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Text as textile : Latin acrostic poetry expressed in weaving.
No full textThis thesis is a two-part investigation of the visuality of Latin acrostic poetry hinging on my discovery of a hitherto-unnoticed acrostic at Propertius 1.3.17-23. In the first portion of the thesis, I argue that this acrostic ironically subverts the speaker’s claims of unwavering devotion to his beloved and highlights the poem’s emphasis on sight. The second portion of the thesis consists of a fine-art series of seven woven artworks, Texta, responding to this research and exploring the multidimensional nature of the acrostic as both language and visual object. The series draws from a classical connection between texts and textiles to establish a mode of viewing analogous to the process of reading. The result is a unique consummation of the written and visual arts in which meaning takes shape through a process of successive discovery
Characterizing the importance of microglial Qki in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
No full textAlzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid plaque deposition, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, play a key role in the clearance of amyloid plaques through phagocytosis, but the regulation of this process at the molecular level in the AD context remains poorly understood. Quaking (Qki), an RNA-binding protein, has been identified as a regulator of microglial phagocytosis, but its role in AD remains to be determined. In this study, the function of Qki in the progression of AD is examined with immunofluorescence staining of human AD brain and conditional microglial Qki deletion in 5xFAD mice. We found reduced Qki expression in microglia within high-plaque regions and that Qki depletion exacerbated AD pathology and symptoms. These findings suggest that Qki supports microglial phagocytosis and mitigates AD pathology. Understanding Qki’s role in microglial function may reveal novel therapeutic targets for AD treatment
Balancing act : examining the impact of work-family policies on women ; a survey for HR professionals.
No full textWomen’s position in the American labor force has evolved gradually from homemakers and caretakers to leaders and CEOs. The feminist movement has played a pivotal role in empowering women, enabling them to transform the workforce, leading to the implementation of new, progressive policies aimed at fostering inclusivity in corporate spaces. This thesis provides a comprehensive examination of these policies, highlighting their transformative impact, particularly on work-family initiatives, and their significant effect on women’s work-life balance. It sheds light on the gradual progression towards equitable treatment by analyzing the historical evolution of women’s participation in the labor force and the development of legal frameworks. Additionally, this thesis explores the multifaceted complexities of pregnancy discrimination and persistent gendered expectations that often permeate corporate environments. It identifies opportunities for improvement and addresses pressing issues regarding the differential treatment of parents returning to work following childbirth. Ultimately, it emphasizes the indispensable nature of Human Resource (HR) professionals as catalysts for driving meaningful change toward a more equitable work environment through the development of an HR Department, assessing employee needs, educating employees, and creating support systems
From punchline to progress : the evolution of mental health stigmatization in television sitcoms.
No full textAmerican media has shaped the discourse surrounding mental health issues for decades, particularly within the world of film and television. By reinforcing negative stereotypes, American film and television have contributed to the stigmatization of mental health in popular culture. These pessimistic notions are often unfounded in the world of research and can augment feelings of isolation and self-disgust amid individuals dealing with mental health issues. However, with intentional efforts to initiate honest conversations surrounding these difficult topics, creators in the film and television industries can promote more authentic mental health representations in their work. Particularly within the television sitcom industry, realistic depictions of such issues have been far too sparse, often lending dramatized plots and characters to humor rather than realism. In this thesis, I discuss shortcomings within the television industry regarding mental health depictions, such as the widely criticized series "13 Reasons Why". I then discuss how, within the last few years, representations of individuals struggling with mental health have become increasingly realistic, particularly through the sitcom "Ted Lasso". While the industry certainly has room yet to grow, I conclude through this extensive literature review of various scholarly articles and media critiques that progress continues toward authentic mental health representations. Analyzing this progress allows those within the fields of psychology, film, and television to adopt a more well-rounded perspective of the ramifications of extensively consuming certain mass media content
Environmental rhetoric : how climate communication can be tailored to change the world’s mind.
No full textThis thesis examines the limitations of traditional climate communication strategies and explores how tailored, value-based messaging can improve public engagement with climate change. By analyzing the intersection of ideological worldviews, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic factors, the research reveals that purely scientific messaging often fails to resonate with skeptical or marginalized audiences. Using a comparative framework of climate rhetoric and survey data, this study evaluates the effectiveness of alternative framing methods across diverse populations. Special emphasis is placed on faith-based environmental messaging, political identity, and foundation-centered appeals as tools to increase climate action support. The findings suggest that strategic reframing, aligned with cultural, spiritual, and political values, can transform climate change from a polarizing issue into a shared moral responsibility. Ultimately, the study provides a foundation for future communication strategies that aim to unify public understanding and support of climate policy by integrating emotional, moral, and social dimensions into climate discourse
The effects of exercise mimicry shear stress on the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells : an in vitro study.
