Digital Commons Network^™

How Design Law Is Taking Shape In The United States And European Union, Christine Haight Farley

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

This Essay uses a comparative framework to show that sophisticated design rights holders in both the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU) increasingly sidestep specialized design regimes in favor of more expansive trademark and copyright doctrines. Although both jurisdictions now operate cumulative intellectual property (IP) systems for industrial design, they have taken sharply divergent paths in confronting the proliferation of “design dupes”—replicas that trade on the appeal of sought-after designs. In the United States, rights holders rely chiefly on trademark law, and especially trade dress, to convert cultural recognition into legally cognizable source indication, a move facilitated by …

P-15 Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft Improves Time To Fusion In Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Randomized, Controlled, Investigational Device Exemption Study, James S. Harrop, Michael P. Steinmetz, John E. O'Toole, Christopher D Chaput, Rick C. Sasso, K. Brandon Strenge, Greg Maislin, Jeffrey P. Mullin, Thomas B. Freeman, Anthony Guanciale, Howard Lantner, Michael E. Janssen, David G. Schwartz, John M. Small, Wellington K. Hsu, Paul M. Arnold

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized, and controlled pivotal study.

OBJECTIVE: Compare time-to-fusion in patients treated with P-15L (PearlMatrix TM P-15 peptide enhanced bone graft) versus local autograft over 24 months and evaluate changes in pain and quality of life at 24 months relative to baseline.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: P-15L, an FDA-designated breakthrough device, is a composite bone graft with P-15, a 15-amino acid polypeptide that promotes cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation to support bone formation.

METHODS: Patients (22-80 y) with degenerative disc disease were randomized to the investigational (P-15L) or control (local autograft) group during single-level transforaminal lumbar …

Late-Stage Capitalism And Consumerism In Higher Education: A Morphogenetic Analysis, Kallen Zhou

Publications

Facing widespread student disengagement and dissatisfaction, U.S. higher education is undergoing a paradigm shift, detaching from its civic and pedagogical origins. A key force driving this transformation is the rise of student consumerism. While existing literature documents market-driven actions adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs) and the consumer roles students play, it overlooks structural market forces. Specifically, little theorization exists on the relationship between late-stage capitalism and student consumerism. This paper addresses that gap through two steps: first, offering a historical analysis of the traditional university model, late-stage capitalism, academic capitalism, and the decline of the liberal arts; second, developing …

Creating A Radical Social Change Campaign To Restore Rational Thinking: A Theoretical Framework, John S. Long

Student Theses and Dissertations

Rational thinking is a skill and mindset that is under siege in modern society, becoming increasingly endangered as we devolve into increasingly hyper-partisan communities rife with echo chambers and confirmation biases. The most basic processes of analyzing issues and facts to develop clearly thought-out and defendable positions have been abandoned in favor of a zealous devotion to toe the party line, no matter the evidence or implications. What we are witnessing firsthand is the fast-approaching culmination of the post-truth era.

One might assume that an issue with such far-reaching implications across our entire society would generate a significant amount of …

Data Storytelling For Reputation Management: A Multiple Case Study Of Formula 1, Patagonia & Spotify, Michael O. P. Lowsley-Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates data storytelling as a reputation management strategy by examining how organizations leverage data narratives to enhance brand identity, build stakeholder trust, and reshape public perception. Through analysis and comparison of three qualitative case studies of Patagonia, Formula 1, and Spotify, this research explores how these companies construct and utilize data-driven narratives to address reputational challenges across distinct industry contexts. Drawing on elements of framing, situational crisis and stakeholder theories as well as the concepts of encoding and decoding, this study analyzes narrative structures, framing devices, and audience engagement tactics within reports, campaigns, and multimedia content from 2015-2025. …

Gowanus Faces A Hidden Threat Beneath Its Neighborhood Boom, Emma J. Rosenberg

Capstones

This article investigates urban redevelopment, climate change and environmental contamination in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood. The Gowanus Canal itself has been a designated EPA Federal Superfund Site since 2010, this designation does not apply to the land surrounding it where legacy industrial contamination still exists. This includes coal tar from former manufactured gas plants which poses a risk to groundwater and indoor air. Under a 2021 rezoning plan, large-scale residential redevelopment is rapidly moving forward, rising groundwater and increased flooding associated with climate change may exacerbate contaminants. Utilizing agency documents, Community Advisory Group meetings, and conversations with residents, advocates, officials and …

Flooding, Not Just A Rain Problem, Annisha Singh

Capstones

This capstone focuses on the Rockaway Peninsula and how high-tide flooding also known as "sunny-day flooding" is not only affecting Rockaway but neighboring areas, such as Jamaica Bay.

