Digital Commons Network^™

Migration Narratives Of Ukrainian Women In South Tyrol: A Comparison Of Pre- And Post-War Experiences, Giulia Isetti, Irem Güney-Frahm

Journal of International Women's Studies

Through qualitative interviews with Ukrainian women who migrated to South Tyrol, Italy before and after the 2022 Russian invasion, this paper explores the experiences, motivations, challenges, and integration strategies of these migrants. Findings highlight the gendered nature of migration, as Ukrainian women often face occupational downgrading, in which they are forced to work in low-skilled sectors due to language barriers, bureaucratic hurdles, and labour market discrimination. Social integration remains a challenge particularly among post-war arrivals. Unlike other Orthodox Christian migrant groups, respondents report weak communal solidarity, although individual acts of support from local organizations and colleagues mitigate isolation. Finally, the …

Editors' Introduction, Diana J. Fox, Kimberly Chabot Davis, Emma Voelker, Harley Shiner

Journal of International Women's Studies

No abstract provided.

Vulnerability As Disruption: Risk-Taking And Transdisciplinary Growth Of And Through Sotl, Kate Elizabeth Walker, Anna Santucci

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

An Archival Responsibility: A Scoping Review Of Literature Regarding The Documentary Burdens Of Refugees, Ana Roeschley, Kinza Alizai, Crystal Tharayil, Amy Lanier, Merrion D. Frederick, Homero R. Cuevas

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

Documented individuals who do not live in conflict zones can usually access and use their records to migrate, begin new careers, enroll their children in educational institutions, and gain access to healthcare through mostly routine record-related procedures. However, these standard processes become impossible obstacles for refugees when they lose access to their personal records as part of their forced displacement. Though ever-present for refugees, these documentary burdens are compounded in times of societal crises and political upheaval—times when documentation is most critical. If archivists and archival scholars are to address these issues, it is important to understand the scope of …

Leveraging Consumer-Level Ai For Descriptive Metadata Creation In Archival Collections, Hope Dunbar, Ken Axford

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of consumer-level AI tools—ChatGPT Pro and Microsoft Copilot—for generating descriptive metadata in digital archival collections. Using a pilot project at the University at Buffalo's University Archives, researchers tested these tools on transcripts from the WBFO radio archives to create program descriptions of varying lengths. Findings demonstrate that both tools significantly reduced processing time for audio collections, with each exhibiting distinct advantages: ChatGPT Pro offered more adaptable outputs while Microsoft Copilot excelled in structured environments with superior privacy protections. The study explores prompt engineering strategies, examines limitations including AI hallucinations when identifying subject headings, and addresses …

General Call For Manuscripts & Graphics

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

The Soul Of Reading: Broadside Lotus Press And Black Poetry As Celebration And Resistance, Leah Van Belle

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Pages From The Past

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Spelling With Tears: (Re)Thinking The Phonics-Spelling Connection, Meghan K. Block, Kristen L. White

Michigan Reading Journal

Many elementary students perform well on weekly spelling tests but struggle to apply those same words in their everyday reading and writing. This article explores why spelling and phonics instruction often feel disconnected in classrooms and how that disconnect affects children’s literacy development. Using a classroom vignette, teacher perspectives, and research, we argue for integrating spelling into meaningful reading and writing experiences. We share practical, classroom-ready recommendations—including word study, morphology instruction, games, and authentic writing—to help teachers make spelling purposeful, engaging, and transferable.

Letters Across Languages: Building Community, Agency, And Joy Through Multilingual Penpalship Program, Yetunde S. Alabede

Michigan Reading Journal

This reflective article explores the Multilingual Pen-Pal Program, a free, community-based initiative that connects children across Nigeria and the diaspora through letter writing and storytelling. Grounded in ẹ̀bùngogy, an offshoot of ẹ̀bùnlingualism, a framework that views language transmission as a communal gift, the program embodies teaching as gifting. Through translanguaging, storying, and reflexivity, children and families engage in multilingual literacy practices that center care, reciprocity, and joy. This article highlights how the program bridges theory and practice, offering teachers practical ways to cultivate culturally sustaining and multilingual classrooms where literacy becomes a shared, liberatory act of connection.

