Digital Commons Network^™

The Diamond, May 1, 2026, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Some Students Raise Concerns over Campus Security and Safety Protocols; Former Dordt Football Player Hayden Large Signed to the Chicago Bears; There and Back Again - Faculty Offices Plan to Relocate for Fall 2026
• News: Billy Varble Creates Dordt Professor Card Game; New Feature Released on u.Dordt; Ag Students Showcase Ag Day on Campus; New Dordt Pond Set to be Built in Dordt Prairie; Dordt Freshman Selected to Compete in Worldwide Art Competition
• Feature: The Generative AI Conversation and the Effects on Christian Education; Horizon Award Recipient Pastors at Prison Church; Senior Reflections - See …

Agnikarma Therapy In Management Of Plantar Fasciitis (Vatakantaka): A Systematic Review Of Ayurvedic Case Reports, Karishma Sebastian, Nidhin John, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Plantar fasciitis is a leading cause of heel pain, commonly affecting adults aged 40–60, characterized by microtears and inflammation of the plantar fascia.

Conventional treatments (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, orthotics, surgery) often provide incomplete relief or cause adverse effects.

In Ayurveda, plantar fasciitis corresponds to Vatakantaka, a Vata-dominant condition of the heel region (Khudukapradesha).

Agnikarma, a para-surgical Ayurvedic technique involving therapeutic thermal cauterization using heated metallic rods (Shalaka), is described for disorders involving ligaments, bones, and joints with chronic pain and stiffness.

This review synthesizes clinical case reports evaluating Agnikarma as a treatment for plantar fasciitis to determine its efficacy, safety, and …

The Impact Of Palm Cooling On The Physiological And Cognitive Function Of Aerobically Trained Individuals, Katherine L. Tibbs

Honors Theses

Background: Cooling strategies have been shown to combat the harmful effects that an increase in body temperature can potentially cause, and palm cooling in particular has been adopted due to its effectiveness in mitigating muscle fatigue during exercise. While there is clear support that this improves muscular strength and endurance, there is a lack of research on the impact palm cooling has on the mental aspect of physical activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive and physiological effects of palm cooling on aerobic exercise performance. Methods: Ten aerobically trained participants between the ages of 18-35 were …

Neither Academy Nor Convent: Reconciling Religious And Feminist Readings Of Mary Astell, Hannah E. Brown

Honors Theses

Mary Astell is frequently interpreting through competing frameworks: as either a feminist advocate of women’s rational autonomy or a religious conservative committed to Anglican orthodoxy. This division reflects a broader tendency in Astell scholarship to separate her intellectual, moral, and theological commitments into distinct and often conflicting domains. This paper argues that such fragmentation is not grounded in Astell’s own philosophy but is instead the result of interpretive assumptions—particularly the view that intellectual autonomy and religious obedience are incompatible. By examining Astell’s account of reason, education for women, and spiritual development, this paper demonstrates that these elements form an integrated …

How Ai Destroys Institutions, Woodrow Hartzog, Jessica Silbey

Faculty Scholarship

Civic institutions—the rule of law, universities, and a free press—are the backbone of democratic life. They are the mechanisms through which complex societies encourage cooperation and stability, while also adapting to changing circumstances. The real superpower of institutions is their ability to evolve and adapt within a hierarchy of authority and a framework for roles and rules, while maintaining legitimacy for the knowledge produced and the actions taken. Purpose-driven institutions built around transparency, cooperation, and accountability empower individuals to take intellectual risks and challenge the status quo. This happens through the machinations of interpersonal relationships within those institutions, which broaden …

Editorial: El Juego De Rol Como Instrucción Para La Inmortalidad, Romano Ponce Díaz

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

El presente número del Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM examina la convergencia entre las prácticas lúdicas, el diseño narrativo y los procesos de mediación sociocultural en la investigación contemporánea. Las contribuciones reunidas en este número abordan el juego de rol como un dispositivo de producción de conocimiento, intervención psicoeducativa y reelaboración de representaciones culturales. Nos podemos atrever a señalar que la educación es la convergencia entre la ludología, las ciencias sociales, los estudios visuales y el análisis cultural; entendiendo a la educación como la actividad consciente e intencionada de transmitir información y conocimientos a las siguientes generaciones.

