Digital Commons Network^™

Program Review Report 9-15-26, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

2026 Latinx Heritage Month, Illinois State University, Latin American And Latino/A Studies Program

Latinx Heritage Month Posters

Schedule of events for Illinois State University's Latinx Heritage Month celebration

Turkey’S Water Strategy Towards Iraq And Syria After 2003, Zainab Hussein Hirz

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This study analyzes Turkey’s water strategy toward Iraq and Syria after 2003, focusing on its geopolitical dimensions, risks, and implications for the water security of the two downstream countries, which depend heavily on trans boundary water resources. It examines the impact of Turkish water projects, particularly dams and irrigation schemes, on regulating the flows of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their repercussions for water security in Iraq and Syria. The study finds that declining water inflows result from interacting factors, primarily the expansion of Turkish water projects, alongside climate change and domestic factors related to water resources management. These …

Spacial Distribution Of Banking Services Of Rafidain Bank In City Of Baghdad, Zuhair Hatem Khammas, Zahraa Rady Khalaf Khalaf

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The Iraqi banking system has witnessed numerous developments during recent decades, evident through the policies and procedures implemented by the Central Bank to enhance banking supervision and develop banking activities. Al- Rafidain Bank is considered one of the first Iraqi banks to issue a huge balance of Iraqi currency after receiving it from the Central Bank, amounting to 1,857,262 million dinars in all types of currency. Iraq was among the first countries to establish what was called Bait Al-Mal, which was similar to the state treasury in present times and was called the Supreme House. These procedures aimed to provide …

The Effect Of Rain On The Hydrology Of The Tigris River Section In Baghdad Governorate, Sawsan Kamal Ahmed

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Rainfall is a fundamental form of precipitation and is closely linked to various aspects of life; the amount and season of rainfall directly impact the sustainability of life. This study of the impact of rainfall on the Tigris River›s discharge aims to provide a clear understanding of monthly, seasonal, and annual climatic variations in rainfall, analyze deviations from the average rainfall, identify the wettest and driest years, and determine the differences in rainfall percentages across the seasons. The highest rainfall was recorded in winter, ranging between (47.35% and 50.85%). Monthly variations, the number of rainy days, seasonal and annual variations, …

Properties Of Soil In Al-Zubaidiya District In Wasit Governorate, Tiba Khalid Abd Thuwaini, Suad Abdul Kadhim Al-Zuhairi

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This research aims to identify the chemical properties of the soil in Al-Zubaidiya district, Wasit Governorate. Chemical properties reflect the efficiency of the geographical environment in Al-Zubaidiya district and are the main determinant of soil suitability for agricultural production. The study of these properties goes beyond simply describing the results quantitatively. It aims to reveal the nature of the ionic balance, determine salinity levels, assess nutrient availability, and evaluate the interrelationship between the quality of irrigation water used and the surface soil chemistry. The study relies on the results of laboratory analysis of (21) soil samples and (5) water samples …

Finding The Numinous: An Ecocritical Look At “Dune” And “The Lord Of The Rings” (2025), By Willow Wilson Dipasquale, Douglas Charles Kane

Journal of Tolkien Research

Book review, by Douglas Charles Kane, of Finding the Numinous: An Ecocritical Look at “Dune” and “The Lord of the Rings” (2025), by Willow Wilson DiPasquale

[Cross] Cross Family House Historical Background, Matamoros

Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Adult Cancer Survivors’ Self-Efficacy To Spark Activation Through Evidence-Based Community Support, Julie L. Chytil

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: The number of cancer survivors in the United States is continuing to grow and yet cancer survivors often lack the knowledge of community resources available to them. Survivors must not only know that resources and programs exist but also trust that these tools are relevant and beneficial to them.

