Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of Literature On Efficacy And Safety Of Birthing Positions With Emphasis On International Cultural Influences On Obstetric Care, Ava E. Retsch

Theses

• Background: When examining most non-Westernized societies, parturients hold all the power in the birthing space with traditional birth attendants and medical staff serving as guiding forces and protectors, not directors of the process. Social media in Western countries is filled with stories from birthing people who felt unsupported, ignored, or discriminated against by their healthcare providers; this is particularly prevalent in parturients who express a preference for non-supine birthing positions. Methods: This work is a review of the existing body of literature on quantitative and qualitative outcome measures of alternative birthing positions. In total, 44 articles were analyzed …

Safe Water For All: A Multi-Modal Approach To North Alabama's Water Resources, Elijah Walker

Theses

Environmental degradation is a destructive force produced by the human disturbance of pollution. It is a phenomenon that gradually evolves landscapes over time resulting in irreversible outcomes. Environmental degradation physically affects spaces’ resources, objects, and inhabiting humans. This study observes the impacts of pollution beyond physical boundaries and how it affects human identity/sense of place through the utilization of geographic information systems. Specifically, it examines cultural identity developed through human experiences and connections to landscapes containing water resources. Following, pollution contaminates water resources disrupting experiences and connections thus causing the cultural identity to disappear. The case study applied to this …

Cross Cultural Study On Creativity: How Do Croatian Working Professionals And Emirati Working Professionals Conceptualize Creativity?, Alice Almer

Theses

Living in very dynamic and uncertain times, we can witness the power and the necessity of utilizing creativity and innovation as they can provide solutions to complex problems. However, how we see and define creativity is influenced by many factors, and culture is one of them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of culture on creativity conceptualization. Specifically, the objective was to find out whether the working professionals of Croatia and the working professionals of the United Arab Emirates view creativity differently. In order to investigate this, a cross-sectional study involving 109 participants from Croatia and …

Cultural Differences And Conceptualizing Creativity, Rima Musa Ashour

Theses

Culture has been shown to impact the way people understand and evaluate creativity. Every day people encounter products, services, and processes; some are considered creative, and others are not. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between culture and implicit theories of creativity of products and processes. The study was conducted on UAE professional citizens who have at least three years of work experience and live in UAE. Surveys were used as the data collection method, and were applied on a final sample of 98 Emiratis. The study surveyed 26 creativity cues as the dependent variables. Results …

Epics At The Bottom Of The River: Narratives Of Economic Development In French Louisiana, Kat Spears

Theses

A use of narrative and biographical history to describe how economic creolization developed French Louisiana.

Addressing Sexual Assault: How Architectural Design Can Promote Life Long Healing, Diana Heliotis

Theses

The Trauma of any origin can forever alter the way individuals live their everyday lives. Relationships with people, places, and the self are compromised and may never fully heal. Generally, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is a globally accepted condition, with many great strides being made to provide centers of continual healing to those who suffer from it. The two most common demographics that are clinically diagnosed with PTSD are military Veterans and survivors of sexual assault. Where there is a lot of research and active development towards establishing treatments in combination with spacial and architectural design for Veterans, there is virtually …

The Tendency Of The Automobile Design With The Influence Of Social Culture, Cunzhi Huang

Theses

With the development of the transportation industry, the automobile has become a critical component of Chinese society. Likewise, Chinese culture has influenced automotive design. However, this influence has generally been limited to an increased focus on environ sustainability. This paper presents a strategy to explain this influence. The author discussed social changes and evaluates automobile designs for the future. Through the comparison of China history, culture, various type of automobile to analyze changes in functions and structure. This paper also describes the principles of automobile design necessary for future automobile design and automobile industry development in China.

