Digital Commons Network^™

Taking Terrorism On The Road: American Isis Supporters And The Decision Whether To Travel Or Stay Home, Callie Vitro, Camden Carmichael, Seamus Hughes, Austin C. Doctor

Reports, Projects, and Research

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a transnational Salafi-jihadist terrorist group, designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State. In 2019, ISIS was driven out of Syria as conventional force, marking an official end of nearly five years of its self-described territorial caliphate. Despite the group’s territorial losses, homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) acting in support of ISIS within the United States have continued to pose a significant threat. These individuals generally face two options, each presenting distinct challenges for prevention and response: some HVEs attempt to travel to the Islamic State and …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Of Blood Proteome In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Yang Li, Aditya Surapaneni, Zulema Rodriguez-Hernandez, Pascal Schlosser, Eugene P Rhee, Eric Boerwinkle, Bing Yu, Megan L Grove, Kelly V Ruggles, Josef Coresh, Morgan Grams

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Characterizing the relationship between DNA methylation and circulating proteins is critical to understanding the epigenetic regulation of the human plasma proteome. Here, we performed an epigenome-wide association study of 5,032 circulating proteins in 1,449 White and 315 Black participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort. We identified 12,500 significant protein quantitative trait methylation (pQTM)-protein associations involving 1,647 proteins. Among 7,796 unique pQTMs, 14.7% were classified as cis-pQTMs, which were enriched for fundamental cellular processes, whereas trans-pQTMs were predominantly linked to immune-related functions. Trans-pQTMs also exhibited stronger associations with demographic, lifestyle, and clinical traits as compared with cis-pQTMs. We identified …

Identifying Factors Influencing Nurses' Decision To Remain In The Clinical Setting, Shoug Alsobhi, Soud Sbehat, Naomi Tuifao

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: The healthcare industry, especially in clinical settings, is heavily reliant on the availability of skilled nursing professionals. Despite the increasing demand for nurses, many clinical settings face challenges related to nurse retention. High turnover rates not only affect the quality of care but also result in financial and operational inefficiencies for healthcare institutions. Understanding the factors that influence a nurse’s decision to remain in the clinical setting is critical to addressing these issues and improving retention strategies.

Aim: The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the key factors influencing nurses' decisions to remain in the clinical …

Bridging Libraries And Classrooms: Co-Teaching For Student Success, Joy Urbina, Isabel Baca

Librarian Conference Presentations

An instructional librarian and writing professor describe their collaborative approach to co-teaching. Learn how integrating information literacy with writing instruction strengthens students' critical thinking and research skills and discover practical strategies from this successful cross-disciplinary partnership.

Exploring Healthcare Career Pathways: Survey Findings From The Unmc High School Alliance Program, Jana L. Wardian Phd, Rachael Jaixen, Jaynie Bird, Heidi Kaschke

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

The ongoing demand for a well-prepared and adequately staffed healthcare workforce in the United States highlights the value of effective educational pipeline programs. The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) High School Alliance (HSA) was created as an immersive, academic enrichment initiative to expose motivated high school students from a range of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds to health professions, with the long-term aim of strengthening the healthcare workforce in Nebraska. This article evaluates the design, curriculum, and measurable impact of the UNMC HSA over its 16-year history. Students participate daily throughout the school year, engaging in courses such as patient …

Open Science In Fp10 & Open Science And Research Assessment, Daniel Spichtinger, Eva Casamitjana, Lindsay Dowling, Cem Birol

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This report summarizes the 3rd Open Science EARMA Thematic Group event, held in Brussels on October 20-21, 2025. The event focused on the strategic direction of Open Science (OS) for the upcoming FP10 Framework Programme and the reform of research assessment.
Day 1: Open Science in FP10Discussions centered on a roadmap for FP10 based on six priorities, including balancing openness with research security, incentivizing OS through Responsible Research Assessment, and fostering global equity. Key themes included:Security and Openness: Participants discussed transitioning toward an "as open as possible, as secure as possible" model, emphasizing the need for evidence-based risk assessment rather …

