Digital Commons Network^™

Case Brief: In Re R.A.F.–Beware Of The "Haunting Specter", Sam W. Scheipers

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Make America Healthy: Reducing High Pharmaceutical Prices Without Reducing Innovation, Srividhya Ragavan

Faculty Scholarship

Cost of medication in the United States has historically remained one of the highest in the world. The conundrum that the United States has faced in balancing innovation with affordability of life-saving medications is palpable, especially when faced with the reality of patent monopolies conflicting with healthcare obligations. The result is an overflow of issues, which emphasize the need to delineate limits on innovation to balance pharmaceutical novelty with robust public health within the United States. This has increasingly shifted the focus of patent law into the realm of healthcare issues. Naturally, it leads to an inquiry about how best …

Intellectual Property, Global Inequality, And Subnational Policy Variations, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter criticizes the oversimplification of the binary North–South debate on intellectual property, innovation, and global inequality and highlights the wide geographic, sectoral, and income inequalities within middle-income countries. It begins by explaining why the arrival of these countries has called into question the North–South debate. The chapter then moves from the widely studied subject of global inequality to the underexplored topic of national inequality. Focusing on the intellectual property context, the discussion highlights the considerable subnational variations in the economic and technological conditions of middle-income countries. To combat national inequality, this chapter concludes by recommending interventions in three areas: …

Intellectual Property, Innovation And Economic Inequality, Daniel Benoliel, Peter K. Yu, Francis Gurry, Keun Lee

Faculty Scholarship

While growing disparities in wealth and income are well-documented across the globe, the role of intellectual property rights is often overlooked. This volume brings together leading commentators from around the world to interrogate the interrelationship between intellectual property and economic inequality. Interdisciplinary and globally oriented by design, the book features economists, legal scholars, policy analysts, and other experts. Chapters address the impact of intellectual property rights on economic inequality, the effect of economic inequality on the protection and enforcement of these rights, and the potential use of innovation law and policy to help reduce economic inequality. The volume also tackles …

Introduction To Intellectual Property, Innovation And Economic Inequality, Daniel Benoliel, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter provides an introduction to Intellectual Property, Innovation and Economic Inequality. It begins by discussing the problem of economic inequality, including the scale of that problem, types of economic inequality, and extant research on such inequality. The chapter then outlines the structure of this volume, which is divided into three parts: (1) theoretical, empirical, and policy issues; (2) intellectual property and national inequality; and (3) intellectual property and global inequality.

China, The Trips Waiver, And The Global Pandemic Response, Peter K. Yu

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter identifies three distinct reasons why China took a middle-of-the-road position in the debate on the COVID-19 TRIPS waiver at the WTO. It also recounts the country’s more assertive position in the run-up to the adoption of the Ministerial Decision on the waiver. Drawing eight lessons from the international debate on the waiver and the subsequent Ministerial Decision, the chapter offers insights into the future role China can or will play in future international policy debates at the intersection of intellectual property and public health, including during the next pandemic.

Evaluation Of Pierce’S Disease-Resistant Grapevine Cultivars In Upstate South Carolina, Annie Bruno

All Theses

Interest in wine grape production is increasing in South Carolina, but Pierce’s Disease (PD) caused by the xylem-limited bacteria Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a major limiting factor. Xf is spread by sap-sucking insect vectors in the Cicadellidae family such as sharpshooters. In the United States, Xf has become endemic to the southeast as global temperatures rise, causing winter temperatures to increase, which allows the bacteria to survive year-round. However, PD-resistant grapevine hybrid cultivars have become available through breeding V. vinifera genes with native American Vitis species that are resistant to Xf. In this study, the PD-resistant grapevine …

Evaluating The Roles Of Pollinators In Shaping The Floral Color Variation Of Phacelia Dubia, Katherine Riddle

All Theses

Floral color variation within a species is a common occurrence and its maintenance has been a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. Differences in flower color between populations can be shaped by pollinator-mediated selection. Pollinators can exhibit innate and learned preferences for color that may influence floral color variation. These preferences may be molded by the visual environment in which pollinators forage. Most current understanding of how pollinators shape floral color variation involves dramatic differences in dominant pollinators between populations (e.g., hawkmoth vs. bee) and most behavioral work utilized model pollinators like honeybee and bumble bee. However, less is known about …

Assessing The Potential For Photosynthetic Degradation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Marlow Thomas

All Theses

PFAS is a prevalent groundwater contaminant. It has been known to cause many health issues for humans and animals including cancer and several diseases. A main problem faced with PFAS is contamination in groundwater. Remediation strategies have been and continue to be researched to try to mitigate this issue. Current treatment strategies to mitigate PFAS include the use of granular activated carbon, ion exchange, chemical oxidation, and many hybrid treatments. There has not been one treatment technology to date that has prevailed as the best due to monetary and time constraints.

