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THE SINGLE FATHER CAREGIVER: AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHY OF MY FIFTEEN-MONTH JOURNEY CARING FOR MY SON WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER
Get PDFCancer Research is growing and helping people every day. The mortality rate for children with cancer is over 75%. The strides in research for a cure for cancer are making progress, but we have forgotten the unsung heroes behind the scenes parents. Research on the effects of parents with a child diagnosed with cancer is rushing to catch up. Parents were rarely considered before 2011. There is research on two-parent families and even less on single-parent families, with no research that focuses on single mothers. The single male parent caregiver has been all but forgotten. This research focuses on the burdens presented to the single male parent caregiver during the first fifteen months of the child's treatment program. This research was completed by a parent who lived this tragedy. The data collected in this research is from the autoethnography of the researcher. Thematic analysis emerged to answer how I can share my experience as a single parent caring for my child diagnosed with cancer help others going through a similar hardship. This research aims to help future parents in a similar situation. Also, the study illuminates the lack of research on this subject in future research to help parents with a child diagnosed with cancer
NUTRITIONAL AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FEEDLOT CATTLE
No full textA series of studies were conducted to evaluate live animal performance, health, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, ruminal characteristics, and environmental emissions of feedlot cattle. The first study explored the impacts of feeding an industry standard finishing diet throughout the receiving and finishing period compared to a high roughage receiving diet during the receiving period with subsequent adaptation to the finishing diet on health, performance, serum chemistry, ruminal pH, and rumination of high-risk feedlot cattle. Treatment diets were offered ad libitum and consisted of: 1) finishing diet for the entire feeding period (FIN) or 2) receiving diet for the first 56 d, followed by transition to the finishing diet (REC). All cattle were consuming the same diet on d 74. A subset of cattle were randomly selected to quantify ruminal pH, temperature, and rumination time. Ultrasound images were captured on d 0, 74, and 146 to determine fat thickness, and carcass characteristics were determined after slaughter. Cattle fed REC had greater (P < 0.01) dry matter intake (DMI) from d 0 to 74, but DMI did not differ (P = 0.80) from d 74 to the end of the finishing period (final). Metabolizable energy intake was not different from d 0 to 74 (P = 0.20), d 74 to final (P = 0.80), or overall (P = 0.78). At d 74 and final, body weight (BW) of FIN was 10 kg greater (P ≤ 0.10) than REC. Cattle consuming FIN had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) and increased (P < 0.01) gain:feed (G:F) from d 0 to 74. Feed cost of gain (FCOG) was less for FIN from d 0 to 74 (P < 0.01), but not different from d 74 to final (P
= 0.89). There was no difference (P ≥ 0.31) in health outcomes between treatments. On d 74, FIN had greater (P = 0.04) fat thickness over the rump and rib, but did not differ (P ≥ 0.41) at d 146 or in the carcass. Carcasses of FIN had greater (P = 0.04) hot carcass weight (HCW), but no difference (P ≥ 0.12) in ribeye area, yield grade, or quality grade. There was no difference (P = 0.18) in liver abscess rate between treatments. Ruminal pH was greater (diet × day interaction; P < 0.01) for FIN on d 2 and 61, and rumination time was less (diet × day interaction P < 0.01) for FIN from d 0 to 28. Because of increased G:F and decreased FCOG with no impact on health, providing a finishing diet to high-risk calves upon arrival may be a viable alternative to a traditional receiving diet.
The second study evaluated effects of feeding grain milling products (GMP) on nutrient digestion, passage rate, ruminal pH, and ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia concentrations of ruminally fistulated beef cattle. Four Angus × Hereford steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each period consisted of 21 d of dietary adaptation, 5 d of total tract digestibility and passage rate, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia (NH3), and ruminal pH collections, 3 d of in situ rumen digestibility, and 1 d for rumen evacuations. Diets were analyzed for physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) using the Penn State Particle Separator. Treatments were no GMP (CON), 20% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS20), 20% Sweet Bran (SB20), or a combination of 10% wet distillers grains with solubles and 20% Sweet Bran (COMBO). The proportion of dietary particles > 4.0 mm was greatest (P < 0.01) for CON, intermediate for SB20, and least for WDGS20 and COMBO, but peNDF did not differ (P = 0.11) among treatments. Total tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was greater (P ≤ 0.05) for COMBO than CON, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility was greater for WDGS20, SB20, and COMBO than CON. A diet × hour interaction (P ≤ 0.05) was observed for molar proportions of propionate, butyrate, and valerate. Ruminal pH also had a diet × hour interaction (P = 0.02). There was a tendency (P = 0.07) for area under the curve (AUC) of 5.6 to be greater for SB20 and COMBO compared to CON. Before rumen evacuations, there was a tendency for DMI to be greater (P = 0.06) for GMP diets than cattle consuming CON. Although there was no difference (P = 0.26) in the DM quantity of rumen particulate, CON had the greatest (P = 0.01) amount of particulate relative to DM intake. Rumen evacuated samples from WDGS20 had a greater (P ≤ 0.05) quantity of crude protein, NDF, ADF, and ether extract compared to SB20. Overall, inclusion of GMP in the diet improved total tract fiber digestion, altered VFA concentrations and nutrients within the rumen particulate, and tended to increase AUC.
