Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Structural Gaps And Systemic Barriers In The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, Iryna V. Lendel, Chloe Wieber, Molly Schnoke

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

This comprehensive study of Dayton, Ohio’s minority entrepreneurial ecosystem was supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Based on a multi-year research effort and in-depth interviews with business support organizations (BSOs) and ecosystem stakeholders, the study examines how Dayton’s extensive network of entrepreneurial services supports minority and underrepresented entrepreneurs, identifies persistent gaps, and documents how the ecosystem has evolved amid COVID-19 disruptions, declining federal funding, and shifting approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study highlights strengths such as well-built early-stage support and collaborative service networks, alongside challenges including limited later-stage business assistance, fragmented entry points, misaligned performance metrics, and …

Do Older Americans Work More When Their Housing Wealth Declines?, Brian J. Asquith

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Military Service During The Vietnam War Hurt Veterans’ Long-Term Health, Xintong Wang, Carlos A. Flores, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Fijian Barkcloth In The May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, Delaney M. Bahns

Department of Anthropology

This report examines an object in the May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection, a barkcloth attributed to the Fiji Islands. The report discusses the attribution, as well as the distinction of the object as Fijian masi kesa. The report discusses the techniques used to make bark cloth, as well as past studies of bark cloth in the Pacific Islands. It also examines the gendered context of masi, as well as the issue of cultural intellectual property in recent uses of masi motifs for commercial purposes.

The $5000 Campaign Contribution Cap: Americans’ Perceptions Of Trust And Corruption, Kelly Bergstrand, Cristopher T. Robertson

Social Work Datasets-Archive

Recently, some states have passed laws to limit the size of campaign contributions, such as a voter-approved ballot measure in Maine targeting independent political action committees (e.g., super PACs). Few studies investigate super PAC reform, and our study is the first to test Maine's novel form of regulation. Additionally, we evaluate the appearance of quid pro quo corruption: a critical factor for campaign finance reform to survive legal challenges. To do so, we conducted two experimental studies with 1131 respondents. First, we examined whether the size of donations affected perceptions of political corruption. We find that larger donations, especially those …

Resolution Declaring The Intent Of Una To Participate In Ncaa Division I Athletics, University Of North Alabama Board Of Trustees

Documents

Resolution created by the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees declaring the intention of participating in Division I Athletics of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). The resolution outlines the benefits of the transition to the university and community, as well as the various steps that will be executed to accomplish the transition. At the time of the document publication, the transition was expected to be accomplished in the summer of 2014 or thereafter.

After A Wildfire: Considerations For Building Environmental Testing, Andrew J. Whelton, E. Bollens, C. Ferrarezzi

Resilience to Emergencies and Disasters

No abstract provided.

Daily Coping Strategies, Unmet Needs And Daily Health Outcomes Among Family Caregivers Of Persons Living With Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Henrietta Armah Bennett

ETDs from 2020-2029

Providing care for an individual with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is considered the most stressful type of family caregiving that impacts caregivers’ health. More than one in five ADRD family caregivers report their overall health as poor to fair. These adverse health outcomes are often exacerbated when caregivers’ emotional, informational, and practical needs remain unmet throughout the caregiving trajectory. Numerous studies have shown that the ways in which caregivers cope to caregiving-related stressors significantly shape their health outcomes. Despite this evidence, a clear and consistent understanding of caregivers’ own appraisals of their unmet needs, coping strategies and mental …

Increasing Housing Stability Through State-Funded Community Mediation Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program Fy2025 Evaluation Report, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

Mediation offers a flexible alternative to court for resolving housing disputes, allowing parties to address a wider range of issues and solutions without the delays and formalities of the judicial system. The Housing Mediation Program (HMP or Program) was established in FY2021 as part of the Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI), a coordinated state and federal response to the housing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the EDI brought together housing agencies, Community Mediation Centers (Centers) through MOPC, and legal services to provide robust support for tenants and …

Veteran Families In The 2025 Mfls: Community, Transition Needs, And Family Financial Situation, Jeanette Harvie, Rosalinda V. Maury

