Digital Commons Network^™

Urban Fantasy: Exploring Modernity Through Magic, By Stefan Ekman, Phillip Fitzsimmons

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

Piranesi And Neptune: How Susanna Clarke’S Spellbinding Story Orbits Planet Narnia, Jennifer Agee

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This essay is a critical consideration and celebration of the novel Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. The book makes clear references to the Chronicles of Narnia; these connections have been noted and explored elsewhere. But what hasn’t been noticed is Piranesi’s connection to Dr. Michael Ward’s critical theory as described in Planet Narnia (2008). Ward claims that the Narnia books are secretly organized around a medieval planetary scheme that incorporates the atmosphere, imagery, and influence of the “visible planets,” which C.S. Lewis believed were spiritual symbols of permanent value. This essay briefly explains Dr. Ward’s theory and argues that Susanna Clarke …

Tolkien’S Thomist Triad: A High Medieval Response To Contemporary Jus Ad Bellum, Jeffrey S. Dixon

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This paper reviews the development of the component of just war theory dealing with whether it is just to wage a war in the first place (jus ad bellum) from the early medieval to early modern eras and compares its principles to J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels about Middle-Earth. Tolkien’s views on the concept of jus ad bellum can be dated to a specific point in the medieval era, just before a number of modern, consequentialist criteria were added to Catholic thought on just war. I conclude that Tolkien’s fictional works permit broader justifications for war than do most modern just war …

From Maldon To Mordor: Hobbits And The Lord-Retainer Relationship In The Lord Of The Rings, Samuel A. Masters

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Content warning: this paper discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts.

Tolkien’s interest in Old Germanic heroism had a profound impact upon the hobbits of The Lord of the Rings, and the Christianised form of heroism that they represent. In his essays, ‘Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics (1936) and ‘The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son’ (1953), Tolkien praises the loving, paternalistic relationship between a lord and his retainers in Old English poetry; this aspect of medieval heroism is retained in Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin However, Tolkien also highlights several shortcomings of the Old Germanic ‘Northern Courage’. In …

The Significance Of Ioreth, Wise Woman Of Gondor, In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings, Jane Beal Phd

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Using key ideas from the field of Narrative Medicine, this essay considers the significance of Ioreth in her role as a wise-woman (midwife) and healer of Gondor. J.R.R. Tolkien developed the character of Ioreth from the static fairy-tale type of the “Wise Old Woman” to a dynamic minor character in her own right in The Lord of the Rings. He gave her a defining characteristic of talkativeness, and he purposefully attributed to her prophetic utterances of proverb, rhyme, and instruction that positively influenced those around her, including her healthcare colleagues Gandalf, Aragorn, and the herb-master, her unnamed kinswoman from the …

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Gethsemane: Christian Art And Tradition In The Passion Of Albus Dumbledore, John Anthony Dunne

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This essay contends that Professor Dumbledore drinking a potion from a goblet administered by Harry Potter in the cave from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince evokes Jesus’s prayer in Gethsemane from the Gospels and his request that "the cup" be removed from him. Even though the Gospels portray Jesus all alone, and Dumbledore has Harry with him, I argue that Harry Potter evokes the expanded Lukan account of Gethsemane, which contains a textually uncertain passage about an angel ministering to him (Luke 22.43–44). I argue further that this Lukan text informs Harry Potter specifically as mediated through visual representations …

The Soldier’S Stigmata, Part Ii: Figura, The Four Senses Of Interpretation, And Other Matters In Lois Mcmaster Bujold’S “The Borders Of Infinity”, Andrew Hallam

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

THIS IS A TWO-PART ARTICLE. IN ORDER TO READ OR DOWNLOAD THE OTHER PART, FOLLOW THE LINK AT THE END OF THIS ABSTRACT.

This article will explore the connection between Lois McMaster Bujold’s novella “The Borders of Infinity,” the Aristotelian theory of habitus as developed further in the letters of the Apostle Paul and by the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, and the four senses of interpretation of scripture first conceived in antiquity and later refined by medieval philosophers. Habitus as a durable disposition, state, or condition (Aristotle) is a structured and structuring social practice or set of social practices (Bourdieu) that …

What Are C.S. Lewis's Eldila And Why Do They Matter?, Joseph Weigel

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

This article explores the eldila from C.S. Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy. Many of the eldila in the trilogy are angelic beings. However, Lewis uses the nine orders of angels in the trilogy and different eldils correspond to different types of angels within the hierarchy. Additionally, eldila, on occasion, can refer to the entirety of the supernatural realm, including the mysterious longaevi. Through the trilogy, Lewis is portraying the rich supernatural worldview presented in the Scriptures that is so often ignored, even by Christians. For Lewis, angels, devils, and the whole realm of spirits, was a reality of the cosmos, …

