Digital Commons Network^™

Midlife, Michael Sevcik

Poetry MFA Theses

Abstract

Midlife by Michael James Sevcik is a collection of poetry that explores issues of age, gender, sexuality, identity, desire, family, and loss within a predominantly domestic space while addressing broader social, cultural, and philosophical issues using a phenomenological poetics grounded in everyday experience. The collection is organized into three distinct yet interrelated “movements:” the first movement, “Anchored,” establishes an existential yearning amidst professional and amorous stasis and familial pressures. The second movement, “Liminal,” explores temporality and its relationship to place and memory. The third movement, “Renewal,” incorporates travel, family history, and art, transforming them into critical modes of aesthetic …

Travels In West Africa: A Critical Edition, Erere Iwhi

Student Works

First published in 1897, Mary Henrietta Kingsley’s Travels in West Africa became one of the most influential travel narratives of the Victorian era, changing the way British audiences encountered accounts of West Africa and its peoples. This critical edition examines the book not only as a travel narrative but also as a material artifact shaped by the historical, publishing, and cultural networks that guided its production, circulation, and reception. Extending its analysis beyond Kingsley's experiences of exploration, this edition investigates the forces behind the book’s creation, including Kingsley’s intellectual development, her identity as an independent female traveler and writer, and …

Louise Talma's Second Piano Sonata: Unity Within Variety, Caroline Petrick

Dissertations, 2020-current

Though an important composer in her lifetime, Louise Talma (1906-1996) has fallen into relative obscurity today. In recent years, a small number of scholars and musicians have begun to promote her music. Many have written about the three chronological periods that Talma used to categorize her compositions, but few have recognized how Talma combines the opposing compositional tools of her three periods to create one unified style. In this study, I hope to add to the growing body of research by highlighting the complex, multifaceted nature of Talma and her music. The goal of the study is to show how …

Factors Associated With Initial Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures (Pnes) Amongst Patients With/Without Epileptic Seizures (Es), Enow Ogork

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) is an important individual and public health concern, but inconsistent results exist in the literature in terms of the circumstances surrounding the initial occurrence of PNES among patients without a prior diagnosis of epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent patient sex, number of medical comorbidities, sleep deprivation, head injury in the past, and eyes closed during seizures predict initial PNES among patients with or without PNES. The precaution adoption process model provided a framework for exploring how individuals become aware of health risks and decide to adopt preventive behaviors. Secondary …

The Moral Crisis Of Maternal Mortality In The Us, Jensen F. Ware

Honors Theses

This thesis argues that the US crisis of maternal mortality is not an unavoidable tragedy, but a moral and policy failure. I argue that maternal well‑being is one of the most important indicators of a society’s overall health. When mothers receive the care, respect, and support they need, it reflects the strength of healthcare systems, the culture, and our commitment to future generations. The continued loss of mothers from preventable deaths reveals a system that fails many women and their families, especially Black women, low‑income women, and those in rural communities. First, I introduce the issue of maternal mortality in …

Sanando La Herida Abierta: The Open-Borders Debate, Latinx Feminist Voices, And Spiritual Activism, Amely Logan

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This thesis addresses the current discourse in philosophy—specifically, immigration ethics—that harms migrants, would-be migrants, and Latinx people in general. It proposes that these harms can be healed by taking seriously the contributions of Latinx feminists and paying special attention to spiritual activism. The thesis first introduces the open-borders debate in the philosophical literature and the harmful language and framing that affects migrant autonomy within the debate, specifically by looking at the work of Christopher Heath Wellman as a representative example. It reveals how, while border enforcement often results in literal mass casualties among immigrants, the language and framing around immigration …

Expanding Epilepsy Representation: On Education And Awareness, Aliyah Wise

Honors Projects

The present-day American public education system has evolved to try to teach young students about more cultures and people of different lifestyles. However, despite these reforms to push for an inclusive education system, there is still minimal effort to teach students about disabilities and the people who live with them. As a student living with epilepsy, I have observed a lack of education or conversation about this disability. The purpose of this research project is to ask: How does miseducation on epilepsy contribute to harmful stereotypes and lead to real issues for people living with this disability? How should neurotypical …

