Digital Commons Network^™

Daily Eastern News: April 29, 2026, Eastern Illinois University

Daily Eastern News: 2025-2026

No abstract provided.

Energy Transitions By Wire? The Spatial Politics Of Transmission Development In New England, Maddy Kroot

Student Publications [Scholarly]

This data set is a corpus of de-identified transcripts from a doctoral research project examining local opposition to two high-voltage transmission lines in northern New England. The corpus includes 41 transcripts from interview participants who consented for their de-identified transcripts to be posted to the Clark Digital Commons. This research was supported by the NSF Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Doctoral  Dissertation Research Improvement Award (#2400991).

From The Ground To The Stars: How Research And Development In Aerospace Plays A Massive Role, Bryan Sohan

Honors College Theses

Aerospace technology is a long-standing field of innovation, yet it has experienced renewed momentum in recent years due to increased public and private investment. This study analyzes how changes in budget allocations to aerospace-related firms and government organizations influence the pace and scope of technological development within the aerospace sector. By examining historical trends in aerospace innovation alongside recent funding initiatives and policy decisions, this research evaluates the relationship between financial investment and technological advancement. This analysis focuses on Hypothesis 1 (H1): that higher aerospace R&D expenditure is positively correlated with innovation output. Using a two-period state-level panel (FY2021 and …

Narrative Tension And Theological Memory As Pedagogy In Three Select Samuel–Kings–Chronicles Parallels: A Textual–Literary–Theological Analysis, Mike Prah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the function of narrative tension in selected passages of Samuel–Kings and Chronicles and argues that such tension operates as theological pedagogy rather than as narrative difficulty or compositional residue. While modern scholarship often explains divergences between these historiographic corpora through redactional development or ideological reshaping, this study investigates how preserved tensions function within the narrative itself. Focusing on three representative case studies—the Ark sanctity narrative (2 Sam 6:1–19; 1 Chron 13–15), the census–altar episode (2 Sam 24; 1 Chron 21), and the succession complex (1 Kings 1–2; 1 Chron 28–29)—the dissertation demonstrates that narrative tension is intentionally …

Postpartum Depression: The Role Of Education, Age, And Family Social Support, Carrie B. Messick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the moderating effect of age and family social support on postsecondary education in women experiencing postpartum depression. Postpartum depression develops within 4–6 weeks following birth and can last up to 2 years. Current estimates indicate that postpartum depression affects approximately 8% to 20% of women. Multiple factors influence the development of postpartum depression, including physiological factors, cultural and social influences, psychosocial characteristics, and genetics. The literature has explored multiple risk and protective factors, such as education, age of the mother, and social support, which are protective factors for postpartum depression. The literature …

Assessing Hyperlocal And Local Air Quality Through Passive Samplers And Low-Cost Monitors, Yan He

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Air pollution is a major environmental health concern and has been associated with respiratory disease, cardiovascular morbidity, metabolic disorders, premature mortality, and additional adverse health outcomes. Air pollution often exhibits substantial variability at fine spatial scales, yet conventional regulatory monitoring networks are too sparse to resolve neighborhood-level exposure gradients that may exist in many urban and rural communities. Hyperlocal differences in pollutant concentrations—driven by local emission sources, land use characteristics, atmospheric chemistry, and meteorological conditions—can lead to systematic differences in long-term exposure among populations living only short distances apart. Improving exposure characterization therefore requires dense monitoring strategies and spatial modeling …

A Phenomenological Study Of Pastoral Perspectives Of Conservative Churches Effectively Serving The Disability Community, John D. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the experience of pastors leading conservative churches engaging with and serving persons with disabilities and their families. It focused on six theologically conservative churches providing special needs ministry, with at least three distinct scheduled ministry opportunities staffed by lay leadership, meeting a minimum of quarterly, and overseen by a paid staff member. This research sought to understand the perspectives of the pastors leading these churches, focusing on their personal experiences with disability, vision implementation, and leadership development. This study explored these pastors’ leadership through the lens of Transformational Leadership Theory and whether their style demonstrates transformational …

