Digital Commons Network^™

Minority Students In Stem Careers In The U.S. – The Role Of Ap Calculus, Kendall Coleman

Dissertations

“The number of native-born S&E [science and engineering] graduates entering the workforce is likely to decline unless the nation intervenes to improve success in educating S&E students from all demographic groups, especially those that have been underrepresented in S&E careers” (National Science Board [NSB], 2003, p. 13). More than a decade ago, the National Science Board (NSB) sounded an alarm regarding the projected decline in native-born science and engineering graduates with the aim of driving strategic fundamental changes. There is limited evidence that the NSB’s prognostication is actively being addressed. Approximately 81% percent of all full-time graduate students in U.S. …

Integration Of Suboptimal Health Status Evaluation As A Criterion For Prediction Of Preeclampsia Is Strongly Recommended For Healthcare Management In Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study In A Ghanaian Population, Enoch Odame Anto, Peter Roberts, David Coall, Cornelius Archer Turpin, Eric Adua, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Normotensive pregnancy may develop into preeclampsia (PE) and other adverse pregnancy complications (APCs), for which the causes are still unknown. Suboptimal health status (SHS), a physical state between health and disease, might contribute to the development and progression of PE. By integration of a routine health measure in this Ghanaian Suboptimal Health Cohort Study, we explored the usefulness of a 25-question item SHS questionnaire (SHSQ-25) for early screening and prediction of normotensive pregnant women (NTN-PW) likely to develop PE. Methods: We assessed the overall health status among a cohort of 593 NTN-PW at baseline (10–20 weeks gestation) and followed …

Full Stem Ahead, Shawn Knowlton, Megan Elbel

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After school club that introduces students to STEM and builds problem-solving skills through hands-on, interactive activities.

Integrated Pest Management In The Academic Small Greenhouse Setting: A Case Study Using Solanum Spp. (Solanaceae)., Daniel S. Hayes, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden, Jason T. Cantley, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Premise

Botanical faculty and staff at academic institutions are often tasked with establishing and/or caring for plant collections held in small greenhouse facilities. Once plants are in place, an especially acute challenge is managing plant pest/pathogen populations. Integrated pest management (IPM) approaches are an excellent option, but few examples exist in the literature of successful programs that have been developed in academic small greenhouse settings.

Methods and Results

Over several years, we developed an IPM program for two small research greenhouses on the campus of a primarily undergraduate institution where hundreds of plants have been grown for studies in the …

Early Retention In Rural Schools: Alternate Route Teachers' Perspectives, Autumn K. Jordon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine teachers' perspectives of the key factors contributing to the retention of rural teachers who entered teaching through an alternate route certification program in Mississippi. It was specifically the goal of this study to understand how alternatively certified teachers perceive their own characteristics (e.g., teacher preparation, personal experiences), school conditions (e.g., students, administration), and compensation (e.g., salary, benefits) to be related to their decision to remain in the profession. In this study, 9 rural alternate route teachers were interviewed from 8 schools in Mississippi. The research questions were: (1) How do rural …

Factors Influencing Graduate Program Choice Among Undergraduate Women, Bryna J. Harrington, Halei C. Benefield, Brooke C. Matson, Rebecca E. Hamlin, Jennifer E. L. Diaz, Grace E. Mosley, Rushina Cholera, Audrey R. Verde

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

Context: Despite equal enrollment proportions in MD and PhD programs, there are fewer women than men in MD-PhD programs and academic medicine. Factors important in degree program selection, including the perception of gender disparities, among undergraduate students were characterized.

Methods: In 2017, pre-health students at four public North Carolina universities were invited to participate in an online survey regarding career plans, decision factors, and perceptions of gender disparities in MD, PhD and MD-PhD pathways. The authors characterized factors important to program selection, and evaluated the association of intended graduate program with perceived gender disparities using Fisher’s exact tests.

