Digital Commons Network^™

Circularity In Design Studio: Student Participatory Model In Developing A Paper Recycling System, Aisyah Az Zahra, Paramita Atmodiwirjo, Soranart Sinuraibhan

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This study explores the implementation of a participatory model for developing a paper waste recycling system and integrating it within architectural design education. In response to the high level of paper waste inherent in design studio learning, the initiative treats waste not as a final output but as reusable material for further resources. A student-led, participatory model was established to design and implement a paper waste recycling system, including the establishment of a sorting hub in the studio environment, regular waste tracking, and hands-on workshops on various forms of paper reuse and recycling. The process evolved through regular feedback, peer …

Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods In The Organisations' Maturity Assessment: Prisma And Delphi Techniques Perspectives, Jailos Mrisho Mzumile, Victoria Mahabi, Ismail W. R. Taifa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Researchers often find it challenging to identify the appropriate Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods (MCDM) to employ in various research areas that involve prioritising conflicting alternatives or criteria. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA technique to determine the most frequently and commonly employed MCDM methods in assessing organisational maturity across its functional areas. A total of 120 articles were identified for review, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted to map the relationships within the identified articles using VOSviewer 1.6.20 software. Moreover, frequent content analysis was performed to determine the most frequently employed MCDM methods in assessing an organisation’s …

Biofunctional Characterization Of A Polyherbal Formulation, Muhammad Ameer Qarib Naqvi, Iqra Saleem, Fatma Hussain

Journal of Bioresource Management

Polyherbal formulations (PHFs) have greater medicinal importance due to their enhanced bioactivities. To check whether a combination of several plants enhances bioactivities, the current study was designed. Methanol, aqueous and n-hexane solvents were used to prepare PHF of Syzgium cumini, Origanum vulgare, Aloe vera barbadensis Miller and Gymnema sylvestre. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging) assay was used to analyze antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) estimations were done by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and AlCl₃ colourimetric techniques, respectively. Bactericidal activity was measured by agar well diffusion method, anti-diabetic profile was assessed by …

Bridging Cultures Through Cross-Border Collaboration: A Pathway To Cultural Sustainability Between The Uae And Italy, Mai Zaki, Bruno Grazioli

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

International education is of critical importance in the creation and distribution of the knowledge required to address the complex global challenges faced by society today. Seen through the lens of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), internationalisation of higher education can bring new perspectives through collaborative projects. This paper reports on a year-long virtual collaboration between the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE and the Italy-based program of Dickinson College (USA) as part of the Transformative Sustainability Project. This collaboration involved two courses, on digital and environmental humanities, as students learned about the SDGs, analysed problems, discussed …

Academic Dishonesty In Higher Education, Nitza Davidovitch, Aleksandra Gerkerovaa, Ruth Dorota

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Academic dishonesty has become a pervasive issue among students, often driven by environmental and social pressures and facilitated by opportunities such as the use of digital devices (e.g., smartwatches) that enable misconduct. The aim of the current study was to examine the associations between academic dishonesty and variables including class attendance, self-efficacy, and the use of digital learning methods. It was hypothesized that academic dishonesty would increase with higher absenteeism, lower self-efficacy, and greater reliance on Zoom lectures and exams. This study was conducted at a single academic institution in Israel, based on an anonymous structured survey completed by 121 …

Establishing Evidence Of Intercultural Competence As Learning Outcomes Of Outbound Student Mobility Programs For Undergraduate Participants, Hiroyoshi Hiratsuka

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Outbound student mobility programs are instrumental to Japan’s higher education policy. However, the national policy discourse among the stakeholders tended to overlook evidence when the literature review identified a gap. This study intended to fill this evidence gap by uncovering evidence of intercultural competence as a learning outcome of outbound mobility programs. This study is a theory-driven qualitative method to establish students’ learning outcomes as a part of GSC’s degree requirements to participate in studies in Malaysia and Thailand. This qualitative analysis confirmed cultural self-awareness and related intercultural competence domains as learning outcomes of this outbound student mobility program in …

Introduction To 17(6) 2025, Rosalind L. Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Connection Between Liberal Arts And Sciences Education And Democracy: Representing Marginal Groups, Hamdi Echkaou, Jaouad Elbakili

