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I Am Out with Lanterns, Looking for Myself: Influences on Early Childhood Professional Teacher Identity Development
Get PDFThis dissertation study seeks to understand the stories ECE educators tell themselves about themselves and what impacts these stories. It also seeks to make visible the role that metaphor plays in ECE educators\u27 understanding of their shifting identities. Research questions explored in this study were: What influences the stories ECE educators tell themselves about themselves? What influences shifts in ECE educator identity? What symbols and metaphors do ECE educators use to make sense of their identities?
Using a phenomenological case study method, four ECE educators participating in a state university emerging leaders program were surveyed, interviewed individually, and interviewed in a focus group to collect data on how they talk about and make sense of their identities. A transformative feminist lens was employed in data analysis, with vignettes being written and shared back with the participants as part of the data collection and analysis process. Three primary findings were identified: Misalignment between participant and society\u27s image of young children Differences between participant and society\u27s image of ECE educators Care pedagogy is a stance ECE educators lean into, while it is devalued by society
Sherman and Teemant’s (2021) agentive triangle was used as the framework to make sense of the data. It helped make visible what and who impacts the stories ECE educators tell themselves about themselves and why these stories matter. Policy and research implications are discussed
Transition Metal Phosphides and PCO Used to Sustainably Transfer Phosphorus in Energy and Electricity
Get PDFTransition metal PCO (P=C+O) complexes have potential uses to produce organophosphorus complexes in a much more efficient and sustainable manner. This project shows the synthesis, identification, and characterization of a Cu(I) PCO complex which is supported by a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC*). This compound has been characterized via NMR (1H, 31P, 13C) and IR spectroscopy. Thermolysis of this compound shows the expulsion of carbon monoxide to generate a reactive Cu-P bond which appears to transfer the P-atom to the carbene ligand as gauged by NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectroscopy
Dataset for Meteorological Data from Four Weather Stations in Colorado During the 2024-2025 Winter
No full textThis dataset contains observations from four Colorado meteorological stations used as part of a US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL) snow strength project. The purpose of these data is to measure the meteorological variables that impact the trafficability and supportability of a seasonal snowpack and will be used as forcing data to model snow strength across time and space. Measured data include snow depth, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, snow temperature, soil temperature, and radiation
I Feel an \u27I\u27m Not Sure\u27 Feeling : Young Children\u27s Perspectives During Outdoor Risky Play
Get PDFYoung children’s outdoor risky play is an intriguing and challenging phenomenon in early childhood care and education settings (ECCE). While recent research on risky play conveys the numerous developmental benefits, types of play children engage in, environmental affordances, and approaches to risk assessment, minimal research includes children’s perspectives about their risky play experiences. This phenomenological case study explores preschool children’s experience and what they feel and wonder about during risky play in a setting where risky play is effectively supported. Data were collected using interactive observation and interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Children described feeling “good” and “scared” during risky play, and had feelings related to self-awareness, receptiveness, and togetherness. Their wonderings during risky play were connected to safety, risk, and inquiry. Poetic inquiry was used to honor the need for children’s voices in this research, amplify their words, and convey the essence of their risky play experience. These findings highlight the importance of including young children’s voices in research to inform ECCE teaching practices and the growing child-centered field of risky play pedagogy. Risky play provides invaluable opportunities for children to play with emotions, curiosity, and risk. Educators can reinforce the value of children’s risky play by adopting a strong image of the child, creating a culture of emotional awareness and risk-taking, and providing opportunities for risky play in outdoor environments
Dataset for Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Compositions in Dentine Collagen Correlate Strongly with Oxygen Isotope Compositions of Enamel Carbonate
No full textThe isotopic composition of tooth and bone has long been exploited in ecological, environmental, and archaeological studies. Increasingly, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in collagen are used as tracers of environment and diet. However, the isotopic relationship between hydrogen and oxygen in collagen and oxygen in tooth enamel is poorly described. A new investigation of varied wild large herbivores shows that δ18O and δ2H in collagen are both strongly correlated to δ18O in tooth enamel carbonate, with a d18O collagen vs. δ18O carbonate slope ~0.8 and a δ2H collagen vs. δ18O carbonate slope ~6. Given that enamel carbonate δ18O generally reflects environmental water isotopic composition, δ2H and δ18O in collagen also reflect isotopic compositions in environmental water and may be used analogously to tooth enamel for environmental or dietary studies
Connecting Through Activities: How Social Engagement Impacts Isolated Older Adults
Get PDFExecutive Summary
Problem Description: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher rates of depression and contribute to a variety of mental and physical conditions. In socially isolated older adults, managing depression and chronic medical conditions can lead to negative outcomes that include poor quality of life, increased disability and morbidity leading to higher healthcare costs, and elevated mortality rates.
