Digital Commons Network^™

First-Generation Black And Latinx Students And Their Perceived Level Of Postsecondary Education Preparedness, Shawanna Burton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

First-generation Black and Latinx students report challenges of belonging and preparation in the transition to college. Limited research on these experiences hinders counselors’ support for these students. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore first-generation Black and Latinx college students’ meaning of their high school experiences. A hermeneutic phenomenology conceptual framework was used to explore the lived experiences of first-generation Black and Latinx college students, focusing on how guidance from high school counselors influenced their sense of belonging, persistence, and degree attainment in postsecondary education. Data were collected from nine participants through semistructured interviews and analyzed using …

Exploring The Effective Ai Adoption And Integration Strategies Technology Firm Leaders Use To Mitigate Risks And Enhance Organizational Performance, Bona Eze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance organizational performance has emerged as a fundamental focus in modern enterprises. Technology firm leaders are concerned with AI adoption and integration strategies, as poorly aligned AI approaches lead to resource wastage and the inability to achieve competitive advantages. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the effective AI adoption and integration strategies technology firm leaders use to mitigate risks and enhance organizational performance. The participants were 10 technology firm leaders who had implemented AI adoption and integration in their firms. Data were collected by conducting …

Coercive Deterrence: Adapting Deterrence For Strategic Competition With China, Terry Tracy

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article proposes coercive deterrence as a core strategic concept to enable a whole-of-US- government approach to counter China through hybrid operations. For more than 80 years, deterrence theory has been characterized by the use of threats and force. In contrast, the article argues that deterrence can be achieved without either. A nation can exercise deterrence by choice—proactively shaping the environment to constrain the adversary to choices that do not threaten. The article examines deterrence theory, Chinese strategy, and case studies to offer practitioners a theory of victory in hybrid environments, synchronizing US interagency strategies through coercive deterrence.

Russian Arctic Land Forces And Defense Trends Redefined By Nato And Ukraine, Troy J. Bouffard, Lester W. Grau, Charles K. Bartles, Mathieu Boulègue

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Russia’s Arctic land forces have been weakened by the Russia-Ukraine War and NATO’s northern expansion, creating a strategic window for Western militaries to bolster their Arctic capabilities. Unlike existing studies that focus on maritime operations and the Northern Sea Route, it integrates technical assessments of ground-based Arctic platforms with analysis of military-district reforms. Using a mixed methodology that incorporates equipment specifications, Russian government documents, media reports, and NATO strategic-response evaluations, this article constructs a comprehensive baseline understanding of Russia’s Arctic land-force potential and readiness. Policy and military practitioners will benefit from actionable insights into Arctic force-design …

Parameters Autumn 2025, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Disinformation As Ground-Shifting In Great-Power Competition, Sorin Adam Matei

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Disinformation, distinct from misinformation, replaces accepted principles of objectivity and verifiability with novelty, framing, authority, self-reference, and conformity to create a new “truth paradigm.” This article introduces a novel definition and framework for understanding disinformation as a strategic tool in great-power competition. It includes a review of case studies, such as Russian disinformation campaigns during the Russia-Ukraine War and analyzes cognitive biases and social behaviors that facilitate the spread of disinformation. Policy and military practitioners will find actionable insights into countering disinformation, including its sociopsychological mechanisms and proposed targeted counterstrategies to protect the integrity of information flows in defense and …

Who Is In Charge Of Cyber Incidence Response In The Homeland?, Kelly R. M. Ihme, Patrick O'Brien Boling, Michael Zimmerman, Timothy G. Mccormick

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the fragmented US cybersecurity framework—marked by the absence of a lead agency, insufficient whole-of-government coordination, and inconsistent private-sector compliance— undermines national resilience to cyber threats. Unlike existing literature that often focuses on technical vulnerabilities, this piece highlights systemic governance failures through detailed case studies of the SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline, and Change Healthcare cyberattacks. The article identifies critical gaps in cyber incident response by drawing on incident reports, policy analysis, and expert commentary and offers actionable recommendations to strengthen national cybersecurity, making it especially relevant for policymakers and military practitioners concerned with protecting critical infrastructure.

