Digital Commons Network^™

Responding To Hurricane Maria: The Role Of Mutual Aid Societies In Withstanding Federal Failures, Caitlin Bracken

Honors Theses

Through a combination of research and interviews, this paper unpacks the policies that expose colonialist realities and how Puerto Rican mutual aid societies engaged with those policies in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Policies and decisions such as cabotage law under the Jones Act; the quality of Puerto Rican bonds being triple-tax exempt; the inability to refinance or default on debt; the Insular Cases and other Supreme Court cases; and PROMESA, have established a colonial relationship with significant material and political consequences for Puerto Rico. These consequences were brought to light after Hurricane Maria, where the U.S.’s inadequate response resulted …

An Endangered Sport: Examining Sentiments Of Climate Anxiety Through The Perspectives Of Cross Country Skiers, Isabel J. Seay

Honors Theses

Since its emergence in the late nineteenth century, cross country skiing in the United States has grown in popularity and is a recreational and competitive outlet for millions of participants today. Given its dependence on snow, however, the sport is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which have already taken place in the form of shortened seasons, canceled races, and an increased reliance on artificial snow making facilities. Recent research has begun to look at the psychological impacts of climate change, and this research assesses levels of climate anxiety among a nationwide sample of cross country skiers. 129 …

Odiar Es Proteger: La Respuesta Inevitable Al Origen De Una Pandemia, Haowen Huang

Honors Theses

Esta tesis analiza la causa del odio hacia los asiáticos durante la pandemia de COVID-19, enfocándose específicamente en los casos que tuvieron lugar en España. La prevalencia de discriminación dirigida al origen de una pandemia identificado por la narrativa del brote es cultivada por la persistencia de estereotipos. En el caso de COVID-19, la xenofobia hacia los asiáticos fue el resultado de una construcción histórica que ha estigmatizado su identidad persistentemente, la repetición de la cual es definida en esta tesis como racismo pandémico. La imagen de los asiáticos enfermos fue establecida injustificadamente por la medicina occidental en el siglo …

Sprtn Metalloprotease As A Target To Sensitize Cancer Cells To Crosslinking Chemotherapy, Cole J. Turner

Honors Theses

Bifunctional alkylating agents have demonstrated high clinical utility as a chemotherapeutic strategy against cancer. These compounds have been well-characterized for their capacity to exert cytotoxicity via interstrand DNA crosslinking. However, the same electrophilic chemistry can also form DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) whose contributions to these drugs’ antitumor effects have been less well-defined. Recently, the metalloprotease SPRTN has been implicated as a predominant mediator of DPC repair in mammalian cells. Previous work has demonstrated that SPRTN deficiency increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to DPC-inducing agents such as formaldehyde and cisplatin, but these findings have yet to be translated more broadly across …

The Impact Of Signing Bonuses, Age, And Country On Mlb Success: Evaluating Investment Returns In The Mlb International Amateur Free Agent Market, Elliot Wolf

Honors Theses

MLB’s International Amateur Free Agent Market provides teenagers across the world opportunities to sign, develop, and potentially fulfill their dreams of playing in the MLB. It also allows teams to sign players at young ages, increasing the amount of time players can develop within a team’s minor league system. While signing bonus decision-making is backed up by a team’s scouts and data, the signing bonus a player receives is rarely a reflection of their future value. I argue that teams are not spending this money optimally. However, in an environment where players have low acquisition costs and volatile performance outcomes, …

Empowering Diversity: Unveiling The Impact Of Affirmative Action Policies On Intersectional Identities In Indian Village Councils, Auroshree Pani

Honors Theses

This study investigates the intersectional effects of affirmative action policies within the con- text of rural local councils in India. Utilizing the natural experiment provided by the randomized implementation of reservation policies in Uttar Pradesh’s gram panchayats, this research exam- ines how the intersectionality of marginalized identities—specifically gender and caste—affects policy outcomes. Employing data from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guar- antee Act (MGNREGA) and gram panchayat elections from 2015 and 2021, the impact on job demand and public asset creation is evaluated. The findings reveal that while female leaders gen- erally improve job demand and public asset creation, …

The Effect Of Postpartum Depression On New Mothers' Return To Work Decisions, Nicole Walutes