Setting: Project took place in a community behavioral health clinic in the Pacific Northwest.
Rationale: This project is guided by the Iowa Model. The model was tailored to assist in identifying the problem, gathering and evaluating relevant evidence from the literature, implementation of evidence-based practice methods to assist in addressing this problem, dissemination of knowledge, and adoption of strategies found to be effective and sustainable.
Specific Aims: This project aimed to provide awareness on the importance of maintaining meaningful social connections to a group of older adults through engagement in group discussions and social activities.
Project Outcomes: The project outcomes included completion of questionnaires to assess participants’ perception of being socially isolated and lonely, to engage participants in group discussions, group activities, and to encourage contact with family and/or friends.
Implementation and Evaluation Plan: 10 older adults voluntarily agreed to participate in the project. The group met once per week for seven weeks engaging in discussions on planned topics, enjoying ice breaker games, and other activities as a group. Pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires were completed by all in attendance to assess their perception of loneliness and social isolation.
Results: The group met once per week for seven consecutive weeks from June through July 2024. Participant attendance varied weekly. A pre-intervention questionnaire was completed. Feedback on potential group activities was discussed amongst the group. Ice breaker questions were utilized at each meeting to promote conversation amongst the group. The DNP student initiated open discussions on specific health-related topics each week. Based on group feedback, the student selected locations within the community where we engaged in group activities. A post-intervention questionnaire was completed. Participants expressed enjoyment of the group, sadness about the project ending, and hope that similar social activity groups may be offered in the future.
Interpretation: Key findings align with the literature suggesting that consultation with group members to develop and plan activities and interventions, and an educational component for group discussion in a supportive environment, were found to be beneficial. While there was no statistical difference in results for perceived feelings of loneliness and social isolation, the aims of the project were met which was interpreted as a positive response. Revisions could be beneficial in tailoring interventions to further address feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Conclusions: Based on positive feedback from the participants, this project demonstrated positive outcomes through the development of meaningful connections and from the increase in activity engagement. This project has the potential to be sustainable and beneficial for the development of social connections and may provide a valuable model for future programs aimed at reducing isolation/loneliness in older adults
Victory Gardens: Then and Now (Lecture)
Get PDFDid you know Smithsonian Gardens has a Victory Garden exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC? Victory gardens were vegetable gardens planted during the world wars in order to ensure an adequate food supply for civilians and troops. Roughly one half of all American families had a victory garden during World War II. There were at least 20 million victory gardens covering more than 20 million acres of American soil by 1943. 40% of the nation’s produce was supplied by victory gardens by 1944. American families had grown approximately 8 million tons of food by the time the war ended in 1945. While the gardens themselves are now gone, posters, seed packets, catalogs, booklets, photos and films, newspaper articles, diaries, and people’s memories still remain to tell the story of victory gardens. Since the early 2000\u27s, Smithsonian Gardens has been sharing these stories and memories through their own World War II inspired Victory Garden, featuring heirloom and novelty vegetable and flower species. This lecture will discuss the past of victory gardens and imagine their future in our own communities
The Effect of Plant Diversity on Fungal Colonization in Sagebrush Seedlings
No full textIntroductory sentences/Background:
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a native plant species found in arid and high deserts. The sagebrush steppe serves as a habitat to many native Idaho plant and animal species. The sagebrush steppe plant community consists of various species of sagebrush, perennial bunchgrasses, forbs and other shrub species.
A thriving sagebrush steppe is a key component to ecosystems in the Western United States by maintaining soil integrity, the hydrologic cycle, while also supporting recreational opportunities, livestock grazing, and holding cultural significance to tribal communities in the West.
It is known ( that ecosystems which are more biodiverse have greater long term function, are more resilient, and have higher recovery rates. Increasing plant biodiversity has also been known to increase the soil microbial diversity, including archaea, bacteria, and the main focus of this article - fungi. This positive feedback loop entails multiple different plant species secreting different amounts and qualities of root exudates which provide nutrients to diverse mutualistic fungal communities. A more microbially diverse soil promotes further root exudation and the beneficial cycle continues.
Problem statement:
The sagebrush steppe is a threatened and diminishing ecosystem; approximately 1.3 million acres are lost per year (NPS). There are several factors that contribute to the shrinkage of the sagebrush steppe. Wildfires are the largest contributors, as well as anthropogenic changes, poorly managed livestock grazing methods, invasive species, and drought in the Intermountain West. Sagebrush remediation methods often have low success rates due to its naturally high mortality rates.
However, little is known about the effect of plant species diversity on fungal colonization in hopes to create recovery management strategies.
Question:
We ask, how does plant species diversity impact fungal colonization in sagebrush seedlings?
