Digital Commons Network^™

Louisiana, The Potential Safe-Haven For Creators Of Artificial Intelligence: Louisiana’S Response To Thaler V. Perlmutter, Graham Core

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Married By Default, Erez Aloni

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This Article examines and critiques the global binary debate surrounding opt-in versus opt-out legal regimes for regulating unmarried cohabitants’ financial obligations upon separation. Using Canadian jurisdictions as a case study, it challenges the prevailing academic consensus that endorses opt-out systems as superior policy, based on assumptions that they are fairer, sufficiently preserve autonomy, enhance certainty, and particularly benefit women. Drawing on empirical research, the Article explores how couples engaged with British Columbia’s opt-out scheme. In-depth interviews suggest that default rules operate as quasi-mandatory, with opting out proving remarkably difficult. Moreover, the law often falls short of achieving the anticipated certainty …

If You Cannot Afford An Attorney, None Will Be Appointed For You: Exploring Rates Of Representation By Counsel In Texas Misdemeanor Courts, Andrew Davis, Shelby Sirivore, Victoria Smiegocki

Journal of Criminal Justice and Law

All misdemeanor defendants in the United States have the right to be represented by a lawyer if they are facing the possibility of incarceration. Yet implementation of that right is often left to local policymakers, and rates of non-representation (defendants proceeding without lawyers) vary enormously. Through an examination of data from Texas counties in 2019, we find non-representation rates were highest in the state’s poorest and most rural counties. But we also find signs that local policy choices matter. Counties with public defender offices, and those with less restrictive policies on financial eligibility for indigent defense services, appointed lawyers to …

Heat Transfer Enhancement By Using Different Patterns Of The Receiver Circumference Of The Locally Fabricated, Khalid Abdullah Muhammad, Yaseen H. Mahmood, Othman K. Zidane

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study presents an experimental attempt to enhance the thermal performance of a parabolic solar collector, which is a tube made of copper, by using four different types of receiver coatings. The experiments were conducted with a mass flow rate of 1 L/min, utilizing deionized water as the heat transfer fluid, and a single-axis tracking system (north-south orientation). The experimental tests were carried out in Mosul, Iraq, during selected days of the months (May, June, July) in the year 2023, from 9 AM to 4 PM. The results indicated that when air was used as a type of receiver …

Let Them Eat Cake: Eroding Article Iii To Perpetuate The Student Loan Crisis In Biden V. Nebraska, Anthony R. Gonzalez

University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class

No abstract provided.

Vol 24.2 Intro Pages

University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class

No abstract provided.

Balancing Rights In The Classroom: The Constitutional Imperative For Lgbtq-Inclusive Curricula Amidst The Weaponization Of Parental “Hybrid-Rights” Claims, Lauren Byrne

University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class

No abstract provided.

China Maritime Report No. 46: China's Fishermen Spies: Intelligence Specialists In The Maritime Militia, Ryan D. Martinson

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• Collecting and reporting maritime intelligence is a core mission of China’s maritime militia. Militia forces help fill in “blind spots” (补盲) for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and enhance its situational awareness. They are widely dispersed in the waters of greatest strategic and operational importance to Beijing, available in large numbers, extremely familiar with the operating environment, and, the PLA believes, less provocative than other military instruments.
• Militia forces that specialize in intelligence collection are organized into “maritime reconnaissance” (海上侦察) units. Located in China’s coastal provinces, autonomous regions, and provincial-level cities, these units likely number in the hundreds. …

Well-Being In Disney Animated Feature Films, 2013–2023, Ruth Zeman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most existing research on Disney animated films has concentrated on problematic themes, including stereotypical portrayals of romantic relationships or aggression, while comparatively little attention has been given to how these films may also convey positive messages and promote prosocial behavior. Research on well-being is particularly relevant, given its strong association with improved health outcomes and the development of positive interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how well-being is portrayed in Disney animated feature films released between 2013 and 2023. Seligman’s model of well-being, which consists of the pursuit and attainment of five core pillars—positive …

How External Efficacy Influences Support For Third-Party And Independent Candidates: A Mediational Analysis, Joren (Jordy) Santana

