Digital Commons Network^™

"First, Do No Harm": Ethical Failures And Preventive Solutions In The United States Pharmaceutical System - A Narrative Review, Rebekah R. Bailey

Honors Theses

The United States pharmaceutical system is highly advanced but faces growing ethical concerns related to drug development and marketing, overprescription, and high drug costs. This thesis examines how pharmaceutical marketing, regulatory practices, and prescribing behaviors may conflict with the ethical principle of “first, do no harm.”

Using a narrative review of interdisciplinary literature in public health, medical ethics, and applied ethics, this thesis analyzes patterns in drug development, marketing strategies, and regulatory oversight. The findings suggest that ethical issues are systemic, driven by commercial incentives, inconsistent regulatory standards, and an increasing reliance on pharmaceutical solutions. These factors contribute to overmedicalization, …

What You Don't Hear About Barriers To Healthcare In The Deaf Community: Analyzing Interpreter Experiences In The Deep South, Ryan Augustine

Honors Theses

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals experience significant health disparities in the United States, yet the perspective of the ASL interpreter has remained largely absent regarding the barriers documented in existing literature. This pilot case study examined the barriers Deaf individuals face when seeking healthcare through the unique vantage point of eight ASL interpreters across the Deep South: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Guided by grounded theory methodology, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed to find recurring themes. Findings confirmed and revealed barriers that would not have surfaced without the perspective of the interpreter. Four themes emerged from this study: healthcare …

The Data Driven Body, Kimberlyn P. Konen

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This paper examines how wearable fitness technologies function as persuasive digital tools that shape cultural understandings of health. Through a qualitative rhetorical analysis of popular devices such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, and WHOOP, the study explores how interface design, data visualizations, notifications, and marketing materials communicate implicit messages about wellness. Rather than acting as neutral measurement tools, fitness trackers promote specific values, including quantification, discipline, optimization, and self-surveillance. Findings reveal that these devices define health through numerical metrics, encourage consistent productivity, frame wellness as competitive performance, and use emotional feedback to reinforce success or failure. Additionally, marketing imagery promotes …

Danger! Ai Art Directors Ahead: An Analysis Of Text-To-Image And Text-To-Video Ai Integrations In Production Design For Film And Television, Katherine Gaylord, Charles Howard, Richard Rohrer

Honors Thesis

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom in the last decade has sparked exponential excitement, especially in white collar industries, for the possibilities of cost-cutting and streamlining tasks across industries. However, creative industries which were historically driven by human artistry report majority fear regarding copyright/fair-use, legal protections, and job security.

Production Designs and Art Departments in particular question how, or even if, their talent and creativity will fit into an AI powered entertainment industry. Since the inception of filmmaking, Art Departments have brought fantastical visions to life through set design, props, art, costumes, and beyond. Yet, in the age of AI, Text-to-Image …

Therepairer_Vol42no3_March1937

The Repairer

No abstract provided.

Julie And Julia 2.0 Emergent Themes Of “One Year” Food Blogging Challenge, Anna Hollrah

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This study analyzed the thematic patterns that emerge in year-end posts by food bloggers who undertook a one-year blogging challenge. Using rhetorical criticism and an open coding process, 25 reflective blog posts were analyzed to identify recurring themes and motivations from the legacies of Julia Child and Julie Powell. The analysis identified seven primary themes, which were then grouped into two categories: advice and response. The themes included authenticity, inspiration, hard work, learning, enjoyment, gratitude, and community building.

Several of these themes reflected the influence and advice of Child and Powell, and they also highlighted the blogger’s personal growth, creativity, …

Reclaiming The Narrative: Integrating Narrative Therapy And Songwriting For Children And Adolescents Living Through Adverse Childhood Experiences, Emma Smith

Expressive Therapies Theses

Children and adolescents tend to lack agency and power in their lives with their status as minors. Lack of agency can be exacerbated if they are experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Narrative songwriting is an approach with emerging methods that may support liberation, agency, and ownership for this population. Although there is a plethora of trauma-informed songwriting methods in music therapy literature focusing on young populations, there is sparse research about using narrative songwriting with this population. In this thesis, literature from both music therapy and narrative therapy with young populations experiencing ACEs was located and analyzed using a qualitative …

Florence Normal College Quarterly, Faculty Of Florence Normal College

Documents

Faculty Quarterly Journal of Florence Normal College, March 1910.

