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Minerals, Critical Minerals, And Strategic Minerals In Alaska: Challenges And Opportunities, Bob Loeffler, Brett Watson, Rebecca Van Wyck

ISER Reports

This report examines the challenges and opportunities involved in increasing Alaska’s role in the U.S. critical minerals industry. It describes how critical minerals are defined, and which of those have been mined today, have been mined in the past or are likely to be mined in the near future. It describes how market conditions and geology affect Alaska’s opportunities to increase critical mineral production. It also describes how Alaska’s benefits from critical mineral production are the same as those from any mineral production: jobs, income, and taxes. Finally, the report makes recommendations for expanding critical mineral production.

On Lethality: Toward A More Complete Definition And Formation Of The Lethality Framework, John M. Hinck, Robert S. Hinck, Jayson A. Altieri, David R. Jarnot

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues lethality should be conceptualized as a holistic and regenerative process in which adversarial militaries prepare for, adapt to, and sustain the application of force in conflict. Whereas the literature on lethality is widening to include the human war fighter, attempts to define and measure lethality have proven problematic—a struggle this article seeks to remedy. Drawing on historical, doctrinal, and interdisciplinary perspectives, the authors argue that lethality includes the capacity to kill and elements of learning and adaptation. The proposed lethality framework offers policy and military practitioners a model for assessing and operationalizing lethality in military education, leadership …

Using Rhizobia Seed Coatings And Soil Amendments To Combat Herbicide Toxicity For Native Legume Establishment, Ryan Matthew Glover

Theses and Dissertations

Dryland ecosystems face widespread degradation from historical mismanagement, climate change, and invasive species proliferation. Although herbicides effectively control invasive annual weeds, they often suppress the establishment of desirable perennial species, limiting restoration success. Legumes enhanced with rhizobia inoculants offer a promising approach to overcome these challenges by facilitating nitrogen fixation, improving soil microbial communities, and potentially mitigating herbicide stress. We conducted paired greenhouse and field experiments to evaluate whether rhizobia seed coatings improve the establishment of three legume species Astragalus cicer (Cicer Milkvetch), Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin), and Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), in soils treated with imazapic and glyphosate. In the greenhouse, …

Trauma-Informed Training And Practices For Elementary School Lunchroom Supervisors, Heather C. Kostohryz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

School lunchrooms often see behavior disruptions at a higher rate than other areas within a school. Of the numerous reasons as to why, the inadequate training of those who supervise the lunchroom can be remedied easier than other factors (Wheatley et al., 2009). Over the past ten years a growing recommendation is for all staff to be included in school-wide behavior management and training, and that the training be focused on trauma-informed practices as a way to aid all students (Nealy-Oparah & Scruggs-Hussein, 2018). As 68% of children will experience some form of trauma during childhood, it stands to reason …

Effect Of Phishing Awareness Training On User Behavior In A West African Healthcare Organization, Vincent N. Nkrumah

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Phishing, a social engineering technique, is a widespread cybersecurity threat that impacts organizations in the United States and abroad. In a phishing attack, the victim is compelled through psychological pressure such as urgency and curiosity, to perform an action that benefits the attacker such as, clicking a link to download malicious software or to divulge the victim’s sensitive information. Successful phishing attacks cost US organizations billions of US dollars.This study carried out at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana, Accra, assessed how phishing awareness training affects employee behavior in targeted phishing attacks.

The research design was quasi-experimental, and it involved 25 …

Towards Science-Based Quantitative Conservation Management Plan Add-Ons For All Alaskan Squirrel Species: Current And Future Distributions, Conservation Management, Contaminant Exposure, And Their Role In Alaska Native Communities, Moriz Steiner

Biological Sciences

Squirrels are widespread in Alaska, yet a science-based conservation management plan (CMP) is absent at the state level. Squirrels are killed year-round with no bag limits, while population metrics remain unknown and conservation statuses disputed. This thesis proposes modern tools and approaches as addons for long-term, sustainable, holistic CMPs for all Alaskan squirrel species in a changing climate. Chapter 1 provides an overview of squirrels' current roles and uses in Alaska alongside existing management practices and regulations. Chapters 2 and 3 conduct thorough conservation assessments by analyzing and predicting current and future distributions of squirrel species across Alaska and a …

Lindenwood Digest, December 17, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The December 17, 2025, edition of the Lindenwood University Employee Digest provides essential year-end updates and preparation instructions for the upcoming winter break. Key highlights include:

• Campus Operations: Instructions for winterizing workspaces include setting thermostats to 67 degrees and ensuring all electronics are powered down. Updated winter break hours are provided for campus facilities such as the Evans Rec Center and Library Services.