The main intention behind this research is to examine …

Sustainable Agriculture Practices And Economic Outcomes: Selected Ipm In Tomato And Cover Crop Inter-Seeding In Organic Corn In South Carolina, Rohini Sonti

All Theses

This two-chapter thesis focuses on the economic evaluation of integrating a combination of sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving environmental resilience and farm profitability across both conventional and organic farming systems in South Carolina. The research study lays emphasis on two key areas: the use of Integrated Pest Management practices, specifically grafting and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in tomato production and the inter- seeding of cover crops under different tillage systems in organic corn production.

The first chapter assesses the economic feasibility of two IPM practices: grafting and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) in tomato production. Following the phase-out of methyl …

Investigation Of Chondrogenesis, Myogenesis, And Osteogenesis After 2,4-Dtbp, 2-Bp, 4-Bp, 3,5-Dtbc Exposure In Zebrafish, Haley Brashears

All Theses

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are used in personal care products, food packaging, and water pipes, common SPAs include 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), 2-tert-butyl phenol (2-BP), and 4-tert-butyl phenol (4-BP). These compounds are detected in the environment and in human biological samples. 2,4-DTBP has been detected in cord plasma, placenta, and breast milk samples. This drives the concern regarding developmental toxicity. In human iPS cells 2,4-DTBP impairs differentiation into somites and osteoblasts. Other SPAs, like 2,6-di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene caused increased rates of malformations including yolk and pericardial edema, and spinal curvature in 5-day post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish. …

Toward Electrochemical Detection Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Enteritidis On Hydroponically Grown Green Onions (Allium Fistulosum L.), Lisseth Casso-Hartmann

All Theses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established standards during the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption as part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One of the main requirements for farmers is to detect environmental pathogens such as Salmonella enterica species in water and sprout samples. S. enterica is a bacterium of significant concern due to its pathogenicity and ability to survive and persist in diverse environmental conditions. S. enterica has been associated with recalls in ready-to-eat foods. Traditional detection methods include Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and plate counting, which …

Lateral Dispersal Of Adult Trichoptera: Flight Distance And Traveling Pattern, Peilin Tan

All Theses

Trichoptera species (caddisfly) are usually used as bio-indictors for surface water quality due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, and if assessing water quality with light-trapped adults, knowing their travelling patterns will improve the accuracy of such assessments. To investigate how far a caddisfly will migrate from their emerging stream, three streams in South Carolina with different widths (Wildcat Creek 1.2 m, Brasstown Creek 11.2 m and Chattooga River 26.95 m) were selected for this study with light traps placed at three distances (0 m, 50 m, 100 m) from the streams. How long and when? Both species richness and …

Avian Temporal Trends And Habitat Relations Within The South Atlantic Coastal Zone, Jordan Mccall

All Theses

Despite the significance of the Hobcaw Barony in a region historically known as a waterfowl hunting paradise, the long history of the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science on Hobcaw Barony and the establishment of the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center at the Baruch Institute in 2014, no comprehensive study of waterbirds has occurred on site. Thus, basic information, such as the number of species present, relative abundance, migration chronology, and habitat use and selection, is lacking. This research aims to form a baseline of waterbird and wetland data on the Hobcaw Barony …

Environmental Light Controls The Daily Organization Of Breathing By Activating Brn3b-Expressing Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells In Mice, Aaron A. Jones, Allison R. Spears, Deanna M. Arble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Rhythmic, daily fluctuations in minute ventilation are controlled by the endogenous circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). While light serves as a potent synchronizer for the SCN, it also influences physiology and behavior by activating Brn3b-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). It is currently unclear the extent to which the external light environment shapes daily ventilatory patterns independent of the SCN. To determine the relative influence of environmental light versus circadian timing on the organization of daily rhythms in minute ventilation, we used whole-body plethysmography to measure the breathing of mice housed on a non-entraining T28 cycle …

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum’S Effect On Gopher Tortoises Of South East Florida, Elena Tonkin

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

Recent studies have revealed Anaplasma phagocytophilum as a new pathogen that has started to affect gopher tortoise populations throughout Florida. This study investigated how the pathogen, A. phagocytophilum, has potentially begun to spread amongst the gopher tortoises in the Abacoa Greenway and the Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP). To investigate these tortoises, blood samples were taken from multiple specimens from Range VI of the Greenway and FAUP. DNA isolated from these samples were then analyzed for the presence of A.phagocytophilum utilizing PCR and gel electrophoresis, followed by Sanger sequencing. This research demonstrated that A.phagocytophilum has not made its way …