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, September 16, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 10

Elevated Nr2f1 Underlies The Persistence Of Invasive Disease After Treatment Of Braf-Mutant Melanoma, Manoela Tiago, Timothy J Purwin, Casey D Stefanski, Renaira Oliveira Da Silva, Mitchell E Fane, Yash Chhabra, Jelan I Haj, Jessica Lf Teh, Rama Kadamb, Weijia Cai, Sheera R Rosenbaum, Vivian Chua, Nir Hacohen, Michael A Davies, Jessie Villanueva, Inna Chervoneva, Ashani T Weeraratna, Dan A Erkes, Claudia Capparelli, Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso, Andrew E Aplin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the success of targeted inhibitors in cutaneous melanoma, therapeutic responses are limited by the aged tumor microenvironment and drug-tolerant residual cells. Given the similarities between drug tolerance and cellular dormancy, we studied the dormancy marker, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1), in response to BRAF-V600E inhibitors (BRAFi) plus MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAF-mutant melanoma models. Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma patient samples treated with BRAFi + MEKi showed increased NR2F1. NR2F1 was highly expressed in the drug-tolerant invasive cell state of minimal residual disease in patient-derived and mouse-derived xenografts on BRAFi + MEKi. NR2F1 over-expression was sufficient …

Mesoporous Sba-15 Synthesis And Characterization Using Various Dispersing Agents, Yousra S. Kareem, Hussein Q. Hussein

Baghdad Science Journal

A successful synthesis of SBA-15 with semi-spherical morphology and suitable texture properties was achieved using hydrothermal technique. Sodium silicate, derived from silica sand from Iraq, was used as a silica precursor, and Pluronic p123 triblock copolymer was used as a template with a strong acid media (pH < 1). The effect of adding (1–3) g of either polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP -k30), or Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) dispersant agents on the texture properties of the synthesized SBA-15 was studied. The SBA-15 sample underwent various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption using Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).

XRD analysis showed a single peak in the 2θ= 20–25°, indicating the presence of pure SBA-15. The FTIR spectroscopy results demonstrated presence of key functional groups like silanone, siloxane, and silanol. Using these dispersant agents had a discernible effect on the dispersion of particles to an average particle size distribution in …

Quantum Chemical Studies, Characterization And Understanding The Inhibition Effect Of Pulicaria Jaubertii Oil, Growing In Yemen, As A New Eco-Friendly Inhibitor For C38 Steel Corrosion In 1 M Hcl Medium, A. Al Maofari, Y. Otifah, M. Benmessaoud, S. El Hajjaji

Baghdad Science Journal

The inhibitive action of Pulicaria Jaubertii essential oil (PJEO), as green inhibitor, has been investigated on the carbon (C38) steel corrosion in 1 M HCl by using inductively coupled plasmas spectrometry (ICP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and gravimetric measurements. The increasing of oil concentrations increases the carbon steel corrosion resistance (The inhibition efficiency), which rose to 94% in the optimal concentration (2.5 g/l). The specimen surfaces were analysed by using Infra-Red spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The obtained results showed the presence of oil molecules adsorbed onto the specimen surface. Langmuir adsorption model was followed by …

Rutger Bregman’S Vision: Moral Ambition Without Imagination, Vladimir Snurenco

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This review critiques Rutger Bregman’s top-down blueprint—higher taxes, new laws, and big-ticket nonprofits—as a centralized moralism that sidelines the institutions that actually nurture prosperity and dignity: family, church, enterprise, and local associations. I contrast Bregman’s Robin-Hood rhetoric (and his School for Moral Ambition) with a subsidiarity-driven vision rooted in Tocqueville, Kuyper, and Nisbet, and with Michael Pakaluk’s call for vocation within business. Drawing on research by Owen Zidar (the “stealthy wealthy”) and The Millionaire Next Door, I argue Bregman caricatures the rich and misunderstands how wealth is created.

