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Evaluating The Clinical Effectiveness Of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review Of Outcome Studies, Gregory Bendau

Theses and Dissertations

The present review systematically examined current outcome studies on psychodynamic psychotherapy to build a comprehensive understanding of its overall effectiveness. The review synthesizes 43 outcome studies, including randomized controlled trials (n = 26) and quasi-experimental designs (n = 17), across diverse durations, settings, and clinical presentations. The review included quantitative, peer-reviewed studies written in English and published between 2015 and 2024 that measured the treatment outcomes of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Results showed that 41 studies (95%) reported significant symptom improvements for psychological conditions and disorders, including mood, personality, anxiety, somatic symptom, trauma, eating, mixed disorders, and general psychological distress. Effect sizes …

Ai: A Path Forward In Education - Teachers’ Insights On Implementation, Challenges, And Future Innovations, Mercedes Cordoba Meeks

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon permeating the fabric of society and transforming the course of culture and commerce (Kishor et al., 2023; Moore, 2024). A review of the extant literature indicates that while many industries have seen significant innovations due to the infusion of AI, the field of education has witnessed a technological evolution inspired by AI-based tools and strategies (Bessen, 2018; W. M. Lim et al., 2023). Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) has a history that parallels the development of AI. AIED has shown steady growth and influence in educational programs around the world, with the growth …

Empowered Creation: Investigating Business Acumen And Technological Engagement Among Female Artists As Creative Entrepreneurs, Heggins-Jackson Tracey

Theses and Dissertations

The most powerful vehicle for communication and change is art. Creative endeavors have served humanity as a source of motivation and inspiration, as agents for shaping meaning and, most importantly, evoking empathy. Unfortunately, women in the arts face significant challenges due to deeply entrenched stereotypes, social expectations, societal norms, and gender-related misinformation, which result in destructive narratives. Paradoxically, this marginalized population possesses the skills and insights needed to address disparities through authentic narrative dissemination. Research indicates a limited focus on the contributions and pathways of women in the creative arts industry as entrepreneurs, explicitly highlighting their genuine needs conveyed through …

Generative Ai's Impact On Student's Motivation And Well-Being In Online Graduate Programs: A Phenomenological Study Through Self-Determination Theory, Sohee Linda Lee

Theses and Dissertations

While higher education has increasingly embraced emerging technologies, limited research explores how adult learners at the graduate level navigate AI-driven feedback, content generation, and learning supports, particularly within online programs that require self-regulation and advanced academic rigor. To address this gap, this qualitative, phenomenological study examined how graduate students enrolled in online degree programs experience and interpret the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, in their coursework. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study focused on how the use of GenAI tools may influence students’ perceptions on autonomy (volition and choice in tasks), competence (confidence in academic …

Characterization Of The Solid-State Bonding For Simulated Charge And Seam Welds In The Porthole Die Extrusion Process, Randall L. Bowers

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The isothermal (ISO-T) compression configuration is ideal for utilizing as a material input of flow stress at temperature and strain rate in models of the porthole die extrusion process due to the isothermal nature of the test. Micro-tensile testing was conducted to validate the solid-state welding integrity of the ISO-T samples at various temperatures and strain rates. Results of the mechanical testing were correlated with fractography and microstructural evaluations of the welds to confirm bonding behavior. Both clean interface conditions and oxidation and lubrication layers were evaluated to simulate the difference of seam and charge welds in the process. Results …

Computational Modeling Of The Heat Treatment Of White Oak Bound For Spirit Maturation, Kate E. Mclarney-Popham

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Maturation of distilled spirits in white oak barrels is a long standing practice known to have great impact on spirit character. Much of this impact can be controlled by the thermal modification of the barrel, since thermal degradation of the wood determines what wood compounds are available to interact with the spirit during maturation. In this work, a computational model for the thermal degradation of wood was developed and, with flavor compound data from literature, was used to investigate the effect of heat treatment on lignin-derived flavor compounds. The computational model in this work accounted for three solid species, three …

The Optimization And Manufacturing Scale-Up Of Polymeric Membranes Using Eco-Friendly Solvents, David Lu

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Polymeric membranes have become a prominent technology applied in water filtration due to the lower cost, energy input, and simpler manufacturing process relative to other separation technologies. However, the environmental impact of polymeric membrane fabrication remains a hindrance due to the use of hazardous solvents derived from fossil fuels (e.g., DMAc, NMP, DMF) that pose a risk to the environment and human health. Whereas recent studies have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of polymeric membrane derived from eco-friendly solvents, the next steps of optimizing and upscaling the production of these membranes remains understudied and a gap between lab-scale studies and the path …

