Digital Commons Network^™

The Foundational Care Crisis, Stephanie M. H. Moore

FIU Law Review

This article examines the care crisis as the systemic issue that it is—starting from my personal story—because my story is the story of many women—and many caregivers. Teaching business law and ethics to undergraduates, I often encounter a primary question: what is the role of social issues in a business course? Sometimes students struggle with this initial hurdle of understanding why we study diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace. Why—for example—would we focus on lack of family leave as a primary barrier a successful business. The second question is—of course—what can we do? Social and societal issues are …

Stereotypes, Sexism, And Superhuman Faculty, Teneille R. Brown

FIU Law Review

This symposium article explores how law professors with caretaking responsibilities struggled so greatly during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because legal academia prioritizes masculine ideals of competence over warmth, faculty were expected to suppress their emotions and mental health needs in order to maintain the appearance of competence. While students were allowed to be seen as vulnerable individuals needing accommodations, we did not extend this same compassion to our faculty colleagues. To explain why the treatment was so disparate, I incorporated existing research on the stereotype content model (SCM) and psychological theories of dehumanization. These theories help to …

The Need For Social Support From Law Schools During The Era Of Social Distancing, Michele Okoh, Inès Ndonko Nnoko

FIU Law Review

Law students have been faced with unparalleled stress during the syndemic. They must cope with being students during the COVID-19 pandemic but also must deal with stress related to social and political unrest. This essay recommends that law schools apply social support theory in developing interventions to effectively address the needs of law students now and in the future. Social support theory focuses on the value and benefits one receives from positive interpersonal relationships. These positive relationships impact both mental and physical health and promote beneficial short and long-term overall health. However, not all supports are the same, and social …

Crisis, Rupture And Structural Change: Re-Imagining Global Learning And Engagement While Staying In Place During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shruti Rana, Hamid R. Ekbia

FIU Law Review

The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented closures of national borders and the withdrawal of much of the social and cultural activities of society into the walls of the home. For us, educators focused on global engagement and analyzing international law and society, the abrupt retreat into the shelter of domestic walls disrupted the very subjects we were studying—inside and outside the classroom. In the pandemic’s first wave, most study abroad and international experiential programs were cancelled indefinitely, and the programs that continued had to operate in an environment of social distancing and uncertainty. We were forced to scramble to accommodate …

(In)Dependent Contractors: Combatting Employee Misclassification In Title 26, Kyle T. Macdonald

FIU Law Review

This comment addresses the use of 26 U.S.C. § 7434 as an alternative remedy for individuals who are misclassified by their employers as independent contractors for federal tax purposes. Historically, misclassified employees have used more well-known employment laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act to sue employers who engage in employee misclassification. 26 U.S.C. § 7434 provides an underutilized, alternative means for misclassified employees to recover damages for wrongful misclassification. Originally enacted in 1996 as part of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, 26 U.S.C. § 7434 is a tax fraud statute that allows a taxpayer to seek civil damages …

Section 230 Is Not Broken: Why Most Proposed Section 230 Reforms Will Do More Harm Than Good, And How The Ninth Circuit Got It Right, Christian Sarceño Robles

FIU Law Review

In 1996, Congress enacted 47 U.S.C. § 230 (“Section 230”) as part of the Communications Decency Act (“CDA”), essentially protecting online services from any liability for content produced by third parties. With the hope to encourage internet service providers (“ISPs”) to moderate the content on their platforms so that minors would be less often exposed to indecent material online, the CDA authorized ISPs and users of interactive computer services to restrict access to inappropriate materials without risking liability from being classified as publishers. Section 230 quickly grew to become so central to US internet law that it has been cited …

Reasoning About Faith: On The Religious Lawyer, Rakesh K. Anand

FIU Law Review

The religious lawyer is an individual who understands his or her religious practice to be a way of life and who, within the context of a commitment to his or her religious practice as such, takes up the professional practice of law. Unquestionably, this individual is worthy of our respect, given the seriousness with which the individual approaches his or her faith. At the same time, it is precisely this seriousness that points us in a direction that is perhaps difficult for many to go. Specifically, because a way of life represents a total activity of the self from which …

Perceptions Of School Safety: A Multiple Case Study Of School Resource Officers In A Rural Setting In The Southeastern United States, Stephen Lance Britt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine school resource officers’ (SROs) perceptions of school safety assigned to 12 schools within rural communities located in the Southeast region of the United States. For this study, school safety was defined as the overall safety and well-being of the school environment. The perceptions of the SROs assigned to selected schools were examined using this definition of school safety. All aspects of safety within the schools were the focus of the study and were not limited to any specific areas of emphasis. This study utilized a purposeful sampling of 12 …

