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Poetry as Time Machine: Connecting Readers to the Past Through Poetry
No full textPoetry has the power to enhance the delivery and learning of history. Combining the academic study of history with the lyrical language of poetry, participants will experiment with innovative ways to creatively express learning. Activities will include blackout poetry, collage poetry, persona poetry, golden shovel, and more
IR Accessibility: Where Are We At? Where Do We Need to Be?
Get PDFWith the World Health Organization estimating that there are 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide, institutional repositories are never going to achieve their aim of widely and freely sharing information without careful attention to accessibility. Unfortunately, many institutional repositories are not achieving a level of accessibility that allows for equitable access to their collections by disabled users. In this presentation, we will share the results of our environmental scan of current institutional practice. We will also discuss the recommended best practices we have developed to improve access to these valuable materials by all users
A Comparative Analysis of Sacred Harp and Convention Style Music: Similarities and Differences of Performance Practice
Get PDFHistorically, choral conductors draw from Western European choral traditions when programming music. They tend to avoid selecting early American music, mainly due to lack of knowledge and exposure. Shaped-note music was a foundational component to the early American musical tradition. Upon entering college, many musicians have no concept of shaped-note music, and therefore often overlook this unique and rich heritage. Without the resources and skills, a conductor cannot be expected to feature this important genre in their choral programs. When asked about shaped-note music, most musicians reply that they know this music exists, but that is the extent of the matter. Some may refer to Sacred Harp music, also known as the four-shape tradition or fasola music, but there is another important form of this genre known as Convention Style music, or the seven shaped-note tradition. Choral conductors are not adequately educated in the shaped-note tradition; therefore, many of them avoid teaching and programming this music. The research in this document presents two main forms of shaped-note music, the Sacred Harp and Convention Style traditions. This doctoral project will compare their similarities and differences by exploring specific performance practice components including vocal techniques, tonal concepts, conducting approaches, and standing arrangements. Ultimately this research will provide readers with the knowledge and tools to help teach and perform these musical traditions
Einstein\u27s Dream by Cindy McTee: An Analysis and Transcription for Wind Ensemble
Get PDFCindy McTee’s 2005 composition for strings, percussion, and computer music is an exploration in pluralism, combining newly composed music and computer-synthesized sounds with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Charles Ives. McTee’s initial use of Bach’s music comprises the complete harmonization of the chorale “Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott.” In later sections of the work, McTee creates entire textures from the chorale’s soprano line, subjecting it to a variety of treatments including augmentation, diminution, inversion, retrograde, and retrograde inversion. In addition to the inclusion of his music, McTee reiterates the importance of Bach through composition that relies on the four-note motive formed from the letters of his name: B♭, A, C, B. The central section of Einstein’s Dream, unlike much of the work, is devoid of any material by or related to Bach, instead being notably influenced by Charles Ives’s The Unanswered Question. The influence of The Unanswered Question manifests in the characteristics of this section’s texture, the individual function of its musical layers, as well as its extended melodic line, which has been constructed from the principal trumpet theme of The Unanswered Question. For the creation of a transcription of the work, principal challenges included the translation of idiomatic string techniques for wind instruments, as well as the aural transcription and acoustic recreation of the computer music, in order to achieve a more ideal blend with the new ensemble of winds and percussion. As such, representative examples showing the translation of certain idiomatic string techniques, as well as examples that show how the computer music was acoustically rendered occupy a portion of this document
Perceived Parental Abilities of Traditional vs. Non-traditional Couples Seeking to Adopt
No full textPrejudice towards those that do not conform to stereotypical roles for their given sex remains a pervasive societal problem, particularly among gay and lesbian couples. However, few experimental studies investigating factors that affect prejudice toward such couples have been conducted. The current study sought to better understand the psychological factors driving these prejudices, particularly considering the long-term implications for gay and lesbian couples seeking to expand their families. One basis for this prejudice seems to be a reaction to gay or lesbian couples violating traditional familial and gender norms. To further investigate this prejudice, participants viewed either an opposite- or same-sex facial dyads along with a vignette indicating that this couple was seeking to adopt. Individual target faces were also manipulated to appear either more masculine or feminine and used to form nine unique pairings of sexually dimorphic couples. Participants then indicated the extent to which they thought each couple was likely to be approved for adoption and the couples’ parental abilities. This was followed by the Right-Wing Authoritarianism scale, a measure of value placed upon traditional norms, and a measure of extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity more nuanced understanding of the underpinnings of anti-gay discrimination. Results may guide future research for reducing these prejudices, particularly as it pertains to LGBTQ+ couples seeking to adopt
Essays on Foreign Direct Investment, Free Trade Agreements, and the Digital Economy
Get PDFEconomic globalization’s key components include international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and the digital economy. FDI stimulates export growth, complementing international trade. The global economy is being transformed by digitalization, boosting international trade and GDP through speed, convenience, productivity, and transparency and driving shifts in FDI patterns through resource-efficient products and green technologies.
This dissertation investigates three prominent issues - the FDI inflows to fragile, least-developed countries (LDC), the proliferation of Free Trade Agreements (FTA,) and the digital economy. Using the Generalised Least Squares Random effects (GLS RE) and the Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimations with a sample size of 156 countries, the research found that market size (GNI), human development (HDI), the presence of liquified natural gas (LNG), the presence of precious stones and mineral resources, least developed country (LDC) classification, and trade openness positively determine FDI. At the same time, fragility, measured by the fragile states index and political instability, can reduce FDI. Also, the research into FTAs used the Kruskal-Wallis H test to study the 356 FTAs registered by the WTO at the end of 2022. The research found that FTAs differ based on the number of countries, economic regions, and goods and/or services coverage. The research on the digital economy used a case study methodology to analyze its features and how it has contributed to cross-border trade and investment. The research findings show that internet connections, the ubiquitous mobile phone, and the actions of digital MNEs have created an ecosystem that has changed how we work and play and boosted cross-border trade in goods and services. For example, digital platforms such as Airbnb and social media platforms, including YouTube, have enabled trade in services across borders.
The research findings can contribute to national and multilateral discussions. Countries can implement policies and programs that promote FDI and advance the digital economy. At the same time, at the multilateral level, discussions can acknowledge the disparities and policy challenges of the digital economy and the erosion of free trade caused by FTAs and pursue multilateral solutions that would benefit the global economy
The Saudi Government\u27s Response To COVID-19: A Social Media Analysis
Get PDFIn 2020, COVID-19 invaded the world and caused massive losses, materially, morally, and psychologically. Countries worldwide tried to mitigate the damages by taking strict precautionary measures. The response of governments to this pandemic varied. This study explored the Saudi government’s response to the pandemic by examining its official Twitter accounts. Saudi Arabia holds an important position, economically, politically, and religiously. Thus, its response to COVID-19 affects its international image and reputation, as well as the tremendous number of people who visit the country annually during the Umrah and Hajj seasons. A qualitative content analysis was conducted, and 1,007 tweets posted by the Saudi Government from 2020 to 2021 were coded. Situational crisis communication theory was used to help identify strategies used by the government. Findings suggested that the Saudi government used Twitter extensively during the pandemic in different stages of the crisis cycle. Most of the tweets focused on the government\u27s efforts and precautionary measures it took in the very early stages, starting with closing the borders and stopping Umrah and Hajj. These actions led to a decrease in deaths and active cases, compared to other countries. As part of the apology strategy, a new theme, unity, was identified in the content analysis, which contributes to the Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Victimization and integration strategies were also found. The study did not support the theory’s assumption of connecting crisis responsibility to the crisis type. The findings suggested the need to expand SCCT to include additional crisis types and separate crisis responsibilitie
Emergent Properties of Dynamically Bonded Polymers
No full textDynamically bonded polymers are a class of materials which have garnered significant interest in recent years for their unique properties and potential applications. These polymers contain exchangeable linkages, thereby allowing for the long-range reorganization of polymer architectures within a given material. Extensive work has been done to develop novel strategies for incorporating covalent and non-covalent dynamic linkages into polymeric materials. This dissertation examines both dynamic covalent and non-covalently bound polymers, with a focus on understanding the emergent material properties that arise through dynamic exchange. A general overview of dynamic chemistries and their applications to polymer science is given in Chapter I. Chapter II discusses the design and synthesis of morpholin-2-one functionalized poly(norbornenes) and their application as reactive handles for single and double polymer modification. We provide in-depth kinetics studies to demonstrate the selective reactivity of morpholin-2-one with primary aliphatic amines, and further show that the latent alcohol group can be used as a second reactive site to for double modification of polymer chains. Finally, we present a one-pot approach to synthesize doubly grafted polymer architectures from monomeric starting materials. Chapter III focuses on the use of imidazolium sulfonate zwitterions as a non-covalent binding motif for supramolecular polymer networks. Herein, we report a trifunctional zwitterion, which form low molecular weight supramolecular glasses due to strong dipole-dipole interactions between zwitterionic dipoles. In chapter IV, we present photopolymerizable diketoenamine vitrimers utilizing bis-hydroxyamine crosslinkers as a model system to explore the role of crosslinker choice in controlling the topology- iii freezing temperature of triketone-based vitrimers. Finally, Chapter V provides a concise summary of our work and offers some future directions to pursue
Empowering Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in Computer Science: An Interactive Hand Gestures Approach to Number Conversion Teaching
Get PDFIt is essential for teachers to effectively address the diverse needs of students within the classroom environment, encompassing variations in IQ, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and mathematical proficiency. Ensuring the inclusion of CwSN (Children with Special Needs) is imperative to prevent social division in the classroom. While the department offers accommodations such as scribes, interpreters, or extra time for examinations, these measures may not fully address the specific needs of CwSN. This study explores the efficacy of employing hand gestures as a teaching tool for CwSN in computer science, particularly in the realm of number conversions. A machine learning-based tool has been developed and implemented to provide an inclusive and accessible approach, addressing the specific needs of students with learning and intellectual disabilities. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research aims to evaluate the impact of integrating hand gestures into the instruction of number conversions. This methodology offers a simplified and interactive approach, potentially enhancing comprehension, retention, and engagement among CwSN. By focusing on the mathematical aspects of the computer science syllabus, specifically number conversion, this method aims to streamline the learning process, requiring minimal arithmetic to perform conversions without the use of pen and paper. The hand gestures method significantly improved the effectiveness of teaching number conversions to Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in comparison to traditional approaches. This approach not only boosted their participation but also facilitated easier retention of the concepts