• Upcoming Programs: The Lindenwood Learning Academy has opened registration for Spring 2026 Teaching Squares and Professional Learning Communities, with a sign-up deadline of January 14, 2026.

• Community News: The Communications team announced a new monthly newsletter for …

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Dnp Final Report: Hypertension Education In The Primary Care Setting, Michelle L. Sanders

DNP Final Reports

Background: Hypertension is a significant concern at the global, national, and local levels. If left untreated or improperly managed, it can result in severe health issues. Many patients in primary care settings have difficulty controlling their hypertension, which can lead to significant complications.

Practice question: What strategies can be implemented to help patients in primary care manage their hypertension more effectively?

PICOT: For patients age 18+ in a rural primary care clinic (P), how does the use of an education pamphlet (I) compared to no pamphlet use (C) affect patient management of hypertension(O) in three months? (T)

Body of …

Microbial Communities Of Selected Regions Of The Deep Springs Lake Aquifer System, Rania Zaki, Emma Bourne, Andrew Storino, Jay Nadeau

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Deep Springs Lake is a small, isolated, highly alkaline soda lake in Inyo County of Eastern California, USA. It is a seasonally filled salt lake or playa, and is part of a closed aquifer system. Such closed systems are globally rare, occurring only in arid zones where annual evaporation is greater than annual rainfall. Deep Springs Lake’s hydrology and geology have been well studied, and it is home to a unique toad species, but its microbiome remains unexplored. Here we perform 16S, 18S, and ITS amplicon sequencing of the lake water, dried salt crust at the edges the lake, and …

Beyond The Standard: A Sociolectal And Probabilistic Turn In Philippine English Phonology, Teri An Joy G. Magpale

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This article advocates for probabilistic approaches as a key framework for understanding Philippine English (PhE) phonology, arguing that they reveal socially conditioned variation that traditional descriptive models overlook. Tracing five decades of research, it critiques early standardization efforts and studies centered on scripted speech and elite norms, and highlights the sociolectal turn initiated by Tayao (2004). The discussion foregrounds recent methods that combine instrumental phonetics with constraint-based frameworks, including Optimality Theory (OT) and Maximum Entropy grammar (MaxEnt), to model gradient variation across acrolectal, mesolectal, and basilectal speakers. By synthesizing findings on segmental features, phonotactic patterns, and speech rhythm, the article …

Top-Ranking Grammatical Keyword In Hong Kong English, Chi Wui Ng

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

Most grammar research of Hong Kong English has been conducted from perspectives of error analysis and interlanguage studies. The present corpus-based study investigates the top-ranking grammatical keyword in Hong Kong English in relation to other English varieties to identify one-of-a-kind morphosyntactic attributes of Hong Kong English systematically. The grammatical keyword with the highest keyness in the Hong Kong component of the International Corpus of English was identified through comparison with a reference corpus comprising six other components of the corpus with the corpus analysis software WordSmith 5.0. The modal auxiliary verb “will” was identified as the top-ranking grammatical keyword in …

The Relationship Between K-12 Public School Funding, Per Pupil Expenditures, And Student Achievement, Regina R. Frazier-Bagley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public school district leaders are challenged with funding K-12 education that creates the desired student academic performance. Grounded in student-based budgeting theory, this quantitative ex post facto study aimed to investigate the relationship between K–12 public school funding, per-pupil expenditures, student achievement, and graduation rates in Georgia. The study included secondary data from 51 North Georgia public school districts for the 2018–2019 school year. Multiple regression analysis was completed to examine the relationship between the independent variables—state funding, per-pupil expenditures, and academic achievement in math, science, and language arts—and the dependent variable: graduation rates. The results of the analysis were …

Employees’ Perceptions Of Leaders’ Diversity Training For Supporting Organizational Equity, Michelle L. Burchfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite growing organizational attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion, some workplaces continued to struggle with embedding equitable practices. The research problem addressed in this study focused on understanding how employees perceived leaders’ diversity training and its effectiveness in supporting organizational equity. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore employees’ perspectives of leadership diversity training and its role in supporting organizational equity. Behavioral leadership theory and critical race theory grounded this study. The participants consisted of 10 employees with experience in leadership diversity training in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Seven most …

Reducing The Use Of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents In Hemodialysis Patients, Myriamme Neree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a quality improvement (QI) initiative. Nephrologists were inconsistent in ordering iron studies and sometimes delayed the initiation of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) on admission to the inpatient site. These delays often led to suboptimal outcomes. The practice-focused question guiding the project asked whether a nurse-driven iron protocol would improve adherence to anemia management guidelines. The project’s purpose was to evaluate the impact of the evidence-based nurse-driven protocol. I used descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. Findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the timely completion of iron studies and in intravenous (IV) iron …

