Digital Commons Network^™

Benedict's Gospel Vision: Chapters 36 And 53 Of The Rule Of St Benedict, Barbara Marincel

Obsculta

This is a comparison exegesis of the Rule of Benedict’s Chapters 36 and 53 with Chapters 69-70 and 79 in the Rule of the Master. Chapters 36, “The Sick Brothers,” and 53, “The Reception of Guests,” demonstrate how the central themes of caritas, service, and hospitality are present in the RB, as the sick person and the guest are to be treated and received as if they are Christ. The kindness and compassion with which the vulnerable person is to be tended exemplifies Benedict’s vision of the Gospel as seen throughout his rule and greatly contrasts with the Rule of …

The Mystery Of Faith In Dialogue With The History Of God And Human Beings, Melissa Tovar-Guerrero

Obsculta

The mysteries of God are unfathomable, and for this reason theology uses analogies to express its meanings. The purpose of this paper is to develop some reflections on how I understand theology. To begin, I would like to make an analogy to highlight the importance of dialogue, stories, and their contexts in theology: we are made of stories, we are the stories we build with words, our contexts are determined by the way we dialogue, and stories shape the cosmogony that gives meaning to our lives. In the construction of stories, dialogues and contexts are fundamental because they connect the …

Icons, Theology, And Culture, Patrick Russell

Obsculta

This article presents an overview of Eastern Orthodox understandings of the theology of icons and how icons are used in liturgical spaces to communicate important theological truths. Specifically, as it relates to eschatology and liturgical practices around icons and the cultural importance of saints who come from different continents and times and how that helps us see a bigger picture of a truly cosmic future reality embodied in the Church in the present.

The Liberation Of The Disabled Christ And What That Shows Us About Our Human Sacredness In Healthcare, Hannah Miers

Obsculta

This paper explores the significance of Christ’s identity in relation to disability, emphasizing the need for a liberating theology that acknowledges and affirms the dignity of disabled individuals in healthcare settings. It advocates for a Christological perspective that integrates the image of a disabled Christ, calling for awareness and equitable treatment for the disabled within a healthcare framework. By recognizing the connections between disability theology and the holistic needs of human beings, this paper aims to inspire a shift towards greater respect, grace, and compassion in caring for vulnerable populations, thereby addressing systemic inequities inherent in medical practices.

An Acrostic Ekphrasis On The Frauenkirche In Dresden, Germany, Aaron Christie

Obsculta

The Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany, is widely regarded as the apex of confessional Lutheran architecture. This acrostic ekphrasis is written from the viewpoint of a Lutheran parishioner shortly after the Frauenkirche’s dedication in 1743. The church was built in the milieu of the confessional struggles that ensued in Electoral Saxony when Augustus the Strong converted to Roman Catholicism to become king of Poland. Several sections of this ekphrasis move forward into modern times to recount the Frauenkirche’s destruction in WWII and her rededication in 2005.

Book Review, Rumyana Van Ark Et Al., Children’S Rights, ‘Foreign Fighters’, Counter-Terrorism: Children Of Nowhere (2024), Mark A. Drumbl

Scholarly Articles

The focus of Children’s Rights, ‘Foreign Fighters’, Counter-Terrorism: Children of Nowhere is on foreign fighters who join terrorist groups, ISIS, and other entities engaged in armed conflict in Syria and Iraq. Counterterrorism measures, and the threats of terrorist attacks, have triggered a degradation and distortion of law. I have noted this following the 9/11 attacks and the concomitant refusal to treat children associated with terrorist groups as protected child soldiers. Whereas child soldiers in distant African conflicts are largely seen in the centers of global power as ‘faultless, passive victims’ of a pathological society, child terrorists taken as disruptive of …

Dies Legibiles V

Dies Legibiles

Welcome to the fifth volume of Dies Legibiles!

As always, I was blown away this year by the superb work undergraduate students submitted to this journal, some first forays into medieval studies and others final projects before pursuing a graduate degree in the field. If the submissions to Dies Legibiles are any indication, the next generation of medievalists are thinking deeply about the past, about which histories have been neglected, and about what those histories reveal about the present moment.

Study Reveals Links Between Many Pesticides And Prostate Cancer

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Do People With Multiple Sclerosis In Saudi Arabia Want To Know Their Prognosis? A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study, Yaser M. Al Malik, Awad S. Alharbi, Mohammed A. Alfurayh, Abdulaziz A. Aldalaan, Abdulazeez M. Alzailaie, Eid D. Alanazi, Ahmad A. Abulaban, Seraj O. Makkawi, Asma A. Alanazi

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Objectives: To investigate whether Persons with MS (pwMS) in Saudi Arabia want to discuss their long-term prognosis (LTP) and the factors influencing this decision using a self-administered online questionnaire. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was distributed from December 2022 to July 2023 across Saudi Arabia to determine pwMS interest in discussing their LTP. Participants included patients over 18 years, of any gender, diagnosed with MS. A nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used, with questionnaires sent through MS organizations and channels. Results: Almost two-thirds (66–68%) of the 375 respondents reported that their LTP had never been discussed …

