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Provost’S Scholarly Dissemination Report: Une Authored Publications February 1, 2026, Through May 1, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Scholarly dissemination report of UNE-authored publications during the period of February 1, 2026, through May 1, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, June 2026.

Intellectual Humility By Design: How Courts Earn Legitimacy And Improve Decisions, Steve Leben

Faculty Works

Courts decide disputes as one branch of our government. Their authority depends not only on getting the outcome right but also on public acceptance of their authority. In a time when confidence in institutions is under pressure, courts cannot assume that legitimacy will take care of itself. They must earn it—case by case—through both the substance of what they decide and the way they exercise authority in public view.

A large body of procedural-justice research explains one side of that equation. People are more willing to accept court decisions, even unfavorable ones, when the process communicates voice, neutrality, respect, and …

Provost’S Media Report February 16 – May 12, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Report of UNE media appearances during the period of February 16, 2026 through May 12, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, June 2026.

The Mosaic- 2026, University Of Mississippi Medical Center

The Mosaic

This journal comprises written and illustrated art from students, residents, faculty, staff, and patients.

After Advisory Votes: Exploring Alternatives For Voter Engagement In Washington Tax Policy, Emma Morse

Washington Law Review

In 2023, the Washington State legislature repealed the state’s advisory vote system, which allowed taxpayers to express their opinions on enacted tax measures. This system was the first of its kind in the United States, a novel concept that no other state had implemented. Although the advisory votes were non-binding, they provided a platform for public input on tax policy decisions. The repeal of this system raises important questions about voter participation in tax policy, particularly in a state already known for its regressive tax structure. This presents an opportunity to consider whether Washington voters should have input on tax …

Enhancing Postsecondary Outcomes For Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: A Design-Based Mixed Methods Approach To Transition Planning, Kate M. Schrum

Dissertations

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) experienced significantly lower postsecondary outcomes when compared to same-aged peers. These outcomes included lower graduation rates, higher unemployment rates, and difficulty establishing independent living arrangements (Wagner & Newman, 2015). Following a human-centered, design-based approach, the scholar-practitioner found a lack of consistent and meaningful transition support specifically designed for students with EBD. Working with a stakeholder team of educational professionals directly involved in supporting transition for students with EBD at an alternative special education program, the scholar-practitioner developed a "Transition Toolkit". The toolkit contained scaffolded grade-level checklists (for grades 6–12) with self-advocacy and goal-setting …

Real Promise For False Claims: A Whistleblower Litigation Strategy To Reward Investigative Journalism, Frank D. Lomonte

Washington Law Review

Every year, investigative reporters uncover stories of waste, fraud, and corruption, alerting the government to taxpayer ripoffs that had previously gone undiscovered or ignored. For decades, non-journalists have been reaping windfall rewards—sometimes in the millions—by using false-claims statutes to bring whistleblower actions on the government’s behalf. With news organizations struggling for their economic survival, and efforts to secure alternative financial support through government bailouts faltering, is it time for journalists to seek a share of the money they recoup for taxpayers by becoming plaintiffs?

This Article explores the possibilities, and downside risks, of using the federal False Claims Act, and …

Standardizing Tms Intensity Across Different Coils Using Individualized Electric Field Modeling, Evgenii Kim, Mohammad Daneshzand, Keren Zhu, Danyal Fareed Bhutto, Teresa Jacobson Kimberley, Dylan J. Edwards, Netri Pajankar, Parker Kotlarz, Tommi Raij, Sergey N. Makaroff, Aapo Nummenmaa

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

Quantitative measures for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) intensity are needed to ensure safe and consistent application in therapeutic and research settings. However, resting motor thresholds (rMTs), commonly used to determine stimulation intensity, depend on the coil used. Unless motor mapping and treatment coils are identical, re-thresholding is necessary, increasing patient discomfort and potentially introducing variability across studies. These considerations raise an unresolved fundamental question: does individual rMT reflect a consistent cortical electric field (E-field) magnitude independent of coil geometry? We tested the hypothesis that rMT corresponds to a coil-invariant cortical E-field magnitude and evaluated a computational method for predicting stimulator …

