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College Students as Participants in Our Democracy: Models for Engagement
No full textLow rates of voter engagement characteristic of the college-age demographic are determined by a host of factors. These factors vary according to geography, demographic variables, and individual inclinations. Those who strive to strengthen our democracy through increasing access to our political system confront many challenges, and there exists no “one-size-fits-all” approach. College campuses, where young voters obviously congregate in large numbers, provide a primary access point for democratic engagement efforts. Institutions of higher education are compelled to respond to the federal mandate put forth by the Higher Education Act to provide information on voter registration. Anecdotal information suggests a greatly varied response to this call.
A sample of campus programs attempting to engage college and university voters are presented here, demonstrated by peer-based actions in 1) an institute for civic and community engagement in St. Louis, Missouri, 2) a public policy center in Indianola, Iowa, 3) an intensive interdisciplinary curricular experience in Oswego, New York, and 4) a broad-based voter education initiative in Springfield, Missouri. They differ greatly in terms of funding sources, campus positions of their administrating personnel, curricular versus co-curricular actions, and the degree of administrative support to mobilize and engage members of the campus community. In addition, participating students learn to recognize the agency they wield in molding the political world they want to experience and are more likely to continue their civic engagement post-graduation
Introducing Ordered Silicon Vacancies Into WSi2
No full textThermoelectric materials are very useful in industry due to their unique ability to convert waste heat into electricity. One such reported thermoelectric material is rhenium silicide (ReSi1.75▯0.25), resulting from ordered silicon vacancies in its crystal structure. The purpose of this project is to dope tungsten silicide (WSi2) with more electron rich elements to find a ternary silicide with a similar crystal structure to ReSi1.75▯0.25, in order to synthesize a less expensive thermoelectric material. Two synthesis methods are used in this project to dope WSi2. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to evaluate the final phase doped ternaries by comparison to the undoped WSi2 pattern. The first method using pure phase binary pnictides and chalcogenides with tungsten as precursors to introduce P, S, and Se into the ternary W silicide structure. The ternary silicides prepared, using WP as the source of P, were found to contain an unknown phase in addition to WSi2, but did not show evidence of ordered Si vacancies. The second method uses the more electron rich transition metals Ru, Fe, and Mn as dopants. Annealing showed to have no effect on the final phase for the Ru series, but changed the phase significantly for the Fe and Mn series. Based on the lack of peak shifting for primary phase WSi2-type compositions, there was no replacement of W atoms in the WSi2 unit cell with any of the other transition metal dopants, resulting in multiphase structures. Using single crystal precession image analysis, no satellite reflections were present for any series, indicating no ordered Si vacancies existing in any of the ternary doped W silicides. Because of this lack of ordered vacancies, thermoelectric properties like those in ReSi1.75▯0.25 are not proven
Patterns of Epiphytic Bacterial Growth on Flower Surfaces: Relationships with Flower Longevity and Environmental Factors
No full textFlowers host diverse communities of epiphytic bacteria, which can impact floral functions, pollinator interactions, and overall plant fitness. However, little is known about how the abundance of these bacteria change as flowers age, and how these shifts may correlate with floral longevity. In this study I investigate the change in bacterial abundance across the lifespan of a flower from anthesis (opening of bud to flower) to senescence (wilting of flower) and to explore the potential implications for floral longevity. We tracked the age of the flowers by determining the average age to senescence in flowers of 8 plant species over two field seasons. Flower buds were tagged prior to anthesis, allowing us to track flower lifespan from the moment of bud opening, which marked the start of their anthesis, to the onset of visible wilting, indicating the initiation of senescence, we determined the abundance of culturable bacteria on flower surfaces through plate counting and measured how environmental temperature, humidity, and precipitation influenced these patterns. Our results showed that flowers accumulate bacteria as they age, with shorter-lived flowers generally amassing bacteria more rapidly than longer-lived ones. However, contrary to expectations, epiphytic bacterial abundance did not correlate with flower longevity, suggesting that epiphytic bacteria may not directly influence floral longevity. Instead, environmental conditions played a prominent role; higher temperatures were associated with reduced bacterial abundance, while increased humidity supported both greater bacterial abundance and extended floral lifespan. These findings indicate that bacterial abundance on flowers may be shaped by external factors with no direct impact on flower longevity, highlighting the complex interplay between floral aging, and environmental conditions