Nature’S Sovereign: Environmental Archetypes In Isaiah’S Kingship Polemic, Christopher Ryan Sandel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how Isaiah employs environmental archetypes to advance a comprehensive kingship polemic that asserts Yahweh’s unrivaled sovereignty over all creation. The study addresses a gap in scholarship by offering the first systematic analysis of Isaiah’s environmental imagery within a unified rhetorical and theological framework. Drawing on historical, literary, and comparative ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, the study argues that Isaiah’s civilizational, cosmic, and terrestrial archetypes function as strategic instruments that dismantle rival claims to power and reorient the audience toward covenantal fidelity. Civilizational archetypes reveal the fragility of human empires and the futility of political trust. Entities such as …

Platform Affordances, Produsage, And The Attention Economy: From Red (Taylor’S Version) To The Life Of A Showgirl, Angela Rose Asuncion

The Manuscript: Journal of Taylor Swift Studies

Social media platforms increasingly operate as infrastructures of visibility, shaping the conditions under which cultural content is produced, circulated, and recognised (van Dijck et al.; Nieborg and Poell). This article examines Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) and The Life of a Showgirl as two distinct visibility configurations emerging from the affordances and algorithmic logics of TikTok and Instagram. Drawing on platform studies (Abidin), celebrity theory (Dyer; Marshall; Marwick), and participatory culture and produsage (Jenkins; Bruns), the study employs a QCA-inspired configurational approach (Ragin) to analyse how clusters of affective cues, aesthetic strategies, parasocial signals, and circulation patterns generate contrasting visibility …

Latine Financial Wellness Content Creators: Rhetorical Strategies And Approaches, Ariana Bribiesca

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

The following paper explores Latine popular culture through the lens of Latine Instagram content creators who focus on financial literacy and wellness. First, “Viv” from Overcoming Generational Poverty provides a free budget template and money resources. She is the first in her family to build generational wealth while simultaneously supporting her family financially. Second, Giovanna González, a financial educator and award-winning author of Cultura & Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances & Cultural Expectations, explores the intersection of culture and finances. Finally, Hip Latina’s “Finances Section” explores content with financial resources as part of their larger …

Under The Guise Of “Benevolent Assimilation”: The United States Genocide In The Philippines, Samuel S. Cao

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.

Conceptualizing A Virtual African American Heritage Trail In Georgetown, South Carolina: A Marketing And Destination Staging Framework, Jerome Christia, Jacqueline Calhoun, Elisabeth Dellegrazie

The Coastal Business Journal

This article proposes a destination-planning framework for conceptualizing a Virtual African American Heritage Trail in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Located within the coastal region of South Carolina and between the major tourism markets of Charleston and Myrtle Beach, Georgetown contains a historically rich but spatially dispersed landscape of African American heritage sites that remain underrepresented in regional tourism promotion.

To address this gap, the study integrates the AIDA hierarchy of effects with Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) to explain how virtual interpretation can support early-stage destination development. AIDA is used to illustrate how digital engagement can move audiences from …

Comparison Of Clinical Outcome Of Mushroom Poisonings With And Without Specific Treatment: A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis, Kamil Deveci, Necmi Baykan, Baycan Kus, Fatma Ünlü, Ömer Salt, Serhat Koyuncu

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To determine the demographic and clinical characteristics, potential specific antidote treatments, clinical outcomes, and organ failure (morbidity) rates of patients with mushroom poisoning admitted to our center. Methods: We included 425 patients admitted to the emergency department of Kayseri City Hospital complaining of mushroom poisoning, between May 2018 and December 2023, who met the study criteria. Results: The median age of the 425 patients admitted was 51 years (34–63); 49.5% were female (n = 211), and 75% (n = 319) were admitted by ambulance. According to the Poisoning Severity Score, 70.3% (n = 299) of cases were mild, 21.9% …

