Digital Commons Network^™

Economic Growth, Animal Welfare And The Future Of Farming, Andrew Rowan Dphil

WellBeing News

As countries become wealthier, rising incomes drive greater consumption of meat and other animal products while encouraging a transition from extensive livestock production to intensive farming systems. Although agricultural innovation has improved land-use efficiency and reduced pressure on forests in many regions, concerns persist about animal welfare, aquaculture and the environmental impact of pet food production. Consumer demand, corporate commitments and technological advances—including cage-free housing, in ovo sexing and alternative proteins—are gradually reducing some forms of animal suffering and may ultimately reshape the future of animal agriculture.

The Slow Transformation Of Biomedical Research, Andrew Rowan Dphil

WellBeing News

Animal-based neuroscience is entering a period of structural transition rather than abrupt decline. Drawing on a recent analysis by two Mexican neuroscientists, this article explores changing attitudes toward laboratory animal use, recent developments at U.S. primate research centers, long-term declines in public support for animal experimentation, and the increasing interest in human-based, in vitro, computational, and other non-animal methods that are reshaping the future of neuroscience research.

Improving The Concrete Compressive And Flexural Strength With A Low Fraction Addition Of Carboxylated Nitro-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibrils From Banana Rachis, Ngesa Ezekiel Mushi, Emmanuel Kagya

Tanzania Journal of Science

Conventionally, concrete strength depends on the bonding interface, especially in hydrated products such as calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). As a result, concrete is sensitive to tensile load. With its unique properties, a low fraction of carboxylated nitro-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (NOCNF) from the banana rachis is employed to improve the mechanical performance of the concrete nanostructurally. Compressive and flexural strength using the NOCNF content at 0, 0.05, and 0.1 wt.%, cured for 7 and 28 days, were evaluated. Notably, the compressive strength increased by 16 % and the flexural strength by 13 % at 0.1 wt.% NOCNF compared to plain concrete …

A Christ-Centered Approach To Ai-Assisted Sermon Preparation For Cedar Grove Community Church, Andrew Michael Poe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping nearly every sector of society, presenting both opportunities and ethical challenges for Christian ministry. Amid this technological shift, many pastors, Bible teachers, and lay leaders experience ethical uncertainty about the appropriate use of AI in expository preaching and teaching. This Doctor of Ministry action research project developed and evaluated an eight-week training designed to equip the teaching team at Cedar Grove Community Church with a Christ-centered approach to AI-assisted sermon preparation. The purpose of this project was to provide biblical, theological, and practical guidance enabling communicators to leverage AI responsibly without compromising ministerial integrity …

Normative Dualism And Parallel Institution-Building: The Case Of International Commercial Dispute Prevention And Settlement Organization (Icdpaso), Kun Fan, Xiaolei Han

International Law Journal

As China rises as a global power, it confronts an international legal order historically shaped by Western actors. In response, China has adopted a dual strategy: engaging with existing institutions while building “parallel institutions” to advance its influence. This paper examines the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (ICDPASO) as a case study of this strategy and analyzes how China seeks to reshape international dispute resolution. Drawing on original empirical data—including 85 interviews with arbitrators, users, officials, and legal experts—this paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of ICDPASO’s strategic motivations, governance model, dispute resolution mechanisms, and user perceptions. We …

Digital Presence In Live Hybrid Performance, Luke Cargill

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This thesis examines how digital presence, the sense that a digital performer is socially and performatively "there," is designed and tested in live hybrid performance. Drawing on four practice-based projects (Vicarious, Voltage, Vicarious: Encore Edition, and SUPER BLOOM), the first phase identifies a recurring but empirically untested claim: that digital presence depends on interactivity and co-presence with live performers, though these factors were always entangled in practice.

