Digital Commons Network^™

A Strategy For Implementing Automatic Enrollment In Trump Accounts, Jin Huang, Michael Sherraden, Lissa Johnson

Center for Social Development Research

In the summer of 2025, the United States created the framework for a national asset-building initiative, but the success of the Trump Accounts policy depends in part on effective implementation. This brief pres­ents a two-step strategy for ensuring that all eligible U.S. children will be able to participate in the program. Leveraging existing federal infrastructure to create capacity for automatic enrollment, this strategy would enable the policy to avoid the high costs and low participation rates of programs with opt-in enrollment structures. The operational model would be built on two foundational components: a centralized Trump Accounts Fund and an automated …

Extended Reality And Healthcare Practitioner Well-Being: Scoping Review, Holly Mould, Jonathan Abbas, Michael Loizou, Rohit Shankar, Sheena Asthana, Nick Culley, John Downey

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundExtended reality may offer a convenient and effective methodof increasing well-being within the wider healthcare workforceand particularly for those working in the mental healthsector who are subject to high levels of stress because ofincreased workload, high levels of staff turnover and limitedresources.AimsThis scoping review aims to identify and assimilate relevantliterature pertaining to the use of extended reality to improvehealthcare practitioners’ well-being.MethodDatabases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane and PubMed) and greyliterature were searched for relevant articles using establishedmethodology and reported as per the Preferred Reporting Itemsfor Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extensionfor scoping reviews.ResultsA total of 280 articles were yielded by the search …

Seismic Fragility Analysis Of Above-Ground Liquid Storage Tanks, Pooyan Khajeh Shahzanian

Dissertations and Theses

Liquid storage tanks are critical infrastructure, serving as key storage facilities for various products. As the contents in these tanks are usually highly toxic and flammable, damage to these structures under earthquakes can cause severe consequences, including energy shortage, fire and explosion, and spilling and long-term environmental damages.

Although new liquid storage tanks are designed according to the updated seismic design codes, large numbers of existing storage tanks were built before modern seismic design codes and did not undergo necessary seismic retrofitting. Observations and reports from past earthquakes demonstrate that these older tanks can be highly vulnerable to seismic excitation. …

Exploring Underrepresented Stem Undergraduates' Stem Identity Development: The Role Of Social Partners, Sandy Cerda-Lezama

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation employs a three-study qualitative design to investigate the role of mentorship and social interaction in the identity development of racial minority undergraduate students in STEM disciplines. Grounded in Communities of Practice theory, this research amplifies student narratives to elucidate the relational and contextual factors that inform science identity, belonging, competence, and persistence in higher education. Study One draws upon interview data from fifteen participants in the BUILD program to analyze the role of recognition, particularly from expert scientists--in students' science identity development. This study aims to understand how racial and ethnic identity intersections influence the processes and impact …

The Microenvironment Of Ocular Surface In Keratoconus: A Systematic Review, Sana Niazi, Farideh Doroodgar, Stephen Pflugfelder, Kia Bayat, Seyed-Farzad Mohammadi, Maedeh Mazloomi, Jorge L Alió Del Barrio, Majid Moshirfar, Jorge L Alió

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectatic disorder characterized by thinning and irregularity of the cornea, significantly impairing visual acuity. Recent studies have explored how non-ectatic conditions, such as dry eye and tear film instability and alteration of the ocular surface microenvironment, contribute to the development and progression of keratoconus. This comprehensive review aims to investigate the complex relationship between keratoconus and ocular surface diseases by examining the microenvironmental changes that occur on the ocular surface throughout the course of keratoconus, as well as the related clinical implications.

Methods: In this PROSPERO-registered study (ID: CRD42025643808), PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Web …

Pediatric Heart Failure: A Practical Guide For Primary Care Providers Supporting Families Across The Care Continuum, Shahnawaz Amdani, Kriti Puri, Julie Glickstein, Joseph A Spinner, Jonathan N Johnson, Ashraf S Harahsheh, Majd Makhoul, Susan Denfield

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Pediatric heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with diverse etiologies and presentations. Primary care providers (PCPs) are critical in early recognition, family education, and coordination of ongoing care in collaboration with pediatric cardiologists. This review provides a comprehensive guide for PCPs to understand the causes, symptoms, treatments, and longitudinal considerations for children with HF.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review synthesizing published evidence and expert consensus guidelines, focusing on the clinical presentation, treatment options, and longitudinal care strategies in children with HF.

