Digital Commons Network^™

The Road To Armageddon; Commonwealth Orcs, 1872-2000, Joseph Rex Young

Mythcon

J.R.R. Tolkien’s orcs are perhaps his most exported creations, having become stereotypical antagonists of fantasy games, hewn down in countless dungeons as the evil minions of unnumbered dragons. Commentators have raised justifiable questions about the notion of an ‘evil race,’ though on examination the absorption of orcs into the post-Tolkienian genre, especially by writers from the British Commonwealth, has perpetuated a strikingly consistent, coherently evolving notion of what that evil is. Rather than relitigate questions about the admissibility of orcish evil, the purpose of this paper is to document this point of continuance.

Tolkien equates the orcs of Middle-earth to …

“The Daemons Of Unplumbed Space”: Einsteinian Portals Into The Unknown In Paul W. S. Anderson’S Event Horizon And H.P. Lovecraft’S The Dreams In The Witch House, Kristine Larsen

Mythcon

Jason Colavito notes that “cosmic horror” developed in response to the counterintuitive and unsettling repositioning of space and time within Einstein’s Special and General Theories of Relativity, as embodied in H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. The horror of such a “weird tale” derives from the violation of already unnatural seeming physical law by the influence of super-natural powers. Lovecraft himself defined a weird tale as containing at least a hint of a “suspension or defeat of those fixed laws of Nature, which are our only safeguard against the assaults of chaos and the daemons of unplumbed space.” Surely the singularity of …

Today’S Christianity: Are We In The Mirror Universe? A Comparison Of Petrine Christianity And The Gospel Of Mary Via The Heroine’S Journey, Blythe A. Collier

Mythcon

What if there was an alternative to Joseph Campbell’s so-called ‘Monomyth’? What if we could dodge yet another rehash of the tired old trope of an oversimplified, Eurocentric ‘Hero’s Journey’? The monomyth is often considered the sine qua non of archetypal modern Western literature. We can easily pick out some of its described elements within both J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Silmarillion, and in C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series—as well as within Petrine Christianity, which is the mythic structural basis of both the contemporary bible, and also the fabled worlds of Tolkien and Lewis.

But …

Middle-Earth Inspired Chess Sets, Bruce Leonard

Mythcon

The response to Tolkien’s work is amazing in variety and depth. Flieger and others note The Lord of the Rings invites a participatory response from the reader. For a number of us this results in a lifelong engagement, from academic pursuits such as this conference to fan creations. Chess is a wonderful example of the creative reaction to Tolkien’s work. There are as many as 97 Middle-earth related chess sets. This includes different editions of the same set. Dr. Graeme Anthony produced ~32 editions of his War of the Ring set. As with most responses to Tolkien inspired work the …

The God Machine: Environmental Resonances In Tolkien And Hollow Knight: Silksong, Alicia Fox-Lenz

Mythcon

After reading The Lord of the Rings, it would not be surprising for the reader to assume Tolkien was a luddite or at very least had some deep-rooted environmentalist leanings. After all, the anti-industrialist sentiment is one of the many themes that so enamored his American fans in the 1960s. In LOTR, industry (as opposed to craft) is aligned with evil, most notably through Saruman — a failed craftsman who has turned to machination. Through him, we see the industrialization of Isengard and its deleterious effects on nearby Fangorn, as well as the resulting destruction of the failed …

The Harlequinades: Agatha Christie’S Forays Into Fantasy, Joe R. Christopher

Mythcon

This review by Joe R. Christopher explores Agatha Christie’s long engagement with the Commedia dell’Arte tradition - referenced in current popular culture through figures such as the Batman series’ Harlequin character – and traces how elements of that fantasy appear throughout her early poetry and some of her short-fiction work. Her Harlequinade foray was in a self- funded volume of poems, some of which read as autobiographical. The evocation of wandering ancient, semi-immortal spirits may reflect a business trip taken with her first husband. Christie extends the Commedia motifs into her prose where she introduces recurring characters; notably, a character, …

The Role Of Social Emotional Learning In Utah’S Implementation Of Essa, Sharon Walles

Transforming Communities

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as a policy, offers an additional tool to address the escalating adolescent mental health crisis. By acknowledging the critical link between student well-being, academic success, and evidence-based practices, this policy analysis explores how funding from ESSA can be leveraged to integrate Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within Utah’s schools. Experts, educators, and parents can be voices to combat misinformation surrounding the recent politicization of SEL and its implementation. This analysis connects Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory, which highlights the interconnectedness of the environment, with the importance of prioritizing mental health within schools to help adolescents with issues …

Assessing A Fourth Trimester Support Group Using An Adapted Ripple Effects Mapping, Kayleigh Gregory, Aubrey Jones, Isabel Paulk, Krysten Munn, Karli Adams, Diana Frankenburger

Transforming Communities

Purpose: Maternal mental health disparities warrant attention, particularly as rural communities face substantial barriers to timely screening and treatment. The Fourth Trimester group at the University of Kentucky was established in April 2022 to address the need for additional postpartum support. This qualitative study examined participants’ perspectives on the group.

