Digital Commons Network^™

The Recent Rash Of Biotechnology Risks: A Call To Fortify Force Capability, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary looks at recent incidents that highlight emerging national security risks posed by advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology. The discovery of suspicious biological materials stored in a residential facility in Reedley, California, and reports that a rare neurotoxin may have been used against Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny illustrate how barriers to acquiring and operationalizing biological and chemical agents are declining. Tools such as gene editing, modular DNA assembly, laboratory automation, and AI-enabled biological design are expanding the range of actors capable of producing or modifying bioagents while complicating detection and attribution. Strengthened biodefense measures, including “biosecurity-by-design,” improved …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 02/17/2026, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

When Tokenized Real-World Assets Collide With Real World, Biying Cheng, David J. Reiss

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The city of Detroit filed a public nuisance lawsuit in July of last year in the Michigan Circuit Court for the Third Judicial Circuit against Real Token, its co-founders and 165 affiliated entities, alleging building code and safety violations across over 400 Detroit residential properties.[1] RealT is a blockchain real estate platform that sells fractional interests in individual U.S. rental properties through the issuance of crypto security tokens.

On July 22, the judge issued a temporary restraining order — later converted into a preliminary injunction on Nov. 4 — barring RealT from collecting rent, pursuing evictions without a certificate of …

Stress Management And Resiliency Program For Accelerated Bsn Students In A Dedicated Education Unit, Marcela Alvarez-Lazo

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: About 12-25% of newly graduated nurses will leave nursing within the first-year post-graduation. These statistics surrounding nursing retention are alarming and are not expected to improve, as 900,000 nurses are projected to depart from nursing by the year 2027. Addressing the underlying issues are critical in making a real impact to increase retention.

Aim: This quality improvement project aims to integrate a Stress Management and Resiliency. Program for accelerated BSN nursing students. The project aims to apply a CBT-based program to increase the knowledge of principles of stress and resilience for nursing students and preceptors, decrease stress, increase resilience, …

Caregiving Experiences Of Latino And Caucasian Dementia Caregivers Amid Pandemic, Alexis Ross

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

More than 6.7 million American older adults are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and related dementias (Alzheimer’s Association, 2023). Caregivers for community dwelling persons living with dementia (PWD) are usually family members such as a spouse or offspring. Resources such as adult day care centers, in-home supportive services, and family support groups were widely used before the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the California ‘Stay-At-Home’ administrative order during the early pandemic, such necessary support services were forced to close.

The purpose of this study was to identify similarities and differences in caregiving experiences between Latino caregivers and non-Hispanic White caregivers of community dwelling persons …

The Effects Of Patient Care In Relation To Toxic Workplace Environments, Kayla Fitzgerald

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Bullying in the workplace setting is a significant issue that can severely impact one’s career. Bullying can be demonstrated in several forms- such as verbal abuse, isolation, intimidation, and physical harm. Specific to nursing practice, workplace bullying is shown to have negative effects on mental health, patient care, and overall job satisfaction. While there are no definite means that organizations will take complete action towards this ongoing issue, several implementations can be instilled to reduce the incidence of workplace bullying.

Methods: In this project, studies of negative work environments, specifically workplace bullying, and patient care were critiqued and synthesized. …

Exploring The Impact Of Intersectional Identity On Maternal Morbidity/Birth Outcomes Among Afro-Latinas In Florida, Alexa Parra, Cynthia Lebron, Michaela Larson, Yue Pan, Jonell Potter, Hudson Santos

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: The “Hispanic/Latina Paradox" is a phenomenon where Latina women and their infants have perinatal and birth outcomes similar to those of White women. This is often seen as a protective mechanism that helps reduce maternal health inequities. However, this paradox overlooks the fact that there are different subgroups of Latina women, including Afro-Latinas, who are often neglected when addressing racial disparities related to perinatal birth outcomes in the US. The intersectionality of multiple minority identities may put Afro-Latinas at a disadvantage in terms of perinatal health outcomes.