Pier’S Barn And Aslan’S Stable: Satire And Sublimity In Langland’S Piers Plowman And Lewis’S The Last Battle, Tiffany E. Schubert

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

The stable in The Last Battle is rather mysterious. It seems a random bit of architecture plopped in Narnia, whose primary structures are cozy caves or castles by the sea. Of course, the stable is an important Christian symbol, the humble birthplace of Christ himself. Nevertheless, Lewis’s stable does not function in any straightforward way as the Narnian version of “Away in a Manger.” Rather, it is a place of deception and violence, housing the false Aslan and serving as the focal point of an apocalyptic battle that ends with the destruction of all Narnia. There is medieval precedent for …

Unmasking Ashwagandha Controversy: Safety, Toxicity, And Adulteration, Tahir Maqbool Mir

Oxford ICSB

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic shrub valued for its roots, which support systemic health. Increasing use has raised safety concerns about adulteration and hepatotoxicity. The roots of ashwagandha are primarily preferred for systemic health, while the leaves were traditionally reserved for topical applications to treat joint inflammation and promote wound healing.  Although generally considered safe, ashwagandha supplements have been linked to drug-induced liver injury, including cholestasis, jaundice, and pruritus. Reports from various organizations like LARB in the Netherlands indicate a rise in liver toxicity cases, possibly due to cytotoxic withafrin A and DNA-damaging withanone. A major concern is widespread …

Advancements In Botanical Toxicology, Characterization, And Regulatory Frameworks, Paula Brown

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Opioid-Relevant Exposure From 7-Hydroxymitragynine Products In The Evolving U.S. Marketplace, Igor Koturbash, Scott Alsbrook, George Pro

Oxford ICSB

Kratom’s U.S. market has rapidly evolved from largely botanical powders and capsules to products enriched in 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist that is typically present only at trace levels in leaf material. To quantify downstream behavioral health burden and contextualize it with real-world signals of product diffusion, we analyzed National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data (2021-2023) alongside public health alert trends and systematic online product surveillance. In NSDUH, 5.8% of adults met criteria for serious mental illness (SMI). SMI increased by 150% among adults with combined opioid use disorder (OUD) and kratom use between 2021 …

Epigenetic Variation Of American Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis) In The Okefenokee Swamp, Mark Hoog, Kimberly M. Andrews, Aaron W. Schrey

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

An animal's survival is heavily influenced by how well adapted it is to the environment in which it lives; however, phenotypes are only able to change so quickly. Epigenetics allows for greater phenotypic plasticity through molecular mechanisms without altering the DNA sequence. DNA methylation is the most widely studied epigenetic mechanism. It has shown the ability to alter gene expression and may even be able to compensate for a lack of genetic variation. Changes in DNA methylation are often caused by stressors that range from anthropogenic causes to natural occurrences. We sought to examine the effect of environmental factors on …

Computational Investigation Of Ruthenium Complex Interactions With Dna For Anticancer Applications, Mikayla A. Ertz

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ruthenium complexes are being studied as potential alternatives to platinum-based cancer drugs because they are often less toxic and more selective for cancer cells. This project uses computational modeling to investigate how a ruthenium complex interacts with DNA, which is an important target for anticancer activity. All simulations were performed using the MSI Agate supercomputing system through Termius. The complex was first tested in the major groove of DNA with and without a leaving group, followed by the same set of simulations in the minor groove. Binding energies were analyzed to compare interaction strength and determine how groove position and …

Growing Large Single And Multi-Crystals From Alum Powder, Owen Paulson, Mayra G. Aguilar, Owen T. Maloney, Kole C. Koehler

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Crystal growth science is used to replicate the growth of crystals that form in nature. Channels of hot fluid with concentrations of minerals created the crystals found as gemstones. At low concentrations, no crystal grows. At high concentrations, a multitude of crystals grow. At the ideal concentration, a single, clear crystal grows. Four solution concentrations were used to create seed crystals. Those Alum seed crystals were attached to a string and suspended in various concentrations of Alum solution to find concentrations that create no crystal, a single crystal, and a multi-crystal.