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study investigates the role of liberal arts and sciences (LAS) education in fostering democratization through the representation of Morocco’s Amazigh community. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with Amazigh students at Al Akhawayn University (AUI), the research employs a qualitative framework to explore themes of linguistic identity, curriculum inclusivity, and institutional support. Findings reveal gaps in cultural representation despite AUI’s commitment to global citizenship, highlighting the need for representative curriculum, cultural programming, and faculty representing that community. The study contributes to comparative higher education by underscoring LAS institutions’ potential to advance democracy through equitable representation of marginalized groups. Recommendations …

The Impact Of Socialization On Student Intention To Persist And Flight Training Outcomes, Bryan M. Haffey, Kathryn Gardner-Vandy

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The aim of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between the socialization of student pilots within aviation-training organizations, student intention to persist, and training outcomes as demonstrated by the number of flight hours needed to reach both solo flight and the attainment of the private pilot certificate. It also sought to compare the extent to which socialization is promoted within different types of flight training environments. It was hypothesized that Part 141 flight schools would be more likely to promote socialization than any type of Part 61 training environment. Eligible respondents were invited to take an online survey …

Perspectives Of Russian Language Educators On Meeting The Needs Of Heritage And L2 Learners In Mixed Classes, Maria Goebert

Russian Language Journal

In less commonly taught languages, such as Russian, heritage and non-heritage learners often share the same classes. Teachers in these settings must differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students. Online teaching adds an additional layer of complexity that instructors must address in their course design. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of 12 Russian language educators, working across various educational settings, on the language learning needs of heritage and non-heritage learners in mixed classes. It examines how these teachers adapt their instruction to support their students and meet the demands of different teaching modalities. The study also …

Dynamic And Stable Motivation Patterns In Intensive Second Language Learning: Insights From A Russian Summer Immersion Program, Dmitrii Pastushenkov

Russian Language Journal

Understanding what shapes student motivation is essential to improving second language (L2) programs. While motivation is among the widely studied individual differences (IDs) in second language acquisition (SLA), research has largely focused on commonly taught languages, limiting broader applicability. This mixed-methods study, grounded in Dynamic Systems Theory (DST), explores the motivational development of learners studying a less commonly taught language (LCTL), Russian, during an eight-week summer immersion program. Data were collected from 52 students across four instructional levels. Motivation was assessed through two brief online surveys, developed based on research by Gardner, Dörnyei, Lanvers, Thompson, and others, and administered during …

Why Russian? Language Choice And Enrollment In U.S. Universities, Emma Calderwood, Teresa R. Bell, Jennifer Bown, Grant H. Lundberg

Russian Language Journal

Russian language enrollments at U.S. universities have declined steadily since 2009 (MLA, 2023), yet little research has examined current student motivations for studying Russian, particularly after the 2022 escalation of the Russo–Ukrainian War. This study surveyed two groups: (a) students enrolled in any 101-level language course at University X and (b) students in Russian courses at six U.S. universities. Results show that motivations for studying Russian are primarily integrative—general interest in the language, desire to converse with Russian speakers, aspirations to travel to Russian-speaking countries, and previous Russian knowledge—rather than instrumental. Students who considered but did not choose Russian most …

Variability Of Individual Learner Trajectories In A Transformative Language Program, Victoria Hasko, Anastasiya Smith

Russian Language Journal

This qualitative multiple case study investigates how individual learner differences manifest and evolve within a transformative, proficiency-oriented undergraduate Russian language program. Drawing on complexity theory and transformative approaches to language education, the study explores how learners’ motivations, identities, and professional aspirations develop in a curriculum that integrates advanced language learning with long-term career planning. Three focal participants were followed longitudinally across their undergraduate trajectories, using a combination of standardized proficiency assessments and in-depth reflective interviews. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes shaping learner development: evolving orientations toward language learning, the curriculum as a transformative scaffold, emerging professional identities, and growing …

The Mediating Role Of Positive Psychology: Mindfulness And Learner Beliefs In The Russian Language Classroom, Kelly Knickmeier Cummings

