Digital Commons Network^™

Speak It Into Existence: Mind Body And Soul In The African American Prophetic Tradition, William Burgess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project offers the term “Speak It into Existence” as a rhetorical practice inherent in the African American Prophetic Tradition. Moreover “Speak It into Existence” highlights the synergetic and systematic characteristics of the African American Prophetic Tradition which speaks to the entirety of the individual mind, body and soul. Rooted inside the field of prophetic rhetoric, the African American Prophetic Tradition affirms the social, political and sacred realities of prophetic rhetoric. The rhetorical theology of the African American Prophetic Tradition rhetorically transfers the social, political, and sacred realities of prophetic rhetoric into its own systematic foci of liberation, transformation …

The Illocutionary Constitution Of Second Nature: An Interpretive Reconstruction Of Hegel’S Philosophy Of Language, Roland William Carspecken

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers an interpretive reconstruction of Hegel’s philosophy of language. Rich reflections on the nature of language and its significance to human life can be found across Hegel’s works. Many of these reflections strongly suggest that language plays a vital role in Hegel’s philosophical project. Yet surprisingly, Hegel never set down a comprehensive account of his view of language. To this day, it remains a matter of dispute whether Hegel’s writings on language are consistent enough to amount to a single ‘philosophy of language’ and, if they are, what sort of philosophy of language they might offer. In the …

The African American Pulpit And The Reconstruction Of Narrative Ground In The Black Community, Nathaniel Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how the African American pulpit serves as a living wellspring for rebuilding stories, memory, and identity, a task made urgent by centuries of erasure, from the trauma of the Middle Passage to the ongoing reverberations of that violence. My central claim is that African American preaching, when viewed through the insight-rich frameworks of Gadamer, Burke, and Frankl, becomes not just a form of speech, but a lifeline. It helps reclaim "narrative ground": the deep roots of meaning, belonging, and shared purpose that nourish a wounded people and allow genuine flourishing.

The journey unfolds across six movements. Chapter …

“The Right Of Black Folk To Love And Enjoy”: Black Romanticism, Pleasure, And Poetics, 1900-1920, John D. Hadlock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores poetry written at the turn of the twentieth century in order to closely examine what I call the “Black Romantic” impulse of the Harlem and New Negro Renaissances. I argue that Black American poets turned to a Romantic notion of the poet as cultural representative and of poetry as a radical celebration of beauty that disavowed and disputed social ills, namely racist ideologies in America, while simultaneously demanding the right of Black pleasure-taking. However, I also contend that Black American poets of various backgrounds and identities used different poetic, rhetorical, and artistic strategies to elevate the status …

Navigating Barriers: The Career Challenges Of Chinese Non-Stem Graduates In The U.S. Job Market, Dilin Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the career challenges faced by Chinese international graduates from non-STEM fields as they transition from U.S. higher education to the job market. While prior research has largely focused on STEM graduates who benefit from favorable visa policies and high labor demand, limited attention has been given to non-STEM students navigating structural, cultural, and social barriers to employment. Guided by the intellectual capital framework—which encompasses human, cultural, and social capital—this study examined how Chinese non-STEM graduates experience and respond to these barriers within the intersecting contexts of immigration policy, labor market expectations, and cultural adaptation.

Five …

St. John Henry Cardinal Newman’S Mariology: A Distinctively Patristic And English Understanding Of Marian Doctrine And Devotion, Erin Meikle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

St. John Henry Newman’s understanding and reception of the dogma of divine motherhood grew during his pre-Catholic years. This study employs a form of reception theory to argue that Newman exercised reserve and compromise in his discourse on Mary’s identity as the Mother of God during both his evangelical and high church Anglican periods. The first three chapters conduct a historical investigation of Marian devotion and reception of the dogma of divine motherhood in England from the period of the apparition at Walsingham (1061) up until the nineteenth century. The analyses indicate that England had an intense Marian devotion and …

Postoperative Stress Accelerates Atherosclerosis Through Inflammatory Remodeling Of The Hdl Proteome And Impaired Reverse Cholesterol Transport, Dominique M. Boucher, Victoria Lorant, Valerie Rochon, Abigail Carter, Cameron Stotts, My Anh Nguyen, Thomas Laval, Christina Emerton, Nathan Joyce, Nysa Vinayak, Marlena Scaffidi, David Cook, Katey J. Rayner, Rebecca C. Auer, Scott M. Gordon, Mireille I. Ouimet

Physiology Faculty Publications

Over 10 million patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery each year face major cardiovascular complications within 30 days, many due to destabilized atherosclerotic plaques. Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), driven by HDL and Apoa1, protects against plaque progression, but the effects of surgical inflammation on this pathway remain unclear. Using an abdominal laparotomy model in ApoE^−/− mice on a Western diet, we isolated the impact of surgical inflammation without confounding blood loss. Surgery acutely impaired RCT and cholesterol efflux, with inflammatory remodeling of HDL marked by elevated SAA1/2 and reduced Apoa1. Plaques exhibited higher intracellular lipids, PLIN2 expression, and cleaved caspase-3, indicating …

Early Prevention Of Social Isolation And Depression In Digitally Connected Youth In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Kristen Lasker

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The goal of this social change project is to reduce social isolation, depression, and suicide risk among children ages 9 to 11 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, by promoting digital literacy, emotional awareness, and healthy engagement with social media and AI-driven digital environments during a critical stage of social and identity development.