In the final study, a model was developed to depict and compare feedlot diets and growth technologies used in 1990 vs. 2020 and their influence on cattle performance and carbon footprint was determined. Dietary changes from 1990 to 2020 included the adoption of GMP feeds while decreasing inclusion of corn and traditional roughage sources. In 1990, available growth technologies included estradiol implants and the ionophore monensin; whereas, in 2020 combination implants including both trenbolone acetate and estradiol, monensin, and ractopamine hydrochloride (in the final 28 to 42 d) were used. In both 1990 and 2020, use of available technologies increased final BW, ADG, G:F, and HCW compared to no technology. From 1990 to 2020 initial BW, final BW, ADG, G:F, and HCW, and DMI increased. Total days on feed (DOF) increased by 44 in 2020 compared to 1990. Use of growth technologies in both 1990 and 2020 decreased total greenhouse gas emissions per animal (CO2e). Because cattle had greater DOF in 2020 than 1990, all sources of greenhouse gas emissions per animal increased. However, because of greater total BW gain in 2020, when expressed as CO2e/kg BW gain, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4.4% from 1990 to 2020. Feedlots in 2020 produced 47.5% more BW gain with 1.4% less cattle, while only increasing total CO2e by 39.5%, indicating changes in technologies and diet formulations have improved efficiency and reduced the carbon footprint of feedlot cattle production in the past 30 yr
An Autoethnographic Study of a Graduate Student Testing Positive for COVID-19 and Enduring Quarantine
Get PDFI became diagnosed with COVID-19 and was ordered to quarantine for two weeks in the
spring of 2020. Using autoethnography, this thesis provides a personal illness narrative
about my experience with COVID-19. The narrative is structured and explores a timeline
of dates and events through journal entries with descriptions of my experience while
undergoing quarantine. Themes based on the evolution of my experience emerged from
my story: contentment, apprehension, astonishment, seclusion, bewilderment, physical
pain, and convalescence
C.S. Lewis and Gender Expressions on How Women and Man of Faith Communicate in the work of Mere Christianity
Get PDFThis research takes a narrative analysis to interpret how C.S. Lewis' unique techniques of expression reveal an intent focus on fostering gender discourses with the purpose of understanding how women and man of faith communicate in the work of Mere Christianity.C.S. Lewis is best known as a Christian apologist, novelist, and poet whose most notable works in the field of theology includes themes about fiction and non-fiction Christian apologetics. Based on the groundwork of scholarship on C.S. Lewis life and writings, he demonstrated that his work is theologically rich and seems to have been informed by original insight into communication theories, including gender communication. One of his most notorious books of non-fiction Christian apologetics is Mere Christianity. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, looked at human life from his own philosophy of life based on the Christian Theology. By addressing the positive influence that C.S, Lewis may have on theology and communication, this research presents a comprehensive narrative analysis of the surprising elements of gender communication in Lewis' book Mere Christianity from his response to women's subordination to the challenges that Christian marriages face. The aim of this research is to analyze C.S Lewis' unique techniques of expression to reveal an intent focus on fostering gender discourses with the purpose of understanding how women and man of faith communicate in the work of Mere Christianity
Best Practices to Lower Attrition
No full textPurpose: Attrition is a problem that effects students personally and community colleges financially. With the community college persistence rates falling it necessitates an evaluation of the practices used to lower attrition. The purpose of this study is to explore the perspective of college deans regarding lowering the attrition rate in students at risk of failing in a health science discipline in community colleges in Texas. Research Methods: This descriptive qualitative study of 10 deans of health sciences in community colleges in Texas utilized a semi-structured interview process that was transcribed and coded to reveal emerging themes. Data analysis included transcribing interviews, coding, recoding, and forming themes. Findings: There were three themes that emerged from the study: faculty involvement, college/faculty resources, and student resources. There was a relationship between faculty involvement and college/faculty resources, which was student meetings. Having face-to-face meetings with students that are at high risk of failing, according to the deans, is an important practice to implement to reduce attrition. Implications: This study’s findings suggest that building a relationship with the at-risk student is increasingly important in reducing attrition. A deans’ ability to develop these practices with faculty will have far-reaching effects on the at-risk community college student
A CASE STUDY OF RURAL PRINCIPALS’ EVALUATIVE PRACTICES USING THE TEXAS TEACHER EVALUATION AND SUPPORT SYSTEM