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The 2025 Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS), a collaboration between Blue Star Families and Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families since 2014, was released Feb 3, 2026. This year, the survey collected responses from over 6,000 military-connected individuals, including 2,846 veteran family respondents. Key findings include that 58% of veteran respondents described their military-to-civilian transition as difficult, with many reporting significant unmet needs for housing assistance, caregiving resources, and financial planning support at the time of transition. Preliminary analysis showed that veteran families who experienced difficult transitions may experience worse long-term outcomes, with 39% currently struggling financially …

Mom Is Developing Too: Preliminary Evidence For The Reciprocal Effects Of Infant Sensory Reactivity And Maternal Behavior, Emily C. Sweiss, Vincent Berardi, Elysia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Caregiver sensitivity to infant cues is well-established as a predictor of child development. Infants also actively influence their social environment, especially their caregivers, even from their earliest days. Sensory reactivity, characterized as hypo- (under) and hyper- (over) responding to environmental stimuli, is one domain of development that is likely to influence caregiver-infant interaction, due to its role in regulating emotions and responses to both physical and social stimuli. Although sensory reactivity could be an important target for improving caregiver-child interaction, the longitudinal, reciprocal relations between infant sensory reactivity and caregiver behaviors are currently unknown. In the present proof-of-concept study, we …

The Advantages Of Saudi Arabia’S Fixed Exchange Rate Regime For Inflation Control: An Econometric And Empirical Analysis, Rodrigo Bochner

Arab Economic and Business Journal

Since 1986, Saudi, has maintained a fixed exchange rate, pegging the Saudi Riyal (SAR) to dollar at SAR 3.75/USD. This stabilizing domestic prices, and promoting macroeconomic stability in an oil-dependent and economy exposed to volatile global commodity prices and international shocks. This paper provides a assessment of the fixed exchange rate’s advantages for inflation control. Leveraging a dataset spanning 1980–2025 and econometric tools— Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Vector Error Correction Models (VECM), Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) techniques, and GARCH models—this study identifies the causal channels and measures the peg’s impact on inflation dynamics, with a review of literature, confirming that …

Analysis Of Superior Economic Potential In South Tangerang City With Banten Province Comparator Using Location Quotient, Dynamic Location Quotient, And Shift Share Analysis Methods, Muhammad Qabus Abid Khairullah, Rastika Widiastuti, Cindy Adria Ananda Putri, Hayuning Anggrahita

Jurnal Geografi Lingkungan Tropik (Journal of Geography of Tropical Environments)

Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) is a key indicator for understanding regional economic structure and dynamics. Differences in sectoral contributions reflect levels of specialization, competitiveness, and growth potential, making comparative and dynamic sectoral analyses essential for regional development planning. This study aims to identify leading, supporting, potential, and lagging economic sectors using Location Quotient (LQ), Dynamic Location Quotient (DLQ), and Shift Share Analysis by comparing the economic performance of South Tangerang City with Banten Province. The analysis is based on GRDP at constant prices by industrial sector for the period 2019-2023. LQ is applied to identify sectoral comparative advantages, DLQ …

Who Pays For Preparedness? Valuing Disaster App Features Through A Factorial Survey Experiment In Flood-Prone Communities, Katsuya Tanaka, Tadashi Kito, Kohji Tanaka

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

This study evaluates public preferences for next-generation disaster preparedness apps using a factorial survey experiment in flood-prone Japanese communities. The analysis first reveals a fundamental heterogeneity in public receptiveness, identifying two distinct segments: a small "receptive" minority (approx. 20 %) willing to consider adoption, and a large "unreceptive" majority (approx. 80 %) that rejects the app regardless of its features or price. Consequently, focusing on the receptive segment, the study estimates the economic value of specific app features. Results show that functions for immediate personal safety and family security—such as Rescue Request and Family Status Confirmation—are most highly prized. These …

The Information Edge - Library Newsletter - February 2026, Sarah Burns-Feyl, Jennifer Rosenstein

University Library Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Fy2025 Association Of College And Research Libraries (Acrl) Statistical Survey: University Of Rhode Island Data, Julia Lovett

University Libraries Reports & Statistics

The report contains FY2025 data as submitted by the University of Rhode Island Libraries for the 2025 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Annual Survey.