Objective: Determine differences in maternal morbidity, including pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes, and …

Screening For Postpartum Depression At A Suburban Chiropractic Clinic, Emma Stedronsky, Mary Degrote Goering

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: The pregnancy and postpartum period are crucial times to evaluate for mental health conditions. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that providers screen for perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD) at least once during pregnancy and once during the postpartum period using a validated screening tool. A chiropractic clinic in the upper Midwestern United States identified an anecdotal increase in mental health concerns in their pregnant and postpartum patient population since the COVID-19 pandemic. This project utilized interprofessional collaboration by implementing PPD screening at a chiropractic office according to the recommended guidelines using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression …

Aiw26s: Linkedin Optimization Using Ai, Saisumedha Billapati

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This workshop was part of the PEAAII and SAC AI Workshop Series at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The session focused on using artificial intelligence to improve LinkedIn profiles and professional branding. Participants learned how to use AI tools to enhance summaries, keywords, and overall digital presence for career development.

Alaska Earthquake Center Quarterly Review July-September 2025, Heather Mcfarlin, Beth Grassi, Austin Holland, Nate Murphy, Elisabeth Nadin, Carolyn Parcheta, Michael West

Alaska Earthquake Center Reports

This series of technical quarterly reports from the Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC) includes detailed summaries and updates on Alaska seismicity, the AEC seismic network and stations, fieldwork, our online presence, public outreach, and lists publications and presentations by AEC staff. Multiple AEC staff members contributed to this report.

Lymphatic Pumping Failure In The Arm Precedes Dermal Backflow And Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema, Melissa B Aldrich, Meghan E Mcwain, Simona F Shaitelman, Rian E Kuhns, John C Rasmussen, Wendy A Woodward, Sarah M Desnyder, Wenyaw Chan, Eva M Sevick-Muraca

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background

Breast cancer patients who undergo regional nodal irradiation therapy (RNI) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy or lumpectomy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) frequently encounter breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. Previously, near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRF-LI) detection of dermal backflow, or retrograde lymphatic flow into initial lymphatics, was shown to precede clinical BCRL diagnosis by 8–23 months. Herein, we hypothesize that lymphatic pump failure is responsible for dermal backflow and may be a target to prevent onset of BCRL symptoms.

Methods

Arm lymphatics in 51 patients with locally advanced breast cancer were …

Front Matter, Editors Of Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

Volume 45, Issue 4

Non-Waivability In Labour Law: A Foundational Principle In Transition, Guy Davidov, Cynthia Estlund

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS SECURED IN LEGISLATION cannot be waived by employee consent. This is almost a trite proposition, a truism that labour lawyers and students usually take for granted.

Non-Waivability In Labour Law: An Australian Perspective, Joellen Riley Munton

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

Australian industrial relations laws traditionally provided detailed mandatory standards through a system of arbitrated occupation-based awards. In the years since a shift to enterprise bargaining, the system has tolerated a greater level of flexibility, even in the way that legislated minima are framed. The options for waiving otherwise mandatory standards are, however, limited by procedural protections. The Fair Work Commission maintains a supervisory role to ensure that workers are “better off overall” as a consequence of their bargains. This article explains the many ways in which Australian labour standards permit flexible application, within constraints designed to preclude exploitative practices.

The Non-Waivability Principle: Possible Derogations From Collective Bargaining And Re-Assessment Of Individual Bargaining In Assisted Procedures, Elena Gramano, Silvio Sonnati

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

This article examines the evolving landscape of Italian labour law, with a focus on the principle of non-waivability and its gradual adaptation to demands for flexibility and competitiveness. Traditionally, the Italian labour law framework has been characterised by a strong non-waivability regime, which protects employees from negotiating away their rights due to inherent power imbalances vis-à-vis employers. However, recent regulatory developments have facilitated a shift towards both collective and individual agreements that allow deviations from statutory provisions, including to the detriment of employees. The article analyses the implications of this trend, exploring key regulatory models that enhance the role of …

