Silk & Tendons

SILK & TENDONS is a collection of short stories that examines graceless collisions with the natural world, the intricacies of shame, and the effects of grudges against family, nature, and the self. These six stories are, in many ways, an exploration of the primal. Who are we when no one is looking? Set against the backdrop of the Southeast, many of these stories delve into the carnivorous qualities of Florida, as characters battle the unforgivable forces of sinkholes, snakes, and hurricane season

TAN OVA DEH SUH: QUEERIBEAN FEMINISM, HUMAN SECURITY, AND THE DYNAMICS OF EXCLUSION IN JAMAICA AND TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Laws criminalizing LGBTQ sexuality have been entrenched in Anglophone Caribbean states since the 1600s, persisting through colonial rule and independence via savings law clauses that shield them from legal challenges. This study examines these laws in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), exploring how colonial legacies inherited from Britain continue to shape contemporary legal, political, and social attitudes toward LGBTQ communities. The project introduces the reader to Queeribean feminism, a lens that incorporates Queer, Black, Caribbean, intersectional, and postcolonial feminism. Subsequently, the research reframes theorizing about the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and human security frameworks in the Caribbean region. The study investigates why some Anglophone Caribbean nations have moved toward decriminalization while others maintain anti-LGBTQ laws. A secondary inquiry examines why postcolonial states like Jamaica and T&T have retained colonial-era legislation despite Britain’s repeal. The research draws on archival materials, media, legislative debates, and constitutional documents using a paired comparative case study approach. It also incorporates interviews with advocacy groups, government officials, religious figures, and legal experts, alongside focus groups and participant observations. Through critical discourse, content, and document analysis, the study identifies factors hindering decriminalization, particularly human security concerns, gendered power dynamics, and morally exclusive language embedded in legal and social institutions. These structures marginalize LGBTQ citizens, undermining their human security and reinforcing systemic exclusion that fosters a culture of Tan Ova Deh Suh (Stay Over There). By reconceptualizing critical feminist theories, the study highlights how LGBTQ criminalization operates in postcolonial societies through the lens of Queeribean Feminism. Findings reveal the intersection of heteronormativity, hegemonic patriarchy, and colonial legacy in shaping exclusionary policies. Additionally, the resilience of LGBTQ activists navigating legal barriers provides insight into grassroots efforts for rights recognition. Ultimately, the research provided a deeper understanding of the factors influencing both the persistence and dismantling of anti-LGBTQ laws in the Anglophone Caribbean

Child Abuse in Colonial America

Child Abuse in Colonial America is an investigation of the extent to which colonial societies were aware of child abuse and how they responded. Historians often assert that awareness of the problem did not exist in America until the mid-nineteenth century; however, the evidence uncovered suggests that cases of child abuse were recognized during the colonial period and that the societal responses differed widely. Historians of childhood document myriad social, economic, political, religious, and other cultural influences that dictate how children were treated at different times and locations, and this framework is used to interpret why the responses to child abuse varied by colony. Puritan-influenced New England is considered first before turning to an examination of Quaker Pennsylvania, which elucidates how different religious perspectives operated on the issue of child abuse. Then, Dutch New Netherlands is considered to examine how an economically focused colony with a different legal system contrasted with the religiously inspired colonies of New England and Pennsylvania. Finally, the southern colonies, with less densely populated settlements and difficulties related to disease and famine, are considered. Primary sources, including court records, newspapers, and correspondence, provide ample opportunities to examine the topic. Secondary sources from the historical study of childhood provide a framework for interpreting the primary sources. The conclusion is reached that colonists were aware of child abuse, often found it reprehensible, but were limited in their response by the various cultural, economic, and social circumstances of their time

Ending Wars in Times of Uncertainty: Moral Leadership, Memory, and the Cost of Peace

In our era of ‘liquid modernity,’ ending wars requires more than ceasing hostilities—it demands ethical frameworks that address the deeper wounds of conflict. This article examines how peace processes frequently abandon those who sacrificed most, creating narratives of betrayal that undermine future stability. Using Poland’s post–World War II experience as a case study, it demonstrates how prioritizing geopolitical expediency over justice creates lasting damage to international order. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of liquid times, Anne Applebaum’s work on memory and abandonment, and Jonathan Sacks’s vision of moral leadership, the article argues that sustainable peace requires attention to dignity, inclusion, and truth and proposes a framework for ethical peacebuilding. Without leadership rooted in ethical responsibility rather than political calculation, the end of war becomes merely the suspension of violence—not the beginning of genuine peace built on restored trust and shared futures