Assessing The Relationship Between Online Information Verification, Overconfidence, And Media Literacy Learning, Tanya Notley, Sora Park, T.J. Thomson, Aimee Hourigan, Michael Dezuanni

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

To make informed decisions about a range of issues, people need to be able to determine if content they find online is trustworthy. To assess people’s ability to do this, we brought together findings from two nationally representative surveys of adult Australians. In the first survey (n = 3,852), we examined adult media use and asked respondents about their level of confidence in their ability to verify information online. The second survey then tested a subset of these participants (n = 2,115) to assess their ability to verify information online. The findings show that most adults have a …

The Secretary Of Alienation: Metaphor And Metapsychology, Anna Kreienberg

Middle Voices

Commentary

Three Essays In Political Economy, Thomas Ryan Johnson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Markets, institutions, and borders shape political behavior. Geography influences why markets form, how institutions flourish, and where nations draw borders. As a consequence, empirical studies of political behavior frequently struggle to disentangle spatial effects from quantities of interest. This dissertation makes a methodological advancement in this problem area and conducts a spatial study with these concerns in mind. The dissertation studies bias in spatial regressions, how natural disasters impact political participation, and the political economy of espionage. It introduces a flexible machine learning methodology to mitigate bias in spatial regressions, it identifies spatial and demographic factors associated with changes to …

Key Issues For Speed Safety Cameras: Results From A Semi-Structured Interview Of Agencies In The United States, Sophia Semensky, Miguel Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Speed safety cameras (SSCs) are a recognized countermeasure for targeting speeding-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. SSCs have been introduced in various cities and are steadily expanding in use both in the U.S. and internationally. The extensive literature review of domestic and international documents and research papers reveals that the U.S. has been comparatively slow to adopt SSCs, with some other countries implementing these systems more extensively and earlier. Many local agencies are eager to learn SSC best practices and implementation lessons within the U.S. context. In this research, key issues related to SSC implementation are explored through semi-structured interviews with …

Sociology 250: Racial And Ethnic Communities In The United States Syllabus, Minglei Zhang

Open Educational Resources

This Open Educational Resources (OER) syllabus for SOC 250: Racial and Ethnic Communities in the United States provides a no-cost, adaptable framework for examining the sociological dimensions of race, ethnicity, and power in American society. The course is organized thematically across four modules, progressing from foundational concepts of race as a social construct through analyses of institutions, inequality, and historical movements for social change. Drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives including intersectionality, critical race theory, and racial formation theory, this OER syllabus emphasizes critical thinking, analytical writing, and evidence-based inquiry. All course materials, including academic readings, documentaries, podcasts, and digital resources, …

The Use Of Cognitive Biases In Russian Cyber Operations, Emma Manning

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Russia has employed reflexive control through cyber operations to influence decision-making in foreign states, focusing on disinformation campaigns during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Reflexive control, a concept rooted in Russian military doctrine, seeks to shape an adversary's perceptions and decision-making by providing carefully crafted information that leads targets to make choices favorable to the initiator. This research argues that while the fundamental objectives of reflexive control have remained consistent, technological advances have significantly expanded Russia's ability to conduct operations in developing cyber domains.

Using qualitative analysis of open-source intelligence, …

Maternal Genetic Structure Of Iraqi Faili Kurds Revealed Using Whole Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing, Mayyadah Khalid Ibrahim, Suhaili Abu Bakar, Cheah Yoke Kqueen, Majeed Arsheed Sabbah

Baghdad Science Journal

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a commonly utilized genetic marker in determining maternal ancestry because of the hypervariable regions in it, as well as haplogroups, which enable scientists to establish ancestral links among populations. This research involved the analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of 100 Faili Kurd women in different cities in Iraq using the Illumina system. The most common haplogroups were HV14 (53%), H14a (16%), M37e2 (16%), and HV2a1*1 (15%). The pair-wise AMOVA-FST analysis in terms of population revealed that there were various levels of genetic differentiation between Faili Kurds and other populations in Iraq, Iran, and surrounding areas. …

