Digital Commons Network^™

“In The World”: The Journal Of International Women’S Studies At 25, Andrew Holman

Bridgewater Review

Academic journals are at the heart of our system of communicating scholarly ideas and research results, and have been since at least the 1640s, but at no time has the genre undergone such challenge and change as in the past 25 years. In that span, the perennial quest among editors to stay relevant has been joined by successive waves of novel transition: a shift from print to online publishing, the push for an open-access model of consumption, the growth of alternative, non-journal communication networks (from listservs to weblogs, podcasts, and more), and now, the uncertainty of generative AI. To face …

Table Of Contents

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Retrofitting Through The Facade: An Integrated Architectural Retrofit Assesment, Marie Danielle Danso

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Dynamic façades can be used as architectural tools to reduce heat gain in a building. This kinetic design reforms energy efficiency and can improve user comfort. Dynamic façades change their form and appearance in response to the environment. They can reduce stress on heating and cooling systems by mitigating the amount of solar radiation a building receives. Additionally, this architectural approach can control internal heating and cooling loads by managing the intake of sunlight. This study investigates a dynamic façade as an architectural tool to substantially reduce the heat gain of the Engineering Research Building on the campus of The …

Temporal And Heterogeneous Graph Neural Network For Remaining Useful Life Prediction, Zhihao Wen, Yuan Fang, Pengcheng Wei, Fayao Liu, Zhenghua Chen, Min Wu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Predicting remaining useful life (RUL) plays a crucial role in the prognostics and health management of industrial systems that involve a variety of interrelated sensors. Given a constant stream of time-series sensory data from such systems, deep learning (DL) models have risen to prominence at identifying complex, nonlinear temporal dependencies in these data. In addition to the temporal dependencies of individual sensors, spatial dependencies emerge as important correlations among these sensors, which can be naturally modeled by a temporal graph that describes time-varying spatial relationships. However, the majority of existing studies have relied on capturing discrete snapshots of this temporal …

A Blunt Reality: How § 922(G)(3) Of The Gun Control Act Violates The Second Amendment Rights Of Marijuana Users, Christian Z. Macdonald

SMU Law Review Forum

Over 98% of Americans live in a state that has some form of legal marijuana, with over half of Americans having used the drug at least once. The United States also has a strong historical tradition of individual gun ownership for the purposes of self-defense, with gun ownership currently at its highest level in decades. In this modern era of both rising gun ownership and marijuana usage, could it truly be the case that any American who uses cannabinoids forfeits her presumptively protected constitutional right to firearm possession? The answer depends upon whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) unconstitutionally infringes on …

Oesophageal Cancer And Its Associated Factors Among Patients Attending Surgical And Oncology Clinics At Garissa County Referral Hospital, Kenya: A Case-Control Study, Abdi Bashir, Moses Ngari, Berrick Otieno, Makorani Y’Dhidha-A-Mjidho, Osman Abdullahi, Symon Kariuki

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background Oesophageal cancer (EC) is a common cause of cancer mortality. Evidence on the burden, risk factors and treatment outcomes is limited in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to describe the features of EC cases and determine associated factors among patients attending surgical and oncology clinics in Garissa County Referral Hospital (GCRH).

Methods We conducted a case–control study in which cases were patients with EC and positive histological confirmation and controls were patients admitted to GCRH for other diseases. Data on exposures were extracted from patient files. Data on tobacco and alcohol use were based on current or …

Correctional System Involvement And Health Outcomes, Sarah Mason Eck ,Ph.D

All Materials

The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at the University System of New Hampshire commissioned Scientific Health to conduct an evidence-based review of the relationship between criminal justice system involvement and health outcomes. This research synthesized findings from recently published, peer-reviewed academic literature and relevant reports to examine how correctional system involvement affects physical health, mental health, and overall well-being among incarcerated individuals, their families, and communities. The review identified common themes related to behavioral health, chronic conditions, and systemic impacts, providing insight into the broader health implications of mass incarceration and deinstitutionalization. These findings aim to inform policy …

Independent And Interdependent Self-Construal: An Examination Of Migration History And Gender In Chinese- And European-Canadians, Nicolle F. Cai, Silvain S. Dang, Paul L. Hewitt

