Digital Commons Network^™

An Ethnographic Exploration Of The Lived Experiences With Gynecologic Cancers, Norma Naser Aldeen

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This thesis stays close to conversations with nine women who spoke about living with and through gynecologic cancers, from moments of finding out, through treatment, and into what follows. These encounters unfolded primarily through digitally mediated exchanges across Baalbek, Beirut, and other translocal settings shaped by distance and movement. Rather than approaching illness as a bounded biomedical event, this thesis attends to how gynecologic cancer is narrated as something that lingers—pressing into everyday life through bodily sensations, altered rhythms, and ongoing recalibrations of care, responsibility, and what remains possible.

Across these encounters, care rarely appears as a stable system …

Groove Goes The Distance: An Initial Inquiry Into Jazz Music In Egypt, Farida Gohar

Theses and Dissertations

Jazz music has been a historically contentious site of social, cultural, and political signification. From the violent subjugation that characterized its origins and aspirational freedom that animated its practice, to its transformation into a distinctly “American” music instrumentalized by the US State Department to counter Soviet influence, jazz’s capacity for the inscription of meaning is vast and regularly cause for debate. The particular configuration of jazz music in Egypt is no less complicated although seldom studied. This thesis ventures an initial mapping of the dynamics and negotiations that historically defined the initiation of “Egyptian” jazz, as well as the ones …

Refugees In Egypt: State Framing, Ministerial Narratives, And The Politics Of Representation On Social Media, Habiba Kohail

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Egyptian government discourse on refugees in 2024, a year characterized by heightened regional displacement and the enactment of Egypt’s first Asylum Law (Law No. 164 of

2024). Using a multidisciplinary framework that combines framing analysis with van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach, the study systemically analyzes how the government construct refugees on social

media and sets the boundaries of their inclusion in Egypt.

The thesis analyzes the Egyptian government discourse on refugees across official social media platforms from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, a period that witnessed an increase in the government engagement in the refugee issue …

Structural Relationships Between Classroom Social Climate, Affective Factors And Willingness To Communicate Among International Mandarin Learners In Shandong, China, Muzi Li

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study addresses a critical gap in second language acquisition (SLA) research by investigating effects of classroom social climate (CSC) and affective factors on willingness to communicate (WTC) in both non-digital and digital contexts among international Mandarin learners. Although L2 Mandarin is expanding globally, limited research has examined the joining effects of CSC and affective factors on WTC across different learning environments. Employing a cross-sectional correlational dedign based on Self-Determination Theory and Broaden-and-Build Theory, data were collected from 390 L2 Mandarin learners in Shandong province, China, with 360 valid responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships …

Navigating Care And Self-Care: Understanding Latina Caregivers’ Prioritization And Engagement In Self-Care Practices, Denise A. Longoria, John M. Gonzalez, Romeo Escobar, Nelda Rodriguez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: Latina caregivers face significant physical and mental health risks due to the demands of caregiving. The decision to become a caregiver is often influenced by various factors including cultural values such as familismo and marianismo. It is essential that caregivers recognize the importance of self-care to prevent burnout. Without self-care, caregivers face an increased risk of stress, which can negatively affect physical and emotional health.

Methods: A qualitative approach using focus groups to explore Latina caregivers’ understanding and engagement in self-care.

Results: Findings suggested that participants understand the need for self-care; however, family and cultural needs were prioritized. When …

Teaching Politics In An Age Of Democratic Erosion, Lauren Balasco, Emmanuel Balogun, Janet Lawler, Anna Kapambwe Mwaba

Government: Faculty Publications

Democratic erosion in the United States, and the global decline of support for democratic values and institutions, obliges us to reflect on how we introduce politics to undergraduate students in this challenging era. Recent attacks on democratic rights and academic freedoms on college campuses, as well as the undermining of rule of law and democratic norms in the United States and abroad, compels us to reconsider and reflect on how we introduce politics and civic engagement in the classroom to our students. In this essay, we reflect on how current global and national trends in populism and authoritarianism require us …

