. More recently, on-going research is working toward extending this remote sensing capability to humidity using refraction as an intermediary. In order to …

Tort Liability For Physical Harm To Police Arising From Protest: Common-Law Principles For A Politicized World, Ellen M. Bublick, Jane R. Bambauer

UF Law Faculty Publications

When police officers bring tort suits for physical harms suffered during protest, courts must navigate two critically important sets of values—on the one hand, protesters’ rights to free speech and assembly, and on the other, the value of officers’ lives, health, and rights of redress. This year courts, including the United States Supreme Court, must decide who, if anyone, can be held accountable for severe physical harms suffered by police called upon to respond to protest. Two highly visible cases well illustrate the trend. In one, United States Capitol Police officers were injured on January 6, 2021, during organized attempts …

Ryan Williams

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Ryan Williams

Statin Therapy Vs. Plant-Based Diet For Reduction Of Plaque Burden In Coronary Artery Disease, Molly Evelyn Zak

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common chronic health conditions to affect adults in the United States, with heart disease being the leading cause of death. Contributing factors include high prevalence of processed foods containing saturated fats, low fiber diets and poor overall nutrition, and physical inactivity. These practices increase risk of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plaque buildup and calcification within arteries that supply the heart, leading to decreased blood flow and subsequent oxygen supply. Treatment for coronary artery disease has traditionally been dominated by HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors, or statins. These medications are more effective than the alternative …

Constitutional Law—Arkansas's Unconstitutional Attack On Transgender Children And The Rights Of Their Parents, Falyn Traina

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Criminal Procedure—Vega V. Dickerson—Miranda, Prophylactic Rules, And Article Iii Legitimacy, Alex Jackson

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

The X-Minute Commute City As A Planning Paradigm: An Evaluation Using Commute And Wellbeing Data From The Singapore Life Panel, Sock Yong Phang, Yeng Cong Wong, Stephen Hoskins

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

The x-minute city has emerged as a popular concept in transport planning in the past decade. Usually associated with planning for 15-minute neighbourhoods, cities such as Sydney and Singapore have expanded the concept to include setting time targets for commutes. In Singapore, transport planners have committed to long term goals of 20minute neighbourhoods and a 45-minute city (for commuting trips) by 2040. This paper uses a dataset for 2,535 Singapore residents aged 55 to 75 years to investigate three related questions important for evaluating the 45-minute city goal: the predictors of long commutes; the relationship between commute time and life …

Autophagy And Ime2 Kinase In Regulation Of Meiotic Exit In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Somdutta Paul

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Meiosis or gametogenesis is a specialized cell division that produces gametes in sexually reproducing organisms. The process of meiosis reduces the genetic content into half that of the progenitor cell. This reduction in the genetic content occurs over a set of two divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. Because gametes are essential for propagation of life, meiosis operates under tight regulation ensuring the full functionality and viability of the gametes produced. The working principle of the regulatory network that restricts meiosis to only two divisions is not clearly understood. Budding yeast undergoes meiosis in response to starvation. Autophagy being a …

Analyzing The Intersectionality Of Race And Socioeconomics In Foster Care And Child Welfare, Isabella Gallardo

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Racial disparities continue to persist in the child welfare system, resulting in disproportionate representation and differential treatment for children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Understanding the root causes, systemic factors, biases, and consequences of these disparities is vital for discovering solutions to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all children. I synthesize existing research conducted on racial disparities in child welfare, delving into systemic factors, biases, and their consequences. The dataset I most utilized is from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). Correlation analysis was used to show the relationship between racial disproportionality and systematic …

An Examination Of Adversity And The Unique Mental Health Needs Of Black Crossover Immigrant And Refugee Youth (Iry), Ngozi V. Enelamah, Rebecca L. Skahan, Sheryl Thompson

Journal of Family Strengths

Over 500,000 youths become involved with the Juvenile Justice System in the U.S. annually. More than half have experienced maltreatment resulting in child welfare system contact, a co-occurrence described as dual system involvement. Immigrant and refugee youth (IRY) are numbered among Black young adults who are disproportionately represented in the dual system. There is little knowledge about the unique experiences of Black IRY who are involved with the crossover or dual system, as child welfare organizations are not required to collect or report that information. Previous studies suggest that Black crossover IRY are at an increased risk for dual system …

What Is Missing In The Child Welfare System? Mandating Trauma Informed Training For Child Welfare Staff And Foster Parents, Sonia Haynes

Journal of Family Strengths

Training of foster parents and child welfare staff is crucial for establishing a trauma-informed child welfare sector. Training enhances the ability of foster parents to provide nurturing care and eliminate the re-traumatization of this marginalized population. However, there are many barriers preventing agencies from becoming trauma-informed. Without changes at federal and state levels, the child welfare sector will continue to lack the resources needed for success with this vulnerable population. Investment in the research and development of these programs is vital, and more funding must be allocated to ensure agencies can provide trauma-informed training to all. Studies have shown that …

