Digital Commons Network^™

Building Wellbeing Through Nature And Adventure For Justice-Involved Youth, Lewis Kogan, Meagan Ricks, Janna Coulter, Miranda Margetts, Lori Butterfield, Ben Ukoh-Eke

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Justice-involved youth often experience elevated levels of stress, mental health challenges, and reduced access to positive developmental opportunities. A nature- and adventure-based youth development program designed to strengthen resilience, self-efficacy, nature-connectedness, and well-being among justice-involved youth was piloted in 2025 to address these challenges. Pilot findings indicated improvements in resilience, self-efficacy, hopefulness, and connectedness to nature.

Youth Gopher Trapping: Benefits For Agriculture And Youth, Melanie Heaton, Kalen Taylor

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension partnered with local government and conservation districts to reduce agricultural losses while creating meaningful opportunities for youth. Over three years, 92 participants removed 3,941 rodents, earned $26,620, and gained practical skills through hands-on conservation work. The program shows how Extension-led partnerships can strengthen agricultural profitability, youth development, and community collaboration at the same time.

Expanding Access To Outdoor Recreation Through Adaptive Trail Riding In Utah, Makenna L. Pahlke

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Limited access to outdoor recreation limits opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy the physical and psychosocial benefits of horseback riding. The Utah State University Equine Experience, an Extension program focused on horses, assessed an adaptive trail riding initiative for participants aged 12 to 40. Findings showed improvements in confidence, self-awareness, engagement, and social connections, highlighting the public benefit of enhancing accessible equine-assisted activities.

Remembering The Great Gumpert, Susan Drucker

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

No abstract provided.

Nonverbal Communication In New York Fashion Week, Lianna Cruz, Maia Coyle

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Nonverbal communication research has largely explored materiality and performance independently, leaving their joint role in meaning-making underexamined. The authors applied Langerian aesthetic theory and examined how three key kinesic variables intersect with clothing to create significance and symbolism by asking, “How do rhythm, body movement, and dance build meaning in New York Fashion Week?” Following Langer and Edward T. Hall, we conducted close visual analyses of three Spring and Fall 2025 New York Fashion Week shows: Coach, Off-White, and Thom Browne. Findings indicate that these variables build meaning by creating degrees of professionalism, reinforcing meanings through clothes, and renegotiating meanings …

The Unintended Consequences Of Metaphors On Navigating Careers In The U.S.: Focus On International Students And Women Of Color, Yeongbin (Ellen) Jeon

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

This paper examines how workplace metaphors such as the glass ceiling, sticky floor, maternal wall, and motherhood/fatherhood penalty continue to illuminate structural inequality in the contemporary U.S. labor market. Focusing on the experiences of international students and women of color, it argues that these metaphors are not merely symbolic descriptions but practical frameworks for understanding how race, gender, immigration status, and caregiving expectations shape unequal career outcomes. Drawing on class readings, policy analysis, and personal experience, the paper shows how visa-based hiring restrictions, limited parental leave protections, and racialized gender stereotypes constrain access to employment, advancement, and leadership. It further …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Drinking Culture For Women In The Workforce, Anna Savage

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

This study investigates how the drinking culture of companies differ for women in male-dominated industries compared to female-dominated industries. Through interviews with six women in a convenience sample, I compared the experiences of women in different industries to examine a variety of factors including whether they felt pressured to drink alcohol in social settings, how their experiences at office events impacted how they view and are viewed by their coworkers and managers, and what the effects of the drinking culture are on the culture inside their company. I found that women in male-dominated industries were much more likely to be …

The Ramifications Of Covid-19 On Young Adults With Ocd, Clare E. Mcintosh

Dissertations

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was a profound event in modern history, contributing to significant disruptions on a societal and individual level. This period of time was marked by elevated uncertainty and fear among individuals. COVID-19 contributed to deterioration in not only physical health but also psychological well-being. One mental health condition frequently under-examined and saturated with misconceptions is obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Intolerance of uncertainty is a core component of the condition, and the pandemic was riddled with unpredictability. The purpose of this study was to …

Table Of Contents, Journal Of Youth Development

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

4-H Builds Work Readiness Skills In Youth, Mike Knutz

Journal of Youth Development

4-H Programs provide work readiness skills like teamwork, respect, leadership, critical thinking, work ethics, and communication. Supported studies are highlighted as well as results from an evaluation of youth participants from a Know Your Government statewide program. Data was collected from middle and high school age youth to measure their self-reported increase in work readiness skills as well as knowledge of government. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance to life skill theory and measurement. The study supports the value of 4-H Youth Development Programs as a means for youth to acquire work readiness skills.

