Digital Commons Network^™

Hell’S Tails: Localizing The Tail Proteins Of The Hyperthermophilic-Infecting Virus Ssv1, Jane M. Arterberry

Student Research Symposium

The tail of Saccharolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1) has long been thought to be composed of viral protein 4 (VP4), but recent SSV1 virion structural studies have implicated additional structural proteins C166 and B78 in SSV1’s unique tail. The exact locations of these proteins have not been confirmed. Structural proteins VP4 (C-terminus) and B78 are hypothesized to contribute to the adaptor region bridging the viral capsid to the tail, whereas C166 is thought to comprise the majority of the internal extended structure, respectively. The structural proteins comprising SSV1 lack cysteine residues. Mutations were made in the open reading frames of …

Development Of A Fast-Neutron Source Localization System, Abdulsalam F. Al Mutairi

Student Research Symposium

Power generation by nuclear fusion is a continuing ambition that has been the focus of nuclear fusion research for nearly a hundred years. However, small-scale fusion reactors have further propulsion and neutron imaging applications that don’t require greater than breakeven efficiencies that a fusion energy source needs. Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) fusion devices have the potential for miniaturization, making them a strong candidate for such applications. Yet the contributions of different interactions within an IEC fusion device are still not fully understood. Imaging an IEC device and investigating each interaction's Neutron Production Rate (NPR) can enhance design efficiency. Neutron imaging …

Understanding The Importance Of Social Emotional Learning In Children And The Link Between Mental Health, Lynette Marie Lubiak

Student Research Symposium

I will examine how very important it is to society to teach structured Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs to children in school. It can bring mental wellbeing and the ability to have healthy relationships, non addictive behaviors and being able to emotionally regulate themselves. Since we have pushed on only academia and not SEL for our children, mental illness has skyrocketed. This problem started after the SEL part of school was taken out of schools and then the division between rich and poor became wider and wider as time went on. If we were to bring back SEL into school, …

“Evidence Synthesis” Reviews And Library Support Models: Lessons Learned And Next Steps, Corinne Bishop, Jason D. Phillips, Andrew Todd

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Outcomes: Participants will learn about academic library models used to support systematic reviews for course assignments or potential scholarly publications. Timelines and resources about planning reviews will also be shared.

Proposal: Join us in a discussion of the “what, when, and why” of planning various types of evidence synthesis reviews (scoping, systematic, umbrella, etc.). We will share what we have learned during the past year as we have received training, assisted faculty and students with reviews, and next steps toward establishing a formal Evidence Synthesis Reviews service from UCF Libraries.

Teaching Legal Issues In Arts Management To Non-Lawyers, Kristi Arth

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Teaching Legal Issues in Arts Management to Non-Lawyers

This presentation will provide an overview of the pedagogical framework developed by Prof. Arth for her textbook, "Legal Issues for Arts Organizations: A Practical Guide" (Routledge 2024), which is set for publication on April 29, 2024 and available here: https://www.routledge.com/Legal-Issues-for-Arts-Organizations-A-Practical-Guide/Arth/p/book/9780367771133. The book is designed to make legal concepts approachable by and for non-lawyer audiences. The book’s main objectives include: providing an overview of the American legal system, teaching a systematic process for identifying legal issues, training administrators to read and understand contracts, conveying practical advice for working with professional lawyers, and …

Hearing Voice In Henryk Górecki's "Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs", Jason Jedlicka

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Classical composer Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3, subtitled ‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs,’ interweaves his devout Catholicism and interest in Polish folk music with three texts that deal with motherhood and loss of a child. Written for solo soprano voice and orchestra, the piece’s expressive clarity provides optimal space for the voice—in the many literal and figurative senses of the word—to illuminate the text.

