Digital Commons Network^™

Message From The Editor, Richard F. Roadcap Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

An Interview With Vda President, Dr. Benita Miller, Benita Miller Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Va Dent J October, November And December 2017

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

President’S Message, Benita Miller Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Challenges And Prospects Of Communicating Scientific Information About Gmos To Farmers In Kenya, Joseph J. Olomy, Abraham K. Mulwo

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The increasingly polarised public debate surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) often lacks sufficient expert input, leading to heightened public fears and misconceptions. This prompts the questions as to how effectively scientific information on genetically modified foods (GMFs) is communicated to the general public. This study presents findings from interviews with eight crop scientists involved in GMF crop research in Kenya, with the objective of assessing the challenges and opportunities of communicating GMF research findings to the public, and especially to farmers. The participants were selected using a snowballing technique, where the initial participants were identified based on their active engagement …

A History Of Native Medical Auxiliaries, Tanzania:1920s To The 1960s, Irene Gabriel Ndosi, Ashura Jackson Ngoya

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper examines the role and evolution of Native Medical Auxiliaries (NMAs) in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, during British colonial rule between the 1920s and 1960s. It argues that NMAs were not merely subordinates within the colonial medical system but active agents who negotiated and blended Western medical practices with indigenous healing knowledge. Drawing on archival records and oral histories, the paper finds that NMAs filled critical gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas, while simultaneously preserving local therapeutic traditions. By applying Local Agency Theory, the paper highlights the NMAs’ strategic engagement with colonial structures and their contribution to shaping hybrid …

Hunting, Craftsmanship, And Migration: The Ethnobiology Of The Raute Nomads Of Nepal, Ramesh Prasad Adhikary

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study explores the ethnobiology of the Raute nomads in Nepal, a dwindling hunter-gatherer group facing threats from modernisation, deforestation, and sedentarisation policies. Despite growing ethnobiological research on indigenous knowledge, there remains a scholarly gap in integrated analyses of how nomadic practices like hunting, craftsmanship, and migration interlink to promote sustainability, particularly in South Asian contexts. Drawing on six weeks of ethnographic fieldwork with a single Raute community (n=15 key informants via purposive sampling for interviews; 3 focus groups of 6-8 participants via convenience sampling), this research employs participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions to address this gap. …

The Numeral System Of The Bena Language: Structure And Socio-Cultural Functions, Faraja Mwendamseke

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Numeral systems in Bantu languages reflect both linguistic structure and socio cultural functions. This paper explores the structure and socio-cultural functions of the Bena numeral system. The research employed a qualitative approach whereby the data were gathered through elicitation, and non-participant observation. The study was guided by the cognitive linguistics theory, which reveals how language shapes numerical cognition; testing linguistic relativity by showing how structural features like bases and classifiers influence thinking, memory, and arithmetic acquisition across cultures. The results show that numerals in Bena depict agreements with the noun class system, and follow additive structures in compound forms. The …

Say It In Kiswahili: The Impact Of English As The Medium Of Instruction On Students' Comprehension And Expression In Tertiary Education, Tamasha Kitalima

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The challenge of using and understanding English Language by Kiswahili L1 speaking learners is dominant in Tanzania. Having English as a foreign language (i.e. not largely spoken at social contexts) make it not accessible to many. Moreover, in Tanzania research shows that English being the medium of instructions to all subjects (except Kiswahili, Chinese, French, Arabic, and Historia ya Tanzania) from secondary schools to universities limit these learners from understanding academic content, expressing themselves in written and spoken forms, and succeeding in exams. The present study aimed to explore how the use of English as the language of instruction affects …

African Women's Struggle Against Patriarchy: Challenging The 'Un-African' Narrative Of Feminism, Olufunso Temitope Olubanjo-Olufowobi

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper critically examines the assertion that feminism is a Western import and incompatible with African cultures by demonstrating that African women have participated in activism and liberation struggles prior to the emergence of the term ‘feminism’. Although the term ‘feminism’ did not originate within African societies, it was subsequently adopted to describe these longstanding struggles. Through historical analysis and a review of existing literature, this study highlights that pre colonial African societies often afforded women considerable autonomy and leadership, which were later diminished by colonial and post-colonial patriarchal systems. The marginalisation of African women across the political, legal, and …

Christian Leadership On Hiv/Aids Advocacy In Southern Africa, Clemenciana Mukenge

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Guided by the social capital theory, this study systematically reviews empirical evidence on Christian leaders’ advocacy roles in HIV prevention across Southern Africa. The objective was to assess how different forms of social capital shape the effectiveness of faith-based HIV advocacy across the region. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted between January and June 2025, covering peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2001 to 2021. The eligible studies employed qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods; and explicitly examined Christian leaders’ HIV/AIDS advocacy within …

Resilience In Place Names: German-Hehe War Memories And Cultural Identity In Iringa Toponyms, Claudio G. Kisake, Sophilini M. Yisega, Spemba E. Spemba