Get PDFThe research focus of the scholarly delivery is leadership, specifically instructional leadership, with teacher evaluators as the primary subjects and the practices and strategies they employ using the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System to improve instructional practices on their campuses. The first scholarly deliverable is a case study article that can be used for teaching doctoral or master’s candidates in the field of educational leadership. The title of this article is “Improving Teacher Evaluation to Improve Student Outcomes at El Camino High School.” The case focuses on the importance that teacher evaluations have on student academic achievement. Students reading the case must examine the data and the narrative, express further questions and plans for obtaining added information, and develop a plan to help school leaders improve their teacher evaluation process to support student learning. The final scholarly deliverable is an empirical article titled “A Case Study of Rural Principals’ Evaluative Practices Using the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System.” This empirical article focuses on the strategies and practices teacher evaluators employ in the evaluation process to improve instructional practices on their campuses
A Qualitative Analysis of Service-Learning with Engineering Students
Get PDFService-learning is an effective learning method to increase necessary skills of STEM students. Therefore, it is necessary to increase engineering service-learning courses (Maloney et al., 2013). This study investigated how service-learning affects STEM students and what skills they retained after participating in a service-learning course. This paper is a qualitative study of STEM students in service-learning using students' reflections and their responses to interviews on what they experienced in service-learning courses. The engineering students in this study supported elementary students in a makerspace, carrying out hands-on activities. This paper illustrates how STEM students in service-learning classes contribute to community implementing activities in makerspace. The findings support the conclusion that a service-learning course can positively affect students' development of 21st century skills (Naik et al., 2020). This study shows that STEM students benefited from service-learning by increasing 21st century skills in communication, creativity, and leadership
The Role of Social Comparison on Burnout, Anxiety, and Satisfaction for Facultly who Taught during the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textSurvey methods (Qualtrics) - Cross-sectional designThe global COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in faculty who taught using video conferencing software such as Zoom across different modalities in higher education. Drawing from social comparison theory, this study examines upward and downward social comparison as mediators of the interrelationships between faculty burnout, teaching anxiety, and teaching satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic using a cross-sectional sample of 219 faculty. Findings reveal the mediating effect of upward social comparison on the relationship between faculty's burnout and teaching anxiety. Additionally, upward social comparison had a mediating effect on faculty's burnout and teaching satisfaction. Implications for teaching and learning using videoconferencing tools are also offered
ANALYZING CONSUMER VISUAL ATTENTION WHILE ASSESSING BEEF SPECIALTY LABELS
Get PDFSpecialized labels have become more popular on beef products in recent years as the emergence and growth in niche markets, i.e. hormone-free, organic, as the result of consumer concerns about current food and agriculture technologies and production methods (Lusk & McCluskey, 2018). Packaging in consumer marketing is important because it is the first thing consumers see when deciding to purchase. Information contained on packaging design provides knowledge of what the product is and what it is expected to deliver to the consumer. Several components can affect how a consumer pays attention to labels. With the use of eye-tracking technology, researchers are able to see what the consumer visually sees while making their purchases. Quantitative and qualitative data were used in this study to evaluate consumer’s visual attention, and understand why they made the purchase that they did. purchasing.
This study should depict if beef consumers in the Texas Panhandle, within a 30-mile radius of Canyon, TX; are solely purchasing Striploin steaks based on specialty labels. This research should help marketing efforts across beef companies to better understand if the specialty label matters when it is placed on packaging. Each specialty label was analyzed, across 65 participants, some with Texas Cattle Feeder Association ties, and some without. In this study, the researchers looked to see if the specialty label was fixated on longer than the consistent price label
ANALYZING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDING: A FLIPPED CLASSROOM APPROACH
No full textThis explanatory sequential mixed methods study investigated the use of a flipped classroom model in a middle school mathematics classroom. The flipped classroom was implemented over the course of one semester in an effort to reach the needs of all students including gifted and talented, special education, and English language learners. The flipped classroom is a form of learning where instruction and technology are combined to foster a student-centered learning environment. This study gathered data from student test scores over two semesters, one semester with a traditional classroom format and the second semester with a flipped classroom approach. A survey was administered to students to gather perceptions about the flipped classroom regarding instruction. Survey results showed positive and negative perceptions of the flipped classroom. The findings of this study show the effects of the flipped classroom were statistically insignificant for all student groups. The flipped classroom was successful for the gifted and talented group but not the other student groups