Implementation Of Education Regarding Trafficking Among Healthcare Staff And Community Organizations, Anna M. Peterson, Kate E. Arndorfer

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Background: Over the past two decades, human trafficking has received increasing media attention and public awareness efforts. Despite this, significant gaps remain in the knowledge and preparedness of healthcare professionals, specifically nursing staff, to identify and respond to trafficking victims. Human trafficking includes the exploitation of individuals through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sexual acts. Survivors often experience acute injuries, chronic illness, psychological trauma, and long-term health complications. Healthcare settings, particularly emergency departments, may be one of the few opportunities for victims to have contact with professionals outside of trafficking situations. However, there is a …

Disaster Preparedness In Healthcare Workers, Helen Prow

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Disasters can negatively impact healthcare systems worldwide, with increased impacts on resource-limited communities. Nurses and other healthcare workers are often on the frontlines of disaster response; evidence shows that many healthcare workers worldwide are not adequately prepared to respond effectively. The purpose of this honors project is to analyze factors and interventions that influence healthcare workers, specifically nurses, in disaster preparedness in resource-limited settings globally. A review of peer-reviewed literature published within the past ten years was conducted using systems such as CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Open Evidence. Articles were selected based on relevance to disaster preparedness among healthcare …

Exploring How Virtual Reality Affects The Client-Recreational Therapist Relationship, Ellie Barker, Sophia M. Young, Natalia C. Miller, Lindsay J. Bergan

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Virtual Reality (VR) is an electronic recreation of reality, depicting environments, and enabling clients to interact with instantaneous simulations that provide an immersive experience (Guttentag, 2010;  McGovern, 1994). Adopting VR as an intervention could be a breakthrough innovation to overcome obstacles while connecting with clients. Current research on VR used in Recreational Therapy (RT) holds inconsistencies in its findings, specifically across various populations and VR tools. The purpose of this study was to gain insights from professionals about the therapeutic relationship between clients and therapists when using VR as an intervention. This study examined how the relationship between the therapist …

Co-Precipitation Synthesis Of Magnetic Nanoparticles (Mnps) Fe3o4 And Their Photocatalytic Performance, Leo Doan, Natalie R. Chouinard, Kahun N. Vue

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and evaluated for their photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue (MB). MB is widely used in different industries and is difficult to remove from waste due to the benzene groups, so the removal of MB becomes an emergency problem. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), Fe3O4, were successfully synthesized using a co-precipitation method between FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O. The point of zero charge (PZC) was determined to be approximately at pH 6.37. The NPs were examined under UV light irradiation, and their catalytic activity was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The λmax of MB was determined to be approximately …

Growing Alum Crystals, Todd Carroll, Daniela Gutierrez Rubio, Kevin Dang, Samuel J. Whempner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

One of the easiest crystal growth experiments uses Alum powder to dissolve in water. The dissolved material slowly forms with seed crystals to create larger crystals. As the dissolved material is depleted, more is added to continue the crystal growth. Four different concentrations were used for seed crystal growth. Those crystals were attached to a string and hung in a bath of Alum solution. Different strategies were used to grow crystals and in some cases dissolve crystals.

Comparison Of Total Distance And Sprint Distance Between Positions Of Division Ii Female Soccer Players, Tamas Sebestyen, Jonathan P. Bayer

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Introduction: To manage player health, minimize injury, and optimize performance in NCAA Division II soccer, this study analyzed positional demands using GPS technology. The findings provide insights into enhancing training plans and recovery based on specific positions. Methods: NCAA Division II female soccer players were tracked during sixteen in-season competitions using 10 Hz GPS wearable technology. Players were grouped into tactical roles including Wing Backs (WB), Center Backs (CB), Defensive Midfielders (6), Attacking Midfielders (10), and Forwards (9). Key metrics analyzed included Total Distance (TD), Total Sprint Distance (TSD), and Distance per Minute (D/M). Results: Forwards (9) and attacking midfielders …

Weatherwise Bench, Ella R. Carr, Beckett Malaise, Dominic Perez, Matt Wooden

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Current outdoor seating concepts seem to be either heavy and bulky yet durable or light and easy to move, but lacking durability. How about combining the best of both worlds to create a seat that is light and easy to move, but also durable. WeatherWise is a sleek, carbon fiber bench that incorporates a honeycomb core to ensure a lightweight product that is also durable. The carbon fiber provides a sleek look and added strength. The design allows the bench to be outdoors in all types of weather from hot, sunny summer days to cold, snowy winter nights. The design …

Loneliness And Health Behaviors, Haylee Goral, Jianna Bigio, Ashley Bustamante, Ruby Maton, Sullivan Morefield, Avery Owen

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Machine-Learning Based Airbrakes Control For Rocket Apogee Targeting, Sara Schweitzer, Christopher Brown, Daniel Isenhour

