Digital Commons Network^™

Power Asymmetry Dynamics: Assessing Interdependence In France-Cameroon Relations Through Economic And Security Cooperation (2000–2024), Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

This paper examines the dynamics of power asymmetry in the interdependent relationship between Cameroon and France from 2000 – 2024 with a focus on security and economic cooperation. The main research question asks: To what extent has power asymmetry reinforced or mitigated the interdependent relationship between Cameroon and France within the realm of economic and security cooperation? Based on the hypothesis that increased interdependence between these two states during this period has strengthened existing power disparity. The paper examines how such dynamics have restrained Cameroon’s autonomy and its capacity to pursue policy goals.

The theoretical framework combines dependency theory, postcolonial …

Outgoing President Dr. Todd Christy Address To The Hod: “I’Ve Been Humbled And Honored To Serve”, Todd Christy D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Executive Summary: In his farewell address to the MDA House of Delegates, Dr. Todd Christy reflected on his year as the 161st president of the Michigan Dental Association, describing it as a humbling and honoring experience. He extended heartfelt thanks to his wife, the MDA staff, Executive Director John Tramontana, and the Board of Trustees for their support and hard work. Dr. Christy characterized the past year by the word "Change," outlining key Board activities such as an orientation with the new executive director, discussions on change management, approval of a Member Conduct Policy, and strategic planning for the House …

News You Need: It's Mid-Year: Are You Taking Advantage Of Your Mda Member Benefits?

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This comprehensive overview highlights numerous MDA member benefits available to Michigan dentists. Key offerings include practice guidelines on various topics, a formal mentor program, DiSC training for staff development, social media support kits, extensive continuing education programs, and student debt resources. Additional benefits encompass ADA resources, contract analysis services, radiography training programs, job board access, legal assistance, regulatory compliance support, insurance services, and human resources guidance. The article also announces MDA Dental PAC competition winners who contributed $23,000 for advocacy activities, reports on staff departures including HR director Brandy Ryan and Medicare expert Rick Seely, and recognizes table clinic winners …

J Mich Dent Assoc June 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association is the leading monthly digital publication serving Michigan’s oral health community and the MDA’s 6,200+ members. Distributed globally through the searchable ADA Commons publishing platform, it is the primary channel for news, clinical insights, and professional resources for Michigan dentists.

June Issue Highlights:

• Cover Feature: An in-depth report on the MDA’s advocacy efforts beyond insurance reimbursement, highlighting recent legislative wins and member services that support practice profitability and success.
• Workforce Well-being: A special feature on the stages of stress and burnout, with strategies and resources to support mental health and resilience.
• Compliance Update: …

Dentistry And The Law: Can I Use Patient Information To Respond To Internet Criticism?, Daniel Schulte J.D.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This legal guidance addresses dentists' inability to respond to negative online reviews using patient information. The article explains that HIPAA and Michigan's Dentist-Patient Privilege Statute prohibit healthcare professionals from disclosing patient information without authorization, even when defending against false or defamatory online posts. Unlike patients who can freely share information about their treatment, dentists face significant legal restrictions. The author notes that legal recourse is often difficult due to challenges in proving poster identity, distinguishing factual statements from opinions, and demonstrating specific damages. The recommended approach is to avoid responding to negative posts and instead focus on reputation management through …

Law Enforcement Privilege, Rebecca Wexler

Faculty Scholarship

You can’t question a secret you haven’t been told. The criminal legal system depends on fair and open proceedings to expose and regulate unlawful and unconstitutional police conduct through the courts. If police can use claims of secrecy to systematically thwart criminal defendants’ access to evidence, judicial review will fail. And yet that is exactly what is happening under a common-law doctrine called the “law enforcement privilege.” The privilege empowers police and prosecutors to rely on the results of secret investigative methods while withholding information from the defense about how those methods work. It risks perpetuating unconstitutional conduct, enabling wrongful …

Tort Law Heterodoxy In China, Benjamin L. Liebman, Rachel E. Stern, Eva Wenwa Gao, Xiaohan Wu

