Digital Commons Network^™

The Heart Of Care: Perceptions And Management Of Pediatric Cancer Across Cultures, Kit Lamison

Theses & ETDs

The current study aimed to determine the interaction between cultural background, perceptions of illness, and family management in Chinese American and White American caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer. The current study was conducted to gain knowledge on how families from different backgrounds respond to the devastating experience of having a child diagnosed with cancer. To achieve this goal, participants were recruited through online communities focused on pediatric cancer and traditional Chinese medicine. A 135-item online survey containing the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (Moss-Morris et al., 2002) and the Family Management Measure (Knafl et al., 2011) was distributed to participants …

Exploring Sarasota’S Local Theatre And Its Historical Structure, Cayla Schimmel

Theses & ETDs

This thesis argues that Asolo Repertory Theatre may not be the only single foundation for other existing and future theaters in Sarasota to exist but serves as a central model due to its unique historical layer, institutional structure, and lasting artistic influence which have helped modern day theaters like Urbanite Theatre to exist in a coexistent city. What originally began as a comparative project focused on identifying the differences between Asolo’s multiple performance venues, including its expansive proscenium Mertz Theatre and Urbanite’s concentrated black box space, led to a shift in perspective. It became an exploration of meaningful relationships that …

Unamuno, Agon, And Communication: Outlines Of A Quixotic Philosophy, Christopher Rodriguez Cristobal

Theses & ETDs

The purpose of the present thesis is to comment on the philosophy of Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo as presented in The Tragic Sense of Life in Men and Peoples, and to propose a possible line for its systematization focusing on the themes of selfhood and communication. I endeavor to do so, on the one hand, by contrasting the articulation of certain lines of thought in the text to their appearance in other of the author’s major works such as Agony of Christianity and Life on Don Quixote & Sancho; and, on the other hand, elaborating on some of the …

Frozen In Motion: A Study Of Theatrical And Figure Skating Show Conventions, Makayla Hunter

Theses & ETDs

This thesis dives into the different worlds of theatrical and figure skating show conventions. Chapter 1 gives a brief history of figure skating as a sport, along with how it functions, and how it developed into show skating. Chapter 2 then discusses the multiple variations of Disney’s Frozen using the theories of Nelson Goodman and Catherine Elgin to showcase how the different genres comprise separate symbolic and artistic worlds. Chapter 3 is my practical interpretation of the theory translating the choreography of ‘All That Jazz’ from the musical Chicago from ensemble to solo and from stage to ice. This thesis …

How Elements Including Location, Time Of Day, And Narrative Structure Influence Audience Engagement And Emotional Connection Within Short Form Video Content, Ashleighe Gibson

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This study examines how TikTok-based digital storytelling communicates urban walking experiences in New York City, focusing on how content strategies influence audience engagement and emotional connection. While both walking and short-form video storytelling have been widely studied, their intersection in shaping perceptions of urban environments remains underexplored. Using a mixed-methods approach, a TikTok account was created to document walking experiences, with content systematically varied by key factors including narrative structure, posting frequency, and environmental context. Engagement metrics, including views, likes, comments, and shares were analyzed alongside qualitative reflections to identify patterns in audience engagement and response. Findings indicate that engagement …

Satiric Modernism By Kevin Rulo, Michael Shallcross

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

Kevin Rulo, Satiric Modernism (Clemson University Press/ Liverpool University Press, 2021), 288pp. £91.60 (Hbk)

Contributors

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Jo Cottrell, Louise Kane

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

"Neutrality—That Was Anathema": The Critique Of Ideology In The Revenge For Love, Joseph Owen

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Wyndham Lewis's "Most Active Colleague": William Harcourt's 1917 Diary, Jim Beach, Rod Rosenquist

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Wyndham Lewis, Time And Western Man By Paul Edwards, Alexander Alfred Scott

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

Wyndham Lewis, Time and Western Man, edited by Paul Edwards (Oxford University Press, 2023), 592pp. £190.00 (Hbk)

Wyndham Lewis And British Art Rock: A Practicological Modernism By Thomas Keller, David A. Wragg

