Digital Commons Network^™

Vaccination Mandates And Civil Liberties, Sophia Choti

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Vaccination mandates in the United States sit at the crossroads of public health and individual freedoms, a complex and often controversial intersection. The enforcement of immunization policies has a long history of legal and ethical scrutiny, balancing the state's responsibility to protect its citizens with the constitutional rights individuals hold dear. The COVID-19 pandemic reignited this debate, amplifying existing tensions and presenting new challenges. This analysis argues that while vaccination mandates are constitutionally valid and essential for safeguarding public health, they must be designed with care to respect individual liberties and address modern challenges such as misinformation, inequities, and public …

Systemic Barriers To Voting Rights For Minorities: Gerrymandering And Voter Id Laws, Kalela Leonard

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Since 1870, the struggle for voting accessibility has been an ongoing challenge for marginalized communities in the United States. Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965, systemic barriers limit minority participation in elections and influence their political representation. Modern systemic barriers refer to institutional practices and policies that hinder equal access to resources, rights, and opportunities. These barriers typically disproportionately impact minority groups. Furthermore, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and legislative policies have led to an examination of how modern obstacles—such as gerrymandering and voter identification laws—lead to discriminatory burdens on marginalized groups. These practices differ from tactics such as …

Real-Time 3d Automated Spotlight Tracking System, Francine Garcia, Mary Hemker

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

Commercially available automated spotlight systems tend to be expensive and unattainable for smaller school or community theaters. This project provides a cheap alternative to automated spotlight systems on the market and is compatible with most stage lighting architecture by using the Digital Multiplex (DMX) Protocol.

Circuit boards with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio frequency track an actor’s coordinates in a 3D space defined by four UWB anchors. A Raspberry Pi single-board computer acts as a controller and converts the coordinates into pan and tilt angles and maps these calculations to values that the spotlight can read in order to move. These values …

The Effect Of Birthweight And Gestational Age On Cognitive Function In Midlife: The Bogalusa Heart Study, Eunsun Gill, David J Libon, Soo Jung Kang, Ileana De Anda-Duran, Lydia A Bazzano, Wei Chen, Camilo Fernandez-Alonso, Emily W Harville

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Although the relationships between birthweight, gestational age (GA), and cognitive function (CF) before midlife have been demonstrated, the relationships after midlife and potential racial disparities remain inconclusive. This study examined the association between birthweight, GA, and midlife CF stratified by race.

METHOD: 1,032 subjects from the Bogalusa Heart Study (67% Whites, 33% Blacks, mean age 48.1 ± 5.3 years) were studied. Cognition was assessed with tests measuring verbal episodic memory, working memory, attention, graphomotor information processing speed, and global CF. Each test was standardized by sex and age, then averaged. The global CF was computed by averaging all cognitive …

Examining The Legal And Educational Implications Of School Resource Officers In Education, Tanvi Desai

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Predominantly serving the youth in schools, some states across the United States have implemented full-time sworn law enforcement officers, known as School Resource Officers (SROs), who are specially and specifically trained to promote safety within schools. Succeeding an increase in concern surrounding the juvenile justice system and juvenile crime, funding for school-based law enforcement programs has increased in conjunction, allowing for over 45% of public schools in the country to have implemented SROs within their walls. However, concerns surrounding the excessive use of force surrounding SROs have instigated debates regarding the necessity of a police presence on campus, as instances …

Beyond The White Coat: The Fight For Equal Healthcare By Minorities, Morgan Robinson

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Systematic oppression through medical discrimination has left a high rate of death in the minority community, with Black women having 2.6 times the rate of maternal mortality than White women. Medical professionals ignore minorities at a higher rate than White people. People of Color have been used as testers for medical professionals and reap the generational trauma of it, such as subjects of the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment passing it to their children. Even more, doctors today are taught that Black people have a “higher pain tolerance than other races,” so their symptoms are often dismissed. Legal solutions must be implemented …

Tripping Over "Trips"; International Inequities In Critical Phamaceutical Access, Michael Gomez