Practicing Conflict Transformation Skills Through Role-Playing Games For Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Higher Education, Alexandra Schreiber, Kjell H. Hugaas, Sarah L. Bowman

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

No abstract provided.

3d: Dragones, Dados Y Deseos. Rituales En Las Comunidades Roleras De Bogotá, Francisco Gonzalez Buitrago

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

¿Qué ocurre cuando la ficción deja de ser solo entretenimiento y se transforma en refugio, ritual y espacio de transgresión? Este artículo analiza los hallazgos de una etnografía y un ejercicio de cartografía social en torno a comunidades roleras de Bogotá, mostrando cómo jóvenes y adultos reconfiguran sus vidas cotidianas a través del juego de rol.

Lejos de limitarse al escapismo, las partidas se convierten en escenarios simbólicos donde caben la negociación, la crítica y la catarsis. En una ciudad marcada por la incertidumbre generacional y las tensiones entre género, clase y territorio, las campañas de rol permiten reimaginarse a …

Dungeons & Dragons 5e En El Aula De Comunicación Audiovisual: Propuesta De Adaptación Pedagógica, Antonio Roda Martínez

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Este artículo explora el proceso de adaptar Dungeons & Dragons Quinta edición versión 2024 a un contexto educativo dentro de sesiones únicas de menos de dos horas. Pese a que D&D es ampliamente reconocido como referente cultural y uno de los juegos de rol más influyentes, su complejo sistema de reglas y diseño para campañas de larga duración dificultan su implementación en contextos educativos formales con limitaciones temporales. Para abordar este desafío, se rediseñó la sesión para condensar las experiencias fundamentales del juego de rol de mesa—creación de personajes, interpretación, combate, construcción de mundo e investigación—en un formato breve y …

¿Salvar El Mundo O Las Notas? Mahō Shōjo En El Contexto De La Reforma Educativa Lomloe, Daniel Romero Benguigui

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

La década de los 90 supuso la apertura cultural japonesa, pues sería cuando las producciones anime se realizaron para ser visionadas en el extranjero, lo que llevaría a la globalización de unas narrativas asentadas en la sociedad japonesa. Esto queda manifiesto en la distinción shonen/shojo, siendo el primero un producto dirigido, respectivamente, a una audiencia juvenil masculina o femenina, siguiendo la demografía nipona mediante una serie de temas y referencias que, para el resto de países y sus comunidades, no podían interpretarse del mismo modo, fomentando una lectura propia.

Un ejemplo de ello se localiza en Sailor Moon (1991), …

Diseño De Un Juego De Rol Enfocado En México Prehispánico, Jaime E. García Maya, Karina Flores Ocampo

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Resumen

Los juegos de rol (JdR) nos invitan a asumir personajes y desenvolvernos en situaciones simuladas, se fundamenta en diversas perspectivas teóricas que resaltan su impacto en el desarrollo integral y en la adquisición de conocimientos. (Sierra Garzón 2024), (Peñafiel, A et al., 2023), (Garaigordobil et al., 2022) y (Marente, 2019)

Autores como Vygotsky (citado en Garaigordobil et al., 2022) subrayan la importancia de las interacciones sociales para el aprendizaje y la regulación emocional, se ha observado que el juego de rol contribuye al desarrollo de habilidades como la empatía, la cooperación, la comunicación y la resolución de conflictos, elementos …

The Functions Of Role- Playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems And Explore Identity, De Sarah Lynne Bowman (2010) [Reseña De Libro], Cristo Leon

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

The Functions of Role-Playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems and Explore Identity, by Sarah Lynne Bowman, is an ambitious, wide-ranging, and still necessary work for role-playing game studies. Published in 2010, the book proposes that role-playing and roleplaying games fulfill three main social and psychological functions: creating community, facilitating problem solving, and enabling the exploration of identity. Bowman develops this thesis through a combination of theoretical review, cultural reflection, and participant-observer ethnography, based on interviews with players of tabletop role-playing games, live-action roleplaying games, and virtual environments. Organized into seven chapters, the book moves clearly from the …

A Study Of Visualized Diagnostics In Early Stage Digital Twin Implementation Of An Industrial Control System, Michael R. Kinzel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are used for process control in almost all industries. An ICS combines Operational Technologies (OT) with Information Technologies (IT) to allow human supervision of a process through surveillance of process variables and manipulation of controlling elements such as valves to maintain stable process conditions. ICSs have been in-service for several decades and may remain operational past their technological service life. Organizational personnel interact with the ICS through visual displays that both indicate the process variables and also the controlling elements. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) allows visibility of the process and the ability to manipulate controlling …