The second phase tests this claim directly. A new mini-performance, featuring the first fully AI-driven digital character in this line of work, was produced for controlled comparison. Using a 3 (intro type: AI-driven, …

A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study On The Effects Of The Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement Program On Emotion Regulation In Individuals With Substance Use Disorders, Alex Rhodes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Those with substance use disorders (SUDs) often display difficulties in emotion regulation, which contributes to addictive behaviors and relapse. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine the effects of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement program (MORE) on difficulties in emotion regulation and emotion regulation strategies among individuals with substance use disorders. Specifically, the study examined whether participation in an 8-week MORE program resulted in changes in (a) difficulties regulating emotions, as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and (b) emotion regulation strategies, as measured by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants (N = 9) enrolled …

Mobilizing The Church For Whole-Person Transformation In Addiction And Mental Health Recovery, Jacqueline A. Gillespie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals experiencing chronic addiction or mental health conditions are often separated from the broader church community and placed into isolated treatment programs, creating a disconnect between recovery efforts and long-term spiritual formation (Amos, 2023). Many churches that emphasize deliverance struggle to provide sustained discipleship, while congregations grounded in spiritual growth frequently lack the skills and structures needed to serve highly vulnerable populations. This mixed–methods study will explore how the local church can be mobilized to offer whole-person transformation for individuals affected by addiction and mental health challenges. Guided by the biblical vision of ongoing spiritual renewal—“being transformed into the same …

Forbear That Wicked Cant: Malthusian ‘Zero Sum’ Theory, Eugenics, And World Population Control, Aidan Grogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation traces the history of an idea: the “zero-sum” theory of human nature and humanity’s relationship with the natural world that lies at the core of the Malthusian worldview. Grounded in the belief that life is a ruthless struggle over scarce resources and that human beings are destined to reproduce beyond the earth’s “carrying capacity,” Malthusianism provided the key intellectual foundations for Darwin’s theory of evolution, which later informed the rise of eugenics. Although eugenics lost much of its scientific legitimacy and moral authority after the Holocaust and the Nuremberg Trials, many American eugenicists and eugenics organizations remained committed …

Comparative Analysis Of Metabolic Vulnerability In The Standard American And Carnivore Diets Using The Mvx Plus Biomarker Panel, Susan E. Fitzgerald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Poor diet is a leading cause of mortality, contributing to an estimated one million deaths in the United States and eleven million deaths annually worldwide, with diet-related chronic disease accounting for approximately 85% of U.S. healthcare spending. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is widely recognized as causing systemic inflammation, while the carnivore diet is under-researched with unknown long-term effects. The purpose of this cross-sectional secondary analysis was to examine the impact of these two dietary patterns on metabolic vulnerability using the Metabolic Vulnerability Index Plus (MVX Plus), a multidimensional biomarker panel that quantifies systemic inflammation, metabolic malnutrition, and metabolic resilience …

Cells And Networks In Flux: Rethinking Ontogenesis And Pathogenesis, Mark L. Tykocinski

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Organ and tissue functions emerge from the coordinated activity of cell networks. Therapeutics that act on pathogenic cell networks, modulating their cellular interplay, follow naturally. Over several decades, our laboratory has developed a series of approaches for rewiring cell networks, culminating in a class of cell surface-directed signal converter proteins (SCPs) that do so by modulating juxtacrine and autocrine signaling in and among their nodal cells. A first such SCP has now produced encouraging clinical data for cancer immunotherapy. Yet, these early network-directed fusion proteins rest on a deliberately simplified picture: discrete end-cell types plugged into graphically tractable networks. That …

The Giant Antarctic Amphipod Paraceradocus Miersi Will Not Fare Well If Freshening Continues In The Southern Ocean, John I. Spicer, Simon A. Morley, Katie N.G. Thiessen, Lloyd S. Peck

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sea water provides a stable environment for marine animals. Most oceanic invertebrates have body fluids similar in ionic composition to sea water. However, Antarctic coastal ecosystems are increasingly exposed to freshening—a reduction in salinity driven by glacial melt, increased precipitation, and extreme weather events. Such changes can cause mortality in Antarctic invertebrates, which generally are intolerant to reduced salinity. This study investigated osmotic and ionic regulation of the Antarctic amphipod Paraceradocus miersi exposed to simulated freshening. When salinity was reduced (from S = 34.6 to 28.0) for 12–48 h, haemolymph osmolality and sodium concentration declined, while calcium remained stable; magnesium …