Honors Theses

Postpartum depression rates in the United States have doubled since 2010, with potentially significant economic consequences. In this study, I examine the relationship between postpartum depression and new mothers’ labor force participation using a national longitudinal dataset of 738 new mothers. I examine two labor force participation outcomes: whether or not a new mother returned to work postpartum, and the number of days it took for her to do so if she returned. I include a detailed set of demographic and social control factors. I find that conditional on these controls, having postpartum depression relates to a statistically insignificant 4.73 …

The Physicians' Crusade: A Forgotten War On Abortion, Feminism, And The Diversification Of The United States, Lucinda B. Harden

Honors Theses

Abortion in the United States was accessible and widely practiced until the mid- nineteenth century. In 1857 the physicians’ crusade, an anti-abortion political movement led by prominent medical doctors around the country, instigated the widespread criminalization of abortion by the end of the century. I argue that physicians wielded their scientific authority to validate increasingly conservative attitudes about race and gender. They appealed to national xenophobic and sexist backlash that accompanied progressive changes like industrialization and the abolition of slavery, amplifying those fears and offering politicians a source of control over female sexuality and a growing immigrant population: the criminalization …

Of Mind And Men: Replications And Rejections Of Hegemonic Masculinity At Colby And Beyond, Florence O. Kane

Honors Theses

This thesis examines what is at stake in the highly-racialized, -sexualized, and -gendered systems in which male Colby students craft self-concepts and how the college culture both rejects and replicates broader social notions of masculinity. I also analyze the theoretical threads that gave way to the field of masculinity studies and how such a discipline responds to contemporary claims of a “crisis of masculinity.” I then shift my focus to conduct a discourse analysis of “Sex Ed for Guys,” a TikTok account created by a group of male Colby students that offers a direct commentary on young men’s social and …

Sustainable Frameworks & The Circular Economy Within Digital Marketing & Advertising Agency Groups, Angelique Bautista

Honors Theses

Digital marketing significantly contributes to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of marketing and advertising agencies. Despite efforts towards corporate sustainability, discrepancies in carbon accounting and sustainability practices persist across the industry. An increasingly relevant topic for many industries is the circular economy (CE). It is concerned with creating a structured and cyclical sustainable practice and/or operation. This research paper examines the intersection of the CE and environmental sustainability initiatives in global digital marketing, analyzing sustainability efforts and ordinances up to April 2024, alongside theories from Science and Technology Studies (STS). Then, CE principles are explored more in-depth and the sociotechnological …

A Human-In-The-Loop Approach: Designing An Ai-Assisted Workflow, Abram Anders, Emily Dux Speltz

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This teaching case presents an AI-assisted workflow design activity that challenges students to integrate AI tools into solving real-world communication problems. Students engage in a structured process of problem identification, solution sketching, and prototype development, culminating in the creation and testing of an AI-human collaborative workflow. The activity fosters critical thinking about AI capabilities and limitations while encouraging students to apply AI tools to personally relevant scenarios.

Exploring Business Ideas And Opportunities, Mary Ann Hughes Butts

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students are given a three-part assignment after reading a chapter in the text about idea generation. In part one, the students are given five ideation techniques and the steps. They are to pick one technique and complete the steps. In part two, the students are instructed to use an AI tool to help them generate ideas. In part three of the assignment, the students are given a set of reflection questions where they are asked to reflect on the traditional technique they used, the AI, and compare the two.

Tort Claims Arising From Military Aircraft Crashes Are Not Preempted By The Federal Aviation Act, Timothy A. Loranger, Crawford Appleby

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

The Second Circuit's landmark ruling in Jones v. Goodrich Pump & Engine Control Sys., Inc. establishes crucial precedent by asserting that tort claims stemming from military aircraft crashes are not field or conflict preempted by the Federal Aviation Act (the Act). This decision, the first of its kind at the appellate level, carries far-reaching implications. The court’s rationale, grounded in the Act’s plain language, emphasizes that “public aircraft,” including military ones, are exempt from Federal Aviation Administration regulation. Title 49, section 44701(a)(1), explicitly excludes public aircraft from the Act’s purview. While the court’s analysis relies on the Act’s text, it …

Space Mining, Isabelle M. Thibault

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

The Outer Space Treaty, the leading source of law for activities in space, has laid out various limitations and regulations regarding actions in space and how space can be used. One of these limitations is commonly referred to as the “non-appropriation principle.” The non-appropriation principle prohibits nations from making claims of sovereignty over celestial bodies in space. This presents a problem as the space industry continues to progress because it causes uncertainty regarding the meaning of appropriation, what is classified as a celestial body, what acts are allowed, and who specifically is prohibited from acting. This Comment identifies these problems …

Front Matter

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

No abstract provided.