Battlefield Uncertainties And The Use Of Ai, Tsvetelina Van Benthem

International Law Studies

This article explores the relationship between uncertainty in armed conflict, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and the content of international law. It first provides a review of different types of conflict-related uncertainty, both internal to the party to conflict and external, and considers the interaction between these existing uncertainties and the use of AI. In so doing, it also explores the new uncertainties that can be introduced through AI. Second, it analyzes national submissions on military uses of AI and autonomous weapons to outline the uncertainties raised by States and their relevance for regulatory approaches to the use of …

Law School News: Roger Williams University School Of Law Receives Historic $4 Million Gift From Mark Mandell To Establish Premier Trial Advocacy Center 4-9-2026, Hillary Lima, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Finding Belonging In A Religious Dominant Society: Religion Among African Migrants In Türkiye, Garrett L. Wride, Stacey A. Shaw

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

As global migration increases each year, so does the need to understand the crossroads between inclusion, wellbeing, and religion. The experience of African migrants living in Türkiye presents itself as a unique case to study migrant wellbeing. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study shows that African migrants in Türkiye belonging to the religious minority have lower scores of wellbeing and social support. Findings point to the need for policy makers and mental health practitioners to ensure migrants can access their religious communities.

Choice-Aya: Adapting An Evidence-Based Contraceptive Counseling Intervention For Adolescents And Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness., Mariah E. Brewe, Anna Burns, Nikolaus Schuetz, Taylor Stephens, Emma Francis, Haylie Yost, Stephani L. Stancil

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) experiencing homelessness face an increased risk of reproductive violence, unintended pregnancy, and barriers accessing healthcare. While interventions focused on efficacy-first contraceptive counseling are successful at increasing rates of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) use, little is known about how an efficacy-first approach is received by AYA experiencing homelessness given unique factors associated with their reproductive health care. We aimed to adapt the evidence-based CHOICE contraceptive counseling approach for AYA experiencing homelessness.

METHODS: Focus groups discussion with AYA experiencing homelessness were conducted to understand prior reproductive health care experiences and contraception counseling preferences, comparing efficacy first …

The Role Of Mentorship: The Lived Experience Of Black Women In Higher Education Leadership, Joseph Fahrney

JWU Dissertations & Theses

The persistent underrepresentation of Black women in higher education leadership raises important questions about how institutional environments shape leadership advancement, belonging, and sustainability. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the role of mentorship in the lived experiences of Black women leaders in higher education in shaping leadership trajectories, professional development, and institutional engagement. Participants included senior leaders serving in roles such as president, vice president, chief officer, and other executive administrative positions across higher education institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants (N=17), generating narrative data reflecting their experiences navigating leadership environments and mentorship relationships. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis …

Organizing To Engage: A Framework For Conflict Strategy, Paul Mason Carpenter

Dissertations

Conflict strategy can be exceedingly complex. While many of the basics are simple, even the simple can be highly complicated to execute. The Schlieffen Plan in World War I appeared straight forward, but execution was a great deal more complex. It failed and the result was years of trench warfare.  In addition, leaders entering conflict may not fully appreciate the full context, its effect, and the need for a long term result--a better state of peace.

Strategy and tactics may be challenging to transform as an engagement evolves. In addition, strategists must often commit to courses of action within very …

Workforce Dynamics In Michigan’S Upper Peninsula: Trends, Shocks, And Projections Through 2030, Iryna V. Lendel, Chloe Wieber, Sevrin Williams, Gerrit Anderson, Lee Adams

Upjohn Institute Technical Reports

This report examines the economic and workforce dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) through 2030, highlighting the region’s ongoing transition during population decline, workforce aging, and structural labor shortages. Despite these pressures, the U.P.’s labor force remains relatively stable due to increased participation among older workers, partially offsetting declines in prime-age cohorts. The region’s economy is highly specialized, with strong concentrations in extraction, construction, and production industries—sectors that offer high wages but are vulnerable to cyclical economic downturns.