Intervention: The purpose of this project was to implement evidence-based strategies in a community setting to improve self-efficacy among adults who are transitioning from frontline cancer treatment to the next phase of survivorship. Strengthening self-efficacy is an important step toward increasing potential future patient activation and supporting long-term survivorship outcomes. …

Urban Spatial Development Control In Tanzania: Analysis Of Factors Influencing Gis Application Using Structural Equation Modelling (Sem)., Happiness Protas Mmanda, Nestory Yamungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has intensified urban expansion, creating challenges for sustainable development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance spatial planning, but empirical evidence on factors influencing their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines determinants of GIS application in Urban Spatial Development Control (USDC). The objectives are to (1) identify and categorize factors affecting GIS use, (2) assess relative strength, and (3) develop a validated structural model explaining GIS adoption in USDC. Data were collected from 103 LGAs by a mixed sampling method. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis classified influencing factors into technology-related (α = 0.869, CR = 0.881), process-related …

Medieval Stem, Illinois Math And Science Academy

IMSA Fusion Curricula

This curriculum is an exploration of science, math and technology that was developed, altered or utilized by civilization during medieval times. This time period helped lay the foundation for modern science and mathematics. Technological advances abounded. This curriculum focuses on agriculture, society and epidemiology, engineering, chemistry and textiles, and technological developments that lead civilization into the Renaissance.

Chimes: September 14, 2026, Calvin University

Chimes

French Film Festival running through October 7 by Ava Roush

International students to face new DHS rule, starting Tuesday by Ian Tjoelker

Calvin Soccer “kicks off” season the with 6-0 shutout at home by Alex Parker

Intentionality in small numbers: 2026 IMPACT retreat for students of color by Jorie Cho

Journaling as an act of resistance by Maia Peterson

What is green space and why does it matter? by Lucas Phelps

Evaluation Of Land Suitability In The Watu Ondo Waterfall Area Using The Analytical Hierarchy Process (Ahp) Method, Carina Nur Indah Lestari, Syamsul Bachri, Sugeng Utaya, Daudi Richard Malusu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study was motivated by the importance of utilizing land physical conditions as a basis for developing disaster mitigation education in natural tourist areas. The study aims to evaluate land suitability for disaster mitigation education in the Watu Ondo Waterfall area using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A quantitative research method was employed, involving AHP weighting analysis of the parameters topography, rainfall, dry season duration, soil type, and land cover, followed by spatial overlay to generate a land suitability map. The results indicate that topography is the dominant factor with a weight of 47%, followed …

The Mv Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak: Implications For Clinical Vigilance And Regional Health Security In The Gcc Countries, Seif Salem Al Abri, Ahmed S Al-Mandhari, Ziad A Memish

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping Of The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt Using Remote Sensing Imagery, Meaza Bogale, Elias Woldeyohanis

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Archean greenstone belts are well known for their ore deposits, diverse lithostratigraphy, and well-preserved evidence from the early Earth. The Northern Coongan Greenstone Belt is an Archean greenstone belt that is part of the Eastern Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The rock units of this area have the potential to be sources of valuable mineral deposits, which could be economically beneficial for extraction. Studies have been conducted in the northern Coongan greenstone belt, mostly using geological field methods and geophysical interpretations, excluding remote sensing methods for mapping mineral indices. Therefore, this study aims at providing surface mineral distribution maps and …

Sedimentary Dynamics In Tubular Sandstone Caves, Porto União, Southern Brazil, Leandro Bianchini, Julio Cesar Paisani

International Journal of Speleology

Clastic sedimentation in sandstone caves remains poorly understood, particularly in systems with tubular morphology. This study investigates sedimentation, reworking, and sediment removal dynamics in the Legru Cave system, southern Brazil, based on the integrated analysis of sedimentary facies, microstructures, and microfeatures, combined with optically stimulated luminescence dating. The results indicate that conduit infilling is dominated by high-density flows, including cohesive debris flows, partially diluted multiphase flows, and flows with intermediate rheological behavior between mud flow and hyperconcentrated flow, in addition to shallow flow alternations. Sediment supply is predominantly allochthonous, related to hillslope-derived material delivered by overland flow and mud flows, …

“Ite Missa Est”: How Can The Altar Alter Attitudes And Actions?, Ebenezer Akesseh

Journal of Global Catholicism

This paper brings into focus the relationship between personal agency and so-

cial structure, demonstrating that what we celebrate on the altar forms within

us the proper dispositions that can help prevent the occurrence of corruption.