Combinatorial Thin Film Approach To Accelerate Materials Discovery: Development Of Nanoporous And Bulk Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Tibra Das Gupta

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) have garnered significant attention in materials science due to their potential for exhibiting a combination of desirable properties stemming from their unique configurational entropy. While early research focused on equiatomic compositions, recent studies have indicated that non-equiatomic MPEAs may offer superior mechanical performance. However, the identification of optimal non-equiatomic compositions remains challenging due to the vast compositional space and the reliance on time-consuming and computationally expensive methods. This dissertation presents a combinatorial thin film approach as a rapid and efficient strategy for discovering two types of materials: nanoporous and bulk MPEAs.

The first study explores the …

Microstructural Characterization Of Complex Metal Alloy Systems With A Focus On Electron Microscopy, Alexandra Allamon

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs)/high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of materials that provide novel and superior combinations of properties, with promise for use in challenging application areas that many of the current established materials cannot fit. With a higher number of constituent elements, many of the newly created alloys are compositionally complex in nature, known to contain combinations of relatively soft FCC phases, hard BCC phases, and, in some cases, even harder intermetallic phases. Microstructural study of these new materials is essential to understanding the enhanced properties they may possess, but their complexity can make this study much more challenging …

Ion Hydration In Bulk And Nanoconfined Water: Insights From Machine Learning Force Fields, Zachary D. Baker

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Understanding ionic hydration remains a central challenge in physical chemistry and materials science, as the interactions between ions and water molecules govern diverse phenomena ranging from electrolyte transport to selective ion separation. While experimental techniques have provided invaluable insights into solvation energetics and coordination numbers, they often lack atomistic resolution, particularly under nanoscale confinement where direct measurement becomes infeasible. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can bridge this gap; however, conventional classical force fields are limited by their simplified, fixed functional forms and empirical parameterization, whereas ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) achieves higher accuracy at the expense of severe computational cost and …

Understanding The Influence Of Applied Magnetic Field On Aluminum Alloys: Implications On Strength, Precipitate Development And Diffusion Of Solutes, Damilola David Alewi

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The processing of certain metals and alloys under magnetic fields presents a promising yet underexplored frontier for controlling microstructure alongside improving physical and mechanical properties. Magnetic fields can be strategically applied at different stages of materials processing, from melting and solidification to subsequent heat treatments to achieve targeted properties in materials. Although magnetic fields have been found to aid changes in microstructural evolution and phase equilibria in ferrous materials, there is limited application of this technique in non-ferrous material systems. This dissertation aims at contributing to the understanding of the influence of magnetic field on the mechanical properties and solid-state …

Frontmatter (Volume 45, Issue 1), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Admiring Ukrainian Authors, Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"These personal stories, filled with such profound suffering and yet also extraordinary resilience, reflect the reality that many of our Ukrainian colleagues live with daily. Despite the constant threat to their lives, many Ukrainian scholars continue to write and contribute to academic discourse. Their commitment to their work and their unwavering dedication to knowledge in the face of such adversity is a testament to the power of the human spirit."

Ukrainian Scientists In The War: Surviving And Being Useful, Nataliia Ishchuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began in 2014 and escalated with the full-scale invasion in 2022, has wrought profound and tragic changes in Ukrainian society. The impact on scholars and university educators has been particularly significant, as they face numerous challenges affecting their safety, personal lives, and professional activities...Currently, the majority of scholars and university educators remain in Ukraine. Their conscious decision to endure the hardships of war alongside their people reflects their deep commitment to their homeland."

