Digital Commons Network^™

The Intangible Divide: Why Do So Few Firms Invest In Innovation?, James Bessen, Xiupeng Wang

Faculty Scholarship

Investments in software, R&D, and advertising have grown rapidly, now approaching half of U.S. private nonresidential investment. Yet just a few hundred firms account for almost all this growth. Most firms, including many large ones, regularly invest little in capitalized software and R&D, and this "intangible divide" has surprisingly deepened as intangible prices have fallen relative to other assets. Using comprehensive US Census microdata, we document these patterns and explore a variety of factors associated with intangible investment. We find that firms invest significantly less in innovation-related intangibles when their rivals invest more. One firm's investment can obsolesce rivals' investments, …

Agricultural Productivity And Climate Mitigation, Keith O. Fuglie, Thomas W. Hertel, David B. Lobell, Nelson B. Villoria

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Agriculture will play a central role in meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets, as the sector currently contributes ∼22% of global emissions. Because emissions are directly tied to resources employed in farm production, such as land, fertilizer, and ruminant animals, the productivity of input use tends to be inversely related to emissions intensity. We review evidence on how productivity gains in agriculture have contributed to historical changes in emissions, how they affect land use emissions both locally and globally, and how investments in research and development (R&D) affect productivity and therefore emissions. The world average agricultural emissions intensity fell by …

Predicting Consumer Churn In Telecommunications, Amna Yousef Almatrooshi

Theses

The telecommunications industry is highly competitive, with consumer churn being a significant concern due to market saturation. Churn, or customer attrition, refers to customers leaving a service provider due to dissatisfaction or better offers from competitors. This phenomenon is particularly impactful in the telecom sector, where retaining customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. To address this issue, telecom companies increasingly rely on machine learning techniques to predict customer churn and implement strategies to retain at-risk customers. The study highlights the importance of understanding the factors contributing to customer churn, including service quality, pricing, customer service interactions, and competition. …

Navigating The Job Landscape: Insights From Linkedin Through Npl, Mohammed Alsallal Alfalasi

Theses

This study uses NLP to examine the relationships between skills needed, wage trends, and job attributes in over 33,000 LinkedIn job posts. NLP enabled us to analyze a large dataset and gain deeper insights into the employment market. We obtained and cleansed the data ethically to guarantee that it was accurate for NLP analysis. This investigation included techniques such as keyword extraction and sentiment analysis to uncover important talents, job market attitudes, and industry trends. We also examined pay trends to better comprehend the market's economic aspects. By merging NLP and machine learning, this study offers a novel methodological framework …

Sound, Gentrification, And Ephethereal Justice, Allie Martin

Dartmouth Scholarship

Gentrification transforms neighborhoods and erodes intimacies, creating spaces of displacement and exclusivity. Where, then, is justice in a gentrifying city? In this article, I argue that sound offers an opening into a fleeting—“ephethereal”—justice; that is, a portmanteau of ephemeral and ethereal. This is a justice that is short lived and ephemeral, and yet offers an impression of something not of this world, something ethereal. Drawing on my work on listening to gentrification in Washington, DC, I consider how sound invokes this ephethereal justice and offers us the tools to explore the temporal and spatial contours of liberation.

Academic Libraries, Counter-Storytelling, And Minoritized Students' Scholarly Identity Development, Darren Ilett

University Libraries Publications

This study uses the critical race theory approach of counter-storytelling to explore scholarly identity development among first-generation, low-income, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and women students transitioning to graduate school. Data included interview transcripts, observation notes, and student assignments from a program that supports students in completing an original research project and applying for graduate school. Findings show the frequent negative stereotypes about students that circulate in higher education as well as students' own counter-stories that reimagine academia and their place in it. Implications include ways that libraries can better support students' scholarly identity development.

