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Defining the Discipline: Six Pillars of Academic Success Programming in Law Schools
Full text linkThis article outlines a comprehensive framework for Academic Success Programming (ASP) in law schools. The authors argue that ASP has evolved into a distinct discipline essential for student success, requiring a structured approach that addresses six key pillars: learning theory, doctrinal knowledge, understanding marginalization, crisis support, institutional collaboration, and professional development. The goal is to provide law schools with a roadmap to evaluate and enhance their ASP programs, ensuring holistic support for students and recognizing the critical role of ASP professionals
Row Crops and the U.S. Agricultural Trade Deficit: Recent Trends and Policy Issues
Full text linkRow crops such as soybeans, corn, wheat, and cotton are the backbone of the U.S. farm sector, accounting for around $60 billion of exports in 2023. While U.S. row crop exports remain robust, growing concerns over the rising U.S. agricultural trade deficit underscore the need to appraise the ongoing market and policy dynamics affecting the viability of this key sector. To this end, we analyze recent trends and policy issues impacting U.S. row crops. In particular, we highlight how trade and domestic policies, evolving comparative advantages, and other market forces have shaped recent trade patterns. We also provide a forward-looking assessment of how U.S. trade in row crops is likely to evolve in coming years, and further outline potential policy approaches to maintaining the U.S. position in global markets for row crops.National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural and Food Research Initiative Competitive Program, Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Grant Number: 2022-67023-3638
Modeling the Severity of Crashes in Rainy Weather by Driver Gender and Crash Type
Full text linkRainy weather conditions can have significant impact on the severity and frequency of traffic crashes. This study investigated factors that influence the severity of vehicle crashes during rainy weather in California. Data from 23,242 rain-related crashes in California were taken from the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) database. The data was divided into 12 groups based on driver gender (male and female) and crash type (six categories: rear-end, hit object, sideswipe, overturned, head-on, and broadside). Each group was assigned a logistic regression model for crash severity (Property Damage Only (PDO) vs. injuries or fatalities (NotPDO)) yielding 12 models for various combinations of driver gender and crash types. Results indicate that factors such as the number of vehicles involved, vehicle manufacturing year, annual average daily traffic (AADT), road topography, season of crash, number of lanes, and driver age group all significantly influenced crash severity across various scenarios. These findings provide detailed insights into how various factors contribute to crash severity in different scenarios, allowing policymakers to develop targeted interventions. Policymakers can utilize the findings of this study to implement targeted measures in areas with high frequencies of specific crash types, particularly during adverse environmental conditions
Characterizing and predicting household adaptations to electric power outages
Full text linkThis paper advances understanding of the implementation of household adaptations in response to electric power outages—who undertakes which ones and under what circumstances. Specifically, using household survey data from New York state and North Carolina, USA following a 2022 winter storm, we apply the Household Adaptations to Service Interruption (HASI) typology for the first time. We also use revealed and stated preference data to fit mixed logit models that predict the probability a household implements an adaptation as a function of the HASI categories and adaptation attributes. For the first time, the models include generalized versions that can be applied to any adaptation type. Results suggest the hierarchical categories and adaptation attributes (e.g., expensive) in the HASI typology distinguish among adaptations in a way that relates to how frequently they are implemented, as was the typology’s intention. In particular, adaptations that require relocation (e.g., going to a hotel or public shelter) are the least likely to be implemented. Those that work by reducing or delaying consumption, or by providing alternative ways to accomplish specific uses (e.g., candles for light) generally are more likely to be implemented the more favorable attributes they have (e.g., does not require time/effort, meets needs).National Science Foundation, 1735483, Rachel A. Davidson
Robotically Produced Timber Dowel Double-Curvature Discrete Shell: Integrated Computational Design to Augmented Production of a Dry-Assembled Pavilion Structure
Full text linkThis paper presents the development and realization of a double‑curvature timber discrete shell built with a dry‑assembled, dowel‑joined system and an integrated pipeline that combines computational design, parametric structural analysis, multi‑axis robotic milling, and augmented‑reality‑guided production and assembly. An iterative macro‑to‑micro workflow enables form‑finding, aligning architectural geometry with structural performance, fabrication precision, and assembly logic. Adaptive tessellation—implemented through a recursive method that respects the constraints and potentials of timber‑dowel connections—divides the surface into a mesh of non‑convex octagons, from which discrete timber components of varied length, thickness, and joint orientation are derived. Iterative parametric structural simulations across multiple joint‑and‑support degree‑of‑freedom configurations steer material allocation and inform timber and dowel distribution. A 7‑axis robotic milling setup delivers accuracy fabrication of these non‑repetitive geometries while avoiding kinematic singularities; on‑site assembly is streamlined by spatially aligned holographic guidance, eliminating reliance on conventional drawings, and a tertiary locking pin prevents dowel rotation to secure each joint. The process culminates in a full‑scale pavilion comprising 181 unique timber members and 330 hardwood dowels, demonstrating a data‑ and resource‑driven design‑to‑production workflow for scalable timber construction. Following these results, the paper concludes by outlining future work on multi‑actor human–robot collaborative assembly processes for timber construction, with an emphasis on design for assembly and disassembly at larger scales.In Summer 2025, further research development and graduate and student assistantships for Uijin Lee, Mark Segovia, and Jose Gutierrez were supported through the NSF ReDDDoT program, Phase 1: Planning Grant: Building Community-Driven Resilience and Empowerment through Adaptive Manufacturing Technologies (Award Abstract #2427747
Trust Issues: Narrowing the U.S. Trustee's Power in Mass Tort Bankruptcies Post-Purdue Pharma
Full text linkThe article argues that the U.S. Trustee's broad authority under 11 U.S.C. § 307 disproportionately disrupts mass tort bankruptcies, potentially harming victim recovery by delaying or blocking reorganization plans. It advocates for a statutory amendment to limit the Trustee's objections to clear violations of the Bankruptcy Code, ensuring victims receive timely compensation without undermining the bankruptcy system's integrity
Do TIA Designated Teachers Continue to Show Growth After Designation?