The first part examines corruption from a socio-cultural perspective and ex-

plains the incidence and effects of corruption. The second part discusses the

relationship between worship and the formation of actions and attitudes. It

highlights the need to embody the social implications of our celebrations. Using

responses from interviewees, the third part illustrates that the celebration of the

Eucharist shapes the commitments and conduct …

Disjointed Command And Air Domain Challenges In Alaska: The Case For A Single U.S. Combined/Joint Force Air Component Commander, Jeffrey W. Kempff

Joint Force Quarterly

The current command and control (C2) organizational structure over the air domain in Alaska is fragmented and doctrinally inconsistent, undermining homeland defense and reducing wartime lethality. Disjointed roles between the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)—particularly in the Alaska Theater of Operations (AKTO) and Alaska NORAD Region Area of Operations (ANR AO)—create gaps in unity of command and effort, especially within the air component. This article examines Alaska's fractured air domain organization and command relationships, illustrating operational ambiguity, duplicative efforts, and inconsistencies that delay decision-making. It proposes a focused, near-term solution: unify the …

Boot Camp For The Mind: The Role Of Jpme In Developing National Security Strategists, Joseph Gagliano, Nick Gvosdev, Derek Reveron, Rebecca Russo, Dana Struckman

Joint Force Quarterly

Joint professional military education (JPME) plays a deliberate and pivotal role in an officer’s operational and strategic growth. JPME provides a structured environment for officers to develop the intellectual agility, critical thinking, and collaborative skills necessary to lead complex decisionmaking at headquarters away from the battlefield. Translating broad strategic guidance into employable strategies and executable plans requires (1) assessing the international security environment and (2) analyzing domestic policymaking system constraints. This approach stresses that a comprehensive education in national security affairs must acknowledge that a well-crafted security strategy is meaningless if not informed by the domestic policymaking system that develops …

The Logic Of America’S Defense Strategy, Elbridge A. Colby

Joint Force Quarterly

In this address at the National War College, Elbridge A. Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy, explores the strategic logic underlying the 2026 National Defense Strategy. He argues that renewed major power rivalry, military competition, and the risks posed by nuclear-armed adversaries require the United States to align its military objectives, methods, and resources with concrete political goals and American interests. Colby presents a three-part framework for doing so: denial defense, which seeks to prevent an aggressor from seizing and holding key allied or partner territory; favorable escalation management, which places the burden and risks of escalation on the …

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 120, 3rd Quarter 2026, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

Joint Force Quarterly 120, 3rd Quarter 2026, focuses on contemporary defense strategy, joint warfighting, professional military education, operational innovation, and military sustainment. The issue opens with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby’s discussion of the logic underlying the 2026 National Defense Strategy and an executive summary reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the Goldwater-Nichols Act and the future of jointness. Forum articles address analytic superiority in warfare, the development of operational objectives, and new evidence concerning the Lavelle Affair. Contributions on joint professional military education explore defensive cognitive warfare, strategist development, and cyberspace collaboration for homeland defense. …

Ai Slop In The Generative Ai Era: Uncovering Hidden Costs For Information Quality, Trust, And Human-Centered Systems, Blenda G. Mutuma

Communications of the IIMA

The rapid proliferation of generative AI tools has fundamentally altered the volume, velocity, and perceived quality of information produced across academic and professional settings (Bommasani et al., 2021; Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence [HAI], 2025). Yet this expansion has introduced a critical and underexamined threat to sustainable information ecosystems: what this paper formally terms AI slop ; defined as AI-generated content that achieves surface-level plausibility while offering limited substantive value, accuracy, or contextual depth. At scale, AI slop degrades information quality and erodes institutional trust (Bender et al., 2021; Weidinger et al., 2021). More critically, it generates what this …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Vitamin B12 And Folate Deficiencies Among School-Aged Children (6–12 Years), Ali Jasim Shawi, Buthainah Al-Azzawi

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Introduction: Vitamin B12 and folate are essential micronutrients that play critical roles in DNA synthesis, methylation reactions, and neurocognitive development. Deficiencies in these vitamins are recognized as public health concerns, particularly among school-aged children in developing countries.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies among children aged 6–12 years in selected areas of Iraq.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving 120 children (62 males, 58 females) distributed across six areas: Al-Khudhariya, Sumer, Al-Daur, Shomali, Hilla, and Al-Daghara. Serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate were measured using …