Waiver Of Statutory Employment Rights In The United Kingdom, Hugh Collins

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

The common law endorses the principle of freedom of contract, but, with few exceptions, Parliament has explicitly prevented straightforward waivers of statutory employment rights. Nevertheless, for the sake of promoting settlements of claims by employees, it is surprisingly easy for individual employees to enter into agreements to compromise claims for breach of those rights without appropriate safeguards such as independent advice and freedom from pressure. Moreover, employers’ lawyers have demonstrated considerable ingenuity in finding ways to avoid the application of employment rights either by manipulations of employment status or by seeking contractual agreements on the facts of the case that …

Relaxation Of Mandatory Rules Through Collective And Individual Agreements In Japanese Labour Law, Ryuichi Yamakawa

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

This article analyses the legal situation in Japan regarding the relaxation of or deviation from mandatory regulations in labour law through collective and individual agreements. Although many statutory labour laws in Japan have a mandatory effect over individual employment contracts, several statutory provisions provide that such mandatory regulations can be relaxed through collective agreements under certain circumstances, as is the case in other industrialised countries. However, Japan’s situation is unique insofar as the relaxation is permissible through collective agreements concluded by non-union (individual) representatives of a majority of employees in the absence of union representatives who have been elected by …

Derogability By Collective Agreements In Germany And The Presumption, Eva Kocher

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

The promotion of derogability clauses, which allow collective agreements to deviate from statutory protection to the detriment of employees, has been an issue in the political debate on German labour law for some 20 years. While such derogability clauses can effectively allow for flexibility at the company or sectoral level, there are differing views on their suitability for promoting collective bargaining. This article highlights the paradox of such derogability clauses: They are legitimised by the presumption of fairness that underpins collective autonomy; at the same time, they create incentives for employers that challenge the very presumption of fairness. All in …

The International Covenant On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights And The Employment Relation By Klaus Lörcher, Niklas Bruun, Ana Teresa Ribeiro, Hart Publishing, 2025, Manfred Weiss

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

AFTER HAVING PUBLISHED THREE ENLIGHTENING BOOKS on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), on the European Social Charter (ESC), and on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU), the authors of the Transnational Trade Union Rights Expert Network of the European Trade Union Institute have now transcended the European territory and presented a publication on a global scale.

Derogability From Swedish Statutory Labour Law, Birgitta Nyström

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

The possibility for the social partners to derogate from statutory legislation in the area of labour and employment law is an important characteristic of the so-called “Swedish model” for industrial relations and labour market regulation. With a system built on collective bargaining and collective agreements, and where legislation in the labour law area was rather scarce until the 1970s, freedom for the social partners is a core element. The possibility to derogate from certain parts of statutory labour law by collective agreements also gives room to adapt rules for different kinds of businesses and trades. Sweden is a member of …

University Placed-Based Community Engagement And Adult Learners: A Field Report In Mutual Flourishing, Elisabeth Stevens, Kate Witvliet, Abbie Lipsker, Craig Mattson

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Although higher education increasingly focuses on both community engagement and adult learners, community-engaged research rarely considers them together. This article bridges the gap in the literature between undergraduate adult learners and community engagement. Providing one example of a partnership that considers adult learners as necessary partners for community engagement, Calvin University’s 49507 Initiative is a place-based community educational project in southeast Grand Rapids, Michigan, focusing on the goals and needs of adult learners in the 49507 zip code and adjacent neighborhoods. Through 12 focus groups in the community, adult residents discussed their interests in higher education, identified barriers to higher …

Micro-Refuges Or Ecological Traps: Context-Dependent Effects Of Rock Pools On Intertidal Biodiversity Across Latitudes, Louise B. Firth, Andrea Desiderato, Antony M. Knights, J. David Aguirre, Juan C. Astudillo, Juan C. Azofeifa-Solano, David T. Bilton, Su Yin Chee, Hartvig C. Christie, Ronaldo A. Christofoletti, Amelia Curd, Katherine A. Dafforn, Megan N. Dethier, Yun Wei Dong, Gabin Droual, Stanislas F. Dubois, Free Espinosa, Ally J. Evans, Andy Foggo, Stephen J. Hawkins, Mick E. Hanley, Ben P. Harvey, Eliza Heery, Seokwoo Hong, Amanda R. Hsiung, Tommy T.Y. Hui, Mar Humet, Katrin Iken, Soniya B. Jethva

