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The Hidden Toll Of Crowd Control: Rethinking The Use Of Kinetic Impact Projectiles In American Policing, Hayley Knudsen

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis critically examines the use of Kinetic Impact Projectiles (KIPs) by law enforcement in the United States, highlighting the discrepancy between their intended function as “less-lethal” crowd control tools and the severe injuries and fatalities they frequently cause. Spurred by widespread police violence during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, this study explores the physical, legal, and policy impacts of KIP deployment. Drawing on public health data, legal case outcomes, and international human rights reports, the research identifies significant risks associated with KIPs, including high rates of head and ocular injuries, and a troubling lack of training and regulation. …

2024 Nsu Graduate Commencement Program, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

College of Psychology

Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

College of Computing and Engineering

The Dark Plea: One Of The Most Coercive Abuses Of Power Permitted In The Criminal Justice System, Michael P. Donnelly

Et Cetera

Most prosecutions in our criminal justice system are resolved by defendants entering ostensibly knowing and intelligent guilty pleas—often following negotiations with the state—before trial. But during my time as a trial judge, I encountered a different type of guilty plea, procured by the state when an already convicted offender sought to clear his or her name through an application for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. I believe the “Dark Pleas” secured in these circumstances are one of the greatest abuses of power permitted in the criminal justice process.

This article sets down in writing a speech I …

Empowerment As A Predictor Of System Justification Moderated By Race, Nicole Belcher

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The attitudes people hold about the social structure around them have varying explanations in the field of psychology. System justification represents the idea that people will accept and enforce the social structures that exist because of the underlying need for consistency (Jost et al., 2004). Also central to this theory is the idea that people will legitimize structures because of a desire for the status quo to remain (Jost, 2001). These ideas seek to explain the problematic ideologies that maintain unfair social structures and why people allow them to remain. Studies have found individuals will support unjust systems because either …

Kernel Ridge Regression In Predicting Railway Crossing Accidents, Ethan Villalobos, Constantine Tarawneh, Jia Chen, Evangelos E. Papalexakis, Ping Xu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Expanding on the insights from our initial investigation into railway accident patterns, this paper delves deeper into the predictive capabilities of machine learning to forecast potential accident trends in railway crossings. Focusing on critical factors such as “Highway User Position” and “Equipment Involved,” we integrate Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) models tailored to distinct clusters, as well as a global model for the entire dataset. These models, trained on historical data, discern patterns and correlations that might elude traditional statistical methods. Our findings are compelling: certain clusters, despite limited data points, showcase remarkably Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values between predictions …

Spectral Clustering In Railway Crossing Accidents Analysis, Ethan Villalobos, Hector Lugo Iii, Biqian Cheng, Miguel Gutierrez, Constantine Tarawneh, Ping Xu, Jia Chen, Evangelos E. Papalexakis

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study employs graph mining and spectral clustering to analyze patterns in railway crossing accidents, utilizing a comprehensive dataset from the US Department of Transportation. By constructing a graph of implicit relationships between railway companies based on shared accident localities, we apply spectral clustering to identify distinct clusters of companies with similar accident patterns. This offers nuanced insight into the underlying structure of these incidents. Our results indicate that “Highway User Position” and “Equipment Involved” play pivotal roles in accident clustering, while temporal elements like “Date” and “Time” exert a diminished impact. This research not only sheds light on potential …

Vol.51 N.47 June 13th 2024, Voice Media Ventures

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

The Second Amendment’S Domestic Violence Problem: How Rahimi Exposes The Flaws Of Bruen’S Problematic Historical Analogue Test, Conner Greene

Cleveland State Law Review

This Article exposes the flaws of the Supreme Court’s historical analogue test established in Bruen. It details how modern Second Amendment jurisprudence evolved to a tenuous position through Heller and McDonald where the Supreme Court seemingly acknowledged the applicability of means-end scrutiny to the Second Amendment, before the Supreme Court more recently repudiated its use in Bruen in lieu of an inherently flimsy history-only standard that fails to account for modern societal issues. This approach not only severely undermines modern gun regulations—unanimously upheld as constitutional pre-Bruen—but it elevates the Second Amendment to a special status unlike other …

An Analysis Of A Pilot Program: Oral Fluid Testing Of Drugged Drivers In Michigan, Amber L. Libby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are charged with the responsibility of interpreting complicated social situations of the public every day. Adding difficulty is rapid cannabis legalization across the United States, including Michigan; encompassed in medicinal legalization in 2008 and recreational legalization in 2018, which has brought with it many changes, affecting economic, social, safety, and criminal elements. Michigan has seen an approximate 45% increase in traffic crashes with drivers who tested positive for cannabis over a five-year time frame (2013 – 2018). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the accuracy of roadside oral fluid testing introduced in Michigan …

An Analysis Of A Pilot Program: Oral Fluid Testing Of Drugged Drivers In Michigan, Amber L. Libby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are charged with the responsibility of interpreting complicated social situations of the public every day. Adding difficulty is rapid cannabis legalization across the United States, including Michigan; encompassed in medicinal legalization in 2008 and recreational legalization in 2018, which has brought with it many changes, affecting economic, social, safety, and criminal elements. Michigan has seen an approximate 45% increase in traffic crashes with drivers who tested positive for cannabis over a five-year time frame (2013 – 2018). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the accuracy of roadside oral fluid testing introduced in Michigan …