Creating Place-Based Introductory Geoscience Field Trip Curricula For Indigenous Students, Kitri Spencer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This project seeks to produce and evaluate a place-based geoscience field trip curriculum along the San Juan River designed for Indigenous students. The Geoscience on the San Juan River field trip uses a “place-based” approach to weave scientific concepts with the cultural knowledge and lived experiences of the students. Learning activities were designed to accommodate a wide range of learning preferences and accessibility needs with the hope of increasing Indigenous enrollment in the geosciences. The lesson plan was tested on June 4^th, 2022 during a guided rafting excursion on the San Juan River for students participating in the …

Examination Of The Relationship Between Algal And Mussel Populations In Streams, Haarika Hebbur

Honors Projects

Due to the ecological importance of both mussel and algal populations, understanding their interactions is critical for further studies in the field. This literature review will explore the functions of both organisms within stream ecosystems, followed by an observational study. The study is designed to evaluate the potential interactions between algal biomass and mussel populations using chlorophyll a concentration as a tool for algal abundance measurement.

Teachers’ Life Experience Of Trauma And Its Impact In The Classroom, Casey Voelz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if teachers’ lived experiences of trauma impact practices, relationships, and responses to student behaviors in the classroom. The common themes could allow colleges, school districts, and school leaders to reflect, develop, or improve access to therapeutic interventions and teacher self-discovery in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, and emotional intelligence. This qualitative study involved obtaining data from the Indiana Department of Education. The Indiana Department of Education provided email addresses for superintendents for public schools in Indiana. Superintendents received an email requesting teacher participation. If approved, teachers received the ACE survey. From …

Rate Coefficients For Rotational State-To-State Transitions In H2O + H2 Collisions As Predicted By Mixed Quantum–Classical Theory, Carolin Joy, Dulat Bostan, Bikramaditya Mandal, Dmitri Babikov

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Aims. A new dataset of collisional rate coefficients for transitions between the rotational states of H₂O collided with H₂ background gas is developed. The goal is to expand over the other existing datasets in terms of the rotational states of water (200 states are included here) and the rotational states of hydrogen (10 states). All four symmetries of ortho- and para-water combined with ortho- and para-hydrogen are considered.

Methods. The mixed quantum–classical theory of inelastic scattering implemented in the code MQCT was employed. A detailed comparison with previous datasets was conducted to ensure that this …

Genetic Analysis Of A Novel Population Of Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys Volans) Found In Lincoln, Ne, Jennifer Wettschreck

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

In 2018 a novel population of southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) was discovered in Lincoln, Nebraska, 80 km outside of their known range. Southern flying squirrels are designated as a “Tier-1” species of concern within Nebraska and the origin of this new population is of interest to state biologists. This study will provide insight into the probable origin of this new population by comparing genetic samples from known populations of southern flying squirrels. Museum specimens were collected from two well-established populations in Florida and Texas, as well as samples from individuals native to Nebraska (Indian Cave State Park) to compare …

Investigating The Role Of Feature Integration Demands On Attention Efficiency., Emma Kurtycz

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Feature integration and visual selective attention have been studied together to understand how we attend to different objects, often through conjunction search tasks. Conjunction search tasks involve searching for an object defined by multiple visual features in the presence of distractors. However, few studies have examined how different visual feature combinations impact search performance. Motivated by the functional and structural organization of the brain, this study investigated how differing feature combinations that theoretically place varying degrees of demand on feature integration impact attention efficiency. In two experiments, I explored reaction times (RT) and target detection sensitivity (d’) across varying set …

Cultural Concepts Of Distress Education For Clinicians, Leilani Jolene Santos Cancio

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Adult System of Care (ASOC) program at Monterey County Behavioral Health supports adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders. Despite serving a diverse population, there is limited training that addresses the complex intersection of culture and mental health. This project involved a workshop for ASOC clinicians focused on cultural concepts of distress, specifically "ataque de nervios," a syndrome common in Hispanic and Latino individuals. The workshop aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of how cultural identity impacts mental health symptoms. Pre and post-workshop surveys assessed knowledge gains. The project yielded positive outcomes, with clinicians gaining valuable insights into …

Soil Dynamics In Carbon, Nitrogen, And Enzyme Activity Under Maize–Green Manure Cropping Sequences, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Wanderley José De Melo, Roberto Alves De Oliveira, Paulo Henrique Silveira Cardoso, Raíssa De Araujo Dantas, Rodrigo Nogueira De Sousa, Dalila Lopes Da Silva, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Gian Franco Capra, Gabriel Maurício Peruca De Melo

