Digital Commons Network^™

Just Breathe: Demystifying Breath In Theatre Performance And Pedagogy, Gabriella Headley

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Breathing is an involuntary reflex that happens every day, usually without any extra effort or consideration. Often as actors we are instructed to “just breathe” in a scene, but what does that really mean when breathing is something that is already done subconsciously? Since beginning graduate training, I have realized how imperative breath is in our work as performers, and how it is the cornerstone of everything: the voice, the body, the text, and how it acts as the connecting force between the performers and the audience. How can actors, educators, and directors expand their vocabulary and use breath as …

Perezhivanie In Practice: Exploring Affective Memory And Imagination Through The Stanislavski System, Paige E. Mason

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis explores the enduring significance of The Stanislavski System in modern American actor training, addressing why it remains essential over a century after its creation by Konstantin Stanislavski. While studying the history of how The Stanislavski System was introduced and adapted in America, I identified a fundamental divide that shaped actor training: Lee Strasberg emphasized affective memory to generate emotion, while Stella Adler advocated for imagination to connect with character. Their public dispute has had a lasting impact on American theatre pedagogy, often leaving actors caught between methodologies without a clear understanding of the System’s original intent. At the …

Roleing In & Out Of Character, Dominique E. Marshall

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis explores different methods for an actor to safely get in and out of character. There is a myriad of methodologies for actors to get into their roles, but not much public information on how actors should get out of character. My research navigates how to release a role, or ‘de-roleing,’ along with what actors need in preparation for taking on a role, or ‘pre-roleing.’ The risks of not having an efficient pre-roleing and de-roleing method are emphasized. Using a combination of ideas brought on by Augusto Boal, Susana Bloch, Suzanne Dieckman, and others, I explore methods to de-role …

“Let The Little Lady Have It!”: Carrie And Ella Rossetter And The Role Of Corporate Women In Early Twentieth Century Business History, Angela R. Mchugh

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the entrepreneurial journeys of Carrie and Ella Rossetter, two pioneering women who navigated the male-dominated business landscape of early 20th century Florida. Their experiences challenge the prevailing narrative that women were largely excluded from corporate roles prior to World War II. The Rossetter sisters, through their respective ventures in the oil and insurance industries, illustrate the complexities faced by women entrepreneurs during this era, including societal expectations, gender norms, and limited access to capital. Despite operating within a framework that favored traditional feminine roles, Carrie and Ella found ways to assert their business acumen and establish successful …

Requisites For A Dream: An Evaluation Into The National Urban League’S Adjustment Efforts For Southern Migrants, 1911-1930, Adaeze Nwigwe

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The American Dream is loosely defined as a universalist rhetoric that promises any American the opportunity to succeed in life. However, for African Americans this has not always been guaranteed. Historiography around the mantra uncovers a gap in consideration for Black Americans’ unique marginalization in American society despite their long history within the nation. This paradox inspired a myriad of proposed solutions towards racial disparities, with the early twentieth century favoring ideas of racial uplift as a panacea for prejudice. This thesis examines the use of racial uplift as a solution by the National Urban League during the first half …

Screen Time On Stage: The Effect Of Internet And The Smartphone On The Actor, Nathan A. Olmeda

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the potential link between an actor’s cell phone use and their work in the rehearsal process. Using Paula Thomson and S. Victoria Jaque’s Creativity and the Performing Artist and Nichola Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, I analyze the neural networks of the brain that are engaged in acting and their functions to develop a greater understanding of their association to behaviors and emotional responses that may impact the actor in the rehearsal/performance space. Furthermore, I investigate the emergence of smartphone use within the cultural zeitgeist and its effect on the …

Development Of Human Neuronal Microphysiological Models And Subsequent Integration Into Multi-Organ Platforms For Evaluation Of Therapeutic Efficacy And Off-Target Toxicity, Aakash Patel

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Microphysiological systems are a rapidly growing field of research for modeling of physiological processes and disease in an in vitro environment. The translatability and cost effectiveness of these platforms make them a valuable tool for drug discovery, allowing investigation of both efficacy and off-target toxicity either as a replacement or supplement to traditional animal models. Neurological disorders in particular are often difficult to emulate in an animal model, making the development of these models a highly useful area of research for both elucidation of brain function, as well as neurological disorders. Taking these models and integrating them into a multi-organ …

The Coffee Corner Project: Creating Rehearsal Community Through The Café Space, Jacob Romeo

