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No Remedy for Colonization
Get PDFThe United States purports to maintain a democratic relationship with its inhabited territories, yet the Supreme Court continues to uphold twentieth century laws that affirm rather than abrogate colonial policies. The gap between how the United States idealizes democracy and its real world application, especially in its five colonized territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, and American Samoa), is not just growing – it is becoming a chasm. These colonies are currently referred to as United States territories. In 2023, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico experienced a controversial sovereignty challenge surrounding the Supreme Court’s ruling in Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico v. Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, Inc. In 2023, the Puerto Rican people expressed national outrage at the implementation and supervision of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) congressional statute due to its exclusion of Puerto Rican constituents from equal collaboration in debt crisis resolution and pronounced refusal of government transparency. This article contributes to the scholarly literature on United States territorial law by condemning the oppressive application of federal laws to the territories and contends that the Court has cut off any viable remedy for Puerto Rico to redress governance grievances. The Court continues to affirm colonial rule without a viable remedy for self-governanc
Sociology: An Introduction
Get PDFThis document introduces the reader to basic sociological concepts including the origins of sociology as a discipline, including its progression into a formidable science. It explores the role of its founding fathers as well as the field\u27s emergence from the various reformations and revolutions to being a stand-alone discipline
Medicare Advantage Dominance in Puerto Rico’s Healthcare System: Exploring its Financial Landscape, Marketing Strategies and Quality Measures using the Commercial Determinants of Health Framework
Get PDFOver time, Medicare Advantage (MA) has seen an increase in enrollment in the United States and Puerto Rico. This program, which is the privatized version of traditional Medicare, has faced critiques in recent years for being focused on profit maximization and reducing accessibility to Medicare beneficiaries. In Puerto Rico, the majority of Medicare beneficiaries (95%) choose a MA plan over traditional Medicare. Despite being the primary financier of healthcare in Puerto Rico and covering populations that require extensive healthcare services, individuals over 65 and those with disabilities, there are still numerous research gaps about the MA industry. This dissertation examines the impact of Medicare Advantage insurance companies on the healthcare system in Puerto Rico over a ten-year period, focusing on financial performance, marketing practices, and quality outcomes. Chapter 2 explores the financial performance of the top four health insurance companies managing Medicare Advantage in Puerto Rico. Chapter 3 goes into the marketing practices of MA companies to understand the messages they convey and some of their possibly deceptive and predatory practices. Chapter 4 then assesses the quality outcomes of the top four health insurance companies managing MA have changed overtime. The findings reveal that while MA plans have increased their market share and profitability, this success has not necessarily translated into improved healthcare access or quality for beneficiaries. Marketing strategies have been employed to attract more participants to MA plans, often without offering the essential information needed for Medicare beneficiaries to make informed decisions. Areas such as preventive services have seen improvement, while more costly quality measures like chronic disease management have remained stagnant or seen a reduction overtime. The dissertation argues that the MA program should have regulatory adjustments to increase patient care priorities which are sometimes overshadowed by private insurance companies
PHI 243 Early Modern Philosophy
Get PDFThis course will introduce the student to key authors and texts in the history of modern western philosophy, from the 17th and 18th centuries--Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume. The focus will be on metaphysics (what exists) and epistemology (how we know, what knowledge is and what we know); universal human identity (what am I? and what makes me the same person?); what some philosophers thought the role of God is in metaphysics and epistemology. Included will be historical contexts of the philosophers studied, and their religious claims
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of a Turbine Blade
Get PDFIn Aerospace engineering, the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software, such as SolidWorks, is crucial when designing and validating high-performance parts. SolidWorks provides a valuable tool for simulating computational fluid dynamics (CFD), allowing engineers to analyze and visualize how parts behave under real-world aerodynamic conditions.
One such part is a turbine blade, an airfoil-shaped component inside a jet engine that compresses and redirects airflow to generate thrust. This study aims to perform aerodynamic testing of a single turbine blade design while evaluating SolidWorks\u27 ability to simulate external flow conditions. By visualizing velocity profiles, pressure distribution, and vortex formation, the simulation grants insight into how turbine blades are impacted by drag force. These findings are important for engineers to further improve turbine blade designs to make them more efficient and ensure flight safety
Class I MHC in Infectious Diseases and Autoimmunity
No full textThe immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against infections. The lymphoid lineage of the immune system responds to infections using B and T cells. CD8 T cells, also known as cytotoxic T cells, are cells of the immune system that originate from the hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. The role of CD8 T cells is to kill virally infected cells. However, in some cases, CD8 T cells attack normal cells in the body, causing autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes (T1D). In T1D, CD8 T cells attack and kill beta cells in the islets of the pancreas, resulting in the body\u27s inability to produce insulin, which is needed for the breakdown of glucose to produce energy. However, before CD8 T cells can bind to an infected or healthy cell, peptides of that cell need to be presented by cell-surface glycoproteins known as class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In humans, MHC molecules are known as Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).
