NSFW: An Empirical Study of Scandalous Trademarks

This project is an empirical analysis of trademarks that have received rejections based on their “scandalous” nature. It is the first of its kind. The Lanham Act bars registration for trademarks that are “scandalous” and “immoral.” While much has been written on the morality provisions in the Lanham Act, this piece is the first scholarly project that engages an empirical analysis of the Section 2(a) rejections based on scandalousness; it contains a look behind the scenes at how the morality provisions are applied throughout the trademark registration process. This study analyzes which marks are being rejected, what evidence is being used to reject them, and who the applicants are. Our data pays particularly close attention to the evidence used to determine whether a mark is scandalous. We also consider whether this bar is effective at removing these marks from the consumer marketplace

NSFW: An Empirical Study of Scandalous Trademarks

This project is an empirical analysis of trademarks that have received rejections based on their “scandalous” nature. It is the first of its kind. The Lanham Act bars registration for trademarks that are “scandalous” and “immoral.” While much has been written on the morality provisions in the Lanham Act, this piece is the first scholarly project that engages an empirical analysis of the Section 2(a) rejections based on scandalousness; it contains a look behind the scenes at how the morality provisions are applied throughout the trademark registration process. This study analyzes which marks are being rejected, what evidence is being used to reject them, and who the applicants are. Our data pays particularly close attention to the evidence used to determine whether a mark is scandalous. We also consider whether this bar is effective at removing these marks from the consumer marketplace

The Impact Of School Climate On School Outcomes

The purpose of this article is to provide insight into an elementary school whose climate issues appear to plague and impact it's performance as measured by it's Annually Yearly Progress (AYP). The Northwest Georgia elementary school is located in a rural school system approximately 50 miles northwest of Atlanta, Georgia. A review of the literature suggests school climate can affect many areas and people within schools. It further suggests that positive interpersonal relationships and optimal learning opportunities in all demographic environments can increase school achievement levels and reduce maladaptive behaviors (McEvoy & Welker, 2000). Providing a positive and supportive work environment and climate for faculty and staff, more often than not, improves faculty, staff and student performance (Freiberg, 1998). An in-depth analysis of the environment of the school in question suggests a lack of faculty and staff respect for administration, a hostile work environment, and overall low morale. Deep frustration and anger on the part of faculty and staff were apparent in a substantial number of written responses to open-ended questions. Although responses to work environment and administration were split along mean scores, the overall data indicate that the status quo cannot continue without continued negative consequences. When half of the faculty and staff are dissatisfied with their work environment and administration, teaching and learning is almost certain to be negatively impacted. A Rasch analysis further supports recommendations

Using Paired Comparison Matrices to Estimate Parameters of the Partial Credit Rasch Measurement Model for Rater-Mediated Assessments

The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique for estimating the parameters of a Rasch model that accommodates ordered categories and rater severity. The technique builds on the conditional pairwise algorithm described by Choppin (1968, 1985) and represents an extension of a conditional algorithm described by Garner and Engelhard (2000, 2002) in which parameters appear as the eigenvector of a matrix derived from paired comparisons. The algorithm is used successfully to recover parameters from a simulated data set. No one has previously described such an extension of the pairwise algorithm to a Rasch model that includes both ordered categories and rater effects. The paired comparisons technique has importance for several reasons: it relies on the separability of parameters that is true only for the Rasch measurement model; it works in the presence of missing data; it makes transparent the connectivity needed for parameter estimation; and it is very simple. The technique also shares the mathematical framework of a very popular technique in the social sciences called the Analytic Hierarchy Process (Saaty, 1996)

Diana Ellis, Stephen Garner, and Mary Worthen in a Performing Arts Class Faculty Recital

This is the program for a Performing Arts Class faculty recital featuring soprano Diana Ellis, tenor Stephen Garner, and pianist Mary Worthen. This recital took place on September 13, 1991, in the Mabee Fine Arts Center Recital Hall

The Role of Ketamine in Depression

Background: Introduction: The average person has up to 15% lifetime risk for developing depression. Major depressive disorder symptoms can include a depressed mood, such as feeling sad or having more anger than normal, changes in appetite, loss of interest in activities or hobbies, psychomotor agitation or retardation, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, decreased ability to think or concentrate, sleep disturbance, an/or having suicidal thoughts. To make the diagnosis of major depressive disorder, according to the DSM-V, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, a person must have at least 5 or more of these 9 symptoms during a continuous two-week period which causes significant impairment in functioning. Depression is treated in a variety of ways including medications and psychotherapy either as monotherapy or in tandem. When a patient has failed 2 or more medication treatments they are considered treatment resistant or as having refractory depression. Treatment resistant depression or refractory depression has several standard therapies, which include combination pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, vagal nerves stimulation and deep brain stimulation. Current research does support that a novel therapy, such as ketamine infusions, may help patients in the short-term with their depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation. The focus of this paper is to review the clinical trials involving ketamine use in refractory depression for the alleviation of depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation, and to examine the benefits, limitations, and future potential for ketamine as a treatment for refractory depression.Master of Health Scienc