Unlawful Seizure: The Legal Implications Of Russia’S Re-Registration Of Leased Aircraft, Matthew Ormsbee

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia passed a law allowing its domestic airlines to reregister foreign-owned aircraft on the Russian aircraft registry. This law raises important questions about dual registration—forbidden under international law—since the prior foreign aviation authorities had not consented to the deregistration of the subject aircraft. Even as lessors revoked airworthiness certificates, Russia re-registered more than 350 leased aircraft. The most significant problem in civil aviation today is Russia’s re-registration law, which undermines predictability, order, and safety. This essay argues that Russia passed its registration law because its war left it with few other options. This does …

Navigating Passenger Compensation: Implications For Airlines And Consumers, Noor Ain

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Amid winter’s icy grip, as frigid December storms swept across the nation, a distressing scenario unfolded for countless airline passengers. In the realm of air travel, a ticket represents more than just a mere document. It embodies a contract, a covenant between passengers and airline companies. It symbolizes an agreement made by airlines—a commitment to delivering timely and uninterrupted travel experiences. Following the pandemic, which brought about technological failures, system outages, and staffing shortages, many travelers found themselves stranded due to prolonged flight delays or cancellations. Currently, the absence of viable options for passengers to seek recompense in the form …

The Eu-Asean Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (2022): From Regional To Inter-Regional To Global?, Jae Woon Lee, Antigoni Lykotrafiti, Máté Gergely

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

The EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) is the latest example of the EU’s effort to set a “global benchmark” in the regulation of international air transport. The EU-ASEAN CATA is an exceptional ASA for its geographic coverage, liberalizing impact, and expanded substantive scope. As the first-ever bloc-to-bloc ATA with 27 EU member states and 10 ASEAN member states respectively and a combined population of 1.1 billion, the EU-ASEAN CATA will make a significant impact not only on stakeholders in the EU and ASEAN, but furthermore on the rest of the world. The article aims to thoroughly examine the landmark …

Preempting The Buzz: Challenges For State And Local Regulation Of Drone Noise, Daniel Friedenzohn, Trevor Simoneau

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

From carrying life-saving medical supplies to delivering Amazon packages, drones are increasingly playing a more significant role in our society. Such operations, however, raise a variety of legal and public policy questions, all requiring answers before drone deliveries become commonplace in the package delivery ecosystem. One legal issue that remains significantly underexplored is the challenge of regulating drone noise. This issue raises vital questions of federalism and preemption in the broader debate over federal versus state and local power to govern different aspects of civilian drone operations.

Even though the noise generated by drones is much quieter than other types …

Utrgv School Of Medicine Research Project: Chronology - High Level Overview Of Events, Tanya Thirlwall-Diaz

School of Medicine Research Project - Supplementary Material

Supplementary material consisting of the chronological, high level overview of events that led to the creation of the UTRGV School of Medicine.

Ai, Originality, And Creativity: Copyrighting All The Melodies To Avoid Accidental Infringement,, Damien Riehl

Chapman Law Review

If you think of the 'Live Your Life' song, who thinks that 'Levitating' by Dua Lipa sounds like—or is substantially similar to—'Live Your Life,' by Artikal Sound System? Who does not think they sound substantially similar?

It’s a trap. That’s the wrong question to even ask. Really, the question of substantial similarity is number three in this. Really, the order of questions we should be asking is the following: is this melody even copyrightable in the first place? That’s the first question. And that’s what we are going to be talking about today. In 2019, I said to my colleague, …

Goodbye Copyright? The Rise Of Trademark And Rights Of Publicity In The Hip-Hop Music Industry, Kevin J. Greene

Chapman Law Review

"Hip-hop music dominates popular culture and fuels the global entertainment industry, from music to dance, film, advertising, television, social media, and the internet.8 Hip-hop music, also known as rap, is an art form created by African American artists, but largely controlled through distribution and intellectual property ('IP') transfers by majority white-led corporations.9 From its inception, hip-hop presented a challenge to prevailing theories and doctrines of intellectual property, especially copyright law. Today, the gauntlet of rules regarding who is an IP owner, what is and is not protected, and the law’s bias toward the sophisticated continues to burden hip-hop artists."