Russian Language Journal

Language learning is an inherently emotional process, shaped by both positive and negative experiences that influence the individual difference of learner beliefs. This article explores the mediating role of positive psychology (PP) in second language acquisition (SLA), with a particular focus on mindfulness and its potential to reshape learner beliefs in the Russian language classroom. Drawing on theories such as Seligman’s PERMA model and Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory, as well as evidence-based interventions, the article argues that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) provide practical tools for cultivating positive learner beliefs and inclusive, growth-oriented classroom environments. Examples of MBIs—including practices of noticing, savoring, exploring …

International Education And Spiritual Emptiness A Reflection From Europe, Nitya N. Timsina

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This essay is a revolt against a biased understanding called “internationalization” in education which grounds all historical, geographical, philosophical, ecological, and cultural distinctions in the world into a Platonic absolute. The key to this problem, this essay argues, lies in the drive to ontological, conceptual, or theoretical understanding in our approach to knowledge with its primacy in the Western thought. This essay calls into question this absolute sphere of influence, power and mastery enjoyed by the Western sciences, and a sense of space and authority it enjoys to make others impossible in the world. It does so by bringing different …

Understanding The Fidelity And Specificity Of Dna Polymerase I, Bill R. Miller Iii, Andrew V. Yeager, Jake A. Collins, Alexis Blake, Elise Tate, Carol A. Parish, Eugene Y. Wu

Chemistry Faculty Publications

High-fidelity DNA polymerases employ complex mechanisms to catalyze template-dependent DNA synthesis while quickly discarding mismatches. Atomic-level structural details about short-lived states during nucleotide discrimination are necessary to gain insight into the kinetic checkpoints that contribute to fidelity. We performed microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of DNA polymerase I, large fragment, from Bacillus stearothermophilus (Bacillus fragment, or BF) in complex with a template guanine and a mismatched thymidine triphosphate to observe the early events in the process of selection against a mismatch. Although the nucleobases formed a wobble base pair early, the mismatched pair was blocked from fully entering the active site …

Novel Physical And Biological Applications Of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy, Danushka Seneviratne, Prapannajeet Biswal, Sunil Krishnan

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) is a high-LET radiotherapy, which distinguishes itself from traditional low-LET radiation, such as photons and protons, through its unique physical aspects, biological attributes, and the dramatically increased damage it causes within cellular DNA. Given its distinctive characteristics, it is expected to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiation treatments and enhance treatment outcomes in traditionally radiation-resistant tumor histologies. Despite these unique properties, much remains to be understood regarding the clinical use of CIRT before its full potential can be realized. In this review, we summarize the distinct advantages of CIRT with regard to its physical and …

Knowledge Of Cpr And Code Status Discussions In Traumatically Injured Older Adults: Does Health Literacy Matter, Mokunfayo O Fajemisin, Ashna S Karpe, Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, Gabrielle E Hatton, Krislynn Mueck, Lillian S Kao, Martin L Blakely, Gina H Khraish, Aanand Naik, Shreyans Sanghvi, Jessica L Lee, Thaddeus J Puzio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Code Status Discussions (CSDs), CPR understanding, and health literacy is understudied in traumatically injured older adults. We hypothesized that traumatically injured older adults and their families would have limited understanding of CPR and code status, and that lower health literacy would be associated with reduced advance care planning knowledge. We surveyed injured adults ≥65 or their surrogates to assess baseline code status, health literacy, and CPR discussions. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Among 201 respondents 55% had low health literacy. Only 38% had discussions about CPR, and 21% were asked about code status during admission. Surrogates similarly overestimated CPR …

Revitalizing The Application Of Pancasila Values Through Modeling The Lonto Leok Culture Of The Manggarai Community, Eastern Indonesia, Yulius R. Effendi

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This study explores the potential for integrating Lonto Leok culture as a character education model based on Pancasila values in schools. This research employs a qualitative approach utilizing a case study methodology. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis in Manggarai communities and schools that have integrated the Lonto Leok cultural tradition into their learning processes. The data analysis confidently employed a triangulation approach to solidify the validity of the research outcomes, ensuring their credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. The research results indicate that the values espoused in Lonto Leok culture, including religiosity, deliberation, unity, peace, and justice, …