Liberty University Research Week

In rocketry, small variations in weather and launch conditions can cause large differences in the highest altitude (“apogee”) a rocket can reach during flight, which makes targeting a precise altitude difficult. Airbrakes—small and deployable surfaces that increase drag—can actively adjust a rocket’s climb to achieve the intended apogee. Our goal is to develop an airbrake deployment approach that can translate to real rocket applications for teams lacking resources such as high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, or multiple test launches. Therefore, rather than using a control method that continuously adjusts the amount the airbrakes are deployed into the airstream, …

Exploration Of Preservative-Surfactant Aggregation Effects On Biologic Drug Formulations, Joseph Turmelle

Liberty University Research Week

A key challenge in the development of injectable drug formulations is the need for multi-dose administration, which increases the risk of bacterial contamination. To reduce this risk, preservatives such as phenol (PhOH) and benzyl alcohol (BzOH) are commonly added to formulations. However, preservatives can aggregate with other critical excipients, particularly surfactants such as polysorbate 20 (PS20). This aggregation leads to physical instability, often observed as turbidity or precipitation. Previous work has shown that preservatives induce the formation of large, unstable aggregates with surfactants at pharmaceutically relevant concentrations. The purpose of this study is to characterize and understand this phenomenon of …

Evaluation Of Social Connectedness And Loneliness Scale As Predictors Of Flourishing, Abigayle Minger, Aaron Hall, Faith Davis, Isaac Uehling, Kailyn Rowland, Tanner Simoneaux

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the roles of social connectedness and loneliness as predictors of the subsequent levels of flourishing. This study will use multiple regression analysis from data collected on 478 U.S. adults to determine how each of the six levels of the Secure Flourishing Index are predicted by the UCLA Loneliness Scale and Social Connectedness Instrument. More specifically, how does social connection, or loneliness, act as a predictor for happiness and life satisfaction, mental & physical health, meaning & purpose, character & virtue, close social relationships, and financial & material stability. Previous literature indicates that …

Association Between Preexisting Chronic Conditions And Hospital Outcomes Among Pediatric Trauma Patients In The United States, 2000-2019, Grace Sibert

Liberty University Research Week

The prevalence of chronic disease among children in the United States has increased substantially over the past two decades. Children with chronic disease experience higher morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization, disparities that may be amplified following traumatic injury. However, nationally representative longitudinal data examining these associations remains limited. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database (HCUP-KID) from 2000 to 2019. Pediatric patients (=18 years) hospitalized for traumatic injury were identified using ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes. Chronic conditions were classified using the HCUP Chronic Condition Indicator and grouped into major diagnostic categories. …

Aerodynamic Performance Analysis Of High-Powered Rocket Airbrakes, Simon Babcock, Samuel Worthington, Sophia Batchelor

Liberty University Research Week

This research investigates the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to derive a coefficient-of-drag (Cd) profile for a high-powered rocket with an active airbrake control system to drive precise apogee control and trajectory prediction. High-fidelity CFD simulations are used to produce a reliable drag-coefficient function across relevant Mach numbers with airbrakes retracted and extended into the relative airstream, enabling more accurate trajectory modeling and control strategies for rockets employing aerodynamic drag modulation. This accurate drag characterization is critical as small deviations in the rocket’s Cd can significantly alter the predicted launch behavior and stability during high-powered flight. Prior work in …

Development Of A Teaching-Laboratory Protocol For The Separation Of Adulterant Compounds Caffeine And Quinine Used In Illicit Drugs, Rachel Boktor

Liberty University Research Week

Adulterant compounds are added to illicit drugs to dilute their potency, mimic their effects, and cheapen production. Adulterants caffeine (21%) and quinine (20%) are most frequently combined with fentanyl. Despite their prevalence, there is limited empirical literature on the physical separation of adulterant mixtures. This study aimed to develop a traditional bench-scale separation scheme for isolating legal adulterants from a binary mixture. We hypothesize that differences in water solubility and extraction behavior of caffeine and quinine would enable their separation into distinct fractions. The separation scheme involved selective dissolution, gravity filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, drying, and solvent removal. Following physical separation, …

The Role Of Medical Nutrition Therapy In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review, Alexis Snyder

Liberty University Research Week

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is type of high blood sugar with an onset during pregnancy that leads to insulin resistance. Annually, 5-9% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes. GDM frequently causes excessive birth weight, breathing problems, preeclampsia, an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and hypoglycemia following pregnancy. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is the primary treatment for GDM, but actual dietary guidelines tend to differ between various studies. This narrative literature review aims to synthesize current studies on the effectiveness of MNT for the management and outcome of gestational diabetes. Specifically looking at pathophysiology of the disease, blood …