A Hybrid Deterrence Model For Countering China, Lucas Ziller

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the United States deterrence-by-denial strategy is insufficient to deter China from attempting forcible unification with Taiwan, due to its neglect of ideological and psychological drivers in the Chinese Communist Party’s decision-making calculus. Unlike existing military-centric models, it introduces a hybrid deterrence framework that integrates denial and punishment across domains, coordinated by a Joint Interagency Organization. The article offers a practical model for deterring ideologically motivated adversaries through synchronized, multidomain planning based on coercion theory, behavioral deterrence literature, and strategic documents from US and Chinese sources.

Parameters Winter 2025-26, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Winter 2025–26 issue of Parameters. We open with an In Focus commentary: “Responsibly Pursuing Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) for the War Fighter” by A. Blair Wilcox and C. Anthony Pfaff. The issue also features two forums (Indo-Pacific Deterrence and Considerations for Modern Warfare) and the inaugural Strategic Competition Corner.

Security Implications Of The China-Russia-North Korea Triangle, Brian G. Carlson

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article analyzes the evolving strategic dynamics within the China-Russia-North Korea triangle and their implications for global security. It argues that while the strengthened Russia–North Korea relationship poses risks for China’s global strategy and its major economic partnerships, for now, China also derives some benefits from these close ties and considers the risks to be manageable. Drawing on recent diplomatic developments, military cooperation, and regional responses, the article offers a nuanced assessment of how this alignment affects European and Indo-Pacific theaters. The analysis provides US policymakers with insight into the risks of opportunistic aggression and the strategic calculations driving these …

Responsibly Pursuing Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) For The War Fighter, A. Blair Wilcox, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This special commentary argues that the US Army must adopt a sober and methodical approach to integrating GenAI into military decision-making processes. Drawing parallels to the historical introduction of tanks and airplanes, the authors caution against both underutilizing the technology and being misled by oversold capabilities. Using the GenAI system Donovan as a case study, the commentary highlights critical deficits in current systems, such as a lack of computational and geospatial reasoning and points to procurement challenges that hinder improvement. The authors contend that simply using GenAI to speed up legacy processes will waste its potential. Instead, they advocate for …

China’S Securitization Of Agricultural Imports: A Case Of Economic Statecraft Mixed Successes, Gustavo Ferreira, Bert Cramer

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the People’s Republic of China’s agricultural import diversification from 1995–2023 reflects a strategic effort to reduce reliance on US and allied suppliers while prioritizing national food security. Unlike prior studies focused on production or consumption, this analysis centers on trade patterns of high-value, strategically critical commodities. Using trade data and policy documents, it assesses shifts in supplier dependency, notably toward Brazil. This research offers policy and military practitioners insights into how food security intersects with economic statecraft, revealing vulnerabilities and strategic choices in global supply chains relevant to deterrence and resilience planning.

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Recruitment, Retention, And Retirement Plan Structure: Evidence From Teachers, Noah Burke, Brock Wilson

ISER Reports

In 2006, the State of Alaska closed its defined benefit retirement plan and required all newly hired public education employees—mostly teachers—to join a defined contribution plan. This paper examines whether that change in pension structure affected recruitment or retention in Alaska’s public education workforce.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals And Adrenal Gland​, Gülay Şi̇mşek Bağir, Melek Eda Ertörer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that have hormone-like effects inside the body. Endocrine disruptors can affect adrenal glands in humans and animals. Adrenocortical dysfunction related to chemical exposure has been reported in the literature.The human adrenal gland is crucial for the synthesis of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens) and amino acid-derived hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine). All steps in the adrenocortical steroidogenesis pathway are potential targets for chemical inhibition, including the adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, mitochondrial cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP11A1, CYP17, CYP21, CYP11B1, and CYP11B2), and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase D4,5 isomerase. EDCs either inhibit the …

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals In Metabolic Bone Diseases, Including Osteoporosis, Betül Gündüz, Eli̇f Kiliç Kan, Ayşegül Atmaca

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances widely utilized across various industrial sectors. Due to their structural similarity to natural ligands, they bind to receptors and influence the endocrine system via agonist–antagonist mechanisms. Exposure occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and water, inhalation of polluted air and dust, and dermal contact. Owing to their dynamic remodeling capacity, bones represent potential targets for endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These chemicals can disrupt bone formation, skeletal development, hormonal regulation, and calcium metabolism. Sensitivity to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is greatest during the prenatal and early postnatal periods. This review summarizes the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on bone tissue.

