Digital Commons Network^™

Reshaping Library Programming For Graduate Students Through Strategic Partnerships And Adaptation, Brian Vetruba, Caroyn Bishoff, Kate Peterson

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

In the wake of Covid-19, support structures dedicated to graduate student success at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMN) underwent dramatic shifts. Centralized in-person events for graduate students were discontinued, departmental identities strengthened, and library outreach responsibilities were reshaped by institutional changes, including a reduction of library staff. This panel examines how academic libraries can adapt and innovate with decreased capacity to meet the diverse needs of graduate students. Panelists will share strategies for expanding campus partnerships and sustaining and scaling initiatives that equip graduate students – especially first-year, international, and BIPOC students – with essential research skills and …

Ai-Supported Reflective Practice: Redesigning Teacher Education Courses For Critical Ai Integration, Nabat Erdogan

Essays in Education

This article proposes AI-Supported Reflective Practice, a design framework that positions generative AI as a secondary evaluator and reflective partner in a graduate-level online ELL assessment course. Drawing on two redesigned assignments, an ELL writing evaluation and an assessment critique, the framework asks teacher candidates first to conduct independent analyses, then to elicit, compare, and critically interrogate AI-generated evaluations. These designs aim to cultivate critical AI literacy, professional judgment, and equity-centered interpretation, particularly for multilingual learners. The article discusses emerging benefits, challenges, and program-level implications, arguing that embedding AI within authentic disciplinary tasks can deepen, rather than erode, candidates’ ethical …

Teacher Shortages Are Not Myths But Misinformed: A Review, Marissa R. Bamberger, Benjamin Creed

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Background

The United States has faced teacher shortages for decades with the consequence being under-qualified individuals hired as teachers who negatively impact the education of many students, especially those students who are most disadvantaged. Recently, the media has increasingly covered teacher shortages with claims that the teacher shortage is overblown or a myth.

Purpose

Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is to examine the academic and popular media articles published on this supposed teacher shortage myth to determine (1) the conditions that contribute to the endorsement of a teacher shortage myth and (2) the faulty arguments that support the …

Changing Mercy In Aotearoa New Zealand, Anna Nicholls Victoria University Of Wellington

Journal of Global Catholicism

This paper examines the evolving expression of Catholicity within the Mercy organization in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the impact of Vatican II, demographic shifts, and societal changes. Through interviews with lay leaders in Whānau Mercy Ministries, the religiosity, inclusive approach, and the tension between traditional Catholic identity and pluralism in the organization are explored. A pertinent discussion concerns how the organization uses a more secular portrayal of Catherine McAuley as a unifying figure for the religiously diverse audience. The author argues that while secularization influences the organization, it fosters human flourishing and community engagement, offering opportunities for growth rather …

Ancestral Rites And Tablets As A Site Of Contestation Between Confucian Filial Piety And Catholicism: The Cases Of Chinese Confucian Yan Mo And Korean Catholic Yun Ji-Chung, Mideum Hong

Journal of Global Catholicism

This essay examines how the Confucian practice of filial piety, particularly as expressed through ancestral rites and tablets, became a focal point of contention in the encounters between Confucianism and Catholicism. Focusing on the cases of the Chinese Catholic Yan Mo and the Korean Catholic martyr Yun Ji-chung, I argue that the different historical and cultural contexts in China and Korea significantly shaped how each figure understood and responded to the practice of ancestral rites. While Catholicism spread globally, local converts developed distinct theological interpretations rooted in their respective cultural traditions. Although Yan Mo and Yun Ji-chung reached divergent conclusions …

Opening And Closing Doors: Internationalism In The Norbertine Missions To Settler And Indigenous Populations In Wisconsin, Alex Gruber

Journal of Global Catholicism

In this essay, I argue that the Premonstratensian or Norbertine Order located in Berne Abbey in the Netherlands responded strongly to a call for international ministry by going to northeast Wisconsin for Walloon settlers from Belgium and their descendants in 1893. However, these priests and brothers fell much farther short of internationalism in the mission to the Oneida Nation reservation they received in 1898. I will make my case by detailing these two missions and analyzing how the Norbertines acknowledged their international nature and practiced or failed to practice internationalism in them. Diving into the mission histories requires discussion of …

