Digital Commons Network^™

The Porcupine Protocol: Automated Defensive Publication And Algorithmic Jurisprudence, Matthew D. Judson

Defensive Publications Series

Disclosed is the Porcupine Protocol, an automated system for generating and publishing industrial-grade defensive prior art using Local LLMs. The core innovation is the "Algorithmic Jurisprudence" engine (the "Recipe" algorithm), which automates the strategic decision to "File vs. Publish vs. Refactor." The algorithm calculates a Publication Score ($S_{Pub}$) based on weighted variables: Novelty, Detectability, Incumbent Risk, and Abstractness. It applies filters grounded in legal precedents: the "Alice" filter (Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank) assesses abstractness; the "Akamai" filter (Akamai v. Limelight) assesses divided infringement defense potential; and the "Porcupine" trigger initiates publication if $S_{Pub}$ exceeds a threshold. The Local LLM …

Wireless, Fully-Sealed Coxswain Audio Transmission System With Modular Boat Electronics, Wireless Charging, And No Exposed User-Side Electrical Connections, Glenn R. Engel

Defensive Publications Series

This defensive publication describes a fully sealed, wireless coxswain audio communication system designed for rowing shells, eliminating all exposed electrical connectors commonly found in traditional cox box systems. The solution integrates a waterproof wearable headset with digital MEMS microphone(s), a Bluetooth LE Audio transmitter, and Qi-based inductive charging within a connector-free housing. A boat-mounted receiver/amplifier module wirelessly receives audio, drives existing speaker wiring, and supplies inductive power to portable components. An optional detachable user-interface module provides visual feedback, system control, and additional charge-sharing capability through wireless power exchange. The system architecture enables complete wireless communication among all user-handled components, reducing …

Climate Change Influence On The Distribution Of Four Plant Medicinal Species From The Sierra Norte Of Oaxaca, Mexico, Irene Bautista Juárez, José Luis Villaseñor, Monserrat Vázquez-Sánchez, Wenceslao Santiago-García, Faustino Ruiz-Aquino, Mario Ernesto Suárez-Mota

Neotropical Biodiversity

The Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, México, because of its high biodiversity, is a good candidate for studying the possible effects of climate change on its flora distribution. Currently, several modelling tools have been developed to facilitate the prediction of present and future species distribution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of climate change on the distribution of four locally important medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family (Heterotheca inuloides, Laennecia filaginoides, Pinaropappus roseus, and Tagetes lucida). The analysis was done using the maximum entropy algorithm under three different time periods: the present, 2050, and …

Lead Sources Detected In Manila's Air After The Phase-Out Of Leaded Gasoline, Grace Betito, Paola Angela Bañaga, Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, James Bernard Simpas, Mengli Chen, Jariya Kayee, Armin Sorooshian, Rachel A. Braun, Alexander B. Macdonald

Ateneo Atmospheric Physics Laboratory

Abstract

The global phase-out of leaded gasoline marked a major milestone in pollution control, yet modern uses of lead (Pb) continue to pose significant health risks, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In the Philippines, significant data gaps still exist despite increasing exposure. This study presents to the best of our knowledge, the first Pb isotopic fingerprinting of atmospheric aerosols in Metro Manila, Philippines, covering fine (0.56–1 μm) and coarse (5.6–10 μm) fractions, collected in 2018–2019. Results show that local sources, mainly industrial activities (45–62 %) and fossil fuel combustion (30–45 %), are now the dominant contributors to airborne Pb, …

The Prospector, December 2, 2025, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

No abstract provided.