*Press of The Florence Times*

Moral Injury Among Healthcare Chaplains: Responding To Systemic Racism Through Ethical Advocacy And Spiritual Care, Stephanie Drew

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Systemic racism against minorities has woven its way into every facet of everyday existence, especially for Black Americans, and Healthcare is no exception. There are numerous proven instances of unfair and inequitable treatment of marginalized patients throughout the Healthcare system, and some have even caused Black patients to lose their lives. The mistreatment of Black and Brown people during perhaps one of the most vulnerable times of their lives is well documented dating back centuries. There are massive cuts to Medicaid, and insurance premiums are steadily going up making it very cumbersome for the poor and disenfranchised to navigate the …

Through The Lens Of Zoology, Madalyn Haun

Interior Design Capstones

Current zoo and sanctuary models often fail to meet the complex psychological, behavioral, and spatial needs of endangered and rehabilitated wildlife, resulting in chronic stress and welfare compromises. Beyond the Cage presents a transformation approach to zoological design, shifting the paradigm from entertainment-based displays to a “welfare-first” philosophy. This book argues that effective captive care requires expansive, species-appropriate habitats that facilitate natural behaviors, rather than merely simulating natural aesthetics. Through the lens of modern zoology, this work explores the implementation of groundbreaking exhibit re-creation, focusing on habitat enlargement, precise climate change control, and innovative environmental enrichment. A central pillar of …

Perspectives On Design Education, Object-Based Learning, And 4e-Cognition, Arlene Oak

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Edvard Munch And The Feminine Sublime, Saralyn Goodspeed

Theses

This paper explores the theory of the sublime in relation to Edvard Munch’s depictions of women. Departing from the common view that Munch was simply anxious about the “New Woman” that emerged in the late nineteenth-century, I argue that Munch’s conflicting emotions regarding women were sublime in nature, rooted in his childhood relationship with his mother. A formal analysis is conducted on three of Munch’s works: Inheritance (1897), Three Stages of Woman or Sphinx (1894), and Madonna (1895). These analyses link Munch’s representations of women to a maternal sublime.

Understanding Roma Oppression In Europe Through Humantarian Forensic Analysis, Christal L. Quinn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

This thesis examines the marginalization of Roma people in Europe, and how humanitarian forensic practices may help Roma communities in their quest for justice and recognition. The study draws exclusively on secondary information to examine the social, political, and legal issues affecting the Roma communities, who have endured centuries of institutional discrimination, marginalization, and violence. This thesis identifies ways in which systematic oppression continues to limit Roma communities’ access to education, housing, healthcare, and legal protection through a review of relevant literature and applicable theoretical frameworks. The study also examines the relevance of forensic science, particularly its humanitarian applications, in …

Voyager, Ben K. Voss

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores painting as a site of meditation, time and (un)knowability.

Eating Trees To Save The World, Belle Breyanna Li

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This essay posits that all climate solutions will require change, an important one being eating more trees. While our current crisis is the result of indifference and inaction, we must consider innovative solutions. Like all the other possibilities, investing in more trees will require the joint efforts of our communities. As we allocate effort, time, and resources to climate solutions, the benefits will return tenfold in numerous ways. By prioritizing trees as a food source, we can empower our communities and increase their resilience. At the same time, we will positively contribute to the global climate by sequestering carbon. This …

"Ta’Aruf", Pious Asceticism, And Shared Meaning-Making In Islamic Youtube Web Series, Andina Dwifatma

