Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment And Validation: An Updated Climate Change Plausibility Perception Measure, Melike Hanedar, Gizem Ozyazici, Gaye Defne Ceyhan

Earth & Environmental Sciences - All Scholarship

Plausibility perceptions about climate change influence learner engagement, motivation, and knowledge acquisition, thereby shaping the effectiveness of climate change education. The Plausibility Perception Measure (PPM) was originally developed following the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007. There was a need to update the scale to measure individuals' plausibility perceptions regarding the current climate crisis. This study updated the PPM scale to reflect the IPCC's 2022 report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. The updated PPM scale is a ten-point Likert scale consisting of 15 items. Data were collected from 330 pre-service teachers at a public …

Evaluation Of Alginate Hydrogel Microstrands For Stromal Cell Encapsulation And Maintenance., Sujith Chander Reddy Kollampally, Xulang Zhang, Nicholas Moskwa, Deirdre A Nelson, Susan T Sharfstein, Melinda Larsen, Yubing Xie

Faculty Research 2024

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have displayed potential in regenerating organ function due to their anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. However, there is a need for delivery systems to enhance MSC retention while maintaining their anti-fibrotic characteristics. This study investigates the feasibility of using alginate hydrogel microstrands as a cell delivery vehicle to maintain MSC viability and phenotype. To accommodate cell implantation needs, we invented a Syringe-in-Syringe approach to reproducibly fabricate microstrands in small numbers with a diameter of around 200 µm and a porous structure, which would allow for transporting nutrients to cells by diffusion. Using murine NIH 3T3 fibroblasts …

Mapping Out The Sky, Erik Johnson

Natural Science Faculty

Astronomers are often asked to help identify UFOs. It's a reasonable request since the term means "unidentified flying object." An untrained observer may not know which celestial objects are visible at night, even in light-polluted skies. They may mistake a plane for a planet, a bright star, or a satellite.

Using Ai Chatbots As Ideation Machines, Brett Hawley, Naomi Hollans

Student Works

The team analyzed 3 popular chatbots and found that none of them could consistently produce idea-centered essay help responses. The team approached them with 3 separate prompts, one from each of three academic subjects. The team analyzed how each chatbot adapted to the addition of personal information from the “student” and to the phrase, “what are some ideas that could help me get started?” The goal with each interaction was to receive a response in which the chatbot did not produce any pre-written content. Overall, the team’s research did not suggest that AI is fully reliable as an ideation tool.

Death, Sex, And Hope Through The Arts: Developing An Expressive Arts-Existential Therapy Method For The Treatment Of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder, Michael Shirek

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) is a newly recognized disorder mired in a history of terminological and diagnostic controversy. Emerging research into the disorder has pointed to shame as an intrinsic motivator of the compulsive cycle, which provides potential for therapeutic intervention. Although most empirically-based treatments approach CSBD through a behavioral, abstinence-based model, an integrated expressive arts-existential therapy approach may provide opportunity for effective, person-centered treatment which mitigates the risk of reinforcing the shame cycle. For this capstone thesis, I developed and implemented a three-session treatment method which uses expressive arts therapy to investigate existential themes of guilt, non-being, isolation, …

Urinalysis Test Data Analysis And Prediction, Nikhil Mhatre

2024 Datathon Challenges-Archive

OUTLIERS Team submission to the Urinalysis Test Results Timed Challenge

Researched various algorithms like boosting and random forest. We learned a lot about their strength and weaknesses, and used these algorithms accordingly to solve the issues faced in the dataset.

Giving Day 2024 Breaks Records At Ole Miss, Tina H. Hahn

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss – When the last online donation came in Wednesday (April 10) for Giving Day 2024, the University of Mississippi's donors had joined together to set an unprecedented fundraising record of more than $11.5 million.

Woosh Jín Toolshát Yeisú, WeʼRe Still Holding Each OtherʼS Hands : Relationships And Revitalization In Lingít Country, Éedaa Heather Burge

Faculty, Staff, and Students

This dissertation examines the relationships the Lingít language revitalization movement has to concepts of gender, identity, organizations and academia. The Lingít language and the Lingít people reside within Southeast Alaska in the United States, as well as northern British Columbia and the southern Yukon territory in Canada. Relying on my own lived experience as a Lingít learner and educator, as well as interviews and conversations with Lingít community members, we discuss how relationality supports the larger goal of Lingít language and cultural revitalization. Specifically we talk about the role of women within the language movement, and what approaches can best …