Though much has been written about this symphony’s emotional impact on listeners, little has been written about the piece from an analytical, interpretive point of view. In this talk, I perform a close analysis of the …

Cultural Responsiveness And Inclusion Tool For Health-Related Simulation, Beth F. Hallmark, Taryn Mccoy

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

The Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Evaluation Tool for Health-Related Simulation is a comprehensive instrument our team designed to evaluate effectiveness of culturally responsive teaching within simulation scenarios. This tool seeks to evaluate how the inclusion of diverse patient scenarios and culturally congruent information enhances the learner experience in health-related simulations. This tool was developed in conjunction with faculty from Bangalore Baptist Hospital Rebekah Ann Naylor Institute of Nursing, a leading nursing school in India and key partner of Belmont University. Through co-creation and co-development of this tool, we were able to create common definitions related to cultural congruence, psychological safety, …

Using Advocacy Exercises To Promote Academic Identity And Ownership, Timothy Schoenfeld

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

In the sciences and mathematics, having a strong STEM-related skillset and personal STEM identity are both important for fostering long-term persistence in STEM-related vocational fields. Science and math courses are routinely designed to build the skillset of students but creating a positive STEM identity is more difficult, particularly for underrepresented groups. Across the semester of a pilot neuroscience course, students engaged in daily and semester-long exercises in learning about and practicing advocacy as a way to build positive identities in science. At the beginning and end of the semester, students took the Persistence in the Sciences (PITS) survey, measuring student …

Counting The Possibilities: New Numerals And New Opportunities, Ryan Fox

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

To support the teaching of a class, I investigated the Kaktovik or Inupiaq number system. What started as an exploration to enhance an education class activity turned into a fascinating addition to my research agenda. The proposed presentation will summarize already accepted work and look forward to new possibilities. My first scholarly work with these numbers had education majors connect their own understanding of mathematics to the addition and subtraction in the number system, challenging the students’ approaches to teaching elementary school children familiar algorithms. In another work, I presented approaches to multiplying these new numbers to local mathematics teachers. …

Unveiling Paradoxes: The Unforeseen Impact Of Content Moderation Policies In E-Commerce, Brandon Holle, Hang Nguyen, Suman Basuroy

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

In the dynamic digital marketplace, content moderation policies, specifically those addressing 'review bomb' removal, are designed to improve customer experience, nurture consumer trust, and enhance firm performance. However, our comprehensive research, comprising three studies utilizing real-world field data analyzed through regression discontinuity-in-time design and experimental investigations, reveals a surprisingly striking paradox. In contrast to their intended benefits, these policies yield an unexpected adverse impact on user behavior, the e-commerce platform, and listed product performance, resulting in a significant 27.25% drop in total users for products on the e-commerce platform. Drawing from expectancy disconfirmation theory, we uncover the mechanism underpinning this …

Pausing For More: Help Your Students Avoid Burnout With 1 Classroom Presentation, Sara E. Wigal

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Undergraduate students suffer under increasing stressors despite enhanced on-campus wellness offerings at many institutions. In this presentation, participants will learn that a replicable innovative 60-minute in-classroom intervention can help measurably increase student mindfulness and sense of classroom belonging, which in turn are proven burnout-avoidance mechanisms. Learn how students who are taught to practice mindfulness paired with productivity skills can better connect with faculty in the classroom for a healthier college experience conducive to learning.

Creating An Interdisciplinary Learning Community Between Two Cross-Departmental Courses, Krista Mcbride, Maggie Monteverde

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

An Interdisciplinary Learning Community (ILC) consisting of two cross-departmental general education courses has been created. Advantages to linking these courses will be presented. Further, the assignments and course material used to make this learning community successful will be presented. Challenges to developing and evaluating shared assignments for such linked classes will also be discussed. Finally, student feedback will be shown from students enrolled in these courses, which illustrate the positive effects blending these two classes had on the student’s learning experience. As an example, an ILC between a general physics course and a literature course will be introduced.

Theory And Tools: The Future Of Technology-Based Learning (Script), Andrew S. Gibbons Iii

Faculty Publications

We are entering a narrow passage that will see great instability in learning technology, instruction, and distance education. My purpose is to talk about two changes that I believe will redirect the entire future of technology-based education.

Theory And Tools: The Future Of Technology-Based Learning (Slides), Andrew S. Gibbons Iii

Faculty Publications

We are entering a narrow passage that will see great instability in learning technology, instruction, and distance education. My purpose is to talk about two changes that I believe will redirect the entire future of technology-based education.