The Effect of Email Communication on Professor-Student Rapport, Academic Self-Efficacy, Resiliency, Motivation, and Spirituality
No full textStudent retention and success rates are an increasing concern among collegiate administrators and educators. This study examined the influence of a college instructor’s email communications on professor-student rapport, student academic self-efficacy, resilience, motivation, and success. Researchers hypothesized that the student participants who received the encouraging email communications from their professor would demonstrate higher levels of professor-student rapport, higher levels of academic self-efficacy, resiliency, and success compared to the students who receive standard email communications from their professor. Five scales were utilized in this study including Professor-Student Rapport Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-30), Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), and Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scale-Achievement Goal Subscales (PALS, Revised 2000). Participants (N = 66) completed the scales twice, once at the beginning of the semester and once at the end in order to evaluate the effects of email communications from the professor on participants’ thoughts and feelings concerning professor-student rapport, academic self-efficacy, resilience, and motivation. Researchers found a positive increase in professor-student rapport from the beginning to the conclusion of the semester (Pre-Post ANOVA), supporting the hypothesis. Additionally, a significant decrease in academic self-efficacy and resiliency was evident from the beginning to the end of the semester. When evaluating group differences (Control vs Experimental), no significant differences were observed. Based upon a multiple regression analysis, it was found that professor-student rapport was the only factor that contributed significantly to changes in academic self-efficacy. However, the direction of this relationship did not support the predicted hypothesis. This study exemplifies the strengths that email communications demonstrate on professor-student rapport and indicates that it should be implemented by educators
Brighter Days
No full textBrighter Days is a musical composition for choir, solo voice, and guitar, depicting the stages of an emotional journey through five separate movements. Each movement represents a different set of feelings, exploring themes of frustration, perseverance, hope, elation, and other sentiments. The movements are interconnected, employing key relationships and cross-references throughout the work. Musical styles vary, and genres are blended to create tonal landscapes that are both unique and accessible. Brighter Days is an expressive new work about finding light in darkness and coming to terms with oneself
Experience of Parents Attending a Perinatal Lullaby Program
No full textPrevious research performed with mother–infant dyads has demonstrated that infant–directed singing may make significant contributions to mother–infant attachment, may reduce infant stress, reduce maternal stress, assist mothers and babies with emotional regulation, improve mother–infant interactions, prevent colic, and improve infant sleep. Despite these benefit potentials, parents of today are much less likely to sing to their infants than parents of previous generations. Attendance of postnatal lullaby education programs has been associated with increased maternal singing at home and confidence in their parenting role. Perinatal lullaby programs are not represented in the literature. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of parents attending a perinatal lullaby program through a phenomenological lens. Parents attending a Lullaby Circle reported on their experiences singing in class and at home in the perinatal period. Parents described experiences of bonding and connection with their babies, a sense of connection to a larger community, and increased singing at home. Parents also reported using singing as a parenting tool and self-care practice. Parents enjoyed and valued their experience in the current perinatal lullaby program. Community music outreach programs such as this could help parents feel better supported and empowered to meet the demands of pregnancy and parenting. Infant–directed singing may be a preventative measure for parental well-being and prenatal and postnatal attachment by having positive impacts on parent well-being. Lullaby singing may be a unique attachment intervention in that it can be performed in the prenatal and postnatal periods
Cold Hardiness in Vitis Interspecific Hybrid \u27Chambourcin\u27-Based Population