The Religious Policy Of The Russian Empire In The Captured Territories Of The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (On The Example Of The Volyn Province At The End Of The 18th-The First Half Of The 19th Century), Andrii Shevchuk, Oksana Markevych

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article investigates the peculiarities of the implementation of the religious policy of the Russian Empire in the territories that were captured as a result of the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, on the example of the Volyn province in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The role of local administration, in particular governors, in the implementation of the imperial confessional policy and the mechanisms of integration of the Orthodox Church into the state apparatus are analyzed. It is established that after the November Uprising of 1830-1831, religious policy was radicalized, which manifested itself in the forced liquidation of …

The Image Of Ukrainian Protestantism As An Attempt Of Self-Analysis: Results Of The Expert Survey 2018-2024, Maksym Balaklytskyi, Olga Polumysna

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the changes in Ukrainian Protestantism during 2018-2024 based on expert surveys. The authors explore the adaptive strategies of Protestant communities in response to the challenges of war and social transformations. The introduction of new forms of ministry, such as mobile churches, has supported believers in times of crisis. Particular attention is given to the consequences of the armed conflict, including community losses, infrastructure destruction, displacement of members, and the humanitarian activities of churches. The role of Protestant communities in enhancing Ukraine’s social resilience is highlighted, along with the importance of the legislative recognition of chaplains, which legitimizes …

Frontmatter (Volume 45, Issue 4), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Operation “Prophets” Or Integration Of Pentecostals Into The Structures Of The Aucecb By The Nkgb-Kgb, Александр Коротаев

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The purpose of this article is to expose the work of the Soviet special services, which was directly aimed at incorporating the Pentecostals of the USSR into the structure of the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians and Baptists (AUCEC&B). It reveals the mechanisms, forms, and methods used by the Soviet special services (NKGB-KGB) to achieve this incorporation. It has been proven that this process was purely coercive in nature and was directly intended to eliminate Pentecostals as a denomination, using Evangelical Christians and Baptists (ECB) as a means to that end.

"Caesaropapism" In The Religious And Political Struggle For The Restoration Of The Orthodox Church In The 20th And Early 21st Centuries: Parallels Between The Roc And The Ukrainian Church, Bohdan Synchak, Iryna Vakulova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article characterizes the phenomenon of caesaropapism as a model of state governance in which the church and its structures are entirely dependent on secular authority. Within the context of the stated issue, the primary periods and contexts of the religious and political struggle for the restoration of the Orthodox Church in the 20th and early 21st centuries are identified. Parallels are drawn between the struggle for the legitimization of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC)'s fight for self-governance and independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. In the church-historical context, the article describes several declassified KGB …

Transformations Of Religious Consciousness Of Ukrainians In The 1990s, Bogdan Sulyatytskyy

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyses the transformation of religious consciousness of Ukrainians during the first decade of the post-Soviet period. It identifies the socio-cultural, economic and political factors that influenced the formation of a new attitude of Ukrainian citizens towards religion. It is noted that in the 1990s, a distinction between ethnic and religious identity occurred in the religious consciousness of Ukrainians, which contributed to the rapid transformation of Ukraine from a historically Christian (mainly Orthodox) country into a poly-confessional one. During this period, new syncretic mental structures were formed, radically different from the established traditional religious ones, in which elements of …

Muslim Communities In Post-Communist Bulgaria (Challenges And Perspectives For Communication Between Orthodox Christians And Muslims), Klara Toneva

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The paper explores the challenges and prospects for communication between Orthodox Christians and Muslims in post-communist Bulgaria. After providing a brief overview of the Bulgarian ethnic model, it presents the current situation of Muslim communities in the country. The paper examines the ongoing processes within these communities and the different paths they may take: adherence to tradition, re-Islamization, secularization, or religious radicalization. It outlines the prerequisites and causes that contribute to manifestations of religious radicalization. The integration of Muslim communities into Bulgarian society, the role of religious education, and the presence of a strong spiritual elite are emphasized as key …

The Challenge Of Implementing Social Justice In A Developing Market Economy: The Case Of Slovakia, Michal Valčo, Kamil Kardis

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Our paper explores the challenges of implementing social justice in Slovakia, a developing market economy with a complex historical background. We provide an overview of Slovakia’s political and socio-economic transformations in the 20th century, focusing on the transition from a state-planned to a market economy (1990–2000). While analyzing contemporary challenges, we explore the role of Michael Novak’s democratic capitalism and Catholic social teaching as moral frameworks for fostering a society with a high level of social justice and cohesion. These approaches, centered on human dignity, solidarity, and ethical entrepreneurship, are contrasted and complemented with Amartya Sen’s capability approach, which offers …