Cancer In Louisiana: Volume 39, Ingrid Wagner, Lauren Maniscalco, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Christina Lefante, Yong Yi, Lisa Pareti, Brent Mumphrey, Mary Anne Lynch, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Tommy Ngyuen

Cancer in Louisiana

The Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) is pleased to present Volume 39 of its annual Cancer in Louisiana monograph series, documenting cancer incidence and mortality from 2017 to 2021 in Louisiana as well as incidence and mortality trends from 1988 to 2021. Survival statistics are for cases diagnosed from 2010 to 2020 and followed into 2021. Prevalence is also presented for cancer cases diagnosed from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2021. New to this volume is Table D1 in which we present data for Louisiana’s Hispanic population separately for the first time. Data for Hispanics is also included in Tables …

Towards Understanding Capacity Development As A System: Perceptions From Multiple Conservation Stakeholder Groups In Bhutan, Jeremy S. Brooks, Sonam Wangyel Wang, Ugyen Namgyel, Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Katia Nakamura Lam, Johanna Eklund, Om Katel, Daniel C. Miller

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Capacity development is crucial for enduring conservation success. Recent scholarship has called for a systems perspective based on input from local stakeholders to better understand and develop conservation capacity. However, few studies have adopted such an approach to explore interactions among capacities or how capacity development needs and priorities evolve. We address this gap through a case study from Bhutan, centred on perceptions from 52 local conservation practitioners, planners, funders and community members. We use mixed methods to identify which capacities have been important for conservation success, which capacities are needed for future success, which capacities are foundational and how …

Isole: A Voyage Among My Dreams, Cianne Fragione, Lauren M. Macdonald, Britt Royer, Han Briner

SMC OER Textbooks & Open Books

No abstract provided.

Have South Korean Leaders Gained A Real Global Perspective In Their Education, Yeomin Yoon

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Physical Frictions And Digital Banking Adoption, Hyun Soo Choi, Roger Loh

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The behavioral literature suggests that minor frictions can elicit desirable behavior without obvious coercion. Using closures of ATMs in a densely populated city as an instrument for small frictions to physical banking access, we find that customers affected by ATM closures increase their usage of the bank's digital platform. Other spillover effects of this adoption of financial technology include increases in point-of-sale (POS) transactions, electronic funds transfers, automatic bill payments and savings, and a reduction in cash usage. Our results show that minor frictions can help overcome the status-quo bias and facilitate significant behavior change.

The Implications Of Section 230 For Black Communities, Spencer Overton, Catherine Powell

William & Mary Law Review

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally immunizes online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, and Uber from liability for third-party user content (for example, posts, comments, and videos) and for moderation of that content. This Article addresses an important issue overlooked by both defenders and critics of Section 230: the implications of the law and proposed reforms for Black communities in particular. By relieving tech platforms of most legal liability for third-party content, Section 230 helps facilitate Black social activism, entrepreneurship, and artistic creativity. Section 230 also relieves platforms of most legal liability for content moderation, which boosts …

Meridians 23:2, Ginetta Candelario

Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Governance And Inheritance Mechanism Of Fujian Merchants From The Perspective Of Modern Economics, Feiyan Zhang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Under the general background of globalization and market economy, Chinese enterprises are embracing advanced governance models around the world, and facing the challenge of effectively combining them with local culture. In the history of China, Fujian (Min) merchants formed a famous commercial group, leaving modern enterprises some precious enlightenment in its unique governance and inheritance mechanism. This research will extensively explore the governance mechanism of Fujian commercial group and assess its potentials and enlightenment for application in the system of modern enterprises. This research aims to provide theoretical and practical guidance for the development of a governance model matching with …

A Rose Or A Unicorn? Asean’S Mission Under The Spotlight, Lily Kong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In a commentary, SMU President Professor Lily Kong explores the question posed by political scientist Donald Emmerson in 1995 - is Southeast Asia more like a vibrant rose or an elusive unicorn? Against the backdrop of the 44th ASEAN Summit, with the theme "Connectivity and Resilience", Prof Kong highlights ASEAN's efforts in fostering regional connectivity and resilience through economic growth, cultural exchanges, and digital advancements. Despite substantial economic integration and digital connectivity, she points out that ASEAN faces challenges in creating a cohesive regional identity. The piece argues for deeper cultural engagement and a focus on shared values to build …

Detection Of Seismic Microwave Radiation Anomalies In Snow-Covered Mountainous Terrain: Insights From Two Recent Earthquakes In The Pamir–Tien Shan Region, Feng Jing, Meng Jiang, Ramesh P. Singh

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

When earthquakes occur in high-mountain areas during the winter season, the epicentral region is often covered by a snow layer, which can be either thin or thick. The presence of snow and/or ice layers affects the detection of thermal anomalies associated with seismic signals. Taking into account the penetration capabilities of microwaves, microwave brightness temperature data were analyzed by using the index of microwave radiation anomaly to study the response of the epicentral region associated with two recent strong earthquakes in Central Asia, which occurred in snow-covered mountainous areas. Increased microwave radiation was observed within one week prior to the …