Correlates Of Depressive Symptom Severity Among Adults With Epilepsy Participating In An Epilepsy Self-Management Clinical Trial, Rachel Branning, Michael Liu, David Silva, Jessica Black, Jacqueline Krehel-Montgomery, Nicole Fiorelli, Richard Barigye, Clara Adeniyi, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background People living with epilepsy (PWE) experience higher rates of depression compared with the general population. Depression in PWE is associated with increased seizure burden and reduced quality of life. We aimed to examine clinical and demographic correlates of depression severity using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire in PWE experiencing negative health events in the past 6 months. Aims (a) To assess how depressive severity correlated with seizure frequency; To examine how outcomes such as quality of life are influenced by depressive severity; To investigate how demographic factors affect depressive severity. Method Depressive severity was defined as a score of …

Eyes Everywhere: Unpacking The Digital Surveillance State In Mexico And The Legal Blind Spots, Danielle Mena

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

This article examines the rise of digital surveillance in Mexico and its implications for privacy, human rights, and democratic governance. Despite constitutional and legislative protections guaranteeing personal privacy and freedom of expression, Mexico has developed one of the most extensive surveillance systems in the Americas. Through tools such as Pegasus spyware and the C5 urban surveillance network, government agencies have expanded their monitoring capabilities, often under the guise of national security. However, the misuse of these technologies against journalists, activists, and political dissidents reveals legal and institutional deficiencies. The article analyzes the evolution of Mexico’s digital surveillance infrastructure, identifies the …

Quality Improvement Project: Trauma-Informed Care For Nurse Faculty, Nicke R. Wilson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Recent research in nursing education highlights trauma-informed care, noting that nurse faculty often understand the concept but lack formal training to apply it consistently. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address this gap by developing an evidence-based Trauma-Informed Care training module to help faculty acquire the skills needed for psychologically safe and inclusive learning environments. This initiative aligned with the priorities of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Trauma-informed care is especially important in high-stress fields like nursing, where trauma can impact the performance, engagement, and well-being of both students and faculty. The project, conducted at …

Improving Lung Cancer Screening Rates Through Low-Dose Computed Tomography, Pauline Adhoch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Tobacco use is the leading cause of lung cancer and one of the most preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.25 billion people smoke, resulting in significant social, economic, and health burdens. Despite this, opportunities to screen and refer eligible patients for lung cancer screening are often missed in primary care, contrary to the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This quality improvement (QI) project educated clinical staff about the USPSTF guidelines for lung cancer screening to increase referral rates. Lewin’s Change Model guided behavior change, and the Iowa …

Cross Level Effects Of Digitalization And Environment Management On Energy Savings In Chinese Manufacturing Firms, Zijin Wang, Jaime Ortiz, Yuanheng Li, Lingyan Shi

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

The pathway to energy savings requires coordination of technological progress and policy implementation. Specific factors are needed to bridge cross-disciplinary conversations within just one system. Regional public digital infrastructure and enterprises’ environmental management capabilities are incorporated into a research framework on digitalization and energy savings based on the theory of digital ecosystems. A cross-level moderating model is constructed using data from 2014 to 2022 for 650 Chinese enterprises listed in the manufacturing industry to examine the impact of various digital technologies on energy savings, moderating effect of digital infrastructure and the constraint effect of environmental management systems (EMSs). Artificial intelligence …

Gli Weekly, December 2, 2025, Franke Global Leadership Initiative

GLI Weekly

Save the Date: Franke GLI Winter Scholarship Reception -- Long Day and Night Against Procrastination -- Advising and Registration Information -- Check out these Spring 2026 Classes! -- Montana Museum of Art and Culture: "Rand Robbin" Opening Reception -- Montana Museum of Art and Culture: First Friday -- In the Garden of Righteous: Lessons from the Heroic Rescuers of the Holocaust -- Holiday Helpers Gift Drive -- Volunteer with CASA! -- International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign

Exploring The Socioeconomic Determinants Of Abortion: Evidence From Pennsylvania, Guido Giuntini, Allyssa A. Wadsworth, Michael A. Malcolm

Pennsylvania Economic Review

Economic factors play a key role in determining fertility and the number of abortions performed. Using detailed county-level data from Pennsylvania, we used fixed-effects analysis to examine how changes in these economic factors are related to the number of abortions. Our most robust estimate suggests that each percentage point increase in the poverty rate is associated with approximately 5 additional abortions per 1000 live births, but that increases in college education rates are associated with a decline in abortions. We also offer some preliminary evidence on the effects of partisanship, religiosity and proximity to an abortion clinic.