Ranking The Difficulty Of The Cognitive Tasks In Dual-Tasks During Walking In Healthy Adults, Jaser S. Almutairi, Shady A. Alshewier, Abdulaziz A. Alkathiry

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Objectives: To rank the cognitive tasks commonly used in clinical practices based on their difficulties in healthy adults while walking. Dual tasks have been widely used in clinical settings for different purposes such as detecting early cognitive impairments and identifying fall risk factors among the population of neurological diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to March 2021, included a sample of 26 healthy adults who were asked to demonstrate six different cognitive tasks at random while performing a gait speed test. An accelerometer positioned on the lower back at the umbilical level was used to measure participants’ …

Motherhood And Pregnancy Concerns Of Saudi Females With Multiple Sclerosis In Riyadh City: A Quantitative Analysis, Abdullah S. Alshehri, May H. Alqahtani, Hana A. Alzuabi, Waad S. Alshahrani, Halah O. Alamawi, Aseel A. Almandeel, Faisal A. Al-Suwaidan, Ahmed Saleh

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Objectives: To explore the concerns among females in Riyadh city with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding motherhood and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using an online questionnaire. Women who were aged 18–50 years and diagnosed with MS by a neurologist and had a disease duration of at least one year were included. The questionnaire consisted of 7 sections designed to collect information on the respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics; past and current medical history; pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum concerns; physical and psychological concerns about parenthood; and psychological and social support. Results: A total of 176 women were …

A Narrative Review Of Clinical Practice Guidelines For The Application Of Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation Procedures In The Management Of Multiple Sclerosis, Abdullah I. Alhusayni

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration, leading to significant physical and cognitive impairments. Rehabilitation, particularly physical therapy, has emerged as a crucial component in managing MS-related disability by improving mobility, reducing fatigue, and enhancing overall quality of life. This narrative review investigates current international guidelines on physical therapy and rehabilitation for MS. Literature search in databases (January 2010 until August 2025) resulted in three guidelines that met the inclusion criteria. Evidence suggests that structured aerobic and resistance training programmes, combined with balance and flexibility exercises, contribute significantly to maintaining functional independence. …

Editorial Message

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Does Work-Related Stress Compromise Cardiovascular Health?

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Beyond Seizures: The Hidden Burden Of Fatigue In Epilepsy, Alia Mr. Fallatah, Malak R. Albadrani, Sarah A. Alsalman, Weam K. Almasuad, Abdulrahim M. Hamhom, Sumayah M. Almarshedy, Faisal A. Alsallom, Fawzya A. Bamogaddam, Majed H. Alhameed, Mubarak M. Aldosari

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine the prevalence of fatigue and depression in patients with epilepsy (PWE), explore their relationship, and identify the factors associated with fatigue in this population. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study involved adult PWE at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April to July 2023. The Arabic version of the Fatigue Severity Scale questionnaire was used to estimate the presence and severity of fatigue. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for screening depression. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were analyzed. Results: In total, 259 PWE were enrolled. Of these, 66.8% had focal epilepsy …

Impact Of Urgent Care Centers On Emergency Department Visits In Al Madina Al Munawara: A Pre-Post Study, Ahlam A. Aljohani, Jehan M. Alhazmi, Osama H. Alsaedi, Ahmed F. Al-Ahmadi, Noura S. Alshammary

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of UCCs on reducing non-urgent Emergency Department (ED) visits and improving patient flow, focusing on metrics such as door-to-doctor time, doctor-to-decision time, and overall patient disposition. Methods: This observational cohort pre-post study analyzed data from 198,050 ED visits to King Fahad Hospital, Al Madina Al Munawara between June 2021 and May 2023 and compared visit patterns before and after UCC implementation. Results: Post-UCC implementation, the average door-to-doctor time decreased but was not statistically significant. Significant reductions were observed in doctor-to-decision and door-to-disposition times for CTAS 3 patients. However, overall patient flow improvements were not fully …

Trigger Factors And Intervention Strategies Of Information Addiction Among College Students: An Analysis From The Perspective Of Stimulus-Organism-Response(S-O-R) Theory, Chen Zhang, Weihan Jiang, Pengbo Qian

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]This study aims to explore the influencing mechanisms of information addiction behavior among college students, providing valuable reference for the prevention and management of information addiction behavior among college students. [Method/process]The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory is introduced,and the external stimuli in the process of college students' information addiction are summarized through literature review. The cognitive psychology that arises in the addiction process of the body is deeply analyzed, and the theoretical model of college students' information addiction behavior is constructed. The trigger path of college students' information addiction is empirically analyzed using structural equation modeling. [Result/conclusion]Based on the research results, information …

Do Educators Recognize Student Struggles? Mental Health Perceptions And Knowledge In Biology, Kanza Arshad, Stephanie Drendel, Nicole Scheuermann

CURE Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Evidence Of Kinesiology Taping In Treating Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis – A Topical Review Of Recent Randomized Control Trials, Jayla Scott

CURE Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Association Between Rurality And Race/Ethnicity And Pediatric Cancer Early Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study Using Seer Data From 2000 To 2021, Kiersten Preuss, Emma Hymel, Melissa Acquazzino, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer mortality rates have steadily declined since 2009, but over a thousand deaths still occur annually. While existing research highlights the effects of race/ethnicity and rurality on overall survival, few studies have specifically analyzed these factors in relation to early mortality, defined as death within 12 months of diagnosis.