Ada News - 12/8/2025, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Human Evil (In The Weird), Lucas Ethridge

University Honors Theses

This paper examines a trending doom in speculative fiction: the post-human age. Many modern works have started to look past human civilization as humans surrender all hope and faith in a climate-doomed world. Honing in on core concepts in Weird fiction, this paper explores human merit through Old and New Weird. A good part spends time establishing the canon, looking at similar patterns across age, philosophy, war and genre. The chief question asks if humankind was ever worth saving.

The Divided Self: Gothic Duality In Literature, Sarah Anna Meeks

Masters Theses

Gothic literature of the nineteenth century is haunting due to its frequent use of ghosts and monsters. However, the true terror lies in a deeper horror, one that is more intimate and destabilizing– a fright that leaps out of the text, looking into the heart of the reader: the fractured mind of the self torn between reality and repression, haunted by its own, newly manifested internal disunity rather than external monsters. The characters of Gothic fiction are typically caught in a psychological turmoil. They battle with split morals between duty and desire, morality and madness, and science and spirituality. Specifically, …

The Divine Disciplinarian: God As The Model Father, Jacob Daniel Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A pastor is responsible for instructing a congregation regarding biblical information and instruction. When a person is unsure of what the Bible teaches on a topic, the pastor can preach sermons and teach lessons that convey biblical truth. The growing congregation of Nevada Free Will Baptist Church consisted of believers who had been away from church for some time and new converts, resulting in a lack of biblical literacy due to their limited exposure to biblical truth. One area where congregants were uninformed was biblical parenting. This study addressed the problem of biblical illiteracy regarding parenting. It informed participants about …

The Holy Spirit Fulfills The Great Commission By Affecting The Soul – The Conscience, Intellect, And Affections – Of Believers Through The Agency Of Discipleship, Farrah K. Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Statement of Problem

A knowledge and awareness of the Holy Spirit tends to be the missing from the church today, although his power, presence, and role is not only needed, but is necessary to fulfill the last commandment given by Christ. Though silent, he and his work are – and should be – evident among, to, and through believers, both corporately and individually.

Research Question

What do the Great Commission passages in the Gospels and the book of Acts reveal about the mission of the Holy Spirit for the church today?

Thesis Statement

This dissertation argues that, according to the …

Shared Space, Contested Space: Enslaved Women In The Contested Space Ofwhite Texas Baptists, 1840-1860, David Wilkie

Journal of Texas History

No abstract provided.

From Embodiment To Entanglement: Refiguring Symbiosis In Human–Computer Interaction, Sang-Won Leigh

IASDR Conference Series

Human–machine symbiosis has re-emerged in HCI as a promising framework for designing sustained partnerships between humans and machines. While prior work has focused on individual ability, agency, and experience—namely embodiment-centric factors—this paper argues that symbiosis takes shape within entanglement. Through a series of design experiments and student projects, we illustrate how ecological residuals—such as friction, adaptation, and asymmetry—can serve as productive design materials. Our proposed framework synthesizes existing approaches, extending the scope of symbiosis in HCI from bodily integration toward socio-technical interdependence. By situating design configurations not as fixed endpoints but as sites of relational conditioning, this paper refigures human– …

The X_Heal Toolkit: Navigating Temporal And Dynamic Self-Healing Processes In Living Materials, Verindi Vekemans, Stefano Parisi, Fanzhe Zeng, Jun Wu, Elvin Karana

IASDR Conference Series

Self-healing, a remarkable ability of living organisms, is gaining attention in biodesign as a pathway toward sustainability. Applications range from fungi-based repair in packaging to bacterial healing in soft robotics. The expressive, dynamic, and temporal nature of self-healing offers rich design opportunities but also presents challenges due to emergent behaviours and environmental dependencies. Healing may unfold gradually, leave visible traces, or transform material in unpredictable ways, making it difficult to observe, describe, and communicate through existing design tools. This paper introduces a toolkit, namely the X_Heal Toolkit, that enables designers to analyse and characterise self-healing processes. Grounded in frameworks of …