Service As Spiritual Formation : A Foundational Discipleship Framework For Service, Mak Zhe Hao

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Clergywomen, Cliftonstrengths, And Spiritual Formation : A Leadership Development Study In The Kentucky Annual Conference, Tamara H. Coleman

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Material Selection In The Mountain West: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (Mcda) Based Approach For Architects, Melissa Bach

Theses

With modern advancements in technology and the expansion of a globally interconnected network, architects have access to a large range of building materials. Increasing public concern for the environment has prompted architects to prioritize materials that are more sustainable, but varying definitions of sustainability, coupled with unclear guidelines for material selection, repeatedly lead to uncertainty and decision-making challenges within the profession. To address this, a comprehensive methodology such as Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is needed for the material selection processes. Furthermore, a gap in the literature demonstrates that the application of MCDA for material selection in the Mountain West region …

A Study Of Post -Quantum Cryptography Migration In An Emulated Enterprise Environment, Saquib Farooq Malik

Theses

The imminent maturation of Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQCs) represents a fundamental threat to the digital security infrastructure, specifically targeting modern cryptographic standards such as AES, RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). While Post -Quantum Cryptography (PQC) offers a mathematical defense, the transition is complicated by the “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later ” (HNDL) strategy, where encrypted data is intercepted today for future decryption. This thesis explores the critical necessity of an organized migration strategy to protect long-term data sensitivity against the rapid advancement of quantum capabilities and addresses the gaps in the current migration landscape: the absence of a standardized, …

Bison Health Network Newsletter, May 2026, Bison Health Network

Bison Health Network News

Newsletter Contents:

Updates
Network Demographics
Health Highlight: Parasites (Part 1)
Management recommendations.

Designing A Uae-Centric Integrated Mobility System: Linking Transport,Traffic, And Urban Data For Smarter Travel, Alreem Jabir Alshamsi

Theses

Urban mobility systems are central to smart city performance; however, in many rapidly developing cities, mobility services remain fragmented across agencies, platforms, and datasets. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have made significant investments in digital infrastructure and intelligent transport solutions. Despite this progress, existing mobility applications continue to operate in functional silos, limiting real-time adaptability and cross-domain integration. Current platforms primarily focus on transport coordination and congestion avoidance, with limited integration of broader urban datasets such as building access schedules, environmental conditions, and localized service availability. This research addresses the absence of …

Assessing Programmatic Gaps In The Community Engagement To Reduce Victimization (Cerv) Program, Sam Marino

Theses

This capstone project examines and analyzes data for the Community Engagement to Reduce Victimization (CERV) program in Rochester, New York. By developing a logic model, gap analysis, and utilizing statistical models, the project not only better understands the program design, but also assesses gaps and their patterns in the data to provide structured recommendations to strengthen the data infrastructure, improving data completeness and reliability. These improvements will strengthen the program overall, helping to reduce community violence throughout Rochester. Across three working papers, the project begins by examining the current data and analyses on the program and develops a detailed logic …

Subject. Object. Thing., Cristin Hand

Theses

Subject. Object. Thing. is part of an accumulating record of self-construction and self-reflection. The work considers the complications of visibility through self-portraiture, how the desire to be seen exists alongside the impulse to withhold, obscure, and substitute. Working across photography, performance, collage, and sculptural constructions made for the camera, I fragment, disassemble, and reconfigure my body as photographic subject and material. This exploration is structured around a series of oppositions; concealment/exposure, anonymity/specificity, subject/object, naked/nude, and destruction/reconstruction. I do not attempt to resolve these oppositions. Instead, I consider where these categories blur, contradict themselves, and become unstable. Central to this inquiry …

An Evidence-Based Ethical Risk Classification Framework (Ercf) For Ai Policies, Ahmad Almarri

Theses

This thesis develops and evaluates an evidence-based Ethical Risk Classification Framework (ERCF) for analyzing substantive ethical engagement in AI policy documents. The study addresses the gap between high-level AI ethics principles and reproducible computational methods for comparative governance analysis. A secondary dataset of AI ethics policy recordswas used as the starting point. After retrieval, text extraction, and validation, a corpus of 44 policy documents was constructed from an initial 112 records (110 link-bearing entries). Supervised classification was implemented for four core dimensions: Accountability, Bias & Fairness, Privacy, and Transparency. A TF-IDF + Logistic Regression baseline was evaluated using stratified 5-fold …

