6834 research outputs found
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Baylor University student and professor uses of artificial intelligence.
No full textIn society, artificial intelligence is growing in recognition. Artificial intelligence (AI) models, particularly large language models such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, are being incorporated regularly into software applications and internet browsers. Across the world, educators are considering the increasing role of artificial intelligence. I explore the uses of AI in higher education at Baylor University. I specifically consider guidelines for university usage, professor developed policies, professor uses of AI, and student uses of AI. Student and professor surveys are used to learn professor and student uses of AI. The student survey consists of questions including major, use of AI for courses in the major, use of AI for university required courses, allowance of AI usage, usage of AI outside of class related activities, and usage of AI for personal reasons. The professor survey includes course policy related questions, usage of AI in class or for class preparation, and usage of AI for personal reasons. Approximately 50% of surveyed Baylor University students used AI for courses in their major as of the time of this study, and approximately 50% of surveyed professors described encouraging AI use for at least one assignment. I describe background AI usage in higher education, survey methodology, survey conduction, survey results, and applications and analysis of the results of student and professor uses of AI at Baylor University
Evaluating the role of postpartum doulas in mitigating postpartum depression symptoms and increasing maternal self-efficacy.
No full textOne out of seven women experience Postpartum Depression (PPD) during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. Social support has been recommended to mitigate PPD by stimulating maternal self-efficacy and reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Community Doulas of Waco (CDW) recognizes McLennan County's high maternal mortality, morbidity, and PPD rates and offers postpartum doula support and education on proper breastfeeding and other pre-birth and post-birth skills to underserved families. This thesis explores the effect of CDW doulas in reducing PPD symptoms in clients as well as improvements made in confidence of knowledge on postpartum and birth skills. In comparing client survey responses for all three measures at the initiation and conclusion of services, support may be made for CDW to expand services beyond McLennan County and inform future community doula programs
Awake to all my choices : adoptee’s journey to identity and healing.
No full textThis memoir-based thesis explores the trauma experienced by international adoptees, focusing on my personal journey as a Ukrainian orphan and later an international adoptee. Through an introspective narrative grounded in memoir theory and adoption literature, the work investigates the psychological impact of early childhood abandonment, cultural dislocation, and identity fragmentation. Chapter 1 introduces the memoir’s structure and methodology, drawing on modern memoirists who address identity in the context of trauma. Chapter 2 delves into the narrator’s early life with an abusive, bipolar great-grandmother and an absent, alcoholic mother, highlighting the emotional scars and complexities of early caregiving. Chapter 3 recounts the narrator’s life in two Ukrainian orphanages, revealing the harsh social hierarchies and dangers faced by institutionalized children. The final chapter reflects on the narrator’s transition to the U.S., navigating cultural alienation and evolving identity amid geopolitical upheaval. The memoir ultimately aims to foster solidarity among adoptees while shedding light on the unseen costs of international adoption
Exploring multi-impacted nontraditional undergraduate students’ perceptions of the factors that influence their motivation to learn in their courses : a single case study.
No full textDespite high motivation to learn, nontraditional students experience barriers that affect their persistence. Barriers such as limited time, resources, and inconsistent support systems make it difficult to balance different needs and form social connections. Some university personnel also fail to fully acknowledge nontraditional student needs, which increases their feelings of isolation and insecurity.
This single case study explored how multi-impacted nontraditional undergraduate students at a university in the western United States perceived that personal, behavioral, and environmental factors influenced their motivation to learn in their courses. I used Bandura’s (1977, 1986) social cognitive theory of reciprocal determinism to explore three multi-impacted nontraditional students’ experiences. I collected questionnaires, open-ended one-on-one interviews, and reflection journal responses. I then analyzed the data using the data analysis spiral and conducted a within-case analysis.
