Digital Commons Network^™

Faculty Highlights: Spring 2025, New York Law School

NYLS Community News

No abstract provided.

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 04, September 22, 2025, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Chimes: September 22, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Parking prices increase: How are students feeling? by Addy Offutt & Ian Tjoelker

"Famous last words": Calvin Theatre Company's latest 24-hour theatre by McKenna Wilkilson

Student Senate's bright hopes for a new year by Jorie Cho

Dining in looks different this year: Ex-ploring dining hall changes by Evangeline Anga

Constitution Day celebration sparks dialogue on campus by Ella Vanden Berg

To cut language is to cut identity: A call to Calvin's conscience by Sarah Sparling

Neurofilament Light (Nfl) Chain Levels Predict Clinical Decline In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kim Thomas, Paul Spin, Nikita Sir, Kevin Hou, Nicholas J. Ashton, Henrik Zetterberg, Sonya Miller, Carol Pringle, Richard G. Stefanacci, Claude M. Wischik, Serge Gauthier

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Regulatory approval of new investigational Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapies could be accelerated if reasonably likely surrogate endpoints could be used. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has potential utility as a prognostic biomarker of neurodegeneration in AD.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize available evidence on the relationship between baseline NfL levels and longitudinal clinical decline.

METHODS: A systematic literature review identified 19 eligible studies, contributing 37 longitudinal statistical models evaluating the association between baseline NfL (plasma or cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]) with subsequent clinical decline based on validated clinical scales including Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale, and Clinical Dementia Rating. …

Call For Papers For The Journal Of Social Encounters’ Special Issue

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of: Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies To Change The World, Bill Droel

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of: Spreading Hate: The Global Rise Of White Supremacist Terrorism, Sachal Jacob

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of: Election 2024 South Africa: Countdown To Coalition, Gary Prevost

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Escalation Pathways To The April War And The Dynamics Of Sudan's Political Economy, Salih Mustafa, Osama Hassan, Nagi Alassam

The Journal of Social Encounters

This paper analyzes the escalation processes that led to the outbreak of the April 2023 war in Sudan, based on Wolfram Lacher's theoretical framework of "escalation processes". The paper focuses on tracing the escalatory trajectories that preceded the war, analyzing the complex interplay between structural, political, and economic factors, as well as the impact of the political economy on the dynamics of the conflict and its escalation to full-scale war.

Introduction: Continuing The Exploration Of The Darfur And Sudan Crisis, Mawa Mohamed, Ron Pagnucco

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Late Father Rev. John Anthony Kaiser: “A Case For Justice”, Mbuthi Gathenji

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Peacebuilding For Integral Human Development: Caritas Good Practices And Lessons Learnt, - Caritas Internationalis

The Journal of Social Encounters

Today’s geopolitical context, with big powers choosing bilateralism over multilateralism, is fostering a proliferation of conflicts and violence throughout the globe. The Caritas Confederation has been working actively for peacebuilding for decades, especially since the Rwanda genocide in 1994. Indeed, there is a growing consensus within the Confederation supporting the urgent need to enhance peacebuilding efforts globally. This document explores best practices and lessons learnt, with a strategic focus on the importance of involving women in peacebuilding. Each best practice is illustrated by one or two projects implemented by Caritas Member Organisations.

Hezbollah's Military Setback: From Strategic Strength To Political Dilemma—A Comprehensive Analysis, Habib Albadawi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This study examines the unprecedented military transformation of Hezbollah from 2024 to 2025, analyzing how technological superiority and strategic constraints have fundamentally altered the effectiveness of irregular warfare organizations. Through extensive analysis of organizational adaptation, technological disruption, and external dependencies, this research investigates the paradox of how advanced military capabilities, when constrained by external dependencies, can become operational liabilities rather than strategic assets. The study employs multiple theoretical frameworks to understand this transformation and its implications for future irregular warfare.

Democracy, Rights, Historical Memory, And Interfaith Relations In The Works Of Fatima Mernissi And Asma Uddin, Jon Armajani

The Journal of Social Encounters

The works of Moroccan-born Muslim scholar Fatima Mernissi (1940-2015) and United States-born Muslim scholar Asma T. Uddin (b. 1980) are distinctive contributions in modern conversations about the intersections of Islam, law, human and civil rights as well as historical memory and interfaith relations (AncestryLibrary, n.d.; Fox, 2015; Florida Bar, n.d.; Justia Lawyers, n.d.; Rodoski, 2011; Sadiqi, 2018).[i] Mernissi, who was a professor of sociology at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, and Uddin, who is an attorney and scholar based in the United States, are influential and delve into the intricate relationships between Islamic ideas and modern legal frameworks, …

An Interfaith Paradise Lost? Religion And The Memory Of The Lebanese Civil War In Postwar Novels, Wilbert Van Saane

The Journal of Social Encounters

This essay analyzes three Lebanese postwar novels: Nathalie Abi-Ezzi’s A Girl Made of Dust, Jad El Hage’s The Myrtle Tree, and Hoda Barakat’s The Tiller of Waters. I argue that these novels narrate the memory of war with reference to religious imagery and theological structures, especially the idea of a paradise lost as described in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. The paradise these novels present consists of a harmonious relation between people of different faiths. The root of violence is situated in a distortion and misrepresentation of the narratives of others. The novels also include the theme of a …