Prompted Props, Human Pipelines: Evaluating Ai-Generated 3d Assets For Game-Ready Environments, Andrew Begemann, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Generative AI systems increasingly promise rapid 3D asset production for game development, yet their practical viability depends on whether generated models can move beyond visual preview into editable, optimized, engine-ready workflows. This article presents a practice-led comparative case study of a stylized fantasy tavern environment produced through two workflows: a human-authored Blender pipeline and an AI-assisted pipeline using Meshy 6 and Hunyuan 3D. Using a fixed asset list, shared visual theme, documented prompts, production-time tracking, visual comparison, topology inspection, UV-map analysis, and post-generation labor accounting, the study evaluates whether text-to-3D tools function as production substitutes, ideation accelerators, or conditional asset …

Exploring Information Literacy Skills, Attitudes, And Barriers Among Medical And Nursing Students In Bahrain: A Mixed-Methods Perspective, Asif Altaf, Suchita N. Dsilva, Simple Sibi Joseph, Fida Mukhtar, Muhammad Zeeshan, Bindhu Nair

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy is essential for evidence-based medical education, yet Gulf-region studies rarely examine student competencies and barriers. This study examines the information literacy skills, attitudes, and challenges faced by medical and nursing students at RCSI Bahrain. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a quantitative survey (n = 343) with qualitative focus groups (n = 10). Students reported high self-perceived information literacy across domains. Time constraints and information overload were identified as the primary barriers to effective communication. Focus group findings highlighted the late introduction of curricula, technical access challenges, and inequities between medical and nursing programs. Library training attendance, academic …

Using Design Thinking To Support Teacher Confidence In Delivering Culturally Relevant Literacy Instruction To Address Literacy Achievement Gaps, Amy Winters

Dissertations

Despite comprehensive efforts over the years, literacy rates in the United States continued to decline, particularly among students from disadvantaged populations. The literacy achievement gap was driven by socioeconomic disparities, inadequate teacher preparation, and a lack of access to evidence-based, culturally relevant materials. In the Main School District (MSD), the scholar practitioner identified while interventions existed, inconsistencies in literacy instruction and a lack of teacher confidence in delivering culturally responsive instruction hindered student progress. The dissertation in practice focused on addressing issues in literacy instruction and achievement while highlighting ways to meet teachers’ needs and provide means to engage all …

Reimagining The Possible: What True Medical-Dental Integration Would Actually Require, Brett Kessler

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

This article explores the structural, financial and educational barriers preventing true medical-dental integration despite the overwhelming evidence linking oral health to systemic disease. Drawing from clinical experience and current research, Dr. Brett Kessler argues that dentistry must move beyond procedure-based care toward a collaborative, outcomes-driven healthcare model. The article examines reimbursement reform, interoperability between medical and dental records, expanded preventive screening and integrated care delivery systems. It also challenges the dental profession to embrace a broader role in whole-body health and chronic disease prevention.

Advancing Personalized Oral–Systemic Care Through Tongue Mapping, Lani Mcbeth Bs, Rdh

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

This article explores the role of Systemic Tongue Mapping (STM) as a complementary tool for advancing personalized oral-systemic care. Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and examined through an integrative healthcare lens, STM encourages clinicians to assess tongue characteristics as potential indicators of systemic imbalance and inflammation. Lani McBeth, BS, RDH, discusses how tongue mapping can enhance patient education, support preventive care conversations and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. This article highlights how dental professionals can expand their role in whole-body wellness and early detection.

Integrated Thinking: How Mdds Is Connecting The Dots For Dentists In Oral-Systemic Health, Bryan Savage

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

In this President’s Message, Dr. Bryan Savage reflects on the growing importance of oral-systemic health education and the evolving role of dentistry in whole-body healthcare. The article highlights MDDS initiatives, including the Integrated Healthcare Summit and Diagnostic Testing Pavilion at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention (RMDC), designed to help clinicians better understand the mouth-body connection and implement preventive strategies in practice. The article calls for dental professionals to remain engaged in lifelong learning and interdisciplinary care.

Apocalypse Of Hannah, Maksim Astashinskiy

Faculty Papers and Publications

Alexander Sperber edited the fifteenth-century Ms. Or. 2210, which is the basis of this text. See: “Or 2210,” British Library, Digitised Manuscripts, accessed January 4, 2022, https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Or_2210. Also, see: Alexander Sperber, The Bible in Aramaic. Volume II: The Former Prophets according to Targum Jonathan (Leiden: Brill, 1959), 96–98; H. Barnstein, “A Noteworthy Targum MS. in the British Museum,” The Jewish Quarterly Review 11, no. 1 (1898), 167–171, https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1450407.pdf.