Significant Findings

Social isolation, depression, and suicide risk among youth are increasing public health concerns at the national, state, and local levels, with growing evidence linking these trends to social media use and AI-driven digital environments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023; Twenge et …

Ireland Since 1690, Stephen F. Haller Phd

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Elementary Public School Principals’ Decision Process For Hiring Teachers In The U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, Charmaine Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Academic Self-Efficacy, Intelligence Mindset, And Locus Of Control In Predicting Academic Engagement Among English-Speaking First-Generation First-Year College Students In The United States, Carlene Camacho-Valentine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Managing Occupational Stress In Outpatient Mental Health Care, Georgina Ikpea

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Comparative Effectiveness Of Low Versus High Dose Upadacitinib As Maintenance Treatment In Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Real-World Cohort Study From The United States, Priya Sehgal, Gursimran S. Kochhar, Harpreet Kaur, Himsikhar Khataniar, Raina Shivashankar, James D. Lewis, Aakash Desai

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is limited real-word data comparing efficacy of low dose upadacitinib (UPA) to high dose UPA as maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the U.S. Collaborative Network in adults ≥18 years old with UC who initiated UPA 15 mg compared to 30 mg for maintenance therapy between April 2022 and December 2023. The primary outcome was a composite of intravenous steroid use, oral steroid use, or colectomy from 12 to 60 weeks from the index UPA prescription. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for demographics, co-morbid conditions, laboratory, and IBD medication …

Narrating Injustice: Race, Law, And American Literature, Taylor A. Levine

Honors Scholar Theses

This project examines the relationship between race and law as it is portrayed by works of American literature. It argues that the gap between the legal system’s claims of neutrality and the lived experiences of Black individuals exposes systemic injustice that may be concealed in traditional legal discourse. Texts examined include Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Additionally, Prison Noir, an anthology of narratives written by incarcerated individuals edited by Joyce Carol Oates, is examined to emphasize how modern mass incarceration works to …

Developing Spanish-Language Campus Tours To Enhance Accessibility And Competitive Recruitment At The University Of Mississippi, Caitlyn E. Culpepper

Honors Theses

This thesis proposes and outlines an initiative that would bring Spanish-language campus tours and visit resources to the University of Mississippi, increasing accessibility to the campus visit experience while also providing institutional benefits within a competitive recruitment landscape. Through a review of current literature on Hispanic/Latino students in higher education, institutional enrollment and recruitment data, comparative research on peer institutions, and conversations with university professionals, this project explores the role that language accessibility, family engagement, and campus visits play in the college decision-making process.

Findings suggest that Hispanic/Latino students remain an underrepresented yet rapidly growing population in higher education and …

Design And Production Of A Carbon Fiber Longboard, Jacob T. Williams

Honors Theses

This thesis contains an overview of the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of a carbon fiber long board. The purpose of this capstone was to create a viable product for the real-world market and then determine how to manufacture it at scale with sustainable financial practices. In order to accomplish this task, engineering, accounting, and manufacturing challenges had to be overcome throughout all stages. The production process involved the carbon fiber layup, baking, water jet cutting, and assembly of the carbon fiber longboard. In order to optimize this process, continuous improvement and lean manufacturing problem solving techniques were applied. After a …

Mending The Research-Practice Gap In Psychology: Using Role-Play, Self-Reflection, And Ai Feedback To Enhance Unified Protocol Skill Development, Farryn A. Pauly

Honors Theses

This study explores ways to bridge the research-practice gap in psychology by examining how role-play, structured self-reflections, and AI-generated feedback support the development of Unified Protocol (UP) clinical skills. Using a single-subject design, the researcher simulated therapy sessions with a volunteer acting as the patient, implementing UP modules in sequence, while collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Each session included preparation using the UP, role-play, and pre- and post-session reflection. Performance was evaluated using Lyssn, an AI-based platform that generated Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS; Young & Beck, 1980) scores and detailed feedback on CBT techniques. This was interpreted and …

Manufacturing Processes Of A Wooden Tortilla Press: Idea To Production, Emma J. Palmer, Glenn Walker, Colleen Nolan, Olivia Marque, Benjamin Bird

Honors Theses

This thesis follows the Manufacturing Process of a Wooden Tortilla Press from idea to production following lean manufacturing processes and producing a valuable, and profitable product.

Expanding Expanded Access: A Case Of Onc201 And The Ethical Limitations Of Compassionate Use, Ava C. Hutchings

Honors Theses

This study examines the ethical and structural limitations of the Expanded Access program in the United States, with particular focus on its application to terminal pediatric illness. Although the program is intended to provide patients with life-threatening conditions access to investigational therapies outside of clinical trials, its effectiveness in serving critically ill children remains uncertain. This program is analyzed through careful consideration of regulatory review and ethical theory. Key policies governing Expanded Access are examined alongside scholarly discussions of pediatric autonomy and parental authority.