Fiction And Politics: Karl May And The American West In Nineteenth Century German Sociopolitical Consciousness, Emily Scott

Theses

This thesis seeks to answer the following question: Why did the nineteenth century novels and short stories of Karl May, which take place in the American West, find such great commercial success in Germany? Through the examination of the novels themselves, in addition to various primary and secondary sources related to the life of May and the historical context in which this phenomenon took place, this question is answered. Though the novels take place in an American landscape, they are full of references to various cultural and political phenomena which took place throughout the course of May’s life in Germany. …

Sohni Mahiwal Preserving South Asian Cultural Heritage Through Animated Storytelling, Anem Syed

Theses

Majority of Pakistani youth is not enthralled by the country’s rich cultural heritage. There is less public knowledge on the subject. This translates into less appreciation or interest. The academic system is largely responsible for this. It imparts a conservative history of undivided India, focuses on politics, ignores its nuanced culture. Unless students venture into specialized fields of art and humanities, most do not get stimulated to study history. Additionally, today when digital learning is on the rise, there is a lack of relevant sources on the subject. This thesis is creating a digital source. It is re-packaging an Indian …

Utopia And Human Culture: Alternative Communities Of Higher Learning In America, Eli Orner Kramer

Theses

In this thesis I explore the place of the actualized utopian American alternative community of higher learning within a philosophy of human culture. I carry out such a study in order to articulate a unifying description of movement; to find the “target” that orients the activity of actualized utopia, as opposed to a classificatory rule to define a mechanically determined utopian-object. Although these communities have varied in practice since the first generation of them were created in the mid-nineteenth century, I argue that they have played, and continue to play, a particular role in America. They imagine what a world …

无法抗拒 – Untranslatable, Yuanyuan Liu

Theses

As an artist, there are several themes I find of interest within the medium of photography including the relationship between the lens and the eye, aspects related to imagination and truth, as well as history and tendency. I believe that photography is the best medium for my current body of work because it inherently allows one to reflect on the conflict between reality and construction/fabrication. This is the main theme conveyed in this work. The title, 无法抗拒-Untranslatable, describes the problematic aspect of expressing oneself in a different (foreign) language and the feeling of inadequacy experienced therein. Any individual who is …

Leadership Cultural Values Of United Arab Emirates-The Case Of United Arab Emirates University, Ebtesam Ali Alteneiji

Theses

UAE is a young country with a young population that has witnessed tremendous changes over the past decades. There has not been much research about the cultural values of the UAE in generational perspectives, and there have been rapid changes. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring systematic changes in leadership cultural values among the older and the younger generations of the United Arab Emirates. The author utilized Hofstede’s (VSM08) instrument to survey undergraduate students, administrators and faculty at UAE University.

The study found no significant differences between the younger and older generations’ tolerance to unequal distribution of power (power distance), …

Preserving Han-Ok: Reimaging The Korean Traditional House For Today Using 3d Design, Haiden Park

Theses

The purpose of this thesis project was to preserve the traditional elements of Han-Ok in the modern architecture in Korea. I have integrated traditional Korean design elements into modern architecture. I also solved the problems that the Han-Ok currently faces. This topic is important because a lot of the traditional culture has been disappearing within the current Korean society. Of all the aspects of Korean traditional culture, the Han-Ok, the Korean traditional house itself, is very important. A lot of Korea's culture is represented in the Han-Ok, but people think this type of architecture is unnecessary and uncomfortable, and because …

Exploring Cultural Identity: Learning Culture Through Effective Interactive Design, Augie Park

Theses

Culture defines groups of individuals by language, religion, art, or tools. In today's ever growing sector of computers, smart phones, and tablets, mobile technology is used as a means to discover a sense of individuality through wireless devices and essentially the Internet. This is a case study on how to design a better educational app designed to teach culture through visual exploration and user testing. This thesis also explores how design affects behavior through usability. Through an analysis of interdisciplinary subjects, Exploring Cultural Identity aims to provide a visual prototype to teach culture, specifically focusing on Korean art. The goal …

Eagles Circle The Drum, Mark Shaw

Theses

Mark Shaw’s Eagles Circle the Drum: A Novel My thesis, for the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Missouri—St. Louis, is a Native American Literary Novel. When Jimmy Moses—a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Nation—dies, his mother chooses to have a Christian funeral instead of an American Indian burial ceremony. The reservation community becomes upset, particularly Johnny Bear Moses, her son and Jimmy’s older brother. The novel shifts between various points of view, including Reylene Fisherman, the mother; Johnny Bear; and his daughter, Akasha. These three major characters represent a different opinion of creed and …

Parts Of A Whole, Hsiang-Lu Meng

Theses

This exhibition is comprised of two complementary bodies of works. Each body of work explores the concept of a societal structure where culture and rules erode individuality. The community is ultimately conditioned to behave according to the conventions dictated by the environment.