Eighth-Century Paschal Hymns, Maksim Astashinskiy

Faculty Papers and Publications

The first hymn (The information is taken from footnote 1):   For the Greek text, see Patrologiae cursus completus. ed. Jacques-Paul Migne, Series Graeca: Patrologia Graeca (PG) Vol. 96 (1864), 849, http://patristica.net/graeca/, or Anthologia graeca carminum christianorum. ed. Wilhelm von Christ (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1871), 218, https://archive.org/details/anthologiagraec00paragoog; for a traditional nineteenth-century translation, see: Hymns of the Eastern Church. ed. and trans. John Mason Neale (London: J.T. Hayes, Lyall Place, Eaton Square, 1876), 95–96, https://archive.org/details/hymnseasternchu01nealgoog. The versification is my own.   The second hymn (The information is taken from footnote 6).    For the Greek text, see: Anthologia …

Apostle Patrick’S Orthodoxy: Selection From Hymn Of St. Secundinus (Sechnall), Ca. Fifth Century, Maksim Astashinskiy

Faculty Papers and Publications

The Latin text is drawn from “[13] Hymnus Sancti Patricii Magistri Scotorum,” in: F. E. Warren, ed., The Antiphonary of Bangor: An Early Irish Manuscript in the Ambrosian Library at Milan. Henry Bradshaw Society Vol. 10. (London: Harrison and Sons, St. Martin’s Lane, 1895), 14–16, https://ia800105.us.archive.org/32/items/TheAntiphonaryOfBangor/TheAntiphonaryOfBangor.pdf; also, see: “Incipit Ymnus Sancti Patricii Episcopi Scotorum” in: Robert Atkinson and John Henry Bernard, eds. The Irish ‘Liber hymnorum’: Text and Introduction, Vol. 1 (London: Harrison and Sons, St. Martin’s Lane, London, 1898), 7, 11–12, https://archive.org/details/IrishLiberHymnorumV1.

Late Medieval Saint Valentine’S Day Observance Selection From Christine De Pizan’S Le Dit De La Rose (The Tale Of The Rose), 1402, Maksim Astashinskiy

Faculty Papers and Publications

There are four known manuscript traditions (see below), including a membra disjecta, of Christine de Pizan’s Le Dit de la Rose, see: “Christine de Pizan, Dit de La Rose.” Github.io, 2026, https://ditsma.github.io/Dits-du-Moyen-Age/roseChristine.html: This translation is drawn from Ferdinand Heuckenkamp, Le Dit de la Rose von Christine von Pisan (Halle a. S.: Buchdruckerei des Waisenhauses, 1891), 12–13, 18-19.  https://archive.org/details/LeDitDeLaRose/mode/2up; also, see: La querelle du Roman de la Rose, Le Dit de la Rose, 14 février 1401, anc. st., Bibliotheca Augustana, https://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/gallica/Chronologie/15siecle/Christine/chr_rose.html. 

1. Chantilly, Bibliothèque du Château (Musée Condé), 492-493 (1667-1668), fol. 74ra à 79ra …

Still Can’T Kill My Vibe: A Critical Autoethnography Navigating Anti-Blackness As A Student And Teacher—A Black Queer Educator’S Toolkit Towards Joyful Resistance, Mischelle Brown

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

This critical autoethnography investigates the intersectional realities of navigating anti- Blackness, systemic racism, and heteronormativity within the American educational landscape. Moving chronologically through the dual lenses of student and teacher, this work unpacks the institutional erasure, surveillance, and microaggressions experienced by Black Queer bodies in academic spaces. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Black Queer Feminism (BQF), this study utilized Epistolary Letter Writing, Education Journey Mapping and Community Cultural Wealth to expose how the education system perpetuates anti-Blackness, white supremacist, heteronormative, patriarchal ideologies. Yet rather than centering trauma as the definitive narrative, this autoethnography elevates the concept of “Joy as …

Beyond High Fives And Yearbook Photos: From Attitudes To Inclusion, Adaptive Leadership, And Relationships In A Unified Champion School, Monique Andrea Paris

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

The goal of the Special Olympics Unified Partnership Program is to foster inclusive future leaders and to build social connections between students with and without cognitive or intellectual disabilities within a school community.