A case study of ONC201, a now-approved investigational drug, is used to illustrate how Expanded Access …

Agenda (5-8-2026), California State University, San Bernardino - Associated Students, Incorporated

Associated Students, Incorporated records

No abstract provided.

Practicing In Broken Systems: An Advanced Integrated Social Work Portfolio, Andrew Tomt

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents my development as an advanced integrated social worker within behavioral health and crisis response systems. Grounded in the ten CSWE competencies, it illustrates my progression from foundational generalist practice to a more complex, systems-oriented approach that integrates ethical decision-making, trauma-informed care, research-informed practice, and policy awareness. Drawing on my practicum experience in Mobile Crisis Assessment and Triage (MCAT) in Spokane, Washington, the portfolio demonstrates my ability to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate across micro, mezzo, and macro levels. It highlights my commitment to social justice, cultural humility, and least-restrictive care, while also addressing the challenges of working …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio - Rooted In Relationship: A Journey Toward Integrated, Justice-Oriented Social Work Practice, Elisabeth Noel Marshall

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio represents my professional development throughout the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Grounded in systems and ecological perspectives, trauma-informed practice, and the Just Practice framework, this work demonstrates the integration of clinical, mezzo, and macro social work practice across diverse settings, including therapeutic residential care, collegiate wellbeing, assisted living, and substance use treatment.

Through direct practice experiences, policy analysis, program evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement, this portfolio highlights the development of competencies aligned with the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Particular emphasis is placed on relationship-centered practice, justice-oriented advocacy, …

Msw Portfolio, Jasmine J. Klingaman

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This Master of Social Work (MSW) portfolio presents a comprehensive demonstration of professional growth and mastery of the ten core competencies as aligned with the standards of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Department of Social Work. Through selected artifacts and critical reflection, the portfolio illustrates the integration of knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes essential for advanced integrated practice. Emphasis is placed on ethical and professional behavior, engagement with diversity and difference, and the application of research-informed and evidence-based practice. The portfolio further highlights competence in policy practice, engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation across …

Professional Portfolio: Becoming A Justice-Centered Practitioner, Akemi Nakagawa

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This professional portfolio reflects my learning through this program, including the knowledge and skills I have developed, how my learning has been shaped by the people I have learned from and alongside, and what I will carry forward into future practice. I share my developing theoretical orientation that guides my thinking and practice, grounded predominantly in the Reproductive Justice framework, Critical Social Work, Janet Finn’s Just Practice framework, and by the work and wisdom of Paulo Freire–particularly his pedagogy of popular education.

This portfolio also reflects my ongoing development as a social worker who is committed to advancing intersectional justice …

Bryan Bandes V. Transunion Llc

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Maternal Opioid Use And Hepatitis C Infection Disrupt The Placental Immune Landscape And Structure, Heather E. True, Brianna M. Doratt, Sheridan B. Wagner, Delphine C. Malherbe, Nathan R. Shelman, Mahdi Eskandarian Boroujeni, Cynthia Cockerham, John M. O'Brien, Ilhem Messaoudi

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) poses substantial risks to maternal and fetal health. These adverse outcomes are believed to be mediated, in part, by changes in placental structure and function; however, few studies have addressed this question. Here, we utilized flow cytometry, histology, and spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to uncover the impact of OUD on placental tissues. Given that half of individuals with chronic OUD contract hepatitis C (HCV), we further stratified our findings by maternal HCV status. Our results indicate that OUD leads to higher incidence of vascular malperfusion accompanied by increased levels of inflammatory markers and dysregulated secretion …

Brief Reviews Of Books And Products: Theses On The Metaphors Of Digital-Textual History, David Advent

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Theses on the Metaphors of Digital-Textual History is an exploration of seven key metaphors that Martin Paul Eve, Professor of Literature, Technology, and Publishing at Birkbeck College, University of London, argues have structured our cultural and linguistic understandings of the world around us. Eve organizes the book around eight chapters (“theses”), with each metaphor comprising a separate chapter. The theses are connected thematically in pairs, save for the closing chapter. Eve decodes each metaphor into its basic elements and interweaves the complex digital and textual histories behind each metaphor. Overwhelmingly, Eve wants readers to recognize how striking the parallels are …

Practicing What I Value: Growth And Identity In Social Work, Janelle Diane Schmit

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio showcases my growth as a social worker during the MSW program, highlighting both my academic accomplishments and practicum experiences. It contains artifacts that illustrate my proficiency in the key areas of social work practice. Guided by my personal and professional values, my work focuses on empowering individuals and communities in a variety of settings.

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Tara L. Beckman Ballis

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio demonstrates my professional growth throughout the MSW program through the application of social work competencies. It includes coursework, practicum experiences, research participation, advocacy, and volunteer work. Areas of focus include Wellbeing Support Coaching, cultural responsiveness, reproductive justice, maternal health advocacy, Indigenous research methods, and strengths-based practice.

Integrative Synchronicity: Learning To Hold The Space Between, Kelsey M. Bogumill

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.