Secondary English Teachers' Experiences Related To Instructional Communication With Their Students In A Southeastern State: A Phenomenology, Toye L. Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore secondary English teachers’ experiences related to instructional communication with their students in a southeastern state. Guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, the study examined how teachers perceive, experience, and navigate communication within contemporary secondary English classrooms. Participants included 10 secondary English teachers from two public high schools who had at least three years of teaching experience and worked with diverse student populations. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups and were analyzed using phenomenological reduction, including epoché and horizontalization. Five themes emerged from the analysis: the varied …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Sixth Grade Beginning Band Rhythm Pedagogy Through Second-Language Education Strategies, Eliú Nolberto Santos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigated the implementation of second-language education strategies by middle school band directors, drawing on the theories of Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, Benjamin Bloom, Howard Gardner, and Lev Vygotsky, among others. This study sought to examine participating band directors' perceptions regarding the implementation of second-language education practices for beginning band students. In parallel, this dissertation sought to quantify the competition results of the surveyed middle school band directors, particularly in sight-reading competitions. The study employed a robust mixed-methods design, commencing with a qualitative survey of middle-school band directors to gather data on the implementation of various second-language acquisition strategies, …

Exploring The Interventions Middle School Teachers Implement To Decrease Student Behaviors In Students With Disabilities: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Jessica Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of middle school teachers whose students exhibit negative behaviors in the classroom at an urban middle school in a MidAmerican state. At this stage in the research, negative student behaviors in the classroom were defined as disruptions in the classroom impeding the students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic performance. The theory guiding this study is B. F. Skinner’s behavioral learning theory because it focuses on reinforcing positive behavior and minimizing negative student behavior. Next came the Central Research Question: What are the experiences of urban …

How Stress In Pastors May Contribute To Their Resignations, Roger Allen Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout history, congregations have connected with and sought guidance from spiritual leaders. Spiritual leaders develop methods and teachings to aid congregants; however, these leaders often don’t receive the care they give others. Are they not also part of the congregation? It is often assumed that a leader has it all together, but this is not always true. There are many instances of pastors leaving their calling prematurely, although the reason is not always defined. General reasons are often expressed to ease the contention between members or prevent hurting their feelings. Regardless, the result is the same, and there is an …

Exploring How School Leaders Support The Academic Resilience Of Foster Youth: A Case Study, Melissa Gasser Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the resilience of foster care students in Oklahoma public schools. The study was guided by Garmezy’s resilience theory, which highlights the critical role of resilience in helping children recover from past trauma and thrive in academic settings. The central research question was: How do school leaders nurture academic resilience in foster children? This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, physical artifacts, and journal prompts. The data first underwent analysis through open coding, followed by a round of axial coding and finally selective coding. Informed …

Sovereign Borders: John’S Deuteronomic Framework For Israel And The Nations In The Apokalypsis, Kevin W. Mullen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation concludes that John’s imagery of Israel and the nations in the Apokalypsis is distinctly shaped by his interpretation and incorporation of Deuteronomic theology. It employs a canonical and intertextual approach to inductively argue that Deuteronomy presents three pillars, or roles, for biblical nationhood: (1) objects of and instruments for divine judgment, (2) custodians to restrain evil, and (3) revelations of God’s sovereignty. These three Deuteronomic pillars establish the foundation for biblical nationhood and are expressed by John throughout his Apokalypsis. Moreover, this dissertation concludes that John’s imagery for the nations is due to his reliance upon the Deuteronomic …

The Impact Of Teaching Evolution In Central Arkansas: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Method Study, Danya L. Utley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods research was to assess the ethical implications that central Arkansas Christian science teachers faced when evolutionary theory was taught without critical examination. This study first collected data in a quantitative form to identify public high schools in Central Arkansas that taught evolutionary theory without presenting opposing views. This study then collected data in the qualitative form regarding Christian science teachers’ perceptions of the school system's alternative views contrary to evolution. The data was then analyzed to determine if teaching evolution without alternative views in Arkansas public high schools was considered either ethical or unethical. The …