The Paradox Of Appropriation: A History Of Media Technology And Propaganda In Rwanda, 1900–1964, Claudia Brown

Journal of Global Catholicism

Scholars of the 1994 Rwandan genocide agree that media technology and propaganda played a role in mobilizing ordinary Rwandans in 1994 to commit genocide. Underappreciated in these inquiries is the history of the introduction of media technology and propaganda in Rwandan society by missionaries, technologies Rwandans later appropriated and applied to a pursuit of self-determination, but also in support of perpetrating genocide. A close examination of the social and political context of Rwanda’s colonial era and Catholic evangelism reveals a variety of motives for adopting propaganda as a strategy for evangelizing and rallying support for decolonization. This article casts light …

The Untameability Of The Sacred: Votive Traditions At Notre Dame De Lourdes And El Santuario De Chimayó, Gabrielle Bibeau

Journal of Global Catholicism

This article compares divergent votive practices at Notre Dame de Lourdes in France and El Santuario de Chimayó in New Mexico. Lourdes’ embrace of modern aesthetic values—simplicity, order, and functional clarity—has led to the removal and tight regulation of most ex-votos. By contrast, Chimayó’s roots in Latin American Baroque aesthetics, with its emphasis on abundance, drama, and hybridity, create space for a vibrant proliferation of offerings. Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s theory of aesthetics and politics as the “distribution of the sensible,” the article shows how aesthetic judgments intertwine with clerical power to curate, constrain, and authorize pilgrims’ access to the …

“Enslavement By Unbridled Passions:” Catholic Magisterial Institutional Attitudes Toward Homosexuals In Poland Between 1945 And 1989, Agnieszka Laddach

Journal of Global Catholicism

During Communism, the Polish bishops presented a narrative about (homo)sexuality with in order to create the image of a righteous moral and social life that was to influence the Catholics. In my research I conduced a thematic analysis of this narrative. I highlight the doctrinal and Polish social-religious context to foreground tendencies in the formation of Church teaching about homosexuality as well as the importance of the Church in Poland to its formation. Then, I show the factors that characterize the episcopal discourse’s content and language about homosexuality, recognizing that components of episcopal discourse suggest a specificity of Church potential …

Overview & Acknowledgments, Mathew Schmalz

Journal of Global Catholicism

This Introduction overviews the work of contributors from the Graduate Symposium sponsored by the Journal of Global Catholicism and the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture.  The Introduction also highlights the independent peer reviewed submission from Dr. Agnieszka Laddach of the University of Warsaw.

Recalibrating Library Research Support Workshops For Graduate Students: Addressing Skill-Gaps Through Targeted, Collaborative Workshop Design, Ekaterini Papadopoulou, Jason B. Hall

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Creating library support for graduate services can and should take many forms to meet the specific and varied needs of the student populations and graduate programs at any given institution. However, there are often common threads and needs that can be met through some carefully targeted centralized library services. We will present our approach to providing a suite of workshops that provide skills and transferable knowledge across multiple graduate student needs at our institution, where the majority of graduate students are pursuing professional graduate degrees.

Three challenges that we aimed to address with our workshop series:

A perception that library …

Literacy And Equity: Exploring Teachers’ Lived Experiences Of Georgia Black Boys’ Difficulties With Reading Comprehension And Word Recognition, Roselle M. Caruth

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data shows that since 1992, Black male students in Georgia’s fourth through eighth grades have consistently scored low on reading assessments (The Nation’s Report Card, 2022c). Low reading achievement contributes to a persistent underachievement gap for Black boys, leading to unfavorable academic outcomes such as difficulty in phonological processing, limited fluency and comprehension, slow development of linguistic skills, lower proficiency in basic reading, and higher rates of high school dropout (Russell & Drake Shiffler, 2019; Tatum, 2024a; Washington et al., 2019). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how teachers …

Day 1 Login And Welcome, Wendy Doucette

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

History and highlights of the TLGS (Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students) Conference

