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Transcending Dichotomies: Hilma af Klint\u27s Confluence of Science and Spiritualism in Atom and the Tree of Knowledge
No full textThis dissertation examines the artistic abstraction and the convergence of scientific inquiry and spiritual venture as exemplified in the works of early modern artist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944). Influenced by scientific investigation and her encounters with mediumship, af Klint embarked on a creative odyssey that transcends traditional classifications within the art canon. Rejecting the idea that art, spirituality, and science are inherently separate spheres, af Klint endeavored to reconcile these apparently disparate domains in her body of work. Focusing on af Klint’s series Atom and the Tree of Knowledge, this study investigates the intricate interplay between organic and geometrical forms in her visual lexicon. By contextualizing af Klint’s art within the framework of early twentieth-century scientific advancements, particularly those related to the atom and quantum physics, this research elucidates the profound connections between her artistic vision and the evolving comprehension of the natural world. Through a meticulous examination of af Klint’s pioneering use of symbolism, this dissertation provides fresh insights into her revolutionary contributions to Abstract Art and her enduring significance as a visionary thinker. Transcending conventional dichotomies and embracing the interconnectedness of art, spirituality, and science, af Klint beckons a quest for new dimensions of understanding and imagination embodied in her distinctive diagrams and motifs. Moreover, this study enriches the acknowledgment of Hilma af Klint\u27s complex impact on the narrative of art history by situating her work within broader discourse, including gender dynamics, cultural memory, and design analyses
Departure From Neutrality: Normative Europeanization, Strategic Alignment, and the Path-Dependent Case of Post-Cold War Swedish Integration Into NATO
No full textThis dissertation explores the post-Cold War Swedish government’s transition from a long-held policy of neutrality, towards its formal declaration to seek military alignment through NATO accession in 2022. This will be explained by analyzing the evolution of its foreign and defense policies by synthesizing the following interrelated concepts: path dependence, Sweden’s normative Europeanization, strategic alignment, and asa bridging function, the gradual reassertion of NATO’s role as post-Cold War Europe’s primary vehicle for collective defense. Previous analysis on the normative Europeanization of Swedish policies is limited to the 1990s and lacks a deep focus on Sweden’s defense policy. Thus, despite serving as a potential explanatory framework for the evolution of Swedish government attitudes towards military alignment, the concept remains underutilized. At the same time, a structured analysis of Swedish cooperation with NATO through measurable framework of ordinal strategic alignment, and the theoretical concept of path dependence as captured by increasing returns, provides the ability to analyze the cause and effect of qualitative and quantitative increases in Swedish-NATO integration. Swedish membership in the European Union is also analyzed, particularly as the EU’s security policies broke down ideational barriers that paved the way for a growing acceptance of alignment. Thus, this dissertation provides a structured analysis of Sweden’s overall, evolving foreign policy views away from neutrality as a consequence of normative Europeanization, and Sweden’s increasing acceptance of the centrality of NATO to European defense through path dependent-focused analysis of its changing involvement within NATO structures
The Reading Wars: Ideological and Pedagogical Conflicts Ignited by the Writings of Rudolf Flesch
No full textThis dissertation seeks to answer the question: what were the social and cultural effects of Rudolf Flesch’s thoughts and writings on late 20th-century American literacy education? The purpose is to provide an understanding and articulation of the cultural and educational ramifications of Rudolph Flesch’s books Why Johnny Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It (1955) and Why Johnny Still Can’t Read: A New Look at the Scandal of Our Schools (1981). To achieve this goal an understanding and articulation of the cultural and educational ramifications of Rudolf Flesch’s books will be offered. This qualitative study will look at the history, arguments, and productive consequences of this ideological and pedagogical debate. An examination of the current state of reading education and recommendations for further study will also be discussed. This dissertation is limited to reading instruction in the United States. And while a history of reading instruction will be offered, it is limited to mostly northern states. Many factors influence who receives reading instruction and the type of reading instruction they receive, including race, gender, and socio-economic background. This dissertation is not an attempt to answer those complex questions. Rather, its goal is to examine the effect of two of the most influential books on reading instruction in the United States from the mid-twentieth century until present: Rudolf Flesch’s Why Johnny Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It (1955) and Why Johnny Still Can’t Read: A New Look at the Scandal of Our Schools (1981) and how Flesch’s writings outlined the history and flaws of a specific method of reading instruction and proposed a solution to the current literacy crisis. An overview of the history of literacy instruction and the methods used from the 1600s to the publication of Flesch’s first book in 1955 will lay the foundation for the study. An understanding of the early life and writings of Rudolf Flesch will provide insight into who he was and what made him an expert in literacy. Doing so will provide the basis for an in-depth analysis of his best-selling books, which will lead to an examination of the ramifications and consequences of his writings on American literacy education. A review of the current state of literacy instruction and recommendations for further study will be offered in the conclusion
Chief Talking Points: A Case Study of the Fourteen Chiefs of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, From September 1, 1977, to July 20, 2015
No full textOn September 1, 1977, after sixteen years of not communicating, the United States and Cuba agreed to limited diplomatic relations. This led to the establishment of the United States Interests Section (USINT) in Havana, where the former U.S. Embassy—which closed in 1961—once stood. The USINT operated in that capacity until the U.S. Embassy reopened under President Obama on July 20, 2015. From 1977 to 2015, Fourteen Chiefs of Mission (COMs) led the USINT. This cohort of diplomats and the institution itself were the research focus for this dissertation.