Cancer In Louisiana: 2017-2021, Volume 39, Louisiana Tumor Registry, Ingrid Wagner, Lauren Maniscalco, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Christina Lefante, Yong Yi, Lisa Pareti, Brent Mumphrey, Mary Anne Lynch, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Tommy Ngyuen

Policy & Position Papers

Mission:

To collect and report complete, high-quality, and timely population-based cancer data in Louisiana to support cancer research, control, and prevention.

Vision:

To reduce suffering and death from cancer using information collected by the Louisiana Tumor Registry.

History:

Cancer registration in Louisiana began in 1947 at the Charity Hospital Tumor Registry in New Orleans. In 1974, as part of its Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, the National Cancer Institute provided funds for a population-based cancer incidence and survival registry covering Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes. Five years later, the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) was transferred to the …

Closing The Socioeconomic Achievement Gap, Mallory Mcdermott

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study was to investigate why the achievement gap exists in order to find ways to best serve the students who fall into it. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are showing disparities in academic achievement in areas of grades, standardized testing scores, and dropout rates. The researcher conducted a quantitative study to determine the effectiveness of a supplemental intervention on student’s mathematical understanding. The research was conducted within a fifth grade classroom at Midland Elementary. Data was collected from a pre-test and the i-Ready diagnostic screener to determine what skills the participants needed improve in. The …

Sackett V. Epa And The Future Of Wetland Protections, Dulaney Marsh

William & Mary Law Review

This Note will analyze prior CWA [Clean Water Act] jurisprudence to formulate a test that remains steadfast to Congress’s purpose in originally including “adjacent” wetlands and acknowledges the scientific understanding of wetlands’ relation to and impact on waters. Part I will provide an overview of the CWA legislation and its application in courts. Part II will specifically analyze the Sackett v. EPA decision in order to find a balance between the “significant nexus” and “continuous surface connection” tests. Part III will address criticisms surrounding the overreach of the CWA. Part IV will conversely address criticism concerning the Court’s decision to …

Different Perspectives In Early Twentieth-Century Utah: A Love Story Between Lewis Gillilan And Ellen Benson, Greer E. H. Garver

Student Publications

Lewis Gillilan and Ellen Benson were young adults who lived in Utah during the first decade of the twentieth century. Between the years 1909 and 1910 they engaged in a long-distance courtship, which ended in an elopement. In that period, they wrote many letters to each other which were full of details about what shaped their relationship. Such details ranged from romantic expressions to disagreements about religious beliefs. Their letters also frequently included references to their work and education, which tell a story of a state going through both agricultural, industrial, and social development. This paper explores themes present in …

Gettysburg On The Go: A Bike Share Program For A Greener Gettysburg, Rachelle Dale, Emily Hazelrigg, Mishael F. Ohanwadi, Anastasia Volciak

Student Publications

A bike share program is a shared transportation system that offers convenient short-term bicycle access for a low cost. This study aims to assess the potential for a program in Gettysburg, PA and develop a proposal for implementation. We assessed the potential of a bike share program by administering a survey targeted to locals, tourists, and college students. We conducted a peer-system analysis of three bikeshare programs in cities with similar characteristics to Gettysburg in terms of population, rural areas, tourism levels, and three additional systems in a regional bike share to aid in the creation of a proposal for …

Economic Contribution Of 2022/2023 Averaged Nonresident Travel Spending In Montana Travel Regions And Counties, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Nonresidents spend over $5 billion in Montana each year. This report looks at the distribution of spending across Montana’s six travel regions, as well as 19 of the 56 counties with the highest spending based on an average of 2022 and 2023 spending data.