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

Thomas Keller, Wyndham Lewis and British Art Rock: a Practicological Modernism. (Narr Francke Attempto Verlag, 2024), 328pp. £54.00 (Hbk)

The Grotesque Modernist Body: Gothic Horror And Carnival Satire In Art And Writing By David Cruickshank, Benjamin Bruce

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

David Cruickshank, The Grotesque Modernist Body: Gothic Horror and Carnival Satire in Art and Writing (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024), 276pp. £99.00 (Hbk)

Infrastructures Of Control: The Prc Party-State And The Diffusion Of Surveillance Technology To The Global South, Lincoln Bartelt

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

This investigation examines the relationship between Chinese surveillance technology exports and the rise of digital authoritarianism in Ecuador and Zimbabwe from 2007 to 2024. Using a mixed-methods correlational case study design, it constructs a five-dimensional Surveillance Export Intensity Index (SEII) from United Nations Comtrade data under HS codes 8525 and 8517 and compares it against ten indicators of digital repression drawn from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) dataset. Qualitative analysis from Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, and primary source documents provides depth and mechanism to the quantitative findings.

Results indicate that spikes in Chinese surveillance exports correlate most strongly with …

Ego Boost: Recreating The First Stage Of Blue Lock’S Second Selection As A 3d Game In Unity, Izzy Carlson

Theses & ETDs

Upon the completion of a successful animated adaptation, it is common for popular manga series to also receive video game adaptations; however, it is just as common for these games to be far removed from fan expectation. Blue Lock is a dichotomy to this phenomenon, possessing a game adaptation that is generally well received by fans. Nevertheless, the expectation of a game adapted from a football manga would be a game where the player is directly involved in matches; yet in the adaptation, they are merely simulated. The primary objective of the game developed in this thesis, Ego Boost, was …

Market Structure And Strategic Conduct In The U.S. Life Insurance Sector, Kaja Szuba

Theses & ETDs

This thesis applies the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) model to conduct an industry analysis of the United States life insurance sector, integrating foundational economic theory to explain observed market behavior. The U.S. Life Insurance Industry exhibits oligopolistic characteristics, high regulatory barriers to entry, moderate product differentiation, and disciplined pricing behavior. Market share data is drawn from NAIC reports, supplemented by surveys conducted through LIMRA, and company-level financial data. The analysis examines seven key areas: the definition of the industry, the structure of the industry, the conduct of firms within the industry, the performance of the industry, the linkage of SCP constructs to …

New Leader Perspectives On Caring Communications, Miah Graczyk, Dorothy Moore, Andrew Peine, Russell Zwiers, Robert Whisler, Barbara Holmes

Leadership Education Books

This is an ebook project created by the Leadership Education graduate students in the  LDRS 615 Leadership Communication spring 2026 course.

Graduate students enrolled in Leadership Education 615 (Spring 2026) focused their final writing project on the role of caring communication in effective leadership. Drawing from personal leadership experiences, students examined critical gaps in current practices and identified areas in need of growth and refinement.

LDRS Education 615 students argue that emerging leaders play a crucial role in strengthening organizational environments by promoting safety, collaboration, and mutual respect. Thus, New Leaders Perspectives on Caring Communications reinforces the importance of developing …

David Shackleton, British Modernism And The Antropocene: Experiments With Time, Alberto Andrés Calvo

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

David Shackleton,  British Modernism and the Anthropocene: Experiments with Time (Oxford University Press, 2023), 226pp. £65.00 (Hbk)

Modernist Parody: Imitation, Origination, And Experimentation In Early Twentieth-Century Literature By Sarah Davison, Cooper Casale

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

Sarah Davison, Modernist Parody: Imitation, Origination, and Experimentation in Early Twentieth-Century Literature (Oxford University Press, 2023), 300pp. £78.00 (Hbk)

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Graduate Commencement: May 2026, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Undergraduate Commencement: May 2026, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Designing Enhanced Nonlinearity In Plasmonic Devices With Epsilon-Near-Zero Films, Kevin Tran Le

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MS) Theses

The growing demand for energy-efficient optical information processing motivates compact nonlinear photonic devices that can operate at low power. Silicon photonics is a mature platform for linear optical functions, but nonlinear operation remains challenging because of its weak Kerr response, two-photon absorption at telecommunication wavelengths, and limited compatibility with deeply subwavelength plasmonic confinement. This thesis computationally investigates epsilon-near-zero thin films integrated into plasmonic waveguide architectures as a route toward stronger light–matter interaction in compact nonlinear devices.