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

Despite previous work on independent and interdependent self-construal, there is more limited research in self-construal with relation to migration history. Additionally, gender influences on self-construal and the correlation between the two self-construal dimensions remain unclear, given the mixed findings in existing literature. Current study aims to replicate and extend self-construal findings from Chinese- and Euro-Canadians in relation to migration history and gender. We hypothesized that men and individuals with earlier migration history to Canada will report higher independent and lower interdependent self-construal. Canadian university students (N = 524) completed the Self-Construal Scale (Singelis, 1994) and reported their gender, ethnicity, and …

Harnessing Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution In Α-Fe2o3/2h–Mos2 Heterojunction: A Theoretical And Experimental Study On Electronic Modulation And Basal Plane Activation, Mohamed Sayed, Ossama Metwalli, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Kai Yin, Mohamed Saber, Ahmed Khalil, Hossam Abdelwahan

Electrical Engineering

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a promising method for storing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the efficiency and stability of hydrogen production electrodes remain challenging issues. In this study, we present a rationally designed α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 heterojunction that unlocks the electrocatalytic potential of the inert basal plane of the semiconducting 2H–MoS2 phase. The heterostructure, synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method, features α-Fe2O3 nanocubes anchored onto flowerlike 2H–MoS2 nanosheets. The electrochemical performance of the α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 heterojunction electrode was evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry, Tafel polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the α-Fe2O3/2H–MoS2 electrode exhibited lower …

Happiness, Trust, And Mental Fitness In The Workplace: Part Ii, Maureen L. Mackenzie-Ruppel Ph.D.

Business: Faculty Presentations

This paper is the second in a series of papers that will explore happiness in the workplace as a driver of performance. This research agenda was launched at the 2024 NBEA conference with a literature review revealing seven themes that collectively described and defined Workplace Happiness. With IRB approval, thirty-three seasoned professionals were invited to complete a structured questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered and analyzed. Results revealed the interconnected nature of happiness with key workplace elements. The integration of Happiness within workplace processes, was found to be of critical importance. The nuanced interplay of happiness in the …

Peer To Peer Connections: Student Ambassador Team Encourage Belonging Through Library Supports And Services, Amy Odwarka

All Faculty Scholarship

Libraries are an integral support system for students within a university organization, serving a unique purpose for students as they reinforce both academic and social emotional needs, ultimately lending to persistence, retention and graduation efforts. Academic libraries are also a third place in the lives of many students, helping them find their people and make community on campus. Over the last three years, faculty librarian Amy Odwarka from Mary J. Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University collaborated with students to build a robust student driven engagement team, the Library Ambassadors of Booth (the LAB), encouraging peer to peer communication and …

Revisiting The Geneva Summit 40 Years Later:, Thomas Quinn Marabello, Jonah S. Schaller

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Forty years ago this month, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland. What became known as the “Geneva Summit” was an important Cold War meeting between the two superpowers that would reset and impact their relations to this day. The Geneva Summit, some would argue, was the beginning of the end of the Cold War, as both leaders began working towards arms reduction, peace, and cultural and educational exchanges between both countries. It is hard to believe that November 1985 was forty years ago. The world watched as the …

Nicola Wenz:, C. Naseer Ahmad

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Nicola Wenz is an award-winning bi-national producer and journalist from Switzerland and Germany, based in Washington, D.C. She works as a news producer for the German public television service Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), where she manages U.S. political coverage, including the White House, State Department, Capitol Hill, and the Pentagon. Her assignments are diverse, ranging from indepth feature stories and environmental issues to major news events across a wide geographic area from North America to China.

End Matter

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

November 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the November 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 4) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Internship, Practicum, And Capstone: A Guide For Health Sciences, Lisa Dunkley

Internship, Practicum, and Capstone: A Guide for Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Bridging The (U)Rban And (I)Ndividual To Transform Cities, Lily Kong

Asian Management Insights

Urban transformation efforts are often focused on infrastructure and technology issues, overlooking how the individual experiences the city. An interview with SMU President Professor Lily Kong.