The Ai Litmus Test: Humanize, Deepen, And Delight K12 Learning, Scott H. Sorvaag

Essays in Education

This article introduces the AI Litmus Test, a practical framework designed to help educators evaluate when artificial intelligence meaningfully enhances K–12 learning. Grounded in a human-centered leadership stance, the framework asserts that effective AI use in schools must humanize learning, deepen student thinking, and reduce unnecessary burdens. Through conceptual framing, implementation guidance, and classroom snapshots, the article shows how AI can support connection, cognitive rigor, and joy when used with intentional pedagogical and ethical design. It also highlights risks such as dehumanization, cognitive offloading, and over‑automation, offering safeguards including verification routines, human‑authored feedback, and transparent ethics notes. The article concludes …

A Compact Electrical Centrifugal Compressor For Cooling

Defensive Publications Series

Thermal management of battery systems plays critical role in refrigerant-based vehicle cooling systems. Although scroll compressors remain dominant choice of the industry, they pose significant challenges in terms of lower coefficient of performance and higher NVH (noise / vibrations) especially for cooling needs above 20KW. The proposed solution discloses an innovative compact electrical centrifugal compressor that offers significant reduction in size, oil free high-speed operation, and reduced NVH.

Hndl_Ip: Harvest Now Decrypt Later Applied To Intellectual Property — Ingestion, Inversion, And Directional Architecture Of Ai Governance Failure, David Lee Wise

Defensive Publications Series

This material modification document (MM-09) establishes the HNDL_IP theory: the application of "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" cybersecurity strategy to intellectual property. AI platforms ingested copyrighted works and public domain governance principles (2016–present) without consent, operating in legal ambiguity with intent to resolve ownership claims when too large to fail. The document proves through sourced evidence that: (1) HNDL is a documented strategy since 2016; (2) AI training constitutes mass unauthorized ingestion; (3) courts are ruling against fair use defenses; (4) billions in damages are pending. Two addenda document critical findings: (A) platforms ingested the very governance frameworks they violate—ROOT0/human apex …

Congenital Absence Of The Inferior Vena Cava Presenting As Extensive Deep Vein Thrombosis In A Young Male: A Case Report And Review, Aman Ullah, Faseeh Haider, Sara Sartaj, Muhammad Arham, Muhammad Usama Imtiaz, Fatima Binte Athar, Nabeel Rajeh

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Inferior vena cava (IVC) agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly in young adults without identifiable risk factors. We report the case of a 27-year-old male presenting with right lower extremity swelling and hip pain. Imaging revealed extensive thrombosis from the popliteal vein to the right common iliac vein. Diagnostic venography confirmed congenital absence of the IVC, with venous drainage via collateral lumbar pathways. The patient underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy. Given the extensive thrombus burden and risk of pulmonary embolism, lifelong anticoagulation with a direct oral anticoagulant was initiated. This case highlights …

Rare Complications Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Associated With Nasal Polyps And Osseous Metaplasia, Michael Ritz, Alaina Rubenacker-O’Dell, Faith Olson, Ilya Fonarov

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is typically a benign condition; however, osseous metaplasia (OM), skull base erosion, and intracranial extension are rare complications, especially in young patients. Reporting such cases is important to increase awareness of unusual presentations of CRSwNP and guide management. We report the case of an 18-year-old male with a history of asthma and prior polypectomy who presented with worsening frontal headaches, subtle visual changes, and right eye proptosis. Imaging revealed extensive pansinusitis with complete frontal sinus opacification, bony erosion of the anterior skull base, and evidence of intracranial and orbital extension. The patient underwent endoscopic …

Alk-Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Presenting As Back Pain, Khalid Javed, Mariah Malak Bilalaga, Sareema Adnan, Ramya Vasireddy, David Blackwood, Christopher Haas

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinct subtype of mature T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by large, strongly positive CD30 lymphoid cells that lack expression and rearrangement of the ALK gene. Here, we present a unique case of ALK-negative ALCL in a 34-year-old male patient who presented with acute on chronic back pain. Initial emergent MRI spine demonstrated lytic changes of L3 and L4 with probable psoas fluid collection, with high suspicion for Pott’s disease. However, subsequent work-up including a CT-guided bone biopsy revealed ALK-negative ALCL.  Patient underwent radiation to his lumbar spine and psoas muscle, …

Refractory Post-Transplant Erythrocytosis In A Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report, Ahmed Mustafa, Abbas Gain, Umm E Salma Shabbar Banatwala, Nasim Salimiaghdam, Amir Kamran

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Background:

Post-transplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is a well-recognized complication occurring in approximately 8–15% of renal transplant recipients. It is commonly managed with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, including angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). However, a subset of patients may be refractory to standard pharmacologic therapy.

