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Dissociating the self: representations of mental illness in graphic memoir
No full textAlthough the field of graphic medicine is burgeoning, the rapid proliferation of
mental illness graphic memoir over the past two decades has yet to receive sustained
scholarly attention (Velentzas 2021). This dissertation aims to correct that oversight by
examining how mental illness graphic memoir operates as an essential vehicle for
engaging with verbal-visual representations of mental illness through pictorial
embodiment, graphic style, verbal-visual tensions, factors of visual coherence, visual
metaphor, multiple textual delivery systems, and self-reflexivity. This study relies on
foundational scholarship in the fields of disability studies, life-writing, comics formalism,
and graphic medicine to examine the underlying constructions of mental illness
representations in graphic memoir through close reading analysis and “research creation”
(Loveless 2019). The dissertation’s academic portion closely examines seven mental
illness graphic memoirs – Becoming Unbecoming (2016), Depresso (2010), Hyperbole
and a Half (2013), Inside Out (2007), Lighter than My Shadow (2013), Marbles (2012)
Solutions and Other Problems (2020) – alongside seventeen additional texts to determine
patterns of representation that address and challenge stigmatic mental illness language
and constructions. Its creative component, the graphic memoir Undiagnosed (2025),
further applies and extends the foundational theory and the dissertation’s academic
findings.
“Dissociating the Self: Visual and Verbal Representations of Mental Illness in
Graphic Memoir” reveals the ubiquitous use of a representational strategy I term
dissociation – a visual mode that communicates the separation of the narratorprotagonist’s
understanding of self from stigmatic understandings of mental illness embodied by a double. Visual dissociation is shown to operate through different stylistic appearances of the self and the double (Chapter 1), which encodes the moral, medical,
and social paradigms of disability (Chapter 2). The double dissociates from stigmatic
understandings of mental illness through the use and conceptual alteration of common
visual metaphors for encoding mental illness, such as monsters and darkness (Chapter 3
and 4). Following the introduction (Chapter 5) and examination of Undiagnosed (Chapter
6), several verbal dissociation strategies are noted operating in mental illness graphic
memoir, including differentiated font styles for personal and medical narratives;
purposeful silence; disembodied speech balloons; and the inclusion, ironizing, and
overwriting of medical texts (Chapter 7). Ultimately, “Dissociating the Self: Visual and
Verbal Representations of Mental Illness in Graphic Memoir” demonstrates and theorizes
the unique multimodal affordances of mental illness graphic memoir that enable
cartoonists to encode, challenge, and overturn stigmatic understandings of mental illness
to construct new understandings founded on empathy
Development of physical measurement strategies and methodologies for industrially harvested sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa)
No full textThe commercial fishery for Cucumaria frondosa, particularly in the North Atlantic, is expanding as its ecological and economic significance becomes more widely recognized. Accurate assessment of C. frondosa body size remains challenging due to the species’ morphological plasticity. Conventional linear measurements—commonly applied to finfish—fail to account for the fluid-dynamic morphology of sea cucumbers, where water retention can dramatically alter apparent size. These inaccuracies affect critical areas such as landed value determination, stock assessments, age estimation, and recruitment models, thus compromising the sustainability of harvest strategies. Recognizing this, the present thesis focused on developing robust, standardized strategies and methods for assessing C. frondosa size with minimal human-handling interference. This thesis shows that image processing is a promising tool for rapid, non-invasive size assessment, improving measurement consistency while minimizing handling-induced variability. Experimental simulations showed that sea cucumbers contract uniformly under drag-related stress, reinforcing the potential to standardize post-harvest measurements. While immersed weight initially appeared inconsistent, further analysis revealed its potential as a highly accurate metric, provided seawater density is correctly factored into the calculation. Together, the findings offer practical, scalable recommendations for improving both scientific data quality and industrial processing outcomes in C. frondosa fisheries