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

Directed by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Right (TRIPS) of 1995 is the most comprehensive international policy on the creation, protection, definition, and transfer of International Property Rights (IPR). This policy was particularly damaging for underdeveloped countries when it came to the trade and importation of name-brand drugs, as TRIPS inherently expedited the unethical process of evergreening drug patents. As a result, the agreement forced many vulnerable regions— such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC)— to become dangerously dependent on foreign generic drug imports, predominantly from India. This paper analyzes the …

Serial Killer Terminology And Its Effect On Criminal Trials, Alice Gnesin

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

The terminology used during court proceedings plays a pivotal role in shaping the legal outcomes and sentencing for serial killers. This study examines how specific language, mainly terms such as "serial killer," impacts sentencing severity. By analyzing cases involving serial killers and the terminology used, there is a proven correlation between terminology and sentencing. For example, Ted Bundy (30 confirmed murders) and Jeffrey Dahmer (17 confirmed murders) were both investigated by Robert Ressler—who pioneered FBI profiling and coined the term "serial killer." The term was extensively used within their trials, impacting their sentencing. This can be compared to John Wayne …

Reexamining The Second Amendment: The Impact Of Police Militarization On Civilian Gun Ownership, Merin Ajith

Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal

The increasing militarization of police forces in the United States contains profound implications on citizens’ Second Amendment rights, specifically concerning the ownership of weapons capable of mass violence. The original intent of the Second Amendment was not only to guarantee self-defense but also to safeguard citizens’ ability to resist a potentially tyrannical government. As police forces acquire military grade weaponry, some argue that civilians should have access to similar arms to maintain the balance of power between the state and its citizens, as outlined by the purpose of the Second Amendment. The historic use of violent police force to suppress …

Intention To Commute By Public Transportation And/Or By Foot: Findings From A Pls Structural Equation Model, Simona Balzano, Houyem Demni,, Edoardo Pascucci,, Luisa Natale, Giuseppe Cappelli, Sofia Nardoianni, Giovanni C. Porzio

SAML-25 Workshop on Statistical and Machine Learning

Sustainable mobility stands at the forefront of contemporary discussions, driven by the clear imperative to transition towards more environmentally friendly transportation and patterns. This shift is widely recognized as a crucial opportunity to address the challenges and inherent dangers posed by climate change. It is then crucial to introduce attitudes to encourage voluntary behavioral changes toward different sustainable solutions. In this perspective, to foster a future where sustainable personal mobility options are widely embraced and integrated, it is crucial to comprehend the inclination of younger generations to use them. For this reason, a survey on the use of sustainable mobility …

Ai-Driven Personalized Radiotherapy Planning, Nithin Venkatesh, Marco Pota, Maged Shaban

SAML-25 Workshop on Statistical and Machine Learning

The planning of radiation oncology treatment is made more dynamic and individualized by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Routine radiotherapy practice applies normative procedures indifferent to patient-specific parameters such as tumor volume, patient anatomy, and heterogeneity in the delineation of treatment response. Inadequate and over-radiation treatment is the most prevalent outcome. Further, with the inclusion of AI, it can facilitate enhancing the healthcare industry through optimizing radiotherapy using an array of patient information such as molecular profiles and imaging data. The product offers an end-to-end AI-driven solution to all aspects of radiotherapy, from initial consultation (diagnosis) to adaptive treatment planning. All the …

A Machine Learning Approach To Improve Prediction In Chemical Exposure Risk Assessment, Michele Marro, Cédric Koller, Hasnaa Chettou, David Vernez

SAML-25 Workshop on Statistical and Machine Learning

Exposure models play a crucial role in predicting chemical exposure in workplaces, offering an essential alternative to measurements, which are resource-intensive and time-consuming and sometimes not possible. Despite their widespread use and continuous development, significant challenges persist, including variability in predictions, limited model updates, and difficulties in accessing the required input data. In this study, we investigate how modern machine learning techniques can contribute to the improvement of exposure models by addressing these limitations. To overcome the frequent lack of data, we explore the use of synthetic datasets generated through existing exposure models. This approach allows for the study of …

Pathology’S Place In Understanding The Bias And Inequalities In Women’S Healthcare, Andrea Heaney, Eugene Hickey, Emma Murphy

