Digital Commons Network^™

A Librarian's War The Man Who Fought World War Ii With Books And Brought The Joy Of Reading To Millions (2026), Molly Guptill Manning

Books

The untold story of Ray Trautman, the Greatest Generation's librarian, who made reading central to the Allied fight in World War II and transformed the role of books in American life.

Though unknown to most readers, no one made a greater contribution to reading habits in America than Ray Trautman. Growing up in the rural Midwest, Trautman looked to reading as a way of exploring the world--as both escape and enlightenment--and yet, as with many Americans, discovered that with no community library and limited funds finding books was a challenge. This sparked in him a lifelong passion to build libraries …

Steering Carbon Farming Transition: An Agent-Based Exploration Of Incentive Mechanisms, Elisa Grugni, Davide Bazzana, Mattia Guerini

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

Carbon farming comprises land-use practices that enhance carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil quality and long-term agricultural sustainability. Despite its potential as a naturebased solution to climate change, its large-scale adoption is hindered by high upfront costs, monitoring challenges, and carbon permanence risks. This paper develops an agent-based model to study the adoption dynamics of carbon farming under alternative policy designs. Farmers allocate land across different agricultural practices, including conventional farming, crop rotation, and afforestation, each characterized by distinct economic and environmental implications. The model is used as a laboratory to study the agricultural transition under …

Recruiting Research Participants With Community Research Partners, Will Hoard, Krys Standley, Catherine Ipsen, Rtc: Rural

Independent Living and Community Participation

This fact sheet examines recruitment experiences from the Rural Health Pathways Project, a community-based research initiative partnering with Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to deliver health promotion programming for people with disabilities in rural communities. Through interviews with staff from seven participating CILs, the project identified key factors that influenced recruitment success and challenges. Findings highlighted the importance of trusted relationships, team-based planning, clear communication about participant benefits, and individualized enrollment support. Common barriers included scheduling uncertainty related to study design, technology navigation difficulties, time commitments, language barriers, and concerns about sharing personal information. These insights demonstrate the critical role …

Closing Gaps In Urban Trauma Systems: Outcomes Of An Inner-City Community Emergency Department Multidisciplinary Trauma Protocol, Kory S. London, Alan Cherney, Sulabh Neupane, H. Alex Tomlinson, Joseph Cervone, Elaine Qian, Casey Fishman, Jennifer Davis, Sean Mcgann, Varsha Goswami, George Koenig, Frederick Randolph

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Non-trauma center (NTC) emergency departments (EDs) play regular but underappreciated roles in the management of severely injured patients, yet many lack formal protocols to guide care. We describe the implementation and outcomes of a structured trauma evaluation and transfer protocol at an urban NTC emergency department.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary trauma protocol was implemented on April 1, 2023, at an urban NTC, supported by a Level I trauma center, 2.5 miles apart. The study period ran from January 1, 2019, to June 30, 2025. Using pre-post study design, 62 patients treated prior to implementation were compared with 49 post-intervention patients. …

A National Study Of Tetanus Vaccine Knowledge, Receipt And Acceptance Among Emergency Department Patients, Francesco Sergi, Elisa Vaezazizi, Shaokui Ge, Christopher Alvarez, Jesus Torres, Brian Chinnock, Michael Gottlieb, Vijaya Arun Kumar, Kristin L. Rising, Efrat Kean, Stephanie Eucker, Robert M. Rodriguez

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap, "tetanus") vaccine is recommended for adults every 10 years. In a national sample of adult emergency department (ED) patients, we sought to determine (1) knowledge and up-to-date status of the tetanus vaccine; (2) reasons for nonreceipt of the vaccine; (3) vaccine acceptability if offered in the ED; and (4) reasons for nonacceptance in the ED if offered.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey study among non-critically ill adults at 10 US EDs, asking questions about knowledge, receipt, and acceptability of the tetanus vaccine. Vaccine receipt was determined by self-report. Aggregate responses are reported as …

Bison Health Network Newsletter, September 2026, Bison Health Network

Bison Health Network News

Newsletter Content:

Updates
Network Demographics
Health Highlight: Parasites (Part 2)

An Observational Study Of The Effect Of Concomitant Levetiracetam On Apixaban Concentrations In A Hospital Cohort, Chazmyn Riley, Kevin Lam, Cristina Micale, Lynda Thomson, Douglas F. Stickle, Walter K. Kraft