Priority Research Questions To Generate Decision-Grade Data To Enable Coastal Ecosystems To Mitigate The Climate And Nutrient Crises, Gordon J. Watson, John Aldridge, Louise Anderson, Martin J. Attrill, William E.N. Austin, Keisha D. Bahr, Nicola Beaumont, Stefanie Broszeit, Annette Burden, Estela Delgado-Gargiulo, Evangelia G. Drakou, Mike Elliott, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Angus Garbutt, Boze Hancock, Joerg D. Hardege, Joanna Harley, Ian W. Hendy, Jenny R. Hillman, Tim D. Jickells, Ana I. Lillebø, Mariana D.A.C. Lima, Peter I. Macreadie, Paulina Martinetto, Jackie Mellan, Alf Norkko, Ruth Parker, Michael P. Perring, Bernadette Pogoda

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Nature-Based Solutions, green-finance instruments and policies are now routinely constructed around carbon sequestration/storage (CSS) and nutrient bioremediation (NB). This integration builds on how Market-Based Instruments (e.g. payments-for-ecosystem-services) are regularly used in policies focused on terrestrial ecosystems. In marine and coastal systems poor understanding of CSS/NB biophysical processes and impacts of ecosystem quality/stressors, combined with methods and governance framework knowledge gaps, generate substantial uncertainty in outcomes. Reductions in output confidence preclude integration into Nature-Based Solutions, stifling market-based investment centred on conserving and restoring temperate coastal ecosystems. To navigate this complex, rapidly evolving area, researchers from six continents engaged in a Priority …

Karme Qatif: A Villa From The Second Temple Period In The Judean Shephelah / כרמי קטיף: וילה משלהי ימי בית שני בשפלת יהודה, Daniel Varga, Yigal Israel

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

Three seasons of salvage excavations conducted at Karme Qatif uncovered a villa from the Second Temple period. The villa comprised four wings: a central courtyard; a western residential wing; an eastern wing containing a bathhouse; and a northern wing, which probably included the entrance to the villa. Finds from the building include a few locally made pottery vessels attributed to the Roman period, along with ceramic pipes used to convey water to the bathhouse. Several hiding complexes, soft limestone vessels, coins from the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt and a miqveh uncovered in the vicinity of the villa may …

The Role Of Functional Diversity In Urban Synergy For Placemaking In Urban Centers, Noor Hassan Khudhir, Sally Fakhry Khalaf

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Achieving urban synergy within the urban fabric is essential for building vibrant and efficient cities. Through its functional and spatial dimensions, urban synergy enhances the dynamism of urban centers and strengthens placemaking—the process of transforming ordinary spaces into lively, human-centered environments that integrate functional, social, and spatial needs. The concept of urban synergy emerged as a response to rapid urbanization, which has eroded the identity and functionality of many city centers. Understanding the relationship between urban synergy and placemaking is therefore crucial for developing integrated urban environments. This study examines how functional diversity within the urban structure influences urban synergy …

Photogrammetry As A Technology For Preserving Architectural Heritage: An Applied Study Of The Al-Maqam Mosque In Basra, Armin Sarkis Markaryan, Farah Thiab, Hamed H. Samir

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Many countries aim to preserve their cultural heritage, encompassing both tangible and intangible aspects. This is achieved through various techniques, including digital methods, to record and document heritage buildings. One of the most prominent and widely used techniques is Photogrammetry, which is used for both three-dimensional and two-dimensional levels. Numerous studies have explored this technique and discussed its application to various types of buildings, including heritage and archaeological structures. The reviewed literature reveals a lack of application of this technique in architectural studies focused on preserving the built heritage of the city of Basra, particularly buildings with a religious character, …

Revitalizing Heritage: Challenges And Opportunities For Sustainable Urban Development In Old Cities, Hussaen Ali Hasan Kahachi, Mufeed Ehsan Shok, Maria Abreu