Gerald Templer\u27s Leadership in the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960): Its Enduring Relevance

This article explores the leadership contributions of General Sir Gerald Templer, who was both High Commissioner and Director of Operations, during the counterinsurgency campaign waged by the British colonial authorities in Malaya against the Malayan Communist Party, between 1948 and 1960. This campaign has become known as the Malayan Emergency. The article explores how Templer’s leadership—marked by a combination of high intellect, sound practical nous, and the ability to galvanize governmental action and ultimately inspire the population to eventual victory—was instrumental in transforming the nature of the problematic initial British response to the Communist insurgency. The article suggests that Templer’s leadership contributions in Malaya may be useful for modern analysts and practitioners charged with dealing with complex conflicts today

Design and Development of a Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction and Classification for Biomedical Imaging and Optical Diagnostics

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable of quantitatively analyzing phase changes in transparent biological samples, such as red blood cells, cancer cells, and tissue cultures. However, traditional DHM setups are bulky and rely heavily on complex optical components and external computing hardware for data processing and visualization, restricting their use outside controlled laboratory environments. Lensless inline DHM (LiDHM) overcomes these limitations by removing the need for objective lenses and intricate optics, utilizing coherent or quasi-coherent illumination, and capturing holograms directly on image sensors. Its straightforward alignment, compact design, and compatibility with affordable, off-the-shelf parts make it ideal for portable, low-cost diagnostic devices. However, inline configurations present specific computational challenges, notably twin-image artifacts and phase-retrieval ambiguities, which must be addressed to unlock the full potential of LiDHM. This dissertation details a comprehensive integration of computational and hardware innovations aimed at enabling clinical-grade LiDHM in a field-deployable format. Central to this effort is the development of the Phase Constraint on the Phase-Only Function (PCOF) framework, a novel reconstruction algorithm that effectively suppresses twin-image artifacts, enhances phase contrast, and maintains structural fidelity without manual tuning. Validation through simulations and experiments showed that the PCOF outperforms conventional angular spectrum and iterative phase-retrieval methods. To translate these advancements into a practical diagnostic tool, a compact, 3D-printed LiDHM system was designed and built, powered by a Raspberry Pi microcomputer with a touchscreen interface. The system features a real-time graphical user interface and supports multiple imaging modes, including optical density (OD), quantitative phase imaging (QPI), and dual-modality visualization, with configurable acquisition modes for full-field, fragmented, or region-specific imaging. Its performance was tested on various biological samples, such as microspheres, optical fibers, and unstained epithelial cells. A key use case is the label-free detection and classification of plasmodium-infected red blood cells (iRBCs). By extracting features such as dry mass, refractive index, and phase change from segmented phase images and using a two-step classification process that combines statistical thresholding with feature-specific filtering, the system achieved high specificity in distinguishing iRBCs from healthy RBCs. In conclusion, this dissertation presents a fully integrated, modular and field-ready LiDHM platform that bridges the gap between high-resolution quantitative imaging and accessible diagnostics. This work advances the potential for the deployment of digital phase imaging to detect infectious diseases and other bloodborne diseases in low-resource and underserved environments

Organizational Health Literacy in Pediatric Cardiovascular Programs

Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to access, understand and use health-related information in order to effectively manage one\u27s health and navigate healthcare experiences. This responsibility does not rest solely upon the individual; healthcare organizations also have a vital role in assisting individuals in accessing, understanding and using health information through their interactions with the healthcare system. Organizational health literacy (OHL) can serve as a strategy to ensure that all individuals have equitable access to health information and services. The Ten Attributes of a Health Literate Healthcare Organization established the foundational principles of organizational health literacy. The present study aimed to describe pediatric cardiovascular programs belonging to a consortium dedicated to the care of children with congenital heart disease in the U.S and the extent of organizational health literacy practices aligning with the Ten Attributes. The study also examined nurse leaders\u27 and designees\u27 views on implementing these practices in their program or unit. Study findings indicate that practices aligned with the Ten Attributes are present in these programs to varying degrees. Communication standards were the highest-ranked attribute. Workforce education and the communication of costs to patients ranked the lowest. Nurses often use health literacy practices to ensure and confirm that patients understand information. However, many are unaware of this term, likely due to limited education in this area. These findings align with existing research. Future recommendations include ongoing exploration of health literacy practices from an objective perspective, as well as investigating innovative methods for interprofessional education and leveraging advanced technologies to enhance health literacy strategies for the future