The Magis Ministry Model - Building Sustainable Sports And Performing Arts Ministries, Drew J. Vilinsky

Journal of Catholic Education

The Magis Ministry Model addresses the documented decline in youth religious practice by leveraging the high participation rates in secondary school athletics and performing arts. Recognizing that many students struggle to connect faith with what they value, the model embeds lay adult chaplains within teams and troupes to provide a "ministry of accompaniment". Key to this framework are chapel talks—weekly, 15- to 20-minute reflections that invite students to encounter God through their specific craft. Longitudinal data from Saint Ignatius High School demonstrates significant impact:  over 74% of surveyed participants strongly advocate for the program's continuation, and successful head coaches now …

Sporting Educational Pedagogy In Catholic Western Europe In The 19th And 20th Centuries: What We Can Learn From The Past, Dries Vanysacker

Journal of Catholic Education

This article presents a historiographical overview of the development of the role of sport within the Western European Catholic education in the 20th century. Since the late 19th century, combining gymnastics with new sport disciplines was a huge challenge for Catholic schools. Within the 20th century, changing political situations and educational policies by governments continuously influenced the Catholic education theories and practice. Catholic schools also depended on the Holy See’s policy concerning education and its attitude toward sport. As the Catholic pedagogy is part of a broader theological concept of the human being, and the latter changed in the 1950s/1960’s, …

Investigating The Effects Of Urbanization On Winter Avian Diversity In Tennessee: A Community Science And Gis Approach, Caryn D. Ross, David A. Aborn, Mark S. Schorr, Azad Hossain

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

As the human population increases, habitat transformation due to urban expansion is inevitable, affecting many wildlife species. Birds are frequently used as model species to study the effects of urbanization on wildlife populations due to their environmental sensitivity and ease of observation. While previous studies have investigated changes in species richness and abundance related to urbanization, there is a need for broader-scale, geographically explicit studies associating changes in bird diversity with urban expansion. Using extensive bird census data and high-resolution digitized land use data, this study revealed that species richness, diversity, and evenness within count areas all showed significant positive …

The Effect Of Anthropogenic Food Subsidies On Coyote (Canis Latrans) Territory Size, Numi Mitchell, Kyle R. Hess, Michael W. Strohbach, Ralph Pratt

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Context. Coyotes have confounded lethal-control efforts for over a century, initially as they preyed on livestock the Midwest rangelands in the early 1900s. In the past century, coyotes have expanded their range across the US into rural, suburban, even urban areas in the eastern US where populations are increasing along with calls for management from communities.  Here we examine anthropogenic food subsidy reduction as a possible management tool for coyotes. Compelling explanations for coyote territory-size variation have both a food-availability component and a contender pressure, or competition, component. These factors also influence pack group-size. Ultimately, competition for limited food resources …

Anthropogenic Food Subsidies And Pack Counts Of Coyotes (Canis Latrans) In Rhode Island: Implications For Long-Term And Non-Lethal Population Control, Numi Mitchell, Kyle R. Hess, Michael W. Strohbach

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Coyotes regulate fertility, population recruitment, and territory size, based on food competition, all characteristics that might be leveraged for population management initiatives. In Rhode Island, US, anthropogenic food subsidies provide important resources for coyotes. Prior work has shown that when large reliable subsidies are absent or removed, resident coyotes increase territory size. This is potentially significant to management if the expansion does not cause increases in pack size.

