Digital Commons Network^™

2026-2027 Performance Forum - September 4, 2026, Ziling Wang, Hanting Peng

Performance Forum

No abstract provided.

"Robert Pain And The Legacy Of Leadership", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Robert Paine was the first president of LaGrange College, the earliest predecessor of the University of North Alabama. The article gives a brief overview of Paine's leadership.

"T.S. Stribling" And "T.S. Stribling's Ties To Lauderdale County", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The articles offer an overview of Pulitzer-prize winning author and Florence Normal College alum T.S. Stribling, as well as his connections to Lauderdale County, Alabama.

"The Story Of The Shawnees At The Muscle Shoals", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief overview of the Shawnees in Northwest Alabama.

"The Sounds Of Handy's Music On The Tennessee River", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

William Christopher Handy "the father of the blues" was raised in Florence, Alabama. The article offers a synopsis of the connection between Handy, his music, and the Tennessee River.

More information about W.C. Handy and a digitized image gallery is available at the William Christopher Handy Collection.

"A Story Of The Beginning Of Old Brick Presbyterian Church", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article provides a general overview of the origins of the Presbyterian denomination and a history of the establishment of local Presbyterian churches in North Alabama.

"Sweetwater: The Story Of East Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Research article that depicts the story of various portions of East Florence, Alabama industrial district, resulting from the resource of the "sweet water" spring. The subheadings that McDonald uses are as follows:

• Sweetwater Plantation, pg. 1
• A Second Plantation Called "Sweetwater", pg. 1
• Early Water Powered Mills on Sweetwater Creek, pg. 3
• The Industrial Section of Florence Called Sweetwater, pg. 3
• Early Iron Furnaces at East Florence, pg. 4
• The Florence Wagon Works, pg. 6
• The East Florence Cotton Industry, pg. 7
• Cherry Cotton Mill, pg. 7
• Ashcraft Cotton Mill, pg. 9
• The Broadus Mill, pg. 10
• Gardiner Warring Knitting …

"A Renowned Slave In The Early Life Of Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Dred Scott, the plaintiff in Dred Scott v. Sanford, was a confirmed resident of Florence, Alabama in the 1820s-1830s. The article gives an overview of Dred Scott's life, including his time in Lauderdale County.

Restoration Of Cannon Cemetery, William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article discusses the restoration of the Cannon Cemetery near the Natchez Trace Overpass on Waterloo Road. Among the individuals buried at the cemetery are the grandparents of Pulitzer-prize winning author and Florence Normal School (predecessor to the University of North Alabama) alum T.S. Stribling's grandparent's James and Lydia Waits.

"Salt Cave On The Doublehead Reserve", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A salt cave located on the previous site of the Chief Doublehead Reserve and current location of Lauderdale County, Alabama is now covered by the backwaters of the Wheeler Dam. The article discusses the oral history and local folklore related to the cave.

"The United States Post Office And Courthouse At Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Brief depiction of the architecture of the Florence, Alabama Post Office and Courthouse Building and the heritage of the architect that designed it, John Robie Kennedy, Jr. Images of the Florence Post Office and Courthouse can be accessed at the William Lindsey McDonald Image Collection. To find the images, simply search the gallery via the search bar located on the left side.

"A Visit With Abraham Lincoln", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

In 1864, a woman from Killen, Alabama, Helen Hamm, was visited by President Abraham Lincoln. William Lindsey McDonald recounts the event.

"The View From Old Lagrange", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief history of LaGrange Mountain and LaGrange College, the precursor to the University of North Alabama.

"The Remarkable Miss Lulie Jones", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

Short biography of local humanitarian Lulie Jones, who organized the free kindergarten that became known as Maud Lindsay's Free Kindergarten.

"State's First Black Church Was Started By Lightfoot", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

TimesDaily article by William Lindsey McDonald about the establishment of the first African American Church in Alabama, Church Spring and eventually the Greater Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, by the Reverend Robin Lightfoot in 1837.