Compartmental Modeling For The Neophyte: An Application Of Berkeley-Madonna, Olcay Akman, Siddharth Bhumpelli, Cody Cline, Christopher Hay-Jahans

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Compartmental modeling serves as a necessary framework in many fields, especially biomathematics and ecology. This article introduces readers to a user-friendly approach to constructing compartmental models and solving the resulting systems of differential equations to simulate real-world applications. The platform used is Berkeley Madonna, a software package that has an intuitive graphical interface which empowers users—even those with limited mathematical and programming backgrounds—to focus on modeling concepts rather than mathematical or programming intricacies. This makes Berkeley Madonna an ideal platform for students, educators, and researchers.

Uni Introduction To High School Openscied Workshop [Flier] April 13, 2024, University Of Northern Iowa Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

The flier for the Introduction to High School OpenSciEd Workshop held on April 13, 2024 at the University of Northern Iowa.

Optimization Of An Innovative Hybrid Approach Zno-Doped Pvp Nanofibers For Electrical Devices Applications, Javeria Shah, Aryan Dilawar Khan, Mahidur R. Sarker, Aiyeshah Alhodaib, Ammar Khan, Mukhlisa Soliyeva, Vineet Tirth, Saima Naz Khan, Khizar Hayat, Amnah Mohammed, Moamen S. Refat, N.M.A. Hadia, Asad Ali, Abid Zaman

Artículos científicos

The solid solution of pure ZnO nanoparticles and doped Polyvinylepyrrolidone (PVP) green hybrid nanomaterial’s synthesized by using the electro spinning method. The synthetic polymer matrix nonwoven fibrous mats containing innovative properties are shown to shrink and encapsulated the zinc oxide materials to change the surface morphology when the concentration of PVP is increased from 1 % to 2 % dopants. The crystalline nature and morphological studies were examined by using x-ray diffraction and a scanning electron microscope. The average crystallite sizes of easily formed ZnO nanoparticles and nanorods that are 21 nm and 62 nm respectively. Moreover, the electrical and …

A Critical Review Of Sociological Research On Sexual Pleasure, Hannah Regan

Faculty Scholarship

Sociologists of sexuality often invoke the theme of pleasure, but it is not always clear what scholars believe the implications and importance of pleasure are. To this end, this paper reviews the existing literature on sexual pleasure, specifically within the field of sociology, to demonstrate what questions about sexual pleasure are (and are not) currently being asked. Through a systematic literature review, I demonstrate that scholars often lack a justification for why pleasure is important. I also connect themes between the kind of questions being asked about pleasure and the justifications attached to these studies, relating to risk mitigation, relationship …

American Museum Of Natural History Educator's Guide: Northwest Coast Hall, Judith Dax̱Ootsú Ramos, Laurel Xsim Smith Wilson

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Welcome to the Northwest Coast Hall. Reopened in 2022, it is the result of an intensive five-year collaboration between the Museum and ten advisors from the Indigenous cultural groups featured in the hall. This revitalized hall celebrates Indigenous worldview, artistry, cultural persistence, and the distinct practices and histories of the individual Nations along the Northwest Coast.

Socioeconomic Disparity Level And Telehealth Utilization Among Outpatient Healthcare Providers In California, Brittney Goodgame

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The recent expansion of telehealth in the United States has created an opportunity for increased access to care for all patients, especially those with historically limited access. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, logistic regression analysis was used to determine if there is an association between community socioeconomic disparity level and telehealth utilization by healthcare providers. Secondary datasets were obtained through an independent insurance brokerage based in California. They contained claim level detail of patient visits conducted with outpatient healthcare providers in California. A random sample of 1,000 cases from the dataset were used for the completion of the study. …

Enhancing Team Performance In The Digital Age: Impact Of Technologically Moderated Communication In The Interplay Of E-Leadership & Trust, Sina Eslamdoust, Ji Hoon Lee, Tahmineh Bohrani

Business Analytics Faculty Publications

As the COVID-19 pandemic concluded, anticipating future health crises underscores the urgency of effective management and adaptable organizations. This paper draws from existing literature on e-leadership, virtual teams, and organizations, and conceptualizes a foundation to explore e-leadership challenges in virtual contexts. Emphasizing the pivotal role of e-leadership competencies in bridging technology-mediated interactions and effective leadership, the study addresses communication, trust, and coordination issues within virtual teams. It illuminates the impact of technology and assesses how diversity shapes the link between employee engagement and performance. The paper contributes to theoretical knowledge in the field, highlighting the importance of trust-building, relationship cultivation, …

Fear Of Love And Loving In India, Sarasu Esther Thomas

Popular Media

Excerpt:

It is unthinkable that marriages and live-in relationships between adults should become so regimented by the State. This is a violation of constitutional and human rights to have adult agency appropriated by the state and non-state actors. This insidious creeping of the paternalistic State into romantic and intimate relationships of consenting adults does not show any signs of ebbing. It reflects increased polarisation and merges moral policing with the law.

