Digital Commons Network^™

Justice On Hold: Should Potential Innocence Unlock The Door To Compassionate Release, Luz Maria Payán

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Poker As A Sport In Japan: Intersections With Culture, Law And Public Administration, And Community, Masatoshi Minowa

Japanese Society and Culture

This study examines the emergence of poker as a competitive mind sport in Japan, a country where strict anti-gambling laws (Penal Code Article 185) prohibit cash wagering. Drawing on secondary materials—including newspaper and magazine reports, and online media—as well as primary data from Poker Guild Corporation and interviews with the Kamiichi Town Planning Division, the research applies established theoretical frameworks (Getz & Page’s event tourism, Putnam’s social capital, Reith’s techno-economic systems) to analyze the distinctive evolution of Japanese poker culture. Findings reveal that tournament‐focused venue operations and the innovative Poker Web Coin system have fostered a nationwide network of skill‐based …

Healthcare Decision-Making In An Ageing Society: Legal, Policy, And Ethical Challenges In Japan, Yukio Sakurai

Japanese Society and Culture

This paper examines the evolving landscape of healthcare decision-making in Japan’s rapidly ageing society, with a focus on the legal, policy, and ethical challenges it entails. It analyzes the limitations of the adult guardianship system, the risks associated with family-dependent decision-making, and the underutilization of advance care planning (ACP). The study further considers how demographic shifts, advances in medical technology, and socio-legal inertia affect end-of-life care, particularly for individuals with diminished capacity. A central theme is the inherent ethical dilemma in balancing individual autonomy with Japan's cultural context, where explicit self-assertion can be challenging, especially for older adults. Cultural dimensions …

Institutional Transitions In The Employment Of Foreign Workers In Japan’S Agriculture And Food Manufacturing: From Technical Intern Training To Employment For Skill Development And Specified Skilled Worker In Comparison With The Uk, Tomoyuki Kuwaharada

Japanese Society and Culture

This paper investigates the institutional transition in Japan’s acceptance of foreign workers in the agriculture and food manufacturing sectors, focusing on the restructuring of entry-stage training schemes and their linkage to skill-based employment. In particular, it traces the shift from the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) to the Employment for Skill Development (ESD) Programme as the primary entry route, and examines how these institutional changes are embedded within the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) framework.

Drawing upon official statistics from 2012 to 2024 and sector-specific case studies, the analysis demonstrates that the introduction of the SSW status in 2019 marked a …

Freedom Of Expression And The Right To Protection Against Defamation: Cf. Handling Of The Libel Of The Criminal Law And The Libel Of The Civil Law, Masumi Shizawa

Japanese Society and Culture

This study reviews natures of the Constitution, Civil Code, and Criminal Code of Japan in terms of the right to protection against defamation, and explores the foundations thereof. The point of it is to clarify the nature of the right to protection against defamation as indicated in the Constitution. 　The right to protection against defamation, along with the right to privacy, has long been recognized as a personal right. While the right to privacy relates to the private domain, the right to protection against defamation relates to one’s social reputation. The Constitution of Japan does not clearly stipulate the right …

Adversary Complaint Re: Parish Property

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Black And Hispanic Superintendents In Texas Regarding Their Superintendency Pathways, Maria Faqier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of diversity in the superintendent workforce in Texas is a significant concern that affects the educational experiences and opportunities of Texas students, teachers, families, and their communities. The problem addressed through this study was the underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic superintendents in Texas school districts. Guided by critical race theory and intersectionality theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Black and Hispanic superintendents’ perceptions of their successes, challenges, and recommendations to secure a superintendent position in Texas. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine Black and Hispanic superintendents (two Black women, two Black men, two …

The Impact Of Michi-No-Eki (Roadside Stations) On The Regional Economy: An Input–Output Analysis Of Minamiboso City In Chiba Prefecture, Ryusaku Matsuo, Takeru Aizawa, Gon Jan, Wei Yuanxin, Masaharu Uchiyama, Gento Tagami