SAML-25 Workshop on Statistical and Machine Learning

Women’s healthcare is a complex, multifaceted issue with both historic and implicit biases, along with biological differences between men and women. With the advancement of AI tools in healthcare and the potential for biased data to create biased models, it is vital to consider how women are represented in data. Previously conducted semi-structured semantic interviews with clinicians were analysed via Braun and Clark’s method of thematic analysis. The analysis of these interviews yielded the following themes: Gender Influencing Health, Pregnancy, Social Factors, General Health, Treatment, Training, and Research. These themes highlight that context is key to understanding the biases in …

Local And Regional Pastors And Non-Profit Leaders Complete Gardner-Webb’S Searight Pace Grant Writing Course, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

A group of ministers and non-profit leaders from local and regional ministries recently completed the Searight PACE course, “Grant Writing for Churches and Non- Profits.” Taught by Dr. Bobbie Cox, professor and chair of the Department of Public Service, the five-part series helped participants to develop the skills and resources needed to write successful grants.

2025-06-05 Minutes & Appendices, Longwood University

Board of Visitors Meeting Minutes 1964-

No abstract provided.

Ascertion: Middleware For Content Moderation, Mia Lassiter, Vani Aggarwal

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

The Internet is dominated by a handful of social media platforms that disproportionately control content curation and moderation. As a result, it is increasingly difficult for users to discern verified and credible information from misinformation and disinformation. Middleware is a specialized software with mechanisms to decentralize platform power and reinstate users with autonomy over their online experiences. We propose middleware that gives users the autonomy to create and consume authentic and trusted content. We achieved a proof of concept for a middleware with mechanisms for verifiable content posting and authentication. Our solution is implemented as a Chrome plug-in that provides …

Beyond Barriers: Supporting Formerly Incarcerated Students In American Higher Education, Carly Jean Colbert

Journal of Prison Education Research

The United States prison industry is the largest in the world. With the reintroduction of Second Chance Pell in 2015, more people are starting their education while incarcerated, and some attempt to finish after release. However, they are faced with numerous barriers that may prevent graduation. Drawing on Astin’s theory of student involvement, this mixed-methods study examines the challenges that formerly incarcerated people face while pursuing college degrees. Rather than focusing on access, this research focuses on the supports that institutions of higher education can establish to help formerly incarcerated students persist and successfully complete their undergraduate degrees. The findings …

Exploitation Of Plasma Treatment-Assisted Monocarboxylic Cobalt Phthalocyanine Nanorod Growth For High-Efficiency Photodetection Applications, Ahmed Ramzy, Ahmed M. El-Mahalawy, M A. Abd El Ghaffar, Wael A. Abbas

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Here, the effect of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) functionalization by a monocarboxylic group in the form of thermally evaporated thin films followed by plasma treatment for variable time intervals is introduced. The effect of plasma treatment on crystalline structure, molecular structure, and morphology was examined using the XRD, FT-IR, and FE-EEM techniques. Significant modifications were observed in the crystal structure and morphology with increasing plasma treatment time intervals. The plasma treatment for 5 min enhanced the formation of the nanorods along the deposited surface with improved crystallinity. Tracking the optical properties variation of the deposited MCCoPc thin films under plasma treatment …

Nancy Lewen V. Pennsylvania Soldiers And Sailors Home

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

University Counseling Center Therapists' Perspectives Of Counseling About Nutrition, Ana Lucia Pacheco

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined university counseling center therapists' perspectives on discussing nutrition in therapy. Despite the established link between nutrition and mental health, minimal research has explored how therapists approach these discussions. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to analyze semi-structured interviews with 10 university counseling center therapists from the Mountain West region. Four overarching themes emerged: a deficit view of nutrition, perceived utility, ethical practice, and holistic care. Therapists unanimously recognized the connection between nutrition and mental health and primarily discussed nutrition with clients presenting with eating disorders or disordered eating, those who express interest, or as part of …

A Framework For Scalable And Controlled Hallucination Data Collection, Lin Ting Liang