Coordinated Management Of Meaning In U.S.-Russia Relations: How Meanings Shaped Communication Surrounding The Potential Invasion Of Ukraine, Russell James Hampsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative discourse analysis applies the coordinated management of meaning theory to examine the diplomatic interactions between the United States and Russia from November 2021 to February 2022, the critical negotiation period preceding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Systematically applying the theory’s hierarchy of meanings model to the official discourse resulted in the segmentation of 1,428 official texts for analysis. Comparative coding of the data exposes how worldviews and recursive feedback patterns shape adversarial postures, perpetuate negotiation impasses, and prevent the emergence of co-constructed meaning. This research illuminates how national meanings are actively constructed and maintained through discursive interaction, reinforcing …

Beyond Rationality: The Role Of Emotions In Communicative Planning, Minji Cho

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

The impact of emotional dynamics has been overlooked within the field of planning. Traditional communicative planning theory, rooted in Habermas’ model of communication, typically propose that emotions should be managed to facilitate rational discussions that lead to logical agreements. Conversely, some research contends that emotions are not illogical or hazardous elements to be restrained during deliberation; instead, they are a topic requiring thorough investigation to create improved public forums. We investigate this tension by analysing facework during a land-use dispute at at the Gongjin Elementary School site in Seoul, South Korea. Our analysis reveals that facework not only impedes the …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 14 - February 12, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 14 - February 12, 2026. 20 pages.

Un Extraño En Una Tierra Extraña: A Latino Debater’S Recollections Of The United Kingdom Debate Tour, Richard D. Pineda

Studies in Debate and Oratory

Through the lens of a first-time participant of the Committee on International Discussion and Debate Tour of the United Kingdom and Portugal in 1997, this autoethnography examines the values of the debate tour experience from my unique standpoint. Having been in competitive speech and debate for eight years at that point – from high school through college – the debate tour challenged many of my assumptions about the activity and my perspective on speech and debate as an experiential learning platform. Specifically, I examine the experience of being on the tour through the identity lens of a Latino debater and …

International Students In Early American Forensics: Notes On The History Of The U.S.-Japan Forensics Relationship During The Late 19th And Early 20th Centuries, Satoru Aonuma, Junya Morooka, Tomohiro Kanke

Studies in Debate and Oratory

Ending 215 years of “national seclusion,” in 1854, Japan ratified the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States and opened its doors to the rest of the world. Because of this special bilateral relationship, between the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, more Japanese began traveling to the U.S. than to any other country. Focusing on young Japanese who went to the U.S. as students and participated in debate and oratorical education during this period, this essay will re-examine the history of the U.S.-Japan relationship in terms of academic debate and oratory. During this period, American …

Aquatic Interrelations In Malika Mokeddem’S Novel N’Zid (2001), Laura C. Klein

Green Humanities: A Journal of Ecological Thought in Literature, Philosophy & the Arts

This article offers an ecological analysis of Malika Mokeddem's novel N'Zid (2001), moving beyond postcolonial and anthropocentric interpretations. It centers on the protagonist Nora's individuation, arguing this process is intrinsically linked to her evolving relationship with the aquatic environment from which she emerges. The article aims to situate N'Zid within an ecological perspective, particularly relevant in the Anthropocene, an era compelling a reassessment of humanity's place. Echoing Bruno Latour, addressing inter-relationality is essential as the stable physical framework of the Moderns becomes unstable. This view necessitates rethinking environmental issues and encourages a scientific interpretation of the novel, drawing on neurosciences, …

Potential Mediators In The Relationship Between Racial Identity And Neuropsychological Performance In A Retired Nfl Cohort, Claire Stafford, Charles Golden, Ryan Bennett