Method: Participants included 8 mothers who engaged in the online fourth-trimester social support group. Data were collected using an adapted ripple effects mapping via semi-structured interviews.

Findings: Results of the thematic content analysis revealed six key themes: (1) Community and Belonging, (2) Circle of Wisdom, (3) Empowerment, (4) Practical Support, …

Gondor Calls For Aid! Volunteering And Running For Office With The Mythopoeic Society, Janet Brennan Croft, Megan B. Abrahamson, Phillip Fitzsimmons, Alicia Fox-Lenz, Victoria Gaydosik, Tim Lenz

Mythcon

We often talk about volunteering and about serving as a Society officer at the membership meeting at the end of Mythcon. But this more intimate panel will give you the opportunity to hear from Stewards and Managers directly about their experiences as volunteers and ask questions about how you can get involved -- and why you should think about it! Panelists will talk about how they got started, how rewarding it is, what kind of time commitment it takes, the differences between being a Steward and a Manager, and other long and short term volunteer opportunities.

Mythopoeic Awards Finalists Discussion, David Lenander, Grace Moone

Mythcon

General Discussion of the Finalists for the 2026 Mythopoeic Awards. We expect some committee members to offer their opinions and experiences and invite others to share their reactions to the books! Discussion of the awards process and suggestions for the future are also in order. Find out how to become involved for next year. What books did we miss?

Illustrating Lothlórien As A Faerie Space In The Lord Of The Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien, Marie Bretagnolle

Mythcon

In The Fellowship of the Ring, when the travelers step in Lothlórien, their perceptions of their surroundings and of time are altered. Numerous papers have considered the literary devices used by J.R.R. Tolkien to convey the sense of otherness that makes this Elven realm an equivalent to Faerie in Middle-earth. In their turn, how do visual artists tasked with illustrating The Lord of the Rings transpose these effects in their pictures? In this paper I continue my research into Tolkienian illustrations by analyzing the visual devices used by Mary Fairburn, Alan Lee, and the duo formed by the Queen …

Glen Goodknight's International Narnia Collection, David L. Emerson

Mythcon

In 1975, Glen GoodKnight, founder of the Mythopoeic Society, began to take serious interest in translations of the Narniad, collecting editions from over 40 different countries. By 2004, he had begun to make his wonderful collection of non-English editions available to the world through his website, inklingsfocus.com. With his passing in 2010, the site was due to be shut down, but I participated in preserving the images of these foreign book covers, assisting Lewis fan Gordon Greenhill in reconstructing the gallery on his site called The Disordered Image.

This presentation will be a slide show of many of these …

Perception As A Gateway Of Faërie In Owen Barfield’S Philosophy Of Language, Sylwia Wilczewska

Mythcon

Recording removed at author's request

Since Verlyn Flieger showed the importance of Owen Barfield’s account of poetic language outlined in Poetic Diction for the metaphysical structure of Tolkien’s universe (cf. Flieger 33-44), Barfield’s writings have been an object of increased scholarly attention. While the point most often commented upon is the impact of Barfield’s vision of the evolution of language on Tolkien’s theory of sub-creation, the traces of Barfield’s influence can also be found in other Inklings. Here I would like to offer some speculations on the connection between Barfield’s idea of language and the way in which the writings …

Remembering Lee Speth, Megan B. Abrahamson

Mythcon

Do you have memories of Lee Speth you want to share? Please join us as we remember a beloved Mythsoc member and Steward, and consider how best to memorialize his presence in the future of the Society.

Sense Of Safety And Quality Of Life Among Immigrants, Rachel Gomez

McNair Scholars Research

This study examined the relationship between sense of safety and quality of life among Hispanic/Latinx immigrant communities. The study sought to determine whether perceived sense of safety was associated with quality of life and whether differences existed based on immigration status, gender, and age. A quantitative, non-experimental survey design was used with a convenience sample of 33 first- and second-generation Hispanic immigrants from Arkansas. Participants completed a survey combining the Immigrant Enforcement Fear Scale and the 10-Item Well-being Instrument, which were translated into Spanish to increase accessibility. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and independent-samples t-tests with an alpha …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Alpine Smelowskia (Smelowskia Ovalis), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Alpine smelowskia (Smelowskia ovalis) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Developing And Testing Visualization Simulations For The Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Array (Greta), Blake Mcnulty