Building Self-Efficacy In Students With Dyslexia: A Practice-Forward Framework For Classrooms, Families, And Teacher Preparation, Jennifer L. Vanderground

Michigan Reading Journal

Self-efficacy—the belief in one’s capacity to organize and carry out actions to reach goals—predicts persistence, strategic behavior, and academic outcomes (Bandura, 1997). For students with dyslexia, recurring experiences of effortful reading and peer comparison can suppress self-efficacy and elevate anxiety (Humphrey & Mullins, 2002; Nalavany et al., 2017). Research consistently links dyslexia with higher rates of internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression, alongside modifiable correlates including self-beliefs, coping, and school connectedness—promising leverage points for educators and families (Livingston et al., 2018).

Prevalence estimates vary widely. Under strict criteria, fewer than 10% of students qualify, but when thresholds include those …

From The Editors…, Laura Gabrion, Rui Niu-Cooper, Leah Van Belle, Jenelle Williams

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue: Volume 58, No. 2

Michigan Reading Journal

No abstract provided.

Review Of Land In Libraries: Toward A Materialist Conception Of Education, Anna Z. Szapiro

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

Extractive practices of colonial land theft and environmental exploitation have produced intolerable global conditions leading to climate collapse. As the information field grapples with its culpability in colonial violence and climate change, Lydia Zvyagintseva and Mary Greenshields’s incisive Land in Libraries: Toward a Materialist Conception of Education draws contributions from practitioners in the United States and Canada to chart a way forward. Through historical analysis, case studies, critical theory, and autoethnography, authors in this volume take up land – and our relation to it – as the epistemological catalyst for systemic change. At once austere critique and lyrical contemplation, Land …

Examining The Impact Of Individual And Group Piano Instruction On Students’ Learning: Teachers’ Perceptions, Pavithra Madapatha

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Group and individual piano instruction are the most common piano teaching approaches in Sri Lanka. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these techniques help to improve students’ learning skills. The study was based on qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews from five (05) piano teachers. Teachers were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the interview data. The themes included are: (1) advantages and disadvantages of individual piano teaching; (2) benefits of group piano teaching; (3) challenges of group piano teaching; (4) teaching approaches and strategies used under each method …

Geochemistry Of Crusts In Palaeontological Deposits, Taphonomic Settings In An Upper Pleistocene Cave Site (San Teodoro, Sicily), Gerlando Vita, Luca Sineo, Francesco Armetta, Maria Luisa Saladino

International Journal of Speleology

The mineralogical and geochemical composition of cave sediments provides crucial insights into past climatic and biological dynamics. This study investigates the authigenic crusts of San Teodoro Cave (Sicily), a key Upper Pleistocene palaeontological site, through a multi-analytical approach.The cave hosts two superimposed phosphatic crusts, separated by sterile sediment, reflecting shifts in depositional and post-depositional conditions. Our analyses reveal a complex mineral assemblage consisting of calcite, aragonite, and various phosphate phases. Calcite is the dominant phase in the older crust, whereas the presence of aragonite in the younger brown crust likely indicates periods of increased aridity, potentially corresponding to conditions during …

The Role Of Self-Awareness, Advocacy, And Support In Stem Success: Stories From Landmark College's Aie-Stemplos Program, Anastasio Bonhomme, Jaden Clark, Madison Wan, Gabrielle Woolgar, Rebecca Matte, Christin B. Monroe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Neurodivergent individuals bring unique perspectives and talents to STEM fields while facing distinct challenges, particularly in higher education environments that often rely on traditional learning models. Landmark College’s AIE-STEMPLOS program provides an innovative framework to empower neurodivergent STEM scholars by fostering self-awareness, advocacy, and community support. Grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and strengths-based approaches, the program leverages tools like the Birkman Method® to help students articulate their strengths and communication styles in professional terms. This paper examines how accessible learning strategies, peer mentorship, and individualized advising cultivate belonging, confidence, and resilience among neurodivergent STEM scholars, offering a …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Plasticizer Type On The Structure And Drug Release Characteristics Of Lm-Pectin Hydrogels, Banu Kocaağa, Fatma Seni̇ha Güner

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study investigated the effects of different plasticizers—castor oil (CO), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with varying molecular weights (MWs)—on the structure and drug-release performance of low-methoxyl pectin (LM-pectin) hydrogels. Theophylline was used as a model drug to evaluate release behavior under physiologically relevant conditions. The incorporation of plasticizers modulated polymer–polymer interactions, swelling behavior, and thermal properties, thereby affecting drug-release kinetics. CO, a hydrophobic triglyceride, created microdomain-induced diffusion pathways; PVP, containing water-affinitive lactam units, facilitated moisture-driven plasticization; and PEG (MW 400/1000/1500), with hydroxyl-terminated chains, established hydrogen bonds with pectin. Structural analyses (FTIR and DSC) revealed that CO disrupted pectin …