Two waveguide geometries are examined: a hybrid metal-insulator-metal plasmonic slab waveguide incorporating an ultrathin indium tin oxide epsilon-near-zero layer (5–50 nm), and a dielectric-loaded …

Bard Observer Vol. 24 No.7 (May 2026), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Bard Observer Vol. 24 No.6 (May 2026), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Nicotine On Muscle Stem Cell Growth And Differentiation, Annaka M. Clark

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nicotine exposure has significantly increased due to the rising use of e-cigarettes, posing potential health risks not only to users but also to animals exposed to nicotine vapor. While nicotine has been extensively studied for its effects on human health, its impact on animal muscle cells remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of nicotine on muscle cell cultures, specifically focusing on morphological changes, gene expression, and differentiation. Using C₂C₁₂ myoblasts as a model system, the experiment evaluated how varying concentrations of nicotine influence muscle stem cell growth and regeneration. Findings show that lower …

Exploring The Quality-Of-Life Impact Of Driving For People With Aphasia, Kaleigh Welch, Emily Huddleston

Appalachian Student Healthcare Research Review

Purpose: This study explored how driving ability or loss affects the social, emotional, and practical quality of life of people with aphasia (PWA). Given that driving is a key marker of independence, identity, and community participation, the study aimed to understand how individuals with aphasia experience driving resumption or cessation and how these experiences shape daily functioning and psychosocial well‑being.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven adults with aphasia recruited from a university-based aphasia group. Interviews were completed in a private university clinic room. Open-ended questions elicited participants’ feelings, experiences, and perceptions regarding driving or not driving after aphasia. …

Unmasking Barriers: A Critical Examination Of Systemic Challenges Facing Bipoc Pre-Service Teachers, Nia V. Fratrik

Education Doctorate Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Objective Optimization Framework For Equitable Stormwater Management In Urbanizing Rural Communities, Harry L. Wilson

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to limited technical and financial resources, urbanizing rural communities often face growing stormwater management challenges while undergoing rapid development. This thesis proposes a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) framework that integrates topography-driven stormwater flow behavior, infrastructure placement constraints, and multiple planning objectives to support cost-effective stormwater infrastructure decisions. Our model accounts for budget constraints, gravity-driven surface water flow, infiltration capacity, and spatial contiguity requirements to determine optimal pond placements that balance flood reduction and implementation costs. A synthetic discretized grid representing a small municipality is used to demonstrate model behavior under varying rainfall and topographic conditions. Results demonstrate the framework's …

Investigating The Effects Of Stress On The Passive Transfer Of Antibodies From Colostrum To The Newborn Calf, Audrey F. Dykes

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of the current study was to examine passive transfer of immunoglobulins A (IgA) and G (IgG) to the calf in relation to dam’s fecal cortisol and lactoferrin. In July 2024, late-gestation, Angus crossbred heifers pregnant by artificial insemination (n = 30) were moved to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Stocker Unit and housed in 0.42-ha grass paddocks for each heifer. Calving began in mid-August. Heifers were observed routinely throughout the workday and then at 8 p.m., 12 a.m., and 6 a.m. After calving, the calf was allowed to stand and suckle once then dam sample collection …

The Megachurch As An Idol: How The Church Replaces God With Itself, Meredith Scheiner

Honors Projects

Megachurches in the United States draw massive crowds, bring in swaths of wealth, and are the locations of many controversies within and outside of the Christian faith. As demonstrated by two theologically divergent megachurches, Lakewood Church run by the Osteen family and First Baptist Church of Dallas lead by Robert Jeffress, the growth and current state of these megachurches is preeminently built upon the marriage of the American Dream and Christianity: resulting in overt or subtextual prosperity theology elements. The rise in Christian book and music industries, and advertising and marketing of products within the church are examples of these …