Amidst The Struggles, Nyc Actors Say The Pursuit Of Their Craft Is Always Worth It, Allison Dubrow

Capstones

Despite high ticket prices and safety concerns, Broadway has had a record-breaking season, surpassing pre-pandemic box office revenue largely due to star-driven productions. While the industry is financially thriving, many NYC actors struggle to make a livable wage and rely on non-acting jobs to support themselves. The uncertainty of auditions and booking work makes sustaining an acting career especially difficult in such a competitive city. This project highlights the contrast between Broadway’s success and the resilience it takes for actors to survive and pursue their craft in New York City.

Relief, At A Cost: New Bill Forces Landlords To Offer Ac, But Leaves Tenants With The Bill, Niamh Mcauliffe

Capstones

As summers in New York City are getting hotter and hotter every year due to climate change, lack of home air conditioning is a serious issue. A newly passed City Council bill would require landlords to provide air conditioning upon tenant request. While advocates see the legislation as a necessary step to protect tenants from the dangers of extreme heat, there are still unresolved questions around energy affordability, costs and implementation.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XgVilwyn6ncwVbslr1UcdP6p-3OwGQAseHXMY3EYCeY/edit?usp=sharing

Organizational Return On Investment In Nursing: A Systematic Review, Olga Yakusheva, Kathryn Lee, Alissa V. Fial, Marianne E. Weiss

Individual Open Access Articles

Background: High-quality nursing care is crucial for healthcare quality and safety, yet there’s limited understanding of the business case for investing in nursing from an organizational perspective. This study seeks to address this evidence gap by identifying and synthesizing data on the organizational return on investment in nursing human capital, considering initial investment costs and the resulting impact on production costs and revenue.

Method: We conducted a systematic review using four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EconLit, Web of Science) to find nursing human capital studies from January 1990 to June 2024. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they examined nurses …

Nontoxic Paints Using Cornstarch As Binders, Maile Prater

Honors Projects

For this project, paints were created using different metal compounds which interacted with cornstarch and pectin to determine whether the metals would coordinate with these polysaccharides to create new types of watercolor paints. The paints that were created were ran through an RGB analysis to determine how much of each RGB color is present in a solution and then were ran through a rheometer to determine how the viscosity differed between each solution.

Manual Therapy In Conjunction With Other Multimodal Interventions In A Patient With Chronic Pain And Hypertension: A Case Report, Craig P. Hensley, Renzo Mendoza, Jennifer Ryan, Emmanuel Yung

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic pain and hypertension (HTN) are worldwide epidemics that are difficult to manage and frequently encountered as comorbid conditions in patient care. There is a paucity of information regarding the effect that manual therapy has on blood pressure (BP), particularly in those with chronic pain and HTN. This case report describes the management of a patient with chronic pain and HTN. The patient was a 41-year-old female with chronic multisite pain and multiple comorbidities, including HTN. Her BP at the initial evaluation was 147/78 with an oscillated device and 142/82 with a sphygmomanometer in the right arm and 144/80 in …

Facilitators Of Routine Cervical Screening Receipt For Women With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In Nebraska, Anne Woodruff Jameson

Theses & Dissertations

Women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) experience disproportionately low rates of cervical screening relative to women without I/DD, despite its clear role in cancer prevention. This disparity is especially stark in Nebraska, where in 2023, only 56% of women with I/DD had cervical screen receipt, compared to 78.4% of their non-disabled peers.. Previous literature has explored barriers to cervical screening for women with I/DD using the socioecological model (SEM) as a framework. This dissertation used three methodologies: a case study, a scoping review, and survey research, to examine facilitators to cervical screening for women with I/DD using the SEM …

Impact Of Adhesive Curing Mode And Dentin Sealing On Bond Strength Of Cad/Cam Resin Composite, Sara Adel Botros, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Nermin Mohieldin Abdelmohssen

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Utilizing The Visia Camera For Analyzing 5-Fluorouracil Treatment Efficacy For Actinic Keratosis, Emily Woolhiser, Leena Jamal, Jessica Kirk, Bertha Baum, Robert Dellavalle

Student Publications

The VISIA camera is a device that captures images of the skin, offering a detailed look at skin health by detecting changes that are often missed during physical exams and by the naked eye. It can help identify changes in UV damage, pigmentation, texture, fine lines, and redness. In dermatology, it has become a useful tool to build targeted treatment plans and follow patient progress over time. We present a case of a male patient diagnosed with diffuse scalp actinic keratoses who was treated with topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). VISIA images were taken before treatment, at one week, and again three …