Nomina Ignota: Dinosaurios, Dinosauroides Y Otros Animales Del Pasado Que Nunca Existieron, Charlie Charmer, Iván Narváez

Alambique. Revista académica de ciencia ficción y fantasía / Jornal acadêmico de ficção científica e fantasía

Aunque desaparecieron hace 66 millones de años, los dinosaurios no avianos y otros grandes reptiles con los que convivieron son un reclamo habitual en las historias de ficción del cómic, cine, literatura u otros medios de expresión artística y/o entretenimiento. A menudo, sirven también de inspiración para introducir criaturas inexistentes cuya imagen y denominación parten de referentes conocidos. En el presente trabajo se analizan los diferentes métodos utilizados para bautizar a estas criaturas, así como las características y funciones que sus nombres pueden tener en los mundos de ficción, acuñando una nueva categoría para la nomenclatura científica, aplicable exclusivamente en …

Gateway To Business Analytics With Microsoft Excel, Humberto Barreto

Economics and Management Faculty publications

Business analytics is a new, expanding subfield with fuzzy edges that overlap into a variety of other established disciplines, including economics, econometrics, computer science, data science, finance, statistics, mathematics, and even psychology. Business analytics includes such traditional techniques as regression and data visualization, but also newer methods such as web scraping, big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Its key distinguishing feature is using data to make and communicate business decisions. This textbook utilizes Microsoft Excel to present a mix of topics appropriate to an undergraduate level introduction to business analytics course with an engaging delivery style.

Mediating Role Of Defense Mechanisms Between Parenting Styles And The Development Of Pathological Narcissism, Jared C. Cordero

Student Theses

The present study examines the relationship between perceived parental styles, grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism, and defense mechanisms with the aim of replicating the Imamgolu & Batigun (2020) research findings. A cross-sectional design was used. Covariates such as sex, age, parental dynamics in youth, and household dynamics in youth. To do this, 150 participants between the ages of 18-65 and residing in the United States were recruited via Prolific. Regarding sex, 66.7% of the participants were female, 32.7% were male, and 0.7% were intersex. Upon recruitment, participants completed a battery consisting of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16, Perceived Parental …

Assessing Inclusion Within Naaee Affiliate Ee Associations And Where To Go From Here, Connor Chilton

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental Education (EE) has a history that has been typically defined by traditionally dominant identities (White, male, able-bodied, etc.). The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) offers a unique position as frontrunners for the field of EE and have the duty to provide an inclusive-minded education for and about the environments throughout the world. Through NAAEE’s affiliate network within the United States, this paper details a glimpse into the work towards inclusion by surveying its leadership position holders about the broad subject and several interconnections of inclusion. Upon completion of the survey, participants who opted to participate in a …

Engineering And Technology, Fred Haan

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

9/21/2025 for the event, Integration of Faith and Learning, at University Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia

Interleukin-6 (Il-6) Mediated Pathways In Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Nafld) And Its Implications On Magnesium And Zinc Mineral Deficiencies: A Scoping Review, Marianne Koleng, Leann Nguyen

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

The prevalence and incidence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is rising. In the United States alone, the prevalence of NAFLD is currently 38% and there has been a 50% increase over the last three decades. The present study investigated the role of ultratrace mineral deficiencies, specifically magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn), and if so, what nutritional interventions could be made to ameliorate or protect against the development of NAFLD. The role of trace and ultratrace minerals in pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways contributing to NAFLD, specifically Interleukin-6 (IL-6), were investigated. IL-6 is produced by hepatocytes and plays a crucial role in …

Seamless Transitions: Enhancing Information Literacy Through Collaborative Professional Development, Katie Strand, Jen Kirk, Paul Daybell

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

This paper presents a case study of an initiative to create an open dialogue between secondary educators and academic librarians through the establishment of the biennial conference “Bridging the Gap” (BtG). The conference fosters collaboration, promotes professional development, and enhances the continuity of Information Literacy (IL) instruction through three distinct tracks: IL, Primary Source Literacy, and Digital Resources. The IL track focuses on collaborative strategies to enhance IL instruction and address the challenges faced by first-year university students. The Primary Source Literacy track highlights the importance of primary sources and how to integrate them into coursework. The Digital Resources track …

Religiosity And Attitudes Toward Suicide Among Filipinos, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Therese Angelie C. Daluping, Omar Joseph Sj. Dela Cruz, Sigmund Gabriel A. Estremadura, Jonah Emmanuel D. Gavino, Elaine G. Villanueva, Alvin L. Jacob Iii

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Religiosity is generally negatively associated with attitudes toward suicide. Religious individuals typically have more negative attitudes toward suicide than individuals with lower levels of religiosity. This is partly due to the belief that suicide goes against many religious teachings that revere life as a sacred gift from God. Hence, using a cross-sectional, predictive design, we aimed to investigate the link between religiosity and suicide attitudes and how much religiosity predicts different suicide attitudes. Using non-probability convenience sampling, 1148 Filipino participants aged 18–65 completed an online test battery: Centrality of Religiosity Scale Interreligious form-20 and Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale. Results revealed …