Japanese Society and Culture

This study quantitatively examines the economic impact of Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Stations) in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, using an input–output analysis based on the Chiba Prefectural Interindustry Table. Eight Michi-no-Eki were evaluated in terms of direct, indirect, and induced effects, including employment creation. The results show that the total production-inducing effect generated by the stations amounts to ¥7.02 billion per year, and the employment-inducing effect reaches 108.7 persons annually, indicating that Michi-no-Eki function as a central engine of the local economy. Moreover, thematic diversity among stations—such as loquat, flowers, and seafood—enhances multiplier effects through inter-sectoral linkages. These findings demonstrate that Michi-no-Eki …

Employment Contracts, Working Time, And The Well-Being Of Schoolteachers In Japan, Haojun Gong, Shinpei Sano

Japanese Society and Culture

This paper quantitatively analyzes trends in the working hours of schoolteachers in Japan using Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) data from three survey waves. The analysis focuses on differences between fixed-term and permanent employment contracts and on school environment variables, and their relationships with working hours and teacher well-being. Teachers on permanent contracts tend, on average, to work longer hours than those on fixed-term contracts, largely because of greater time spent on administrative duties and extracurricular activities. School environmental characteristics and principal leadership show only weak statistical associations with total working hours. Subjective job satisfaction is lower, and workload …

A Consideration Of Food In A Diversity Society, Masayo Morofushi

Japanese Society and Culture

In recent years, the number of foreign visitors such as tourists and businesspeople, and the number of foreign residents such as workers and international students, have been steadily increasing in Japan. However, the decrease in the number of foreign residents in Japan is relatively small compared to the number of foreign visitors to Japan, due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding restaurants, Japan has experienced diversity, progress, and cross-cultural understanding; however, these changes have been stagnant due to a decrease in the number of foreign visitors to Japan during the pandemic. Many natural disasters have recently occurred, and …

Exploring The Definition Of Child Poverty : For Consideration Of Legal Policy, Kazuko Ikeya, Fumie Adachi, Kazutoshi Imade

Japanese Society and Culture

We explore the definition of child poverty for consideration of legal policy.

Survey of the actual situation in local governments and private organizations concerning child poverty.

① Some parents don’t know how to prioritize their spending, and there are cases where parents don’t provide for their children.

② This cannot be addressed only with financial investment.

It is inappropriate to define child poverty only by low household income. It should also be

defined as whether children are being provided for through their development.

Social Security And The International Covenant On Human Rights: A Case Seeking The Dismissal Of Public Assistance Application Denial, Hiroshi Saito

Japanese Society and Culture

Using the case of rejection of request for medical assistance made by an undocumented resident in Japan, I considered the applicability of the International Covenant on Human Rights to social security. The central issue here is whether the distinction between Japanese nationals and foreign nationals for reasons of national finances is reasonable and objective. In conclusion, determining reasonable and objective criteria requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond legal interpretation. The process must consider broader factors, including Japan’s role in the international community and the global trend toward advancing human rights protections.

Bodies At Risk When Choice Is A Privilege: Women’S Reproductive Healthcare Accessibility And Health Outcomes Since The Dobbs (2022) Ruling, Dallas Bonnet

Undergraduate Theses

Existing literature has well-documented the disproportionate effects of abortion restrictions upon socioeconomically disadvantaged women and women of color. This thesis builds on that work by exploring the relationship between state-level abortion restrictions and women’s self-reported health, as well as state-level infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates. This project breaks these relationships down into three separate studies: Study 1 investigates the effect that abortion restrictions have on women’s self perceptions of health. Study 2 assesses the impact of abortion restrictions on infant mortality rates. Study 3 inspects the impact of abortion restrictions on maternal mortality rates. The primary independent variable …