Faith, Freedom, And Friction: The Intersection Of Intimate Citizenship And Religion In Central And Eastern Europe, Evelina Juchnevičiūtė Ms.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Intimate citizenship, a dimension of citizenship that emerged from the second wave of feminism, refers to rights related to intimate life, including women’s reproductive rights, same-sex relationships, and other related rights. In Central and Eastern Europe, these rights have been shown to come into conflict with the region’s deeply embedded religious values that have historically shaped societal norms around reproduction, gender, and sexuality. The present study employed a mixed-method systematic literature review, combining bibliometric and thematic analyses, to examine academic literature on the intersection of intimate citizenship and religion in Central and Eastern Europe. The review covered the period 1990-2024 …

The Battle For The Church Of St. Francis In A Town In The Czech Republic Between “Hipster-Culture” And “Tradition” - Discourses In Religiosity, Youth, And Intra-Parish Civic Engagement – A Case Study, Jan Váně, Jan Kaňák

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The relationship between civic engagement and religiosity is an already relatively researched and described phenomenon. However, insufficient attention is paid to the phenomenon of civic engagement within the parish, and moreover in the context of various discourses of religiosity In the article, we present an answer to the question: How do various discourses and their dominant positions influence Intra-Parish Civic Engagement of Youths? To formulate the answer, we use elements of constructivist grounded theory. Based on the analysis of 14 interviews and 36 documents, we describe the course of the process of dominance of traditional and hipster-culture discourse, which played …

Patriarch Kirill Of Moscow And All Russia: A True Patriarch Or A False One, A Senior Cleric Or A Senior Politician Of The Russian Federation? The Russian Patriarch And The War In Ukraine, Dilyan Nikolchev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper focuses on the behavior of the current Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) in the context of the Russia’s military aggression against sovereign Ukraine – a religious leader who fully supports the war policy of the Kremlin. The pro-war and pro-Putin views and messages of Patriarch Kirill proved him in the eyes of the Orthodox world more as a false Patriarch and a politician than as the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. To a large extent, the Russian political narratives and ideology of the “Russian Peace” and “Holy Rus” doctrine are a product of the senior leadership of …

The Transformation Of Religious Consciousness And Spiritual Practices Of Ukrainians During The Soviet Anti-Religious Campaign In The Khrushchev Thaw Period, Galyna Starodubets Doctor Of Historical Sciences (Dr. Hab. In History), Professor, Oleksandra Stasiuk Doctor Of Historical Sciences (Dr. Hab. In History)

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the changes in religious consciousness and daily religious practices of Soviet Ukrainians during the so-called Khrushchev Thaw, based on sociological interviews. It is emphasized that despite the intensified atheistic propaganda and the closure of churches, religion remained a significant factor in people's lives. Religious beliefs were deeply embedded in the Ukrainian worldview, shaping their way of thinking and everyday life, which, in turn, influenced the norms and patterns of religious behavior. Risking harassment from their superiors or even losing their jobs, people continued to attend services, baptize their children, and celebrate religious holidays. Family upbringing traditions played …

Saint Paisius Of Hilendar – The Bulgarian Jesus, Son Of Sirach, Ivaylo Naydenov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Despite a temporal gap of nearly twenty centuries, a comparative analysis of Jesus, Son of Sirach, and Saint Paisius of Hilendar reveals striking thematic and ideological parallels. Both authors, writing in times of cultural and political upheaval, sought to reaffirm religious and national identity in response to external pressures—Hellenization in the case of Sirach and Greek influence within the Ottoman Empire for Paisius. Their works emphasize wisdom, historical consciousness, and spiritual resilience as tools for social and national revival. By situating their narratives within broader historical and theological frameworks, they provide models of cultural resistance that transcend their immediate contexts.

Revival Of Tengrism In Kazakhstan As Ancient Belief Of The Kazakh Nation: Prospects And Challenges, Jolaman Bulan, Tussipkhan Imammadi, Aiymzhan Ryskiyeva, Asset Kuranbek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This research investigates the resurgence of Tengrism, an ancestral belief system native to Kazakhstan. This traditional religion, rooted in ancient history, encompasses an array of beliefs and rituals that focus on the worship of celestial deity known as Tengri and various forces of nature. It provides a thorough analysis of how public attitudes towards Tengrism and its role within the cultural fabric of the Kazakh people have shifted. The paper also addresses the circumstances that have facilitated Tengrism's revival in the independent nation of Kazakhstan, including issues of national identity, cultural heritage, and spiritual rejuvenation. Furthermore, it explores a range …

Letter To The Editors, Oleksandr Korotaiev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Letter to the Editor of Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe (OPREE)

Frontmatter (Volume 45, Issue 7), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.