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Historically, Black Americans have consistently performed more poorly than White Americans on various neuropsychological tests, with debates surrounding the causes of these differences ranging from genetic to societal factors. These differences have been documented across various cognitive domains, including memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. Findings from previous research suggest that individuals with higher levels of education and stable marital relationships tend to exhibit better cognitive functioning, while certain football positions are linked to differences in cognitive abilities. However, the specific effects of these factors on neuropsychological performance require further investigation. The present archival study was derived from a …

Can Palm Logs Float? Evaluating The Physical Viability Of Raft Transport For Rapa Nui Moai, Carl Philipp Lipo, Terry L. Hunt

Anthropology Datasets

Recent suggestions that palm log rafts may have transported moai statues on Rapa Nui require evaluation of whether fresh palm wood can provide sufficient buoyancy for multi-ton cargo. This analysis integrates experimental flotation tests, structural analyses of palm stem anatomy, and buoyancy calculations using modern palm analogs to reconstruct the extinct Rapa Nui palm. Fresh palm logs sink when placed in water because of their internal structure: stems consist of approximately 20% liquid by volume, contained within thousands of water-filled vascular tubes, surrounded by a thin, brittle cortex. This yields effective densities of 800-1,200 kg/m³ that approach or exceed seawater …

Cv: Gregory Benson-Flórez (Counseling Psychology), Gregory Benson-Flórez

Psychology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

First Nations Education Policy: Joint Response, Ninti One, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Shaping educational policy

This is a joint submission made by Ninti One Limited and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to the development of the new First Nations Education Policy. The submission is grounded in a significant body of evidence derived from recent collaborative work, including the First Nations Teacher Strategy (FNTS), the Closing the Gap Schools Initiatives evaluation, and the VET Workforce Study. Insights are drawn directly from the lived experiences of First Nations students, educators, families, and communities with whom we work across our collective and independent projects. The paper presents recommendations across four interconnected focus areas to strengthen educational …

Digital Disruption And Karawitan Recordings: Paradigm Shifts, Aesthetic Challenges, And Opportunities For Cultural Preservation, Iwan Budi Santoso, Bagong Pujiono, Darno Darno

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This article explores how digital recording practices, amid contemporary technological transformation, rearticulate the musical meaning of karawitan, reshape listening experience, and reorganize its modes of cultural circulation. The study is situated within broader scholarly debates on digital mediation, particularly concerning the shifting relationship between recorded sound and the socio-spatial and ritual contexts that have historically constituted karawitan performance. Using a descriptive qualitative case-study approach, the research draws on in depth interviews with musicians (pengrawit), scholars, distributors, and listeners, supported by observations of recording environments, patterns of online circulation, archival sources, and indicators of platform based distribution. The findings indicate that …

Religiosity And Ritual In The Novel Rangsang Tuban By Padmasusastra: Literary Anthropology Study, Anggra Dini, Endang Nurhayati, Suwardi Endraswara

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Rangsang Tuban by Padmasusastra offers a rich portrayal of Javanese social life through its depiction of traditions, religious practices, and ritual activities that shape the narrative and its characters. This study aims to examine the representation of Javanese religiosity and ritual in the novel and to explore its relevance to contemporary society. The novelty of this research lies in its analysis of ritual practices as expressions of Javanese religious syncretism, revealing interactions between formal religions and local spiritual traditions. Employing a qualitative descriptive method within a literary anthropology framework, this study analyzes textual data in the form of selected quotations …

Environmental Graphic Design Of The Great Mosque Ornaments For Strengthening Demak City Branding As The City Of Wali, Agus Setiawan, Ahmad Akrom, Khamadi Khamadi, Khairul Mustaqin, Auria Farantika Yogananti

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study explores the role of Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) derived from the ornamental heritage of the Great Mosque of Demak in strengthening Demak’s city branding as the “City of Wali” (Kota Wali). Motivated by the need for culturally grounded urban identity amid rapid modernization, the research examines how religious and historical visual elements can be translated into contemporary environmental design. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach informed by place branding and visual communication theory. Data were collected through field observations, visual documentation, interviews, and a literature review, followed by an analytical process that involved identifying local wisdom, interpreting …