Methods:
The field site is in Southern Idaho close to Brunuea, Idaho. In summer 2019 the Pothole fire completely decimated a thriving steppe, resulting in an unrecognizable barren landscape. Three months later, there were three-level plant diversity gradients seeded in hopes of sagebrush restoration. These treatment gradients included: (1) two native species [one grass, one forb], (2) four native species [two grasses, two forbs], and (3) eight native species [4 grasses, 4 forbs]. Species were randomly selected. Two control groups were established; including six non-seeded plots, and six monoculture plots seeded with Agropyron cristatum, also known as crested wheatgrass. Each treatment was replicated 12 times, resulting in 60 plots total in the field.
To examine the differences in soil microbial communities according to different diversity treatments, a controlled greenhouse experiment was conducted. Soil was collected and combined from the 48 seeded plots to make a common sterilized soil to reduce variability of soil chemical properties and ensure the soil microbial community is the only variable influencing native seedling establishment.
Soil inoculum was collected from “live soil” samples from each treatment, consisting of 10% of the total common soil weight each. This resulted in 48 pots that were later seeded with native sagebrush seedlings in the greenhouse.
The seedlings grew for approximately 3 months in the greenhouse, the roots were then harvested, stained, plated and viewed under a microscope for fungal colonization, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) structures, and dark septate endophyte (DSE) structures. Fungal DNA and RNA was recovered from homogenized soil samples using the RNA PowerSoil Total RNA Isolation Kit and DNA elution buffer from MoBio. ITS1F and ITS4 primers were used to target the fungal species present.
Results:
I am waiting on results from my mentor. I will upload a final abstract to my poster
Investigating the Mechanism of DNA-Protein Crosslink Formation Facilitated by Synthetic Aziridinomitosenes
No full textAziridinomitosenes (AZMs) are quinone-containing DNA alkylating agents, discovered as metabolites of the chemotherapeutic drug mitomycin C (MC). Through the formation of DNA-interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), MC is able to inhibit DNA replication and ultimately cause cell death in tumors. However, prior to DNA binding, MC must undergo a bioreductive activation sequence that has been well studied and characterized. Historically known to produce DNA-monoalkylated adducts in the absence of reductive activation, it has also been shown that synthetic AZMs are able to generate not only ICLs, but also DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) in the absence of any reducing species. Given that these were previously unreported adducts for AZMs, a nucleophilic activation/DNA modification sequence involving either of the C-6 or C-7 positions on the quinone ring (mitomycin numbering) was proposed. To test the proposed mechanism, analogs where the C-6 and/or C-7 positions have been blocked have been synthesized and then subjected to a variety of DNA-binding experiments, including in vitro K-SDS assays to quantify the impact of AZM substitution on DPC formation. C6-AZM and H-AZM formed significant amounts of DPCs compared to untreated (41.3 ± 1.9% and 10.2 ± 0.7% respectively). MC and dimethyl-AZM, both having a fully substituted quinone ring, formed equivalent amounts of DPCs based on a two-way ANOVA (2.8 ± 0.4% and 5.6 ± 1.2% respectively). Currently we aim to repeat these DNA-binding experiments with untested AZM analogs as well as treat the various analogs with nucleophilic amines and characterize the products. Upon characterization of these products we aim to further determine whether or not incorporation of a nucleophile at the C-6 and/or C-7 sites occurs, thus supporting or disproving the hypothesized mechanism
Economic and Sustainable Benefits of Urban Transportation
No full textThis research explores the economic and sustainable benefits of urban transportation services by analyzing data from five different cities around the globe: Tokyo, Seoul, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Portland. Each of these cities has adopted approaches to urban mobility, emphasizing public transportation, cycling infrastructure, and policies aimed at reducing car dependency. The study evaluates how these strategies contribute to economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Tokyo’s public transit network is one of the most efficient and expansive in the world, it reduces congestion and encourages for more transit-oriented development. This system increases accessibility and supports local businesses by bringing more people to urban areas. Seoul has prioritized public transit and pedestrian infrastructure, transforming urban spaces for public use while driving local economic growth. Amsterdam and Copenhagen have established extensive cycling networks and implemented car-free initiatives that improve air quality, promote public health, and stimulate the local commerce. Portland is recognized as a leader in sustainable urban development in the U.S., it has demonstrated how investments in light rail systems and pedestrian-friendly policies can revitalize neighborhoods and strengthen the local economy.
This study uses a combination of case studies, economic impact analyses, and sustainability metrics to assess the many benefits of these transportation systems. The research will quantify the reduction in carbon emissions, improvements in mobility for disadvantaged communities, and the creation of green jobs as key indicators of success. Additionally, the analysis highlights the role of public transit in fostering inclusive economic development and enhancing urban resilience.
By examining these five cities, this research provides insights into how urban transportation policies can be leveraged to promote both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. The findings aim to inform policymakers and urban planners on best practices for designing transportation systems that align with long-term sustainability goals