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

Islamic web series have recently become a notable cultural phenomenon in Indonesia. Unlike mainstream Islamic films, most Islamic web series are created by Muslim youth communities and distributed freely on social media platforms such as YouTube, reflecting a more innovative, grassroots approach to exploring identity. The creators of Islamic web series have greater flexibility in crafting narratives that reflect the experiences of young urban Muslims. Their interactive engagement with audiences, both online and offline, facilitates the collective negotiation and preservation of religious values through digital media. One of the recurring themes in these series is ta’aruf, the Islamic practice …

A Phenomenological Study Of Pastoral Perspectives Of Conservative Churches Effectively Serving The Disability Community, John D. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the experience of pastors leading conservative churches engaging with and serving persons with disabilities and their families. It focused on six theologically conservative churches providing special needs ministry, with at least three distinct scheduled ministry opportunities staffed by lay leadership, meeting a minimum of quarterly, and overseen by a paid staff member. This research sought to understand the perspectives of the pastors leading these churches, focusing on their personal experiences with disability, vision implementation, and leadership development. This study explored these pastors’ leadership through the lens of Transformational Leadership Theory and whether their style demonstrates transformational …

Forget-Me-Not: Facilitating Social Vibrancy In Spaces Designed For Alzheimer's Disease, Torilyn Mossner

Honors Theses

The objective of this capstone project is to create a foundation for vibrant community interactions and connections that support those living with Alzheimer’s disease, their loved ones, and the broader members of the community through interior design. This work is relevant because Alzheimer’s disease affects 1 in 9 people over the age of sixty-five worldwide. Without a cure, as people continue to age, there is going to be a constant need for development of care. Additionally, design should go a step further than healthy living and begin to prioritize creating a vibrant life and community integration for those living with …

The Hate Circuit: A Collection Of Essays On Hate And Healing, Vivian Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Hate Circuit: A Collection of Essays on Hate and Healing is a lyric essay collection tracing the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of hatred and its slow unraveling. Rooted in the author’s relationship with her alcoholic mother, the essays move between memoir and scientific inquiry, examining how hatred forms in the brain, how it is inherited across generations, and what it costs to sustain it. Drawing on research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and the psychology of forgiveness, the collection argues that hatred is not simply an emotion but a circuit—one that can, with effort, be rewired. The essays ultimately …

2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium Program, Coastal Carolina University

Undergraduate Research Symposium Programs

17th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 21-22, 2026.

The 2026 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 72 oral presentations, 127 poster presentations, and 22 team pitch presentations comprising 50 students who participated in the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.

Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by almost 90 faculty and staff, and prizes were awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners and their mentors in their respective categories:

Best Oral Presentation:

• 1st Place: Ryan Ryan Avallone, Applied Mathematics. Faculty Mentor: Bong Jeong (Management …

Shift Work And Shift Change And Police Officers’ Subjective Well-Being, Macey Silano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of police officers working second and third shifts and how these schedules impacted their subjective well-being, mental health, relationships, and life satisfaction. This study addressed an important research problem because limited research has examined how night shifts and shift changes impact police officers’ well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how police officers experienced shift work and shift changes while working second and third shifts and how they made meaning of these experiences in relation to subjective well-being. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study was grounded in restorative rest and …

Highway 3: Faunal Remains From Byzantine, Byzantine–Early Islamic And Ottoman Contexts, Lee Perry-Gal

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

A faunal assemblage of 174 identified animal bones was recovered from excavations along Highway 3, mainly from Byzantine and Byzantine–Early Islamic and Ottoman contexts, with a small contribution from Late Roman strata. The remains originate primarily from refuse pits and from industrial-agricultural installations, including reservoirs, ovens and silos. The assemblage was analyzed using a diagnostic zone recording system, standard osteological identification, age-at-death assessment and detailed taphonomic analysis. The Byzantine and Byzantine–Early Islamic assemblages are dominated by caprines, mainly sheep, followed by pigs, equids and cattle, with minor representation of chicken and camel. Caprine mortality profiles indicate mainly mature individuals, suggesting …