No full textAngiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones and is essential for vascular homeostasis and the progression of various diseases. A deeper understanding of angiogenesis is essential for advancing research on vascular diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that hemodynamic stimuli, such as shear stress from blood flow, significantly influence the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. Blood vessels experience varying shear stress depending on their location—laminar shear stress (LSS) in straight regions and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) at bifurcations or curvatures, where disturbed flow may promote plaque formation. Increased LSS, such as during exercise, has been demonstrated to enhance endothelial function. Functional MRI studies have shown that exercise increases the magnitude of LSS and reduces regions exposed to OSS. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of exercise-mimicking LSS and OSS on angiogenic potential in HUVECs. Cells were subjected to LSS and OSS for 24 hours using a rocker and orbital shaker, respectively. Wound healing and tube formation assays were than conducted to assess angiogenic potential. The findings showed enhanced angiogenic parameters under LSS, though not statistically significant. These results provide valuable insights into the influence of hemodynamic stimuli on angiogenesis, which could inform future research on vascular diseases
Recovering the lost sense of knowledge : the disappearance and reintroduction of Aristotle's epistemological ΝΟΥΣ.
No full textWhat does it mean to know? Epistemology is one the oldest philosophical fields, and its study has been marked by major shifts in learning throughout the centuries. The enlightenment shook the foundations of knowledge and offered a new philosophical way forward, concurrent and congruent with the dawn of the scientific method. Yet, its advances were accompanied by hindrances. The Enlightenment transformed natural science for the better, but it also left a crucial part of knowledge behind: noetic, inductive knowing was reduced to scientific hypothesis and otherwise shrunken and forgotten. I trace the development of this loss of confidence in inductive knowing, identifying its origins in the thought of Francis Bacon and René Descartes, and describe the nature and importance of Aristotle’s epistemological sense of nous (νούς). Throughout the thesis, I argue that noetic induction must be reintroduced into our conception of knowledge. I draw my original formulation of nous from Aristotle and refine it through the thought of catholic intellectuals Bernard Lonergan and Luigi Giussani. After fully re-developing an understanding of noetic induction, I synthesize this understanding into reformed principles for thinking about knowledge. I conclude by highlighting the dramatic consequences that the return of nous might have both in and out of the academy
"All you've done to me" : a novella.
Get PDFThis novella, All You’ve Done to Me, explores the lasting psychological impact of childhood abuse and familial separation. It follows a man reflecting on his turbulent childhood, marked by an abusive father and separation from his siblings while in foster care. His father’s death forces him to confront buried trauma as he reunites with his siblings after more than twenty years. Through literary storytelling and research in psychology and social work, this novella examines the emotional toll, systemic challenges, and personal reckoning of such experiences. The narrative concludes with deeply personal letters from each sibling to their abusive father, revealing their anger, resilience, and struggles with forgiveness. To emphasize the universality of these issues both in America and beyond, the characters and settings are intentionally given common names, highlighting how these experiences impact countless individuals behind closed doors
Physical therapists’ perceptions of patients’ mindset and its effect on rehabilitation outcomes.
No full textThis study examines physical therapists’ perceptions of patients’ mindset and how their mindset impacts rehabilitation outcomes. It explores three key questions: (1) How do physical therapists perceive the influence of a patient’s mindset on the effectiveness of rehabilitation outcomes? (2) What strategies do physical therapists utilize to address and potentially shift patients from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset? (3) How do physical therapists differentiate between the characteristics of patients with a fixed and growth mindset? And how do mindset differences affect treatment planning? Three physical therapists from various clinical settings participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed qualitatively. Therapists viewed a growth mindset as most effective, using conversational strategies and short-term goals for fixed-mindset patients, while ensuring growth-mindset patients progressed at a controlled pace. The study highlights the importance of understanding patient mindset to optimize rehabilitation. Further research is needed to incorporate patient perspectives and deepen the understanding of how mindset influences rehabilitation success
From 1776 to 1861 : the origins and development of Antebellum Southern illiberalism.
No full textThis thesis examines both the genesis and development of antebellum Southern illiberalism, with a view to responding to the claim of Dr. Louis Hartz that, thanks to America’s basically Lockean worldview, Southern conservatism was a largely confused and fraudulent affair. It ultimately contends, contra Hartz, that the South’s flirtations with Burke and other reactionary thinkers were products of a distinct political culture, one which was conversant with Lockean ideas but, in time, came to reject or qualify many of them. To demonstrate these claims, this thesis provides a survey of Southern intellectual history, drawing not only from economic and anthropological data but also from the lives and contributions of the antebellum South’s most prominent political thinkers. It is the author’s hope that, through this study, readers will come to see the forces that guided the South from 1776 to 1861