Results: …

Development Of A High-Altitude Balloon Cubesat Platform For Small Satellite Education And Research, Jill Davis, Alexander Reynolds, Yezad Anklesaria, Henry Pernicka, Jillian Schmidt

Small Satellite Conference

The Missouri University of Science and Technology Satellite Research Team began its high-altitude balloon program as a high school summer camp in 2014. Since then, a new course has been added to the Aerospace Engineering curriculum, where students fly “BalloonSat” payloads to altitudes of ~100,000 feet. In order to enhance the educational outcomes and enable advanced SmallSat research, the BalloonSat payloads have been redesigned into a CubeSat form-factor payload to replace the previous high SWaP design. As new CubeSat teams may face technical challenges and daunting regulations, the “BalloonCubeSat” concept enables groups to test CubeSat systems and build their programs …

Utah Women In Stem Education: A 2019 Update, Cheryl Hanewicz, Susan Thackeray, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

According to a recent article in Utah Business Magazine, Utah had the strongest job growth in the nation in 2018, with no signs of slowing down. Forbes ranked Utah second in their 2018 Best States for Business scorecard, moving it up from third the previous year. Given the increase in the number of high-tech firms in Utah, it should come as no surprise that many jobs are based in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. In fact, Utah contains three of the top 100 best cities for STEM jobs in the United States, including Salt Lake City (#8), …

Traffic Noise And Sexual Selection: Studies Of Anthropogenic Impact On Bird Songs And Undergraduate Student Reasoning Of Evolutionary Mechanisms, Sarah Spier

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Humans have transformed much of the natural landscape and are continuing to do so at an accelerated rate, compromising natural areas that serve as important habitat for many species. Roads impact much of the environment as they fragment habitat and introduce traffic noise into the acoustic environment, deferentially affecting wildlife in roadside habitat. I explored how traffic noise affects the detection of birds based on whether their vocalizations were masked by traffic noise. Masked species detection was not affected by an increase in traffic noise amplitude, while there was a negative effect of traffic noise amplitude on unmasked species detection, …

Traffic Noise And Sexual Selection: Studies Of Anthropogenic Impact On Bird Songs And Undergraduate Student Reasoning Of Evolutionary Mechanisms, Sarah Spier

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Humans have transformed much of the natural landscape and are continuing to do so at an accelerated rate, compromising natural areas that serve as important habitat for many species. Roads impact much of the environment as they fragment habitat and introduce traffic noise into the acoustic environment, deferentially affecting wildlife in roadside habitat. I explored how traffic noise affects the detection of birds based on whether their vocalizations were masked by traffic noise. Masked species detection was not affected by an increase in traffic noise amplitude, while there was a negative effect of traffic noise amplitude on unmasked species detection, …

Lsu Computational System Biology Gateway For Education, Eroma Abeysinghe, Michal Brylinski, Marcus Christie, Suresh Marru, Marlon Pierce

Faculty Publications

Science gateways are a mechanism for delivering scientific software as a service, especially when the software requires high performance computing (HPC) resources to run effectively. The existence of a science gateway eliminates the user’s need to learn to work with HPC systems and to manage software installations and updates. With well-designed user interfaces, users can more quickly become effective users of scientific applications and can manage information needed for replicating, modifying, and sharing results. All of these efficiency gains enable users to focus more on their research. In addition, science gateways are being identified as an effective educational tool, a …

Depaul University Changes And Grows: 1950–1990, Albert Erlebacher Ph.D.

Vincentian Studies

Albert Erlebacher explores the main issues, changes, and growth that DePaul University experienced between 1950, when it almost lost its accreditation, and 1990, when it emerged as a major American Catholic university. DePaul’s expansion of its campus, the reforms and innovations made to its curricula, and the development of new programs and schools are discussed in detail. Changes in university leadership and governance are also described. DePaul’s experiences are placed within the broader context of changes and challenges occurring in American Catholic higher education during this time, especially as they relate to the Second Vatican Council. Additionally, DePaul needed to …

Impact Of Mass Media On The Utilization Of Maternal Healthcare Services In South Asia, Kaniz Fatema

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Maternal mortality is a serious issue in the developing world due in part to inadequate care and awareness before, during, and after the pregnancy period. Appropriate information about maternal healthcare is essential to reduce maternal mortality. Mass media can be an influential source in disseminating knowledge and information on maternal healthcare. Therefore, this study examines the impact of mass media exposure (television, radio, and newspaper) and socioeconomic factors on maternal healthcare utilization in four South Asian countries: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan. Analyses use the Demographic and Health Survey 2014-2016, a nationally representative survey of women aged 15-49 years. Maternal …

Active Learning And Student Beliefs About Learning, Duane Knudson

ISBS Proceedings Archive

This study documented the potential change in student epistemology of learning biomechanical concepts over a 5-week introductory biomechanics course implementing low-tech AL exercises. Twenty-five students agreed to participate and completed a pre- and post-test consisting of the Biomechanics Concept Inventory version 2 and two questions on their perceptions about the nature of learning. The active learning instruction increased mastery of biomechanical concepts over levels previously reported for lecture alone. Most students had positive perceptions of active learning experiences, however, some (4-12%) students had negative perceptions and decreased their interest in working with other students. Student epistemology did not change over …