The Penalty Is Declined: The Nfl's Exclusive Streaming Agreements And The Limits Of Antitrust Law, William Holt

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

The National Football League’s (NFL) decision to grant NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service exclusive rights to carry the 2023–24 wild-card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins signaled a major shift in the league’s media distribution strategy. Football fans that had long depended on free, over-the-air broadcasts for the most pivotal games of the year suddenly discovered that they had to subscribe to, and pay for, a streaming service they otherwise did not want or need.

The migration of live sports programming away from conventional broadcast networks touches on more than subscription fatigue and rising credit card statements. …

Ai Companions And The Lessons Of Family Law, Clare Huntington

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Virtual friends and lovers powered by artificial intelligence are rapidly moving to the center of our emotional and social lives. Millions of people turn to AI companions every day for conversation, romance, sexual intimacy, therapy, and education. AI companionship holds promise, potentially reducing loneliness, supporting people without access to mental health treatment, helping students learn, and offering a judgment-free space for sensitive conversations. But AI companionship also raises significant concerns. The technology’s addictiveness may exacerbate loneliness and can undermine human relationships. Therapy bots may prove more harmful than helpful. AI companions can be emotionally abusive. And their access to the …

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: A Comparative Constitutional Analysis Of Whistleblowing Speech, The Government's Managerial Domain, And The Imperatives Of Democratic Self-Government, Ronald J. Krotoszynski Jr.

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Since issuing its 1968 landmark decision in Pickering, which first recognized that the First Amendment protects government employees’ speech about matters of public concern, the U.S. Supreme Court has proceeded to whittle away First Amendment protections for government employees. The Justices have done so by adopting a series of categorical exclusions to Pickering that all strongly favor the government as an employer and manager. These subsequent decisions have created a jurisprudential obstacle course that government employees must successfully run in order to invoke the Free Speech Clause at all. The current U.S. approach is plainly bad. However, it could …

Bare Analysis: Prison Visitor Strip And Body-Cavity Searches And Federal Courts' Insufficient Fourth Amendment Analysis, Tristen Lindell

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Strip and body-cavity searches are among the most egregious invasions of personal privacy that the government can impose. The Fourth Amendment, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, demands that courts thoroughly analyze these searches. Courts must consider not only the suspicion that warranted the search, but the way the search was performed. But in the prison visitor context, U.S. Courts of Appeals have not done so. Instead of evaluating whether the search in question was conducted reasonably, including reasonableness in scope, courts have considered only whether prison officials possessed reasonable suspicion. This flies in the face of Supreme Court precedent. …

Securitizing The University, Maryam Jamshidi

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Since October 7, 2023, public and private actors have doubled down on efforts to securitize the American university. In large part, these initiatives aim to quash a vocal pro-Palestine movement that has become highly visible across U.S. campuses since October 7th. In targeting this group, these efforts have variously treated the university as an “object” of national security, namely, as a potential site of national security risk, while simultaneously encouraging or pressuring universities to “participate” in national security, namely, by actively and, in many cases, voluntarily furthering U.S. national security objectives. The university’s status as object of and participant in …

Jain-Miecell Roberson V. Usa

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Floods, Public Budgets And Fiscal Resilience: Evidence From Italian Municipalities, Alessandro Bellocchi, Chiara Lodi, Giovanni Marin, Giuseppe Travaglini, Matteo Zavalloni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

We examine the impact of extreme hydrogeological events on local governments’ fiscal responses in Italy between 2016 and 2022, with a focus on how local public finances contribute to disaster resilience. Leveraging the staggered timing of disaster declarations and employing a difference-in-differences framework, we estimate dynamic treatment effects on revenue and expenditure of municipal governments. Our findings indicate that local governments of affected municipalities significantly increase total and capital expenditures in the aftermath of disasters, particularly in functions related to emergency management, environmental protection and economic development. These spending increases are primarily financed through capital revenues and transfers from higher …

Beyond Judicial Dialogue: Reference To Domestic Law By The Inter–American Court Of Human Rights, Soledad Bertelsen

