Lindenwood Digest, August 28, 2024, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Contrary To Yogendra Yadav's Dim View, Indian Political Thought Is Alive And Thriving, Salmoli Choudhuri, Moiz Tundawala

Popular Media

Generating considerable public debate, Yogendra Yadav has recently pronounced the demise of political thought in India [attributing this] to the complete absence of any new imagination in the field of politics. This article is a response to Yadav's claim.

Evolution Of The Substance Use Landscape: Implications For Contingency Management., Shelby Goodwin, Kimberly C Kirby, Bethany Raiff

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Contingency management (CM), which involves the delivery of incentives upon meeting behavioral goals, has the potential to improve substance use treatment outcomes. The intervention allows for flexibility through numerous modifiable components including changes to incentive magnitude and schedule, target behavior, and intervention structure. Unfortunately, numerous changes in the substance use landscape have occurred in the past 10 to 15 years: Substances are more potent, overdose risk has increased, new substances and methods of use have been introduced, and substance classes are increasingly being intentionally and unintentionally mixed. These developments potentially undermine CM outcomes. We explored recent substance use changes due …

The Structure Of The Anti-Religious Unit Of The Soviet Secret Service (1953 – 1956), Oleksandr Korotaiev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is devoted to the issue of reforming the Soviet Security Services and their network of agents during the period of de-Stalinization (1953-1956). The directions of this reform were studied, and how these reforms affected changes in their activities in the religious sphere was traced. Based on a study of the KGB reporting documentation, as well as the personal files of KGB employees, the structure of the anti-religious division of the KGB and its peripheral offices was revealed for the first time, the main directions of its activities were indicated, the pseudonyms of secret agents working in these areas …

‘Brain Drain’: Net Gains And Losses Of College- Educated Residents In The Mountain West, 2023, Dre Boyd-Weatherly, Annie Vong, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet examines the number of college-educated individuals who moved to Mountain West states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) and to selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the Mountain West in 2023. The “2024 Study: ‘Brain Drain’? The States With the Largest Net Gains and Losses of College-Educated Americans” report contains data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau. The study includes data on where college-educated residents move and which areas experienced ‘brain drain,’ where college-educated residents move to other places.

Dynamic Optimization With Timing Risk, Erin Cottle Hunt, Frank N. Caliendo

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Timing risk refers to a situation in which the timing of an economically important event is unknown (risky) from the perspective of an economic decision maker. While this special class of dynamic stochastic control problems has many applications in economics, the methods used to solve them are not easily accessible within a single, comprehensive survey. We provide a survey of dynamic optimization methods under comprehensive assumptions about the nature of timing risk. We also relax the assumption of full information and summarize optimization with limited information, ambiguity, imperfect hedging, and dynamic inconsistency. Our goal is to provide a concise user …

Practice Makes Perfect – Or At Least Better!, Joshua Levine

Library Staff Online Publications

This fall, I will teach my third semester of Advanced Legal Research at Cardozo School of Law. With the support of the library, I have learned a great deal about how to teach effectively over the past year. They gave me the opportunity to conduct a mock ALR class this summer, which helped me tremendously. In this post, I will describe my journey as a new adjunct professor.

Weather Risks, Crop Losses, And Risk Proneness: An Examination Of Evolving Risk Preferences Of Rice Farmers In Bangladesh, W. Parker Wheatley, Taznoore Khanam, Valerien O. Pede, Takashi Yamano

Economics Faculty Publications

Changing climate poses significant challenges for smallholder rice farmers. Weather-related deviations from longer-term patterns and crop losses due to abiotic hazards can affect farmer risk preferences and drive adaptive responses. In addition, farmers’ proneness to and past experiences with crop risks such as drought, submergence, and excess soil salinity can impact their baseline risk preferences and their response to changing risks. Using data for Bangladesh from two waves of the Rice Monitoring Survey, climate-related data (precipitation and temperature), farmer reports of crop losses, and measures of proneness to abiotic risks, this article estimates how weather deviations from longer-term trends, crop …

"There's A Camel In My Office" Nurturing Agents Of Transformation: Equipping School Leaders To Combat Systemic Racism And Oppression And Foster Inclusive Communities, Jamila Magdalena Maliha

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation in practice (DiP) explores the critical problem of practice wherein school administrators, primarily identifying with the predominant white culture, lack the requisite equitable leadership capacity to address systemic racism within their schools and the district. The perpetuation of systemic racism in schools leads to inequitable outcomes among marginalized students. Grounded in CRT and culturally responsive leadership frameworks, this DiP seeks to identify the barriers hindering administrators from enacting meaningful change and to propose an organizational plan to enhance their capacity for equitable leadership. Utilizing a transformative leadership approach combined with aspects of distributed and collaborative leadership, …

Us-Mexico Relations: Addressing Challenges At The Border, The Brookings Institution

Brookings Mountain West Special Events

Mexico’s president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum will begin her six-year term in October as the U.S. presidential campaign enters its final stretch. How the next U.S. administration and Congress manage relations with new leadership in Mexico will affect border security, immigration policies, trade and energy relations, and counter-narcotics and anti-crime cooperation. What tools can policymakers in both countries use to advance positive outcomes? What are the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the United States and Mexico?