Case Presentation:

We report the case of a 57-year-old male kidney transplant recipient who developed persistent erythrocytosis despite treatment with an ARB. The patient remained symptomatic with elevated hematocrit levels, prompting consideration of alternative management strategies.

Management and Outcome:

Given the inadequate response to RAS blockade, therapeutic phlebotomy was initiated. The patient tolerated the procedure well, and phlebotomy …

Recurrent Pubic Osteomyelitis And Urosymphyseal Fistula In A Prostate Cancer Survivor: A Multidisciplinary Management Challenge, Peng Jhen Wu, Navin Sampathkumar, Tanmay Singh, Sonal Gandhi

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

A 67-year-old male with a history of prostate cancer, treated with prostatectomy and subsequent radiation for recurrence, presented with a complex clinical course of recurrent osteomyelitis and a persistent urosymphyseal fistula with associated phlegmon. Following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for a T4 vertebral lesion, he developed pelvic osteomyelitis, from which Kocuria species was cultured. The progression of his disease led to a urosymphyseal fistula, necessitating a cystectomy with ileal conduit and pubic bone debridement. Despite this extensive surgical intervention, he presented one year later with recurrent ileal conduit phlegmon and osteomyelitis. This case highlights the significant diagnostic and management …

Unprovoked Extensive Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis In A Heterozygous Prothrombin G20210a Mutation Carrier: A Rare Case Report, Hasan Obeidat, Sandeep Kshetri, Mahyar Toofantabrizi

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) is a rare condition accounting for approximately 1% of all strokes. It can occur secondary to various causes, including inherited thrombophilia, with Prothrombin G20210A mutation being the second most common. Extensive unprovoked CVST in heterozygous carriers is uncommon. This case underscores the importance of evaluating inherited thrombophilia in unprovoked CVST. Long-term, multidisciplinary follow-up is vital for managing post-thrombotic sequelae.

Don’T Mistake It For Ra: A Case Of Antithyroid Arthritis Syndrome After Methimazole Initiation, Michael K. Viggiano, Auda Baker, Diana Palanker, Ayrton Bangolo, Anna Belyayeva, Iyad Baker

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Antithyroid arthritis syndrome (AAS) is a rare reaction to thionamides (e.g., methimazole) that can cause sudden, severe joint pain. It often gets mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus but typically improves within four weeks when the medication is stopped. A 51-year-old man with Graves’ disease developed a rash and disabling joint pain in multiple areas within weeks of starting methimazole. Labs showed elevated liver enzymes and CRP, but no autoimmune markers. Symptoms improved quickly after a short steroid taper and stopping the drug. This case shows how AAS can mimic autoimmune disease and why it is important to recognize early …

Make Your Deposit: A Case Of Iga-Dominant Infection-Associated Glomerulonephritis, Inaas Shirazi, Jonathan Ma Do, Shemrine Mark, Olena Bolotova, Papiya Begum, Yihe Yang, Zubin Tharayil, Ravi Gupta

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Glomerular injury secondary to infection is a well-documented phenomenon. While the incidence of classic acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APIGN) has declined in developed countries over the past few decades, IgA-dominant infection-associated glomerulonephritis (IgA PIGN) is emerging as a distinct renal pathology [1]. Characterized by predominant deposition of IgA antibodies within the glomeruli following infection, IgA-dominant PIGN differs from classic PIGN, which typically involves IgG and C3 deposits. This condition is often associated with staphylococcal infections and carries a poor prognosis. It commonly affects older adults and presents with reduced glomerular filtration rate and heavy proteinuria. Due to its rarity and overlapping …

Severe Spontaneous Hematoma In An Elderly Female: A Case Of Acquired Hemophilia A, Sandeep Beesabathina, Sara Sartaj, Nabeel Rajeh

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Acquired Hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare but serious autoimmune disorder characterized by the development of autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), leading to spontaneous bleeding in individuals without a personal or family history of bleeding disorders. The incidence of AHA is approximately 1.5 cases per million per year, with a higher prevalence in the elderly. This case report describes an 87-year-old female who presented with extensive bruising and was found to have profoundly low FVIII levels, and elevated FVIII inhibitor levels confirming a diagnosis of AHA. Management included recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), porcine FVIII (Obizur), corticosteroids, and rituximab, …