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Toponyms, or place names, act as vital markers of historical memory, cultural identity and resilience. In Iringa, Tanzania, toponymy offers valuable insights into the enduring impacts associated with the German-Hehe War (1890–1898), and colonial encounters on indigenous communities. This study explores how place names—such as Kitanzini (‘a place with a noose for hanging people’), Ilundamatwe or Lundamatwe (‘a collection of slaughtered heads’), and Gangilonga (‘the speaking stone’)—convey narratives of Hehe war superiority, resistance, and survival. Using a qualitative approach, the research incorporates archival sources, oral histories, and linguistic analysis to investigate the stories behind naming and renaming, the role of …

2026 Program (Pdf), Dept Of Obsttrics And Gynecology

Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident Research Day

Program with abstracts for the 38th Annual Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology Residents Research Day held May 8, 2026.

Historical Markers: Making History Relevant, Dr. Abigail Dutcher

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

Pre-service teachers often view the Civil War as a distant, regionally isolated event with little relevance to their own lives, particularly in northern states. This perception presents a challenge in social studies methods courses, where engagement with complex historical issues is essential. This paper explores how local historical markers can reposition the Civil War as a lived and local history rather than a remote national narrative. Drawing on instructional practice in a Methods of Teaching Social Studies course aligned with InTASC and Indiana REPA standards, the article examines the integration of a Frederick Douglass-related historical marker in Indiana to foster …

In Response To Children’S Literature, Fourth-Grade Students Interview A Vietnam War Veteran Through Distance Learning, Danielle L. Defauw, Gordon Bourland

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

This study explores virtual, student–author interviews fourth-grade students led with Vietnam Veteran, [VETERAN] in response to the following three picture books: Eve Bunting’s (1992) The Wall, Walter Dean Myer’s (2005) Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam, and Jeanne Walker Harvey’s (2017) Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. The opportunity to interview a Vietnam veteran motivated students to read the picture books, craft questions for [VETERAN], and engage in the interview process. Ultimately, this article supports reader-response pedagogy to include virtual or in-person student–specialist interviews with guest speakers to motivate literacy engagement.

Evaluating Sources In The Age Of Ai And Misinformation: Practical Routines For Social Studies Classrooms, Viloshinee Murugan Ph.D

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

As students encounter information through search engines, social media, and AI-generated content, evaluating sources has become more complex and essential in social studies classrooms. Research shows that students struggle to judge credibility, trace claims to evidence, and recognize how context, authorship, and purpose shape information. This article argues that these challenges are not the result of student apathy or inability, but of limited opportunities to practice evaluative reasoning as a routine disciplinary habit. Drawing on scholarship in disciplinary literacy and civic reasoning, as well as nearly three decades of practitioner experience, the article presents practical instructional routines, sample mini-lessons, and …

Ai-Enhanced Digital Exhibits As Inquiry-Driven Civic Practice In The Great Lakes Region, Erik Kormos

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

This article presents a pedagogical framework for using AI-enhanced digital exhibits to support inquiry-based civic learning in the Great Lakes region. Students investigate meaningful community questions, use AI tools strategically for research and analysis, and create public-facing exhibits that develop civic reasoning and agency. The framework addresses grade-band applications (K–12) and emphasizes equity, ensuring all students, regardless of school funding, develop AI literacy and access authentic civic inquiry opportunities. The article articulates essential ethical considerations including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and teacher mediation, and provides a practical implementation framework for educators. Drawing on research in place-based education and inquiry learning, …

Transgender Representation In Fictional Media: A Content Analysis, Valerius A. Greenlaw

Honors Theses

Transgender (trans) representation in media continues to be an understudied subject. Most previous studies have focused on analyzing media without including transgender perspectives, making studies with trans participants scarce. In order to determine current perceptions of trans representation in fictional media, this cyber-ethnography collected discussion posts from r/asktransgender on Reddit to determine what trans people perceive as supportive and harmful representations. This study is guided by a novel theoretical integration of transgender theory and labeling theory. Trans theory and labeling theory suggest that the way characters are portrayed may reinforce or subvert current societal norms and impact the way trans …

Presidents Papers Finding Aid

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Buildings And Grounds Photograph Collection Finding Aid

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Alumni Association Records Finding Aid

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Nineteenth-Century Literary Magazines As Short Story Anthologies, Kelsey J. Brazil

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

This project undertakes an inter-generic study of nineteenth-century literary magazines and classroom anthologies. Based on the workings of genre theory by Julia Kristeva, this inter-generic study argues that the form, ideologemic function, and intertextuality of the literary magazine and anthology are generically similar. This notion has the potential to greatly change the reading of periodical literature from a simple reflection of Victorian times or as a mere container of collected (but isolated) literary pieces into one of cohesive, multi-genre significance. The resulting argument is that a nineteenth-century literary magazine can be a reasonable substitute for a textbook anthology in the …

Microplasma Bead Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor For Greenhouse Gas Abatement, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The present publication describes a technology for treating fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrous oxide utilizing a microplasma bead dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor. Fluorinated species are degraded by exposure to plasma in a system equipped with dielectric-coated electrodes and catalyst bodies. The modular system can be integrated with various scrubbing units and operates in diverse atmospheric conditions, utilizing tunable plasma density and specific gas introductions to drive photocatalytic reactions and emission abatement.