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

The recent freeze of U.S. funding to the Inter–American Commission on Human Rights serves as a reminder of how fragile the Inter–American System of Human Rights truly is. The effectiveness of the Inter–American institutions largely depends on their legitimacy in the eyes of the member states. This article argues how the legitimacy of the Inter–American Court can be enhanced by the language used in its judgments. The paper focuses on how references to domestic law in the case–law of the Inter–American Court can persuade states to comply with its decisions. Citations transcend the much–discussed judicial dialogue since they also reference …

The Times They May Be A–Changin’: A Look Into Cuba’S Future For Property Rights And Restitution Through 3 Lenses, Patrick M. Denny

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro took power and instituted a new regime that formed itself into a communist stronghold of the global south. With this new government came curtailment of private property rights, effectuated in government confiscation and limitation in private ownership opportunity. As many Cubans and foreign persons/entities had their residential, rural/agricultural, and commercial/industrial property confiscated, demands for restitution over the years has grown, particularly through US–led efforts. As Cuba has begun to soften to the idea of private property, as evidenced in its new 2019 Constitution, this Note seeks to analyze how property rights in Cuba …

Magic Mushrooms As Medicine: What The United States Can Learn From Jamaica’S Unregulated Psilocybin Industry As Fda Approval Nears, Kyle Spohn

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act and swiftly placed psilocybin (the active chemical in “magic mushrooms”) under Schedule I—the strictest level of regulation withheld for substances with “no currently accepted medical use.” While the United States has maintained this rigid framework, Jamaica has taken the opposite approach. Psilocybin was never listed under Jamaica’s Dangerous Drugs Act, and remains unregulated. In recent decades, research has shown that psilocybin, when administered in controlled settings, can effectively treat depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. In response, the Jamaican government has not only preserved psilocybin’s legality but has encouraged research and industry …

¡El Cielo Es Una Habitación Llena De Mujeres Gordas Riendo!, Lisa Isherwood

Conexión Queer: Revista Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Teologías Queer

This article examines a pervasive yet often overlooked form of abuse against women: the lifelong regulation of bodily size and shape. While acknowledging the horrific rise in domestic physical violence during the United Kingdom’s lockdown, the focus shifts to the normalized pressures of patriarchal control that women internalize from an early age. Such control disguises itself as concern or benefit, yet inflicts profound personal and spiritual harm. Approaching the issue from a Western perspective, the article argues that, within an incarnational faith, the disciplined body becomes the very site of resistance where transformative divine power is located in human experience.

In-Between Spaces: First-Generation College Immigrant Experiences, Silvina Alamo Sousa-Ransford

Dissertations and Theses

It is human nature to seek a sense of belonging, acceptance, and community. College students also share this desire for connection in higher education, but some face more barriers and challenges. This study examined the experiences of first-generation college students who are also immigrants. The goal was to understand how to best support students in college, including through academic advising, at a four-year research university in the Pacific Northwest. To gain insight into the students' experiences, I interviewed participants using narrative qualitative methods guided by the framework of sense of belonging and analyzed the data utilizing Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model. The …

Beyond Compliance: Rethinking Ethical Accounting Through Ai And Esg, Rafael L. Portillo

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

With the increasing adoption of these modern technologies in world markets while maintaining these ethical principles, there is an increasing need for alignment between technology development and ethical responsibility. For instance, in the world of accounting, there is an increasing demand to maintain alignment between technology development and ethics. It is for this reason that these researchers have chosen to explore the link between Artificial Intelligence, ESG, and financial reporting ethics.