Receptor-Mediated Drug Delivery: Redefining Targeted Drug Conjugates In Oncology, Keon Niles Jafari, Charlene Chai, Shelby Kim, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Targeted drug delivery (TDD), specifically through targeting ligand–drug conjugates, has reshaped oncology by enabling selective delivery of cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells while minimizing uptake by normal tissues. A key approach relies on exploiting overexpressed cell surface receptors (CSRs) to enable selective uptake of drug conjugates via receptor-mediated endocytosis. This review delineates four clinically validated CSRs (HER2, Trop-2, Nectin-4, and SSTR2) with several FDA-approved drug conjugates. Furthermore, emerging CSRs (EGFR, DLL3, and keratin 1) that may support next-generation TDD platforms for cancer treatment are also highlighted. We discuss how CSR type, density on cancer cells, and its mechanism of endocytosis, …

Due Process And Press Credentialing, Nicole J. Ligon

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

In Re: Sharisse Filus

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Achilles Curbison V. Usa

2026 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Christina Lopez-Villeda V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

The Theatrics Of Political Representation: Homestyle, Boundary Work, And Emotional Labor Among Florida Legislators, Donald E. Mullins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how political representation is performed and sustained in the Florida Legislature. Rather than treating representation primarily as votes, bills, or policy outcomes, it approaches it as interactional work through which legislators remain believable, accessible, and authoritative across overlapping audiences. Grounded in an interpretivist epistemology and Goffman’s dramaturgy, the study develops an ethnographic account of representation through three analytic anchors: Fenno’s homestyle, Lamont’s boundary work, and Hochschild’s emotional labor. Methodologically, the project draws on ~100 days of participant observation during the 2025 legislative season, hundreds of pages of fieldnotes, and semi-structured interviews with ten Florida legislators. The findings …

Constitution And By-Laws Of The Women's Self Government Association, Women's Self Government Association

Documents

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Women's Self Government Association at Florence State Teachers College. Adopted by Jewell Hall, President of WSGA in 1931.

Usa V. Bryan Doreian

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

The Evolution Of Science And The Transformation Of Human Understanding: Toward A Generative Framework Of Learning And Reality, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This essay argues that the development of science can be understood not as linear accumulation, but as a sequence of structural transformations in human understanding. Such a view aligns with a generative framework in which knowledge is not passively received or merely constructed, but emerges through dynamic interactions that reorganize cognitive and experiential structures. By situating this framework within the history of science, we can better understand both the nature of scientific progress and its indispensable role in human development.

1122 Ocean Llc V. Richards

All Decisions

Court granted respondent's motion to dismiss this nonpayment petition for failure to comply with the Williams Consent Decree, which requires landlords of tenants holding NYCHA Section 8 vouchers to notify the agency of the proposed eviction proceeding and the basis for it prior to commencing the proceeding.

Study Of Full-Process Funding Mechanisms Of National Research Institutes, Baicun Li, Ruhan A, Xiaoxuan Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Funding mechanism is a crucial institutional guarantee for national research institutes to achieve their goals and fulfill their roles. Against the backdrop of new global challenges, such as geopolitical shifts, these institutions shoulder even greater responsibilities. Therefore, to better leverage their roles, this study addresses two key issues. What funding challenges do national research institutes currently face? And what are the characteristics of a funding mechanism that can meet their needs? To answer these questions, firstly, this study systematically analyzes the prominent problems faced by the funding mechanisms of national research institutes in China. Subsequently, it analyzes the characteristics of …

Implementing Staff Education To Improve Depression Detection In Primary Care Using Patient Health Questionnaire (Phq-9), Ukamaka Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project focuses on improving depression detection in a primary care settings using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) screening tool. Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, requiring reliable and adaptable screening tools. The diagnosis of depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in primary care but is poorly identified and frequently missed. The lack of consistent screening for depression among patients often results in delayed identification of symptoms, which postpones early treatment, increasing the risk of complications associated with untreated depression. The practice site identified that depression screening was frequently missed during patient intake, …