Existing research has focused on attitudinal outcomes. This dissertation addresses 3 research questions: (1) How do Unified Partners construct and articulate their understanding of inclusion and belonging for students with disabilities at a Unified Champion School?, (2) How do Unified Partners define their roles within Unified Programs or integrated settings, and maximize the potential of others within the space?, and (3) How do Unified Partners describe their …

Affection-Based Strategies And Their Impact On Latinx Male High School Students, Nohemy Sánchez Ortega

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

This qualitative research examined how high school teachers employ affection-based strategies and how male Latinx students perceive and make meaning of these practices within learning environments. Informed by attachment theory, culturally responsive teaching, and rehumanizing education frameworks, this research examines relational practices that foster engagement, a stronger sense of belonging, and academic growth.

Data was collected through research-created semi-structured interviews with high school educators and upperclassmen male Latinx students. Additionally, all participants completed educational journey maps that portrayed their lived educational experiences. The analysis identified four categories of affection-based strategies used by educators: material strategies (e.g., providing resources and tangible …

Scaling The Production Of Bromine-76 And Bromine-77 Labeled Poly-Adp-Ribose-Polymerase-Targeted Theranostics For Preclinical Use., Taylor R Johnson, Hong Beom Lee, Yngve Guttormsen, Jason C Mixdorf, Todd E Barnhart, Jonathan W Engle, Paul A Ellison

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Bromine-76, a positron emitting radionuclide for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and bromine-77, an Auger electron (Ae) emitting radionuclide, make a unique halogen theranostic pair. These isotopes have previously been used to synthesize a rucaparib-derived, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor ([76/77Br]RD1). As [77Br]bromide activity in [76/77Br]RD1 radiosyntheses increased, coincident with solid target hardware changes in our facility, radiopharmaceutical yield became less reproducible. This work describes the modifications to this hardware, distillation procedures, and [76/77Br]bromide solution chemistry to enable reproducible production of preclinical quantities of [76/77Br]RD1.

Results: Isotopically enriched cobalt selenide targets had production yields of 50.7 ± 8.7 MBq/µAh for bromine-76 …

Content Matters, Context Matters: Unraveling Behavior Dynamics In An Online Health Community For Tobacco Cessation, Tavleen Singh, Runzhi Zhou, Kayo Fujimoto, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: The objective of this research was to examine the content and context-specific information diffusion patterns underlying communication pertaining to tobacco use from online health communities (OHCs).

Materials and methods: We utilized a mixed-methods approach comprising multidimensional qualitative coding to identify themes and communication attributes, automated text analysis leveraging advances in large language models (LLMs) to classify message content and context, and social network analysis to examine the dynamics of peer interactions in this study. Using QuitNet, an online tobacco cessation forum (n = 64 632 members, n = 2.39 million forum messages spanning 2000-2015), we extracted message-level features …

Satellite-Based Forest Structure Metrics As A Predictive Tool For Biodiversity In Hyperdiverse Tropical Forests: A Test Of The Habitat Heterogeneity Hypothesis In The Tropics, David Luther, Marconi Campos-Cerqueira, Aline Medeiros, Aidan Mccarthy, Emilia Roberts, Xiaoxuan Li, Paulo Bobrowiec, Jared Wolfe, Gabriel Augusto Leite, Tomaz Nascimento De Melo, José W. Ribeiro, Thiago Bicudo, Konrad Wessels

Michigan Tech Publications

Tropical forests hold the most species yet face the greatest threats and knowledge gaps. To improve tropical biodiversity knowledge we combined satellite-based LiDAR with in situ bird, mammal, and acoustic soundscape data, via camera and audio recorders, at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in the Amazon rainforest and tested the habitat heterogeneity-diversity hypothesis as a predictor of alpha diversity in tropical forests. GEDI spaceborne LiDAR was used to assess the predictive power of vertical forest structure on acoustic diversity and species diversity in lowland tropical forests. In 4 months, we detected 201 bird and 35 mammal species representing …