Faculty Scholarship

Chinese courts routinely ask defendants to pay damages without evidence of negligence while relying on concepts such as fairness, substantive justice, or discretion. This chapter examines how Chinese courts arrive at decisions that feel fair or just in cases where they refer to those ideas. Analysis of a dataset of 10,000 judicial decisions in personal injury cases suggests that Chinese courts refer to these concepts when they impose liability on two types of parties: (1) participants in a shared activity and (2) those who control a physical space. By assigning legal responsibility in these cases, Chinese courts acknowledge traumatic harm, …

Panagtagtagainep Idiay Isabela, Noji A. Bajet

Katipunan

Inilalarawan dito ni Bajet kung paanong isang pananaginip ang paglikha ng sining sa Isabela. Isang pananaginip na napagtatagumpayan, sa kabila ng mga pagsubok at suliranin, sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagtutulungan ng mga artista sa paghango ng inspirasyon mula sa lalawigan. Sinusuri niya rito ang My Simple Dreams of Life Belong to Them (2000) ni Allan Balisi na maituturing na isang juvenilia, na matatagpuan sa Isabela Museum and Library. Bagamat malayo sa ikonograpiyang nabuo ni Balisi bilang artista, makikita na sa nasabing pinta ang paggamit niya ng matipid na kulay at paglalaro sa perspektiba upang makuhang danasin ang kaniyang sining ng …

Bentonite Erosion And Cation Exchange Effects On Hydraulic Conductivity Of Geosynthetic Clay Liners, Grace Paananen

Master's Theses

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are used in municipal solid waste landfill (MSW) liner and cover systems as an alternative to thick compacted clay layers. Previous field studies have revealed potential for bentonite erosion in GCLs when subjected to wet-dry cycles that occur when GCLs are placed on slopes, covered with a geomembrane, and left exposed without additional soil cover. A laboratory test program was conducted to quantify the effects of bentonite erosion on hydraulic conductivity of sodium-bentonite geosynthetic clay liners and samples subjected to cation exchange treatment in addition to bentonite erosion. This test program determined what level of bentonite …

The Missed Connection: Why Some Travelers Choose Not To Visit Montana, Kika Bradford, Glenna Hartman, Matthew Pettigrew, Melissa Weddell

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Montana attracts millions of visitors drawn by its natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage. A significant portion of these travelers are repeat visitors; however, some travelers visit only once and choose not to return. This study explores what drives that disengagement.

An Analysis Of Renewable Energy Frames In The News Media Pre- And Post-Trump Administration, Kendall Anjolie Rozen

Communication Studies

This paper aimed to examine how news media portrayed environmental issues, specifically renewable energy, and how this may differ between two presidential administrations in the United States. Entman’s framing theory was used to analyze the portrayals of renewable energy in the articles selected. The frames chosen were based on research done by Rochyadi-Reetz et al. (2019) who established four framing dimensions within environmentally-focused news media. These dimensions are as follows: (1) economy, (2) society, (3) environment, (4) technology. A fifth dimension ((5) policy) was added by the researcher. This paper used a deductive quantitative analysis to mark these themes as …

Analysis Study Of Antibacterial Efficacy And Cytotoxicity Of Prepared Metal-Based Nanoparticles Against Streptococcus Mutans: Focus On Gold Nanoparticles, Fattin Fadhil, Azhar Haleem, Abdulrahman Ali, Ahlam Mohammed

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

New approaches have been developed to combat bacterial infections because of the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Gold colloidal nanoparticles and their applications as antibacterial agents have shown promising strategies due to these properties. The properties of nanoparticles, including size, shape, and surface charge, play an essential role in determining antibacterial activity. Pulsed laser ablation in a liquid medium was utilized to produce gold nanoparticles, an environmentally friendly method. Gold NPs were produced in ultrapure water. Experimental research was done to determine the impact of the number of laser pulses on the nanoparticles' size, shape, and concentration. Surface plasmon resonance …

Characterization And Water Uptake Of Reinforced Polymer Blend Using Nanoclay And Rock Wool, Rana Salih, Shanaz Ahmad