Targeting Pancreatic Cancer With Rapamycin-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated To Egf Peptide: Studies On Cytotoxicity And Uptake Mechanisms Aided By Proteomic Analysis, Adeolu Oluremi

Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with a five-year survival rate below 5%. While rapamycin (Rap) has demonstrated therapeutic potential, its clinical utility is hampered by systemic toxicity. To address this limitation, this study developed a targeted nanocarrier system using gold nanospheres (AuNPs) functionalized with the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) peptide GE11 for the specific delivery of Rap to pancreatic cancer cells. It is to note that pancreatic cancer overexpresses EGFR. The AuNP–GE11–Rap conjugates were successfully synthesized and characterized using physico-chemical techniques, which confirmed peptide conjugation and drug loading. In vitro studies using PANC-1 cells demonstrated …

Effects Of Pamam Dendrimer Size On Antimicrobial Activity For Acne Treatment, Elise M. Inae

Honors Theses

This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of G1, G2, and G3-Hex-NH2 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with an emphasis on how dendrimer size influenced their efficacy against C. acnes and S. epidermidis. Dendrimers are nano-sized, radially symmetric polymers composed of highly branched units that extend out from a central core. Dendrimers are known to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the lipid bilayer and causing membrane damage. This study explored their effect on a different group of microorganisms–Gram-positive skin flora. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion tests were performed to evaluate minimum inhibitory concentrations for each dendrimer solution. All generations of PAMAM dendrimers …

Urinothorax And Empyema: Presentation Of An Unusual Complication Of A Rare Condition, Nolan Fox, Nicholas Fox, Shourjo Chakravorty, Neeraj Sinha

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

A 68-year-old male with a history of metastatic bladder cancer and urinary obstruction presented with intractable hiccups and chest pain is presented in this case. He was found to have a unilateral pleural effusion in addition to ipsilateral renal metastasis abutting the diaphragm. Imaging revealed empyema. Thoracentesis revealed positive cultures and a lack of malignant cells on cytology. Comorbid urinary obstruction and urinary tract infection suggested the rare diagnosis of an infected urinothorax. Thoracentesis also revealed pleural fluid creatinine greater than serum creatinine, meeting the most specific diagnostic criteria for urinothorax and establishing the diagnosis. Treatment aimed at evacuating the …

Secondary Education Teachers’ Perspectives On School-Based Mental Health Resources, Madison Rose Litterell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately one in six youth ages 6 to 17 years old in the United States have a mental health disorder, such as depression and anxiety. Out of the 119,000 youth in Michigan in that age group, roughly 57.8% are not receiving proper mental health support services. Students are at school for a large majority of their day, so it is important that they have access to school-based services. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the perceptions of secondary education teachers in Wayne County, Michigan, on school-based mental health support services. Using the community level and the …

Unmasking Oral Health Stigma: A Qualitative Scoping Review, J Doughty, J Booth, M Smith, K Saini, M Paisi, A Rodriguez, A Levine, C Bedos, V Muirhead, C Martins De Barros, C Freeborn

Peninsula Dental School

INTRODUCTION: Health-related stigma can limit access to care, impair adherence to treatment, and negatively impact mental health and quality-of-life. Oral health stigma, defined as stigma arising from oral conditions that diverge from sociocultural norms, operates through labelling, stereotyping, othering, and exclusion. Oral health stigma can lead to shame, diminished self-confidence, and avoidance of dental care, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poor oral health and reinforcing internalised and anticipated stigma. While previous research has explored the social implications of oral appearance, little is known about the broader concept of oral health stigma or strategies to mitigate it.

METHODS: This scoping review …

A Review Of Global Tidal Stream Energy Resources, Daniel S. Coles, Thomas A.A. Adcock, Andrew Cornett, Kevin Haas, Chul H. Jo, Hongwei Liu, Jon Miles, Patxi Garcia Novo, Jérôme Thiébot

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This review identifies 426 candidate sites with potentially suitable characteristics for tidal stream energy development, across 19 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia. The most common site assessment quantifies the theoretical resource, which is the maximum amount of total energy that can be extracted. The aggregated theoretical resource estimate, of 1000 TWh/year, from 262 sites (62% of those identified), across 6 countries, is equivalent to 115 GW of continuous annual power. A more informative, albeit less common assessment, considers technical, environmental and economic constraints on energy extraction. New data from UK assessments is presented that indicates relationships between …