Effects Of Baton Exchange Pair Strategies On The Relay Performance Of College Students In Physical Education Class, Akihiro Azuma, Kazuhiro Matsui

ISBS Proceedings Archive

We examined the effects of baton exchange pair strategies on the college students‘ relay performance in physical education (PE) class. The subject included 72 students in relay PE class. A multiple regression analysis was conducted by setting 2 x 50 m relay time as an dependent variable and the sum of each personal 50-m run time (50RT) for a baton exchange pair (Σ50RT), delta of each 50RT (Δ50RT), and distance between from the start line of baton exchange zone and the receiver’s position to start running (d_SL) as independent variables. All independent variables were significant; the coefficient of …

Human Papillomavirus, Alexandra Irwin

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that is not curable. HPV can damage cell DNA which increases the risk of oncogene expression; this leads to an increased risk of cancer. HPV is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer, among other types of cancers. Prevention is key because HPV is usually asymptomatic. The population at risk is anyone sexually active, including participation in oral sex. The health care provider should advocate for preventative measures against HPV. There are vaccinations that prevent the contraction of HPV that should be given before a person is sexually active for …

Nationalism And Education: A Case Study Of Germany And Japan, Sarah Vrtiska

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In this piece I ask the question: How has education contributed to the formation or prevention of nationalism in Germany and Japan? In examining this, after defining the standard conceptions of nationalism, I apply these definitions to pre-war and post-war Germany and Japan. Ultimately, I conclude that the goals of education, concepts of national identity that are taught, history curricula, and control of education all historically have the potential to contribute to the rise of nationalism within a country. Based on these fields, I find that although there are similar nationalist trends in both countries during the pre-war period, in …

Predicting Academic Help-Seeking Intentions Using The Reasoned Action Model, Christopher Thomas, Michael J. Tagler

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Seeking help when confronted with academic difficulties is an adaptive self-regulated learning strategy that facilitates positive academic outcomes. However, many students are reluctant to seek help with academic difficulties. The current study used the Reasoned Action Model to investigate the determinants of students' intentions to utilize university-based sources of academic support. Participants (N = 125) in Study 1 responded to open-ended questions designed to identify salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs contributing to the use of university-based academic support services. Participants (N = 176) in Study 2 completed measures to assess attitudes, perceived normative pressure, perceived behavioral control, …

Latinx Family Engagement In Schools And Surrounding Communities: Assessing The Impact Of Parent (And Other Family Member) Development On Improving Student Educational Outcomes At Gene Ward Elementary School, Rosemary Q. Flores, Phyllis Morgan, Linda Rivera, Christine Clark

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

This article examined the success of broadly defined family engagement activities of Latinx parents of students at Gene Ward Elementary School. Gene Ward Elementary School is a part of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. This article is based on a larger study of parent and family member participants in these activities at 25 district schools between 2003 and 2012.

Local Challenges And Successes Associated With Transitioning To Sustainable Food System Practices For A West Australian Context: Multi-Sector Stakeholder Perceptions, Ros Sambell, Lesley Andrew, Stephanie Godrich, Justin Wolfgang, Dieter Vandenbroeck, Katie Stubley, Nick Rose, Lenore Newman, Pierre Horwitz, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Large-scale food system practices have diminished soil and water quality and negatively impacted climate change. Yet, numerous opportunities exist to harness food system practices that will ensure better outcomes for human health and ecosystems. The objective of this study was to consider food Production, Processing, Access and Consumption domains, and for each determine the challenges and successes associated with progressing towards a sustainable food system. A workshop engaging 122 participants including producers, consultants, consumers, educators, funders, scientists, media, government and industry representatives, was conducted in Perth, Western Australia. A thematic analysis of statements (Successes (n = 170) or Challenges (n …

Educational Reinforcements Of And Challenges To Gender Norms In Urban Sri Lanka, Ruvani Fonseka

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background:
In 2013, over half of surveyed Sri Lankan men and women expressed gender-inequitable attitudes equating masculinity with violence, and femininity with obedience to men. Gender-inequitable attitudes have been shown to be linked to gender-based violence (GBV) in multiple contexts.
The goal of this research was to identify points of intervention at which programmes and policies could cultivate gender-equitable attitudes among youth in Sri Lanka, with a goal of reducing GBV in adulthood.
Methods:
Over 9 months, the lead author interviewed 18 young adults (ages 18-30) in urban Sri Lanka to understand how their experiences influenced their gender identity, as …

Rwu Law News: The E-Newsletter Of Roger Williams University School Of Law (June 2019), Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

The Top 10 Things To Know About Transfusion Medicine Before Intern Year: An Evidence-Based Course For Graduating Medical Students., Alexis R. Peedin, Irina Perjar, Marshall A. Mazepa, Marian A. Rollins-Raval, Yara A. Park, Jay S. Raval

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Background: Transfusion medicine (TM) knowledge varies widely among physician trainees. In addition, there have been few instances in which curricular changes have been meaningfully assessed for TM education in medical school.