Welcome To The Trump Administration’S Board Of Immigration Appeals. The Immigrant Always Loses., Jason A. Cade

Scholarly Works

The first 100 opinions in Volume 29 of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ precedential decisions—issued at more than three times the historical pace—constitute a project. The Trump Administration has used the Attorney General’s self-referral power and a reconstituted, ideologically aligned Board to engineer a body of precedents that reliably produces one result: removal. This Essay organizes these decisions, cataloged in a full Appendix, into five main categories: (1) narrowing relief for noncitizens alleging persecution; (2) expanding mandatory detention while narrowing discretionary release; (3) maximizing the immigration consequences of criminal history and related grounds while foreclosing the relief mechanisms Congress created …

Assessing Flash Drought Development And Propagation Across The Contiguous United States Using Remote Sensing, Masoud Zeraati, Alireza Farahmand, Richard Seager, Hayley J. Fowler, Nima Madani, Nicholas Parazoo, Colin Manning, Christopher J. White, Yixin Wen, Ali Mehran, Amir Aghakouchak

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Flash droughts are characterized by rapid onset and intensification, with severe impacts on agriculture and ecosystems. They often begin as meteorological droughts and, if conditions worsen, evolve into agricultural droughts. While precipitation deficit is often the primary driver, atmospheric and hydrological anomalies can exacerbate flash drought development. This study characterizes flash droughts across the Contiguous United States using remote sensing data from 2003 to 2020. A combination of satellite-derived meteorological, agricultural, and ecological variables are used to investigate large-scale flash drought development. Events are defined using root-zone soil moisture. We used the Aridity Index to assess how background aridity influences …

Pan V. Chen

All Decisions

The tenant initiated an HP proceeding alleging harassment and seeking correction of violations, which the Civil Court dismissed after a nonjury trial, determining that the incidents did not constitute harassment and the tenant's actions contributed to the hostile environment. The Appellate Term affirmed this final judgment, emphasizing that substantial deference is owed to the trial court's credibility findings and that the Civil Court's determination was adequately supported by the record. The appellate court found no basis to disturb the lower court's dismissal of the tenant's petition.

Microstructural Evolution And Precipitate Control In Boron-Doped Ni-Mn-Ti Shape Memory Alloys Via Thermal Processing, Na Liu, Marcia Ahn, Subrata Ghosh, Dipika Mandal, Bed Poudel, Wenjie Li

Biochemistry, Chemistry & Physics: Faculty Publications

Elastocaloric cooling, which leverages stress-induced phase transformation in shape memory materials, represents a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional vapor-compression cooling systems. Central to optimizing these materials is understanding how thermal processing history dictates phase formation, microstructure, and thermal properties. In this study, we investigated the (Ni50Mn31.5Ti18)99.8B0.2 compound synthesized via vacuum induction melting and arc melting, followed by water quenching. Induction melting results in needle-like, boron-rich precipitates within the martensite lattice. In contrast, vacuum arc melting promoted precipitate growth at the grain boundaries. The vacuum arc melting sample exhibits ~82% martensite phase fraction, a near-ambient transformation temperature of ~277 K, …

I Think You Overuse That Word: A Theoretical Examination From Multiple Lenses Of "Why Relational Beings Have Become Hesitant To Commit.", Rafe Karen

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper serves as a companion to a documentary film that explores the shifting landscape of modern relationships. The film presents personal narratives about dating, connection, and commitment, and the paper offers an experiential exploration of these themes, focusing on dating dynamics, social media, online dating, lack of connection, Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19), video games, and the effects of overwhelming choice. Drawing from existing literature and insights gained during the filmmaking process, the paper analyzes broader societal and psychological patterns shaping modern relationships. Using a combination of filmed interviews and direct observation, the study examines the lived experiences of individuals navigating …