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite the lack of evidence of a mechanism-based drug interaction, some professional organizations have advised caution coadministering apixaban and levetiracetam. Eligible patients taking apixaban with or without levetiracetam for any indication for at least 72 h were screened from the electronic medical records. Plasma samples from 77 patients were retrieved from salvaged clinical blood collections. Apixaban minimum and maximum concentrations (Cmin and Cmax) were compared using descriptive statistics in R. While the median Cmin and Cmax appear to be marginally elevated, there were no apparent differences relative to apixaban alone. These findings suggest no apparent interaction of levetiracetam and support …

The Cross-Section Of Empirical Evidence And Personal Experience: A Deeper Look At School Resource Officers Through The Lens Of Demarcus A. Jenkins' Research On The Public Opinion Of Their Potential Removal From Public Schools, Quin Armstrong

University Honors Theses

Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter and Anti-Police movements, there were many discussions across the nation about possible changes to law enforcement operations. Among these discussions included specific discussions about what to do about law enforcement officers stationed in schools. These law enforcement officers are known as school resource officers, or SROs.

The focus of this thesis is specifically on Portland, Oregon's Portland Public School (PPS) district's decision to sever ties with the Portland Police Bureau, and what may have contributed to that ultimate decision. This is accomplished through an analysis of a research paper written by fellow Criminal Justice …

Stat 216.50: Introduction To Statistics, Scott Davis

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

A Surrogate-Model Methodology For Thermoacoustic Engine Design Using Multilayer Perceptrons, Ángela Alonso-Solórzano, Ana I. Velasco-Fernández, Carmen Iniesta, José Luis Olazagoitia, Jordi Vinolas

Artículos científicos

Thermoacoustic Stirling-like cycle engines offer a compelling solution for converting residual heat into usable energy through the generation of acoustic waves, providing a mechanically simple and environmentally friendly alternative. While recent developments have demonstrated the feasibility of using artificial neural networks for performance prediction, limited research has addressed the effect of training data volume or the experimental validation of these models. This study investigates the use of artificial neural networks to predict the acoustic power delivered to the power extraction branch in thermoacoustic engines operating at low drive ratios, using data generated through DeltaEC (Design Environment for Low-Amplitude Thermoacoustic Energy …

Capacity Development Priorities For Enduring Biodiversity Conservation: A New Methodology And Evidence From Peru, Katia Nakamura, Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, Johanna Eklund, Jenny Brooks, Daniel C. Miller

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Capacity development is essential for long-term biodiversity conservation. Yet knowledge of conservation capacity development needs and priorities remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with high biodiversity and limited institutional capacity. This study addresses this gap by identifying and analyzing the priorities highlighted by conservation professionals in Peru. Using Q-methodology and open-ended surveys, we found three distinct perspectives from 27 conservation professionals working in Peru: strengthening legal enforcement and financing, shifting power to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and embedding conservation values in public norms. These perspectives reflect fundamentally different theories of change, yet converge in their call for …

Green Information Systems Adoption And Business Outcomes In Ugandan Smes: An Extended Theory Of Planned Behaviour Approach, Sonny Juma Nyeko, Samali Mlay, Cosmas Ogenmungu, Abdallah Ibrahim Nyero

Business Management Review

The study assesses the relationship between TPB antecedents and GIS business outcomes in SMEs, using an expanded TPB framework. Researchers gathered data from SMEs via a survey and analysed it using PLS-SEM. The framework used in the study explains 58.5% of the differences in GIS business outcomes. The results reveal that subjective norms, attitude, benefits, and obstacles are significant predictors of GIS business outcomes such as ecological IT practices, although perceived behavioural control displays an insignificant negative relationship. The study extended the TPB model by incorporating GIS benefits and GIS obstacles as additional factors influencing GIS adoption, business outcomes, …

Elwood's Book: A Story With A Surplus Of Synonyms, Ample Alliteration, And Animal Antics At The Sequoia Park Zoo, Kerri Center Chavez

Fiction and Poetry

Welcome to Sequoia Park Zoo, where the flamingos have a lot to say! They gab, gossip, chatter, and squawk about every animal in the zoo. But Elwood is a flamingo of a different feather. While his friends are busy making noise, Elwood would rather settle into his favorite chair with a good book and let his imagination take flight. Join Elwood for a wildly wordy adventure filled with galloping goats, sightseeing salmon, bread-baking banana slugs, and plenty more animal antics. Along the way, young readers will discover silly synonyms, playful alliteration, fascinating animal facts, and new words to explore. A …

September 2026, Office Of Research

Research Update

No abstract provided.