Using a combination of demographic analysis, occupational data, and industry projections, the study identifies significant skill overlap across key industries, suggesting potential …

Workforce Dynamics In Michigan's Upper Peninsula: Trends, Shocks, And Projections Through 2030, Iryna V. Lendel

Presentations

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is navigating a complex economic transition shaped by demographic change, workforce aging, and sectoral concentration. While the region has experienced long-term population decline, its labor force has remained stable due to rising participation among older workers. At the same time, the U.P.’s economy remains highly concentrated in extraction, construction, and production industries. These industries offer strong wages but are sensitive to economic cycles.

This presentation highlights key findings on workforce structure, industry specialization, and the region’s capacity to respond to potential shocks, including major employer closures. Evidence shows substantial skill overlap across industries, creating opportunities for worker …

April 9, 2026, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, April 9, 2026, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Essays On Impact Investing And Sovereign Wealth Funds, Joy Namhee Wilkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This dissertation examines how impact investment capital is allocated and structured, focusing on geographic targeting, investor heterogeneity, and the participation of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). The first essay investigates the geographic determinants of impact investments, assessing whether they flow to communities with lower economic connectedness—a proxy for economic mobility. It further explores how the location and type of co-investors influence investment characteristics, investor monitoring, and exit outcomes, shedding light on how traditional and impact investors interact and shape investment outcomes. The second essay examines the role of SWFs in impact investing. It analyzes the channels through which SWFs deploy impact …

Development And Application Of A Multiplex Bead-Based Platform For Quantifying Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions, Larah Gorayeb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Host-pathogen protein-protein interactions are the key drivers of infectious diseases, where events such as pathogen adhesion and signaling are directly associated with disease severity. One example of this is Malaria, in which the Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes adhere to endothelial receptors to avoid splenic clearance. This study investigated interactions between PfEMP1 CIDR1 field domains and host receptor CD36 using a multiplex platform to quantitatively determine binding affinities. Variants RP18 and RP27 exhibited strong affinity, suggesting a role in cytoadherence and disease severity. To evaluate broader applicability, the platform was expanded to the interaction between host protein SIVA1 and Helicobacter pylori …

Hands-On Learning And Design Thinking In Secondary Design And Technology Education, Carol K. Puddicombe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Design and Technology (D&T) education occupies a distinctive position within the secondary curriculum through its historical emphasis on designing, making, and evaluating tangible artefacts. Drawing on a doctoral study, this article examines how the secondary school experiences of ten pre-service D&T teachers in Western Australia shaped their engagement with the subject. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, data were generated through in-depth interviews. Analysis revealed three interrelated themes: the power of practical engagement, experiences of success in the workshop, and limitations in opportunities for explicit design thinking. Findings indicate that hands-on, workshop-based learning played an important role in fostering confidence, motivation, and …

April 9, 2026, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

How Trevor Yocum Is Preserving Kansas History, April 09, 2026, Tisa Mason Ed.D.

Heart of a Tiger Columns

No abstract provided.

Kenyon Collegian - April 9, 2026

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Anomaly Detection Methods On Event-Based Vision Sensor Data In A High Noise Environment, Will Johnston, Anthony L. Franz, Shannon R. Young, Rachel Oliver, Zachary Theis, Brian Mcreynolds, Michael L. Dexter

Faculty Publications

Event-based vision sensors (EVSs) provide unique frequency analysis opportunities due to their event data output and high temporal resolution. Anomaly detection methods used in hyperspectral analysis can be used on the event frequency spectra to detect targets. However, the introduction of a strong, flickering interfering source can reduce the EVS sensitivity and obscure targets of interest. Previous work presented a method showing that targets could still be detected through an overwhelming source using frequency analysis, background suppression, and statistical filtering. This paper extends that research and compares the ability of five different eigenanalysis anomaly detection methods (principal component background suppression …