“We All Have Our Boulders To Pass, And This Was One Of Mine”: Ethnoculturally Diverse High-School-Aged Youth And Their Reclamation Of Nature

This qualitative, ethnographic, youth-centered study explored how ethnoculturally diverse urban high-school-aged youth express their relationships to nature. Participatory and youth-centered methodologies and data sources, including Photovoice, photo-elicitation interviews, and classroom artifacts, centered the voices of a diverse group of urban youth and their experiences in local forest reservations. Diverse urban youth are typically marginalized from environmental education, place-based learning, and representation in outdoor-related research. Therefore, it is critical that educational researchers include the voices of these students in conversations about nature to broaden the sociocultural framework around what “nature” is, how it is experienced, and by whom. This theoretical framework of this relational study drew on critical pedagogies of place and biophilic theory to situate the voices of socially marginalized youth, tell their outdoor stories, and make “space for place” in urban education

Becoming a Bridge of Collaboration: How Being Supports Doing Within the HELP Model of Leadership

This synthesis project introduces the HELP Model—Humility, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Service, and Psychological Safety—as a developmental framework for sustainable leadership rooted in character formation and relational trust. It asserts that credible and effective leadership begins with inner orientation before it can be embodied as consistent, ethical action in the world. Through integration of leadership theory, developmental psychology, and theology, the project critiques conventional, strategy-driven paradigms of organizational well-being. HELP extends Robert Kegan’s framework to include relational and spiritual dimensions of the leader’s individual growth as necessary conditions for fostering organizational collaboration. Drawing on reflective inquiry and practice-based insight, the project examines how each HELP capacity can be cultivated in complex organizational environments to support a culture of trust, resilience, and ethical integrity. Rather than treating leadership as a fixed role or position, the synthesis approaches it as a relational vocation—calling leaders to become bridges across divides of culture, function, and hierarchy. The project is especially relevant to professionals navigating mission-driven and public sector contexts, where high complexity and competing demands challenge traditional approaches to authority. By articulating the inner conditions that foster sustainable leadership from the inside out, the project invites readers to consider not only what leaders do, but who they are becoming in the process

Implementation of a Health Care Transition Pathway for Children and Adults with Inborn Errors of Metabolism: A Pilot Project

Background: Children with medically complex diseases require highly specialized care by a highly specialized team. Those with rare disease, including inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), are a medically complex population and face significant challenges undergoing the health care transition from a child/family-centered model to an adult/patient-centered model of care. The project site follows patients with IEMs in the Metabolism Program, but previously did not have a coordinated process and had insufficient resources for patients/families for the health care transition. Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method was utilized as the model for improvement. Due to the complexity of the population and time requirements, the project began with a pilot of the Health Care Transition Pathway, focused on the revision and evaluation of the Transition Toolkit for one IEM diagnosis, Phenylketonuria (PKU). Intervention: The Health Care Transition Pathway consisted of an algorithm to guide the care of children and young adults with PKU transitioning from pediatric to adult care. One step in the algorithm utilized the Transition Toolkit, which includes a readiness assessment, disease education, clinical health summary, and transition plan. Results: The PKU Transition Toolkit was revised, and a total of 10 patients utilized the PKU Transition Toolkit in a clinic visit. Survey results showed 75% of patients reported the toolkit would improve their experience with the transition to adulthood, 89% reported it would improve their readiness, and 89% reported it was easy to understand. For caregivers, 100% thought it would improve their child’s experience with the transition to adulthood, 75% felt it would improve their child’s readiness, and 100% thought it was easy to understand. For the providers, they agreed it would improve the patient experience (88%), readiness (100%), add value to patient care (100%), and be feasible to implement in clinic (75%). There was also a 100% increase in provider chart documentation of the health care transition discussion during a patient clinic visit. Conclusion: The Health Care Transition Pathway and utilization of the revised PKU Transition Toolkit was successfully implemented in a pilot of children and young adults with PKU. Patients and caregivers felt that the PKU Transition Toolkit would benefit them and add value to their care. Providers reported that the PKU Transition Toolkit would add value to patient care and would be feasible to implement in clinic. The results also found the pilot led to a significant increase in provider documentation of health care transition discussion