Modernizing Family Courts: How Technology-Driven Triage Improves Access To Justice For Self- Represented Litigants And Enhances Efficiency For Lawyers, Ayyoub Ajmi, Alicia Davis

Faculty Works

Family courts are overwhelmed by rising caseloads, increasing parental conflict, and limited judicial resources. With 80–90% of litigants self-represented (SRLs), case delays and inefficiencies affect all parties, including those with private counsel. High-conflict cases make up 10–30% of dockets, consuming judicial time and worsening outcomes for families, especially children. This article explores the Family Court Services Portal, a technology-driven triage tool designed to streamline family case processing, improve access to justice, and help courts allocate re- sources effectively. The portal integrates pre-screening triage automation, guiding parties through structured issue identification to support proportional judicial intervention and informed case management. Developed …

Direct-In-Nod Genetic Ablation Of Bcl3 Leads To Complete Type 1 Diabetes Protection., Jeremy Racine, Jennifer R Dwyer, Harold D Chapman, Amy Bell, Raymond F. Robledo, David V. Serreze

Faculty Research 2025

It was previously reported that genetic ablation of the NF-κB atypical inhibitor Bcl3 through congenic introduction of a 129P2-embryo derived knockout allele (Bcl3tm1Ver) accelerated autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse model. Conversely, we found that direct CRISPR-mediated ablation of this gene in the NOD/ShiLtDvs substrain completely inhibited diabetes development. Our CRISPR approach excised exons 3-7 within the NOD Bcl3 gene. These new NOD-Bcl3-/- mice had very low levels of insulitis, indicating protective mechanisms elicited early in the disease process. Dissimilar to reports of Bcl3 ablation in nonautoimmune C57BL/6-background mice, we found that splenic and lymph node B cells were not …

Rapid Changes In Cholinergic Signaling, Myelination, And Thyroid Signaling Pathway Gene Expression In Amygdala Subnuclei In Response To Social Status Maintenance And Reorganization., Tyler M Milewski, Won Lee, Köll R Rada, James P Curley

Faculty Research 2025

Male CD-1 mice form linear social hierarchies and can rapidly reform them following social reorganization. Through tag-based sequencing in the medial amygdala (MeA), we identified several genes regulating cholinergic signaling, myelination, and thyroid signaling that rapidly shift expression 70 min after animals change social status. Here, we further characterize the expression patterns of individual genes within these pathways in both stable and reorganized hierarchies. We find that genes related to cholinergic signaling show higher expression in the MeA of dominant males in stable hierarchies as well as when reestablishing dominance in reorganized hierarchies. Dominant males also show higher levels of …

Neurometabolic And Vascular Dysfunction As An Early Diagnostic For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias., Juan Antonio K Chong Chie, Scott A Persohn, Ravi S Pandey, Gregory W. Carter, Olivia R Simcox, Paul Salama, Paul R Territo, The Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggest that the brain undergoes anatomical and functional restructuring, resulting in neurometabolic and vascular dysregulation (MVD) prior to amyloid beta accumulation, which begins at an early age and leads to the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: Using a retrospective clinical population (n = 403) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, cerebral perfusion and metabolism changes across 59 brain regions were evaluated from clinical studies. Results were verified by transcriptomic signatures and clinical cognitive assessments.

RESULTS: Our findings suggest that disease progression follows a stage-dependent MVD pattern that can identify at-risk regions. Although each region progresses at …

The Ecological Genome Project And The Promises Of Ecogenomics For Society: Realising A Shared Vision As One Health., Benjamin Capps, Ruth Chadwick, Yann Joly, Claire Lajaunie, Iva Hauptmannova, Susannah Mackenzie, John J Mulvihill, Elizabeth Mumford, Sonja A Rasmussen, Kunal Sanghavi, Donrich W Thaldar, James Yeates, Maud C Quinzin, Zohar Lederman

Faculty Research 2025

This paper develops a vision for The Ecological Genome Project: an aspirational, global endeavour to connect human genomic sciences with the ethos of ecological sciences. The Project's goal is to strengthen interdisciplinary networks that relate to diverse initiatives using genomic technologies, with respect to shared ethical frameworks and governance structures. To this end, this paper proposes a practical definition of ecogenomics to align various methodologies and values in a single environmental field using principles used to safeguard all forms of life in their habitats. We achieve this by using a One Health approach as a pretext for disparate disciplines to …

The Ecological Genome Project And The Promises Of Ecogenomics For Society: Realising A Shared Vision As One Health., Benjamin Capps, Ruth Chadwick, Yann Joly, Claire Lajaunie, Iva Hauptmannova, Susannah Mackenzie, John J Mulvihill, Elizabeth Mumford, Sonja A Rasmussen, Kunal Sanghavi, Donrich W Thaldar, James Yeates, Maud C Quinzin, Zohar Lederman