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The diversification of cropping sequences has a positive impact on soil organic carbon, while improving nutrient cycling and crop yields. The objective of this research was to assess amylase, cellulase, C and N dynamics, and maize yield on a low fertility oxisol in the Brazilian Cerrado. The experiment was conducted under field conditions during three maize crop succession cycles. The treatments consisted of cultivating maize during the summer, after sorghum and lablab cropped as green manure and fallow during the winter. Higher maize yields were achieved by sorghum–maize succession compared to monocropping, due to higher N fertilizer and biomass inputs …

Characterization Of An Acetogenin-Carrying Nanosuspension And Its Effect On Bacteria Of Interest In The Poultry Industry, Brandon A. Lopez-Romero, Gabriela Aguilar-Hernandez, Billy M. Hargis, Maria De Lourdes Garcia-Magana, Ulises M. Lopez-Garcia, Rosa I. Ortiz-Basurto, Adalberto Zamudio-Ojeda, Juan D. Latorre, Efigenia Montalvo-Gonzalez

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This work aimed to develop a nanosuspension (NSps) as an acetogenin (ACGs) carrier, using soy lecithin (SL) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (βCD) named NSps-βCDSL-ACGs. It was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (DLS, FTIR, UV-vis diffuse reflectance). Moreover, the NSps morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, the antibacterial activity of NSps-βCDSL-ACGs was evaluated against strains of interest in the poultry sector. NSps-βCDSL-ACGs presented nanometric size (207–239 nm), acceptable polydispersity index (PDI) values (0.13–0.17) and a high Z potential value (−47.17–50.36 mV), demonstrating high stability. The presence of ACGs in NSps-βCDSL-ACGs was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The nanoparticles had a spherical …

Influence Of Hydrologic And Anthropogenic Disturbance On Stream Populations And Communities, Sarah Frances Sorensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disturbances occur when an external force modifies a habitat, destroying living space, removing food resources, or altering or destroying habitat structure. In lotic systems, a primary source of disturbance is hydrologic disturbance, including drought and flood. Hydrologic disturbances lead to increased mortality rates and dispersal out of disturbed habitats, causing population sizes to decrease and changes to community structures. More research is needed on how disturbances impact stream species and communities, as disturbances are predicted to become more intense with climate change. This dissertation aims to understand how disturbance influences streams at both the population and community level, through a …

Frogs On A Plain: Spatial Ecology Of Crawfish Frogs In Arkansas’ Remnant Prairies, Elliot T. Lassiter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prairie peninsula was an expansive and important habitat that covered much of midwestern North America, from Canada to Arkansas, USA. But the prairie peninsula has shrunk by as much as 99% since 1830, and therefore, land acquisition and public/private partnerships are critical for the preservation of prairies and their associated species. In Arkansas, one species that benefits from protected prairies is the Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus), which is currently declining precipitously throughout its range. Adult Crawfish Frogs spend most of their lives in terrestrial refugia (crayfish burrows), making them highly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation, thereby …

Integrating Sustainability And Food Safety Through Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment And Life Cycle Assessment Of Low-Moisture Foods, Jessica Bain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food safety and sustainability are critical concerns in the food industry. However, these areas are often evaluated separately, leading to an incomplete understanding of the overall impact of food production on human health. This dissertation aims to integrate food safety with sustainability to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of low-moisture foods on human health, using the almond processing supply chain as a case study.

In addition to conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) of almond processing, wheat flour production, and dried apple processing, this dissertation aims to create a framework to bridge the gap between sustainability and food safety. …

Influence Of Head Sway On The Availability Of Visual Information In An Affordance Task, Ron Dickson Jr.

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated how varying postural conditions and environmental challenges influence human affordance perception in virtual environments, focusing specifically on participants’ judgments about whether they could stand upright on sloped surfaces. Using virtual reality (VR) to simulate ramps at various inclines, participants assessed their ability to stand on these slopes under different postural constraints (unaided standing, leaning, and touch-supported). Data was collected on head movement dynamics, including movement magnitude, variability, and complexity, using measures such as Euclidean distance and effort-to-compress (ETC). Logistic and linear regression analyses revealed that slope angle and stance significantly impacted participants' affordance judgments and movement patterns, …

A Linguistic Analysis Of The Language Surrounding Witchcraft In France From The 16th To 20th Centuries, Kaleigh Landers

Honors Theses

While the history of witchcraft in France is a subject that has received significant scholarly attention, little research has been conducted on the linguistic implications of the language used in regard to the subject. This study attempts to analyze the texts written about witchcraft between the 16^th and 20^th centuries in order to draw conclusions as to how language and culture affect each other. The aim of this study was to conduct a discourse analysis of these texts to identify cultural connotations, language trends, and insights regarding how the French language has evolved to communicate complex, dividing concepts …