Methods: We created and presented a novel lecture to improve TM knowledge for graduating medical students using eight objectives designed to reinforce critical information about blood management. Each objective was coded according to unique color schemes, fonts, and graphics to create visual associations while quickly and clearly presenting complex concepts. The validated BEST Collaborative exam was used to measure changes in student TM knowledge, while a survey was conducted …

Journeys: Changing Our Schools, Workplaces, And Lives Works-In-Progress From A Conference-Workshop To Mark 40 Years Of The Graduate Program In Critical & Creative Thinking, Peter J. Taylor

Working Papers in Critical, Creative and Reflective Practice

A compilation of works-in-progress prepared for or during a conference-workshop to mark 40 years of the Graduate Program in Critical & Creative Thinking at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The contributions illustrate how preparing for and participating in the conference-workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on ways that developing as a critical, creative, and reflective practitioner is like a journey into unfamiliar areas—journeying involves risk, opens up questions, creates more experiences than can be integrated at first, requires support, and yields personal and professional change.

Using Literature To Make Social Change: Talking About Race In The Classroom, Zabrina L. Vogelsang

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

More Than Words: Co-Constructive Dialogue As A Strategy For Technical, Academic Language Acquisition (Tala) In An Indigenous, Middle School Science Classroom, Joachim H. Ladwig

Linguistics

This teacher action research study investigated how secondary science students respond to small group co-construction activities designed to help them produce collaborative summaries of scientific information. The principle research question guiding this study asks, "How do middle school students engage in content learning and in the use of technical academic language (TAL) during a science writer's workshop?" Building upon the work of previous investigators I studied how emerging bilingual Grade 8 students participated in a science writer's workshop as they co-constructed written summaries in small groups. After initial instruction about the science content, participants worked in table groups to begin …

Strengthening Cultural Identity Through Iļisaġvik College's Iñupiaq Studies Program: Reconstruction And The Iñupiaq Studies Framework, Jerica S. Aamodt

Rural Development

This program proposal is for the Iñupiaq Studies Program at Iḷisaġvik College. Iḷisaġvik College is located in Utqiaġvik, the northernmost village on the North Slope of Alaska. This proposal is intended to guide the future restructuring of the Iñupiaq Studies Program. The project was informed by interviews conducted with seventeen key individuals as well as the Iñupiaq Learning Framework created by the North Slope Borough School District. The proposal includes a mission, words of wisdom for the Iñupiaq Studies Framework, revised Iñupiaq Studies program outcomes, course descriptions, certificate and degree proposals, study plans, a sample course syllabus, and a sample …

Law School News: Law Graduates Urged To 'Help Bring Society Together' 05-17-2019, Michael M. Bowden

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Rural Or Underserved Practice Interest Among Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students. Do Clinical Education Experiences Change Opinions?, Brandon Godin, Trenton Poulson, Mac Neil Moresca, Tyler Satoshige

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: People living in rural and underserved areas are poorly served by our country's healthcare system. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy reports that approximately 18% of people in the United States live in rural areas. Within the physician and nursing literature the largest reported predictor of rural practice is having a rural background. Mandated rural medical rotations during training have been shown to positively alter interest in rural practice and employment. While nursing and medical students have been thus studied, limited evidence exists for physical therapists. The objective of this study was to determine how rural …

Education And Job Match: Revisited, Saagar Dulani, Hannah Baney, Hoang Nguyen, Yifei Yan

Undergraduate Economic Review

To study the changes in the effect of degree field on mismatch and the change in the effect of mismatch of wages over time, we revisit a study by Robst (2006) who found that workers who are mismatched earn less than adequately match workers with the same amount schooling. Using recent data from 2015 National Survey of College Graduate (NSCG), we also find a negative relationship between the case of mismatch and the outcome of workers in term of wages, even though the degree of mismatch doesn’t seem to matter as much.