The Brookings Foreign Policy program in partnership with Brookings Mountain West at UNLV hosted a discussion on the state of U.S.-Mexico relations. Panelists analyzed …

Gender Gaps In Unlv And Unr Graduate College Enrollment And Graduation, 2013-2022, Miguel Soriano Ralston, Annie Vong, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Higher Education

This fact sheet explores gender gaps in enrollment numbers and graduation rates of students pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). The original data was provided to The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West by the UNLV Graduate College and gathered from the UNR Reporting Portal.

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 02, August 26, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – current

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Transgressing Gender With Religious Sanction: The Case Of The Jogappas, Aniket Nandan, Swarupa Deb

Popular Media

Excerpt:

'Ten years ago, the Supreme Court recognised transgender persons as a third gender beyond the male-female binary. In the National Legal Service Authority vs Union of India verdict in April 2014, the court upheld the fundamental rights of transgender persons.

Yet, in the Indian context, the term “transgender” remains a definitional maze.

...[T]he case of the Jogappas points to the need for caution and cultural sensitivity in studying non-Western societies and unravelling the meaning and significance of the term “transgender”.'

Ai And Academic Integrity, Max Sparkman Research Instruction Librarian, Milne Library, Brandon West Head Of Research & Instruction, Milne Library

Artificial Intelligence, 2024-25

This short module introduces students to important concepts regarding the use of AI and academic integrity. Concepts covered include a brief overview of generative AI, whether or not their use is considered plagiarism, how to use generative AI tools responsibly, and potential use cases. The module ends with a quiz where students can apply concepts from the module to three scenarios.

Psychology And The Digital Everywhere: Artificial Intelligence, Cassie Van Stolk Assistant Professor Of Psychology, Department Of Psychology

Artificial Intelligence, 2024-25

This module within the PSYC 390: Psychology and the Digital Everywhere course investigates the the implications of AI on human experiences using a biopsychosocial lens. Topics covered include an exploration of AI as a tool versus as an autonomous mind, ethical considerations of AI usage, and the promises and pitfalls of AI as a tool within the field of psychology. This module aligns with the "Contemporary Global Challenges, Creativity and Innovation" Participation in a Global Society outcome within the Geneseo GLOBE Curriculum.

High Beta Brainwaves And Emotion Dysregulation In A Sample Of Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Rebecca Carr

Theses and Graduate Projects

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The current study investigated the relationship between high beta brain wave activity, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and comorbid mental health diagnoses in children with ADHD. Utilizing archival data from the Clinic for Attention, Learning, and Memory (CALM) in Minneapolis, MN, the study included 184 participants aged 6-14 years who underwent quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) assessments. The study utilized linear and logistic regressions to test three hypotheses: whether high beta activity predicted (1) increased anxiety symptoms, (2) emotion dysregulation, and (3) the likelihood of comorbid mental health …

An Analysis Of Relationships Between Demographics In Vermont’S Court Diversion Participants, Jennifer Hill

Student Theses

As solutions to mass incarceration continue to emerge, court diversion programs and specialty courts across the United States have grown as alternative options to the traditional criminal legal system. The State of Vermont has been utilizing court diversion programs for over 50 years to address harm in their communities. Court diversion has proven to be effective in reducing recidivism, improving cost efficiency and connecting individuals to their communities. However, what has gone unexamined are the potential disparities in opportunities for diversion participation along demographic lines. This study utilized a chi-square test of independence to explore the relationships between age, gender, …

Coping With Loneliness (Part 4): Support Others Who Experience Loneliness, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

It is natural to want to offer help and support when someone we love or care about is experiencing loneliness. Paradoxically, this is one of the best ways to reduce our own loneliness. In response, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty developed three fact sheets to describe some of the most effective ways to reduce loneliness. This fourth fact sheet suggests ways to ensure our efforts to support others who are experiencing loneliness are helpful and supportive.