Teaching Personal And Social Responsibility Through A Mountain Biking After-School Program, Kayla Marsh, Kelly L. Simonton, Victoria Shiver, Tristan Wallhead

Journal of Youth Development

The Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model has been identified as an evidence-based structure that can support social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies in after-school settings. However, much of the research includes general physical fitness and skill activity-based programs, and not activities students identify with as meaningful in their lives. The current study targeted a mountain biking afterschool-program which has the potential to promote meaningful transfer of knowledge and skills. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to explore adolescents’ beliefs and understandings of SEL skills in a mountain biking TPSR program and (b) to explore the perceptions of potential …

Full Issue, Volume 21, Issue 3, Journal Of Youth Development

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Joining Forces:A Research-Practice Partnership For Out-Of-School Time, Julián C. Alonso Restrepo, Trevor Bopp, Diedre F. Houchen, Chanae Jackson, Sunshine Moss, Rose M. Pringle, Christine Wegner

Journal of Youth Development

This article describes the development and early implementation of the Youth Development Research-Practice Partnership (YDRPP), a collaboration between university researchers and the Better Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Alliance in Alachua County, Florida. Established to address persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities affecting youth, the partnership used a collaborative qualitative assessment to identify local youth needs, program strengths, and organizational challenges. Findings revealed that practitioners viewed academic support, mental health, social-emotional development, positive adult relationships, physical activity, life skills, and workforce preparation as the most pressing needs of youth. Programs responded through holistic offerings that included tutoring, mentoring, trauma-informed practices, recreation, career readiness, …

Why Sports Participation Matters For Girls In Urban Core Public Schools, David Mcleod, Angela B. Pharris, David Crynes, Emmy Hufnagel, Eddie Wright, Sabrina Hynd, Tim Mclaughlin

Journal of Youth Development

Sports participation plays a critical role in supporting academic success, school engagement, and social-emotional well-being, particularly for girls in urban core public school settings. This study examines the relationship between athletic participation and academic outcomes, attendance, and social-emotional functioning in a large urban public school district during the post-COVID period. Findings indicate that student-athletes outperform non-athlete peers across multiple indicators, including grade point average, enrollment in advanced coursework, and school attendance. Female athletes, in particular, demonstrate stronger academic performance and more favorable social-emotional outcomes compared to female non-athletes. Despite these advantages, a pronounced decline in girls’ sports participation occurs between …

From The President - The Transformative Value Of Our Profession, Melanie E. Mayberry, Dds, Ms-Hcm

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Melanie E. Mayberry, MDA President, reflects on the transformative value of dentistry on both patients and the personal lives of practitioners. The article emphasizes how the dental profession builds stronger communities through service, empathy, mentorship, and continuous learning. Highlighting student and patient resilience in the face of adversity, Mayberry draws inspiration from events like the Kalamazoo Mission of Mercy, where volunteers provided over one million dollars in free dental care. She encourages dentists of all generations to foster a community of belonging, embrace professional evolution, and appreciate the spiritual and personal rewards of their service.