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

The current work focuses on assessing flexural properties, and water uptake of polymeric composites prepared using various reinforcements. These additives consist of kaolinite nano clays and rock wool (RW). In addition to a polymer blend that consists of epoxy and polyester resins as the matrix. The castings were made using a hand lay-up approach. Nanoclay (NC) was added in weight fractions of 5% and 7%, together with RW added in a volume fraction of 10% as reinforcement. The impact test was employed to decide the optimum mixing ratio of the polymer blend that used as a matrix. From the results …

Dairy & Food Science News, June 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy & Food Science News

Message from the Department Head
Faculty Updates
Recruitment Updates and Opportunities
One Day for State
Graduation
Alumni in the News
Student Updates
Dairy Club Update
Judging Teams Updates
Events & Calendar

Comparing Stroke Risk Factors Among Sexual Minority Groups In Texas, Brittany Krenek, Samuel Tundealao, Jennifer E S Beauchamp, Sean I Savitz, Irene Tamí-Maury

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Knowledge gaps remain on stroke risk and disparities between sexual minority (SM) subgroups. In this study, stroke risk between SM subgroups, specifically gay/bisexual men and lesbian/bisexual women (G/BM and L/BW), was assessed.

Method: Data were collected in June 2022 using a bilingual (English and Spanish) cross-sectional paper-and-pen survey distributed among 183 SM individuals attending the 2022 Houston Pride Parade and Festival, as well as across Texas via phone call or online format. Relevant sociodemographic and stroke risk factors were compared between G/BM and L/BW using chi-square (or Fisher's exact, when appropriate) and two-sample t-tests. Sexual orientation was used to …

Building Community Through Data: The Value Of A Researcher Driven Open Science Ecosystem, Meredith C B Adams, Carla M Bann, Emine Ozgur Bayman, Maria Chao, Georgene W Hergenroeder, Charles Knott, Martin A Lindquist, Z David Luo, Rosemarie Martin, Maryann E Martone, John Mccarthy, Micah Mccumber, Sharon B Meropol, Ty A Ridenour, Lissette M Saavedra, Abeed Sarker, Kevin J Anstrom, Wesley K Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Screening For Human Papillomavirus-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancers: A Microsimulation-Based Modeling Study, Rebecca Landy, Gregory W Haber, Barry I Graubard, Carole Fakhry, Nicole G Campos, Emily A Burger, Li C Cheung, Hormuzd A Katki, Maura L Gillison, Anil K Chaturvedi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: We estimated the impact of screening on morbidity and mortality of human papillomavirus (HPV)16-positive oropharyngeal cancer among US men aged 45-79 years.

Methods: We developed an individual-level, state-transition natural history microsimulation model to estimate the impact of screening using oral HPV16 detection, HPV16-E6 antibody detection, and transcervical ultrasound of neck/oropharynx. We compared clinical detection to counterfactual screen detection for cancer stage, single- vs multiple-modality treatment, and survival. Screening scenarios encompassed 4 progression speeds across cancer stages (very slow, slow, fast, and very fast) and 4 screening frequencies.

Results: Among US men aged 45-79 years in 2021 (n = 54 …

Multicancer Early Detection Tests At A Crossroads: Commercial Availability Ahead Of Definitive Evidence, Carmen E Guerra, Jennifer Keating Litton, Carolina E Viswanath, A Mark Fendrick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multicancer early detection tests (MCEDs), sometimes referred to as liquid biopsies, are tests that can screen for multiple cancers by analyzing blood, urine, and other bodily fluids for biomarkers released by cancer cells. These tests have the potential to change the cancer screening paradigm if they are shown to reduce cancer mortality. However, it is not yet known whether MCEDs reduce mortality. Randomized controlled trials, the gold standard for evaluating cancer screening programs, are currently evaluating the effectiveness of MCEDs. However, because cancer-specific and all-cause mortality are end points that can take years to reach, trials are being designed with …

Targeted Sting Activation Using Modified Ultrasound-Responsive Microbubbles Enhances Immune Checkpoint Blockade Against Melanoma, Sina Khorsandi, Kristin Huntoon, Yifan Wang, Adam Woodward, Abin Antony, Connor Endsley, Nazia Hafeez, Jared L Edwards, Nicole Mccuen, Prasanna G Alluri, Betty Y S Kim, Wen Jiang, Jacques Lux