"The Limbs That I Built": Understanding In Co-Creation Human Augmentation Design And User-Driven Testing, Keren Zhang, Kin Wai Michael Siu, Yijia Jiang, Shiyu Liu, Huiyi Zhang

IASDR Conference Series

Current co-creation design research on human augmentation technologies focuses primarily on restoring functions for individuals with disabilities, overlooking the increasing potential demand for augmentation among ordinary users. To bridge this research gap, this study combined speculative design with user co-creation workshops to examine the practical implications and behavioural impacts of supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) on everyday users. Initial questionnaires and interviews (n=42) revealed considerable user interest, particularly regarding upper limb and back augmentations. Based on these insights, we collaboratively developed two prototypes: the 'Mirror Hand', which enhances grasp capabilities by mirroring finger movements, and the 'Third Akimbo', a robotic arm …

Educating For Longevity: The Role Of Immersive Technologies In Service Learning, Sheng-Hung Lee, Joseph Coughlin, Sofie Hodara, Maria Yang

IASDR Conference Series

As education adapts to the realities of a longevity society, new approaches are needed to engage learners in preparing for their long-term futures, particularly around financial well-being. This preliminary study explores how immersive technologies can enhance educational experiences in longevity planning by combining augmented reality (AR) with tangible artifacts, the Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs). We designed and prototyped three longevity coaching experiences—using projection AR, tablet AR, and wearable AR—to investigate their effectiveness in communicating abstract longevity planning concepts. Nine Boston-based participants aged 35–45 engaged in a 30-minute coaching session using one of three AR modalities, followed by reflective feedback captured …

Designing Marine Ranch Complexes For More Than Human-Centered Design: A Reflective Multispecies Systems Framework, Liu Xiang, He Renke, Ji Tie, Shao Binbin, Meng Han

IASDR Conference Series

The Marine Ranch Complex (MRC) is a novel approach to marine fisheries development that has gained significant attention from developed coastal nations worldwide. As a major fishing nation, China attaches great importance to the development of MRC. This study proposes an analytical framework for the sustainable development path of MRC, which is conducive to the efficient conversion of marine resources and the coordinated development of marine ecology in marine pastures. To begin with, the evolution process of the marine ranch concept and the development status of our country are summarized, and the definition of MRC is clarified. We introduce (i) …

Ageism, Loneliness, And The Built Environment: Shaping Older Women's Play In Public Housing Estates, Yi Izzy Jian, Tian Cheng, Wei Xuan Chen, Ka Him Mo

IASDR Conference Series

Play in later life is more than leisure—it is an act of autonomy, resistance, and identity negotiation, especially for older women navigating marginal ity in public housing. Yet, conventional urban design and social programming often fail to recognize its significance. This study investigates how play is interpreted and practiced by 39 female older adults, using semi-structured interviews and network analysis. Findings indicate that socially-driven, self-organized activities such as chatting and volunteering form the core of meaningful play, while procedural barriers and spatial limitations hinder participation in more structured, passive forms. Ageism, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with the built environment further restrict …

Beyond The Interface: How Dyad Gender Composition Shapes Ux Across Collaborative Scenarios, Mengcai Zhou, Wenjia Shi, Jingxuan Wang, Kenta Ono

IASDR Conference Series

As collaborative digital tools and shared-screen applications proliferate, it has become essential to examine how group dynamics and physical layout jointly influence user experience. In this work, we explored how the combination of spatial setting and gender composition shapes interaction in a two- player digital game. Eleven dyads (22 participants) — composed of female–female, male–male, and mixed-gender pairs — played a self-developed iPad table-tennis game under two contrasting conditions: seated face-to-face at the same table and playing remotely from separate rooms. Following each match, they completed a 21-item questionnaire adapted from the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) to capture perceived engagement …