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

GRETA is a recently-completed Department of Energy-funded project to construct an array of 120 gamma-ray detectors for use in nuclear physics experiments. The Gretina Array was the successful pilot project to construct 48 of the eventual 120 detectors that would be used in the array. UCGretina is a program that is used to simulate the GRETA array for the purposes of planning experiments and analyzing measurements. My job for this summer, with the advent of the full GRETA system, was to implement the new modular mounting structure for the full GRETA array in the simulation code. This involves creating the …

Virtual Reality Simulation For End-Of-Life Communication: Case Development And Pilot Implementation, Kathryn M. Ledwin, Kylene Abraham, Karen Parker

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Registered nurses have reported feeling unprepared and lacking proper skills for critical end-of-life discussions with patients and their families (Kerr et al., 2020). Virtual reality (VR) simulation presents a novel approach to providing immersive opportunities to support learning and skill development (Liu et al, 2023; Sinurat et al.,2025). VR has been successfully integrated into nursing education to support clinical skill development (Foronda et al. 20220; Liu et al, 2023), however less research has focused on specific applications for complex medical discussions.

Purpose: This project aimed to develop and examine the feasibility of using VR simulation as an educational intervention …

Factors Influencing Self-Efficacy Among Nurse Practitioners In Taiwan, Shu-Ting Tseng, Hsiu-Ju Chang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Unlike in Western countries, where nurse practitioners (NPs) have greater autonomy, NPs in Taiwan face regulatory restrictions that may affect their self-efficacy. However, how these structural and cultural factors shape their experiences remains underexplored. This study aims to examine how Taiwan's healthcare environment and policies influence NPs' self-efficacy.

Methods: This phenomenological study used online focus group interviews with licensed hospital-based nurse practitioners in Taiwan (Jan–Jul 2025). Participants were recruited through a purposive sampling strategy and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method with NVivo, supported by peer debriefing, reflective journaling, and expert-validated interview guidelines (S-CVI = 0.91–0.98).

Results: …

Advancing Graduate Nursing Education: Innovative Curriculum For Global Leadership And Health Equity, Stacey Grenier, Jennifer A. Wentzel, Stephanie Gingerich, Gudrun Jonsdottir, Judith Pechacek, Helga Bragadóttir

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: For over a decade, the international academic partnership between universities in the United States and a Nordic country has enriched graduate nursing education through a global leadership immersion course grounded in partnership theory (Bragadóttir et al., 2020; Eisler & Potter, 2014; Gingerich et al, 2024). This past year, faculty intentionally redesigned the week-long course using innovative curriculum design principles, integrating the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Leader Core Competencies (AONL, 2024), Sigma's Global Nursing Leadership Competency Framework (Sigma Nursing, n.d.), and Liberating Structures (Liberating Structures, n.d.).

Purpose: This forward-thinking approach leveraged innovative curriculum design to transform an …

Advancing Global Health Equity Through Co-Produced Hypertension Care In Rural Ghana, Sandra Peniston

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” is a leading cause of preventable death and disability from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. Its disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries highlights global health inequities, where limited access to primary care, diagnostics, and long-term management perpetuates avoidable suffering. In Ghana’s rural Savannah Region, hypertension often remains undiagnosed and uncontrolled. The Co-Produced Hypertension Adult Intervention (CO-HEART) addresses this inequity by strengthening primary health care (PHC) through a community-and provider-driven, context-specific approach.

Methods: Guided by Participatory Action Research, decolonising principles, and the Six Steps in Quality Intervention Development framework, CO-HEART engaged nurses, clinicians, district …

Communication Innovation: Developing A Bilingual Communication Board Validated By Lawshe’S Cvr, Natalie Palau, Amy Valenta

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Hospitalized families with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) can encounter communication barriers during routine interactions due to limited interpreter access, increasing the risk for adverse events and reducing satisfaction. At a freestanding pediatric hospital neurology unit, 67.3% of nurses reported difficulty communicating basic needs and 60% felt dissatisfaction with current LEP communication methods. To address these challenges and enhance communication, a bilingual communication board, featuring English and Spanish captions alongside illustrative icons, was developed and validated.

Experts, identified as nursing staff and Spanish and English-speaking caregivers, evaluated each icon and caption for clarity and accuracy using a four-point scale. Analysis using …

Human-Centered Ai For Nursing Workload Optimization: Advancing Clinical Quality And Reducing Burnout, Alexis Collier

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nursing professionals face increasing administrative and cognitive burdens that contribute to fatigue, burnout, and compromised patient safety. Despite the proliferation of electronic health records (EHRs), current systems often amplify rather than alleviate workload complexity. This study, developed under the AIM-AHEAD CLINAQ Fellowship, explores a human-centered artificial intelligence (AI) framework to optimize nursing workload distribution while promoting clinical equity and efficiency.