A study of pre-etruscan and etruscan human diets through analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes from San Giuliano, Italy
No full textThe Etruscans lived in what is now modern Italy from ~900-100 BCE. Archaeological evidence for the Etruscans is however, limited, and comes mostly from funerary contexts. This poses issues when attempting to understand the daily lives of the Etruscan people. An understanding of Etruscan diet is particularly elusive, and research on the topic is not extensive. In an effort to expand the knowledge of Etruscan food consumption, this project used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N respectively) from collagen and biological carbonates to investigate the diet of the Etruscan humans who lived at the site of San Giuliano, Lazio, Italy. Thirty-three collagen samples and eight tooth carbonate samples were used within the scope of the project and compared to data from previously published works concerning Etruscan stable isotopes. With limited published isotope data on the Etruscans available, this project provides an opportunity to expand upon current dataset, as well as study people from smaller Etruscan community (a lesser understood section of the Etruscan population). From the results of this project, it appears that the Etruscans from San Giuliano shared a similar diet to other Etruscans. Their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values indicate that the people living at San Giuliano subsisted off a diet of C3 plants and animals. This supports the conclusions of other stable isotope studies conducted on Etruscan remains and adds to a limited dataset
Development of an advance care planning educational resource for oncology nurses
No full textBackground: Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a process of reflection and communication in which capable individuals make informed decisions about their future healthcare and end-of-life care in the event they are unable to provide informed consent. ACP decreases unnecessary medical interventions and reduces uncertainty among healthcare providers and loved ones during critical moments of care. Despite benefits, participation in ACP remains low in cancer care. Oncology nurses are well-positioned to lead ACP discussions but have limited awareness of ACP and skills to navigate ACP discussions.
Purpose: To develop an educational resource to increase ACP competency for oncology nurses.
Methods: An integrative literature review, consultation with key stakeholders, and an environmental scan guided the development of an ACP educational resource for oncology nurses.
Results: The literature findings captured the complexities of ACP and offer evidence-based recommendations for enhancing ACP engagement. Consultations with oncology nurses highlighted local educational needs, while the environmental scan identified broader ACP-related learning requirements needed to enhance nurses’ communication skills and confidence when navigating ACP conversations.
Conclusion: An ACP educational resource for oncology nurses will ultimately improve competency and lay the foundation for increasing ACP engagement
Basic psychological need frustration and problematic gaming: testing the mediating role of emotion regulation
No full textProblematic video gaming is associated with a host of adverse psychological,
interpersonal, and functional outcomes. Previous research has applied Self-Determination
Theory (SDT) to link problematic gaming to the low satisfaction or frustration of basic
psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness), suggesting it may be a
maladaptive coping response to these need-deficits. Maladaptive coping patterns such as
problematic gaming often stem from emotion regulation difficulties, yet the role of emotion
regulation has not been examined within a needs-based model of problematic gaming. The
present study examined whether individual differences in emotion regulation mediate the
relationships between psychological need satisfaction or frustration and problematic gaming.
