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Preserving Identity Under Totalitarianism: The Adaptation And Resilience Of Muslim Communities In The Soviet Union, Meltem Akıncı

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the methods employed by Muslim peoples in the former Soviet Union to preserve their traditional, spiritual, and religious identity under the systemic anti-religious policies, ideological pressures, and repressive measures of the Soviet totalitarian regime. Despite the Soviet authorities' efforts to rapidly secularize society and reshape public consciousness through scientific atheism, the enduring commitment of Muslim communities to their traditional values is clearly demonstrated. The study examines the closure of mosques, the restriction of religious rituals, and the severe obstacles encountered in performing daily worship. Furthermore, it thoroughly explores the role of Sufi brotherhoods …

Religion And Economics: The Economic Views Of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia Ii Of Georgia, Giuli Giguashvili

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The paper examines the impact of religion on a country’s economic development, analyzing how religious values and institutions influence economic behavior. The research employs a qualitative, comparative, and historical approach based on the systematic analysis of primary and secondary sources. Religion can promote economic growth by strengthening work ethics, education, and social order. Still, it may also hinder development through inefficient resource allocation and regulatory influence. In the context of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia, the study highlights the relationship between Orthodox teaching and economic thought. Drawing on the epistles and sermons of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, …

Practical Aspects Of Religious Social Work In Modern Ukraine, Inna Vladislavivna Kovalchuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This work analyzes the current state and specifics of the activity of religious organizations in the social sphere of Ukraine. Special attention is paid to the transformation of religious social work in the conditions of a full-scale war, where religious communities have become key agents of humanitarian, psychological and spiritual assistance. The article examines the mechanisms of interaction between the church, the state and non-governmental organizations in solving social problems. The findings are based on the practical experiences of those working with internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, large families, and individuals facing difficult life circumstances. Unique methods of denominational assistance …

The Church’S Social Vocation In World War I And Postwar Recovery: Theodor Zöckler’S Pastoral Ministry In Stanislaviv And Its Relevance For Contemporary Ukraine, Liudmyla Tymchuk, Yurii Klonovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines Theodor Zöckler’s pastoral ministry in Stanislaviv during the First World War and the difficult years of postwar reconstruction, and assesses the relevance of that experience for churches in contemporary Ukraine. Drawing on archival records, institutional reports, church periodicals, correspondence, and historical scholarship, the study analyzes how Zöckler combined spiritual care with evacuation, humanitarian relief, medical service, child protection, education, vocational training, and institutional advocacy. Historical-genetic, problem-chronological, hermeneutic, and comparative methods are used to reconstruct the transformation of his ministry under conditions of occupation, forced displacement, political transition, and economic collapse. The findings show that Zöckler’s response moved …

Solidarity In Action: Social Service Of Caritas Organizations In Ukraine In Wartime, Andrii Marchenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of Caritas charitable organizations in Ukraine, which are affiliated with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Caritas Ukraine) and the Roman Catholic Church (Caritas-Spes Ukraine), in the realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Particular attention is focused on considering how the fundamental ideas of Christian love, mercy, common good, and solidarity are embodied in the various practices of humanitarian, spiritual, and other support that these institutions provide to different categories of the population of Ukraine, especially those who have suffered from the destructive consequences of the war. Types of such support include, …

Imperial Pedagogy And Religious Constraint: The Politics Of Islamic Education In The Kazakh Steppe Under Tsarist Rule, Kunduzay Yerimbetova, Bekmurat Naimanbayev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the evolution of the Russian Empire’s educational policies toward Islamic schools in the Kazakh Steppe from the mid-nineteenth century to the 1917 Revolution. While the early imperial administration initially tolerated Islamic institutions for pragmatic governance, the latter half of the nineteenth century witnessed a decisive paradigm shift toward systematic surveillance and restriction. Drawing on archival records and colonial administrative decrees, the study analyzes the implementation of the "Ilminsky system" and the compulsory introduction of the Cyrillic alphabet as tools for cultural assimilation and Russification. The research highlights the dual nature of colonial education: while the Tsarist authorities …