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

As displayed by Ralph Nader in 2000, non-major party candidates can play a decisive role in presidential elections without emerging victorious. Throughout U.S. history, several third-party and independent candidates have garnered notable support, typically among voters who self-identify as independent of partisanship. However, most Independents, particularly leaning Independents, ultimately vote for one of the two major political parties. This research utilizes external efficacy--an individual’s perceptions about the responsiveness of government officials and institutions to citizen demands--as a predictor for voting behavior and partisan identification. In theory, citizens with low external efficacy are more likely to possess frustration with the two …

Diabetic Retinopathy: A Pathophysiological Discussion, Nathanael C. Nicholls

Senior Honors Theses

Diabetic retinopathy is a severe complication of diabetes that is capable of causing vision loss or blindness. As a result of hyperglycemia, the disease increases oxidative stress and activates biochemical processes such as the Hippo pathway and the complement system to cause significant damage to the retina. Overexpression of BTG1 and microRNA-183 enables activation of biochemical pathways that lead to negative effects on the retinal vascular endothelium including angiogenesis and inflammation. Conventional methods of diagnosis for diabetic retinopathy include fundus examination, nucleoside detection, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Photocoagulation and hormonal intravitreal injection are the most popular current treatments, while …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

Verification And Demonstration Of The Ability Of Plasma Generated From Dielectric Barrier Discharge To Oxidize, N. Yasoob A.

Baghdad Science Journal

The oxidation ability of cold plasma is a major influence on bacterial inactivation, lipid oxidation, medical equipment sterilization, and applications in air and wastewater purification, for this reason, the ability of cold plasma to oxidize materials is an important factor that must be studied. In this study, the ability of cold plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to oxidize materials was revealed and proven by using different exposure times (5, 10, 15, 20 min) and several measurements: the decolonization of indigo carmine from dark blue to yellow, the significant reduction in pH, and the increase in oxidation reduction …

Recovering The Lost Art Of Medicine: A Role For Ignatian Spirituality, Cecilia Motherway

College Honors Program

Throughout history, medicine or healing has been deeply associated with religion and spirituality, from the ancient Greek healing god Asclepius to the medieval monastic medical tradition and beyond. This lies in their common cause: addressing the vulnerability of our human existence. Humanity has long recognized that our suffering and death raise existential questions concerning our mortality that may require perspectives greater than biology and rationality can provide. However, at the turn of the 20th century, as medical technology rapidly advanced, raising the average global life expectancy by decades, the medical field removed all non-scientific, non-secular influences to position itself as …

Scotus Likely To Rule For Parents In Dispute Over Lgbtq-Themed Books In Maryland, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

A Natural Short Sleep Mutation Promotes Longevity Through Mitochondrial Respiration In Drosophila, Pritika Pandey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is an irreversible process characterized by progressive physiological decline and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Disruptions to the circadian clock—whether due to genetic mutations or behavioral factors—accelerate aging and age-related pathologies, highlighting a strong link between circadian regulation and longevity. However, certain individuals harbor a dec2^P384R mutation, which enables natural short sleep without the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation. This suggests that these individuals have evolved adaptations that activate pro-health pathways, allowing them to function optimally with reduced sleep. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, we developed a …

Exploring Ddr2’S Role In Caf Extracellular Matrix Production And Tumor Progression, Favour Ayomide Akinjiyan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Responsible Research Impact: Ethics For Making A Difference, Eric Allen Jensen, Mark S. Reed, James Daybell, Louise Rutt, Aaron M. Jensen, Gabriella Arrigoni, Marta Ballesteros, Sadiq Bhanbhro, Bethann G. Merkle, Caitlin Hafferty, Philly Iglehart, Sawsan Khuri, Andrzej Klimczuk, Ian D. Marder, Daniel Milosavljevic, Josmel Pacheco-Mendoza, Ursula Pool, Simon Robinson, Lindsay C. Stringer, Steve Taylor, Anne H. Toomey, Daniela Martin, Lisa Louise Taylor-Sayles, Andrew N. Makohon-George, Russell T. Rodrigo

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

The need for ethical guidelines that support and empower researchers who aim to enhance the societal impact of research has become critical. Recognizing the growing emphasis on research impact by governments and funding bodies worldwide, this article investigates the often overlooked ethical dimensions of generating and evaluating research impact. We focus on ethical issues and practices that are specific to the process of intentionally working to develop societal impacts from research. We highlight the complexities and ethical dilemmas encountered when researchers engage with non-academic groups, such as policymakers, industries, and local communities. Through a combination of literature review and insights …