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the recent successes of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating advanced melanoma, durable clinical responses still remain limited. To boost immune responses, agents that target immune regulators, such as the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) agonist cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), are being investigated. However, their clinical translation is impeded by poor serum stability, rapid tissue clearance, and T-cell death due to off-target activation. Recently, a novel strategy termed Microbubble-assisted UltraSound-guided Immunotherapy of Cancer (MUSIC) has been reported to selectively deliver cGAMP directly into the cytosol of antigen-presenting cells with spatiotemporal control. The resulting activation of STING and downstream proinflammatory pathways …

The Burden Of Burnout: Understanding Its Prevalence And Organizational Drivers In Medical Physics, Deborah Schofield, C Lynn Chevalier, Laurence Court, William Harmsen, Akiva Turner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Burnout is a work-related syndrome characterized by increased levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) along with decreased levels of personal achievement. In the healthcare setting, higher burnout levels have been associated with negative impacts on personnel, an increased risk of errors, and a decrease in the quality of delivered care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of burnout among medical physicists working in the United States. Additionally, the impact of personal and organizational features on burnout risk was examined.

Methods: The anonymous survey was distributed to 1962 full members of the American …

Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation Expands The Immunosuppressive Myeloid Stroma And Antagonizes The Therapeutic Benefit Of Sting Activation In Glioblastoma, Spencer T Lea, Chao-Hsien Chen, Jun Wei, Ivana William, Inés Lopez Del Castillo, Michael A Curran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly primary brain malignancy and is clinically refractory to immunotherapy. Active NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and IL-1β secretion have been observed in GBM, and NLRP3-driven myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) recruitment can mediate cancer immune evasion. Agonists of the cytosolic double-stranded DNA-sensing stimulator of IFN gene (STING) pathway can mediate proinflammatory conversion of cancer MDSCs; however, secretion of the NLRP3 products IL-1β and IL-18 has also been observed in certain myeloid populations following STING activation. In this study, we aimed to determine both the potential mechanistic synergy between STING and NLRP3 agonists, and the effects …

Leadership Case Studies, Jayme Renfro, Anne Marie Gruber

Faculty Book Gallery

This volume is a collection of case studies by University of Northern Iowa's Master of Public Policy (MPP) graduate students, as well as undergraduate students studying leadership and management in public service. It is our hope that these case studies can be used as teaching and learning tools, as a deep-dive into leadership theory and practice.

Some details within the case studies, which are a combination of fiction and non-fiction, have been changed to protect privacy. Some student authors have chosen to remain anonymous or publish under a pseudonym.

Editor: Dr. Jayme Renfro, Associate Professor of Political Science, with support …

Perceived Search Overload, Generative Ai Credibility, And Comparative Usefulness: A Channel Complementarity Approach To Health Information Seeking, Joon Soo Lim

Media Studies - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Misinformation Mayhem: The Effects Of Tiktok Content On Adhd Knowledge, Stigma, And Treatment-Seeking Intentions, Ashley Schiros, Nicholas Bowman, Kevin Antshel

Media Studies - All Scholarship

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) content on TikTok is popular among college students, yet ADHD misinformation is prevalent on TikTok. This study aims to experimentally investigate the effects of TikTok ADHD misinformation content on ADHD knowledge, stigma, and treatment-seeking intentions. An experimental design assessed the impact of ADHD (mis)information among treatment-naïve college students. A pilot phase was completed to develop TikTok stimuli, using a systematic content analysis, and provide initial evidence of feasibility. In the main study, participants (N = 490) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (accurate ADHD information, ADHD misinformation, control) to view TikTok content. A …

From Cynicism To Trust: Strategies For Teaching Students Source Evaluation Skills, Mandi Goodsett, Melanie Gagich