Two hundred participants recruited from online gaming forums and social media groups
completed online measures of psychological need satisfaction and frustration, emotion
regulation, and problematic gaming. Four parallel mediation models tested indirect effects of
need satisfaction and frustration through two emotion regulation taxonomies: styles (assessed
with the Emotion Regulation Inventory) and difficulties (assessed with the Difficulties in
Emotion Regulation Scale). Different aspects of emotion regulation partially mediated the effects
of psychological need satisfaction on problematic gaming, with three out of four models
revealing mediated effects consistent with the hypotheses. Need frustration predicted greater
problematic gaming through increased suppressive regulation and impulse control difficulties,
while need satisfaction predicted lower problematic gaming via decreased difficulties with
emotional awareness and impulse control. Contrary to hypotheses, need satisfaction also
predicted greater problematic gaming through suppressive regulation. Overall, these findings
suggest that emotion regulation is a key mechanism through which need-deficits contribute to
problematic gaming. Implications for the development of prevention and intervention strategies
are discussed
Further development of the math experience questionnaire
No full textMath anxiety (MA) is a prevalent concern that can negatively impact students’ academic
engagement and achievement. The current research aimed to refine and extend the Math
Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) originally developed by O’Leary and colleagues (2017), with
the goal of identifying which types of past math experiences most strongly predict MA. Two
studies were conducted to evaluate the revised measure. In Study 1 ( = 217), undergraduate
students completed the revised MEQ (MEQ-R) alongside measures of MA, general and test
anxiety, and academic motivation. Factor analyses supported a six-factor structure, with a novel
factor, Others’ Perspectives, emerging as the only unique predictor of MA after controlling for
general and test anxiety. Study 2 ( = 292) used the MEQ-R in a more diverse sample and
incorporated objective math tasks and a measure of math identity (MI). Results supported a fourfactor
structure and identified the fourth factor as Negative Experiences. This was the only
MEQ-R factor that significantly predicted MA after controlling for other variables. MI partially
mediated this relationship, though the direct effect remained with MA. Across both studies,
teacher and parent support were initially correlated with MA but lost predictive power once other
anxiety variables were considered. These results highlight the importance of students’
internalized perceptions and the impact of negative math-related interactions in understanding
the development of MA. They also suggest that the MEQ-R may be useful beyond predicting
MA alone, offering broader insight into MI and motivational outcomes
Image analysis of drill cuttings for real-time evaluation of drilling performance
No full textThis study investigates the application of image analysis as a real time technique for evaluating rock cuttings to enhance drilling performance monitoring. Traditional metrics such as Rate of Penetration (ROP) and Mechanical Specific Energy (MSE) are widely used but a gap exists in incorporating cuttings size and shape as additional performance data. This research establishes a correlation, which is, larger cuttings indicate high ROP and low MSE, while spiky-shaped cuttings suggest effective bottom-hole cleaning and fluid flow rate (FR). In contrast, smaller, rounded cuttings show reduced drilling efficiency, highlighting the value of this method in assessing drilling outcomes.
To simulate real world drilling scenarios, various experimental conditions were explored, including wet and dry samples, different background colors and clean versus dusty cuttings. A camera mounted on a moving slider automatically captures images of the cuttings, which were then analyzed using ImageJ software. The approach ensures consistency and adaptability across diverse drilling conditions.
This research emphasizes the importance of image analysis as a reliable, real-time method to support decision-making during drilling operations. By understanding drilling efficiency based on cutting characteristics, this technique allows for timely adjustments to drilling parameters, optimizing performance in oil and gas, geothermal, and mining drilling. The ability to assess drilling efficiency through cuttings shape and size adds an extra layer of precision in enhancing drilling operations, helping operators confirm or refine their strategies for improved outcomes
Representation of women with disability in Iranian movie posters
No full textThis study examines the representation of women with disabilities (WWDs) in Iranian cinema posters from 1979 to 2013, analyzing how disability and gender identities have been visually constructed within the cultural and ideological context of post-revolutionary Iran. Drawing on Lotman�s theory of the semiosphere and Feminist Disability Studies, the research traces a gradual shift from symbolic, concealed portrayals toward more explicit and emotionally nuanced depictions of disabled women. While earlier posters emphasized abstraction, dependence, or saintly patience, later works such as The Painting Pool and Here Without Me foreground disabled women as central characters with agency and emotional depth. These transformations reflect not only evolving artistic practices but also complex negotiations among filmmakers, poster designers, state censorship bodies, and audiences. The findings reveal that visibility is not a neutral or linear outcome, but rather a contested process shaped by cultural norms, Islamic values, and patriarchal structures. Although recent posters signal a departure from pity-based portrayals, they often assimilate disability into traditional family-centered ideals of care, modesty, and sacrifice. The study argues that Iranian visual culture demonstrates both resilience and flexibility, reinterpreting disability through Islamic virtues while simultaneously negotiating the boundaries of representation, inclusion, and cultural change
Roles of programmed cell death in viral infections and cancer treatment
No full textProgrammed cell death (PCD) is a regulated mechanism of cell death that plays multiple crucial roles in development, tissue homeostasis, and host defence. In addition, cells undergoing PCD can signal to surrounding tissues, triggering immune regulation, tissue remodelling, healing, and infection control. Several distinct types of PCD exist, each with unique characteristics and consequences in disease contexts. Because PCD is often induced during viral infections or cancer treatments, understanding how its activation contributes to disease progression is essential. To this end, we investigated the role of PCD in infections caused by human coronaviruses (HCoVs) (Chapter 2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (Chapter 3). Furthermore, we examined whether PCD induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) in cancer cells can stimulate anticancer immunity (Chapter 4).