The goal of this study is to look at new concerns and moral risks that appear when ESG expectations, AI systems, and accounting practices interact. Earlier research usually studies …

Genomic Surveillance Uncovers Regional Variation In Hcv Transmission Networks In Rural United States, Damien C. Tully, David J. Bean, Jacklyn Sarette, Thang Long Ngo, Karen A. Power, Daniel Brook, Hannah Cooper, Judith Feinberg, Peter D. Friedmann, Karli R. Hochstatter, Jennifer R. Havens, Shanna Babalonis, Christopher Hurt, Wiley Jenkins, P. Todd Korthuis, William Miller, Mai T. Pho, Gordon Smith, Thomas J. Stopka, Judith I. Tsui, L. Sarah Mixson, Ryan P. Westergaard, April M. Young, Todd M. Allen

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a public health concern in the United States, particularly in rural communities where the opioid epidemic accelerates transmission among people who use drugs (PWUD). Despite this growing burden, the genetic features and transmission dynamics of HCV in these settings are poorly understood. We analyze 692 HCV antibody-positive specimens collected from rural communities in ten U.S. states using amplicon-based deep sequencing and the Global Hepatitis Outbreak and Surveillance Technology (GHOST) platform to reconstruct transmission networks. Among sequenced individuals, 29.5% are linked within clusters. Cluster structure varies by region from sparse networks in Ohio to dense clusters …

Reducing Storage-Related Bias In Reproductive Vitamin D Research: Towards A Stable And Reliable Biomarker Of Ovarian Vitamin D Status, Evelin E Lara-Molina, Jason M. Franasiak, Almudena Devesa-Peiro, Marina López-Nogueroles, Alberto Vázquez, David Amorós, Agustín Ballesteros, Antonio Pellicer, Patricia Sebastian-Leon, Patricia Diaz-Gimeno

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Background/Objectives: One of the main reasons for discrepancies in the role of vitamin D in ART could be the measurement of the conventional biomarker 25(OH)D₃. It is known that this value is affected by multiple factors, such as tissue origin, assay variability, classification criteria, and potential storage-related degradation. In this study, we investigate 24,25(OH)₂D₃ as a new biomarker to improve vitamin D assessment in women’s reproductive health, particularly regarding oocyte development. Methods: A prospective cohort study including 35 oocyte donors undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation, who were recruited between October and November 2017, was conducted. Vitamin …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of Large Alumina Crucibles By Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing For High-Temperature Actinide Chemistry, R. Joey Griffiths, Christy Santoyo, Jean-Baptise Forien, Bradley Childs, Andrew J. Swift, Andrew Cho, Alexander Wilson-Heid, George Ankrah, Devin Rappleye, Aiden A. Martin, Jason Jeffries, Kiel Holliday

Faculty Publications

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers opportunities to advance the design and function of ceramic tooling in high temperature actinide pyrochemistry. In technical ceramics such as alumina, conventional forming techniques often restrict design flexibility and can limit experimental progress. In this study, we investigate the use of vat photopolymerization (VP) with commercial resins to fabricate large-scale alumina crucibles, reaching dimensions up to 125 mm, which is significantly larger than typically reported for dense VP ceramics. Notably, these additively manufactured components are produced using consumer-grade hardware, which limits process control, but offers significant upside in scalability and accessibility. Using microscopy and X-ray computed …

Redefining Resistance: Las Madres De La Plaza De Mayo, Echoes Of Trauma And Memory In Argentina, Elizabeth J. Kaye

Honors Theses

Argentina's "Dirty War" (1976–1983) stands as one of the darkest and most painful periods in the nation’s history. During these years, the military dictatorship, known as the "Proceso de Reorganización Nacional," implemented a systematic campaign of state terrorism, targeting suspected political protesters, activists, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. Widespread kidnappings, illegal detentions, and forced disappearances became routine, with an estimated 30,000 people vanishing without a trace. Families were left in despair, searching for answers that the government refused to provide. In response, a group of determined mothers, known as “Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo”, formed a powerful movement demanding …

The Triangular Interaction Between Dietary Polyphenols, Gut Microbiota, And Metabolic Syndrome, Emily Bayliss

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern characterized by peripheral insulin resistance as well as impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome, specifically gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, is a critical modulator of the pathophysiology of T2DM. Dietary polyphenols, a diverse group of bioactive compounds that are abundant in plant-based foods, have recently gained attention for their potential to attenuate metabolic disorders through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as through modulating the composition and activity of gut microbes, thereby attenuating dysbiosis. However, the diabetic state …