The Effect Of Wearable Resistance Microloading On Sprint Biomechanics, Curtis King

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Wearable resistance refers to the practice of attaching weight to specific body segments during sport-specific movements. This study investigates the impact of progressive microloading training, which involves wearing wearable resistance on the torso (3%, 5%, 10%), on sprint mechanics and performance among competitive athletes. A total of twenty-two participants engaged in a nine-week study that included both progressed and non-progressed group protocols. Sprint times, hip angles, and perceived fatigue were monitored at pre, mid, and post-intervention. A manual biomechanical analysis combined with SPSS-based repeated measures ANOVA indicated no statistically significant changes in hip angle or sprint times between the groups. …

The Effects Of Kyphosis Angle Reduction On Balance, Fall Risk, And Quality Of Life, Karen Buckley

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Purpose: Hyperkyphosis is an abnormal sagittal plane curvature of the spine. The kyphosis angle (KA) increases as age increases, leading to fractures, falls, and potential mortality. This study aims to determine if reducing the KA improves balance, stability, and quality of life in the elderly. Methods: Thirty-one participants, including males and females, aged 63.03±9.61, participated in this study. This study used the kyphosis index (KI), which is a measurement of the distance between the occiput and the wall. Elderly individuals with an occiput wall distance (OWD) of > 4cm participated in this study. The Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life questionnaire, …

Physiological Demands Of Virtual Reality Exercise Games: An Analysis Of Energy Expenditure And Exercise Intensity, Neil Panchal

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Virtual reality (VR) technology offers potential as an exercise modality, yet comprehensive physiological assessments using gold-standard methodology remain limited. This study investigated the physiological demands of three VR fitness games, Beat Saber, Punch Fit, and RUN, by examining exercise intensity, energy expenditure, and time spent above American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) intensity thresholds. Thirty-two college students (ages 18-32, M = 23.9 ± 3.1 years) completed maximal exercise testing to establish VO₂max, followed by a VR gaming session. Physiological responses were measured using portable indirect calorimetry and heart rate monitoring. Repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed significant differences between games, with large effect …

Strength And Conditioning As An Injury Prevention Strategy In College Baseball, Elizabeth Record

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Shoulder injuries are common and often result in impairments, particularly among baseball players. The clinical management of shoulder injuries is of interest to a wide-ranging audience within the sports medicine community. This dissertation aimed to investigate the effects of a strength and conditioning program on injury prevention in college-aged baseball players, hypothesizing that a comprehensive strength and conditioning program implemented before the start of the season would prevent shoulder injuries in baseball players over the course of one spring season at the collegiate level of baseball. Four participants completed a four-week strength and conditioning program before the start of their …

Evaluating The Effects Of Visualization On Vertical Jump Performance In Varsity High School Athletes, David Linton

Doctorate in Kinesiology

This study examined the effects of guided visualization on vertical jump performance in high school varsity athletes. Twenty varsity athletes (ages 13–18) were randomly assigned to either a control group or a visualization group. Following baseline testing, participants completed seven sessions across three weeks. All sessions included a standardized dynamic warm-up. The control group engaged in passive rest prior to testing, while the experimental group completed a five-minute guided visualization exercise. Vertical jump height was measured using a Vertex Vertical Jump Trainer. A randomized controlled pretest–posttest design was employed. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests and two-way mixed factorial …

A System And Method For Validating Payee Identity In Unified Payments Interface (Upi) Based Payment Transactions, Alok Roy

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for validating payee identity in unified payments interface (UPI) based payment transactions. The method prevents misrouted payments in a digital payment environment, specifically addresses risks associated with mobile number reassignment. The system includes a mobile number re-authentication module designed to detect re-linking of mobile numbers to new accounts and an identity-change ledger that records historical mappings of mobile numbers to account holder identities. The method initiates by receiving a mobile number entry from a payor, performing a validation step that cross-references the entered number against the identity-change ledger, and generating a …

Graphical Display Of A Career In Chronological Order With Achievement Percentiles, Safwan Samla

Defensive Publications Series

A digital representation of a person’s career is provided in a manner that is easy to follow and provides important statistics relating to achievement assessments relative to others. A person’s career can be displayed through a graphical user interface comprising an X and Y plot wherein the X-axis comprises a timeline determined by a person’s career and the Y-axis comprises data-based categories pertaining to different achievement and experiences from the person’s career.