Six themes emerged aligned with the theoretical framework. First, participants perceived physical characteristics and cognitive traits—such as mental health, learning abilities, and disorders—influenced the development of their coping strategies to attend class on time, pay attention in courses, and balance their schedules. Second, participants perceived personal attitudes and beliefs of anxiety and embarrassment increased when others questioned their capabilities as learners. Third, participants perceived that habits of discipline, time management, open communication, utilizing schedules, giving rewards, and developing effective study environments developed over time and helped students complete their coursework. Fourth, participants perceived their behaviors and habits varied by course type, exhibiting positive study habits and classroom behaviors in major-based courses and avoidance behaviors and distraction-type habits in general courses, which decreased motivation without intervention. Fifth, participants perceived inconsistencies in access to network-building environments created a sense of isolation, and that consistent, deliberate engagement within the social environment could increase a sense of belonging on campus if they could secure mutual interest to interact with others. Sixth, participants perceived inconsistencies in familial, peer, and academic support, which they described as isolating, making it harder to attend and engage in class. This study has implications for students, faculty, and administrators
Investigating volatile organic compound composition in Houston, Texas amidst an atmospheric regime shift.
No full textThe World Health Organization links ~ 7 million premature deaths per year to poor air quality, underscoring the importance of understanding air pollution sources. Urban areas, with dense populations and diverse activities, significantly impact air quality and, consequently, public health. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a key component of urban air quality, emitted from anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Over decades, researchers have characterized VOC emission sources to better understand their role in forming ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Historically, VOCs from fossil fuel combustion, especially transportation, have been considered major contributors to ozone and SOA formation. However, the decline in automotive VOCs in recent years due to stricter tailpipe regulations has caused other petrochemical VOC sources to grow in relative importance to urban emission inventories. These non-combustion sources, known as volatile chemical products (VCPs), include organic solvent-based personal care products, cleaning agents, and industrial inks and adhesives. These changes in emission inventories highlight a substantial shift from historical VOC source profiles and represents a new challenge in identifying the VOC emission sources leading to sustained air pollution. Houston, Texas, a hub for national petrochemical processing, offers a unique region to study VCPs. Supporting the Houston-based Dept. of Energy-led Tracking Aerosol Convection ExpeRiment (TRACER) project, VOCs were collected on aerial and ground-based platforms to investigate VCPs in the region. In TRACER-Tethersonde (August 2022), a modular VOC sampler was fabricated for flights on two uncrewed aerial platforms, the ARM tethered balloon system and a drone (Chapter Two). The sampler collected VOCs via sorbent tubes, helping to address knowledge gaps in the vertical distribution of VCPs. In September 2021 and 2022 (i.e., TRACER-Air Quality 1 and 2), ground-based VOC measurements were collected at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, located along the Houston Shipping Channel (Chapter Three). Using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, these measurements focused on three known VCP components, capturing temporal variability and evaluating potential VOC sources. This dissertation assesses the VCP variability, highlighting the importance of further characterization as the urban airshed continues to evolve in response to a changing climate and shifts in human activities
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to improve body composition and perceived stress in collegiate athletes.
No full textBackground: Previous studies suggest Fish Oil-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acid (FO n-3) may improve body composition and mental health in adults.
Objective: This study aimed to assess changes in body composition measures and perceived stress scores in college athletes following FO n-3 supplementation.
Design: In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 17 Baylor University track and field athletes participated in an 8-week study. The experiment group (n=9) received 4.0 g of FO n-3 daily, while the placebo group (n=8) received 4.0 g of coconut oil. Baseline and post-study measures included Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), Omega-3 Index, and Perceived Stress Score (PSS).
Results: No statistically significant changes were observed in either group after 8 weeks.
Conclusions: FO n-3 supplementation did not significantly impact body composition or perceived stress in collegiate athletes, but positive changes were observed in the experiment group that were not statistically significant
Machine learning techniques for calorimeter cluster calibration of the CMS particle flow algorithm.