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The ensemble is the heart of any rehearsal process, and a sense of community as an ensemble is enriched more in the moments between rehearsing than in the rehearsal room itself. Approaching the ensemble from this perspective, this thesis examines how this connection can be strengthened or deepened by observing the history of the coffee shop social space. I implemented this lens of community into the rehearsal process by constructing a pared-down cafe space adjacent to the rehearsal room that elevated coffee beyond its “grab and go” forms into an enriching sensory experience where the cast and creative team were …

Application Of Multi-Branching Narratives And Cooperative Gaming For Theme Park Rides, Jon Bryan Salvador

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the opportunities to combine video game concepts such as branching narrative games and cooperative games with interactive theme park rides or attractions. With the state of the contemporary themed entertainment industry explicitly defining the guest’s role to the context of the ride or attraction’s storyworld, there is a need to reassess the conventional forms of theme park ride interactivity to create a more dynamic narrative, gameplay experience, and guest or audience engagement. Through a brief analysis of relevant themed experience and video game references, this research proposes a cooperative theme park ride that utilizes a modified version …

On The Pedagogy Of Modes, Joshua M. Sanfilippo

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Undergraduate music students in their junior and senior years have a solid foundation in music fundamentals based on the four-semester music theory sequence taken during their sophomore and junior years, but most have a weakness in the area of diatonic modes. This is not to say that they are unaware of the modes or that they do not understand how to identify or construct them, but rather that students are unable to conceptualize modality in a pre-tonal context. To the modern undergraduate music student, the modes blossomed out of the major scale—a notion counter to historical truth. This backwards way …

Locked Out: An Empirical Study Of The Impacts Of Technological Protection Measures On Digital Content Access In Canadian Academic Libraries, Anthony D. Rosborough, Katherine Silins

Reports & Public Policy Documents

This report presents findings from a comprehensive empirical qualitative study involving interviews with Canadian academic librarians, copyright officers, and information professionals to examine how TPMs affect digital content access. The research reveals that TPMs are deeply embedded within the technology and licensing frameworks used by libraries, creating opaque barriers to lawful access. Practitioners often lack clarity on whether restrictions stem from TPMs or from contractual or platform design, complicating their ability to support fair dealing uses of works, preservation, and teaching. This ambiguity has increased substantially with the rise of controlled digital lending (CDL) and other access models that have …

Developing Novel Therapeutic Strategies For Mcrc With A Brafv600e Mutation, Mariah Geisen

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The overall incidence rates of CRC have decreased in those over 50, but there is an increasing incidence rate in those under 50. Risk factors for CRC include diet, family history, and a sedentary lifestyle. Early detection of CRC is key to patient survival and treatment response. Localized CRC has a survival rate of 90% and allows for surgical resection and chemotherapy. The 5-year survival for metastatic CRC (mCRC) is significantly reduced to around 14%. Despite early detection, 50% of patients will develop metastasis after surgical resection and …

Hss 404-004: History Of Murder, Alision Lefkovitz

History Syllabi

No abstract provided.

The Second Bite At The Apple Watch Through The United States Customs And Border Protection: A Further Whittling Of Patent Rights Post-Ebay, Thomas R. Langdon

Missouri Law Review

Underlying the patent system is a bargain between the general public and patent owners. In exchange for the limited-time right of the patentee to exclude others from making, using, or selling their patented invention or process, the public receives the benefit of both the disclosure of new and useful inventions and processes and the increased incentive to innovate. The Supreme Court’s eBay v. MercExchange decision, however, fundamentally changed this bargain by removing the presumption of injunctive relief for patent owners upon a finding of infringement in Article III courts. The Court replaced this presumption with a four-factor test, making it …

Burdening Caregivers With But-For Causation, Jessie L. O'Brien

Missouri Law Review

It is human nature to depend on one another. You may depend on your friend for a laugh after a hard day or your classmate to bring a strong work ethic to a group project. Whether the dependence stems from a comfortable bond, a familiar relationship, or a passing expectation, we rely on each other daily. However, some people experience a deeper level of need where they are dependent on another person to navigate even the basic necessities of life. Imagine if your loved one required this level of dependence—where even the smallest of tasks required your support. Now imagine …

Amending The Flsa: Time For Congress To Break The Tie And Define Student Athletes As Employees, Alison Izzi

Western New England Law Review

Some may argue that waiting for Congress to legislate a solution to an issue is futile, however, in some cases, advocating for such action is the next best step forward. Therefore, it is time for Congress to break its silence on the issue of collegiate athlete employment status. Historically, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has relied on backing from courts and a lack of legislative regulation to maintain its monopoly over the collegiate athletics market and control over its participating student athletes. Courts have been cautious to make rulings against the NCAA, until recently. In 2021, the Supreme Court …