The project applies design-thinking methodology and interdisciplinary collaboration across informatics, data science, and clinical practice. Using EHR-derived activity logs and observational data, a predictive model was developed to identify high-intensity workflow patterns and recommend task reallocation strategies. The algorithm integrates …

Predicting Providers Intent To Screen For Opioid Use Disorder And Refer To Methadone Treatment, Gregory Carter, Wendy Miller

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurses are often the first point of contact for individuals with opioid use disorder, yet screening and referral rates for methadone treatment vary among healthcare providers. To address this gap, our study explored how provider demographic factors, practice characteristics, and Theory of Planned Behavior constructs predict intentions to screen for opioid use disorder and refer patients to methadone treatment. A national survey of n=1,033 providers (registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants), assessed attitudes, norms, perceived control, opioid stigma, vicarious trauma, and screening intention. Hierarchical regression analyzed predictors across demographic, theoretical, and contextual factors.

Registered nurses exhibited a significantly …

Embedding Nursing Student Researchers In Health System Change: Insights From An Ontario Health Team, Adam Bursey, Izzar Linares, Rosanra Yoon

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Embedding nursing students as researchers within health systems provides meaningful opportunities for experiential learning and mutual capacity building (Menzies et al., 2021). Students gain hands-on experience navigating interdisciplinary environments, while health system partners benefit from added analytic support and strengthened academic connections (Menzies et al., 2021). Despite its value, opportunities for nursing students to participate in embedded research remain limited and are shaped by program structures and funding availability (Corbett et al., 2023). Expanding such experiences is essential to prepare future nurse leaders with the competencies needed to address complex health system challenges (Slattery et al., 2016). This reflexive …

Development Of Proposed Airworthiness Certification Criteria For Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, Matheus B. Furstenberger

Student Works

Radio altimeters provide height-above-ground information to flight deck displays and multiple safety-critical aircraft systems, however legacy certification standards were not developed for high-power terrestrial wireless services operating in adjacent C-Band spectrum. This study addressed the absence of a consolidated airworthiness certification framework for interference-tolerant radio altimeter systems installed on Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 25 transport category airplanes. An archival research synthesis was conducted using publicly available regulations, proposed and final rules, technical standard orders, advisory circulars, airworthiness directives, industry standards, spectrum-management documents, technical studies, and stakeholder comments. Qualitative content analysis and source triangulation were used to identify …

Black Othermothering In Special Education: Exploring The Impact On Our Mental Health And Well-Being, Kimberly Ivy

Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations

Black women in special education often engage in othermothering, a culturally grounded practice of care, advocacy, protection, and relational responsibility that extends beyond formal teaching duties. While existing research has documented the importance of Black women educators and the tradition of Black Othermothering, limited scholarship has examined how these experiences operate within special education or how they affect the mental health and wellbeing of Black women educators. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Black women who identify as Othermothers in special education and to examine how engaging in othermothering impacts their mental health and well-being. …

The Biological Response Of Human Np Cells To Soluble Collagen Vi, Jonathan Dalton, Srikanth N. Divi, Yasmine Eichbaum, Panya Luksanapruksa, Mitchell K. Ng, Rachel Huang, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Dessislava Z. Markova, Christopher K. Kepler

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation plays a significant role in the development of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). The ECM around the chondrocytes in the nucleus pulposus (NP) is unique in that it contains ColVI. While linked to chondrocyte proliferation in cartilage, ColVI's specific role in IVD degeneration is less clear. Our aim was to determine the expression of ColVI in NP cells from degenerative IVDs, along with the effects of soluble ColVI on NP cells. Thus, we compared the expression levels of ColVI in human degenerated IVD samples, along with the effect of soluble ColVI on primary human NP cells. A …

Predictors Of Possible Sarcopenia And The Role Of Psychomotor Frailty In People With Schizophrenia, Pei-Yi Chen, Yia-Ping Liu, Chiu-Yueh Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: People with schizophrenia commonly experience physical health decline, including reduced muscle mass and strength due to medication and a sedentary lifestyle, leading to sarcopenia and greater health risks. In 2019, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) introduced "possible sarcopenia" to promote early detection and prevention.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and predictors of possible sarcopenia in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 216 participants aged 18–65 from two psychiatric teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan through convenience sampling. Structured questionnaires assessed demographics, the Frailty Assessment Scale for Schizophrenia (FASS), Positive and …

From Prevention To Intervention: Delirium Order Set Utilization At Pennsylvania's First American College Of Surgeons (Acs) Geriatric Surgery Verified (Gsv) Hospital, Emma Dela Cruz, Rovinder Sandhu Md, Lauren Curcio Msn, Rn, Gero-Bc, Tcrn, Christina Holub Msn, Crnp, Fnp-C, Gs-C

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.