Empowering Pregnancy And Postpartum: Supporting Motherhood Through Occupational Therapy Education, Alison Drexler

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

During pregnancy and postpartum, women are at increased risk for physical and psychological health concerns due to the changes and challenges that come with the transition. The purpose of this 14-week capstone was to develop and implement educational sessions using occupational therapy concepts and integrate them into a community parenting program to ease the transition during the perinatal period. It also aimed to advocate for the role of occupational therapy in pregnancy and postpartum. Methods included preparing and sharing supplemental educational materials, developing and implementing occupation-based sessions, creating a folder of resources, and developing a manuscript advocating for occupational therapy …

Facilitating Community Integration Following Inpatient Rehabilitation: The Importance Of Caregivers, Alysa N. Jensen

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Community integration (CI) is a significant benchmark for successful rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this capstone was to utilize occupational therapy assessments, interventions, and resources to support patients and their caregivers during the transition from the clinical setting to the community. Methods included assessment and intervention for patient function, cognition as it relates to burden of care, patient discharge statistics, development and implementation of caregiver resources, and semi-structured caregiver interviews. The outcomes of this project indicate that although TBI survivors are discharging home, they continue to require substantial caregiver support. Outcomes also indicate that there is …

Nature-Based Occupational Therapy As An Innovative Approach In Facilitating Children’S Development, Surekchha Siwakoti

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the benefits of a Nature-Based Therapy Program and evaluate the effectiveness of NBT interventions in improving children’s overall well-being. Quantitative data were collected using SSQ, SDQ, and the Post-Intervention Parent Questionnaire to assess the efficacy of the NBT program. The data sets were analyzed using SPSS and Paired Sample t-test, non-parametric Wilcoxon Test, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was conducted. The findings from the SSQ and SDQ indicated that NBT interventions were not significant in improving children’s overall mental, emotional, and social well-being. However, the data collected through post-intervention parent survey questions indicated high …

S.M.A.R.T. Program Implementation To Promote Engagement And Participation In A School Setting, Emily Mickelson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone project is to educate educational professionals on multi-sensory approaches and to implement the Stimulating Maturity Through Accelerated Readiness Training (S.M.A.R.T.) program to increase students’ engagement in academic learning. This project used pre- and post-tests to determine baseline knowledge. The occupational therapy student participated in S.M.A.R.T. training, and the junior kindergarten students participated in eight-weeks of S.M.A.R.T. program implementation. The students’ pre- and post-test assessments were completed by the students one-week pre-intervention and following eight weeks of program implementation. The educational professionals’ pre- and post-test assessments were completed by the kindergarten teachers before and after receiving …

Occupational Therapy’S Role As A Member Of An Interdisciplinary Feeding Team For Children With Sensory Processing Differences, Emily G. Bruinsma

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Considering the high prevalence of pediatric feeding disorders and the increased need for occupational therapists trained to work with children with feeding challenges, this project sought to provide a better understanding of the key components of a feeding therapy program. These components include caregiver involvement, use of an interdisciplinary team, interventions aimed at sensory integration, and the inclusion of family-centered and motivating interventions. The Sensory Integration theory was used to guide this project by providing an understanding of the various ways individuals can receive and respond to sensory information. There were three primary goals for this capstone project, including developing …

Implementing The Copm To Create Occupation-Based Interventions In Outpatient Adult Rehabilitation, Kelcee A. Bacon

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Worldwide, people continue to live longer, with the number of people over the age of 60 predicted to double by 2050; many of those people also have chronic diseases that could benefit from rehabilitation services. Outpatient rehabilitative services, including occupational therapy, have increased occupational performance, strength, mobility, and coordination for those diagnosed with musculoskeletal or neurological conditions. This capstone focused on three components: 1) in-depth clinical practice using occupation-based assessments and interventions with the adult population, 2) understanding the administrative roles of private practice therapists, and 3) creating educational materials to increase knowledge and skills surrounding outpatient occupational therapy for …

Healing Horses: An Occupational Therapy Approach In An Equine Environment, Ashlyn Renee Yoder

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Aim: This project focused on the development of advanced clinical skills of OT-based hippotherapy in a pediatric setting and program development of the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center. Information was gathered from primary and secondary sources to promote student skill acquisition, client goal progress, and parent-caregiver education of at-home interventions.

Objective: Goals focused on gaining knowledge and competencies of OT-based hippotherapy, key clinical information, and interdisciplinary roles. The purpose of this project was to highlight the impact of staff responsibilities and OT-based hippotherapy on physical and cognitive deficits.