Premarital Counseling And Christianity: A Composition Of Couples Intuition And Understanding As It Relates To Marital Satisfaction, Sheila Delores Salley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Increasing divorce rates in the United States of America have resulted in Premarital Counseling (PMC) gaining grave popularity over the last couple of decades. There has been a proliferation of premarital counseling programs in the United States of America since the 1930s with a thrust toward building and sustaining satisfying marriages. Traditional premarital counseling programs focus on ensuring satisfaction once the couple is married; however, there is a significant gap in researching the impact of incorporating Christian values as a means of therapeutic intervention. This study involved eight Christian, African American, heterosexual couples who received Christian-based PMC (CPMC) and have …

Using Heidisongs Music As An Instructional Tool In The Elementary School Classroom: A Case Study, Leia Denise Jobe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to understand how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. HeidiSongs uses multisensory structured language education to teach by engaging multiple senses simultaneously to increase retention. The theories guiding this study include Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which involves kinesthetic intelligences among other types of intelligences, and Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition. HeidiSongs uses both musical and kinesthetic activities to enhance literacy. The central research question focused on how teachers use HeidiSongs music as an instructional tool in the elementary school classroom. The sub-questions …

The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities And Attendance On Student Achievement At A Mississippi Community College, Amanda Hyde Marbury

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the impact of extracurricular activities and class attendance on student achievement in science courses at a Mississippi community college. Public colleges are dependent on state funding for survival, with one main criterion for determining that funding being the number of students enrolled. Students need to be successful in courses to keep up the retention and enrollment rates. Student success is potentially linked to class attendance and student involvement in extracurricular activities. Schools need to look at factors that might be affecting students’ performance in the classroom such as participation in extracurricular …

Christian Devotional Meditation And Holistic Well Being, Raymond D. Paxton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Holistic well-being is a concept that implies humans are multidimensional and require a broad approach to help them achieve life contentment and satisfaction. Spirituality, relationships, emotional functioning, and biology all play a part in achieving this life balance and satisfaction. Interpersonal neurobiology suggests that early life experiences can contribute to underdeveloped brain structures resulting in the diminished ability to form meaningful attachment relationships that help foster contentment as an adult. This ability to engage in positive and supportive relationships has impact on life and holistic well-being. Further, the inability to form close relationships, engage, and emotionally connect with others has …

Leadership Adaptability Within The Higher Education Industry, Rebecca Niemeyer Rens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Dynamism in the higher education industry (HEI) has created unprecedented complexity and uncertainty for leaders at colleges and universities across the globe. The challenges to competitive advantage and sustainability created by dynamic conditions have been exacerbated and accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and health crisis. HEI leaders are struggling to adapt antiquated and traditionally held methods and practices to navigate the rapid changes and survive the resulting chaos. The ability of leaders to adapt to dynamism in contemporary industry conditions is influenced by the external and internal environments; in term, these leaders’ capacity for change impacts the adaptability of the …

Unraveling Microplastic Fate And Transport In Aerobic And Anaerobic Sediment Conditions, Tasnuva Farnaz

Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing Student Research Symposium (2022)

• To replicate oxidized and reduced circumstances, the MP-sediment interaction will be studied in three sediment environments: aerobic (oxidized environment), anaerobic (reduced conditions), and cyclic aerobic-anaerobic environments.

• As part of the experimental setup, five continuously stirred tank (CSTR) batch reactors (2000 mL flaks) operated for 60 days will be used. Two will act as controls while the remaining ones will have different environments.

• The aerobic condition will be achieved through the use of an air diffuser, while the anaerobic reactors will be sealed to the environment and purged with nitrogen gas.

• Dissolved oxygen (DO), Temperature, pH, Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), nutrient …

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Modeling Iot Solutions: A Lack Of Iot Device Security, And User Education, Benjamin Newlin

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Internet of Things, more commonly known as IoT devices, is an ever growing topic, both in the marketplace and in cyber security. While new devices are released into the public every year, a lack of standardized security concepts is also growing ever so clear. By having a model or standard for IoT devices and manufacturers to follow, the customer-base of these devices will have an easier time identifying trustworthy devices as well as how to secure their own devices.