Results: HF in children most commonly results from congenital heart disease and …

Lung Nr3c1+ And Cxcr6high T Cells Distinguish Immunopathogenesis Of Human Emphysema, Yun Zhang, Maor Sauler, David B Corry, Scott A Ochsner, Sarah Perusich, Li-Zhen Song, Joshua Malo, Raul San Jose Estepar, Francesca Polverino, Farrah Kheradmand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is a significant knowledge gap in how T cells promote emphysema in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) analysis of human samples and relevant clinical data can provide new mechanistic insights into disease pathogenesis. We generated a human lung scRNA seq dataset with extensive disease characteristic annotation and analyzed a second independent scRNA seq dataset to examine the pathophysiological role of T cells in emphysema. Comparisons of pulmonary immune landscapes in emphysematous (E)-COPD, non-emphysematous (NE)-COPD, and control showed positive enrichment of T cells in E-COPD. Pathway analyses identified upregulated inflammatory states in CD4 …

Biologic Management In Severe Asthma For Adults: An American College Of Chest Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline, Amber J Oberle, Farrukh Abbas, Muhammad Adrish, Ioana Agache, Megan Conroy, Angel Coz, Frederic F Little, Manoj J Mammen, Mahesh Padukudru Anand, Raju Reddy, Neha Solanki, Fernando Holguin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Severe asthma affects 5% to 10% of asthma patients but constitutes close to one-half of the medical costs related to asthma due to higher morbidity and health care utilization. Biologic agents have become a standard of care in those unresponsive to standard treatments yet the choice of biologic agent is complex due to the varying mechanisms of action, efficacies, and lack of head-to-head comparisons. Therefore, clinicians need further clinical guidance to optimize their use.

Study design and methods: Panelists developed key clinical questions utilizing the PICO (population, intervention, comparator, and outcome) format to address choice of a biologic agent …

Association Of Genetic Scores Related To Insulin Resistance With Neurological Outcomes In Ancestrally Diverse Cohorts From The Trans-Omics For Precision Medicine (Topmed) Program, Chloé Sarnowski, Yixin Zhang, Farah Ammous, Lincoln M P Shade, Daniel Dicorpo, Xueqiu Jian, Donna K Arnett, Thomas R Austin, Alexa Beiser, Joshua C Bis, John Blangero, Eric Boerwinkle, Jan Bressler, Joanne E Curran, Charles S Decarli, Harsha Doddapaneni, Josée Dupuis, David W Fardo, Jose C Florez, Stacey Gabriel, Richard A Gibbs, David C Glahn, Namrata Gupta, Hector M González, Kevin A González, Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas, Kathleen M Hayden, Susan R Heckbert, Bertha Hidalgo, Alicia Huerta-Chagoya, Timothy M Hughes, Sharon L R Kardia, Charles L Kooperberg, Lenore J Launer, W T Longstreth, Ravi Mandla, Rasika A Mathias, Andrew P Morris, Thomas H Mosley, Ilya M Nasrallah, Paul Nyquist, Bruce M Psaty, Qibin Qi, Laura M Raffield, Nigel W Rayner, Alexander P Reiner, Claudia L Satizabal, Elizabeth Selvin, Magdalena D R Sevilla-Gonzalez, Albert V Smith, Jennifer A Smith, Kirk Smith, Beverly M Snively, Lorraine Southam, Tamar Sofer, Ken Suzuki, Henry J Taylor, Miriam S Udler, Karine A Viaud-Martinez, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Alexis C Wood, Lisa R Yanek, Xianyong Yin, Alisa K Manning, Jerome I Rotter, Stephen S Rich, James B Meigs, Myriam Fornage, Sudha Seshadri, Alanna C Morrison, Topmed Neurocognitive Working Group, Topmed Diabetes Working Group