No full textThe susceptibility of grapevines to low-temperature injury presents a significant challenge, particularly in the United States. Traditional European grape cultivar, Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet sauvignon’, faces bud damage at temperatures below freezing. On the other hand, Vitis interspecific hybrid ‘Chambourcin’, exhibits greater tolerance to sub-zero temperatures. The objective of this research was to conduct Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) on 273 F1 hybrid genotypes generated from a cross of ‘Chambourcin’ × ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ to quantify bud cold hardiness by identifying the freezing exothermic reactions. Low temperature exotherm (LTE) profiles, over two dormant seasons (December to February 2022-2024), revealed 15 interspecific hybrid cultivars with superior midwinter cold hardiness, where maximum levels of hardiness were observed between -25 °C to -28 °C. Notably, two promising genotypes, ChxCs012 and ChxCs279, exhibited the most consistent cold hardiness across two dormant seasons. Additionally, 355 simple sequence repeats (SSR) and 1,394 RNaseH2-dependent amplicon sequencing (rhAmpSeq)-derived haplotype markers were used to construct a linkage map which was used in downstream Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis for cold hardiness. Significant QTLs were discovered on linkage groups (LGs) 1, 9, and 11 that explained 13.86 % to 19.67 % of total phenotypic variance. These results can promote hybrid cultivar selection via cold hardy linked markers that can be applied in marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding, to identify grapevine cultivars that can thrive under wider climatic conditions, benefiting the wine and grape industry
Body. Freedom. Choice: Creating Artwork in Post-Roe America
No full textI knew from a young age that I never wanted children. Whenever I expressed my disinterest in motherhood, I was often met with bewilderment, disapproval, and hostility. The church I was raised in taught me that my value and worth as a woman directly correlated with the power of my birthing hips. This fundamentalist upbringing has significantly shaped my relationship with my femininity, my body, and my artwork. When I feel powerless, turning to my art gives me a sense of control and self-expression. This body of work began as a reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has evolved to encompass a broader theme about abortion and related topics that impact women. Within my art practice, I explore how a single symbol can be abstracted to create patterns and motifs to express different narratives surrounding abortion and femininity. I make 2D mixed media work using graphic design, digital fabrication, and other supporting processes and materials. My work reflects my relationship with the reproductive abilities of my body as well as my political beliefs. Abortion is a complex and heart-wrenching decision that should be made privately between a woman, her doctor, and possibly her loved ones. This is especially important as every situation surrounding a woman’s reason for abortion is unique and personal. Through my work, I advocate for open-mindedness, free speech, understanding, respect, and choice
The Kinetic Modulation of α - Synuclein Fibrillation and Toxicity by 4-Phenylbutyric Acid
No full textABSTRACT
The Protein misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) into neurotoxic amyloids underlies the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson\u27s disease (PD). 4-Phenylbutyrate (PBA), an FDA drug approved for treating urea cycle disorders, has garnered significant attention as a potential chemical chaperone for targeting alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that PBA treatment alters the pattern of α-syn aggregation, as evidenced by reduced formation of oligomeric species and its increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage under the influence of PBA. Proteinase K assay, surface plasmon resonance, and Nile red studies indicate that PBA interacts with the extensive hydrophobic contacts of α-syn oligomers and significantly reduces α-syn-amyloid induced toxicity, suggesting that oligomerization may be a requirement for α-syn to exert its neurotoxic effect. Furthermore, using Thioflavin T based assays, we elucidated the kinetics of PBA-mediated inhibition of α-syn aggregation, highlighting its role in accelerating the maturation of α-syn fibrils. Current evidence both in vivo and in vitro suggests that α-syn oligomers exert the most neurotoxic effects. Current evidence both in vivo and in vitro suggests that α-syn oligomers exert the most neurotoxic effects. PBA preferential interaction with α-syn oligomers explains its ability to mitigate α-syn-induced cytotoxicity as observed in this study. Collectively, our findings provide compelling evidence for the neuroprotective potential of PBA in targeting protein misfolding and aggregation in PD and suggests an avenue for disease-modifying interventions in neurodegenerative disorders