This qualitative multiple-case study examined the experiences, relationships, and perspectives of the COMs over thirty-eight years of USINT existence and presented the findings that emerged through the use of thematic analysis. The research explored extant literature, including oral histories, memoirs, government reports, monographs, interviews, and journal articles. The analyses revealed the complexities of diplomatic engagement in the context of U.S.-Cuba relations, especially in the absence of formal diplomatic relations. This research provided a novel dataset for a cohort not previously examined and shed light on the nuanced approaches adopted by the COMs in navigating political tensions and historical legacies between the United States and Cuba
Plantanons X Acerifolia (London Plane) ID#743 Year of observation: 2024
Full text linkLocation: Gerety Hall, hear turn-a-roundHeight: 26.5 mDiameter at Breast Height: 2 m Condition: FairAge Class: Maturehttps://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio140_arboretum/1037/thumbnail.jp
Wellness Initiative for Employees Working in Long-Term Care
No full textBurnout and workplace stress significantly contribute to decreased employee satisfaction and productivity, underscoring the need for wellness initiatives in the workplace. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance employee well-being through a wellness program focusing on stress management, sleep hygiene, nutrition, and exercise. The project, “Caring for the Caregiver Series: Four Pillars of Health,” included three in-person educational sessions addressing key wellness components identified in the American Nurses Association, “Pulse on the Nation\u27s Nurses COVID-19 Survey Series: Mental Health and Wellness Survey 1”, August 2020 needs assessment. The primary goal was to equip employees with practical knowledge and skills to improve their physical and mental health. Implemented across three long-term care facilities (LTC), employees completed the Mental Health Quality of Life (MHQoL) survey before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis using Welch\u27s t-test revealed a significant improvement in MHQoL scores post-intervention, with pre-test scores averaging 17.82 (SD = 22.39) and post-test scores averaging 7.54 (SD = 9.71), yielding a t-value of 2.63 and p-values of 0.0056 (one-tailed) and 0.0012 (two-tailed). However, a one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in outcomes based on the number of sessions attended (F(2, 114) = 0.34, p = 0.71). While the findings were statistically significant, the small sample size (n=17 for post-test) limits generalizability and should be interpreted cautiously. Regardless, the initiative successfully empowered participants to manage personal and work-related stressors, emphasizing the critical role of educational interventions in promoting mental well-being in healthcare settings
The Pursuit of Peace: Adlai Stevenson’s Impact on the Cuban Missile Crisis
Full text linkThis paper explores the idea that Adlai Stevenson was a more significant member of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council and voice for peace than given credit for. It includes the betrayal of Stevenson by JFK during the Bay of Pigs fiasco and how many members of the Kennedy administration felt Stevenson was too naive and weak to be an ambassador to the United Nations during the Cold War. This papers seeks to prove that without Adlai Stevenson the Cuban Missile Crisis would have ended horrifically rather than peacefully
Northern Pink Shrimp (Pandalus borealis)
Full text linkLife history characteristics of the Northern Pink Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA
Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems and the Potential of Moral Injury
No full textIn the history of human war, technology has been developed and deployed to increasingly distance combatants from the enemy. In today’s modern warfare, the development of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) represents a new era as artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled weapons may make lethal decisions apart from the final judgment and input of human combatants. While there has been significant discussion on the ethical, moral, and legal dimensions of LAWS, to date, there has been no comprehensive study on the potential morally injurious effects upon those who deploy such weapon systems at the tactical level of war. This dissertation presents conceptual analyses of LAWS and moral injury (MI) and an analytical exploration of ways in which LAWS may potentially contribute to MI in warfighters who deploy them via: (1) violations of the Law of Armed Conflict via algorithmic errors; (2) violations of human dignity as a machine makes the final decision to use lethal force on a human being; (3) automation and confirmation biases in trusting the technology even if other contradictory information is available; (4) opacity of AI decision-making; and (5) moral displacement as operators may attempt to displace decisional moral responsibility to LAWS. The study concludes with recommendations and areas for further research