Faculty Research 2025

This paper develops a vision for The Ecological Genome Project: an aspirational, global endeavour to connect human genomic sciences with the ethos of ecological sciences. The Project's goal is to strengthen interdisciplinary networks that relate to diverse initiatives using genomic technologies, with respect to shared ethical frameworks and governance structures. To this end, this paper proposes a practical definition of ecogenomics to align various methodologies and values in a single environmental field using principles used to safeguard all forms of life in their habitats. We achieve this by using a One Health approach as a pretext for disparate disciplines to …

Adaptation Of The Use Of The Makerspace Resources For The Improvement Of The Education System In East Africa, Mary Oluga, Jane Rarieya, Wachira Nicholas, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Adopting new teaching and learning methods to improve learning outcomes is a critical concern in contemporary education. In line with this, the Makerspace movement, accompanied by Design Thinking, is being ingrained into teacher education as a strategy to enhance the performance of teacher educators and the quality of pre-service teachers. Borrowing from constructivism theory, Makerspaces provide opportunities for tutors, student teachers, and school learners to develop artifacts that aid and demonstrate their learning. This paper examines how Makerspace materials might be incorporated into teacher education and school classrooms, emphasizing strategies, empirical findings, and actionable recommendations derived from a study across …

Analysis And Simulation Of The Effect Of Voids In Dually Reinforced Particle And Short Fiber Composites, Matthew Mckinley Luci

Graduate Theses - Mechanical Engineering

This thesis investigates dual-reinforced polymer composites tailored for flywheel energy storage, combining short, chopped carbon fibers for load bearing with iron particulates for multifunctionality. A unified experimental–computational workflow was developed: tensile coupons were fabricated and tested, machine compliance was quantified using neat resin and removed from all curves, and elastic moduli were extracted with robust MATLAB routines. Parallel finite-element models in ANSYS 2023R reproduced the dog-bone geometry with standardized meshing, named selections, and displacement-controlled loading. Four material states—neat resin, resin and iron, resin and short carbon fiber, and the iron and fiber hybrid— were evaluated. Results show carbon fibers dominate …

Prior Experience And State Legislative Effectiveness, Eric R. Hansen, Sarah A. Treul

Political Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

How do the prior experiences of lawmakers shape their performance in office? Representatives who have held prior elected office or professional backgrounds in relevant fields—specifically law, government, or politics—seem to have an advantage in winning elections. It is unclear whether those experiences help them become more effective legislators. Using a variety of data sources, we assess whether lawmakers with relevant prior experiences are more effective in advancing bills in the 50 state legislatures. We find mixed results. We find that state senators are more effective than their colleagues if they first served in the state house, but that prior local …

Buy Better: How Food Policy Councils Leverage Procurement To Improve Food Worker Conditions, Frank Sarfo, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Jonnell A. Robinson

The Lender Center for Social Justice

Food system workers; farm laborers, grocery clerks, restaurant staff, and food processors are the backbone of our everyday meals, yet their voices are largely missing from the councils that shape local food policy. Despite being essential to food security and community health, these workers face low wages, poorworking conditions, and limited protections. Food Policy Councils (FPCs), which aim to advance equity and sustainability in food systems, rarely prioritize labor issues. The study, drawing on national survey data and interviews with over 25 FPC leaders, finds that structural constraints, internal conflicts, limited capacity, and weak connections with labor organizations prevent meaningful …

Do Underserved And Underrepresented Minorities Pay A Higher Premium For Employer-Sponsored Coverage?, Willie Reddic, Susan Albring, Patricia Crawford

The Lender Center for Social Justice

Employer-sponsored health insurance covers millions of Americans under 65, yet not all employees share the financial burden equally. This brief explores how underserved communities particularly Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native employees often pay a disproportionately high share of their income toward family coverage premiums. Drawing on national data and recent research, the study highlights systemic disparities in healthcare costs and access, that shows economic, social, and policy factors intersect to create uneven burdens. The importance of clear communication, tailored support tools, and equitable plan design to help employees make informed choices, while offering practical strategies for employers and entrepreneurs …

Theory Of Mind Across Cultures: Psychological Implications, Lewis Hancock, Simon Dein

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to a set of social and cognitive abilities that we use to infer and understand other people’s mental states. This paper begins by outlining ToM, its component skills, and what research methods have been used to measure it. It then summarises research on how culture and other social factors such as language, parenting, and socio-economic status can impact its development, in particular differences in age of mastery of various aspects of ToM. Mental disorders characterised by deficits in ToM – in particular ASD – are also discussed and used to elucidate its nature and development. …

Himmelfarb Headlines - November/December 2025, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.