Digital Commons Network^™

An Interview With The Democratic Candidate For Governor

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

An Interview With The Republican Candidate For Governor

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Ethics- When Is “Good Enough” Not Good Enough?, Dana Chamberlain 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 …

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.

Faces Of Identity: Materials-Based Social Studies Learning In Early Childhood Teacher Education, Elizabeth N. Christian Dr.

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

This practice-based article explores how materials-centered, play-based learning experiences support preservice teachers’ understandings of identity as a foundational component of early childhood social studies. Situated within a 15-week teacher education course, the article describes a preservice-teacher-designed learning center focused on faces and identity. Through engagement with open-ended materials, preservice teachers explored self-awareness, perspective-taking, and belonging through construction and dialogue. Reflections and artifacts from the experience illustrate how identity emerged through doing rather than abstract discussion alone. The article suggests that materials can mediate social studies learning in early childhood teacher education. By designing experiences that position identity, relationships, and belonging …

A Practitioner’S Perspective On Teaching Ap Comparative Government And Politics, Edgar Díaz

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

In this paper, I share my perspective and experiences as an Advanced Placement (AP) Comparative Government and Politics teacher during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To engage students with the content and strengthen their literacy skills, I adopted the Teaching and Learning Cycle (TLC), a pedagogical framework for scaffolded instruction, in combination with technological tools. This article includes a sample lesson plan illustrating how the TLC was implemented in an AP Comp Gov course to support students’ content understanding and their ability to express their ideas through structured, purposeful writing. My goal is to highlight practical strategies for effectively …

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 …

Walking The Map: Exploring Illinois Using Giant Traveling Maps, Irenea Walker, Kim Carthans

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

While it is common for any social studies discipline to receive limited instructional time in the elementary classroom, geography would be among the least taught (Bauml, 2023; Hinde, 2014). As a result, many students lack even the basic knowledge of geography, such as state capitals, geographical locations, and major landmarks. It is even more alarming that elementary students are unaware of the geography of their own state. National Geographic Society introduced giant floor traveling maps over a decade ago through each state’s National Geographic Alliance (2025). The gigantic floor map helps students get a sense of the map's places through …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Examining The Learns Act And Its Effect On Teachers' Pursuit Of Advanced Degrees In Arkansas, Demetre Calhoun

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The focus of this study was to examine the relationship between the Arkansas LEARNS Act and public-school teachers’ choices on their intent to pursue an advanced degree. The results provide insight into the potential impact of changes to the salary structure and financial incentives for completion of an advanced degree and the implications for teachers, school districts, and higher education programs.

The results indicated that while salary considerations were significant factors for teachers in their thinking about advanced degree completion, professional goals and career plans for teachers were ultimately the guiding factors. This suggests that compensation reform will not sufficiently …

Orthographic Representations In American Sign Language Fingerspelling, Zed Sehyr, Lauren Fillet, Kiana Billot-Vasquez, Emily Saunders, Karen Emmorey

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined fingerspelling accuracy and error patterns in deaf American Sign Language (ASL) signers and written spelling in hearing English speakers to investigate how orthographic representations are shaped by phonological, visual, and motor encoding strategies. Deaf participants (n = 39) completed a fingerspelling repetition task, while hearing participants (n = 35) completed a written dictation task using the same word and pseudoword stimuli. While overall accuracy did not differ significantly between groups, deaf participants exhibited qualitatively distinct error patterns, including higher rates of deletions and transpositions, compared to hearing participants who made more substitution errors. Deaf participants also produced …

Cultural Identity In Transition: A Comparative Study Of Self-Defining Memories And Personality In American And Russian-American Students, Sebastian Parilov

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

This study examined cultural differences in Self-Defining Memories (SDMs) and personality traits among American and Russian-American college students. Participants included 39 college students (19 Russian-American and 20 American) aged 18-24 who completed the Self-Defining Memory Task and the Big Five Inventory to test for Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. Memories were coded for overall themes, agency versus communion, and redemption versus contamination narratives. Results showed no significant differences between groups on overall Big Five personality traits. However, there were many differences in the two groups' memories. Russian-American participants reported significantly more positive and fewer negative self-defining memories than American …

Analyzing Sun Bucks Program Experience Among Southwestern Pennsylvania Families With Just Harvest, Olivia Mae Gifford

Public Health Capstone Projects

1. Objectives: This project primarily seeks to identify the common barriers preventing vulnerable families from accessing the SUN Bucks Program. The SUN Bucks program is an optional program through the United States Department of Agriculture that works in conjunction with the state of Pennsylvania in order to provide school-aged children families with supplemental funds to supply greater nutrition during the summer months. This research supports the work of a local non-profit, Just Harvest, in order to better inform their advocacy and outreach efforts as they fight against food insecurity in Western Pennsylvania.
2. Methods: All data was collected electronically via a …