Nurture: A Heart–Head–Hands–Feet Curriculum Framework For Sustainable Food Systems And Planetary Health Education, Liza Barbour, Devinia Wainwright, Sarah Browne, Clare Pettinger, Jessica Wegener, Tracy Everitt, Liesel Carlsson

School of Health Professions

Introduction: Nutrition and dietetics professionals are vital to food systems transformation; however, the integration of sustainable food systems and planetary health curricula in tertiary education remains inadequate. This article presents the NURTURE framework, a curriculum tool designed in collaboration with an Indigenous artist to support educators in preparing future professionals to address global planetary crises.Methods: The framework organises 35 curriculum concepts previously identified by stakeholders across 27 countries as relevant for entry-level nutrition and dietetics professionals. Drawing on holistic educational models and Indigenous worldviews that emphasise the interconnected relationships between humans and nature, researchers mapped the concepts to four domains …

Cal Poly Needs More Composting, Sarah Bates

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Sumac Kawsay’: A New Perspective, Keilana Sugano

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Racial Health Disparities And The Role Of Education, Johnny Huynh, Adriana Lleras-Muney

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

This paper explores whether — and the degree to which — Black-White health disparities can be accounted for by educational attainment gaps. Part I reviews evidence on the causal effects of educational policies on health behaviors and outcomes. Many of these policies have demonstrated significant long-term health benefits, particularly for disadvantaged populations, though the effects are heterogeneous. Part II discusses whether the health benefits of education vary by race, reviewing theories of structural inequalities that posit that minorities benefit less from education. Part III analyzes data from the National Health Interview Survey to quantify the educational gradient in health across …

An Intelligent Approach For Mobile Traffic Forecasting And Optimal Positioning Of New Radio Access Sites In Emerging Mobile Networks, Bavoua Kenfack Patrick Dany, Binele Abana Alphonse, Tonye Emmanuel, Ngohe-Ekam Paul-Salomon, Heuna Njeumi Susy Anne-Lucie

Engineering and Technology Journal

The exponential growth of mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa is placing increasing pressure on cellular operators to modernise their radio access network (RAN) planning. Traditional approaches, namely Excel-based linear extrapolation and manual congestion-map analysis, are inadequate for the non-linear, seasonally driven traffic dynamics observed in heterogeneous environments such as Cameroon. This paper presents RAN-OptimForecast, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-support framework that jointly addresses two problems: (1) accurate long-term evolution (LTE) mobile traffic forecasting using machine learning, and (2) optimal geographical positioning of new radio base stations. Because proprietary operator traffic measurements were not available for release, the framework is …

Displaced By Disaster: Examining The Effects Of Hurricanes Maria And Irma On Chronic Homelessness In The United States Virgin Islands, Clinton Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is an island territory that is geographically isolated and has a fragile economy that has a limited capacity to address homelessness particularly when exacerbated by natural disasters. Existing literature demonstrated that major hurricanes can be associated with displacement, housing instability, and increased demand for emergency housing resources among socially vulnerable populations. However, limited longitudinal quantitative research has examined the impact of hurricanes on changes in homelessness trends in the USVI, representing a gap in territory-specific research. The purpose of this quantitative interrupted time series study was to examine homelessness trends associated with hurricanes Irma …

Beyond Alternative Finance: A Multi-Case Study Of Relational Validation In The Moroccan Crowdfunding Ecosystem Through Signaling And Social Capital Theories, Lamya Bouziani, Jalal Azegagh

Arab Economic and Business Journal

This study examines how Moroccan entrepreneurs use crowdfunding as an alternative source of finance in a context characterized by limited access to traditional funding. Based on a qualitative multi-case design, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with ten entrepreneurs from different sectors and regions in Morocco. The study mobilizes Signaling Theory and Social Capital Theory to explore how entrepreneurs build trust and legitimacy throughout the crowdfunding process. The findings show that crowdfunding is perceived not only as a financing mechanism, but also as a way to overcome banking constraints and institutional limitations. Entrepreneurs rely on personal networks, storytelling, transparency, and …