Longstanding Mental Representations Of Familiar Faces, Sarah Laurence, A. Mike Burton, Camilla During, Jennifer Pink, Lucy Wilson, Mila Mileva

School of Psychology

As we recognise people we know over many years, their faces can change, sometimes profoundly, and yet we continue to recognise them with ease. How do we update our representations over time? We present four pre-registered experiments to examine this. In Experiment 1, using likeness ratings and speeded name verification, fans of a long-running TV soap opera demonstrated that their representations of the characters’ faces were weighted towards their most recent encounters – when the characters were oldest. While we initially hypothesised that this was due to recency, Experiment 2 showed this not to be the case. When new participants …

Vicarious Trauma: The Psychological Impact On Counsellors And Psychotherapists Working With Survivors Of Sexual Abuse., Deborah Down, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

Background: Vicarious trauma (VT), the psychological distress that occurs from exposure to the trauma of others, is prevalent among therapists, but has not previously been explored in those working specifically with survivors of sexual trauma. This qualitative study explores counsellors‘ and psychotherapists‘ experiences of VT when working with survivors of sexual abuse. Method: Semi-structured interviews uncovered complex emotional and psychological impacts, highlighting how exposure to traumatic sexual abuse narratives can affect counsellors‘ and psychotherapists‘ wellbeing, and professional and personal identity. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Four key themes were identified. (1) The Impact of VT reveals the emotional …

Parents' Views On Family Care At A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — A Qualitative Study, Linea Grothe Larsen, Suzanne Forsyth Herling, Sanne Allermann Beck, Anne Brødsgaard, Jos M. Latour, Rikke Louise Stenkjaer

School of Nursing and Midwifery

PurposeThe current study aims to explore parents' views on family care at a neonatal intensive care unit.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative exploratory study with a descriptive approach based on open-ended written narrative responses from the Danish version of EMpowerment of PArents in The Intensive Care—Neonatology questionnaire. The study was conducted at a Danish level IV NICU working with family-centred care and family integrated care. The data was analysed using inductive content analysis by Graneheim and Lundman. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was followed.Main FindingsIn total, 311/727 parents responded to the distributed questionnaire. Of those, 210 responded to the open-ended …

“We Are Born Into Crisis”: Race, Crime, And Permanent Crisis In The Criminal Legal System From The Perspective Of Community Organization Workers, Mercy Autur

Social Justice and Community Engagement Major Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Lidocaine Combined With Low-Dose Esketamine For Movement-Evoked Pain After Hepatectomy: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial, Yan Xu, Li Zhou, Qianqian Tang, Feng Yu, Jingwen Wu, Siyu Yan, Min Cai, Jialu Wan, Yi Kang, Lajing Luowu, Mengmeng Zhou, Lulong Bo, Daniel I Sessler, Chunling Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Pain following hepatectomy may delay recovery and increase opioid use. We tested the primary hypothesis that combining lidocaine and low-dose esketamine would reduce movement-evoked pain 24 h after hepatic resection. We also evaluated whether this approach reduced opioid consumption and improved quality of recovery.

Methods: Patients having elective hepatic resections were allocated randomly to receive lidocaine-esketamine or placebo from induction of anaesthesia until the end of surgery. After surgery, patients allocated to lidocaine-esketamine were given a continuous infusion of lidocaine with esketamine for 72 h. All patients received transversus abdominis plane blocks with ropivacaine 2 mg.kg-1 after induction of …

El Leñador, September 2026, El Leñador Staff

El Leñador Newspaper

El Leñador is an English and Spanish newspaper produced by Humboldt State University students. Our staff cover and provide news to Latinx and other diverse communities on campus and in Humboldt County. We are committed to providing relevant news and expanding the representations and stories told about people of color and other marginalized groups. Our work helps create more social, political and cultural diversity in local media.

El Leñador es un periodico en español y inglés producido por estudiantes de la Universidad Estatal de Humboldt. Nuestro personal cubre y provee noticias a la comunidad Latinx y otras comunidades diversas en …

Complete Issue 11.3, Christopher Tremblay, Moya Malcolm, Patrick J. O'Connor Phd, Laura Owen, Diana Camilo

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Parents In Shaping The Postsecondary Decisions For Their Students, Jihye Lee, Robert Toutkoushian, Jennifer Stephens

Journal of College Access

Most research on college decision-making frames students as the primary decision-makers, often overlooking the role of parents. Using data from the 2009 High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS:09), this study examines how two dimensions of parental involvement, aspirational alignment between students and parents and family decision-making roles, are associated with students’ postsecondary trajectories. Results indicate that parental involvement operates in stage-sensitive ways: partial aspirational alignment is associated with a higher likelihood of college application, whereas enrollment is most strongly associated with shared aspirations and collaborative decision-making. Overall, the findings highlight college choice as a relational and staged process and underscore the …