We used video camera traps, opportunistic photography, and observation, to make group-size counts. We looked at the influence of levels of anthropogenic food subsidization on pack size. Adult group sizes were smaller …

Draft Hybrid Assembly And Annotation Of The Drosophila Palustris And Drosophila Subpalustris Genomes, William A. Dion, Emily Washeleski, Tessa Steenwinkel, Emily Taylor, Prajakta P. Kokate, Aidan Vandrie, Thomas Werner, Paul Goetsch

Michigan Tech Publications

Species within the quinaria group of the genus Drosophila are models for ecological genetic studies on topics that include morphological diversity, color pattern development, and feeding behavior. Drosophila palustris and Drosophila subpalustris are closely related members within the quinaria species group that differ primarily in subtle morphological and behavioral traits. To support future evolutionary genomic studies in drosophilids, we completed new draft hybrid assemblies and annotations of the D. palustris and D. subpalustris genomes. We obtained a fragmented assembly for D. palustris (N50 = 874 Kb) and a near chromosome-scale D. subpalustris assembly (N50 = 27.5 Mbp). Assembly contiguity, repeat …

The Invisible Crop: Harnessing Root System Architecture In Heirloom Collards For Climate-Resilient Urban Agriculture, Vincent Antonio Brazelton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Growing food in urban spaces often means working within variable, resource-limited environments, creating a need for crops that can withstand heterogeneous growing conditions. Heirloom collards (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) are known for their aboveground diversity and cultural importance, but much less is known about the variation that exists belowground. This dissertation examines root system architecture (RSA) diversity across 19 historically underutilized heirloom collard accessions using a multi-scale phenotyping approach that includes controlled gel-based imaging of seedlings and 2D imaging of mature field-grown root systems. Across both seedling and mature stages, heirloom collards showed substantial variation in RSA. These differences revealed …

The Influence Of Circadian Rhythm Disruption And Apoe4 On The Prognosis And Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Kayla Bradby

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss and is the most common form of dementia. Genetic factors such as apolipoprotein E have been significantly associated with AD development and progression, most specifically the APOE4 isoform. Emerging evidence has shown that when the body’s circadian rhythm, the 24-hour dark/light cycle, is disrupted, the potential to develop a neurodegenerative disease such as AD increases. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the relationship between AD, circadian rhythm, and the APOE isoforms. This review puts a particular emphasis on the APOE4 isoform, as it has been shown to …

Wille Zum Wald: Nietzsche’S Discovery Of Forest Bathing, Gary Shapiro

Philosophy Faculty Publications

In the fourth part of our “The Forest as a Living Foundation” series, the distinguished American Nietzsche scholar Gary Shapiro investigates new angles on Nietzsche’s bonds to the woods: the philosopher’s personal enthusiasm for what is increasingly called “forest bathing,” the science behind how this practice benefits body, mind, and spirit, and the sheer pleasure of breathing fresh air, in woodland and wherever else we can find it. Shapiro’s essay showcases why this particular Lebensraum matters, not just for our individual well-being, but for the health of the entire planet.

Anthropogenic Actions, Inactions, Outcomes And Threats To Green Infrastructure And Environmental Conservation In Port Harcourt City, Ibama Brown, Tari Eyenghe

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Urban areas are assets to human existence; they also face several challenges. Port Harcourt has abundant green infrastructure and requires environmental conservation practices to protect and manage its environmental resources. The study assessed anthropogenic actions, inactions, outcomes and threats to green infrastructure and environmental conservation in Port Harcourt City. The adopted mixed-methods research approach used a sequential exploratory design. The study employed a judgmental sampling technique to select and interview six (6) key informants from the Rivers State Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Environment. Also, an official of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council and a Town …

Nascent Adam17 Synthesis Potentiates Gpibα Cleavage In Resting And Stimulated Stored Platelets, Shayan Askari, Harriet Ghansah, Christopher D. Mansi, Timothy J. Stalker, Lawrence E. Goldfinger

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Platelet concentrates stored at room temperature have a shelf life of 5 to 7 days. During storage, platelets undergo glycoprotein cleavage by metalloproteases, notably cleavage of glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) by a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), which leads to decreased posttransfusion reactivity and recovery. To investigate the putative roles of nascent synthesis of ADAM17 in GPIbα shedding and platelet function during room temperature platelet storage. Human platelets maintained in autologous plasma were treated with naked endonuclease-resistant ADAM17 or control short inhibitory RNA (siRNA) and monitored for molecular and cellular effects during storage. Platelet-specific Adam17-deleted mice were generated, and the dynamics …