Expression, Purification, And Crystallization Of Recombinant Human Abl-1 Kinase For X-Ray Crystallography, Ayça İrgi̇t, Hali̇li̇brahi̇m Çi̇ftçi̇, Hasan Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Abelson-1 (ABL-1) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that plays essential roles in various cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, differentiation and its kinase activity is tightly regulated. The dysregulated ABL-1 kinase activity is linked to disease pathogenesis like Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), where the BCR::ABL-1 fusion oncoprotein drives oncogenic signaling. Due to its central role in CML pathogenesis, understanding the structure of ABL-1 is crucial for the effective management of the disease and drug development studies. This study focuses on optimizing the expression, purification and crystallization of the recombinant human ABL-1 kinase domain for its structural analysis via X-ray crystallography and …

Antioxidant Potential Of Sulfenimides In Waste Walnut Oil Biodiesel: Kinetic Stability, Phosphomolybdenum Activity, And Reducing Power Capacity, Nalan Türköz Karakullukçu, Hasan Yakan, Volkan Murat Yilmaz, Hali̇t Muğlu, Semi̇ha Yeni̇gün, Hali̇l Kütük

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study investigated the influence of synthetic sulfenimides on biodiesel–diesel fuel blends. Three previously synthesized sulfenimide derivatives were structurally characterized using spectroscopic techniques. We evaluated their antioxidant properties through phosphomolybdenum activity and reducing power capacity assays. The tested fuel samples were designated as D100, B10D90, B10D90_AA (ascorbic acid), B10D90_3, B10D90_2, and B10D90_1. The effect of adding 2000 ppm of the additive was measured using an Oxifast instrument following the ASTM D7545 standard, and the results were compared to those of the chemical antioxidant ascorbic acid. Inhibition time values were derived from the oxidation stability results. The starting temperatures for crystallization …

Investigating The Structure And Bioactivity Of Lanthanum Coordination Compounds, Shantanu Kadam, Bhushan Dhale, Bapu Yamgar, Swaminath Bhattar

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Lanthanum metal complexes were synthesized using a classical condensation method by reacting lanthanum nitrate salts with a bidentate ligand in a 1:2:1 molar ratio (M:L:L). The formation and structure of the resulting complexes were confirmed through a combination of analytical techniques, including Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, elemental microanalysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The lanthanum complexes synthesized exhibited strong in vitro antimicrobial activity. Antibacterial screening showed inhibition zones of 18–26 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, surpassing those of the reference drug ciprofloxacin (16–20 mm). Antifungal studies demonstrated inhibition zones of 15–23 mm against Candida …

Comparative Computational Study Of Sulfur-Donor Additives For Stabilization Of Fapbi3 Perovskites, Ilnar Nurgaliev, Akbarxon Hamzayev, Murad Marasulov, Zavkiddin Julliev, Akhmad Oblakulov, Nigmat Ashurov

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A multiscale computational investigation integrating density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms through which sulfur-containing donor molecules stabilize the photoactive α-phase of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskites. The binding energetics, charge-transfer behavior, and hydrogen-bonding interactions of thiourea (TU), thiosemicarbazide (TSC), thiocyanate (SCN–), and diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) were systematically analyzed. DFT results revealed pronounced Pb–S coordination and multidentate hydrogenbonding, with binding energies following the trend SCN–>TSC>DTC>TU. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that these additives lower the Gibbs free energy difference, thereby stabilizing the black α-phase, with TSC, TU, and to a lesser extent …

Zoledronic Acid-Loaded Hap–Sio2–Camoo4:Eu3+ With Luminescent Properties As A Novel Drug Delivery System, Emi̇ne Kutlu, Muhammad Asim Ali, Fati̇h Mehmet Emen, Canan Vejselova Sezer, Hati̇ce Mehtap Kutlu

