Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Slms For Machine Translation Of Healthcare Documents, Wyatt Clausen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The language barrier creates significant healthcare challenges for patients who struggle with English. While large language models (LLMs) have advanced machine translation, their high computational costs, environmental impact, and risk of data breaches have raised concerns. Small language models (SLMs) can address these concerns and be further adapted to specific tasks through parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) methods, including Quantized Low-Rank Adaptation (QLoRA). This study compares the Spanish-to-English translation quality of two 7-billion-parameter SLMs, Mistral and Llama 2 7B, in the medical domain, using BLEU, chrF, and COMET as evaluation metrics. It further investigates whether QLoRA fine-tuning and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) on …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Ecophysiology Between The Invasive Macroalgae Starry Stonewort And The Native Macroalgae Chara To Predict Invasion Potential, Thomas J. Zellmer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) is an invasive macroalga from Eurasia. Currently, starry stonewort’s invasive range consists of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, including the Mississippi River. Starry stonewort poses recreational and ecological problems by forming dense canopies that extend through the water column. Starry stonewort occupies a late-season niche space with dense biomass occurring in late July and persisting well into autumn. There is a lack of information on the ecophysiology of starry stonewort. In this study, two populations of starry stonewort, Minnesota and New York, were analyzed to compare regional differences in ecophysiology, along with chara (native …

Seeing Public Health In Color: Phenomenological Perspectives Of Bipoc Women In Leadership, Jasmyn Spicer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Public health is a complex, ever-changing industry that holds pivotal capacity to impact society on a larger scale. For the United States, disparities and inequity in public health have had significant consequences for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Effective leadership in public health has the potential to impact roles, policy development, and the overall scope of oversight regarding the quality of care that communities are provided in the industry. While BIPOC women are underrepresented in public health leadership roles, they have the capacity to advance equity in the field and contribute to culturally responsive care in foundational …

Secure Base Script Behaviors In Romantic Couples As Predictors Of Romantic Relationship Quality, Ben N. Zigelstein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Attachment representations guide expectations about the availability and responsiveness of attachment figures during times of need. These representations are shaped by early experiences of consistent, reliable caregiving and influence how individuals seek and receive support from close others across the lifespan. Secure base script knowledge, a temporal-causal sequence of events encompassing the essential elements of seeking and receiving support at times of need, is increasingly used to capture attachment representations. Research indicates that secure base script knowledge significantly predicts the quality of self-reported and observed romantic relationships. However, the extent to which secure base script behaviors (i.e., bidding for support, …

Contesting Conservatism: Neoconservatives, Evangelicals, And Foreign Policy In The Reagan Era, Emily B. Kissel

All Master's Theses

This thesis explores how foreign policy shaped and destabilized the conservative coalition during the Reagan era. Although historians often portray the conservative movement of the 1980s as unified by anti-communism, this study argues that foreign policy debates exposed significant ideological divisions between neoconservatives, evangelical Christians, and the broader conservative base. These groups shared common goals but disagreed over the moral and strategic direction of American foreign policy. Neoconservatives and evangelical Christians wanted the same muscular assertion of American power abroad, but the factions framed foreign policy differently to appeal to their supporters. These policies and aggressive anti-Soviet rhetoric struck widespread …

Modernism’S Wild Child: The Interplay Of Modernist And Children’S Literature, Rachel Riffel

All Master's Theses

Within literary criticism, American and British modernism are often characterized by the disillusioned writers and creators who established an elitist literary community during the early 20^th century. This period is also distinguished by the Harlem Renaissance highlighting Black art, culture, and writing. Gertrude Stein, T. S. Eliot, Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps are well-known for contributing core texts to modernism and the Harlem Renaissance that expressed existential themes and developed experimental techniques. What many readers don’t know, however, is that these authors and many other contemporaries wrote stories and poetry for children. In this thesis, I explore the children’s …

A Few Words From Our Staff

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

True Love, Thaily Jeanty

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Bucket List, Eddie N. Hammans

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

American Gal, Nicole M. Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Echos Of Renewal, Jasmine Diaz-Marquez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Sedona, Az, Inchara Kumar

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Antelope Canyon, Auston Hsieh

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

This House Is Not The Same, Daniella M. Acosta Reyes

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

When Sailboats Fly, Salarah Seymour

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Woman In Silk, Roseline Jean-Pierre

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Mystery Boxes, Grace K. Wong

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Contents

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Exploring In-Service Teachers' Perceptions Of Video Game Use In Classroom Instruction: A Qualitative Study, Yvette A. Talley

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This dissertation explores in-service teachers' perceptions of using video games as educational tools, focusing on the benefits, challenges, and practical considerations of game-based learning in classrooms. Employing a qualitative research design, the study seeks to capture the nuanced, subjective experiences and tacit knowledge of teachers, providing a comprehensive understanding of how video games can be effectively integrated into teaching practices. Data were gathered through interviews and analyzed thematically to uncover key themes and insights. The findings reveal a spectrum of viewpoints, highlighting both the potential of video games to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes, and concerns related to classroom …

Ethnoracial Disparities In Treatment-Seeking Among Suicidal Adults: Stigma As A Mediator, Yiming Huang M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Despite the disproportionate increase in their suicide risk in recent years, ethnoracially minoritized individuals utilize mental health treatment less frequently than their non-Hispanic, White counterparts. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial to identify strategies to mitigate such disparities. While mental health-related stigma has received attention as a potential mechanism, select types of stigma have been examined in isolation, leaving it unclear which forms of stigma are most relevant to the observed ethnoracial disparities in treatment-seeking among suicidal individuals. The current study assessed and examined a range of stigma constructs as potential mediators of ethnoracial differences in treatment-seeking outcomes among suicidal …