No full textThis policy brief examines whether teachers who earn a designation through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment continue to demonstrate strong student growth after designation. We use longitudinal data from 6,782 teachers across 34 districts who submitted Step 2 data validation from 2021-2024. The study compares growth outcomes and observation scores for designated and non-designated teachers across multiple cohorts. Findings show that designated teachers consistently improve leading up to their designation year and then maintain high levels of student growth thereafter, outperforming peers who never receive designation. Non-designated teachers show limited growth student overall, though observation scores increase for all teachers during the study period
Choosing Not to Participate: District Perspectives of the Teacher Incentive Allotment
Full text linkThe Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was established by House Bill 3 passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019 to provide additional compensation to high-performing teachers with the goal of improving teacher retention, attracting top talent into the profession, and increasing student outcomes across Texas schools. Since its inception, TIA has experienced significant growth in both participation and recognition, reflecting the increasing interest among districts to leverage this program as a strategic tool to improve local education systems. Currently, 597 districts and
charters are in the process or have completed the process of having their local designation system approved out of just over 1200 across the state (Texas Education Agency, 2025). Despite this growth, many school districts still choose not to participate, citing challenges related to the program’s design and implementation. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to better understand these factors and inform strategies that could enhance district participation
Dissecting resistance mechanisms to Agroathelia rolfsii in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through comparative RNA-Seq profiling of resistant and susceptible genotypes
Full text linkStem rot, caused by the fungal pathogen Agroathelia rolfsii, is a devastating disease in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), resulting in substantial global agricultural losses. This study employed RNA sequencing to unravel the molecular mechanisms of resistance by analysing the gene expression profiles of a resistant peanut genotype (Georgia-03 L) and a susceptible genotype (Valencia C) under normal and infected conditions. From the sequencing data, 405.9 million high-quality reads were successfully mapped to the A. hypogaea reference genome, achieving an average mapping rate of 97%. The alignment showed that out of the 67,124 annotated genes in the Tifrunner genome, 49,598 were expressed in at least one sample. In the resistant genotype, key defense-related genes, including receptor-like kinases, NBS-LRR resistance genes, and transcription factors such as MYB and zinc finger proteins, were strongly induced upon infection in G03L. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified a coexpression gene module which associated with resistance and enriched with the genes involved in oxidative stress response, secondary metabolism, and cell wall reinforcement. In contrast, the susceptible genotype displayed a limited activation of these defense pathways, emphasizing its vulnerability to A. rolfsii. Functional annotation highlighted critical pathways, such as oxidoreductase activity, glutathione metabolism, and peroxidase-mediated responses, as pivotal to the resistance mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of stem rot resistance in peanuts, offering a foundation for breeding or genetic engineering approaches to enhance disease resistance in susceptible cultivars.This research was supported in part by the Hatch Capacity funds administered by NMSU - Agricultural Experiment Station. New Mexico Peanut Research Board; National Peanut Research Board, and by the Faculty Texas University Funds (TUF) Start Up under the supervision of the Operations Division of TTU
From Waste to Resource: Innovative Slow-Release Fertilizer Advances the Nitrogen Circular Economy
No full textIn the coming decades, humanity will be faced with the challenge of feeding 10 billion people and managing large quantities of solid waste. These issues can be mitigated through the development of sustainable fertilizers derived from electrochemically treated waste activated sludge (EWAS), while promoting a nitrogen circular economy. This study investigates the chemistry of novel fertilizers to determine their soil chemistry dynamics. Untreated waste activated sludge (WAS) and EWAS were applied to agricultural soil and potting mix and the resulting aqueous samples were analyzed to determine nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, and micronutrient adsorption and release behaviors. Commercial inorganic and natural fertilizers were utilized for comparison. X-ray adsorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) was performed to characterize phosphorus speciation in the solid phases of the novel fertilizers. Results indicated that EWAS and WAS samples released less total nitrogen into solution than other treatments due to organoclay complexation of biomolecules and differences in the solubility of the nitrogen species. Samples containing EWAS released a higher percentage of organic and total carbon into solution due to the deformation of the structure of the organic matter by the alkaline electrolysis process. The solubility of nitrogen and carbon in the sludge was increased by the electrochemical process. Solid-phase phosphorus in EWAS and WAS was characterized by XANES analysis as struvite, which is a novel finding with important implications for P management from waste-based fertilizers. These experimental findings suggest that fertilizing with EWAS could result in reduced runoff and improved soil health while facilitating domestic fertilizer production