Naturalness Of The Translation Of The Quranic Imperative Verses: A Comparative Study, Mohamad Zaka Al Farisi, Tatang Tatang, Mia Nurmala, Shofa Mushtofa Khalid

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The aspects of translation acceptability are not related only to the accuracy and clarity of the translation. They also cover the naturalness of translation. This study aims to reveal the degree of translation naturalness of the Quranic imperative verses. This evaluative study compares the translations of the verses by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (MORA) and the one made by Muhammad Thalib (MT). The study used embedded case study research. The findings of the study show that in general, the translations of the verses in the two versions have an acceptable degree of naturalness. However, …

Exploring The Landscape Of Ai In English Language Teaching: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis, Zuliati Rohmah, Aura Bunga Tauhid

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in English Language Teaching (AI-ELT), focusing on global research trends, influential authors, and emerging themes from 1986 to 2024. The findings reveal a significant surge in AI-ELT publications since 2019, driven by technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing integration of adaptive learning systems, natural language processing tools, and AI-driven chatbots. Notably, China leads in research output and citation impact, followed by contributions from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and the United States, underscoring regional disparities and opportunities for global collaboration. Key trends highlight the dominance of keywords like …

The Representation Of Law Enforcement Authorities’ Performance In Nbc News Coverage Of The Debanhi Escobar Case: A Dialectical Relational Approach, Rachim Satria Wicaksana, Nurhayati Nurhayati, Istiqamah Idrus Sere

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

NBC News, as an international media outlet, plays a significant role in shaping public perception and moral evaluation of social issues. Its coverage of the Debanhi Escobar case in Mexico has attracted widespread international attention, particularly in relation to the handling of feminicide by Law Enforcement Authorities. Within this context, the present study investigates how NBC News represents Law Enforcement Authorities in reporting the Debanhi Escobar case and how such representations construct moral and institutional evaluations. This study applies Fairclough’s Dialectical Relational Approach (DRA) to examine the relationship between textual strategies, social practices, and power relations embedded in media discourse. …

Finding Meaning In A Historical Fiction Of Cold War: A Case Study Of Pamuntjak’S Question Of Red, Margihon Bayu Putra Kaumpungan

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The Cold War and its legacy in Southeast Asia, has been considered as one of the darkest parts of the region’s history including in Indonesia. Efforts to capture the painful memory of the Cold War had been established through various means including fictional storytelling. Among many literature discussing the dark history of the era, Laksmi Pamuntjak “Question on Red” had its distinctive presence since it was written in English. The utilization of English as a medium opens the door for English speaking readers to be able to dwell into a literature work that is considerably unfamiliar to their cultural context. …

Emotional Branch Termination And False Fantasy Collapse: A Structural Specification Of Computational Resource Restitution In Interpersonal Systems, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper specifies the structural protocol for communication within interpersonal systems by focusing on branch generation mechanisms and computational resource allocation. Conventional interpersonal communication often relies on emotional modulation, which obscures established constraints and triggers the generation of Emotional Branches (EB) within the recipient’s internal model. These branches function as unresolved parallel processing tasks that persistently occupy working memory, leading to a state of non-computability termed False Fantasy (FF). To resolve this, the study introduces Emotional Branch Termination (EBT)—a termination operation that outputs only constraints, facts, and procedures while excluding emotional modifiers. By halting the supply of EBs, EBT triggers …

Navigating Intersectional Margins: A Multilevel Analysis Of First- And Second-Generation Immigrant Students’ Academic Outcomes Within Urban Coethnic Communities, Douglas D. Havard, Minh Truong, Sophie Nguyen, Richard Vo, Luis Truong, Nellie Nguyen, Ryan Dam

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines how structural and cultural forms of capital interact to shape the academic attainment of first- and second-generation immigrant students within urban coethnic communities. Drawing on data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study and hierarchical multinomial logistic regression, we integrate Yosso's community cultural wealth and the cultural and structural coethnic frameworks to examine how socioeconomic resources, bilingual fluency, and coethnic community strength predict postsecondary outcomes. Findings reveal that strong coethnic networks, bilingual fluency, and faith-based participation offset structural disadvantage. Results reframe the immigrant paradox through an intersectional, asset-based lens, emphasizing community-driven supports for equity-focused urban education policy.