The Breaking Point: Examining Teacher Burnout And Methods To Build Resilience In A Time Of Unprecedented Challenges, Maribel Rudecindo-Mendez

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain insight into the experiences of K–12 teachers in the Hudson Valley region of New York as it relates to teacher burnout. The Job Demands-Resources model was used as a framework to understand organizational causes of burnout, how burnout impacts instruction and relationships with students, and how teachers cope with stress. Twenty full-time teachers who were involved with K–12 students in various instructional capacities were interviewed in a semi-structured format. Thematic analysis revealed that the main contributors to burnout were instability in the system, being overburdened with work, and issues related …

Religious Conversion From Islam To Christianity In Kazakhstan, Kalmahan Yerzhan, Didar Mamyrbayev, Yelaman Karibekuly

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The phenomenon of religious conversion constitutes a significant topic of inquiry within the realms of social and psychological research in contemporary society. This article investigates the experiences of Muslims in Kazakhstan who have transitioned to Christianity, specifically within the Baptist denomination. The study employed a qualitative approach and was executed through semi-structured interviews with participants. The primary objective of the interview was to ascertain how familial upbringing, emotional experiences, as well as social and psychological factors, influence the conversion process. The findings indicated that the act of changing one's religion is frequently correlated with an individual's personal spiritual quest, existential …

The Effects Of Anxiety On Adult Athletes And Approaches To Improving Performance And Well-Being, Taylor Glaspie-Walton

Theses and Dissertations

This systematic review examined the complex relationship between anxiety and sports performance in adult athletes, along with exploring effective approaches for enhancing both performance and psychological well-being. Through analysis of 18 studies spanning diverse sports and competitive levels, this research identifies key factors that influence anxiety responses and performance outcomes. Findings revealed that competition level, performance-goal discrepancies, and injury recovery significantly impact anxiety levels, with athletes' interpretations of anxiety symptoms proving more influential than symptom intensity alone. The research demonstrates that mental toughness and self-efficacy function as fundamental psychological resources, though their impact appears to plateau at elite competitive levels. …

Political Parties And Religion In Post-Communist Poland: A Review, Christopher Garbowski

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A review of Aleks Szczerbiak, Political Parties and Religion in Post-Communist Poland. London and New York: Routledge, 2025. Pp. 226. $142.50. ISBN 978-0367456634.

Conflict And Resilience: Unraveling The Connection Between Religiosity And Interethnic And Interconfessional Trust In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Željko Pavić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, national and religious identities have traditionally been deeply connected, serving as key markers of group belonging and boundaries between communities. Among the three main groups — Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs — religious affiliation often functions not only as a matter of personal belief but also as a symbolic affirmation of national identity. This study explores the relationship between various measures of religiosity and attitudes toward members of other nations and religions, with particular focus on differences among the three communities. The results confirm that religion remains an important marker of national identity across all three groups. …

Dynamics Of Changes Of Religiosity In Condition Of Crisis Events (Based On The Example Of The Russian-Ukrainian War), Yurii Boreiko, Fedotova Tetiana

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes changes in the religiosity of Ukrainians during the Russian-Ukrainian war as a large-scale event. It explores the nature of the connection between the traumatic experience of war and religiosity and determines the trajectory of changes in the religiosity of Ukrainians during the war. It has been established that the Russian-Ukrainian war caused social upheavals accompanied by crises in various spheres of public life. As a large-scale tragic event, the war became a catalyst for changes in self-assessment of faith in God and participation in religious practices. The level of religiosity of Ukrainians during the war was significantly …

Socio-Psychological Portrait Of Muslim Women Who Joined Radical Religious Organizations, Akerke Sakbayeva, Nagima Baitenova, Zhuldyz Zhorabek, Assel Alimkhanova, Raimbek Zeinullin

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the socio-psychological characteristics, motivations for radicalization, and the legal and social status of Muslim women who have joined radical religious organizations from gender and cultural studies perspectives. In recent years, the increasing involvement of women in violent extremist movements has intensified the need to investigate this phenomenon not only as a security issue, but also as a complex social, cultural, psychological, and gender-related phenomenon. The study analyzes both internal and external factors influencing the radicalization of women, including social marginalization, identity crises, emotional dependency, limited religious literacy, and perceptions of social injustice. Particular attention is given to …

Disenchantment Of The World In The Context Of The Russian-Ukrainian War,, Olga Dobrodum, Eduard Martyniuk, Olena Nykytchenko, Mykola Palinchak, Ruslana Tkachenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes Max Weber's concept of the "disenchantment of the world" («Entzauberung der Welt») in the context of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022 and continues to the present. The author examines disenchantment as a process of rationalization and desacralization of society, tracing its development from ancient origins (Epicurus) and monotheistic traditions to contemporary interpretations (Adorno and Horkheimer, Barthes, Baudrillard, Habermas, Taylor, Haraway, Latour). The paradoxical nature of the process is emphasized: secularization does not eliminate the sacred but transforms it into new forms—from commodity fetishism to digital eschatology and posthumanist animism.

The …

The Symbolic Language Of Militarized Orthodoxy In Patriarchal Sermons, Architecture, And Pseudo-Historical Memory, Oleksandr Lukyanenko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to a comprehensive cultural and religious analysis of the processes of militarization of religious worldview in modern Russia using the example of public speeches of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, as well as the symbolic space of the Main Temple of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Particular attention is paid to the study of the mechanisms of sacralization of war through the integration of historical memory, Orthodox rhetoric and the state ideology of the “Russian world”. The study analyzes the peculiarities of the interpretation of World War II as the sacred foundation of modern Russian …