2023 Oregon Statewide Homelessness Estimates, Jacen Greene, Franklin H. Spurbeck, Marisa Zapata

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

Executive Summary excerpt:

The Point-In-Time (PIT) count is a census of people experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. The federal government requires this as a condition of funding it distributes to Continuums of Care (CoCs), networks of government agencies and service providers that manage homelessness services and funding in specific regions. Oregon has eight CoCs, five of which manage their own PIT count, which leads to variation in methodology and completeness. The PIT count’s accuracy is further reduced because it only captures homelessness on a single night, missing changes throughout the year, and uses …

2023 Point In Time Findings Report: Count Of People Experiencing Homelessness In Clackamas, Multnomah, And Washington Counties, Oregon, Marisa Zapata, Jacen Greene, Carolyn Niehaus, Ethan Sharygin, Franklin H. Spurbeck, Christina Wei

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires localities to complete an annual census-style count of people experiencing homelessness in their jurisdictions. This count, called the Point in Time (PIT) Count, enumerates the number and characteristics of individuals and family households who are experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the Portland, Oregon tri-county region collaborated for the first time and jointly created, administered, and analyzed the count data. The Tri-County 2023 PIT Count report presents findings from this first regional count of people experiencing homelessness.

If Not Here, Where?: Transnational Litigation Against U.S. Tech Giants Around The World, Pamela K. Bookman

Faculty Scholarship

In recent suits around the world against U.S. tech giants-e.g., litigation in Canada against Twitter (now X), in Kenya against Facebook, and in Europe against Google-plaintiffs urge foreign courts to adapt concepts like specific personal jurisdiction in flexible ways to allow litigation to proceed. In their defense, the U.S. companies are reusing the argument that similarly situated defendants successfully deployed in U.S. courts over the last few decades-that the cases are too foreign and do not belong in these courts. But these defendants have lost their home court advantage. They find themselves in courts with closer ties to the disputes …

Executive Power, The Royal Prerogative, And The Founders’ Presidency, Andrew Kent

Faculty Scholarship

The original meaning of the opening clause of Article II of the Constitution— which vests “[t]he executive power ... in a President of the United States”—has been debated inconclusively for over 200 years. As originalism gains ground as an interpretive theory in U.S. courts, and the U.S. executive branch continues to read the clause very expansively, often by making claims about original meaning, an intense scholarly debate has raged in recent decades about the Clause. A cohort of influential originalist scholars read the Executive Power Clause as a broad grant of war, foreign affairs, and national security power supposedly considered …

Volume 36 — Developing Synodality: From Churches To The World, The Ecumencial Association Of Nigerian Theologians

Bulletin of Ecumenical Theology

Volume 36 of The Bulletin of Ecumenical Theology is available for purchase by contacting Dr. Peter Osuji at Duquesne University. After two years, issues are made freely available through the Duquesne Scholarship Collection.

• Editorial
• The Synthesis Report of the 2023 Synod on Synodality, James Chukwuma Okoye
• Theopolitics of Africae Munus and Theological Anthropology of Fratelli Tutti: Implications for Nigeria, Joseph Ogbonnaya
• Myth, Meaning, and Marginalization: Exploring the Smart India Mission, Socio-Economic Challenges, and the Purusha Suktam, Sebastian Madathummuriyil
• Lift Every Voice—The Influence of the African American Church: An Illustration of the Power of a Culturally Incarnated Witness, Charles Gilmer
• Religious …

Where Do I Belong? : Creating An Inclusive Metadata Policy, Nicole Lewis, Karen Glenn, Jeremy Myntti, Sharolyn Swenson, Katie Yeo

Faculty Publications

Inclusiveness and honoring different cultures that reflect our patrons has been discussed in many different venues in the last few years. The staff of the Brigham Young University Library recognized the need for our metadata to demonstrate the commitment we have to honor others and to create a community of belonging. The staff also recognized that a policy would provide a roadmap for how to embark on fixing legacy metadata and how to move forward in creating metadata that reflects our core values in the library and at the university. This case study details how we developed an inclusive metadata …

Addressing The Prescribing Patterns And Environmental Impact Ofdry Powder Inhalers (Dpi) Versus Metered Dose Inhalers (Mdi), Abby Lindseth, Md, Claudia Leonard, Md, Facp, Michelle Sanders, Md, Facp

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

2024-2025 PGY3

Bridging Care And Cost: Enhancing Communication In Hospital Settings By Incentivizing Electronic Medical Tools To Promote Value, Christinia Patel, Md, Shelley Schoepflin Sanders

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

2024-2025 PGY3