Board Governance Quality And Risk Disclosure Compliance Among Financial Institutions In Developing Economies, Geofrey Nkuutu, Joseph M. Ntayi, John C. Munene, Will Kaberuka

African Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

Crisis Migration In The Contexts Of Civil Wars: A Study On The Defects Of New Humanitarianism, Niruka Sanjeewan

African Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

Fulani Herdsmen-Farmers Conflicts And Governance In Nigeria, Andrew Ewoh, George Kieh, Ponmile Olonilua

African Social Science Review

No abstract provided.

2025 Program, Kate Votaw

Undergraduate Research Symposium

University of Missouri-St. Louis Undergraduate Research Symposium Program 2025

The Way To A Mother’S Heart: A Risk Assessment Tool For The Early Detection Of Peripartum Cardiomyopathies, Leighton Terrell

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Abstract

Background

Peripartum cardiomyopathies are a rare, but deadly occurrence among pregnant and postpartum women. Maternal mortality rates have risen over the last few years proving a large problem with the focus on maternal health.

Objective

The objective of this intervention was to aid providers in diagnosing peripartum cardiomyopathies early before detrimental damage could be done to the hearts of these women.

Methods

In this quality improvement project, the need for a peripartum cardiomyopathy risk assessment survey among patients in small, rural area of Western Kentucky was determined.

Results

Using the 22 surveys that were collected, 36.4% of patients were …

A New Centruroides Species And First Record Of C. Tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Honduras, Luis F. De Armas, Alex M. Cubas-Rodríguez

Euscorpius

A new species of striped bark scorpions, Centruroides lenca sp. n. is described, based on both sexes, from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve (2,385 m a. s. l.), Ocotepeque Department, in the southwestern Honduras. By its general pattern, the new species resembles C. thorellii (Kraepelin, 1891), from which it clearly differs by having stronger and very darker pedipalp chelae, minute subaculear tubercle and basal pectinal plate with a large central pit in the female, among other diagnostic characters. Also, Centruroides tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 is recorded for the first time from Honduras, on the basis of two observed or collected specimens …

Faculty Senate Meeting, 59th Senate Minutes (4/22/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Meeting, 59th Senate Agenda (4/22/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

From Delay To Payday: Easing Bureaucrat Access To Implementation Information Strengthens Social Protection Delivery, Eric Dodge, Yusuf Neggers, Rohini Pande, Charity Troyer Moore

Discussion Papers

Poor implementation frequently impedes social protection delivery in low-state-capacity settings. In such environments, reducing managers’ information acquisition costs may improve their grasp of frontline issues and program performance. However, in the presence of managerial rent-seeking, increasing the principal’s information may be key, and doing so just for managers can backfire. To assess this trade-off and implications for program performance, we collaborated with two Indian states to randomly vary bureaucrat access to PayDash, a digital platform for real-time tracking of worker payment processing for the national rural workfare program. In treated districts, PayDash expedited bureaucrat processing of workfare payments by 17%, …

Campus Assembly Minutes 04/22 & 04/24/2025, Campus Assembly

Campus Assembly

No abstract provided.

Trump V. Casa, Inc.: Brief Of Scholars Of Constitutional Law And Immigration As Amici Curiae In Support Of Respondents, Samuel Erman

Appellate Briefs

Amici are law professors whose research focuses on constitutional law and immigration. Amici have an interest in ensuring that the Fourteenth Amendment is interpreted in a manner consistent with its text and history, and accordingly have an interest in this case.

Western Student Association Structure And Governing Processes: Evaluating Success For Student Government Associations, Samuel Longlet

Honors Theses

The Western Student Association underwent several reforms between March of 2020 and April of 2025. These reforms included expanding its legislative branch both in terms of pure size and internal responsibility and restructuring its executive branch to focus more on building relationships with the administration of Western Michigan University.

The Western Student Association between 2020 and 2025 has become more successful in advocating, allocating, and being a shared governance partner, representing the three executive functions of a Student Government Association.

While the Western Student Association is more successful in 2025 than it was in 2020, the institutional weaknesses of an …