Computer Science Senior Theses

This thesis addresses a key bottleneck in hallucination research: the scarcity and limitations of hallucination benchmark datasets. Existing datasets typically focus on a single type of hallucination and are expensive to produce due to the need for manual prompt creation and annotation. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel mixture-of-experts (MoE) adversarial framework that actively induces hallucinations. Our framework employs three large language model (LLM) agents that iteratively and adversarially revise prompts to provoke hallucinated responses from a target question-answering model. It automates the generation of both intrinsic hallucinations (logical inconsistencies) and extrinsic hallucinations (inclusion of unverifiable external information). …

Global Supply Chain Disruptions., Karca Aral, Erasmo Giambona, Ricardo A. Lopez, Gordon M. Phillips

The Lender Center for Social Justice

Explores global supply chain vulnerabilities and disruptions, emphasizing financial and operational resilience.

Performance Of Islamic Banks During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Analysis And Comparison With Conventional Banking, Umar Butt, Trevor Chamberlain

All Works

This study examines the performance and resilience of Islamic banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by unprecedented global economic disruption. Drawing on empirical data and a comparative analysis with conventional banking institutions, the research evaluates key financial indicators—liquidity, profitability, asset quality, and capital adequacy—to assess how Islamic banks responded to the crisis. The unique principles of Islamic finance, including risk-sharing, asset-backed financing, and the prohibition of interest and speculative activities, provide a distinct framework for crisis response. By analyzing how these features influenced bank performance during the pandemic, the study offers valuable insights into the relative robustness of …

Conquer And Prevail Issue 189 June 5 2025, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Conquer and Prevail Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Gold Nanoparticles To Develop The Rapid Antigen Biosensing Strips For Detection Of Toxins, Trang Nguyen Minh Long, Perveen Akhtar, Gayathree Thenuwara, Vinayak Sharma, Furong Tian Dr., Bilal Javed Dr.

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Dewey And Merleau-Ponty: Science, Experience, And Nature, Michael Timm

Center for Dewey Studies Essay Award

This paper defends comparisons between pragmatist and phenomenological philosophies of science by comparing Dewey and Merleau-Ponty’s philosophies of science or scientific method. Merleau-Ponty might be said to “answer the phenomenological tradition’s criticism of naturalism” from within the Husserlian phenomenological tradition itself, revindicating the consensus between pragmatism and phenomenology set forth by Rosenthal and Bourgeois. In the absence of an argument that “methodological inconsistency” amounts to methodological illegitimacy, phenomenology ought not reject pragmatist philosophies of science because the Husserlian phenomenological tradition espouses a relative naturalism not unlike pragmatist naturalism. More importantly, this consensus with pragmatism sustains phenomenology’s own critique of scientism.

Development Of Recommendations For The Future Of Telehealth Use Among Sexual And Gender Minorities (Sgm), Jeffrey A. Wilhite

Dissertations and Theses

It is now well-documented that sexual and gender minoritized individuals (SGMs) face consistent stigmatization from not just the health care system, but also from overarching community, federal, and societal entities. Subsections of the SGM community, like gay men for example, face higher rates of eating disorders, certain cancers, alcoholism, mental illness and even obesity, when compared to heterosexual counterparts. Many of these challenges could be exacerbated by current political administration efforts to silence the community. Ensuring access to clinical care is one way of preserving the health and livelihood of the community. Telehealth, or synchronous, remote based clinical care, can …

Micayla Augustyn V. Wall Township Board Of Education

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Micayla Augustyn V. Wall Township Board Of Education

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Prevalence And Predictors Of Intimate Partner Violence Against Men In Kisumu Slums, Kenya, Elizabeth Akello Odemba, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Sheri D. Weiser

Faculty Publications

Background

Men in sub-Saharan Africa experience intimate partner violence, with few reporting their cases to the legal authorities or coming out for assistance. Consequently, data on the prevalence and drivers of intimate partner violence in different parts of sub-Saharan Africa are inadequate. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence against men in Kisumu slums, Kenya.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 398 randomly selected men in intimate relationships aged 18–54 years and residing in Kisumu slums. The sampling frame used was from Community Health Volunteers covering the area of study. Data collection …