I also question his nonprofit model: celebrating outputs (money raised, nets distributed) …

Tissue-Like Fracture Toughness And Stress–Relaxation Ability In Pva-Agar-Based Hydrogels For Biomedical Applications, Ismael Lamas Jr., Bhuvana L. Chandrashekar, Cláudia C. Biguetti, Mohammad R. Islam

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Soft tissues exhibit remarkable stretchability, fracture toughness, and stress–relaxation ability. They possess a large water content to support cellular processes. Mimicking such a combination of mechanical and physical properties in hydrogels is important for tissue engineering applications but remains challenging. This work aims to develop a hydrogel that can combine excellent mechanical properties with cellular viability. The research focused on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/agar double-network (DN) hydrogels, fabricated by thermal gelation and freeze–thawing methods. Their mechanical properties were characterized through tension, compression, fracture, and stress–relaxation tests, and their cellular viability was measured through cytotoxicity tests. The results show that the PVA/agar …

Comparison Of Floating Offshore Wind And Tidal Range For Green Hydrogen Production And Storage For Industrial Decarbonization, D. Pegler, R. Rawlinson-Smith, S. Michele, D. Coles, D. Greaves

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

UK Government targets 5 GW of electrolysers by 2030, however the role of green hydrogen for decarbonisation is not explicit. The government identifies the need to research the “archetypes” of production, transport, storage, and use. This paper presents a techno-economic model, comparing Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) to tidal range, supplying uninterrupted power and hydrogen for industrial decarbonisation. The model employs Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCoE) and Hydrogen (LCoH), with sensitivities for Discount Rate (DR) and electrolyser efficiency. Storage is essential; FLOW must overcome seasonal patterns and changeability between years, and tidal must bridge both the springs-neaps, and equinox cycles. The …

Advocacy Corner - Englishusa, V. 12, Advocacy And External Relations Committee, Englishusa

EnglishUSA Journal

No abstract provided.

Storied Narratives Of Partners Of Those Who Underwent A Prostatectomy, Meredith Anne Ford, Darpan Patel

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of death. Despite this statistic, PCa also has a high survival rate when caught early. A radical prostatectomy (RP) is one of several treatment options and has two main adverse effects: erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Based on these adverse effects, PCa is perceived as a “couple’s disease.” Therefore, this study aimed to understand the storied narratives of a partner and their relationship with their loved one who has undergone an RP. With a PCa diagnosis and surgical treatment, partners may experience higher …

Managing Dementia Behavioral Symptoms: Informal Caregivers’ Experience And Needs, Modupe Adewuyi, Xinyue Zhang, Lota Iwuagwu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Eighty-three percent of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (Pw-ADRD) rely on informal caregivers—mainly family and friends—for at-home care. In 2023, over 11 million dementia caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at $346.6 billion [1]. Although there is a wealth of literature on the roles of dementia informal caregivers, there is little data on their ability to manage the behavioral symptoms experienced by approximately 90% of Pw-ADRD [1], as well as the resources they utilize for support [2]. These symptoms have been positively correlated with functional and cognitive impairment leading to earlier placement …

Embracing Identity: Unmasking Challenges In Lgbtq+ Disclosure Journey, Maya Rabins, Amie Koch, Jill Brennan-Cook, Gillian Jackson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals often experience challenges pertaining to disclosure of their sexual orientation to others, or "coming out." Coming out can be stressful and significantly impact an individual's mental health, confidence, and safety due to factors including family and friends support, religion, environment, and finances. This study explored the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ adult individuals coming out, including experiences of ambiguous loss (AL).

Methods: This mixed-methods, IRB-approved study included 429 LGBTQ+ identifying individuals who completed an online anonymous survey about their coming out experience. We utilized virtual and social media platforms, and snowball sampling. …

Stay Curious! Building Professional Development Through The Center For Nursing Inquiry, Heather Watson, Madeleine Whalen, Alexandra A. Johnson, Nadine Rosenblum

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to describe the capacity building measures to increase engagement in scholarly activities through the Center of Nursing Inquiry (CNI).

Background: Literature indicates providing education, supportive leadership, dedicated time, mentoring and resources are effective methods to increase capacity and engagement in evidence-based practice (EBP), quality improvement and research^1,2,3,4,5. Health system leadership approved a center tasked to use evidence-based strategies and dedicated resources to meet organizational priorities through nursing inquiry.