Cybersecurity In Fintech Companies, Efstratios Zouros

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Have you recently accessed your bank account online? Have you accessed any financial instrument through your computer or your mobile device? If you are reading this, chances are you have. Every time you utilize those services, you ultimately put your trust in the financial institutions that offer them. You trust that they can securely keep your private information, while also keeping your savings safe. Ultimately, there is a certain dependability and trust in financial institutions that have been present on earth before most of us.

Deepfakes: Ai Technology Of The Future, Hosanna Root

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Deepfakes technology’s danger stems from its ability to create realistic but fake synthesized media that people often identify as something that is real. With this powerful technology in the wrong hands, deepfakes can cause devastating havoc through information warfare, election campaign disruptions, and more, creating distrust in society. Disinformation is already rampant today, even without wide deployments of deepfakes, which is concerning given the fact that deepfakes’ nefarious full potentials are yet to be reached.

Writing Towards Radicalism: On Biased Reporting & Its Effects On U.S. Extremism, Martha Tyler

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Perceived influxes in biased reporting, disparities in reporting versus reality, and other factors have led many Americans to question the legitimacy of their most-frequented sources. These sentiments have encouraged migration from traditional sources to alternative ones, exposing many Americans to polarizing media. This report argues that unaddressed inadequacies in reporting force Americans to contend with a distorted reality or try their luck on the path toward alternative media.

Acrylonitrile Induction Of Rodent Neoplasia: Potential Mechanism Of Action And Relevance To Humans, Tetyana Kobets, Michael J. Iatropoulos, Gary M. Williams

NYMC Faculty Publications

Acrylonitrile, an industrial chemical, is a multisite carcinogen in rats and mice, producing tumors in four tissues with barrier function, that is, brain, forestomach, Zymbal’s gland, and Harderian gland. To assess mechanism(s) of action (MoA) for induction of neoplasia and to evaluate whether the findings in rodents are indicative of human hazard, data on the potential key effects produced by acrylonitrile in the four rodent target tissues of carcinogenicity were evaluated. A notable finding was depletion of glutathione in various organs, including two target tissues, the brain, and forestomach, suggesting that this effect could be a critical initiating event. An …

Mental Health And Access To Medical Care In Patients With Chronic Cardiovascular Conditions: An Analysis Of The Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, Riyad Y Kherallah, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Jing Liu, Sina Kianoush, Arunima Misra, Salim S Virani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Poor mental health is associated with worse outcomes for chronic diseases. It is unclear whether mental illness predisposes to difficulties with healthcare access.

METHODS: Using a combined dataset of the 2016-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this study focused on individuals who reported a chronic cardiovascular condition. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between domains of mental health and measures of healthcare access including delaying medical care, more than one year since last routine checkup, lack of a primary care physician, and cost-related medication nonadherence.

RESULTS: Among 1,747,397 participants, 27% had a chronic cardiovascular …

Use Of Technology And Its Impact On Higher Order Thinking In The Science Classroom, Mauree Angelina Haage

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focuses on examining the impact of technology on higher order thinking in the science classroom by first examining the impact of a teacher’s knowledge of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy on the integration of higher order thinking activities and then by examining what levels of higher order thinking exist when technology was utilized. Previous research has found correlations between the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy exhibited when using technology, particularly probeware, simulations/virtual labs, and special software like LoggerPro. In addition, previous research has shown a trend of teachers inaccurately categorizing their lessons and activities as having a higher order thinking level …

Changes In Reproductive Behavior And Birth Patterns During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Sakartvelo (The Republic Georgia) [რეპროდუქციული ქცევასა და შობადობის ცვლილებები კოვიდ-19 პანდემიის დროს საქართველოში], Nino Mateshvili

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Because of the increased frequency and extent of large-scale disasters, including health events, there is a need to better understand the impacts of these disasters on key demographic processes. In particular, in the European countries, including the Republic of Georgia (Sakartvelo), which already face demographic problems, such as aging population and decreasing birth rates, researchers and policymakers are concerned with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on demographic indicators and processes, such as birth rates and reproductive behavior. That is why it is very timely to collect and analyze initial evidence establishing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as a …

The Path From Paramilitary To Politics: Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin, And The Good Friday Agreement: 1986-1998, Brenann Hamilton

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Although the Troubles often have been written about by historians through a nationalistic or cultural context, pitting the Irish Catholic Nationalists against the Protestant British loyalists, much of the action took place within the political sphere, as the Nationalists’ and Unionists’ representatives fought for concessions and control. Rather than focusing on the religious differences or the ethnographic backgrounds of the people living in Northern Ireland, this thesis examines through a political context how the leaders of Sinn Féin shaped popular opinion and gained support through nonviolent means. While the national identity and cultural differences between the Nationalists and Unionists inform …