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

To better characterize the potential biological mechanisms underlying insulin resistance (IR) and dementia, we derive cross-population and population specific polygenic scores [PSs] for fasting insulin and IR-related partitioned PSs [pPSs]. We conduct a cross-sectional study of the associations of these genetic scores with neurological outcomes in >17k participants (36% men, mean age 55 yrs) from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program (50% Non-Hispanic White, 23% Black/African American, 21% Hispanic/Latino American, and 4% Asian American). We report significant negative associations (P <  0.002) of the cross-population (P = 1.3 × 10-5) and European (PEA = 3.0 × 10-8) fasting insulin PSs with total cranial volume, and of a metabolic syndrome European PS with general cognitive function (BEA = -0.13, PEA = 0.0002) and lateral ventricular volume (BEA = 0.09, PEA = 0.002). We identify suggestive negative associations (P <  0.007) of metabolic syndrome and obesity pPSs with general cognitive function, and of lipodystrophy pPSs with total cranial volume. A higher genetic predisposition to IR is associated with lower brain size, and a genetic predisposition to specific IR-related type 2 diabetes subtypes, such as metabolic syndrome and mechanisms of IR mediated through obesity and lipodystrophy, is potentially involved in cognitive decline.

Scoping Review: Ethical Issues Involved In Using Mhealth Technologies In Home Care For Older Adults, Miaomiao Shen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Advancements in mobile health (mHealth) technologies have reshaped the delivery of healthcare, offering new possibilities for improving the quality of care, particularly for older adults receiving care at home. While the potential benefits of mHealth are considerable, integrating technology into home care for older adults raises several ethical concerns.

Purpose: To explore and map the ethical issues associated with using mHealth technologies in the home care of older adults.

Inclusion criteria: Studies that focus on mHealth technologies used in home care for older adults (aged 65+); Studies that explicitly discuss ethical issues; Original studies incorporating quantitative, qualitative, …

Lessons Learned: Creation Of A Global Classroom Initiative, Kim Alexander Decker

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Creating global classroom initiatives are incredibly important for future health care providers as they enter a rapidly changing and complex health care environment as demonstrated by the recent pandemic. Global classroom initiatives promote student readiness to become global citizens. This presentation will describe an international academic experience between a school of nursing in the Midwestern United States and a school of nursing in the United Kingdom. The goal was to add an international dimension to a senior level community health nursing didactic course (USA) and a baccalaureate nursing honors course (UK) without leaving their campuses. Both courses focused on the …

Qualities Of An Effective Mentor In Clinical Practice: Insights From Nurses And Midwives In Rwanda, Yvonne Kasine

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Globally, many countries have adopted mentorship programs to support new and less experienced nurses in enhancing their skills (Hoover et al., 2020). In Rwanda, mentorship has been a part of the professional development of nurses and midwives (Musabwasoni et al., 2020; Nyiringango et al., 2021). Mentorship offers numerous benefits, serving as a tool for professional growth and fostering camaraderie among nursing and midwifery professionals. From 2016 to 2020, a clinical mentorship program named Training, support, and Access Modal (TSAM) was implemented to help nurses and midwives improve their competencies in providing maternal and neonatal care at selected health facilities …

Mixed Reality In Modern Nursing Practice: A Systematic Review Of Clinical Applications, Chandler H. Moser, Changhwan Kim, Bindu Charles, Renila Tijones, Elsa Sanchez, Jedry G. Davila, Hemilla R. Matta, Erin Barker, David Goldenberg, John Madara, Michael J. Brenner, Cildi-Clabsi Study Team, Vinciya Pandian

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objective: This study aims to review recent literature on using mixed reality (MR) in nursing practice, focusing on outcomes related to nursing efficiency, satisfaction, ergonomics, competency, and team effectiveness. The research addresses the growing interest in using MR technology to enhance nursing care delivery and improve access to care.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. Multiple databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, were searched for relevant literature from January 2013 to January 2023. Inclusion criteria were studies that employed MR in nursing settings with measurable outcomes in efficiency, satisfaction, ergonomics, competency, or team …

The Effects Of Lactation Practices On Lactational Amenorrhea: A Systematic Review, Helen Baker, Anna Newton-Levinson, Sharon Leslie

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Lactational amenorrhea (LA) is a contraceptive method that suppresses ovulation postpartum through frequent and exclusive breastfeeding, with up to 98% effectiveness in the first six months if practiced optimally (Curtis et al., 2024). LA relies on consistent breastfeeding intervals and nipple stimulation, which inhibit gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion (McNeilly, 2001). Factors such as supplemental feeding, breast pump use, and early return to work may reduce LA's efficacy (Stuebe & Chen, 2022). This review assesses the impact of various lactation practices on LA to provide current insights and support informed counseling on breastfeeding as a contraceptive method.