Cannibal Ghouls Of Japan: The Representation Of Cannibalism In Contemporary Japanese Manga, Nico Indovina

Research and Creativity Symposium

A noticeable uptick in depictions of cannibalism has appearing in the last few years in Japanese manga. It has appeared across several genres of the medium and has given rise to questions over its inclusion. Previous research connected the inclusion to the Japanese oni, a creature originating in Buddhist art, as early as the 8th century in Japan. This article argues that the connection goes beyond simply the oni and also derives inspiration from real cannibals of the 20th century in Japan and theory on monsters. The visual similarities between the historical representations and those of contemporary Japanese manga …

Evaluating The Feasibility And Preliminary Effectiveness Of A Tailored Diabetes Education Program For Rural Residents, Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Diabetes is a top ten Rural Healthy People 2030 priority for health improvement among rural Americans. Socioeconomic, environmental, geographic and political barriers contribute to the type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence and its disparate impact in rural communities. However, promoting proper self-care behaviors via self-management education can help people with diabetes better manage their condition.

Purpose: To account for the social environmental factors that affect rural residents, a tailored diabetes education program was developed, and the program’s effectiveness in improving diabetes knowledge and T2D-related health outcomes was assessed.

Methods: Using data collected from Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a six-week, …

Saltfish And Seedcake: Examining Fantasy Through Food Studies, Isabella Martins-Simonsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Although mundane and often overlooked in reality, in fantasy, food, like all other things, is entirely symbolic. Therefore, considering food closely when analyzing a fantasy text offers unique insights into the world being developed, the characters within that world, and the author’s own understanding of both the real and “secondary” world. In this paper, I consider the foods of Earthsea, Narnia, and Middle Earth to offer various perspectives on the worldbuilding and examine the implications of different foods in these well-known settings. For example, the tea served in Narnia creates a fantasy world that is more normal than the strange …

Inequality And Well-Being, Sarah E. Boslaugh

Theses

Human well-being has been a topic of interest to philosophers at least since the time of Aristotle, and well-being has also been a core concern of social scientists since the birth of the discipline in the late 18^th century. Some theories of well-being include economic inequality as a factor, and multiple ways to measure this factor have been developed; as with well-being, there is no single best measure of economic inequality and the choice of which measure to use may be based on both theoretical and practical reasons. I argue that income inequality should always be included as a …

Reday Program 2026, Bryant University

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

Program for the 2026 Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day). Program includes schedule at a glance, descriptions for panels, workshops, and presentations, along with sign-up links for specific sessions in the electronic version of the program. Printed program was in color with double-sided printing on 8 1/2" x 11" paper stapled together in the upper left corner.

Innovator - Fall 2025

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

24 - Nureed Saeed ‘99

28 - Cell Mates

32 - Robert C. Sergott, MD

36 - Working Smarter

42 - Question & Innovate

44 - Alumni Impact

48 - Leeor Gal ‘19

50 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia

Innovator - Winter 2025

Innovator

06 - Message from the President

08 - Time Machine

10 - News

14 - New Leader for a New Century

18 - Fashion’s Fairy Godmother

22 - Diploma School of Nursing

26 - Question & Innovate

28 - Alumni Impact

30 - Ram Roundup

32 - From the Washington Ballet to Wimbledon

36 - Homecoming 2024 and Alumni Awards

42 - JCLS Alumni Day

44 - Class Notes

50 - Love Train

52 - In Memory

54 - Trivia

Innovator - Summer 2024

Innovator

06 - A Message from the President

10 - Time Machine

16 - The Nexus

32 - Our History

38 - Weaving a Legacy of Excellence

40 - Bridging the Gaps

44 - Harnessing the Qualities That Create Healthcare Heroes

48 - Question & Innovate

52 - Alumni Impact

54 - Ram Roundup

58 - Be Kind

62 - Class Notes

68 - In Memory

70 - Trivia