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

AimWe investigated how local-scale environmental heterogeneity influences biodiversity patterns across broad biogeographic gradients, using intertidal microhabitats as a model system within one of the most environmentally stressful ecosystems on Earth.LocationIntertidal habitats at 26 locations (two rocky shore sites per location) across six continents, spanning 98° of latitude (38°S to 60°N).Time Period2019–2022.Major Taxa StudiedAlgae, sessile and mobile invertebrates.MethodsWe compared biodiversity and thermal environments across contrasting microhabitats (rock pools and adjacent emergent rock) along a latitudinal gradient, sampling during environmentally ‘milder’ and ‘harsher’ periods. Biodiversity was quantified using multiple richness metrics (mean, total, unique taxa) and functional diversity.ResultsMicrohabitat differences strongly influenced biodiversity …

S6k1 Modulates Stat3 Activation To Promote Resistance To Radiotherapy In Lung Cancer, Ali Calderon-Aparicio, Noelle Francois, Tyler Grenda, Shan Xu, Olugbenga Okusanya, Jun He, Nicole L Simone

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Radiotherapy is a mainstay in the management of locally advanced lung cancer; however, intrinsic and acquired radioresistance contribute to poor prognosis. S6K1, a serine/threonine kinase, regulates cell growth, protein synthesis, and survival, and is increased in tumors, which is linked to enhanced survival under therapeutic stress, including radiation. The mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. This study investigates the role of S6K1 in lung cancer radioresistance and the mechanisms involved. Intrinsic radioresistance in lung cancer cells was associated with increased S6K1 activation. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic deletion of S6K1 enhanced radiosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the therapeutic …

Empowering Neurodiverse Talent In Cybersecurity Through Fair And Inclusive Ai Education, Sheikh Rabiul Islam, Yansi Keim, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Maanak Gupta, Ingrid Russell, Mahmoud Abdelsalam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Cybersecurity demands creativity, persistence, and sharp pattern recognition—strengths frequently reported among neurodivergent people (e.g., autism, ADHD, dyslexia). Yet AI-driven hiring pipelines can systematically disadvantage neurodivergent applicants by misreading communication styles or valuing narrow proxies of “fit.” Demand for cybersecurity talent is growing, and experts note that neurodiverse individuals are both underrepresented and highly valuable to security teams. However, progress remains uneven without targeted educational interventions [1]. We present a curricular module that simultaneously (a) centers neurodiversity as a strength in the cybersecurity workforce and (b) trains students to audit and redesign AI hiring systems using open-source fairness and explainability toolkits …

Community-Associated Quinolone-Resistant And Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia Coli Isolates Are Similar To Clinical Infection Isolates By Sequence Type And Resistome, Emily E Benedict, Wesley Agee, Tiffany Hink, Katelyn L Parrish, Kimberly A Reske, Kate Peacock, Rachel E Bosserman, Alyssa Valencia, Akshay Saluja, Elianora Ovchiyan, Olivia Arter, Kevin Jolani, Erik R Dubberke, Gautam Dantas, Jennie H Kwon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Engineering Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cd4 T Cells For Alzheimer's Disease, Pavle Boskovic, Rotem Shalita, Wenqing Gao, Hailey Vernon, Yu Lin Deng, Marco Colonna, Robbie G Majzner, Ido Amit, Jonathan Kipnis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the prevailing cause of age-associated dementia worldwide. Current standard of care relies on antibody-based immunotherapy. However, antibody-based approaches carry risks for patients, and their effects on cognition are marginal. Increasing evidence suggests that T cells contribute to AD onset and progression. Unlike the cytotoxic effects of CD8

Effect Of Degree Of Saturation On The Liquefaction Resistance Of Non-Plastic And Low-Plastic Soils, Kayla Rae Sorenson

Dissertations and Theses

Liquefaction and cyclic softening of fine-grained soils pose a significant hazard during earthquakes, yet the cyclic behavior of transitional soils such as silts remains poorly understood. Existing empirical liquefaction evaluation frameworks and ground improvement techniques are largely developed for sands and are not directly applicable to silts, particularly beneath existing infrastructure where conventional mitigation methods are often impractical or cost prohibitive. This knowledge gap is critical in regions such as the Pacific Northwest, where young, loosely deposited silts are prevalent and susceptible to seismic loading.