The Orthodox Church Of Georgia In A Shifting Political Landscape: Long Traditions, The Holy Patriarchate And Geopolitics Between The European Union And Russia, Elina Mirjam Siekkinen

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the geopolitical and societal effects of the 2026 patriarchal succession within the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC), by analyzing how the recent election of Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III on May 11, 2026, impacts Georgia’s European Union integration efforts. The GOC is seen as the foundation of Georgian national identity and state legitimacy, also deeply rooted in the legacy of the late Patriarch Ilia II. The enthronement of the new Patriarch Shio III may reinforce the anti-Western narratives deployed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has actively delayed Georgia’s EU accession through illiberal policies such as the "Foreign Agents …

Consciousness Under Dual Pressure: Colonial Diglossia, Orthodox Missionary Activity, And Islamic Cultural Resilience In Late Imperial Kazakhstan, Aigerim Aliaskar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the relationship between religious identity, language, and educational experience in the context of the Russian Empire’s educational and Orthodox missionary policies in the Kazakh Steppe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The primary objective of the study is to analyze the spiritual-cognitive resilience of traditional Islamic educational institutions in response to the policy of Orthodoxization and Russification implemented by the tsarist administration through the system of Nikolai Ilminsky. The author examines the phenomenon of colonial diglossia which emerged during this period, wherein Russian-Christian texts were increasingly elevated as the administrative "High-variant," while the Kazakh-Turkic identity, …

Religious Persecution In Communist Albania Through Constitutional And Legal Acts, Sadik Haxhiu, Besard Belegu, Artan Fejzullahu

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Following the victory of the communist regime in 1944, the new Albanian state built its institutions on a materialist worldview that stood in direct opposition to the universal principles of freedom of conscience and religious belief. The state progressively restricted religious practice until it banned it altogether. This anti-religious campaign proceeded along two tracks: anti-religious political propaganda and the adoption of legal acts prohibiting the practice of religion. A 1967 decree-law banned religious belief outright, and the 1976 Constitution declared Albania the first atheist state in the world. This paper is based on an analysis of legal acts, scholarly literature, …

When Everything Falls Apart: On Core Values, Religion, And What Holds Societies Together, András Máté-Tóth

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Right now my region, like much of the world, is living through upheavals that reach both nature and politics at their foundations. When I look around and take the political crises seriously — the mass protests in Serbia, the long erosion of checks and balances in Hungary, the bitter fight over the courts and the rule of law in Poland — one question keeps surfacing: are we witnessing genuinely fundamental change, or only a reshuffling on the surface of power? That question is exactly what makes the problem of core values so urgent, and so current.

From Humanitarian Aid To “Counterrevolution”: Foreign Assistance To Pentecostals In Soviet Ukraine And Its Criminalization By The Gpu–Nkvd, 1932–1935, Oleksandr Korotaiev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines foreign assistance to Pentecostal communities in the Ukrainian SSR and the mechanisms of its criminalization by Soviet state security agencies in 1932–1935. Drawing on GPU–NKVD criminal investigation files, secret police reports, party-state documentation, personal correspondence, and memoir sources, the study reconstructs transnational channels of humanitarian support, practices of resource distribution, and the transformation of survival strategies into objects of political repression.

Particular attention is devoted to two distinct models of foreign assistance. The Odessa case demonstrates a centralized system connected to the former leadership of the All-Ukrainian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith and transnational Pentecostal networks …

Alignments Of Orthodoxy In Moldova And The Axiocontext Of Russia’S War Against Ukraine, Oleksandr Brodestkyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A comprehensive analysis of the dominant trends shaping the contemporary religious situation in the Republic of Moldova, with particular attention to the geopolitical foundations and ramifications of the activities of religious hierarchs. The author examines the state of Orthodoxy in Moldova, to which the overwhelming majority of the country’s citizens belong. Particular attention is paid to its division between two alternative jurisdictional identities: one within the Romanian Orthodox Church and the other within the Russian Orthodox Church. The article draws on a substantial body of relevant statistical, sociological, and factual evidence. The author subjects a wide range of recent ecclesiastical …

Development Of Inlet For Small-Scale Sounding Rockets For Eulerian Slices Of Abl, John Pippin