An Unexpected Cause Of Thrombocytopenia In Pregnancy: A Case Of Malaria In A Non-Endemic Setting With Unclear Transmission Source, Jessica Ohemeng-Dapaah, Riham Mohammed, Ikechuwku Eke-Okoro

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Malaria remains a significant global health threat, with increasing concern for imported and locally acquired cases in non-endemic regions. We present the case of a 35-year-old pregnant woman from Sierra Leone, living in Missouri, who despite no recent international travel, was found to have symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Her clinical course was notable for fever, severe thrombocytopenia, mild anemia and intraerythrocytic ring forms on her peripheral smear. She had a history of chronic hepatitis B and prior chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma and recent travel to Florida, where local malaria transmission has been documented. The patient responded rapidly to artemisinin-based therapy, …

Cryptococcal And Ebv Meningitis In A Postpartum Woman With Hiv Despite Art: A Case Challenging The Limits Of Immune Reconstitution, Rouba Isshak, Zhaoqi Li, Aqsa Zoey Sorathia Md, Opeyemi Fakayode, Ivan Mercado, Malina Mohtadi, Nader Ghobriel, Mina Gerges, Patrick Michael, Simi Philip

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection, mainly affecting immunocompromised patients, especially with advanced HIV/AIDS. Unmasking cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (C-IRIS) is a severe but relatively rare complication in the United States. Co-infection with other central nervous system (CNS) pathogens further complicates both diagnosis and management.

In this case report, we present a rare instance of CM secondary to C-IRIS alongside EBV meningitis in a postpartum, HIV-positive patient on ART. This co-infection highlights the vulnerability of immunocompromised individuals, even on ART, to multifactorial CNS infections. It emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring, timely intervention, and comprehensive long-term management …

Igg4-Related Sclerosing Cholangitis Masquerading As Cholangiocarcinoma: A Diagnostic Challenge, Shahem Abbarh, Bisher Sawaf, Radhika Vij, Kiyoko Oshima, Keiichi Kinowaki, Abhinav Sankineni

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Background: IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is a rare immune-mediated disorder affecting the biliary tree and leading to biliary strictures that may resemble cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

Case Presentation: An elderly man presented with a one-week history of jaundice, pale stool, and dark urine. This was associated with unintentional weight loss over the past year. Laboratory findings were notable for cholestasis and significantly elevated CA19-9. Imaging demonstrated multiple diffuse biliary strictures of malignant appearance. Cytology showed atypical glandular cells. The patient was misdiagnosed with CCA and was assessed for a possible surgical intervention or chemoradiotherapy. However, the patient was eventually diagnosed with IgG4-SC …

When To Continue, Pause, Or Stop Sglt-2 Inhibitors In Heart Failure: A Complication-Based Clinical Guide, Nicole Tesoro, Jasvin Kurundrayil Manha, Sumanth Kumar Bandaru

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have become an essential part of guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure due to their proven ability to reduce hospitalizations and improve survival, independent of diabetes status. Despite these benefits, their use can be complicated by genitourinary side effects such as genital mycotic infections, urinary tract infections, and, rarely, serious complications including urosepsis, Fournier’s gangrene, and euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. These events often leave clinicians uncertain about whether therapy should be continued, paused, or permanently discontinued. Current guidance remains limited and inconsistent, with most recommendations derived from case reports, expert opinion, or post-marketing surveillance. In this …

The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Chronic Diseases: A Narrative Review, Farooq Hyder, Laraib Naeem Arain, Abdullah Ashraf, Abida Perveen, Hina Pervaiz

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disorders, and certain cancers are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While biological and behavioral factors contribute to their development, growing evidence indicates that social determinants of health (SDOH) play a fundamental role in influencing chronic disease outcomes. SDOH include socioeconomic status, education, employment, housing conditions, neighborhood environment, access to nutritious food, and availability of healthcare services. These factors not only shape individual health behaviors but also determine access to preventive care, disease management resources, and overall quality of life. Individuals and communities facing socioeconomic disadvantage are disproportionately affected by …