Influences On Growth And Survival Of Seedlings Planted In Black Ash Stands Of Northern Michigan And Wisconsin, Seth W. Davenport, Dustin R. Bronson, Kathryn L. Hofmeister, Randall K. Kolka, Grady J. Boyle, Fengjing Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

The invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a threat to all North American ash (genus Fraxinus) trees, but wetland ecosystems dominated by black ash (F. nigra) are of particular concern to land managers. The rapid and extensive death of black ash on the landscape causes unprecedented ecological and hydrological impacts to cascade through the ecosystem. A strategy to combat such impacts and maintain these wetlands as forested is to underplant these stands with seedlings of alternative species that are capable of maturing into canopy trees. This study planted seedlings of seven non-ash tree species in black ash wetlands across …

The Dual Dilemma Of Language Barriers Faced By International Students In Higher Education: A Literature Review, Song Wang

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This literature review summarizes and analyzes existing research on the language barriers faced by Chinese and Indian international students in American higher education. Drawing on previous research in second language acquisition and academic English, this paper summarizes the differences in language education between China and India and how limited academic English preparation impacts students' participation and learning experiences in American higher education classrooms. The paper also explores how higher education institutions can address these challenges through language support and learning environments. Overall, this literature review emphasizes the role of institutional practices in influencing the academic language development of international students.

De Astronomiā: A Comparison Of Kepler’S Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae And Ancient Astronomical Literature, Jillian Lees Darcy

Classics Undergraduate Senior Theses

My thesis is part translation and part analysis. I chose to translate an early modern astronomical text written in Neo-Latin and analyze this text through ancient writing on astronomy and cosmology. I chose to translate Kepler’s Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae because of the many ancient allusions he makes in the introduction. While this text is valued for its scientific content and contributions, but I was interested in Kepler’s literary strategies, specifically how he engages in authorial self-fashioning, and how classical strategies of knowledge construction are distorted or mirrored in their style and content.  After my translation, I will analyze Kepler’s literary …

Teaching Inquiry As Conversation: Bringing Wonder To Life, Barbara K. Stripling, Darryl Toerian

Learning Hub

In Teaching Inquiry as Conversation, Barbara Stripling and Darryl Toerien invite school librarians, classroom teachers, and education leaders into a deeper conversation about what inquiry can make possible for learners. Building on the Stripling Model of Inquiry and Toerien’s FOSIL framework, the book presents reflective inquiry as more than an academic process. It is a whole-child approach that helps students develop curiosity, identity, cultural responsiveness, voice, agency, and lifelong learning skills.

In their ALiVE! Library Project interview with Dr. David Loertscher, Stripling and Toerien discuss inquiry as a communal process of coming to know and understand the world. Their …

Test Bench Pcb Design For A Vlsi Grid Cell Chip, Nicholas Bruk, Jason Alexandar

Electrical Engineering

This report presents the design, implementation, and validation of a custom printed circuit board (PCB) test bench for a VLSI grid cell emulation chip. The final board provides two independently adjustable 5V supplies using LM317 linear regulators, eleven potentiometer-controlled bias voltages, high-impedance buffering of analog outputs via an MCP6022 dual operational amplifier, and buffering of digital outputs using a 74HC244 buffer IC. The design includes a 40-pin DIP socket for the VLSI chip, extensive test-point headers for probing, and a 9V battery input for portable operation. Five fully functional boards were fabricated using ExpressPCB and assembled with through-hole components. An …

Design And Parametric Testing Of A Transimpedance Amplifier For Low-Power Biomedical Applications, Stanlon Tan, William Chung, Brandon Wu

Electrical Engineering

This project developed and evaluated an optical sensing system for detecting changes associated with glucose concentration. The system combined a laser-diode, cuvette sample holder, photodiode, resistive-feedback transimpedance amplifier, high-resolution analog-to-digital converter, and microcontroller. Parametric testing evaluated the effects of input current and feedback resistance on transimpedance gain, output range, and linearity. Firmware was developed to configure the ADC, average repeated conversions, monitor measurement variation, convert raw digital counts into voltage using a source-meter calibration equation, and compare sample measurements with a water reference. A cuvette enclosure maintained alignment between the laser-diode, sample, and photodiode while reducing external optical interference. Testing …