Louisiana Supreme Court Reconsideration Opinion

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

How Working Women In Healthcare Perceive Public Transportation And Safety, Assaaformbi Bama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women use public transportation more frequently than do men. However, most of these transportation systems were not constructed with women in mind. Public transportation systems are accountable for securely transporting people to their destinations, as well as upkeeping protective policies to advocate for fearful passengers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine women’s perspectives on public transportation.The research question guiding this study asked women to discuss their safety experiences and needs related to existing public transportation policy. Cooley’s theory of transportation and Friedman’s public safety theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Purposeful sampling was used to …

Law Enforcement Agencies’ Policy Impact On Police Officers’ Mental Health And Wellness: A Content Analysis, Na'shayla M. Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are available to answer the calls of citizens in the communities they serve. They are required to deal with some of the most horrific and stressful situations imaginable. The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to investigate law enforcement agencies’ policies related to adequate provision of early mental health intervention services for law enforcement officers after critical incidents and those policies’ impact on officer mental health. The focus of this study was on law enforcement agencies’ policies from 34 departments from across the United States. The agencies vary in geographic location and size. The results demonstrate …

How Working Women In Healthcare Perceive Public Transportation And Safety, Assaaformbi Bama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women use public transportation more frequently than do men. However, most of these transportation systems were not constructed with women in mind. Public transportation systems are accountable for securely transporting people to their destinations, as well as upkeeping protective policies to advocate for fearful passengers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine women’s perspectives on public transportation.The research question guiding this study asked women to discuss their safety experiences and needs related to existing public transportation policy. Cooley’s theory of transportation and Friedman’s public safety theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Purposeful sampling was used to …

Law Enforcement Agencies’ Policy Impact On Police Officers’ Mental Health And Wellness: A Content Analysis, Na'shayla M. Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are available to answer the calls of citizens in the communities they serve. They are required to deal with some of the most horrific and stressful situations imaginable. The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to investigate law enforcement agencies’ policies related to adequate provision of early mental health intervention services for law enforcement officers after critical incidents and those policies’ impact on officer mental health. The focus of this study was on law enforcement agencies’ policies from 34 departments from across the United States. The agencies vary in geographic location and size. The results demonstrate …

The Rainbow Wave: Rethinking Lgbtq Representation In Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Research, Tyler King

University Honors Theses

This thesis critically evaluates the representation and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ populations in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) research from 2000 onwards, amidst the resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health treatment. Through a quantitative analysis of published studies, it investigates the prevalence and depth of gender identity and sexual orientation data collection, revealing a significant gap in demographic data pertinent to these populations. This research aims to highlight the ethical and scientific necessity for more inclusive study designs that incorporate the unique psychological experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Recommendations are proposed for enhancing inclusivity in research methodologies, including organizational buy-in, …

Evaluation Of An Iot-Based Parking System Web Application, Nathaniel C. Mondero, Erich Jane S. Cando, Ralph David B. Garcia, Hannah Pearl O. Salvador

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

The Internet of Things revolutionizes parking systems and efficiently identifies available spots to reduce search time, traffic congestion, and accidents. With the increasing number of vehicles driven by visitors and residents in the City of Baguio, parking accommodation has become insufficient. Although Internet-of-things has shown its benefits to other communities, its functionality in the City of Baguio remains unclear. To promote sustainable and effective urban transportation, the suggested solution of an IoT-based parking system addresses Baguio City's parking issues. The significance of this study lies in its ability to reduce time spent looking for parking areas while providing recommendations for …

The Male Gaze: Textual Analysis On Contemporary Shōnen Anime And How Its Female Characters Are Viewed, Sophia Mikaela A. King, Febe Faith R. Mendoza

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

With its extensive history, anime continues to create a massive impact all over the globe that would either make or break stereotypes, determining the progression of the particular genre of animation. A significant factor that affects said progression would be the oversexualization of female characters, especially in shōnen anime. Because of this problem, the researchers analyzed in their paper the common patterns of how female characters are portrayed in Assassination Classroom (2015), Kakegurui (2017), and Chainsaw Man (2022), implying the Male Gaze, a theory by Laura Mulvey that examines how movies impact viewers' values by reinforcing pre-existing societal perceptions through …

Observations For A Changing Planet: Noaa’S Future Geostationary Satellites, Pam Sullivan

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

No abstract provided.

Hurricane Katrina: When A Crisis Is An Opportunity In Government Innovation For Migration Solutions, Camilo Mantilla

Refugee Law & Migration Studies Brief

No abstract provided.

Human Rights In Texas: Analyzing Operation Lone Star Through A Human Rights Framework, Olivia S. Callan

Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law

In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star (OLS) under the guise of border security. For over three years, OLS has threatened the lives of migrants and U.S. citizens alike. While advocates have primarily challenged OLS under U.S. state and federal law, this Note examines arguments based on the U.S.'s international treaty obligations, particularly emphasizing the importance of enforcing international mechanisms of accountability. This Note analyzes OLS under three international law treaties the U.S. has ratified: the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the …

Week Of June 10, 2024, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your summer hub for events, resources and updates.