PROCEDURE: This study utilized SEER Research Plus Limited-Field Data (2000-2021) to examine the association between race/ethnicity, rurality, and early mortality in pediatric cancer patients. A cohort of 138,648 individuals was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: The results …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Β-Hydroxy-Β-Methylbutyrate (Hmb), John A. Rathmacher, Lisa M. Pitchford, Jeffrey R. Stout, Jeremy R. Townsend, Ralf Jäger, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Chad M. Kerksick, Patrick S. Harty, Darren G. Candow, Brandon M. Roberts, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Publications

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals. Two forms of HMB have been studied: Calcium HMB (HMB-Ca) and a free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA). HMB-FA appears to lead to increased appearance of HMB in the bloodstream when compared to HMB-Ca, though recent results are mixed. 2. …

How Do Patient-Provider Relationships Affect Patient Satisfaction?, Rose D. Lightspeed

Anthós

This article reviews studies on patient satisfaction within the U.S. healthcare system to investigate how physicians’ behavior influences patients’ reported quality of care. Medical negligence, neglect, and cognitive biases are identified from the reviewed literature as physician behaviors that affect the patient-provider relationship and patient satisfaction. Emphasizing patient satisfaction and involvement in their care as important considerations when evaluating patient-provider relationships, Lightspeed underscores how the complex dynamic between patient and provider–including physicians’ reported feeling of inadequate interpersonal skills and patients’ sensitivity to dismissive communication–contributes to reduced satisfaction rates. Lightspeed argues that increasing physician awareness of these factors that influence patient …

What's The Harm In (Partisan) Gerrymandering? Collective Vs. Dyadic Accounts Of Representational Disparities, Sanford C. Gordon, Douglas M. Spencer, Sidak Yntiso

Publications

Traditional approaches for documenting the harm of gerrymandering emphasize collective representation by legislatures, minimizing the relationship between individual voters and their respective representatives. Federal courts have struggled to map collective accounts onto cognizable constitutional harms, reflecting a discomfort evaluating a system of representation inescapably rooted in geographic districts using diagnostics that treat districts and their boundaries as an inconvenience rather than an intrinsic feature. A normative account of representation and accountability rooted in the dyadic relationship between voters and their legislators addresses the exact harms that courts have articulated yet struggled to substantiate. We derive a formal model of dyadic …

Editing Legal Scholarship, Michael L. Smith

Faculty Articles

A consistent byproduct of American legal scholarship is legal scholars' relentless complaints about the system. Most critics overreact to the existence of student editors and the occasional rough edit, demanding that we burn the whole thing down. I suggest a less dramatic response by identifying several editorial tendencies that are consistently more trouble than they're worth and suggesting that reforms begin there. I begin with the text of the Bluebook, which supports a turn away from explanatory parenthetical overuse and the automatic et al.-ing of multi-author sources. I then turn to editors' overreliance on their journal style guides, urging the …

The Impact Of Poverty On Student Achievement And Effective Strategies To Close The Gap, Alexis L. Sorbo

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty has a negative impact on student achievement through a variety of factors such as student engagement, motivation, parent engagement, and resource access. This thesis explores the relationship between poverty and academic achievement by examining how disparities related to socioeconomic status impact a student’s cognitive and emotional development. The reviewed research also investigates effective strategies that teachers and administrators can implement to mitigate these effects, such as using evidence-based instruction and behavior management strategies in the classroom, increasing parent engagement, applying regular, high-quality professional development, and providing equitable access to resources. Research highlights the importance of a holistic approach to …

The Chemical Nature Of Colors, Bryant Corbin, Bryant Corbin

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

No abstract provided.

Operando Characterization Of The Reversible “Zinc Oxide – Zincate – Metallic Zinc” Transformations In Rechargeable Ni-Zn Alkaline Batteries, Chi Wing, Alex Tsang

Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering

Rechargeable Ni-Zn alkaline batteries are of growing interest due to their intrinsic safety, high energy density, and environmental friendliness. To optimize the performance of the ZnO electrode in these batteries, it is essential to understand complex transformations that occur during charge and discharge of the reaction: . In this study, we employ a series of operando characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and online electrochemical mass spectroscopy (OEMS), to investigate the surface dynamics on the ZnO electrode. Our findings reveal the significant impacts of decoupling the chemical and electrochemical processes, resulting in hydrogen gas evolution, diffusion of anions …

Vol. 30 No. 1 Winter 2025

Roger Williams University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Author Biographies

Roger Williams University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Paradoxical Pedagogy: Teaching Trauma-Informed Principles Within A System Built On Emotional Detachment, Sarah Mcconnell, Leah Lunetta

Roger Williams University Law Review

No abstract provided.