Microbially induced desaturation (MID) has emerged in recent years as a promising, minimally invasive ground …

Evaluating The Implementation Of Oregon's Dsm-5-Informed Autism Eligibility Revisions: Interest-Holder Perspectives And Policy Implications, Bradley Josef Hendershott

Dissertations and Theses

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states establish their own autism spectrum disorder (ASD) eligibility criteria, resulting in substantial interstate variation and frequent misalignment with medical diagnostic standards. In 2019, Oregon revised its ASD eligibility criteria by directly incorporating DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, reflecting proponents' theory of action that this alignment would improve conceptual clarity, identification accuracy, and coherence across educational and medical systems. While an early implementation study documented generally positive early effects reported by evaluators, no research has systematically examined whether the DSM-5 alignment achieved its anticipated effects, how the revised criteria function after multiple years of …

General Anesthesia Versus Conscious Sedation For Mechanical Thrombectomy In Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke In The Most Trial, Umeshkumar Athiraman, Akash Roy, Andrew Barreto, Joseph Broderick, Colin Derdeyn, Jordan Elm, James C Grotta, James Ingles, Achala Vagal, Max Wintermark, Opeolu Adeoye

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have supported the use of conscious sedation (CS) for endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and associated general anesthesia (GA) with poor functional outcomes. Recently, few randomized controlled trials have shown no difference in the functional outcomes between GA and CS. The aim of this paper is to compare the outcomes of GA versus CS in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in the MOST (Multi-arm Optimization of Stroke Thrombolysis) trial.

METHODS: Patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke under GA or CS in the MOST trial were included. The …

Remnant Cholesterol And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Populations With Different Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Elevations: A Prospective Cohort Study, Hong Zheng, Guanlin Chen, Zhenyu Huo, Yulong Lan, Yuxian Wang, Peng Fu, Weiqiang Wu, Haixiang Zheng, Kuangyi Wu, Zegui Huang, Dan Wu, Shouling Wu, Youren Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC) are risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the extent to which differences in RC levels affect ASCVD risk in populations with varying degrees of LDL-C elevation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether RC can provide additional risk stratification value across different sexes, ages, and elevated LDL-C statuses. Methods: This study included 12 743 elevated LDL-C participants (LDL-C ≥3.4 mmol/L) and 50 073 age- and sex-matched non-elevated LDL-C controls from the Kailuan Study. Elevated LDL-C participants were categorized by RC levels into <0.5, 0.5 to <1.0, and ≥1.0 mmol/L subgroups. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relationship between RC levels and ASCVD risk across different sexes, ages, and high LDL-C statuses. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 1686 elevated LDL-C participants (13.2%) and 5252 non-elevated LDL-C participants (10.5%) developed ASCVD. In the borderline-high LDL-C group (3.4 ≤ LDL-C < 4.1 mmol/L), those with the lowest RC levels showed no significant risk difference compared with controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.93-1.13]), and this pattern remained consistent across different sexes and ages. In contrast, in the high LDL-C group (LDL-C ≥4.1 mmol/L), even when RC was at the lowest level, ASCVD risk remained significantly higher than that of controls (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.02-1.41]). CONCLUSIONS: In the borderline-high LDL-C population, those with the lowest RC levels showed no significant risk difference compared with controls, and this pattern remained consistent across different sexes and age subgroups. In the high LDL-C population, even when RC was at the lowest level, ASCVD risk remained significantly higher than that of controls.