Book Review, Nathan Mishael O. Go

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

Book review of "Humankind: A Hopeful History" by Rutger Bregman

Against The Perfect Theory-Theory: Toward A Tenable Realism, Magnus Fried

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

We all have realistic intuitions: there is a mind-independent world out there, and we can capture some of its features in our scientific theories. There have been many attempts to justify our realistic intuitions, and I will analyze some that build on ideas from Saul Kripke and (in particular) Hilary Putnam. However, many of these attempts share a dependency on what I call “The Perfect Theory -Theory,” which holds that there could be a theory that perfectly mirrors the objectively existing world. But this theory is defunct, so the dependency is an issue. Scientific realism, many have argued, relies on …

Socrates And Early Buddhist Medical Ethics: Foundations Of Moral Reasoning In The Care Of Body And Mind, Chandima Gangodawila

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

While Buddhist traditions articulate a parallel moral vision in the early discourses of the Pāli Canon, Western traditions usually locate the roots of ethical reasoning in Socratic inquiry. Especially in their approaches to bodily care, spiritual well - being, and moral responsibility, this article contends that both Socratic and Early Buddhist ideas converge on fundamental principles in medical ethics. Through a comparative textual and philosophical study, the paper examines how Socratic dialectics and the Buddha's diagnostic approach to dissatisfa ction/ suffering (dukkha) both produce frameworks for ethical healthcare anchored in the development of virtue, wisdom, and care for the integrity …

Inclusive Stem Education In Nigerian Schools:An Emerging Pathway For Substainable Development, Oginni Aderonke Margaret Dr., Awobodu Victoria Yetunde Dr., Olusegun Bisola Esther Miss

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Inclusive STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education plays a vital role in promoting equitable learning opportunities and fostering sustainable development. However, in Nigeria, many marginalized student groups face barriers that hinder their full participation in STEM fields. This study examines the factors impeding inclusivity in STEM education and their effects on students’ motivation, academic performance, and awareness of sustainable development in Lagos State. Employing a survey research design, data were gathered from 550 students selected through simple random sampling across 21 secondary schools in Education Districts I, III, and V. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection. To …

Proposing Augmented Reality Game-Based Learning For Higher Education, Anna C. Zaldivar

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Simulating the role of an instructional technologist, negotiation takes place to implement the AR technology for use in a higher education institution. There are arguments both for and against the use of augmented reality for higher education. Overall, examining and highlighting these arguments to make an important decision that will shape learners' future. Using BATNA and examining arguments during the negotiation process.

Black Women And Latinas In Stem: A Systematic Review Of Literature, Karin Moore

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This systematic review of literature examines scholarly studies conducted on Black women and Latinas in STEM fields and in STEM higher education. Women are underrepresented in STEM, and on average they comprise 27% of the STEM population (National Science Foundation, 2017). Black women and Latinas are even further underrepresented in STEM by making up only 14.58 % and 3% of the employees in STEM industries (Hispanic Heritage Foundation, 2020; National Science Foundation, 2021). Barriers for all women are the focus of much of the body of literature in STEM (Beach et al., 2024; Moore, 2024). Isolating specific challenges Black women …

Marooned: A Western Frontier Dismal Swamp Narrative, Professor Meya E. Hargett

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Marooned: A Western Frontier Dismal Swamp Narrative centers the erased figure of Samuel Mars, a lost Black station master whose movements through the Great Dismal Swamp have been excluded from dominant Underground Railroad cartographies. Here, the term “Marooned” refers not to abandonment, but to the maroon geographies of Black and Indigenous resistance encoded in land, lineage, and fugitive infrastructure.

Guided by Diasporic Maroon Memory Theory, Lineage as Method, and the Maroon Geographies Framework, this research reconstructs Mars’s trajectory through oral testimony, spatial patterning, and ancestral land memory. Rather than casting the Dismal Swamp merely as a site of refuge, this …

Article Title: Deconstructing Power And Gender: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Of Biopolitics, Necropolitics, And Sexual Scripts In Feminicide In Puerto Rico., Migdalia Marrero-Lafontaine

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Feminicide and gender violence cases in the last several decades in Puerto Rico have continuously increased, suggesting that this problem becomes worse as time passes. This study, therefore, focuses on identifying actionable insights that paint a picture of the impact it has on women over the age of 18 in Puerto Rico. In order to achieve this objective, the study relies on a strong theoretical framework that is made up of Foucauldian discourse analysis, necropolitics, and sexual scripts theories. One of the core findings of this research is that Puerto Rico’s colonial history and cultural norms sustain a cycle of …