The Roddey Mcmillan Record - September 2026, Winthrop University

The RMR 2020-2029

The Roddey McMillan Record (RMR) is Winthrop’s monthly multicultural student publication. The RMR has been a significant voice of the minority population of the Winthrop community since its creation by Gail Harris in April 1986. It promotes awareness and understanding of issues concerning minorities for the prosperity of the entire Winthrop community. The purpose of the RMR is to shine light on the many diverse cultures at Winthrop, focusing on issues, concerns and happenings of those who represent the multicultural community on campus. The Roddey McMillan Record is named after Dr. Cynthia Roddey and Atty, Sheila McMillan. Cynthia Roddey was …

Gender-Responsive Knowledge Management Strategies For Vegetable Farmers Of Atok, Benguet , Philippines, Marianne R. De Luna, Farawyn E. Sarmiento

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Knowledge transfer in Philippine vegetable production often follows centralized pathways that neglect gendered roles, perpetuating productivity gaps. This study evaluated gender-responsive knowledge management pathways and technology adoption among smallholder vegetable farmers in Atok, Benguet, Philippines. Using a mixed-methods approach combining household surveys (n = 85), Social Network Analysis (SNA), vignettes, and key informant interviews, data were disaggregated by sex to map institutional disparities. Results showed that while women farmers demonstrate higher college completion rates (29%), men farmers cultivate larger average plots (0.57 vs. 0.37 ha), have higher off-farm income, and enjoy greater irrigation access (70.69% vs. 59.26%). Additionally, women derive …

Consumer Preferences And Technical Priorities For Salted Chicken Egg Products In West Java, Indonesia: A Quality Function Deployment Approach, Faizal Syahmurman, Roni Kastaman, Devi Maulida Rahmah, Yosini Deliana, Siti Nurhasanah, Efri Mardawati, Boy Macklin Pareira Prawiranegara

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Consumer expectations for salted chicken egg products are multidimensional, making it challenging to systematically translate customer requirements into technical product improvement strategies. The purpose of this study was to determine and rank consumer needs for salted chicken egg products in West Java, Indonesia, and to apply a House of Quality-based Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach to convert these needs into prioritized technical requirements. A total of 120 consumers participated in a structured survey to evaluate 40 customer requirements. The House of Quality planning matrix integrated customer importance, comparative product performance, improvement requirements, and sales-point considerations to determine customer priorities. The …

Effect Of Sprayer Type, Nozzle Selection, And Herbicide Properties On Spray Deposition And Weed Control Efficacy, Mary Joy M. Abit, Analiza Henedina M. Ramirez

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Sprayer application efficiency is influenced by sprayer performance, nozzle characteristics, and herbicide properties, which collectively affect spray deposition and weed control. This study evaluated the effects of backpack sprayer type and nozzle configuration on spray output, droplet characteristics, spray coverage, and deposition under Philippine field conditions and compared these characteristics with weed control responses to glyphosate and glufosinate in separate field experiments. Battery-operated (BO) and hand-pumped (HP) backpack sprayers equipped with flat fan and hollow cone nozzles were evaluated. The BO sprayer provided more consistent spray output and maintained discharge rates closer to the target application volume than the HP …

Impacts Of Land Use Change On Streamflow, Sediment Yield, And Nitrate Loading In A Small Philippine Catchment With Lake Subbasins, Francis Victor T. Panoga, Clarissa Ileana L. Ilao, Maurice A. Duka

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study assessed the impacts of land use changes on streamflow, sediment yield, and nitrate loading in the Macopa River Basin and 2 connected lake subbasins, Sampaloc and Bunot, in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) model was developed using topographic, soil, climate, and land use data from 1997 to 2022, incorporating land use layers for 2003, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Calibration for streamflow (2006 to 2007) showed good agreement with data (NSE = 0.73, R² = 0.80), while validation (2017 to 2018) yielded lower accuracy, reflecting limitations in available observed data. Hindcasting results …

Spatial Dependence Of Technical Efficiency Of Rice Farms In Camagong San Vicente Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., Cabusao, Camarines Sur, Philippines, Anthony James C. Albis, Julieta A. Delos Reyes, Antonio Jesus A. Quilloy, Jaine C. Reyes, Valerien O. Pede

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study assessed the technical efficiency of rice farms and examined how neighboring farms influence productivity among members of the Camagong San Vicente Farmers Irrigators’ Association Inc. in Cabusao, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Employing Stochastic frontier analysis and spatial econometric models, the research identified key determinants of productivity and technical efficiency. Moran’s Index and visual geospatial analysis revealed significant clustering of technical efficiency, confirming spatial dependence among farm locations. The spatial lag model was selected after robust diagnostic tests, including Lagrange multiplier tests, to capture the influence of neighboring farms on individual efficiency levels. Results indicate substantial variability in technical efficiency …

Assessment Of Rabbit Production And Marketing Systems In Selected Regions In Luzon, Philippines, Cristy M. Bueno, Maria Cynthia R. Oliveros, Dinah Pura T. Depositario, Kaito O. Furusho