Care Navigator Role In The Management Of Patients' Access At A Mental And Behavioral Health Clinic, Bernadine Grinage

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Bernadine Grinage has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Sue Bell, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Diane Whitehead, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Abstract The practice issue cited by clinical staff of a rural mental and behavioral clinic (RMBHC) was fragmented versus holistic care, increase emergency room (ER) visits, inadequate access and patient attrition rate …

Relationship Between A Company's Owner Demographics, Socioeconomic Conditions, And Entrepreneurial Funding, Frances J. Arrington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Entrepreneurial funding remains a persistent challenge for U.S. business owners, particularly as firms navigate demographic shifts and post-COVID-19 pandemic economic conditions. This challenge is important to entrepreneurs, investors, and lenders who rely on access to capital to support business development and economic growth. Grounded in Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership theory, the purpose of this quantitative, ex post facto study was to examine the relationship between gender of owner, age of firm, effect of COVID-19, and entrepreneurial funding. Data were collected from 309 U.S. employer firms drawn from a national small business credit survey. A binomial logistic regression analysis was …

Strategies To Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions In Small Restaurant Business, Aminu Hassan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain disruptions can impact the operational capability of small restaurant businesses, thereby affecting their financial health. Some small restaurant supply chain managers lack effective strategies to manage supply chain disruptions. Grounded in Oliver and Webber’s supply chain management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small restaurant supply chain managers use to manage supply chain disruptions. The participants were 10 small restaurant supply chain managers located in Baltimore who effectively mitigated the effects of at least one significant supply chain disruption. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents and reports. Through …

Designing Inclusive Immersive Experiences: Intergenerational Codesign Of Heritage And Underwater Extended Reality For Older Adults, Marius N. Varga, Oksana Hagen, Rory Baxter, Alejandro Veliz Reyes, Ray B Jones, Amir Aly, Dena Bazazian, Gaudl Swen

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Despite rapid advances in immersive Extended Reality technologies, creating inclusive and accessible experiencesfor older adults remains challenging. Many Extended Realityapplications fail to account for the physical, cognitive, andergonomic needs of older users, resulting in low engagement anddigital exclusion. Cultural heritage and underwater environmentsoffer rich contexts for meaningful interaction and wellbeing.This study explored how intergenerational codesign can informthe development of immersive Extended Reality applicationsfor older adults. Two case studies were undertaken within theICONIC project: a Heritage Extended Reality experience recreating Cotehele, a National Trust heritage site, and an UnderwaterTelepresence experience simulating marine environments. Theobjective was to identify design principles supporting accessibility, …

Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis Elegans) Consuming A Western Meadow Vole (Microtus Drummondii) In The Sangre De Cristo Mountains Of New Mexico, Joseph W. Paysen, Peggy M. Huss, Jacob C. Cooper, Lance J. Bernal, Carter Kruse, Keith Geluso

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) is a dietary generalist occurring in the western half of the United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Terrestrial Gartersnakes are known to consume a variety of small mammals, including voles (Microtus). Herein we report on an observation of the Terrestrial Gartersnake consuming a Western Meadow Vole (Microtus drummondii). On 27 June 2025, we captured a large adult Terrestrial Gartersnake underneath a log just upstream of a North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) dam on the Vermejo River, Colfax County, New Mexico that regurgitated a partially digested adult …

My Research Journey Into Family Domestic Work: Methodological Reflections Of Conducting Research With Sister-Maids And Sister-Madams In Limpopo, Percyval Bayane

The Qualitative Report

Research has been conducted on domestic work in South Africa with studies focusing on domestic workers’ conditions during Apartheid and examining the little to no changes post-Apartheid. Domestic work in post-Apartheid South Africa involves the hiring of family and friends as domestic workers, and this is an under-researched area. As a young black man researching family domestic work, I was confronted with methodological challenges relating to negotiating access and conducting interviews with older black women hiring relatives and those working for family members as domestic workers. This reflexive paper reflects on my personal journey and experiences of conducting qualitative research …

The Evolving Therapeutic Landscape Of Nanoscale Cancer Drug Delivery Systems: Future Perspectives, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif, Bushra Arshad, Anila Fariq, Syed Imam Hussain Abidi, Sohail Ameer Marwat, Aneela Fatima

