http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/5059 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:05:05 GMT 2026-04-08T05:05:05Z http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7064 Outlaw Operators, Then and Now: Why the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act Failed to Prevent the Contemporary Black Lung Epidemic Perkins, Meredith After being nearly-eradicated by the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis is resurging at unprecedented rates—and predominantly in Central Appalachia’s former company-owned coal towns. Seeking to address social determinants of health less reported on in existing black lung research, this article explores how systems present-day coal operators use to dodge accountability for worker’s health and undermine public policy protections mirror behaviors exhibited by company town operators 100 years ago. Using the epidemic’s epicenter, Harlan, Kentucky, as a case study, this article ultimately argues that the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act failed to eradicate black lung because the policy, albeit largely successful, does not fully deter ‘outlaw operating’—a modern practice rooted in the region’s longstanding history of coal operators who deny accountability for workers’ health. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7064 http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7063 Islamic Iconography in the Ottoman Empire Luyster, Emily The recently acquired 19th-century Ottoman manuscript in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections offers a fascinating glimpse into Islamic religious practices during the late Ottoman period. The object, a medallion-shaped prayer book containing extracts from the Quran and prayers in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, features images associated with the prophet Muhammad and sacred sites such as Mecca and Medina. The guiding question of this project continues to be: what does this artifact say about Ottoman religious practices? What was it used for, and why was it constructed the way it was? While much about its origins remains uncertain, the book’s distinctive features—its small, circular, concertina format—suggest it may have been used as a personal amulet or a protective charm, possibly carried into battle or stored on a military standard. The manuscript’s contents align with other late Ottoman devotional books featuring symbolic imagery of relics. The intentional crafting of this manuscript suggests that the colors, materials, and iconography all have meaning in the cultural context of the book. The research presented i simply the initial steps toward understanding the significance of portable, talismanic prayer books. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7063 http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7062 Designing for Neurodiversity: Introducing Equity to the Resort Experience Lambert, Erin This thesis is the first part of a two-part project researching inclusive design practices as a case study within the hospitality industry. It aims to answer the question—what design conventions can be utilized to create more equitable, welcoming spaces for guests who are neurodiverse? And how can this be done in a respectful, beneficial manner? This research pulls upon a literature review, a building and site study, and precedent and code research to provide context for program and design interventions in the subsequent design project resulting from this work. Multiple journal articles and scientific studies acting as the basis for the research question introduce a notion of marginalization and trauma that has created a barrier to travel for many individuals who are neurodiverse. Combining critical research with design interventions could be the answer to these travel barriers and become a new industry standard as hospitality projects are developed. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7062 http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7049 A Cumulative Review of Didactic and Experiential Learning Acquired in the Biomedical Science Program McIntyre-Quinn, Shannen http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7049