Embodied Vibrational Methodologies: Exploring Vibration From A Multispecies Perspective In A Co-Created Summercamp, Svenja Keune, Katka Cerna, Asya Ilgün, Anneke Ter Schure, Roland Mühlethaler, Tincuta Heinzel, Kristine Diekman

IASDR Conference Series

The I.N.S.E.C.T. Summer camps are annual gatherings of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners exploring more-than-human perspectives through creative, embodied, and ecological practices. They take place in a scout camp in Hvalsø, Denmark. This area belongs to the Skoldjungernes Land („Land of the Turtles “) National Park where the Bidstrup forest meets the Særløse Overdrev grasslands. The 2024 Summercamp focused on vibration as a sensory and communicative modality shared among humans, plants, and insects. Building on our established methodology of Mapping Ecologies, Critical Making, and Being/Becoming, we adapted our approach to the local context by engaging with insect and plant species involved …

Bridging Innovation And Delivery: A Double-Helix Integration Of Design Thinking And Lean Thinking In Taiwan's Regional Revitalization, Chung-Kai Liao, Ding-Hau Huang

IASDR Conference Series

This study addresses the pervasive "innovation-delivery fracture" phenomenon in Taiwan's regional revitalization policy by proposing a Double-Helix Integration Model that non-linearly interweaves Design Thinking (exploration helix) with Lean Thinking (delivery helix). Through thematic analysis of 31 Taiwan-based publications from 2016–2025, the research identifies four core themes: structural fractures at the policy level including ambiguous central-local government roles and insufficient cross- departmental coordination mechanisms; Design Thinking's excellence in demand insight and co- creation stages, offset by deficiencies in scaling and institution aliz ation; Lean Thinking's potential to strengthen delivery capacity through value stream mapping and PDCA cycles; and a double-helix integration …

A Smart Interaction System For Mandibular Rehabilitation Training, Zixuan Yang, Hyejin Lee, Leheng Chen

IASDR Conference Series

Tempor omandibular disorder (TMD) severely impacts patients' quality of life, while traditional rehabilitation treatments are often costly and lack compliance. Therefore, this study proposes an interactive home-based mandibular rehabilitation training system that integrates force sensing and computer vision. This system monitors mandibular motion and applied pressure in real time, providing patients with visual feedback and guidance. Incorporating self-efficacy theory, it designs personalized training plans to enhance compliance and sustainability. The study first established a medical paradigm centered on autonomous coordinated mandibular movement and resistance training and constructed a self-efficacy-oriented interactive experience model. Technically, a flexible pressure-sensing cuff and the MediaPipe …

A Typological Approach To Innovative Agriculture Design: Enhancing Urban-Rural Interaction, Tangxiang Huo, Jia Ren, Yan Yang, Yinuo Lv, Xiang Liu, Tie Ji, Han Meng

IASDR Conference Series

In recent years, urban-rural interaction and rural revitalization have received increasing attention, particularly in the context of Innovative Agricultural Design (IAD).However, existing IAD cases differ significantly in scale, concept, and development models, making it difficult to formulate design strategies that are adaptive and targeted to different types of practices. To address this issue, this study systematically classifies 83 domestic and international IAD cases and establishes a typo logical framework to reveal their distinct characteristics. Based on a comprehensive indicator system encompassing technological, social, and business innovation dimensions, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and hierarchical clustering are applied to identify four IAD …

The Effect Of Generative Ai On Design Students' Critical Thinking And Creative Achievement, Younjung Hwang, Jindo Hwang

IASDR Conference Series

This study investigated generative AI's impact on design students' critical thinking and creative achievement through a counterbalanced within-subjects experiment with 61 university students in southern China. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A used traditional tools (Adobe software, handmade methods) followed by AI tools (Midjourney, DALL-E), while Group B used the reverse order. Students created graphic posters on different but comparable themes with a two- week interval between sessions. Data were collected through pre- and post-surveys using composite scores, blind expert evaluations of the design outputs, and focus group interviews. Results revealed a paradox: students reported significantly lower …