Methods: Following PRISMA …

Vaccine Hesitancy In Rural Southeastern United States, Janet Brown, Leigh Ann Bray Dayton, Kimberly Rogers

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Minority populations in the United States (U.S.) have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates compared to the overall U.S. vaccination rates. COVID-19 vaccination rates in the United States are 81% for all races and ethnicities combined, while the vaccination rate for those identifying as Hispanic or Latino is 67%. This has not significantly improved from a 29% rate of vaccine hesitancy among those who identified as Hispanic in 2021. Community-engaged research has been found to be effective in identifying and understanding factors related to vaccine hesitancy and the broad reach of public libraries provides unique opportunities for outreach efforts to …

Technological Competency As Caring In Prelicensure Nursing Students: A Us Survey Using The Tccni-R, Clarissa Afable, Chitra Paul-Victor, Angela S. Prestia, Jessica Roman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background. In the U.S., prelicensure nursing students (PNSs) lack informatics competencies due to a lack of educational opportunities and resources. Therefore, there are implications in nursing education for preparing PNSs for patient-centered care using Locsin’s technological competency as caring in nursing theory.

Purpose. The purpose is to evaluate the psychometric properties and establish the reliability of the English translation of the TCCNI-R through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and validity via structural equation modeling to examine if the instrument applies in U.S. academic nursing education in PNSs.

Methods. The proposed study utilizes a descriptive, cross-sectional …

Are Open Or Enclosed Nursing Stations Better, And For Who?, Sydney Lauren Long, Annette Bourgault, Mona Shattell

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The benefits of enclosed versus open nursing stations are frequently discussed among inpatient nurses and hospital administrators. This scoping review synthesizes the state of the science on architectural best practices for inpatient psychiatric units and identifies gaps in the literature about enclosed versus open nursing stations. Peer reviewed articles from PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Web of Science were extracted for review. These articles were written in English and published between 2015 and the present (2024). All studies occurred on adult inpatient psychiatric units. Qualitative and quantitative studies whose sample included inpatient nurses, nursing staff, and clients were included. Findings suggest …

Promoting Educative Antiracism Dialogue And Activism Through Community Engagement, Greg Bartley, Danielle Ligocki, Robert A. Martin, Chaunda L. Scott

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article highlights lessons learned from bringing together antiracist/activist faculty representing the Initiative to Eradicate Racism at Oakland University and community members from the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership. We use Byrd and Scott’s (2010) Critical Racism Pedagogy Model as a lens to understand how university/community partners can discuss social issues in productive and engaging ways. Specifically, this partnership demonstrates how faculty and communities can work collaboratively to create communities of practice with parallel antiracism/activist goals.

Preparing Future Educators: Using Service-Learning In Mathematics Courses For Prospective K-12 Teachers, Sayonita Ghosh Hajra, Brianna Davis, Jose Alanis, James Tokunaga

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Although experiential learning is widely recognized for its benefits, its implementation in content-focused mathematics courses for prospective teachers remains limited. To address this gap, this paper explores the integration of service-learning into three distinct mathematics courses for prospective teachers, detailing how it was implemented in each course. Results highlight opportunities for learning, particularly in developing agency, a sense of belonging, competence, and enriched experience among prospective teachers.

Arendt, Hannah–Ephemera 004

Hannah Arendt Personal Library-Ephemera

004 Found in The Viking Book of Poetry: Typewritten verses from the old English song "Green Grow the Rushes-Ho."

Arendt, Hannah–Ephemera 009

Hannah Arendt Personal Library-Ephemera

009 Found in Aristotle’s Politics: Contained ephemera: seven handwritten notes in English, one typed note in English, and a pink strip of acidic paper.

Goals And Achievements, Catherine Stemmans Paterson

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article reflects on the goals and recent achievements of The Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education(JCEHE). It also describes the articles published in the JCEHE’s fourth issue of volume fourteen.

Rethinking Service Learning: Reciprocity And Power Dynamics In Community Engagement, Jason Wollschleger, Mark Killian, Kayla Prewitt

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article seeks to challenge existing power dynamics both within the service-learning classroom and between the classroom and community by offering a model of an alternative approach to community engagement. The class partnered with a community organization, at their request, to engage their community as the organization worked through a change in focus and identity. Within the classroom, the research project was led, designed, implemented, and ultimately written solely by the students.