Crypto Regulation (And De-Regulation) In The U.S. And E.U. And The Effects Of Each On Consumer Protection And Illicit Transactions, Bella Alonzo

The International Law Review Association Student Forum

The United States and the European Union face a wide disparity in regulation tactics for cryptocurrencies. With the recent rollout of the world’s first comprehensive crypto-asset regulation framework, the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) has further exacerbated incongruities with the U.S.’s comparatively hands-off, scattered regulation strategy. The lack of uniform market regulation not only challenges compliance efforts, but it leaves critical gaps that have proved harmful for investors and opportune for criminals. Prioritizing international regulatory harmonization could result in continued growth of digital assets and a safer, more stable global crypto market, but the path forward is tense …

A Systems And Innovation Approach To Attune Grantmaking For Early Childhood To What Matters Most At The Point Of Service, Wally Patawaran

The Foundation Review

This article discusses how and why The JPB Foundation, a nationally focused private philanthropy in the United States, promoted multistakeholder innovations as it evolved its strategy for early childhood health equity. Through coordinated grantmaking, its cross-sector partnerships over the past decade shifted the science, clinical practice, and public discourse on early life stress.

Building on field learning and trusted relationships, JPB and its partners paved the way for a reimagined paradigm of care that brings ecosystem stakeholders together to overcome competing frictions inhibiting their mutual flourishing. Working collaboratively with grantees as their champion and thought partner, JPB formulated an agenda …

Resourcing Transformational Strategies: How Funding With The Right Timescales, Places, And Relationships Can Advance Multiracial Feminist Democracy, Lauren Jacobs, Elly Matsumura, Rachel Rosner, Eric Wat

The Foundation Review

This article explores how philanthropy can support movement organizations and networks organizing for long-term power building that transforms who holds governing power. PowerSwitch Action, a network of influential regional advocacy and organizing groups in the U.S., draws on a recent evaluation that laid out key elements of its approach to the work to share learnings in hopes that they will benefit both other movement organizations and the philanthropic sector that provides critical backing to the field.

Specifically, the article identifies three recommendations for funders: 1) support long-term efforts to shift governing power rather than expecting quick victories; 2 recognize how …

Public History In The Middle School Classroom, Victoria L. Sanchez

Capstone Projects

This project was inspired by my own experience as a middle school classroom teacher and seeks to highlight the crossover between public history pedagogies and middle school social studies instruction. The project’s main focus lies on providing social studies educators with resources to learn about, teach, and integrate classroom projects that draw on public history pedagogies and methods. I created the public PHxMS website to achieve this goal. The intended impact of this site, upon being shared with educators, is to increase awareness about and interest in the field of public history, provide a resource for educators who might be …

Thesuppression Ofcoffeehouses: Acomparisonofthe17thcentury Londonandmoderncoffeeshopmovements, E. Spring Iskra

Selected Honors Theses

The coffeehouses of the 17th century in London were places of vibrant political discourse. Patrons of the shops could sit for hours debating relevant societal matters for hours with strangers of all different backgrounds. This environment was well-aligned with the theories introduced by Jürgen Habermas regarding the public sphere. Are contemporary coffee shops still places of vibrant discourse? In order to answer this question, an ethnographic study was conducted in a mid-sized city in central Florida analyzing nine local coffee shops. The analysis consisted of three primary categories: layout and design, discursive resources, and public events. The findings of this …

The Cultural Role Of Rice Cultivation In Female Workforce Participation In India, Gautam Hazarika

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Rice and wheat are India's staple cereal crops and there is significant regional variation in the suitability to the cultivation of each. Both are so-called ‘plough-positive’ crops, whose cultivation is benefited by ploughing. It has previously been argued that the ancient adoption of the plough, a heavy implement better suited to handling by men, was a factor in the evolution of cultural norms prescribing a domestic role for women in society (Boserup, 1970). This study contends that rice is an anomalous plough-positive crop in that its cultivation, highly labor-intensive, has traditionally required much female labor. This, it is argued, may …

October 2024 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the October 2024 (Volume 3, Issue 2) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Exploring Blind And Low-Vision Youth’S Digital Access Needs In School: Toward Accessible Instructional Technologies, Natalie L. Shaheen

Faculty Publications - College of Education

Blind and low-vision (BLV) youth have been excluded from technology-mediated learning in school for two decades due to the systemic inaccessibility of K-12 instructional technologies. Accessibility guidelines that address BLV youth’s needs would help schools address this systemic inequity. But such guidelines do not yet exist nor does the robust knowledgebase required to write them. Herein, I report three key findings from a mixed methods user study of BLV youth’s lived experiences learning with access technologies (AT) and instructional technologies in US schools. First, these youth participants are using a broader range of AT than youth in previous studies. Second, …