Communications in Information Literacy

Concerns about the spread and adoption of misinformation abound, and academic librarians have played a part in trying to stem the tide through information literacy instruction. However, teaching students how to evaluate sources can be complicated—teaching fact-checking skills may be insufficient if it increases students’ overall cynicism about information ecosystems. This study explores how teaching fact-checking and lateral reading skills, along with instruction about “bias filters,” can help to reduce the cynicism of first year writing students, while also increasing their misinformation detection skills. Results are mixed, but teaching about the information creation process and “bias filters” is especially promising. …

Status And Distribution Of Diseases Caused By Phytoplasmas In Africa, Shakiru Adewale Kazeem, Agnieszka Zwolińska, Joseph Mulema, Akindele Oluwole Ogunfunmilayo, Shina Salihu, Joy Oluchi Nwogwugwu, Inusa Jacob Ajene, Justina Folasayo Ogunsola, Adedapo Olutola Adediji, Olubusola Fehintola Oduwaye, Kouamé Daniel Kra, Mustafa Ojonuba Jibrin, Wei Wei

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Phytoplasma (“Candidatus Phytoplasma” species) diseases have been reported globally to severely limit the productivity of a wide range of economically important crops and wild plants causing different yellows-type diseases. With new molecular detection techniques, several unknown and known diseases with uncertain etiologies or attributed to other pathogens have been identified as being caused by Phytoplasmas. In Africa, Phytoplasmas have been reported in association with diseases in a broad range of host plant species. However, the few reports of Phytoplasma occurrence in Africa have not been collated together to determine the status in different countries of the continent. Thus, this paper …

Probing Shielding Tensor Components Of Amino Acids Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Shiva Agarwal

Dissertations

Chirality is fundamental to terrestrial life. While most amino acids exist as nonsuperimposable mirror images, amino acids in terrestrial life are homochiral, with the L-enantiomer being ubiquitous. The detection of an excess of L-amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites suggests that extraterrestrial processes may have contributed to this enantiomeric excess (ee). One proposed mechanism, the magnetochiral model, provides a potential explanation for this phenomenon in stellar environments characterized by strong magnetic and electric fields and the presence of relativistic leptons. According to this model, subtle differences in the electronic environments of chiral amino acids under such conditions …

The Equal Protection-Fourth Amendment Shell Game: An Essay On The Limited Reach Of The 2023 Affirmative Action Cases, The Fourth Amendment, And Race Beyond Skin Color, David B. Owens

Articles

In striking down race-conscious admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the Supreme Court used lofty rhetoric about the importance of ending race discrimination, even calling the command of Equal Protection “universal.” In two ways, this Essay explores the legal and practical limits of the affirmative action cases and illustrates how the Court’s claimed concern about race discrimination rings hollow. First, this Essay discusses state actors permitted to use race in their decision-making: the police. Unlike elite universities whose policies are subject to exacting scrutiny, the Supreme Court permits police to use race when deciding whom to seize …

The Role Of Smart Actuarial Calculations In Improving The Quality Of Financial Reports Of The Iraqi Insurance Company, Zena Abdulstar Allayla, Waheed Mahmood Al-Ibrahimi

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The research aims to explore the role of actuarial calculations supported by artificial intelligence technologies (smart actuarial calculations) in enhancing the accuracy and quality of financial reporting. Companies face challenges related to the accuracy, transparency, and speed of preparing financial reports, necessitating innovative solutions based on smart technologies. The research analyzed the literature and employed an exploratory methodology to study the impact of smart actuarial calculations on the integrity of financial reports. The association between the application of artificial intelligence and professional standards and their impact on the performance of insurance companies and financial reporting practices was also examined. The …

The Impact Of Green Marketing On Sustainable Development: Opportunities And Issues, Anas Maaroof, Murat Dedeoğlu, Hasnaa Ahmed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

The current study aims to identify the impact of green marketing on sustainable development in Al-Reef Alkhadraa Company for producing green products. The study consists of two main variables: the independent variable includes green marketing, which consisted of four dimensions: eliminate the concept of waste, reuse the product concept, clarify the relationship between the product price and cost, and make environmental orientation profitable. The dependent variable represents sustainable development, whose dimensions consisted of environmental, social, and economic. According to (Maaroof  & Oğrak, 2024), at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the world witnessed a diverse movement by humans in general, …