Journal of Bioresource Management

Cancer is one of the main causes of deaths in the world. Conventional cancer therapeutic approaches such as chemo- and radiotherapy have burdened the cancer patients with arduous physical and psychological challenges. Moreover, in case of onset of this disease, huge amount is required against the medications (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). It is estimated that annually, the increasing cancer disease incidence rate is alarming. In developed countries, the health support is given by the nation. Therefore, the health managements in the developed nations are over-burdened due to heavy expanses against expansive cancer therapy treatments. Interestingly, tumor treatments have undergone a comprehensive …

Water Quality And Plankton Diversity Of Ahi River, Ohiya, Umuahia, Nigeria, Emeka Donald Anyanwu, Egor Katkov, Udeme Effiong Jonah, Amarachuku Ezinne Oji, Immaculate Chiamaka Enwereuzo

Journal of Bioresource Management

The plankton diversity of large and urban rivers has been extensively studied in Nigeria while small rural rivers that harbour rich aquatic biota receive little attention. The composition, abundance, and distribution of plankton of a rural river were assessed in relation to some physicochemical parameters. The study was carried out between May and October 2023 in 3 stations using standard methods. The physicochemical results were: temperature (25.2-27.0^oC), flow velocity (0.15-0.46 m/s), transparency (14.0-78.5cm), depth (51.0-105.0cm), pH (5.6-7.8), electrical conductivity (66.0-98.0 µS/cm), total dissolved solids (33.0-49.0 mg/l), turbidity (0.1-1.7 NTU), dissolved oxygen (3.2-6.4 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (1.0-2.7 mg/l), …

Effect Of Niobium Addition On Corrosion Behavior, Mechanical Properties, And Microstructures Of U6zr Alloys In An Aerated Environment, Masrukan Masrukan, Djati Handoko, Dede Djuhana, Rohmad Sigit, M. Husna Al Hasa, Wisnu Ari Adi, Siti Mardiah

Makara Journal of Science

The effect of Nb addition on the corrosion behavior of U–6Zr alloys within an aerated, demineralized water (DW) environment (pH 5.61) and its correlation of this addition with the mechanical and microstructural properties of the alloys were investigated. The U–6Zr–xNb alloys (x = 1, 4, and 7 wt.%) were synthesized by arc-melting U, Zr, and Nb. Additionally, the samples were mounted and polished, after which they were subjected to electrochemical corrosion analysis using a potentiostat. This evaluation was conducted in a DW medium (pH 5.6), representing an aerated atmosphere, at room temperature (27°C) and a potentiodynamic scan rate of 1 …

Electrochemical Sensors Based On Graphene Oxide/Pedot:Pss Composite Decorated With Bimetallic Gold–Silver Nanoparticles For H2o2 Detection, Rayyan Azzahra Hidayat, Budi Riza Putra, Munawar Khalil, Wulan Tri Wahyuni

Makara Journal of Science

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a biomarker that indicates oxidative stress levels in the human body; thus, rapid and accurate detection methods are necessary to diagnose various disorders. This study developed a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for detecting H₂O₂ using bimetallic gold–silver nanoparticles (Au–Ag NPs) combined with graphene oxide and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)-modified glassy carbon electrode. The surface properties of the modified electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical performance of the modified electrodes was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differential pulse voltammetry. The bimetallic Au-Ag …

In Silico Target Identification For Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Activity Of Oil Palm Leaves Extract After Biotransformation Process, Galuh Permatasari, Irma Kresnawaty, Annisa Aulia Aksa, Djoko Santoso, Widodo Widodo

Makara Journal of Science

Oil palm leaf extract (OPLE) contains abundant phenolic and flavonoid compounds with recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential; however, its pharmacological applications remain underexplored. This study aimed to optimize the enrichment process of OPLE and characterize its bioactive compounds using integrated in vitro and in silico approaches. The extraction was optimized by incorporating trichloroacetic acid and extending the incubation time to 48 h, resulting in significantly increased total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared with the control. LC–MS/MS profiling identified 14 flavonoid compounds with diverse biological functions. Among these, Rhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and Nelumboroside A exhibited the strongest antioxidant and free radical …