Applying Their Capital: Family Motivation And Tension Among Housing-Insecure Undergraduate Students, Vanessa Pena, Susan P. Farruggia, Nicole A. Perez

Journal of College Access

This study examined how housing-insecure undergraduates draw on community cultural wealth to persist in higher education. Findings show that students’ family relationships were deeply embedded in their educational experiences, functioning as a source of motivation and tension. Campus housing emerged as a critical institutional resource that alleviated financial and emotional burdens for both students and their families. Furthermore, campus housing proved to be a source of relief and an important intervention for both students and their families that led to the activation of familial, navigational, and aspirational capital. The results offer implications for supporting students facing housing insecurity and student …

Smart Service Experience And Consumer Loyalty In Saudi Arabian Smart Hotels: The Mediating Roles Of Tourist Happiness And Value Co-Creation, Fahad M. Alhuqbani

Journal of Global Business Insights

Drawing on Cognitive-Affective System Theory (CAST), this study investigates the mediating roles of tourist happiness and willingness to co-create value in the relationship between Smart Service Experience (SSE) and loyalty among consumers of smart hotels in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from 367 guests who had stayed in a smart hotel in Saudi Arabia within the past year and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. The findings reveal that SSE positively influences both tourist happiness and co-creation willingness, which in turn drive guest loyalty. Notably, the affective pathway through tourist happiness exerts a stronger effect on loyalty than …

The Competence Architecture Of Nonprofit Organizations: A Conceptual Model Linking Leadership, Governance, And Human-Capital Systems To Institutional Credibility, Franklin Livingston

Journal of Global Business Insights

Nonprofit organizations are judged through the competence of visible leaders, yet organizational competence is not reducible to the capabilities of any single executive. Reviews of nonprofit capacity report inconsistent associations between organizational capacity and performance. This conceptual article proposes a theoretical explanation for that inconsistency, one that remains compatible with methodological explanations. It develops a model of nonprofit competence architecture in which competence is an output that organizational systems continuously produce, correct, retain, and make visible, not a stock organizations possess. A theory-synthesis design specifies four mechanisms: Leadership-formation systems generate managerial capability; governance systems detect and partially compensate for capability …

Technological Appropriation As A Strategic Policy In Smes: Building Anticipatory Capabilities For Digital Transformation, Hernán Cornejo

Journal of Global Business Insights

Abstract: Technological appropriation has become a critical strategic issue for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) undergoing digital transformation. While many SMEs adopt digital tools to address immediate operational needs, fewer succeed in embedding them into organizational routines, strategic decision-making, and long-term adaptation. This study examines technological appropriation as a key mechanism through which SMEs convert digital adoption into strategic organizational capability. Drawing on the literature on technological appropriation, dynamic capabilities, and strategic foresight, the paper proposes and empirically tests an integrated model. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a survey of 198 SMEs from Argentina, Chile, and Colombia with 15 …

J Mich Dent Assoc Sept. 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200-plus members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The September 2026 (Volume 108, No. 9) issue of the Journal is published in print format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This full compilation of the September 2026 Journal of the Michigan Dental Association features the deans' reports from the …

The Damage Done: How The Disease Model Of Addiction Harms Marginalized People In Canada, Sara Gordon

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Algorithms In Battle: Ai, International Relations, And Future Warfare, Nikos Koutsoupias, Kyriakos Mikelis, Marios Nosios

Journal of Strategic Security

This study examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming contemporary warfare, with a particular emphasis on its applications in unmanned aerial platforms, sensor networks, and decision-support architectures. The analysis examines current operational uses, the algorithmic processes that enable them, and empirical insights drawn from the Russian-Ukrainian War. Findings indicate that machine learning enhances key military functions, including surveillance, navigation, targeting, fire coordination, and maintaining communication networks under conditions of electronic disruption. The emergence of loitering munitions and autonomous navigation systems reflects a pattern of incremental innovation, wherein automation augments operational efficiency without displacing human authority in decisions involving …