Keywords: microplasma, dielectric barrier discharge, fluorinated greenhouse gas, abatement, reactor, photocatalyst, emission control, plasma density, modular scrubbing.

Dusty Plasma-Photocatalytic Reactor Technology For Gas Emission Treatment, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor configured to treat fluorinated greenhouse gas, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrous oxide emissions. The technology integrates non-thermal plasma, localized heating assisted by nanocatalysts, and photocatalysis to decompose industrial emissions. Active species in the form of very small nanocatalysts are introduced into the plasma, allowing the nanocatalysts to become locally hot while the surrounding gas remains cool. A carrier gas generates light within the reactor to stimulate the catalytic materials. Various electrode configurations and sacrificial materials are employed to manage plasma density and capture reaction byproducts.

Keywords: dielectric barrier discharge, fluorinated greenhouse …

Plasma Jet Curtain, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes a technology for the treatment of fluorinated greenhouse gas, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrous oxide emissions. A plasma jet, which can be accompanied by a carrier gas, is directed into a low-pressure environment. The chamber includes a porous catalyst bed and a pressure differential is utilized behind the bed to control the dispersion of the plasma. Light is introduced near the plasma jet to illuminate the catalyst. This arrangement allows for plasma-based activation and species breakdown, while the degradation products are processed by the photocatalyst.

Keywords: plasma jet, fluorinated greenhouse gas, abatement, photocatalyst, pressure differential, bias, semiconductor …

A Structurally Isomorphic Architecture For Real-Time Inference, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

This publication describes a structurally isomorphic architecture tailored for real-time inference in machine learning models. The architecture provides a dedicated pipelined structure that allows for the efficient execution of neural network computations by distributing tasks across discrete hardware units mapped to specific stages of a model. Features include synchronous operation, aggressive clock gating, and memory optimization based on capacity and throughput parameters. The design integrates compute capabilities directly with high-bandwidth memory stacks to reduce latency and power consumption.

Keywords: Isomorphic Architecture, Real-Time Inference, Hardware Pipeline, Clock Gating, In-Memory Computing, Large Language Models.

Quantifying Patient Positioning Errors And Radiation Dose Variation In Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography, Yasser H. Hadi, Hassan B. Hawsawi, Niamh Moore, Helle Precht, Andrew England, Mark Mcentee

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Accurate patient centring at the computed tomography (CT) scanner isocentre is essential for optimising radiation dose. This study aimed to quantify positioning errors, assess their relationship with radiation dose, and estimate the potential dose reduction achievable with optimal centring. Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent electrocardiography (ECG)-gated cardiac CT angiography between January 2023 and July 2025 at a tertiary hospital. Scans were performed using Siemens SOMATOM Force dual-source CT systems. Vertical and lateral deviations from the scanner isocentre were calculated from scout images using integrated analytics within the institutional dose monitoring platform (Qaelum …

The Influence Of Fermentation Duration And Secondary Fermentation Conditions On The Bioactive Compound Profile Of Kombucha, Jordan Vereen

Honors Theses

Kombucha is a fermented sweet tea produced using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) and has gained widespread popularity due to its proposed health benefits. Kombucha has been studied to understand these advantages in cardiovascular support, improved metabolism, increased antioxidant effects, enhanced antimicrobial properties, and even potentially slowing the progression of certain diseases. Despite its increasing popularity, the way in which the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects and the fermentation conditions that influence their production remain unclear. The present study, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Budner, focuses on quantifying bioactive compounds in kombucha to better understand …

The Decision Of The Inter-American Court Of Human Rights In The Case Of Angulo Losada V. Bolivia: A Catalyst For The Rights Of Girls And Victims Of Sexual Violence, Brisa De Angulo, Rosa Celorio, Bárbara Jiménez-Santiago, Rosemarie Hidalgo, Carolina Perez

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its judgment in the case of Angulo Losada v. Boliviaon November 18, 2022, finding that the country of Bolivia violated the human rights of a victim of sexual violence by failing to thoroughly and promptly investigate, prosecute, and sanction a case of incestuous sexual violence against an adolescent girl by an older male relative. The Court advanced an enhanced due diligence standard, establishing that an intersectional gender and child-rights perspective needs to guide the judicial processing of cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents. The Court set critical legal standards for …

Tools Of Genocide: Forced Assimilation In Canada, Dr. Pamela Palmater, Zoë Craig-Sparrow

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

Since colonization, the core objective of Canada’s Indian policy was to “get rid of the Indian problem”. To accomplish this, Canada has engaged in the forced assimilation of Indians (First Nations), with targeted and disproportionate impacts on First Nations women and girls resulting in grave human rights violations. Drawing on international human rights laws and standards (such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples); numerous inquiries and commissions (Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and …