The Role And Influence Of Media Coverage And Social Media On Suicides: A Scoping Review, Kevin Miko Buac, Janine Trixia Austria, Claro Emmanuel Monsanto, Ma. Jamaica Monique Ponce, Arnold Christopher Soriano, Mystie Suzuki, Marc Eric S. Reyes

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Numerous factors contribute to suicide ideation; recent studies highlight that the media’s presentation of suicide plays a significant role in influencing suicide ideation and attempts among their audience. This study aims to evaluate the extent of the literature on traditional media reporting and social media in the context of suicide ideation and attempts, considering social media as a distinct yet relevant domain with its widespread reach and user-driven nature. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews was employed to retrieve relevant studies and address the following questions: (1) What potential factors …

Facilitators & Barriers To Self-Management Of T2d In Elderly Black African And Afro-Caribbean People, Dionne Ashaloy Anglique Henry

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Self-management helps to reduce the rate of morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs associated with uncontrolled diabetes due to various complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Ageing increases the risk of developing health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and there is a global increase in the number of people living longer. Older adults who are from ethnic minority backgrounds in the United Kingdom (UK) are placed at a greater disadvantage, as their financial situation, employability, and social networks are gravely lower than that of their White Counterparts. Additionally, there is a paucity of research focusing on the …

Exploring Workplace Dignity Among Clinical Nurses In Taiwan, Shu-Yin Huang, Chiu Yueh Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The issue of dignity in the nursing workplace is critical for enhancing the efficiency and performance of nursing professionals. Workplace conditions are a key social determinant of health, and workplace dignity positively influences job performance. When nurses feel respected and valued in their work environment, they are more equipped to provide empathetic and professional care to patients, ultimately improving the quality of care.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the sense of workplace dignity among clinical nurse practitioners in Taiwan and to understand the relationship between nurses' perceptions of workplace dignity, self-esteem, and psychological distress.

Methods:This study employed …

A Scoping Review On Childhood Immunization Reminder Strategies Available To Parents In North America, Matilda Anim-Larbi, Vivian Puplampu, Sithokozile Maposa, Akram Mahani, Mary Chipanshi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objective: The scoping review protocol will be used to map out the immunization reminder strategies for parents’ literature to identify the effectiveness of these approaches in improving childhood vaccination uptake.

Introduction: Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to cause morbidity and mortality despite the introduction of childhood immunizations^1,2, with recent media alerts showing a surge of common childhood vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles³. Parents can play a pivotal role in ensuring their children receive vaccinations when due^4,5,6. However, effective immunization reminders could assist parents who forget or miss the immunization schedules for their children.

Inclusion criteria: The review …

Isocratic Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Approach To Quantify Flutamide In Pharmaceuticals, Siddaraju Chikkalingaiah, Prathima Chikkegowda, Rajendraprasad Nagaraju

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: A non-steroidal antiandrogen, flutamide (FA), has been used often to treat advanced prostate cancer. It blocks testosterone’s tendency to bind to androgen receptors inside cells in some of the target organs, such as hair follicles, the prostate gland, skin, and testicles.

Objective: The main focus of the work is to produce an economical and reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography technique for the quantitative study of FA in bulk materials and pharmaceuticals.

Materials and Methods: The elution of FA was done by running a mobile phase prepared by mixing 10 mM ammonium formate-formic acid buffer (pH-4) with methanol in the …

Machine Learning Approach For Fake Image Forensics, Abdullah Mujawib Alashjaee

University of Bisha Journal for Basic and Applied Sciences

Digital forensics is crucial in investigating and analyzing digital evidence, including images, to uncover potential crimes and identify manipulated or fraudulent content. A significant challenge in digital forensics is distinguishing between authentic and manipulated images. This paper applies a popular pre-trained deep learning model, VGG16, for feature extraction in real vs. fake image detection and various machine learning (ML) models as classifiers. The feature extraction part until the flatten layer of the VGG16 model is utilized to extract discriminative features that capture high-level image representations comprising local and global patterns. ML models, including Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, and …

Nonlinear Dynamics Of Dust Acoustic Waves In A Dusty Plasma In Presence Of Two Opposite Polarity Dust Species, Omer A. Magzuob, Nauman Raza, Muntaha Khalid, Evren Hincal, Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar

University of Bisha Journal for Basic and Applied Sciences

In a non-linear dynamical structure, this research presents a new analytical framework for examining the Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation in the realm of dusty ion-acoustic waves. Our objective is to produce a wide range of optical solitons at a reduced cost and time scale for evaluation by employing specific integration techniques. To achieve this, we are using two analytical approaches: the unified Ricatti equation procedure and the new extended auxiliary equation strategy. These methods help us to discover a variety of exact solutions for the governing model, including solitary, rational, elliptic functions, and periodic waves. Using numerical simulations and graphical representations, we …