Bard College: An Ecosystem Of Engagement, Jonathan Becker

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Despite its moderate size and rural location, Bard’s civic engagement efforts resonate locally, nationally, and internationally, and have significant public policy impacts. Bard has achieved success by making engagement central to its institutional mission, viewing liberal arts and sci-ences education as both a means and an end of civic engagement efforts, and forging an “ecosystem of engagement” that encourages organizational engineers, links student-led and in-stitutional initiatives, and unites a network of partners across the globe.

Building Community One Structure At A Time: A Partnership Between Social Work And Landscape Architecture Students, Kenya M. Cistrunk, Elizabeth P. Tofte, Juriel A. Rogers

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Experiential learning is invaluable when promoting interdisciplinary approaches to teaching complex issues. This article reports on a five-week collaboration between undergraduate stu-dents in social work and landscape architecture courses, project impetus being a common-reading text. Students (n=54) constructed three-dimensional models of children’s playgrounds and prepared academic posters describing restorative interventions based on their service-learning experiences with community partners. Projects were displayed at university-sponsored workshops. Participation in common reading programs has promising implications for interdis-ciplinary collaboration.

Sharing A Vision With An International Partner Through Photographs, Leah S. Dunn, Diane Ceo-Difrancesco, Rakhi Srivastava

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to establish a shared vision between the academic program and the international service-learning partner. Through the use of photovoice (Collier & Collier, 1986), we conducted a needs assessment to determine the partner’s priorities. Analysis of inter-view transcripts and photos yielded themes representing the partner’s needs and were the basis of the shared vision, adding clarity to the purpose of the experience.

Helping Persons Experiencing Homelessness Complete Advance Directives: A Model For Service Learning Within A Community-Academic Partnership, Woods Nash, Sandra J. Mixer, Polly M. Mcarthur, Annette Mendola, Kylie Jackson, Caroline Darlington, Bruce Spangler, Merrell Pressley, Erin Conley

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Despite their interest in completing advance directives (ADs), persons experiencing homeless-ness (PEH) appear to have fewer surrogate decision-makers and limited opportunities for ad-vance care planning (ACP). Nursing students and faculty, a hospital bioethicist, and social ser-vice agency staff formed a community-academic partnership that helps PEH complete advance directives. This unique service-learning opportunity offers a model for assisting vulnerable pop-ulations with advance care planning. Model effectiveness and limitations are described from each partner’s perspective in their own words.

Healing On The Homefront: Convelescent Homes In England During Wwi, Elizabeth Rogerson

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

This paper explores the response to soldiers needing rehabilitation in World War One and how convalescent facilities impacted the everyday lives of injured men, nurses, and military medicine. During the Great War, there was an influx of the diversity of injuries due to the expanse of biological and machine warfare. Recognizing that field hospitals were insufficient, England’s War Office executed a plan to requisition public facilities and use volunteer forces not only to heal English men but soldiers from across the world. This paper establishes the context for the convalescing system in England and then its accommodation and improvisation for …

Ud Students Awarded Two Of Five National Arts And Humanities Scholarships, Dave Larsen

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

Two UD students were awarded national scholarships to support their honors thesis projects in the humanities.

Multiscale Modelling Of Eg5: Structural Insights Into Microtubule Interactions, Atp Hydrolysis, And Allosteric Inhibition Mechanisms, Soundarya Priya Alexandar Ms

Theses and Dissertations

The mitotic kinesin EG5 is essential for spindle bipolarity and accurate chromosome segregation during cell division, making it a validated anti-cancer target. Unlike conventional microtubule-targeting agents, EG5 inhibitors offer mitosis-specific action, reducing neurotoxicity. Although inhibitors targeting EG5’s allosteric site-I have been extensively studied, mechanistic insights into inhibition at site-II, and their combined effects, remain underexplored. This thesis systematically investigates the structural and dynamic mechanisms underlying EG5 function and its inhibition using an integrative computational approach.

Conformational analysis, coarse-grained dynamics, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and protein network analysis were performed on EG5 motor domain structures and EG5-microtubule complexes. Results show that …