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

CaMoO4:Eu3+-functionalized hydroxyapatite–silica (HAp–SiO2–CaMoO4:Eu3+) core–shell nanocomposites were synthesized for the first time and evaluated as a multifunctional drug delivery and imaging platform. HAp–SiO2 nanocomposites were prepared via a hydrothermal route and subsequently functionalized with a luminescent CaMoO4:Eu3+ shell using the Pechini sol–gel method. Structural analyses confirmed the successful coexistence of HAp, SiO2, and CaMoO4:Eu3+ phases, while electron microscopy revealed spherical core–shell morphologies. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed average hydrodynamic particle sizes of approximately 1085 nm for HAp–SiO2 and 1427 nm for HAp–SiO2–CaMoO4:Eu3+ nanocomposites, indicating particle clustering in aqueous media, which is consistent with the low surface charge of the particles. The …

Development And Optimization Of A Novel Spectroscopic Method To Monitor Crystallization Behavior Of Bcs-Ii Drug, Uditi Handa, Anuj Malik, Kumar Guarve

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study investigated the crystallization behavior of dextromethorphan hydrobromide, a class II drug, to improve understanding of its supersaturation potential and formulation design. Conventional methods often lack the sensitivity or scalability needed for accurate detection of early nucleation events. To overcome these limitations, a novel process tracks real-time absorbance below turbidity levels to detect early molecular aggregation and phase separation. Crystallization kinetics of the drug was assessed at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/mL using three analytical techniques, namely, isothermal crystallization (baseline), ultraviolet (UV) absorbance (turbidity monitoring, UV-TM), and an optimized UV absorbance graphical method (UV-GM) (novel process). Induction …

Efficient Electrocatalytic Activity Of A Fe-Mof Based Cathode Catalyst In Pemfcs, Susmita Singh, Tanya Nishad, Debasmita Paul, Sumi Ganguly, Soumyabrata Goswami

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Advancements in cost-effective and efficient alternative energy sources are critical for socioeconomic development. In this study, Iron-based metal–organic framework (Fe-MOF) electrocatalyst was fabricated using an Fe salt and ligand. Several surface characterization methods, including Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were used to characterize the electrocatalyst. Additionally, using Chronoamperometry (CA), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), the electrocatalytic behaviour in a cathodic reaction in PEMFCs is investigated. The study showed the material’s exceptional chemical or surface stability, and great surface morphology of the material that facilitated the cathodic …

Effectiveness Of A Network Open House Model To Recruit Trainees To Post-Baccalaureate Stem Programs, Sarah Mordan-Mccombs, Scott Takeo Aoki, Lindsay Lewellyn, Sarah Justice, Neetu Tewari, Jorge Cantu, Robert Seiser, Ahmed Lakhani, Jennifer R. Kowalski

Biology Faculty publications

Post-baccalaureate (post-bac) programs can be instrumental in strengthening science training and expanding STEM career opportunities for junior trainees. Many of these sponsored programs are designed to increase research exposure for underrepresented minorities, including African American, Hispanic, Native American, and first-generation college students, among others. Recruiting trainees to post-bac programs can be challenging for reasons including a lack of awareness about available programs. To address this gap, an Open House event was created with the goal of raising awareness and generating interest among potential students for future post-bac programs. Students were recruited from partnering Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to attend a …

Development Potential Of The Ucg-Eg Industry In Guizhou Province, China, Wang Lingxia, Zhou Ze, Yi Tongsheng, Qin Yong, Yang Lei, Kong Weimin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods This study aims to promote the sustainable development of the underground coal gasification (UCG) industry and to extend the industrial chain of syngas development and utilization. To this end, this study analyzed the UCG-electricity generation (UCG-EG) potential of Guizhou Province based on the evaluation results of resources allowing UCG and the current status of energy and electric power structures of this province. A 3D analytical principle model for UCG-EG industry scenarios in Guizhou was constructed through scenario modelling. Using this model, the prospects of the UCG industry under low, medium, high, and ultra-high scenarios were quantitatively depicted. …

Factors Influencing Productivity And Production System Optimization For Deep Coalbed Methane In The Daning-Jixian Block, Ordos Basin, Zhao Haifeng, Jia Zhaojie, Chen Mengqi, Yang Ziyi, Wang Bin, Lin Hongliang, Yang Yanfeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Deep coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs are characterized by ultra-low porosity, ultra-low permeability, and super saturation, rendering it impractical to copy the productivity models of shallow coalbed methane and shale gas. Furthermore, the production performance of deep CBM varies significantly across different well sections. However, the impacts of different factors on the productivity of deep CBM remain poorly understood. This study conducted a numerical simulation analysis of the productivity of deep CBM in the Daning-Jixian block along the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin based on the geological characteristics of the block, aiming to explore the impacts of various key …