No full textThe Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) and Hadronic Calorimeter (HCAL) are key components of the CMS detector. The ECAL is designed to measure the energies of electrons and photons, while the HCAL measures the energies of charged and neutral hadrons. The Particle Flow (PF) algorithm integrates information from various CMS sub-detectors to reconstruct and identify all particles produced in proton collisions. Photons and neural hadrons are reconstructed using PF element energy clusters. A proper calibration enhances particle identification and reduces the likelihood of misreconstructed energy excess. Machine learning techniques, such as Boosted Decision Trees (BDT) and Graph Neural Networks (GNN), are employed to calibrate PF energy clusters, improving both the response and the resolution of the measured energy. This thesis applies BDT to calibrate PF ECAL clusters, while GNN is tested for hadronic cluster calibration
The hidden toll : a qualitative single case study exploring burnout among mental health therapists in the Texas Panhandle.
No full textThe Texas Panhandle is grappling with a significant shortage of mental health providers, a challenge mirrored in many regions across the United States. This scarcity not only impedes access to essential mental health care but also exacerbates the strain on existing mental health professionals, contributing to widespread burnout. Addressing this issue is crucial for improving the availability of mental health services and the support structures for those working within this high-demand field. The pressing need to understand and mitigate the factors contributing to burnout among mental health therapists in underserved regions is paramount for fostering a more resilient mental health workforce. This qualitative single case study explored mental health therapists' perceptions of the job conditions, demands, and resources related to their work at an inpatient mental health treatment facility. The research was conducted at an inpatient mental health treatment facility serving residents from all 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle and neighboring states. The study focused on mental health therapists employed full-time, part-time, or on a per diem basis at the research site. All participants held a master's degree and were licensed to practice in Texas. The study included four mental health therapists with different licenses and experience levels, ranging from newly hired to more seasoned professionals. The participants had an average of six years of experience in the mental health field. Data were collected from multiple sources, including Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey scores and responses to questionnaires and interviews. This study identifies key factors contributing to burnout among mental health therapists and their relationship to the provider shortage and offers practical insights for addressing both issues. These factors include the need for continuous training, addressing vicarious trauma, improving recognition and understanding of mental health therapists' roles, alleviating workforce shortages, and enhancing organizational support and resources. The findings are consistent with the job demands-resources theoretical framework developed by Demerouti et al. (2001), which guided this study. This study provides practical solutions for key decision-makers in the Texas Panhandle's mental health field to prevent and manage burnout
Assessing measurement invariance in long and short forms of the BIS/BAS scales across demographic subgroups with validation via impulsivity and internalizing and externalizing problem scales.
No full textThe Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scales are widely used to assess sensitivity to punishment and reward. Despite their broad application, few studies have evaluated measurement invariance across diverse sociodemographic groups. This study examined invariance of the original 20-item and abbreviated 12-item BIS/BAS Scales across sex, race/ethnicity, and their interaction in a diverse adolescent sample from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA), we tested and corrected for measurement invariance. External validation of adjusted factor scores (correcting for measurement error) via correlational analyses with related constructs, which also underwent invariance testing, showed similar, or greater associations with related constructs. Findings highlight the importance of addressing measurement bias to improve validity and fairness in psychological research and underscore the need to integrate invariance testing into large-scale, multiethnic studies
Exploring SOD1 electron transfer, heterodimerization, and hetero-amyloid formation.
No full textCu, Zn Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an essential metalloenzyme that regulates superoxide radicals. Because SOD1 is a long-lived protein, it contains an intrinsic molecular clock, deamidation, that accumulates over time. Misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and, more recently, Parkinson's disease. To investigate the molecular factors underlying these processes, this dissertation examines the protein from the inside out, focusing on three concepts: (i) the metal center, (ii) subunit swapping, and (iii) hetero-amyloid formation. In chapter two, I use an analytical method, “protein charge ladders”, to distinguish between electron transfer (ET) and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in a binuclear copper center by directly measuring the change in protein net charge upon reduction/oxidation (ΔZ4ET). Chapter three explores a hyper-deamidated form of SOD1, containing five of the protein’s seven deamidations, and evaluates how this natural post-translational modification affects heterodimerization. Chapter four investigates how the aggregation propensity of WT is altered in the presence of two mutations that do not aggregate in vitro