Ai-Supported Analysis Of Jury Deliberation Impact Factors, Jennifer Siciliani Phd

Generative AI Teaching Activities

Students conduct a controlled, two-run generative AI jury simulation to examine how a single socio-legal variable affects simulated jury deliberation. They compare and manually code the AI-generated outcomes against peer-reviewed human jury research to evaluate the model’s accuracy, limitations, and potential biases.

Universal Screening For Measles Immunity During Pregnancy: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Anuradha Devabhaktuni, Sarah Boudova, Elias Kassir, Sohum Shah, Neil S. Silverman, Christina S. Han

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Measles is a highly contagious illness capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality, including adverse pregnancy outcomes. Routine screening for measles immunity is not currently recommended during pregnancy. Given the increasing frequency of measles outbreaks nationally and globally, awareness of measles immunity status can influence management of pregnant individuals who incur measles exposures and offer an opportunity for postpartum or preconception vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for measles immunity during pregnancy in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN: A decision-analytic model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for measles immunity during …

Prepregnancy Obesity Versus Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: A Comparative Evaluation Of Adverse Outcomes, Samuel Schultz, David Krantz, Matthew Blitz, Ashley Battarbee, Moti Gulersen

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) are known risk factors for adverse outcomes in pregnancy, but the comparative risk is less well defined and increasingly relevant in an era of increasing use of weight loss medications. We aimed to determine whether EGWG was associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, compared with prepregnancy obesity. Methods: Multicenter retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients who delivered a singleton within a single university health system from 2019–2024. Patients with missing prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) data, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, or pregestational diabetes were excluded. Logistic regression with propensity score weights and g-computation were used to evaluate if the incidence of several adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were impacted by prepregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG). p values were adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: Among the 129,615 pregnancies included, 28,516 (22.0%) had prepregnancy obesity, 36,943 (28.5%) were overweight prior to pregnancy, and 64,156 (49.5%) had a normal BMI prior to pregnancy. When compared to patients with obesity, patients with normal prepregnancy BMI and EGWG had a lower risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage, as well as large and small for gestational age birthweight, stillbirth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, neonatal mechanical ventilation, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis. Beneficial effects were attenuated for patients with overweight prepregnancy BMI or for larger EGWG. Conclusions: Lower prepregnancy BMI, even with the potential unintended consequence of EGWG, may be more favorable than untreated prepregnancy obesity with regard to perinatal outcomes.

Leading From The Precipice: How Academic Deans Are Navigating Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education, V. Dozier, Sarina Chugani Molina

Copley Library: Faculty Scholarship

This qualitative case study examines how associate deans at a medium-sized Catholic university respond to the rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Guided by decolonial and feminist frameworks, the study analyzes survey data from seven academic leaders to understand their concerns, decision-making processes, and emerging practices. Our findings reveal uneven adoption, limited institutional guidance, and ongoing concerns about academic integrity, equity, and bias. The study also highlights the often-unseen relational and emotional labor involved in supporting faculty and students. We conclude by recommending flexible, collaborative approaches to AI governance that attend to context, care, and diverse ways of knowing.

Cine Magnífico | Spanish Film Festival, National Hispanic Cultural Center

LAII Events

¡Cine Magnífico! celebrates Spanish and Latin American culture through presentation of some of the best of modern cinema in a weekend-long program, featuring work by first-time filmmakers and established masters alike.

The subject matter runs the gamut from comedies, action, romances and documentary films, to dramatic masterpieces. Some of the riskiest and most innovative films of recent years will be included.

¡Cine Magnífico! is organized by Instituto Cervantes, the National Hispanic Cultural Center and UNM Latin American & Iberian Institute so as to be at the forefront of the movement to increase cultural opportunities for the entire New Mexico community …

The Business Next Door: The Rise, The Transition, And Fall Of The Holland Furnace Company I, Steve Vanderveen

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

In this three-part series, I write not only about two entrepreneurs who created one of Holland’s most successful and impactful enterprises, but also a manager who, according to most accounts, destroyed it.