Congress Versus The Executive Branch: The Role Of The Office Of Legal Counsel, Billy Monroe

Western New England Law Review

The U.S. Constitution creates a system where the Presidency and Congress are meant to have an adversarial relationship. The best example is through Congressional oversight of Executive Branch activities and the inevitable response through executive actions. The Office of Legal Counsel is often an integral part of the coordinated response because this often-understudied part of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for providing constitutional arguments to defend the President’s decisions, especially for executive orders. This article traces the historical evolution of OLC opinions that have played a key role in defining the relationship between the Executive Branch and Congress …

Bankruptcy Blitz: How Courts Penalize Debtors Despite Lack Of Cause And Jurisdiction Under The Appropriations Act, Emily Levesque

Western New England Law Review

Suppose you currently reside in one of the many states that have legalized the use of marijuana. In that case, you have the right to confidently walk into a dispensary and purchase marijuana products—you would not be arrested the second you hand cash to the teller. You could legally take the product back home to do with it as you please within the bounds of state law. If you were ever a cannabis connoisseur, you could decide to purchase a percentage of that dispensary. At the highest level, if you felt particularly entrepreneurial, you could legally apply for and open …

Dc To Ac Voltage Source Converter Control System, Mohummad Tark Elgassier, Jordan M. Reichhardt, Brayden Richard Young

Electrical Engineering

The Voltage Source Converter Control System integrates a control system for a 2-phase half-bridge voltage source converter (VSC) utilizing a TMS320F2837xD Dual-Core Real-Time Microcontroller. VSCs are critical for the integration of power production into the power grid. They allow for accurate control over DC-AC energy conversion. Additionally with the improvement of renewable energies VSCs play a critical role in controlling the flow of these environmentally controlled and more unpredictable sources of energy. The control system regulates the output current and voltage, regulates switching patterns, and maintains power stability under varying loads. Within the control system Digital control systems, PWM generation, …

Revolutionizing The Immaculate Conception: The Limitations Of Medieval Theology And The Advancements Of John Duns Scotus, Emily G. Knoppe

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Although in the modern era, the Immaculate Conception is a controversial doctrine that prompts conflict primarily between Catholic and non-Catholic groups, during the medieval period Roman Catholics were greatly divided on the topic. Opposition to the belief hinges not only on its lack of scriptural basis and complicated theology, which some deem as placing Mary outside of the need for Christ’s redemption, but also on the fact that it was not declared dogma until 1854 by Pope Pius IX. In this thesis, I first consider how Augustine of Hippo’s original sin theology laid the foundation for avid rejection of the …

Taking It Back To The Future: Best Teaching Practices From A 20th Century Law Professor For The 21st Century Undergraduate Law Student, Jessica Garcia-Brown

Western New England Law Review

The evolving landscape of legal education demands a reimagined approach to teaching, particularly as law professors transition from 20th century teaching methods to engage with 21st century Generation Z (Gen Z) students. This article explores the intersection of traditional and modern pedagogical tools to enhance the undergraduate law student’s learning experience. This Article discusses that while Gen Z students are increasingly familiar with technology and interactive learning, they may lack the foundational understanding of humanities-based subjects such as history, philosophy, and composition that traditionally prepared students for law school. By blending these traditional subjects with engaging educational technologies, law professors …

Recycling The Rules: How Coca-Cola’S Recent Legal Battles Highlight The Need For Modernizing Sustainability Advertising Laws To Protect Consumers And Businesses, Joshua James Weatherwax

Western New England Law Review

Should the FTC’s sustainability marketing guidelines be thrown out, or can they be recycled? In 2022, Coca-Cola faced two separate challenges from environmental groups alleging deceptive marketing practices based on the company’s unsubstantiated recycling and sustainability claims. In Swartz v. Coca-Cola Co., environmental groups sued the company for allegedly violating California consumer protection laws by marketing plastic bottles as “100% recyclable.” In Earth Island Inst. v. Coca-Cola Co., environmental groups targeted Coca-Cola’s broader marketing efforts where the company asserted that it was committed to reducing plastic pollution and using sustainable practices. In both instances, the court held in favor of …

Atms And Cris Geolocation, Mark Esplin, Kris Robinson, Ben Esplin, Nephi Grant, Deron Scott, Likun Wang