Tom: Toward A Design Language For Object Personality, Mike Minerva

Theses

Design has been chasing seamless efficiency for decades, creating smoother interactions, more compliant objects, and experiences that disappear entirely. When an object is frictionless, it does not lack personality. It has a personality. One that is obedient, meaningless, and remarkably boring. An object that pushes back has boundaries, and that resistance comes from a position of caring. Objects have always been able to refuse. What is new is that the refusal can now come from inside the object, from memory, adaptive thinking and a disposition toward the person using it. Expressed consistently over time, that agency is perceived as personality. …

Future-Ready Talent: A Strategic Framework For Upskilling The Uae’S Gen Z Workforce, Walaa Al Fares

Theses

This study investigates workforce preparedness among Generation Z in the United Arab Emirates, aiming to identify current and emerging skills gaps and develop a strategic framework aligned with national agendas such as We the UAE 2031. Grounded in Human Capital Theory and Generational Theory, the research examines digital transformation, employability skills, and workforce development within the UAE’s knowledge-based economy. The study addresses three key research questions: What are the primary skills gaps affecting Gen Z workforce readiness? What systemic and institutional factors contribute to these gaps? How can a strategic framework enhance employability by 2030? A qualitative research design adopting …

Revisiting A Historical Material: Casein As A Case Study, Evan Gerstein

Theses

The goal of this project is to use casein as a case study to explore historical methods of making and to show that these have uses for today. In the first half of the 20th century, casein, a milk protein, was a widely-used industrial material. Buttons, buckles, glue, and clothing, among other products, were made from it. The use of casein declined in the post-World War II economy because of reputational damage done by its association with Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime and the rise of petroleum plastics. This project argues that casein deserves to be revisited. Specifically, this project offers …

Vectra: Medication Cart System Designed For Nurses, Chris Dimovski

Theses

Medication administration is a critical phase of patient care where errors are most likely to occur, often contributing to adverse drug events and increasing risk to patient safety. At the same time, rising levels of nurse burnout highlight the growing cognitive demands placed on healthcare professionals. Although systems such as medication carts, digital records, and safety protocols are intended to reduce errors, they operate independently rather than as a connected system. This leaves nurses responsible for connecting each step, relying on memory and constant adjustment throughout the workflow. This thesis focuses on the medication administration phase and looks at how …

Asobi: Play In Every Language, Jeffrey Gibbs

Theses

In the era of iPad kids and screenagers, toys are struggling to engage children. The modern toy industry prioritizes eye-catching designs over meaningful stimulation, choosing to profit off of media franchising rather than encourage creative expression. Toys are too often designed in a way that limits the scope of play, forcing kids down a specific path rather than opening a world of creative possibilities. This narrow scope prevents imagination and decreases the overall lifespan of the product by encouraging product turnover. All of this contributes to an abundance of toys in the home, a reality linked to negative development outcomes. …

The Next Generation Of Police Station Design: Integration Of Officer Wellness With Operational Demands, Kayla Zill

Theses

The design of police stations has traditionally prioritized efficiency of operations and security, overlooking the wellness of officers. This research analyzes the integration of Trauma-informed Design (TiD) and WELL Building Standards into police stations design to create environments that aid officer well-being while maintaining operational functionality. Through literature review, including research of current police station design guidelines, trauma endured by officers, Trauma-Informed Design principles, WELL building standards, and understanding of the need for wellness to be incorporated into police station design. Officer interviews then further understanding of the needs of officers to create a scorecard and program guidelines to refocus …

Weathered, Haylee A. Dyess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weathered focuses on themes of change, accumulation, time, and acceptance. Each artwork holds layers of information and experiences that form a unique narrative for all its viewers. The construction of each piece is a symbol of the physical ability it takes to create each painting. After my mobility was hindered due to my medical conditions, a new appreciation for physical health and the world I live in was gained. Striving to pack this sense of appreciation into my work, my method became a way for me to cope with my illness and to enjoy being creative, freely.

My art is …

Dean's Research Newsletter, May 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.