Driving In Cars With Noise: Reflections On An Audio Research Methodology, Randall W. Monty

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Experience Of Well-Being In Educators Who Transitioned From In-Person To Online Teaching, La Toya S. Glenn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic created substantive stress and uncertainty for secondary educators, including responding to the shifts in delivering education from the traditional to the online classroom and back to the classroom. Improper training, increased work demands, increased responsibilities, and decreased autonomy took a toll on teachers’ work and home life. To better understand how teachers deal with transitions in online, hybrid, and in-person education, this study explored secondary educators' experiences of psychological well-being during the transitions from in-person to online teaching. An interpretative phenomenological approach guided the research design. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping was used …

Substance Users’ Perspectives On Harm Reduction Strategies In Housing First Programs, Tammy Montague

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem of housing instability for individuals with substance use issues is well known. Researchers have found that 50% of homeless individuals have a substance use disorder with a reduction in life expectancy compared to the general population. With 1% of the U.S. population experiencing homelessness, Housing First with its core component of harm reduction has been embraced by U.S. policymakers as a strategic solution towards ending homelessness through low-barrier permanent supportive housing. This generic qualitative study explored the perspectives of individuals with substance use experience about harm reduction strategies accessed that helped them to overcome system related barriers. …

Perceptions Of Patient-Healthcare Provider Relationships In The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes, Desiree D. Lacey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The patient-healthcare provider relationship (PPR) is the foundation of clinical care: it is established as a human relationship and has a profound effect on health outcomes. Though PPR has been studied in multiple health domains, there is very little on its role in managing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to better understand the challenges faced by healthcare providers (HCP) and T2DM patients within the clinical PPR for diabetes selfmanagement. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework and the diabetes self-management education program as the conceptual framework. Participants were recruited …

Getting Involved: Navigating Rural Student Supports In Higher Education, Lucy Karpukhno

Masters Projects

Rural students face unique challenges in navigating opportunities to find community and access support in higher education, despite these opportunities being critical to success. Factors such as geographic isolation, limited resources, and unfamiliarity with campus environments can exacerbate these challenges, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to enhance rural student outcomes in higher education. Getting involved on campus and having a sense of belonging has long been cited as important facets to promoting student success. This project seeks to develop a targeted orientation program with informative presentations, inclusive social events, and hands-on opportunities to experience a variety of clubs and …

S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Self-Care For Counselors, Nicole Marie Arcuri-Sanders, Jenny Kim

Educational Sciences and Organizations

Practicing self-care activities is essential to helping professions stave off and combat burnout and vicarious trauma. Mental health counselors and counselor educators and supervisors (CESs) need specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (S. M. A. R. T.) self-care activities to best meet the demands of this highly relational field. This article will assist CESs in supporting the personal development of S. M. A. R. T. self-care goals for their students and supervisees’ evolving professional identity with the addition to evaluate (E) and review (R) identified self-care efforts. CESs are supported with gatekeeping relevance and examining student and supervisee self-care plans …

Chitosan-Based Hydrogels In Drug Delivery, Salma A. Fereig, Mona Mohamed Ahmed Abdelmottaleb

Pharmacy

Hydrogels are three-dimensional cross-linked hydrophilic polymers that are able to absorb large quantities of water and swell. They have various properties like biocompatibility, low toxicity, and mostly biodegradability, which make them attractive for drug delivery applications. Chitosan hydrogels are especially attractive due to the inherent activities of the chitosan itself like the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue regeneration enhancement capacity. Therefore, chitosan hydrogels have been proposed for the delivery of various drugs, genes, cytokines, and stem cells via various routes of administration for the treatment of various diseases as well as different forms of degeneration.