Previous studies have been conducted in mice to study two human class I MHC molecules associated with T1D, HLA-A2 and HLA-B39. Using transgenic mouse models that expressed either HLA-A2 or HLA-B39 in the absence of the mouse class I MHC, it was found that each human MHC alone was sufficient to mediate T1D, but only in approximately 50% of the mice. To more closely mimic humans, who express multiple class I MHC molecules, we introduced both HLA-A2 and HLA-B39 in the same mouse model. We found that the mice are T1D-susceptible, making this a new human-relevant spontaneous model for T1D. The influence of the expression of both HLA-A2 and HLA-B39 class I MHC molecules in T1D development was tested by developing NOD mice that express both HLA-A2 and HLA-B39 by intercrossing the two single-transgenic strains. We assessed T1D development in the new mouse strain by conducting an incidence study. Although still ongoing, this study suggests that mice expressing both HLA-A2 and HLA-B39 in the absence of the mouse class I MHC show a higher T1D susceptibility than the single-transgenic strains. As a next step, we will identify the peptides recognized by the islet-infiltrating CD8 T cells in the double-transgenic model.
Moreover, to study the role of CD8 T cells and class I MHC in infectious diseases, we used the Syrian hamster as our model system. The Syrian hamster has been used to study a number of viruses and other pathogens due to the similarities in disease symptoms, pathogenesis, and immune response they share with humans. Surprisingly though, there are no known hamster MHC’s that we can use to study infectious diseases. However, our lab has identified two candidate hamster class I MHC genes (K and D) that we are characterizing to fill this knowledge gap. We have determined the credibility of the hamster class I MHC K candidate and verified that it is a class I MHC molecule. As a next step, the K molecules will be purified and the peptides that they present will be characterized.
The identification of peptides recognized by CD8 T cells in our humanized T1D mouse model expressing both HLA-A2 and HLA-B39 could lead to new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies in humans. The discovery of the class I MHC molecules in hamsters will facilitate advanced T cell studies related to pathogenesis and the development of improved vaccines for infectious diseases. Overall, our work contributes to our understanding of the dual role of CD8 T cells of the immune system in T1D and infectious diseases
A Morphosyntactic Study of Arab American Code-Switching
Get PDFThis study examines the morphosyntactic behavior of Arabic lexical items in English-dominant speech among Arab American bilinguals. Based on original survey data from 22 participants between the ages of 16 and 32, the paper focuses on specific Arabic words, such as yani, khalas, and ana, in English conversations across informal and professional settings. The analysis shows that these lexical items function as free morphemes and are inserted without disrupting English syntax, often serving discourse, emotional, or identity-marking purposes. Grounded in sociolinguistic theory and Poplack’s model of intra-sentential code-switching, this paper argues that code-switching among Arab Americans is intentional and structurally consistent. The findings indicate that language choices reflect bilingual fluency, cultural positioning, and adaptability within shifting social contexts. Ultimately, the paper contributes to a broader understanding of how language, identity, and social belonging intersect in bilingual communities while showing how Arabic keeps cultural resonance within hybrid linguistic environments
Minor Role III: Youth Under Age 18 and New York City Violence
Get PDFResearchers at the John Jay College Research and Evaluation Center analyzed NYPD arrest data from 2006 to 2024 to assess trends in felony assault, felony robbery, and felony weapon offenses across age groups. The study examined whether New York’s “Raise the Age” law, which shifted most youth under 18 out of adult court, influenced violent crime patterns. Although arrests rose across all age groups following the COVID-19 pandemic, trends among youth under 18 generally mirrored those of older age groups. The findings suggest no clear evidence that the law caused a youth-specific increase in violent crime
Investing in Maryland Safety: Engaging Public Resources and Community Partnerships to Prevent Crime and Violence
Get PDFThe Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice conducted a review of two innovative initiatives developed by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services: The Thrive Academy (TTA) and the Safer Stronger Together (SST) intervention strategy. The study involved document analysis, online resource review, and interviews with agency staff and leadership. These efforts aimed to understand the design, implementation, and alignment of TTA and SST within Maryland’s broader public safety and crime prevention strategy. Key themes included program effectiveness, operational progress, and community-level impact, providing valuable insights into the Department’s evolving approach to juvenile justice and public safety