Narrative Strategies In Presidential Environmental Policymaking: An Examination Of The Executive Impacts Of Presidential Narratives, Gorgin Mansourian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this dissertation, I examine how U.S. presidents employ narrative strategies to shape environmental policymaking through both rhetorical and institutional mechanisms. Specifically, I investigate how Presidents Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden constructed, communicated, and institutionalized environmental narratives during their first terms, highlighting the relationship between presidential narratives and executive orders. Using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and Richard Neustadt’s Presidential Power Theory (PPT), this study conceptualizes presidential narratives as both rhetorical tools and instruments of persuasion within institutional contexts. This synthesis advances the NPF by highlighting the role of institutional positions on narrative credibility, by emphasizing the roles …

Female Indentured Servants And The Law In The Colonial Chesapeake, Jennifer Daniel Corbitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Abstract In colonial Virginia and Maryland, indentured servants were the primary engine of the colony's economy. In theory, the temporary exchange of labor for passage and potential social mobility offered women and men a similar opportunity to rise above their original station. However, the historical research of the past few decades has revealed that women had a distinctly different experience with the law than men. This thesis will argue that colonial law defined a particular and punitive form of servitude for white indentured women, viewing them as reproductive liabilities rather than as purely in economic assets. While The author has …

The Line Goes Up, Wilson Timothy Whitlock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The Line Goes Up is about anxiety of the contemporary condition my generation and future one faces in America in the current moment. The work that I make is a direct response to the reality in which my generation and many others experience the contemporary condition of the United States of America. Creating exaggerated snapshots based on mundane real-world locations and twisting them into nightmarish and uncomfortable versions. Americans are still going about their lives like nothing is wrong despite incredibly overwhelming upheavals in our lives. Inflation has risen 37% on all food since 2017, while the federal minimum wage …

Basket Flower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Kellie Webb, Melanie Stock, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Basket flower is a versatile and visually striking plant valued by florists and gardeners alike for its unique texture, ease of cultivation, and environmental benefits. The large, fringed blooms in shades of pink, lavender, and creamy white add elegance and texture to floral arrangements, harmonizing well with other flowers and greenery. As a reliable mid-season, low-water annual, this crop thrives across soil types with minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for U.S. Intermountain West growers. Moreover, its ability to attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, enhances its ecological value, while its resistance to pests and diseases further contributes …

Gomphrena Cut Flower Production In Utah, Kellie Webb, Melanie Stock, Cheyenne Reid, Victoria Xiong, Benjamin Scow, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Gomphrena, also known as globe amaranth, is a full-sun annual with clover-like, papery blooms. Plants thrive in the heat and prefer drier soils once established, making this crop a water-wise choice for Utah cut flower production. Blooms range from soft to fluorescent pink, white, orange, lilac, and red. Gomphrena is especially useful in detailed design work, such as boutonnieres and corsages, as the blooms do well out of water. Gomphrena is also an exceptional flower for drying. The versatility of selling gomphrena as both a fresh and dried cut flower increases its value for Utah growers. Grown primarily for field …

Strawflower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Melanie Stock, Ali Harrison, Lorin Harrison, Cheyenne Reid, Victoria Xiong, Benjamin Scow, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Strawflower is a cut-and-come again, full-sun annual that performs well with reduced irrigation. Often called the “everlasting flower” and “paper flower,” the dry, daisy-like blooms range from earthy salmon and terracotta to white and dusky blush tones. Strawflower adds texture to floral design, and the diverse color palette is attractive to florists. This cut flower is also exceptional for drying, as it is nearly dried in the field when ready for harvest. The non-fussy growth, low resource use, branching habit, and easy harvest make strawflower an excellent field crop in the U.S. Intermountain West, though expected yields may be lower …

Spartan Daily, April 9, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 166, Issue 31