But I Couldn’T Keep It To Myself: James H. Cone’S Articulation Of Resistive Prophetic Rhetoric, Diarron B. Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

James H. Cone is widely considered to be a forefather of Black Liberation Theology. Over the course of almost 50 years, he established himself as one of the world's most important theologians and a prophetic voice against anti-blackness and other forms of oppression in America. While his theology and career have received much well-deserved attention from religious historians and theologians, very few projects have engaged Cone rhetorically. This dissertation will examine Cone’s first four books: "Black Theology and Black Power", "A Black Theology of Liberation", "The Spirituals and the Blues", and "God of the Oppressed." Using his final and unfinished …

Examining The Relationship Of Cultural Sensitivity, Self-Esteem, And Cultural Identities, Jeanneka Black

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study examines qualities of self-esteem and its relationship to the process of self-reflection and sensitivity development. The intercultural sensitivity development model highlights the exploration of cognitive and affective processes as the catalyst for promoting willingness, adaptability, and ongoing curiosity to account for the limitations of present approach to multicultural training. Self-reflection is required to process thoughts and emotions, but self-esteem may serve as the barrier or facilitator of this effort. A moderately positive relationship was found among the total score for intercultural sensitivity and self-esteem. Relationships among the demographic variables of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious/spirituality, age ranges, educational level, …

Command Of The Winds: An Examination Of Earth Mother And Great Serpent Iconography, Melinda Alaine Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Mississippian cosmoscapes provide a perceived, yet concealed, existence of spiritual realms inhabited by other-than and more-than human-beings who interact, influence, and interfere with the tangible landscape through natural and material contexts. To conceptualize the world around them, Mississippian ritual practitioners focused on a tripartite cosmological organization: an Above World, Middle World, and Beneath World realms. Within each of these “worlds”, multiple other-than and more-than-human-beings possessed powers, which allowed them to influence the Middle World of humans and their lived experiences. A duality exists between Earth Mother (Above World), who commands vortexes or tornadoes, and the Great Serpent (Beneath World), who …

Chitosan As A Biomedical Material For Additively Manufactured Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Andrew Blass Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

High-energy combat-related extremity injuries to both bone and soft tissue from improvised explosive devices are one of the signature injury patterns suffered by US Servicemen during modern the military engagements. Even with bone healing and adequate management of infection, a significant number of battlefield-injured military personnel have returned from combat with persistent functional deficits. Tissue engineering holds immense promise for regenerative medicine by providing innovative solutions for repairing and replacing damaged tissues. In this study, we present two significant advancements in tissue engineering: the development of a novel bio-ink for muscle tissue constructs and the investigation of drug-loaded membranes for …

Habitat Suitability For Age-0 Lake Sturgeon In The Grand River, Benjamin D. Gunnett

Masters Theses

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) are a state-threatened species in Michigan and have become a focus for conservation. The lower Grand River is home to a remnant population of lake sturgeon between the 6th Street dam in downtown Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan. There has been limited research on age-0 lake sturgeon habitat use in low-gradient and more turbid rivers. To address this deficit, we developed a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for age-0 lake sturgeon based on prior literature in the Great Lakes. A HSI combines parameters representing in-stream habitat characteristics to score habitat suitability on a scale of 0-1, 0 …

Art And Evidence In Totems Of Uganda (2014), Margaret Nagawa, Taga F. Nuwagaba

Artl@s Bulletin

In his painting and book project, Totems of Uganda: Buganda Edition (2014), Ugandan artist Taga Nuwagaba asks: What is the function of a totem? In Buganda, the historical kingdom in current-day Uganda, totems serve as unique identifiers for fifty-two distinct patrilineal descent groups designated as clans, or ebika in the Luganda language, forming the primary scheme of social and political organization. Yet, totems also serve as a conservation practice. In this 2022 interview, Nuwagaba discussed his art and the evidence he relies upon to create his images, demonstrating that identities and knowledges are complex.

Munna Uganda Taga Nuwagaba abuuza nti: …

You Cannot See It: Navigating Yorùbá Religious Artistic Materials, Stephen A. Fọlárànmí

Artl@s Bulletin

My research spanning two decades in Ọ̀yọ́ Palace generated series of questions about access to artistic materials in site-locational spaces, archives and private collections. I probe how scholars have navigated and negotiated these terrains, especially artworks created for religious functions. I explore alternatives to resolve field challenges and consider the effects of such hindrances in art historical research. Drawing on the concept of ọ̀gbẹ̀rì, anecdotes and personal scholarly experiences, I interrogate research access and propose approaches based on personal experience on the importance of Yoruba religion, and practice of initiation.

Iṣẹ́ ìwádì mi fún bíi ogún ọdún sẹ́yìn lórí ààfin …