In this thesis, we found HCoV infection induced apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Inhibition of the necroptosis or pyroptosis pathway significantly reduced viral replication, whereas apoptosis inhibition did not. Viral particles accumulated inside cells when the necroptosis and pyroptosis pathways were inhibited in infected cells, suggesting that their activation is required for viral egress. Activated necroptosis and pyroptosis pathways promoted the ESCRT system and induced Ca²⁺ influx in cells infected with HCoV-OC43. These results suggest that activation of the necroptosis and pyroptosis pathways is required for efficient viral egress mediated by the ESCRT system. HCV infection induced caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Knockout of Gasdermin D or caspase-3 reduced progeny production of HCV, suggesting
that the PCD activation promotes HCV replication. 5-ALA-PDT triggered pyroptosis and necroptosis in different types of cancer cells. Cancer cell death induced by 5-ALA-PDT stimulated antitumor immunity and reduced mouse tumour growth.
The activation of PCD pathways is required to complete efficient replication cycles of HCoVs and HCV, which could create novel therapeutic targets for controlling virus infection. Immunogenic PCD induced by 5-ALA-PDT can initiate antitumor immunity, benefiting cancer patients by establishing immune surveillance and preventing tumour recurrence. Understanding the consequences of PCD during disease conditions is critical for identifying disease mechanisms and designing therapeutic approaches
Bio-based dispersants for oil spill response in estuarine environments: development strategy, mechanism exploration and impact evaluation
No full textOil spills pose a significant ecological threat to aquatic ecosystems due to the persistent toxic hydrocarbons, necessitating continuous efforts to improve the associated spill response. Chemical dispersants (i.e., chemical surfactants mixed with solvents) are widely used to mitigate the effects of oil spills by breaking oil into smaller droplets that dilute the oil in the water column below toxicity threshold levels and facilitate biodegradation. However, increasing concerns regarding the environmental effects of chemical dispersants and their limited performance across varying salinity levels, particularly in estuarine environments, highlight the need for sustainable and adaptable alternatives. Bio-based dispersants have emerged as promising solutions, yet the potential of mixing various biosurfactants with other components for enhanced oil dispersion remains largely unexplored. Moreover, limited research exists on evaluating bio-based dispersant performance, interfacial properties, underlying interaction mechanisms, and ecological implications across different salinity conditions. The role of such dispersants in enhancing the biodegradation of oil components also requires further investigation. To address these challenges, this thesis work aims to: 1) develop bio-aided dispersants by mixing biosurfactants with other components and investigate the mechanisms governing the interactions between dispersant components during blending; 2) examine how salinity variations influence bio-based dispersant performance and elucidate the salinity-dependent mechanisms involved; 3) assess the interfacial properties of bio-based dispersants across different salinity conditions; 4) evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which bio-based dispersants facilitate oil component biodegradation using computational tools (e.g.,
molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation). The results showed that developed bio-based dispersants achieved effective oil dispersion with reduced interfacial tension and lower acute toxicity compared to conventional chemical dispersants. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed synergistic surfactant interactions that explain the salinity-dependent performance and indicated that bio-based dispersants can influence enzyme–hydrocarbons interactions relevant to biodegradation. The findings from this thesis research help provide critical insights into the development and optimization of bio-based dispersants, promoting sustainable and effective oil spill response strategies in sensitive and dynamic aquatic environments such as estuaries and coastal waters