Method: OT hippotherapy session observation and facilitation, extensive literature review, and multidisciplinary interviews …

Constructing Community: How Shared Historic Preservation Interests Build Better Places And Spaces, Sara Decaro

Faculty Submissions

Generating interest in local history and historic buildings can be a challenge at times for archivists and historic preservationists. When the two groups collaborate, however, it can lead to greater interest and investment in preservation across the board. This session will explore how partnerships between historic preservationists and archivists can increase community relationships, foster greater interest in local histories, and further work to preserve a community’s documentary and architectural heritage. Tricia Gilson will discuss a multi-partner effort to document a nineteenth-century historic downtown and some of the women-owned and Jewish-owned businesses once found there. Sara DeCaro will describe her experience …

Effects Of Exercise On The Cardiovascular Health Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Samarth Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: It is known that the incidence of Down Syndrome has increased over time and that this condition is associated with congenital heart defects, lower cardiorespiratory capacity, and increased rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that individuals who have congenital heart defects but not Down Syndrome have increased cardiorespiratory function after engaging in exercise. Unfortunately, the role of exercise in improving cardiovascular health outcomes among individuals with DS is not yet fully understood.

Results: Exercise has been found to improve several health outcomes among individuals with Down Syndrome. For example, moderate to vigorous treadmill exercises …

Lower Extremity Weakness In The Setting Of Covid Myositis, Christopher Dellmyer, Frank Wheeler

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Bilateral lower extremity weakness has numerable causes including stroke, peripheral neuropathy, deconditioning, Guillain-Barre, Multiple Sclerosis, anterior cord syndrome, trauma, spinal epidural abscess and many more. It is imperative however, that we investigate and understand more rare causes of lower extremity weakness. Here we present the case of a 74-year-old female presented to the ED with a complaint of lower extremity weakness due to Covid myositis causing significant bilateral lower extremity weakness.

How Does Schizophrenia Affect The Expression Of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In The Brain?, Shruti Varshney, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with a pathophysiology that has not yet been fully understood. This mental illness is characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception, and affects approximately 0.085% of individuals worldwide. The Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (α7nAChR) has been connected to auditory function gating deficits. The purpose of this review is to understand the current literature in how the levels of α7nAChR expression and function are affected by SZ, information that could be used to develop therapies to modulate auditory hallucinations in patients with SZ. A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed journal …

A Novel Approach To Hiv Testing: Group Harm Reduction And Testing For High Risk Women In Nj, Gabrianna A. Andrews

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that …

Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, Minjal Patel, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Eric Goldwaser, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogenous psychiatric condition characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception often associated with a varied combination of positive and negative symptoms. The pathophysiology behind SZ remains poorly elucidated. Earlier reports have cited the importance of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in the hippocampus and the receptor’s association with auditory sensory gating and cognitive function. Specifically, variations in the expression and functionality of α7nAChR can be linked to auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with SZ and several therapies have been researched that target α7nAChRs. However, there are very few primary research …

May 2024 Alumni Presentation, Sara Decaro

Faculty Submissions

No abstract provided.

"And Then There Were None:" The Silencing And Censorship Of Translated Works Under Francisco Franco, Avery Austin

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

We tend to live under the assumption that translations will always attempt to be faithful to their original texts, blindly believing in the infallibility of the translator. However, in doing so, we ignore how translation can be used to take advantage of the reader – how can one know that a change has occurred in a translated work if they have no knowledge of the text’s original language? This paper studies the power dynamics of translation, and how it can be used as a tool to aid censorship. By focusing on translated literary works under the Franco regime, this work …

The Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Attachment Style, Luella Rubin-Wylie, Desiree Crevecoeur-Macphail

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Repeated and complex childhood trauma can have devastating effects on individuals and their future relationships. Attachment styles are developed in the early years of an individual's life, and adverse experiences during these early years can negatively affect the attachment style that an individual develops. Various traumatic experiences during childhood, such as abuse/neglect, death/separation of parent, or witnessing domestic violence, may lead individuals to develop insecure attachment styles in their future romantic relationships. In many instances, experiencing childhood trauma can result in the development of aninsecure attachment style of anxious, avoidant, or disorganized. This study aimed to examine the impact of …