"Parts of a Whole" is a performative installation which explores my fascination with the relationship between the individual and the collective. It is constructed with fabric, with custom-made buttons and passport photos attached and lighting device. Each button contains a face, and therefore represents the individual. Passport images are used to illustrate the extent of unification.

In the …

John Dewey's Instrumentalism: A Cultural And Humanist View Of Knowledge, Philip R. Allman

Theses

My thesis is an attempt to show the brilliance and novelty of John Dewey's theory of knowledge, instrumentalism. The main objective of my thesis is to explain Dewey's theory of knowledge, which he coined instrumentalism, and to describe how instrumentalism as a theory of knowledge overcomes the pitfalls of competing theories within the philosophical tradition. Dewey's theory of instrumentalism does not assume that ideas are mental entities nor that ideas are true if they somehow match or fit with the object in question; thus, Dewey's theory presents a different view opposed to what we have usually called coherence, or correspondence …

How Parents Use Television To Enrich Their Children's Cultural Identity: The Case Study Of Shalom Sesame And Jewish Life, Elizabeth Michele Spezia

Theses

A small-scale ethnographic case study of young children's learning from television in southern Illinois provides understanding about the frameworks used for interpreting media use in family life. The research consisted of in-home interviews about patterns of using the media, observations, and family diaries of children's viewing behavior to examine family engagement with a prosocial television program, Shalom Sesame, depicting Jewish culture, Hebrew language, holidays, and the land of Israel. Family responses to the program are identified in terms of appeal, use, and overall fit with Jewish identity and tradition in the homes. Data analysis reveals that quality educational program features …

Culturally Sensitive Document Design For An Eastern Asia Audience: Comprehension And Preference, Merridith Smith

Theses

An investigation into Eastern Asia audiences in China, Japan, and Korea determined how intercultural communication affects non-native readers' comprehension and perception of a document design. The study, an after-only experiment, used a small-sized sample from people who were In-Country Reviewers (ICRs) and knew of medical products in Eastern Asia and had knowledge in the area's local language. The subjects read an indigenously or non-indigenously designed document, and self-reported their comprehension and preferences for formatting style. Although the statistics showed no significant difference between the groups, on any variable tested (language, comprehension, and format), the qualitative data that were gathered can …

Reposition, Ratna Khanna

Theses

Landscape should be an instrument of cultural force. This work contemplates the relationship between the artificial and the natural. It resulted from thinking about matters concerning my interactions with public space; the combination of nature and the culture we inflict upon it. By including "nature" here, I use it to denote an outside environment that includes biological activity that is untamed, yet still capable of being influenced by human agency. This human agency takes the form of culture, that which appropriates nature towards our social needs. Hence, this agency benefits the formation of landscapes. A cultural artifact such as an …

Cultural Impacts Of Tourism: The Case Of The “Dogon Country” In Mali, Mamadou Ballo

Theses

Cultural tourism began to be recognized as a distinct product category in the late 1970s when tourism marketers and tourism researchers realized that some people traveled specifically to gain a deeper understanding of the culture or heritage of a destination (Tighe, 1986). In most regions of the world, particularly in Europe and North America, cultural attractions have become important in the development of tourism. At the global level, cultural attractions are usually perceived as being icons of important streams of global culture (Richards, 2001). Unfortunately, in developing countries, in which much of the earth's magnificent heritage is located, the preservation …