Impact Of Pulsed Electric Field Treatment On Barley Germination For Malting, Rose Saxton, Caitlin Lahey, Brianna Smith, Emily Hibberd, Joshua Bevan, Cini Baumhoff, Ashley Galant, Jerry Young, Brian Meyer, Owen M. Mcdougal

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The malting process takes one week to steep, germinate, and kiln barley to make malt. Making quality malt is critically important to achieve the desired attributes of the finished beer, and the process is time-intensive and costly. Malt quality is assessed by indicators including β-glucan quantity, α-amylase activity, Free Amino Nitrogen (FAN) content, and overall extract concentration in the finished malt. Here, we report Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment of barley to accelerate malt production. A small-scale trial of 250 g to 1.00 kg barley, was evaluated for germination at two PEF treatment conditions, generically referred to as “low” and …

Is It Hot Here? How Increased Water Temperature Impacts Tunicates On A Physiological Level, Melanie Burley

Inquiry Journal Spring 2024

When you think of marine species that live in the Gulf of Maine, a tiny invertebrate attached to the side of a dock may not be the first one that comes to mind. However, tunicates have a powerful influence on other species within their environment. This is especially true in the Gulf of Maine, where they have been found on the side of boat docks, tangled up on lobster traps, and attached to oyster and mussel beds.

Increasing amounts of certain invasive species of tunicates can negatively impact the organisms around them. Tunicates can have a drastic impact on local …

Rodent-Mediated Seed Limitation Affects Woody Seedling Establishment More Than Invasive Shrubs And Downed Woody Debris, Brian M. Connolly, Chad Zirbel, John L. Orrock

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Seedling establishment is crucial for the development of self-regenerating tree populations. Determinants of tree establishment vary widely and may compound in their effects. Using a factorial experiment, we manipulated invasive shrubs, downed woody debris (DWD), and rodent access to evaluate factors limiting the establishment of six woody species (five native trees, one invasive shrub). Our results suggest these factors independently contribute to tree seedling establishment. Exclusion of rodents increased establishment threefold. Invasive shrub removal (Elaeagnus umbellata; Lonicera maackii) and the presence of DWD promoted establishment of two native trees (Pinus strobus; Sassafras albidum). Notably, …

Ztc English 111: Introduction To College Writing Syllabus, Nicolette Guida

Open Educational Resources

This is a syllabus for a first year college writing course. This is also ZTC course (or "zero textbook cost" course). Course texts are only open-access materials and texts that are readily accessible online.

This course focuses on the power of language in our society. Students analyze the importance of rhetoric for both writers of language and consumers of language. They consider how language can be used to make meaning of the world, construct and express identity, persuade or manipulate others, and how language has evolved with technology. Students develop critical reading and academic writing skills through workshops and writing …

Children Seen But Not Heard, Stacey B. Steinberg

UF Law Faculty Publications

Children are expected to abide by the will of their parents. In the last 200 years, American jurisprudence has given parents the ability to control their children’s upbringing with few exceptions. The principle governing this norm is that parents know best and will use their better knowledge to protect their children’s welfare.

The COVID-19 pandemic, public school rules, and children’s privacy laws offer modern examples of regulations in which the interests of parents and children may not align. Minors may want access to vaccines, despite a parent’s refusal to sign a consent form. Minors may want to talk to their …

The Myth Of Children’S Online Privacy Protection, Stacey Steinberg

UF Law Faculty Publications

Digital technology has changed the landscape young people face as they come of age. It has changed how children interact with their parents, schools, community organizations, and the state. Despite many benefits, digital technologies that employ data collection, algorithms, and artificial intelligence pose significant risks for the next generation. Private businesses can collect, use, and sell a child’s data in ways never imagined by their families. Information collected by third parties with good intentions can be stolen through data breaches. Through faulty algorithms, websites can make inaccurate assumptions about young people’s interests, teachers can make inaccurate assumptions about a student’s …

Liability Rules For Automated Vehicle: Definitions And Details, William H. Widen, Phillip Koopman

Articles

This paper explains how the law ought to assign liability for automated vehicle accidents by providing an example of a proposed statute. We advocate for the creation of the legal fiction of a "Computer Driver," which can have negligence liability, anytime a court or jury determines that the Computer Driver's behavior failed to imitate or exceed the level of care we would expect of an attentive and unimpaired Human Driver in similar circumstances. We then use this concept to explain how to determine contributory negligence and comparative fault when control of a vehicle is transferred from a Computer Driver to …