Breathing Beside The Leaf That Guides Us: An Experimental Study On A Plant-Human Symbiotic Meditation System Design, Yule Chen, Shengbo Sun, Yiwen Wang, Ying Hu, Wenyu Xu, Yuexin Zhu, Yiming Bai

IASDR Conference Series

Unlike interactions with electronic devices—which demandthe full focus ofhuman cognition through screen-based interfaces—our engagement with nature is subtle, embodied, and continuously perceived, even without conscious attention. In the context of a decent connection between human and nature life rhythms, this study introduces a novel plant- human symbiotic meditation system that transforms real-time photosynthetic signals into generative soundscapes, enablingaform ofcross-species interaction in which plant rhythms serve as perceptual cues in human meditative regulation. Distinct from prior human-plant interaction work that treats plants as passive background elements or aesthetic artifacts, this research emphasizes the expressive role of living plants in shaping human …

Co-Designing Tools For Dialogic Learning: Insights From The "Datafy" Project, Yu-Yu Liu, Maja Dybboe, Johanne Birkkjær Bjerrum, Johannes Ellemose, Christian Dindler

IASDR Conference Series

This study presents a co-design process for developing tools that foster critical data literacy in K–12 education through dialogic learning opportunities. Adopting a research-through-design approach, we explore how teachers and interdisciplinary researchers can co-create con textually grounded, pedagogy- informed learning artefacts. In this paper, we document the co-design process, describe the resulting artefacts, and report classroom observations involving 40 students and two teachers using these tools in a primary school. Our findings highlight: (i) how artefact-enabled dialogic learning opportunities shaped children’s learning experiences and (ii) the process and outcomes of interdisciplinary co-design with teachers. Our results underscore the value of …

Sustainable Design Through Tradition: Insights From The Cuia Craft Of Amazonian Women, Andrea Bandoni, Nacional De Belas-Artes

IASDR Conference Series

This article examines the work of Amazonian women artisans who, in collaboration with the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete), create the traditional cuias of Santarém. These vessels are distinguished by their black organic lacquer and intricate carved motifs, which give cultural value to objects primarily used as containers. The study seeks to inform design methodologies that foreground environmental responsibility while demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inspire sustainable practices. It also underscores the central role of women in preserving and transmitting this heritage. To address these aims, the research employed a mixed-method approach: a literature review on sustainable design; a historical analysis …

Integrating Adaptive Approaches For Color Vision Deficiency With Activity Theory: A Holistic Framework For Inclusive Public Design, Xin Yi Wang, Yu Hin Brian Lee, Yi Lin Wong, Kin Wai Michael Siu

IASDR Conference Series

This study aims to address the challenges of adaptive public design for individuals with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), a prevalent yet often overlooked invisible disability. By integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Activity Theory, the research seeks to bridge technical optimization with socio-cultural inclusivity, providing a comprehensive framework for inclusive design. AHP was employed to quantitatively evaluate adaptive design solutions for CVD based on effectiveness, usability, scalability, cost, efficiency, and adoption potential. Concurrently, Activity Theory was applied to analyze systemic gaps in public design, emphasizing the interplay between tools, societal goals, and environmental contexts. The study introduces a Multi-Perspective …

Hidden Craft: Exploring Material Possibilities Of Traditional Bamboo Weaving Waste, Li-Wei Yeh

IASDR Conference Series

As bamboo gains recognition for its ecological and material versatility, through participation in bamboo weaving, the researcher discovers large volume of waste generated during material preparation. This study investigates the material and experiential potential of bamboo craft waste through a practice-led research approach. By combining sodium alginate (SA), the researcher experimented with diverse material compositions and forming methods, including sheet casting, pattern generation and 3D shaping. These processes reveal how material behaviours such as fluidity and shrinkage become central to design negotiation, prompting the maker to oscillate between control and responsiveness. The study adopts reflective writing and qualitative coding to …