Coping With Loneliness (Part 1): Look Inward, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

Experiencing loneliness sometimes is part of the human experience. However, when experienced long-term, loneliness can lead to detrimental impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. In a series of four fact sheets, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty compiled some of the most effective ways to enhance connectedness. This first fact sheet describes ways of looking inward that can reduce loneliness. These include identifying sources of loneliness, increasing acceptance, practicing mindfulness, seeking solitude, practicing self-reflection, and practicing self-care.

Coping With Loneliness (Part 2): Look Outward, Melanie Dabb, Jared Hawkins, Christina Pay, Eva Timothy, Cindy Jenkins, Christine Jensen

All Current Publications

Experiencing loneliness sometimes is part of the human experience. However, when experienced long-term, loneliness can lead to detrimental impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. In a series of four fact sheets, Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty compiled some of the most effective ways to enhance connectedness. This second fact sheet suggests simple ways of looking outward to experience greater connectedness. These include increasing social group memberships, connecting through art and laughter, spending time in nature, strengthening friendships, and providing service.

Cover And Forewords, Casey D. Allen

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

A Note From The Editor, Casey D. Allen

The Geographical Bulletin

A Note from the Editor

Volume 59-1 Complete Issue, Casey D. Allen

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 59-1 Complete Issue

Creating Skateboarding Spaces Or Corralling Skaters? The Rise Of Public Skateparks In Rural Northeast Alabama, Stephen G. Tsikalas, Mark Allen Jones, Jr.

The Geographical Bulletin

The construction of a series of public skateboarding parks (skateparks) in rural areas in northeast Alabama came about between 2005 and 2007. Skateparks are expensive projects for rural Alabama city governments to undergo; yet, numerous parks have been built within the last decade. Our research explores why these parks were built, where space was allocated for the park, who funded them, and how the space is regulated. The majority of our data come from interviewing city authorities or parties that had a role in funding or campaigning for a skatepark. We have found the establishment of these parks had mix …

Performance Art And Pedestrian Experience: Creating A Sense Of Place On The Third Street Promenade, Kalli F. Doubleday

The Geographical Bulletin

It is well attested that wherever people gather, acrobats, poets, musicians, dancers, and tricksters also appear and perform. Although street performers can be found throughout the entire world, they are curiously shunned in New York City, while Plovidiv, Bulgaria in March 2015 decided to follow other European cities in having auditions or qualifiers for performers in public places. This research adds to scholarship on performance art as a beneficial element in developing a sense of place in urban environments, particularly pedestrian malls. A hundred surveys were collected from Promenade visitors to highlight these connections in a case study of street …

#Makeamericaspollsgreatagain: Evaluating Twitter As A Tool To Predict Election Outcomes, Jaryd Hinch

The Geographical Bulletin

Traditional political polling methods have become less reliable as society adopts more smartphone technology. Internet and social media use have also risen due to increased smartphone use, which have given a digital voice to political views. This study assessed one social media platform, Twitter, as a means for predicting election outcomes more accurately than traditional methods. Michigan and Wisconsin’s ‘tweets’ related to the 2016 presidential election campaign slogans of candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were compiled and a numerical comparison was performed. WordCloud technology was employed for a visual representation of the numerical data. Numerical comparison yielded results and …

Paleoenvironment And Archaeology Provide Cautionary Tales For Climate Policymakers, Brett Kaufman, Christopher S. Kelly, Richard S. Vachula

The Geographical Bulletin

Federal climate policy in the United States is still in its infancy and is in large part characterized by efforts to reach a consensus on the very existence and causality of climate change. This has stemmed from a sociopolitical rift within the country, with the objectivity and usefulness of science attacked by detractors. Scientists who are most qualified to defend their methods and provide information to policymakers rarely have an institutional incentive to share this knowledge, but should be encouraged to communicate their findings to the public, especially those who receive public funding. By not doing so, they are effectively …

Cover And Forewords, Steven M. Schnell

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

Volume 58-1 Complete Issue, Steven M. Schnell

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 58-1 Complete Issue

Blurring The Protagonist/ Antagonist Binary Through A Geopolitics Of Peace: Star Trek’S Cardassians, Antagonists Of The Alpha Quadrant, Hannah C. Gunderman

The Geographical Bulletin

The plotlines of many science fiction television programs and films establish the identities of the protagonists and antagonists at an early stage of the viewing experience . T hese boundaries serve to position the viewer on a particular side of the story, rendering it difficult to fully consider the Other’s actions and motivations . It is in this manner that media influences our perceptions of place and social dynamics through a formation of popular geopolitics . In this paper, I present the Cardassians, an extraterrestrial species in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as a …