Faculty Advisory Committee Minutes Of The Academic Senate 2026-09-04, University Of Dayton. Faculty Affairs Committee

All Committee Minutes

Approved minutes of a meeting of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Academic Senate of the University of Dayton.

Re: Approval Letter For The Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Temporary Best Management Practices Work Plan: Bres No. 16 – Curry And Bres No. 50 – Zelia, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Studying Extreme Weather Event Impacts For Transit-Reliant Unhoused Populations, Costanza Rampini, Serena Alexander, Jeff Wootton, Amruta Ashish Gandhi

Mineta Transportation Institute

No abstract provided.

Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Field Sampling Plan And Investigation Plan: Ur-41 - Montana Street And Interstate-90, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Site Investigation Draft Data Summary Report 2024 Surface Water, Groundwater, And Soil Characterization, Woodard & Curran

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Childbirth Self-Efficacy And Factors Influencing Labor And Birth In The Dominican Republic, Lori Hubbard, Thomas P. Mccoy, Katherine Aquino, Franceska Charles, Julia Ricker, Gabrielle Carlson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

At 58.1%, the cesarean birth rate in the Dominican Republic (DR) is the highest in the world (1). The World Health Organization cites the overuse of elective cesareans as a global health priority, but states reduction efforts should utilize educational interventions that incorporate local determinants of health (2,3). This descriptive, cross-sectional, convergent mixed methods study examined childbirth self-efficacy, demographics, and beliefs about labor and birth in expectant and newly postpartum parents from low resourced communities in the Dominican Republic. A demographic survey, researcher-designed items grounded in the theory of planned behavior, and the 62-item Spanish version (4) of the 4 …

Advance Care Planning In Practice: Hospital Nurses’ Experiences With Known And Unknown Goals Of Care, Ashley Hebert, Genevieve Thompson, Diana Mcmillan, Katarina Lee-Ameduri

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Hospital continues to be the place of death for the majority of Canadians, despite the common preference for a less aggressive comfort-focused plan of care at the end-of-life. Advance care planning (ACP) is recognized as a means to prevent unwanted care for patients. However, ACP is often not occurring in acute care settings before patients lose the capacity to participate. This means that a patient’s goals of care are frequently left unknown, which may not only lead to overtreatment and patient harm, but also to moral distress in nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis study is (1) to …

Caldwell Medical‑System Stability & Thermal‑Power Upgrade Engine (Cms‑Stpue‑1.0), Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

Medical devices — including neural implants, biosignal processors, dementia‑research chips, microfluidic analyzers, wearable diagnostic systems, and many other forms of medical hardware — require extremely stable electrical power, predictable thermal behavior, low‑noise operation, and long‑term reliability. Traditional medical systems struggle with voltage droop, thermal drift, microfluidic instability, and resonant interference, all of which degrade biological signal fidelity and reduce device lifetime.

This invention introduces the Caldwell Medical‑System Stability & Thermal‑Power Upgrade Engine (CMS‑STPUE‑1.0), a unified framework that applies four existing Caldwell engineering inventions — CVGTC‑3.1, CCVTE‑3.x, CVGTC‑2.x, and the Multi‑Core Thermal‑Hydraulic Upgrade Suite — to significantly enhance the stability, reliability, …

Safe Transactional Execution And Reversible Staging For Autonomous Agent Actions, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

This specification outlines a safety-centric runtime infrastructure designed to facilitate secure, transactional execution for autonomous computer systems. Autonomous software agents operating under large language models frequently interact with local and remote filesystems, execution environments, and external program interfaces. Because conventional execution environments process such operations immediately under a fire-and-forget paradigm, a failure or interruption during a multi-step task can leave the host environment in an inconsistent or partially modified state. The runtime architecture disclosed herein resolves these reliability concerns by wrapping agent operations in a transaction coordinator. This framework provides isolated, rollback-capable staging for local operations, records undo logs for …