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Contents

• Summary of Suomi NPP sensors CrIS, ATMS, and VIIRS 
• Geolocation methods 
• Software optimization
• CrIS geolocation results
• ATMS geolocation results
• Conclusions

Movement And Activity Of Burbot, (Mizay; Lota Lota) In A Spring-Fed Minnesota Lake, Abigail M. Fountain

Biology Graduate Theses

Burbot (Mizay; Lota lota) are a relatively unmanaged freshwater fish, important in many local Indigenous cultures, but often overlooked or maltreated in research, conservation, and fishing practices. As such, relatively little research has been conducted on Burbot, despite ecological significance as an indicator species. A recent resurgence in popularity as a target species, however, has prompted new research to inform management policies. The objectives of this study were to summarize Burbot movement by identifying patterns in swimming activity and identify possible predictors of the movement observed. This study investigated the movements of 39 individuals implanted with acoustic transmitters in Bad …

Teaching Humanities To Medical Students: Moving From The Classroom To The Clinic, Andrew S. Freiberg, Cheryl Dellasega, F. Jeffrey Lorenz, Matthew Darok, Maria Holstrom-Mercader

Health Professions Education

Purpose: While humanistic practice is an essential component of medical school curricula, there are few applied experiences that instill humanistic behaviors. Since 2008, we have offered an innovative clinical rotation, where instead of clinical duties, students “shadow” pediatric oncology patients and their families, employing narrative medicine to provide insights into the experience of illness, navigating health systems issues, and the complexity of interdisciplinary care.

Methods: Using qualitative methods, a trained research team analyzed the 120 student narratives submitted from 2008 through 2019. Statements that exhibited humanism were extracted and reduced to five common themes.

Results: The narratives …

Relationship Between Teaching Methods And Self-Regulated Learning Among Moroccan Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Asma Bouriami, Mounia Amane, Samia Boussaa, Ahmed Rhassane El Adib

Health Professions Education

Purpose: To explore self-regulated learning among nursing students and the relationship between the teaching methods used and self-regulated learning.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey is conducted with 208 nursing students using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ).

Results: In relation to self-regulated learning, the results demonstrate that students had moderate scores in both motivation (4.43) and learning strategies (4.58). Men students showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to women students regarding test anxiety included on motivation section. Generally, a preference for active teaching methods was observed. Additionally, results demonstrate that there was a moderate positive correlation between score of motivation and project-based learning (r =0,481; p ppp<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings will provide valuable insights for educators seeking to enhance their methods to foster self-regulated learning in their students. In this regard, prioritizing active teaching methods …

Exploring Approaches To Teaching Communication Practices For Shared Decision-Making In Medical Education: A Scoping Review, Sarah A. E. Aboushawareb, Saki Sultana, Peter Nugus, Tracie Barnett, Amalia M. . Issa, Gillian Bartlett-Esquilant

Health Professions Education

Objective

Health professional education researchers have documented increased training on shared decision-making (SDM) skills in undergraduate as well as continuing professional development (CPD). In this review, we seek to understand the current methods and approaches to teaching SDM for healthcare providers and trainees.

Methods

This scoping review involved the systematic search of 4 databases: MEDLINE, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Scopus for qualitative and quantitative studies literature covering the topic of teaching SDM in medical education.

Results

We identified 20 records that met our search criteria and were included in this study. We found that SDM training provided in medical education included …

Range Safety And Design For Launch, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Design to make licensing and launch easy

• Sometimes the most innovative or elegant solution isn’t the best one
• The less you have to prove, the better
• Don’t use novel materials
• Don’t use novel methods

Example: 3D printing is cool and reduces part count because you can design otherwise unmachinable parts

• Now you have to test, analyze, and prove to everyone that your part won’t fail
• If you machined the parts from AL 6061-T6 and bolted them together with stainless steel fasteners, nobody would have looked twice

Analysis Of Mutations In Bmpr2 Gene Associated With Hypertension, Elaine Vanterpool, Keury C. Ruiz

Student Posters

Mutations in the BMPR2 gene are primarily recognized for their role in the development of blood vessels, however, they have also been associated with the pathogenesis of high blood pressure, specifically in regards to altered vascular function and the endothelial cell signal. Early detection and targeted treatment, as well as lifestyle changes, are pivotal in reducing the risk of serious complications associated with high blood pressure. Recent genetic research and personalized medicine have demonstrated the potential to enhance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of high blood pressure, particularly through the identification of genetic mutations in the BMPR2 gene.

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …