6834 research outputs found
Sort by
Te doy un consejo : the use of Spanish directives in two African Spanish films.
No full textThis study examines advice-giving and advice-taking in two African Spanish-language films: Treinta años ¿y qué? (from Ghana) and Limpiabotas (from Equatorial Guinea). Grounded in speech act theory (Searle, 1976) and Brown and Levinson’s Politeness theory (1987), the research analyzes how cultural and linguistic factors influence the use of directives in African Spanish. Given the multilingual backgrounds of both Ghanaian and Equatoguinean speakers, the study explores the speech acts, levels of directness, and politeness strategies employed by interlocutors in giving and responding to advice. The research provides a novel initial step towards understanding language, culture, and pragmatics in Spanish-speaking communities in Africa. It highlights the vibrancy of language use in multicultural and multilingual environments and calls for continued scholarly interest in the African Spanish as an expanding field
A qualitative case study exploring how teachers implement culturally responsive teaching.
No full textResearch indicates that a significant number of teachers in the United States do not implement culturally responsive teaching practices, which hinders students of color from feeling included and engaged in their classrooms. The lack of awareness and bias among predominately White educators often leads to social injustices in educational settings. Culturally responsive teaching entails integrating students’ cultural backgrounds into everyday learning experiences and requires teachers to continually reflect on and address their biases. Teachers using culturally informed strategies lead to improved academic success and engagement for students of color. Additionally, strong relationships between students, teachers, and families are essential for fostering a supportive environment where high expectations are set. Without these relationships and culturally responsive practices, the academic disparities faced by students of color persist.
This qualitative case study aimed to understand how teachers use the eight competencies of culturally responsive teaching to propel students of color to feel connected to the classroom community and engaged in the learning process in one school district in Texas. By focusing on the perceptions of four selected teacher participants from a single intermediate school in Texas, the research utilized multiple data collection methods, including interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations, to gain insights into their experiences. The study adhered to a structured research design that included thorough data analysis through coding, categorizing, and verifying findings with the participants. This led to a rich understanding of the challenges and strategies within culturally responsive teaching.
The study emphasized that classroom teachers should prioritize implementing culturally responsive practices to enhance student engagement for students of color. Recommendations for teachers include facilitating open discussions about students’ experiences and collaborating with families to improve student engagement. Campus administrators are encouraged to design schedules that accommodate intervention needs and develop strategic plans for community collaboration. Additionally, school district administrators should address systemic biases, such as transportation challenges, to ensure equitable access to school events and align professional development with culturally responsive teaching competencies. Overall, community partnerships were essential in creating a supportive educational atmosphere for all students
High-power impedance tuner design for real-time amplifier optimization.
No full textAs spectrum reallocations and sharing initiatives shift the landscape of mid-band spectrum allowing more users to be operating in these bands, radio frequency interference (RFI) is becoming significantly more widespread. Reconfigurable circuitry is needed to provide high-power transmitting systems the ability to maintain optimal system performance, such as transmission range, in real-time while avoiding incoming RFI. An impedance tuner can provide maximum transmission range across any scenario of an RF system, overcoming the gain-bandwidth limitations of the Bode-Fano criteria. To be useful in a high-power transmitter, an impedance tuner needs to possess high power handling, real-time (microsecond) switching speeds, broad Smith Chart coverage, and low loss. Furthermore, since the tuner is placed at the output of the power amplifier and will bear the full transmit power, power handling is crucial. However, the literature shows a lack of impedance tuners that are able to provide both high-power handling and real-time switching speeds.
The research in this dissertation provides significant advancements in achieving a high-power impedance tuner design with real-time switching speeds, while maintaining excellent impedance matching capabilities. A plasma-switch impedance tuner possessing both high-power handling and real-time switching speeds with good coverage and low loss is demonstrated. Additionally, the thermal power handling and limitations of this state-of-the-art impedance tuner are investigated in a 3-D EM-thermal coupled Multiphysics simulation. The slow reconfiguration speeds of previous high-power impedance tuners significantly hindered a cognitive radar’s ability to react and optimize its transmission range in a congested environment. This dissertation presents a real-time impedance tuner, capable of high-power handling, utilizing a synchronous pulse-to-pulse optimization algorithm for a cognitive software defined radio based radar platform, attaining the true maximum output power for each transmitted waveform. Finally, optimizing power handling requires not only utilizing high-power components, but also optimizing the topology, or layout, to minimize variations in current and voltage throughout the design. This dissertation presents a periodic distributed circuit topology technique for branch current minimization, resulting in significantly increased power handling capabilities
A conductor's guide to preparing and performing John Rutter's "The gift of life" (2015).
No full textJohn Rutter (b. 1945) has been acclaimed for his "rare melodic gift and captivating harmonic flair…in a series of unforgettable choral gems" (Classic FM). Despite the popularity of Rutter’s sacred choral-orchestral works, little scholarship and analysis has been dedicated to his works. Most choral scholars have focused on his earlier large works Gloria (1974), Requiem (1985), and Magnificat (1990). However, his The Gift of Life, composed in 2015, demonstrates his eclectic compositional style through a synthesis of sacred texts, lyrical melodicism, motivic nuance, Howells-like harmonic language, and hymnody.
The Gift of Life is a multi-movement major work accompanied by orchestra celebrating life in contrast to his revered and most-popular choral work, Requiem. Through textual and musical analysis and suggested rehearsal and performance practices, this document examines The Gift of Life with attention to Rutter’s unique text declamation of older and self-written sacred texts, expressive melodic writing, and practical ideas to assist conductors prepare this work with their ensembles. Personal interviews with Rutter and Terry Price, for whom The Gift of Life was written in honor of and dedicated to, hitherto unknown insight and context to the masterwork.
The research presented here is designed to encourage and equip choral conductors who program The Gift of Life for their ensembles, and the practicality of resources presented here, it is hoped, are of benefit to choirs who sing this work
Proposing a unified theory of religious schism : religious organization ecology in Satanism, Unificationism, and United Methodism.
No full textSpanning over four years and analyzing over 64 interviews, 220 sources, and 100
historical documents, this research program sets out to establish if a generalized theory of religious organization schism could be established. Three propositions, drawn from a blend of religious economies, new institutionalism, and organizational ecology theory were tested over three cases and their schismatic organizations: The Church of Satan, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and The United Methodist Church. Findings suggest the importance of institutionalization, authority and doctrine, and niche
conditions across case, making Religious Organization Ecology (ROE) a general
paradigm that consolidates all previous theoretical perspectives on schism in religious organizations into one
Stress, control, and connection : a comparative study of veterans and non-veterans across the life course.
No full textThis dissertation examines health disparities between veterans and non-veterans through the lens of sociological stress process and life course frameworks. Drawing on nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this dissertation investigates complex relationships between military service, psychosocial resources, and health outcomes across three empirical chapters.
Chapter One examines disparities in mastery, the sense of control over one's life circumstances, finding that veterans and non-veterans exhibit distinct patterns in how social determinants shape this critical psychological resource. Chapter Two applies a life course perspective to investigate mental and physical health inequalities, revealing how childhood and adult trauma differentially influence depression and self-rated health across military status. Results demonstrate that earlier life experiences have enduring consequences that manifest differently for veterans compared to civilians. Chapter Three investigates the nuanced relationships between social support, social strain, and depression, illuminating how various sources of interpersonal connections function uniquely for veterans versus non-veterans.
Collectively, this dissertation demonstrates that military service represents more than a demographic characteristic, it functions as a life course transition that fundamentally alters how individuals experience stress, develop coping resources, and maintain social connections. Veterans show distinct patterns in how psychosocial factors influence health outcomes, suggesting the need for tailored interventions that recognize these unique pathways. The findings challenge previous approaches to veteran health by highlighting the complex interplay between military socialization, life course trajectories, and social determinants of health. This dissertation contributes to understanding persistent health disparities in the veteran population while offering theoretical insights into how institutional experiences shape health across the life course
Evening atmosphere in the mountains : Swiss musical identity in Hans Huber’s "Schweizerische" symphony.
No full textThis thesis explores the historical contexts for Swiss cultural markers utilized by the late-Romantic Swiss composer Hans Huber (1852-1921) in his Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Schweizerische (1917). Considered the national composer of Switzerland, Huber invokes elements of Swiss identity as codified by the country’s historical and cultural movements throughout nineteenth century. Historiographical research contextualizes the symphony as a product of a nation-building and culture-building project by liberal intellectuals during the nineteenth century and the development of a substantive musical culture in the country and the city of Basel, where Huber primarily worked. Following this is detailed explanation of the elements of Swiss culture utilized by Huber in his symphony: the alphorn, landscape, Wilhelm Tell, and the sensation of nostalgia. A concluding analysis of the symphony reveals where exactly these elements occur and how Huber utilizes them to create an acoustic depiction of his native land
Hispanic student community college success : a qualitative multiple case study exploring persistence at two-year Hispanic-serving institutions.
No full textThe persistence and success of Hispanic students in community colleges remain critical issues within higher education. Despite increased enrollment in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Hispanic students continue to experience disproportionately low graduation rates. Research suggests that while HSIs enroll a high percentage of Hispanic students, they may not adequately address this population’s unique needs, highlighting a gap in support for their persistence and success. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore Hispanic community college students’ perceptions of factors related to persistence at three HSIs in the central region of the United States.
This study included three cases: Flint, Maple, and Poplar Community Colleges (pseudonyms). The participants were students who were enrolled in community college between 2021–2024. I captured participants’ experiences using two data sources: a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. I analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Domínguez-Rebollar and Acevedo-Polakovich’s (2021) structural ecosystemic model (SEM) of Latinx community college success provided the framework for exploring students’ perceptions of interactions between their ecological systems.
The study had four key findings that answered the two research questions and related to the system components of the theoretical framework. The findings revealed that (a) participants in this study described how personal determination and family dynamics shaped their motivation to persist toward their educational and career goals, (b) participants in this study described utilizing a diverse network of support systems to navigate their higher education journeys, (c) participants in this study described how their experiences balancing time and responsibilities related to their ability to focus on academics and maintain a sense of belonging, (d) participants in this study described how institutional processes and resources shaped their academic experiences and met their needs. This study’s findings align with and extend the existing literature and add to the field by including perspectives from three HSI-designated community colleges. This study has implications for students, administrators, faculty, staff, policymakers, and researchers who seek to support Hispanic students’ persistence in achieving their educational and career goals
Impact of Bacteroides fragilis-derived outer-membrane vesicle small RNAs on host immune responses in a tri-culture system.
No full textAlterations in the gut microbiome are linked to changes in host inflammation and cancer development. Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacteroides fragilis, release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contain small RNAs, which may modulate host immune responses. This study investigated how OMV-associated RNAs from enterotoxigenic (ETBF) and non-toxigenic (NTBF) B. fragilis affect inflammation in a tri-culture model consisting of Caco-2, HT29-MTX, and Raji B cells. Bacterial growth was optimized using modified BHI medium and monitored with a Cerillo Stratus reader, while protein content was quantified using a BCA assay. OMVs were isolated from both strains and used to treat the tri-culture at low (10 μg/mL) and high (100 μg/mL) doses, either with or without RNAse treatment, to assess the roles of internal and external OMV RNAs. Cytokine profiling via 38-plex Luminex revealed IL-8, CD274, VEGF-A, and PDGF-A as key targets. Primers were designed to validate transcriptional responses to OMV exposure via qRT-PCR. IL-8 expression was significantly upregulated in response to RNAse-treated low-dose ETBF and NTBF OMVs, with visual trends suggesting greater induction by ETBF. These findings support a role for OMV-RNAs in modulating pro-inflammatory signaling and contribute to understanding how gut microbes may influence cancer-related pathways
Reexamination of the psychometric properties of the drunkorexia motives and behaviors scales.
No full textResearch has demonstrated high rates of co-occurrence between alcohol use and disordered eating behaviors. A functional relationship may also exist between these behaviors, in which alcohol use prompts engagement in disordered eating behaviors, such as restriction or binging. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as ‘drunkorexia.’ Prevalence rates for engagement in drunkorexia behaviors are as high as 40% among young adult populations, and endorsement of these behaviors is associated with a range of negative consequences, including more severe symptoms of alcohol use and disordered eating. Multiple measures have been developed for the assessment of drunkorexia, including the Drunkorexia Motives and Behaviors Scales (DMBS), which are composed of four individual scales. These scales demonstrated excellent internal consistency and evidence of convergent and discriminant validity during the validation study; however, prior to the current study, no studies had examined the measure’s psychometric properties in a separate sample or sought to replicate its proposed factor structure. The current study therefore sought to do so in a sample of undergraduate students. The four DMBS scales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency in the current study. There was mixed evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, and there was a marked lack of distinction among the four DMBS scales. The proposed factor structure of the overall DMBS and the four individual scales was not clearly supported by the results of EFA or CFA, and no clear factor structure emerged or was supported. A set of exploratory items assessing for the prevalence of drunkorexia-related cognitions and behaviors demonstrated excellent internal consistency, and a 2-factor structure of the items met criteria for good fit. While these items present a briefer and more psychometrically sound alternative to the DMBS, research should continue working to accurately define the concept of drunkorexia and develop valid and reliable measures to assess for its characteristic behaviors