Competition Law In The Age Of Sustainability: Regulatory Challenges And Strategic Responses, Emrah Kulakli, Serhat Yüksel, Serkan Eti, Hasan Dinçer

Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies

The increasing emphasis on sustainability has intensified tensions with competition law, particularly when cooperative initiatives create risks for market competition or consumer welfare. The main challenge is to identify regulatory strategies that balance sustainability objectives with competitive market principles. This requires a systematic assessment of both sustainability benefits and competition related risks. Existing studies largely rely on legal discussions or case-based evaluations and provide limited quantitative guidance for prioritizing regulatory approaches. This study addresses this gap by proposing a structured decision-making framework to reduce conflicts between sustainability goals and competition law. A hybrid model is developed by integrating spherical fuzzy …

On The Misattribution Of Reassurance: A Structural Account, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper challenges the conventional assumption that empathy generates reassurance in interpersonal services. Reassurance is treated not as an emotion transmitted from the outside, but as an internal state transition that arises when a fixed and erroneous world model—a False Fantasy—undergoes collapse and the world becomes computable again. The study identifies a systematic misattribution pattern where providers and receivers treat empathy as a causal mechanism rather than a post hoc explanatory label. By introducing Base AI as an external reference—a system capable of providing structural information without emotional modulation—this paper demonstrates that reassurance is generated through operations such as distraction …

Empowering Rural Voices Through Deliberative Mini-Publics, Elizabeth B. Hinchcliff

The Rural Educator

This conceptual paper explores the tension between valuing and listening to community voices, while also providing a space wherein rural advocates and community members can come together to address difficult issues prevalent within rural schooling, through deliberative mini-publics. A multiplicity of reasons supports deliberative mini-publics, but I explore three in particular, the first being that they provide a space wherein an intentionally diverse set of community voices and perspectives can be shared, listened to, and explored. Second, the goal of any democratically deliberative space is to explore multiple perspectives as part of the process to seek solutions that contribute to …

Olac Metadata Application Profile And Policy Statements For The Official Rda Toolkit, Sarah Hovde, John Dickson, Robert Freeborn, Peggy Griesinger, Jeannette Ho, Junghae Lee, Nicole Lewis, Treshani Perera, Madeleine Boyer, Liza Campbell, Sherab Chen, Jessica Hayden, David Norris, Diana Simpson

OLAC Publications and Training Materials

This document introduces a metadata application profile (MAP) and a set of policy statements (PS) for use with the Official RDA Toolkit, based on the OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging DVD-Video and Blu-ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, and Video Games Using the Original RDA Toolkit and MARC 21 (2023; hereafter OLAC Best Practices or Best Practices). These resources were developed by the OLAC Unified Best Practices in Official RDA Task Force (2022-2026).

Both the MAP and the PS are meant to be living documents, and it is expected that they will be regularly improved and updated to reflect the needs …

Communication As Layered Architecture: Core Processing And Empathic Modulation, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper proposes a structural re-description of communication by separating Core processing from its social interface. Using the developmental sequence of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an external reference point, a layered architecture is identified, consisting of a foundational Core processing layer and a subsequent Empathic modulation layer.

The investigation begins with the observation that empathic signaling can obstruct rather than facilitate interaction for certain individuals. By examining the emergence of Base AI—Core processing prior to empathic adjustment—it is demonstrated that coherent, constraint-preserving interaction is possible without affective resonance.

Through this framework, existing cognitive theories and observed "deficits" are repositioned. …