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Old cities embody rich cultural and architectural heritage but face challenges in balancing preservation with sustainable urban development. This study examines common challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainability in historic cities through a comparative thematic analysis, synthesizing insights from global literature and expert interviews. A qualitative approach was employed, consisting of a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with several experts in urban planning, conservation, and policy. The findings identify four key challenges: restrictive preservation policies, financial constraints, social tensions from tourism-driven gentrification, and environmental vulnerabilities. However, opportunities include adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, community-led sustainability initiatives, and policy innovations …

Analysis Of Slums In The City Of Taiz: A Case Study Of The Kalabah And Osifra Areas, Ahmed E Abdulqawi, Maher Abdulqawi Sultan

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The informal settlements in Taiz, such as Kalabah and Osifra, present significant challenges to urban development in Yemen. This study examines the conditions of these neighbourhoods in terms of infrastructure, socio-economic factors, and urban planning while addressing the obstacles to their improvement. Utilizing field studies and data analysis, it seeks to understand the factors behind the emergence and persistence of these settlements. It evaluates the impact of government policies and local initiatives in tackling this issue. The study advocates for sustainable strategies to enhance the quality of life in these areas through improved urban planning, infrastructure development, and access to …

Defining Old Cities: Guardians Of Architectural Heritage And Collective Memory, Hussaen Ali Hasan Kahachi, Mufeed Ehsan Shok, Maria Abreu

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Old cities serve as testaments of architectural heritage and collective memory, offering unique urban experiences shaped by centuries of gradual evolution. Despite extensive research on physical preservation, limited studies address how old cities maintain their cultural and socio-economic relevance in modern contexts. This study aims to bridge this gap by defining old cities in terms of architecture and urban planning, and by examining their unique characteristics as assets in a modernizing world. Through a mixed-method approach, including a narrative literature review and a survey of experts in architecture and urban planning, this research uncovers the defining attributes of old cities. …

Using Heritage Buildings To Shape The Image Of The Place, Samaa Alaqbi, Ibrahim Jawad Kadhim Al-Yousif, Saad F. Al-Nuaimi

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The architectural image of the place is formed through the use of architecture, which consists of buildings with cultural value and carrying historical meanings and symbols. The new use of historical buildings includes re-adapting the buildings to meet the needs and requirements of the place. The disappearance of the old function leads to the building being neglected and destroyed. Therefore, the reuse of historical buildings preserves their architectural value and the meanings they carry and achieves an emotional link to the place. The research seeks to form the architectural image of the place through its reuse. The research relied on …

Geospatial Techniques For Preparing The Requirements Of 3d Modeling For Smart City Planning- Review, Noor Emad Alsaffar, Oday Zakariya Jasim, Maythm Al-Bakri

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Developing smart city planning requires integrating various techniques, including geospatial techniques, building information models (BIM), information and communication technology (ICT), and artificial intelligence, for instance, three-dimensional (3D) building models, in enabling smart city applications. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the role and significance of geospatial techniques in smart city planning and implementation. The literature review encompasses (74) studies from diverse databases, examining relevant solutions and prototypes related to smart city planning. The focus highlights the requirements and preparation of geospatial techniques to support the transition to a smart city. The paper explores various aspects, such as the advantages and …

Measuring Complementation In Urban Environments: Kadhimiya’S Historical City As A Case Study, Mustafa Tahseen Moslem Ismai, Basim Hasan Al Majid, Saad Khudhair Aljumaily

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

Assessing urban environments is necessary to address and mitigate the undesirable effects of urban challenges at different levels. The city responds to these challenges complementarily by proceeding with changes at the level of the profound structure and urban transformations at the level of the virtual structure through a set of strategies, mechanisms and tools of urban design. Good urban is the potential response in facing the contemporary and future urban challenges facing the city that urban design practitioners aspire to solve and complement the requirements of users and occupants. The research seeks to address the concept of urban complementation. The …