Motivating And Retaining Student Assistants: A Case Study, Catherine Paolillo, Christopher Marcum

Copley Library: Faculty Scholarship

This paper offers specific recommendations for effectively motivating and retaining student employees at an academic library that practitioners may consider as they develop and implement programs for hiring, training, and retaining student assistants at their institutions. It describes a methodology that can be replicated for similar studies at other universities. This paper contributes new knowledge to the subject of academic library employee retention by reporting on the opinions of library student assistants at a small private liberal arts university in Southern California to gain insight into the kinds of retention program elements that students recommend. This study used an online …

Corrigendum To “Interim Rationalizable Implementation Of Functions” (Kunimoto T, Saran R, Serrano R (2024) Mathematics Of Operations Research 49(3):1791–1824), Takashi Kunimoto, Rene Saran, Roberto Serrano

Research Collection School Of Economics

This is the brief corrigendum to “Interim rationalizable implementation of functions” [Kunimoto T, Saran R, Serrano R (2024) Interim rationalizable implementation of functions. Math. Oper Res. 49(3):1791–1824].

The Rise Of Brownfield Mining Is Reshaping Global Mineral Supply And Intensifying Social And Environmental Risk, Deanna Kamp, Julia Loginova, Alex M. Lechner, Michelle Li Ern Ang, Riska A. Kuswati, Muhamad Risqi U. Saputra, Corinne Unger, Anthony J. Bebbington, John R. Owen

Geography

Global mineral demand is rising faster than supply growth, driven by efforts to scale renewable energy, transport, digital, and defense infrastructure. Yet, new mine commissioning has slowed, with production growth sustained by “brownfield” mining—expanding and intensifying extraction at existing sites. Because mine expansion is considered routine industry practice, questions about the global scale and scope of brownfielding are not prominent in public discussion or scientific research, limiting our understanding of its socioecological risks. Here, we leverage global production, exploration, and capital-expenditure data from 1998 to 2024 to uncover a decade-long acceleration in brownfield mining. We identify 366 brownfield mines, with …

Alternative Project Delivery Methods In California: The Path Forward, Ghada M. Gad, Maria Calahorra Jimenez, Chaimae Nacir, Ronald Shrestha

Mineta Transportation Institute

Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDMs) are increasingly being recognized as effective alternatives to the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) approach for transportation projects. As APDMs gain traction among California’s transportation agencies, understanding the legislative frameworks that enable their use and the characteristics of each method is critical. This study benchmarks the existing use of APDMs in California transportation agencies of varying types and sizes, while considering the characteristics (advantages and barriers/challenges to implementation) of each APDM and the authorizations enabling its implementation. Based on these findings, it also provides recommendations for key factors to consider in APDM selection and implementation. The study …

A Hydrogen Hub Blueprint For The California Supply Chain, Tyler Reeb, Barbara Taylor

Mineta Transportation Institute

As global climate targets tighten and state regulations accelerate, hydrogen technology presents a significant opportunity to help California supply chain and transportation stakeholders comply with state emissions mandates and global goals aimed to reduce the impacts of climate change. However, while fuel cell costs and infrastructure have received attention, workforce development remains overlooked. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are especially promising for diesel-reliant sectors that are hard to decarbonize without negatively impacting operational efficiency. But scaling hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure in tandem with emerging consumer and industrial markets will not be easy. State and federal policies, often conflicting, further …

Trump Country: The Role Of Alienated Voters In Alabama And Georgia, Scott E. Buchanan, Bruce L. Blair

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Abstract Since 2016, U.S. politics has galvanized by the Trump presidency. During his two previous, and now third, campaigns for president, Donald Trump has been successful in appealing to rural white voters through the nation, but most especially in the South. Methods. Using a variety of socioeconomic variables, we examined the 2016 and 2020 election cycles to see where Donald Trump was performing the best, and worst, in Alabama and Georgia. Results. Our analysis indicates that the oft-discussed rural/urban divide is alive and well in both states, with rural counties being much more supportive of Donald Trump in …

[Bhm] Black History Month 2026 - Government Docs, Raquel Estrada

Library Display Posters

Poster showcasing U.S. Government documents relating to Black History Month.