The Quest Of Childhood Memory, So Yeon Yang

Theses

An articulation of my experience is found in my artworks. The works are confessional because their themes are based on my autobiographical traces. Each piece of artwork represents a personal situational narrative in itself. The creation of life size underwear and outfits in plastic - the whimsical, transparent, and glittery images of cutout silhouettes depict hidden desire as well as nostalgia. Because dresses possess distinctive nuances such as activeness, fantasy, and intimacy, I will research a variety of styles along with different poses and gestures to explore their expressions. By interpretation and analysis of the object - the artwork produced, …

Website About Chinese Food: Information Design Promoting Culture Identify By Website, Xiaoqiu Shan

Theses

Information design for the web and interactive multimedia integrates content with visual indicators. Legibility and clear communication of information and direction are important to the success of graphical user interface design. This thesis is a systematic introduction about Chinese fish dishes. The information is built into a website. The objective of the thesis is to increase the efficiency of transmitting information to users, making it more easily understandable and less time-consuming to be comprehended. Users can find information on classic Chinese fish dishes conveniently from the website. The project includes five parts, they are: Home page, Introduction, Restaurant, Kitchen and …

Strange Way Home, Seema Raju Mukhi

Theses

Set in India, this novel follows the narrator, sixteen-year-old Asha Mehtani, in her two-year struggle to decide between following tradition and following her own desires. Asha encounters an American teacher at her school who encourages her to read, to learn, and to follow her own path in life. But Asha¿s parents want her to get married right after she finishes high school, in an arranged marriage. By refusing to get married, Asha will damage her family¿s reputation and ruin her younger sister¿s chances of finding a good husband. Will Asha choose to follow her heart, to go to college and …

A Chomharsain, Ná Leighidh An Chainnt Bhreá Fén Gcré / An Investigation Of The 'Saíocht' Of A Kerry Parish In Beara., Tomás B. Ó Luanaigh

Theses

We live in a global village of ever increasing travel and mass communication resulting in multiculturism in society. As our country has become part of an enlarged E.U., the debate concerning the place of the Irish language in E.U. life is a salient issue. The challenge of a minor poet upon his Famine deathbed echoes down the generations urging us to discover and further develop the rich seam of our own saíocht or culture, so dear to the mind of Diarmuid Na Bolgai. This thesis seeks to reveal that saiocht as lived by the people of Tuosist. It indicates how …

Harmony, Yun Hsu

Theses

None provided.

The Differences In Family And Non-Family Perceived Social Support Among White, African-American, Hispanic, And Asian Subjects, Elizabeth A. Houston

Theses

Perceived social support can be defined as the perception of an individ1tal to feel emotional support and involvement from other people. Research indicates that social support is an important factor in physical as well as mental health. Because of today's pluralistic society, it is necessary for counselors to have an understanding of the differences between cultures, or races. There are many differences in the values of individuals from varying cultures. This study focuses on determining the differences in familial and non-familial perceived social support between subjects who are White, African-American, Asian, and Hispanic. Volunteers from St. Louis Community College and …

Quest For Survival: What Comprises And Effective Team, Kathleen Brayer

Theses

The journey to thrive competitively in the millenium will demand teamwork. Historically, corporate America has had difficulty implementing teams to drive performance. In theory building effective teams seems easy but in reality putting this knowledge into practice that changes behavior and fosters learning is a difficult challenge for corporations today. Through a series of 13 interviews this study benchmarks both the service and manufacturing industry to identify the characteristics about what comprises an effective team in organizations today, how their organizational design impacts team development and the different ways that people learn, think about and understand teams in organizations. Developing …

How Cultural Values Affect Valuation, Joel Jon Forman

Theses

The purpose of this study is to describe the factors which affect numismatic appraisals, particularly from a valuation perspective. One of the most important considerations is the role culture played in helping determine value. Much of our knowledge of the ancient world (China, Babylon, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Rome, Persia, India and other civilizations) is derived from the surviving coinage. The coins from these bygone eras reveal the cultural, religious and moral values which played an incredible role in shaping our modern high technological society. Some of these ancient values are reflected in present day coinage.

This study will carefully examine …

Psychic Expression Through Image-Making, Donna De Palma

Theses

None provided.