Rapid, Direct Screening Of Priority Metal Contaminants In Environmental Systems With Reactive 3 D-Printed Cone Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry ( 3 D- Pcsi-Ms ), Jonathan Nzubechi Chilaka

Theses and Dissertations

Trace metal species are relatively common in our environment, and although some are essential to sustain life, exposure to elevated levels of toxic metals can detrimentally affect both human and animal health. Correspondingly, monitoring of such contaminants in environmental systems is critical to public safety. While various methods exist for sensitive and selective metal analysis for such applications, there remains a need for a rapid, cost-effective, and, ideally, portable solution for expedited results and more impactful remediation and sustainability initiatives. Here, we investigate the use of 3D-printed cone spray ionization-mass spectrometry (3D-PCSI-MS), a newer, spray-based ambient ionization method, with specialty …

Remote Vibration Based Monitoring Of Bridge Scour, Alan Kazemian

Dissertations

The gradual erosion of the sediment around a bridge foundation is called Scour. This erosion is caused by water flow and increases during times of high-water flow such as flooding. The scour leaves the bridges structurally unsound over time and jeopardizes the safety of the structure. Approximately 60 percent of bridge failures in the United States are caused by scour. A variety of types of devices have been used to detect scour. Most of these devices only observe the scour and not the structural integrity of the bridge. The typical approach has relied on visual inspections of the bridges after …

Empowering Family Forestland Owners To Reduce Wildfire Risk, Tom Lininger

Georgia Law Review

Wildfire risk is growing in the forested portion of the Wildland-Urban Interface, especially in the Western United States. Some commentators have suggested that the time has come for measures that would reduce the human presence in this area. In certain circumstances, however, family forestland owners have a salutary effect on forest resiliency. The attempt to exclude family forestland owners would create more problems than it would solve. A better strategy would be to assist family forestland owners in fireproofing their residences and improving the health of their forests.

Farmland And Forestland In An Era Of Climate Change: Hurricane Michael And Opportunities To Advance Rural Resilience, John Travis Marshall

Georgia Law Review

Catastrophic disasters fundamentally destabilize and reshape communities. They often cause loss of life and invariably inflict extensive property damage. Disabled individuals, the elderly, chronically ill persons, and families struggling to make ends meet are almost always left more vulnerable. Affected communities frequently experience population loss, a declining property tax base, and economic contraction. Over the last three decades, a string of major disasters has focused scholarly attention on their far-reaching impacts on large cities. Storms and earthquakes have reshaped urban landscapes and forced communities to reckon with their futures from San Francisco to Northridge, Houston to New Orleans, and Miami …

Natural Gas Or National Gas–Would A Statewide Natural Gas Ban In New Development Violate The Commerce Clause?, Madison D. Montague

San Diego Journal of Climate & Energy Law

This Article analyzes: (1) the contours of a natural gas installation ban, how municipalities have incorporated these bans, and how the state government may pass a statewide ban; (2) the likelihood that these bans would place a substantial burden on interstate commerce; (3) who, if anyone, would have standing to sue to end these bans; and (4) whether anyone could prevail in an action against a ban on new gas development.

Land-Use Governance And Indigenous Engagement In Arctic Alaska And Norway: Successes, Current Gaps, And Paths Forward, Ningning Sun

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This study aims to analyze the land use governance structures and the role of Indigenous engagement in Alaska and Norway using a comparative approach, with special focus on successful practices, current gaps, and paths forward to achieve equitable governance. Extractive land uses, such as oil and gas extraction and the construction of wind farms, have mixed impacts on Indigenous communities and lead to social and legal issues such as land use conflict and environmental injustice. Previous research has studied land use governance in Arctic countries with regard to Indigenous Peoples, yet there is a lack of literature that spans Alaska …

Strategies For Remaining Competitive Without Compromising Quality In The Aerospace Industry, Cornelius Jude Amadeus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of strategic initiatives to elevate quality manufacturing and customer-centric business models has precipitated the monetary collapse of many aerospace organizations. Concerns arise when the focus on revenue supersedes the goal of quality workmanship. Grounded in total quality management (TQM), the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that seven aerospace leaders used to increase and maintain profitability through TQM to gain a competitive advantage. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews and a review of organizational documents. Five themes were identified through thematic analysis: (a) applying operational excellence, (b) optimizing capacity planning and resource …

The Sandusky Child Sexual Abuse Scandal: The Implications For Athletic Department Procedures, Training, Policy, And Child Welfare System Interactions, Emmett L. Gill Jr., Terrence Allen

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The following is a narrative and critique of the Gerald A. Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Using a convenience sample of regional and national media accounts, this manuscript summarizes the confirmed events of the Penn State sexual abuse controversy. This case study focuses on a) the child sexual abuse of three victims, b) the Penn State athletic department and university responses, and c) the interactions between Penn State and state and local child welfare systems. Next, the manuscript will present conceptual and analytical considerations related to the Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal including the …