Social, Environmental And Policy Contexts Affecting The Feasibility And Acceptability Of Improving Household Flooring For Better Health In Rural Kenya, Ulrike Fillinger, Victoria Ochwal, Hugo Legge, Sharon Muli, Karisa Kazungu, Carlos Mcharo, Jacinta Mwongeli, Charles Mwandawiro, Katherine Halliday, Doris Njomo

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background Homes with unimproved floors (earth, sand, or clay) are associated with increased risks of soil-transmitted parasites and enteric infections, leading to higher morbidity and reduced quality of life. This study explored the enablers and barriers to adopting improved flooring (sealed, washable, and durable) in three culturally diverse regions of Kenya - Narok, Bungoma, and Kwale - to mitigate disease burdens.

Methods Between August 2021 and July 2022, we conducted 24 focus group discussions with homeowners, stratified by age, gender, and floor type. Additionally, 28 key informant interviews with local government officials, microfinance representatives, and masonry trainers in Kwale and …

Motherly Love: A Critical Autoethnography On Identity Formation Through Mental Illness In Maternal Bonds, Ellie E. Monge

Communication Studies

This critical autoethnography is an examination of my personal narrative on how growing up with a mother with mental illness formed my identity as a woman, and as a daughter. I utilize the lens of communication scholarship to understand the effects that this interpersonal relationship had on communication patterns, and ideology. Through personal, and societal analysis the discourse adds to how gendered expectations of womanhood, motherhood, family communication patterns, and dominant mental health rhetoric shape identity for daughters raised in the absence of maternal stability. I implore Family Systems Theory, Family Communication Patterns Theory, Muted Group Theory, and scholarship on …

The Naturalness Bias, Brian P. Meier, Amanda Dillard, Courtney Lappas

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research shows that people have a natural-is-better belief whereby things described as “natural” are perceived as better than artificial, synthetic, or human-made items. For example, people report they would prefer a host of items when they are described as natural versus synthetic including drugs, vaccines, food, cigarettes, human talent, and lighting. Some people report preferring a natural item like a drug even when it is objectively less safe or effective than a synthetic counterpart. This naturalness bias is may become more widespread given the political climate in the U.S. and elsewhere in 2025 and beyond. However, there are many instances …

[Bhm] Black History Month 2026 - Library Resources, Raquel Estrada, Emily Gomez

Library Display Posters

Collection of posters created celebrating Black History Month 2026. It highlights films, books, and archival materials that celebrate Black arts, storytelling, leadership, and local history. The posters also showcase streaming films with public performance rights, literature, biographies of influential figures, and archival profiles of African American educators from the Rio Grande Valley/

Georgia Library Spotlight Sir Elton John’S Gift To Emory University’S Library, Lily Brickmeier

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Sports Betting, Lotteries, And State Revenues In The Post-Paspa Era, Joseph Nedved, David Nason, Adam Hoffer, Amir B. Ferreira Neto, Brad Humphreys

Economics Faculty Working Papers Series

State lotteries are an important source of state revenue in the 45 states that operate them. Following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), 38 states and Washington, DC legalized sports betting. Prior evidence is mixed on whether sports betting and lotteries are substitutes, complements, or unrelated goods, raising concerns about potential fiscal impacts. Using monthly lottery sales data from 18 states and a difference-in-differences design exploiting staggered legalization, we find no economically or statistically significant effect of sports betting on state lottery revenues. These results are robust across specifications and sub-samples.

Texture Density Discrimination Is More Precise Than Number Discrimination, Frank H. Durgin, Nichole Suero Gonzalez , '27, P. Wen, A. C. Huk

Psychology Faculty Works

Density information is a possible primitive for the perception of numerosity. It has been argued, however, that the perception of numerosity is more precise than density perception at low numbers, whereas density is more precise for high numbers. An interpretive problem with the stimuli used to make those claims is that actual stimulus density was often mis-specified owing to an ambiguity regarding the idealized versus actual filled area. This ambiguity had the effect of underestimating density precision at low numerosities. Here we used a novel method of stimulus generation that allows us to accurately specify stimulus density independent of patch …