ISARRA 2026

Sounding rockets are well established for observations into high altitude weather phenomenon; low altitude rocketry  use can be expanded into study of the atmospheric boundary layer. Low cost low altitude sounding rockets on descent can provide Eulerian vertical data slices of the atmospheric boundary layer, improving upon the quasi-vertical profile from weather balloons. Considering this scaled sounding rocket approach, a sensor intake to gather atmospheric data during rapid descent was analyzed for behavioral impact on decent and flight dynamics, as well as solar and moisture effects. The sensor is designed to be hung from the shock cord of the sounding …

American Arms: A Soldier's Perspective, Steve Prochniak

Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition

Steve is a political science major from Andover, Massachusetts. Steve’s experience in the military had given him an understanding of the practical aspects of the weapons he was trained to use, but his essay came out of a desire to understand the societal impacts of these weapons. Writing this essay both helped Steve develop a better understanding of this complicated issue, and helped him find his passion in exploring “issues and topics that face my community.” In addition to exploring these complex issues, Steve enjoys science fiction, exploration, and just hanging around in the city of Boston.

Nota Bene: A Study On Latin And Its Influence, Ashley Kim

Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition

Ashley is a psychology major currently living in Natick, Massachusetts. Ashley took Latin at her high school in Georgia, where she found it to be “one of the most insightful and unique courses I had ever taken.” She was disheartened that her Latin teacher had to struggle to find students to fill her class, and she wrote this paper with that teacher in mind to share “the message of Latin’s intrinsic benefits.” Ashley says that writing is very important for her, and she says “there can be great significance in small moments, and instead of letting those moments slip by, …

Volume 9 (2026) Climate And Responsibility

International Journal on Responsibility

This issue focuses on the various ways responsibility affects environmental justice. Specifically, this volume urges us to think about how societal and individual (in)action influences ecological crises and what informs this behavior, with a specific focus on religious and Indigenous beliefs and values.

Vermillion, Saptarshi Biswas

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The sky is vermilion, and the sand below mirrors its hue—a seamless union of heaven and earth in the waning light. The setting sun spills its final radiance across the world, as if reluctant to surrender to night. In this mirrored brilliance lies a quiet truth about human life: that our final moments often reflect the sum of all that came before, casting meaning backward, tinting memory with the soft, forgiving glow of closure.

Just as the sand borrows its color from the sky, so too do our lives borrow significance from what we love, what we lose, and what …

We Grow Accustomed To The Light, Minh Q. Nguyen

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Drawing inspiration from Emily Dickinson’s exploration of the unknown in "We Grow Accustomed to the Dark," this poem, "We Grow Accustomed to the Light," re-examines the final transition of life through a clinical and humanist lens. While Dickinson focused on the bravery required to navigate the "Dark," this piece explores the courage needed to face the "Light," representing the clarity of terminal illness, the shedding of medical "fetters," and the shared experience of the "final goodbye." It challenges the traditional medical impulse to "push forward" at all costs, instead advocating for a "Wise" acceptance of the natural end of the …

Approaching Well-Being Through The Research Lens: How Hca Healthcare Colleagues Are Building Healthy Work And Learning Environments, Gregory Guldner, Allison Woodall, Deepinder Bal, Jennifer Larkin, Cynthia Borum, Sunny Hull, Annette Edens, Lisa H. Moore, Elaine K. Miller, Harold Gomez Acevedo, Katia M. Lugo Enriquez, Noor Judge, Yanie Oliva, Pablo E. Ramirez Caraballo, Faraz Jaffer, Prerna S. Sharma, Daniel Heller, Siddarth Kathuria, Nathaniel Banet, Orlando Nieves-Lugo, Adrienne Madison, Lily Martin, Oliwier Dziadkowiec

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

At the heart of our commitment to the care and improvement of human life are the physicians who dedicate themselves to delivering exceptional care. To support not only our physicians’ professional excellence but also to foster personal fulfillment, HCA Healthcare partnered with Claremont Graduate University to establish the Physician Wellness Research Lab (PWR Lab). In his new role as the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Graduate Medical Education (GME), Dr Guldner led a nationwide search to establish and implement a new approach to well-being. At HCA Healthcare, we believe that true flourishing requires transforming the work and learning environment …