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Rabbit meat is emerging as an alternative protein source in the Philippines. To strengthen this growing industry, this study assessed existing rabbit production and marketing systems in selected regions in Luzon, Philippines, identifying key challenges and areas for improvement. Survey interviews were conducted with 67 raisers from 6 regions (Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions I, II, III, and IV-A, and the National Capital Region) using convenience sampling. A descriptive cross-sectional design with a mixed-method approach was employed, with data analyzed using descriptive statistics. Respondents were mostly smallhold raisers with ≤50 dam level of New Zealand White and California White as the …

Physical Soil Health Indicators In Paired Certified Organic And Conventional Farms: A Multi-Case Study In The Philippines, Victorino A. Bato, Gina Villegas Pangga

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

There is a common perception that organic products and practices are good for the health of consumers, plants, the environment, and particularly the soil. In the Philippines, organic agriculture was enacted into law (i.e., Republic Act No. 10068) in order to encourage farmers to shift to organic farming and reap its benefits, including better soil health through improved soil physical properties. This study compared certain soil physical properties of certified organic farms in the Philippines with those of a conventional cropping system. Results showed significantly higher soil aggregate stability (high values of percent water-stable aggregates and mean weight diameter, both …

Assessment Of Muscular Activities And Working Postures During Common Maintenance Operations On The Ronnie Baugh Tractor (Oggun Ii), John Geoffrey T. Edrozo, John Kenneth P. Punongbayan, Josefa Angelie D. Revilla, Diana Marie R. De Silva

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Maintenance activities are among the highest-risk occupations, with hazards arising from machinery repair, task design, and workload demands, underscoring the need for ergonomic interventions to mitigate these risks. The recent introduction of the Ronnie Baugh Tractor (RBT) offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional tractors, but limited knowledge of its design highlights the need for rigorous testing to ensure its safety and effectiveness in farm operations. This study evaluated the muscular and postural workload associated with common maintenance tasks in operating the RBT. Thirteen (13) male participants performed 4 maintenance tasks: engine oil replacement, engine oil filter replacement, pre-start-up checks, and …

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.

Improving Public Perceptions Of Dairy Production Through On-Farm Educational Tours, Drew Swartz, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Jaydee Gunnell, Elise Jenson, Dylan Waldron, Jenna Dyckman

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah dairy producers identified public perceptions as a top concern. Utah State University Extension partnered with Cache County organizations to offer dairy farm tours. Participants reported increased knowledge, more favorable perceptions, and stronger intentions to engage with agriculture, supporting experiential education as a means to strengthen understanding of dairy production.

Piloting The Strong Bodies Strength Training Program In Utah, Gabriela Murza, Jenna Dyckman, Cris Meier, Emma Parkhurst, Sadie Wilde, Christina Pay, Naomi Brower, Cindy Nelson

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Muscle and bone loss occurs as we age, impacting health and independence. We evaluated a pilot 12-week strength training program for older adults in Utah. Participants showed improved fitness metrics and increased confidence. Results demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and public value in expanding access to evidence-based exercise that supports healthy aging.

Preliminary Data: Old Trails Fire--Field Reconnaissance (Rpd1195), Rapid, University Of Washington

Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium Repository

The .ZIP file contains preliminary field reconnaissance findings from the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington, including geospatial datasets and the source code used to support the project's interactive web map. The data and observations reflect work completed through September 4 and should be considered preliminary. As additional analysis and information become available, updates will be published as new records in the Wildfire Consortium Repository.

Access the interactive map: https://designsafe-ci.github.io/rapid-fire-field-reconnaissance/

Access the DesignSafe-CI rapid-fire-field-reconnaissance GitHub repository: https://github.com/DesignSafe-CI/rapid-fire-field-reconnaissance/

Gis Methods To Distinguish Between Land Changes From Smallholder Agriculture And Mining In A Time Series For A Tropical Protected Area Forest, Pacifique Mubamba Madibi, Jean-Paul Kibambe Lubamba, Aiyin Zhang, Robert Gilmore Pontius

Geography

Tropical protected areas face pressures from smallholder agriculture and illegal mining, yet many monitoring approaches reduce these dynamics to net forest loss, obscuring whether change is alternating or persistent. In the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the zoning plan allows only nonperennial crops in agriculture zones and forbids mining throughout the reserve, we analyzed annual Joint Research Centre–Tropical Moist Forest maps from 2000 to 2024 at 30 m spatial resolution. We applied Trajectory Analysis and DynamicPATCH across three study zones: agriculture, mining, and hunting–conservation. Trajectory Analysis classifies each pixel’s twenty-five-year non-forest time series into categories such …