The Association Between Parent And Adult Child Severe Mental Illness Stigma: The Effects Of Gender, Relationship Quality, And Contact, Taylor Joyce Courier

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Extensive research exists on individuals’ stigma toward mental illnesses and factors that influence the stigmatizing beliefs a person holds. One area included in this examination is an exploration of the impact that parents have on the stigmatizing beliefs held by their children. These studies have found varying levels of similarity in beliefs between parents and children. The present study attempted to elucidate the association between parents’ stigmatizing beliefs and adult children’s stigmatizing beliefs about severe mental illness. Based on survey data collected from 244 participants, this study showed a strong association between adult children and perceived parents’ beliefs. Moderators revealed …

Psychopathy And Emotion Regulation: The Mediating Role Of Motives And Goals, Morning S. Baker

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between psychopathy and emotion regulation as serially mediated by emotional motives and goals in an all-male sample. Six serial mediation models were proposed, three for each motive-type (i.e., hedonistic, instrumental), and two for each emotion (i.e., anger, fear, joy). Eight-hundred and seventy-eight participants were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Results indicate that male MTurk workers with greater levels of psychopathy have poorer emotion regulation, emotion goals for experiencing anger and fear, hedonistic and instrumental motives for experiencing anger and fear, emotion goals for not experiencing joy, and hedonistic and …

Frank Capra's America: The Fall Of Political Ambiguity, 1930-1950, Lydia Lennice Pakala

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

As the United States sank lower into an economic depression, Hollywood sought to turn bread lines into lines for the box office. While other entertainment outlets faltered, film, with its low cost tickets and ability to help patrons escape, remained prominent. Hollywood started to produce films with profit in mind and in the thick of this environment was Frank Capra, a man destined to become one of the most popular film directors of the 1930s and 1940s. Capra made a conscious effort to choose contemporary stories and as a result they are a glimpse not only into the history of …

A Study Of Johann Sebastian Bach’S Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914; Ludwig Van Beethoven’S Piano Sonata Op. 10, No. 3 In D Major; Claude Debussy’S Pour Le Piano L. 95; And Frederic Chopin’S Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23, Hanna Stolper

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This paper discusses a work of four different composers, two from the 1700s and two from the 1800s. Each piece has a brief summary of the historical context of the piece and analyzes each movement of the pieces.

Media Framing Of Marriage Practices In Afghanistan, Hakima Afzaly

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Culturally, in Afghanistan, marriage is given much importance and seen as something that completes life. Through this study, I analyze how marriage practices, such as dowry (Mahr), bride price, and the “virginity ritual,” are described in newspapers and magazines of Afghanistan. In particular, I explore how the popular press, such as 8 Sobh and Khama Press in Afghanistan frame their discussion of marriage practices. The findings from this analysis reveal that newspapers and magazines of Afghanistan frame marriage as an economic issue and a major focus of the articles is on the financial pressure on poor families due to the …

"Land Of The Silver Birch": Environmental Attitudes And Place-Making In A Northern Minnesota Boy Scout Camp, 1960-1975, John Mark Fretham

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 1959, leaders of the Minnesota Valley Council, BSA (headquartered in Mankato, MN) began making plans to create a new Boy Scout camp to replace their recently built camp in Southern Minnesota. The previous fifteen years of the post-World War II era had produced significant shifts in ideas about wilderness, what constituted quality outdoor recreation, growing anxiety about masculinity in the Cold War era, and expansion of the promotion and adoption of a North Woods tourist culture. These changes helped lead the council to begin looking for a site to create a new Boy Scout camp and build Camp Cuyuna …

Autonomous Driving And Connected Mobility Modeling: Smart Dynamic Traffic Monitoring And Enforcement System For Connected And Autonomous Mobility, Dimitrios Zavantis, Fatma Outay, Youssef El-Hansali, Ansar Yasar, Elhadi Shakshuki, Haroon Malik

All Works

In recent years, autonomous vehicles (AVs), connected vehicles (CVs) and all relative technology have been in the spotlight, being intensively researched and developed. There is high anticipation on the benefits of automation and the overall reform it will bring to the transport sector, with some optimistic estimates considering it as a reality within the next few years. Evidently, AVs and CVs are attracting considerable attention and are developed very rapidly, cultivating great expectations for traffic safety improvements. While their potential is enormous and undeniable, benefits are not automatically guaranteed as there are parameters that currently appear unforeseen. This paper investigates …