Beyond Drainage: Can Pleural Effusion Naturally Tamponade Tumor Hemorrhage? Literature Review Of Hypotheses For Possible Mechanisms, Pratyush Kumar, Kumar Abhishek, Pankti Shah, Amelia Goslin, Archana Machavarapu, Catherine Joyce, Michael J. Waxman, Kari Nilsen

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common complication of advanced lung cancer and is typically treated with therapeutic drainage to relieve symptoms. Although this is a well-established palliative approach, removing pleural fluid—especially in cases of necrotic or post-radiation tumors—may disturb the fragile pressure balance within the thoracic cavity. The question of whether pleural effusion can act as a natural tamponade against tumor-related vascular fragility has not been thoroughly investigated.

Case Presentation

We report a case of a 49-year-old man with stage IIIB non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who experienced a catastrophic hemorrhage shortly after pleural fluid removal via a …

Myxedema Coma With Cardiogenic Shock: Diagnostic Challenges And Risks Of Amiodarone In Acute Thyroid Failure, Jean Carlos Ramos Cardona, Gunjan Mundhra, Munachiso Egbo, Veniamin Melnychuk, Suzanne Quinn Martinez

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Myxedema coma is a rare but life-threatening manifestation of severe hypothyroidism characterized by altered mental status, hypothermia, bradycardia, and multiorgan dysfunction. Delayed diagnosis is common, particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Cardiac complications, including malignant arrhythmias, are underrecognized contributors to morbidity and mortality. Profound hypothyroidism compromises cardiac myocyte function through reduced activity of enzymes involved in calcium uptake, leading to impaired myocardial contraction and relaxation. This results in decreased heart rate, reduced cardiac output, and altered left ventricular function, which may be further exacerbated in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Prolongation of the ventricular action …

Neuromotor Compromise As A Presenting Symptom In Advanced Lower Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Case Series, Adam Maestas, Parsa Charkhchi, Farbod Malek

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, representing less than 1% of adult cancers. Approximately half arise in the extremities, most often presenting as a painless, enlarging mass. Symptoms are often misattributed to benign neuropathic or musculoskeletal causes, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Neurological deficits such as foot drop or distal weakness are exceptionally uncommon presenting signs and generally indicate advanced local invasion or compression of major peripheral nerves. Recognizing acute neuromotor compromise as a potential manifestation of soft tissue malignancy is crucial for timely oncologic evaluation and limb-sparing management.

Case Presentation

This series …

Avoiding Unnecessary Surgery In Acute Longus Colli Calcific Tendinitis: A Clinical Image Of A Retropharyngeal Abscess Mimicker, Brandon M. Nielsen, Oluyemi O. Omotoso

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli (LCT) is a rare, benign condition that frequently mimics retropharyngeal abscesses (RPA), a true surgical emergency. We present a 34-year-old woman presenting with 4 days of severe posterior neck pain, stiffness, and odynophagia. Initial evaluation revealed significantly elevated inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] 113 mm/hr, C-reactive protein [CRP] 128 mg/L) and leukocytosis, raising immediate concern for deep neck infection. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a retropharyngeal fluid collection; however, the absence of peripheral ring enhancement and the presence of a pathognomonic calcification anterior to the C1 arch pointed toward LCT. This distinction …

Gallbladder Ascariasis Presenting As Acalculous Biliary Colic, Carmen A. Urbina, Luigi G. Cubeddu, Luigi X. Cubeddu

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

We detail a case of gallbladder ascariasis, presenting as an acute episode of acalculous biliary colic, nausea, bloating, an unremarkable abdominal ultrasound, and negative helminth and protozoa stool smears. A follow-up ultrasound provided unexpected images consistent with gallbladder infection by Ascaris lumbricoides. Repeat ultrasonography performed 10 days after anthelmintic therapy showed no live worms and 2 newly appearing echogenic areas suggestive of gallbladder calculi that were confirmed following elective cholecystectomy. The case course highlights key clinical, diagnostic, and management considerations in gallbladder ascariasis and underscores the value of repeated ultrasonographic evaluation in affected patients.