Methods: The CNI launched in 2018 to serve a globally recognized six-hospital health system. The CNI leads multisite research and provides education including …

Use Of An Interactive Multimedia E-Book To Increase Maternity Knowledge And Learning Motivation, Ting-Shan Chang, Ke-Chi Tsai, Xin-Yu Wang, Ya-Ling Tzeng, Chih-Chi Chuang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objectives: Nursing education is an indispensable part of becoming a nurse. For modern 21st century students, the traditional one-to-many teaching method is no longer applicable. Breaking away from the previous teaching method, using new technology and multimedia education combined with interactive e-books, not only improves the learners’ interest and motivation, but also presents the situation in a situational way, being in it. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of different teaching modes on improving nursing students’ knowledge and learning motivation of maternity nursing.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental design. Nursing students from a university of science …

Parental Education On Childhood Injury Prevention: Insights From Nurse Family Partnership, Abigail Amber Mousa, Alison Pittman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This BSN Honors student project, with the oversight of a research mentor, will examine the lived experiences of Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) nurse home visitors and their unique approach in delivering parental education to reduce unintentional childhood injuries among marginalized populations. Nurses play an essential role in empowering patients on health promotion, illnesses prevention, and disease management. However, sufficient time is rarely allotted to address anticipatory guidance regarding injury prevention strategies during in-office pediatric visits. Community nurses have the potential to bridge this gap by assessing the health needs of their communities and meeting families where they are, thus promoting …

Consumptive Vampires: Notes On Nineteenth-Century Blood-Drinkers, Rachel Widmer

The Ozark Historical Review

From the late 19th century, newspapers reported of incidences where blood-drinking was used as a potential cure for disease. This paper explores this report and investigates this behavior among consumptives at the time.

Fires And Protests Of Peace: The Catholic Anti-War Movement In Sixties America, Casey Self

The Ozark Historical Review

This study reviews the history of the Catholic Peace Movement and the impact of the publication, Catholic Worker, and individuals such as Thomas Merton, Phillip and Daniel Berrigan, and Dorothy Day on the anti-war movement against the Vietnam War.

The Ozark Historical Review, V.47, 2019

The Ozark Historical Review

No abstract provided.

Out Of Orbit? European Space Collaboration In Post-Brexit Europe, Colin Doege

The Ozark Historical Review

This paper explores the historical role of the UK within the European Space Agency in light of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.

Talking With Dragons: How Dragons Reveal The Hero's Heart, Anne Elise Crafton

The Ozark Historical Review

The author shines a light onto the transformation Dragons over time and their relationships with heroes in European narrative and art. The study provides primary source analysis as well as a review of the secondary literature as represented through the works for Frazer, Dundes, and Tolkien.

The Ozark Historical Review, V. 46, 2018

The Ozark Historical Review

No abstract provided.

Digital Leadership And Literacy As Strategic Levers For Employee Outcomes In Pakistan's Telecommunication Sector, Saman Javed, Shaista Nayyar

Business Review

Digitalizing operations is essential for gaining and maintaining competitive advantage, driving product and process innovations, and ensuring effective decision-making. The performance and engagement of today’s workforce are also contingent upon its capability to handle digital technologies. Here, the digital prowess of the leaders plays a cardinal role in the digitalization process. Keeping this in mind, this research aims to determine the impact of digital leadership on employees’ digital literacy, and their subsequent effect on key employee outcomes like engagement and performance in the telecom sector of Pakistan. Data was collected from 369 telecom workers employed at the three major Pakistani …

Impact Of Plasma-Activated Water On Breast Cancer Cell Viability, Maryam G. Jasim, Hammad R. Humud

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Plasma-activated water (PAW) was generated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system operating with a 1:1 mixture of nitrogen and argon gases to evaluate its cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Water samples were divided into five groups: 0 minutes (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes of plasma exposure. The resulting PAW was applied to cultured cells, and cell viability was assessed 24- and 48-hour post-treatment. Viability was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed an apparent time-dependent increase in cytotoxicity. At 24 hours, cell mortality rates were 1.9%, 40.7%, 48.1%, 53.6%, …