Blaschko-Linear Lupus Erythematosus In A Pediatric Patient, Marshall Hall, Olivia Mayer, Henry Lim, Dustin V. Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The lines of Blaschko represent epithelial cell migration during embryonic development. Rare forms of cutaneous lupus erythematosus may manifest along these lines, and lesions are termed Blaschko-linear lupus erythematosus (BLE). The purpose of this case study is to present a rare manifestation of linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko in a pediatric patient. To date, there are very few reports of BLE. We present a 17-year-old female with a 2-month history of a mildly tender growing lesion along the right nasofacial sulcus. The patient denied lesions elsewhere and any systemic, joint, or mucosal symptoms. A biopsy of …

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Jamie Y. Choe, Henry Lim, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Dustin V. Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent deep-seated nodules and painful abscesses with scars, fistulae, and sinus tracts that predominately affect the intertriginous sites. Onset typically occurs soon after puberty. Depending on disease severity, HS can lead to varying levels of pain, disability, and disfiguration with significant impacts on quality of life. Hidradenitis suppurativa is diagnosed clinically, and no diagnostic tests are specific to the disease. Therefore, clinicians must have the knowledge and competence to identify the clinical features of HS accurately. The purpose of this report is to provide descriptions of characteristic clinical presentations …

Sebaceous Gland Heterotopia Of The Esophagus: A Rare Incidental Finding During Upper Endoscopy, Samuel Ramos, Margaret-Anne Huntley, Eric Vargas, Jignesh Parikh, Vania Zayat

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Esophageal heterotopic sebaceous glands (EHSG) are an extremely rare finding within the esophageal epithelium. These glands are typically benign, presenting as small, yellow-white plaques or lesions observed on endoscopy, often in the middle third of the esophagus. Esophageal heterotopic sebaceous glands are generally asymptomatic, and surveillance is not required. While their origin is unclear, proposed mechanisms include metaplastic transformation and congenital development. Recognition and histologic confirmation are essential to distinguish EHSG from other esophageal lesions and to avoid unnecessary interventions. We report the case of a 55-year-old man in whom multiple diminutive plaques were identified in the mid-esophagus during esophagogastroduodenoscopy …

Comparing The Expression Of Estrogen Receptors, Progesterone Receptors, And Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Between Initial Biopsy And Excision Specimens In Invasive Breast Carcinoma Cases. Is There A Need For Universal Repeat Testing? Experience From A Community Hospital, Astrid M. Sacasa, Gul Emek Wymer, Susana Ferra

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

The current national recommendation is that breast biomarkers estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing should be done on all primary invasive breast carcinomas and on recurrent or metastatic tumors. Repeat testing on a subsequent excision specimen is not indicated unless results appear discordant with the histopathologic findings. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the need for adopting universal reflex re-testing of breast biomarkers in excision specimens in our institution.

Methods

The study population included 70 sequential invasive breast cancer patients where the results of ER, PR, and …

Opioid Free Anesthesia In Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: A Feasible Approach To Patient Care, Carson Gifford, Denise Vidal, Dail Kim, Austin Goff, Paul Reynolds

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

The opioid epidemic has prompted exploration of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) techniques, but the optimal approach is still debated. While some OFA protocols substitute opioids with other agents, these alternatives can introduce their own risks. The objective of this study was to investigate whether eliminating intraoperative opioids without analgesic substitution in arthroscopic knee procedures affects postoperative pain control and opioid requirements.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 205 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee procedures between August and November 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received intraoperative fentanyl (25-200 mcg, n = 144) and those who received …

Psychological Adaptation In Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Pilot Study Findings, Anuja L. Sarode, Emily M. Su, Amber Kerstetter-Fogle, Steve Paciorek, Erica L. Laipply

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

In this pilot study, we examined psychological impacts of colorectal cancer (CRC), focusing on cancer-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) symptoms, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and their relationship with coping strategies in surgically treated CRC patients.

Methods

This prospective pre- and postoperative pilot study assessed CRC patients at 2 time points, pre- and postoperative. Psychological symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5) and the PTG Inventory Short Form (PTGI-SF). Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) instrument. Changes in CR-PTSD, PTG, and coping …