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La Bayadere: An Examination of the Romantic Era in the Modern Day
No full textThe Romantic Era of art saw a shift from male to female dancers on stage. The female dancer became associated with mysticism and fantasy for the benefit of the male audience. With the onset of mysticism, came the idealization of death which was a common theme in many Romantic Ballets. The ballet, La Bayadère, is a Romantic Era ballet that has been adapted multiple times within the past half-century. However, in an effort to preserve its relevance to the modern-day audience, three ballerinas - Marianela Nuñez, Natalia Osipova, and Tamara Rojo - have altered the original choreography to present the main character, Nikiya, in a more complex light and defy Romantic ideals. Nuñez empowers the female dancer that was previously disempowered and left an object for male fantasy, Osipova breaks the idealistic illusion that life should end gracefully, and Rojo halts the worship of nature and encourages internal examination of the audience
Wireless EMG-Driven Realtime Robotic Hand Control
No full textThere are currently thousands of amputees and people who have lost full use of their limbs across America. More often than not, these people have very low income or are in a situation where they cant take extended time off work. Prosthetic technology as we know it now has several limitations that heavily impact people like this the most. Often prosthetics that restore function use of a limb are very cost, requiring thousands of dollars for prosthetics with simple sensors or functions. These surgeries are also often very intrusive and come with lengthy surgeries and recovery times that impede every day life. This study aims to improve current prosthetic norms and technology by using Electromyography (EMG) sensors in limb prosthetics. EMG sensors detect changes in electricity flowing through muscles and using those changes, we hope to see if it can accurately be used to move limbs like hand or feet that a patient may have lost. EMG sensors are completely unintrusive and work through skin contact, unlike may similar sensors that require access to nerves. EMG sensors are also very cost effective and require little setup to be used. This study will test the feasibility of using EMG sensors as an accurate tool for prosthetics by seeing how well 8 EMG sensors connected to the forearm are able to control a robotic hand remotely. A data glove that measures changes in angles when the fingers are bent will be used to train an AI model that receives live EMG data. This model will then be used to predict the angles of each finger and correctly move the robotic hand accordingly
Magnitude of Gratitude: Journaling Effects on Anxiety, Resilience, and Positive Psychological Outcomes
No full textAnxiety has become a quiet companion for many, affecting everything from mental to physical health, prompting the need for effective management strategies. Gratitude has gained attention in current research as a simple and accessible strategy that affects multiple areas of an individual’s well-being, including emotions, outlook on life, and even brain function (Hamka, 2023; Atad & Russo-Netzer, 2021; Kini et al., 2016). Additionally, studies have revealed that the root of gratitude’s effectiveness is its ability to increase positive thinking and self-reflection while lessening negative emotions (Hamka, 2023). This practice is especially useful when done intentionally and with application of personal meaning (Atad & Russo-Netzer, 2021).
We conducted a longitudinal study to examine whether daily gratitude journaling could serve as a buffer to stress and promote emotional wellbeing. Participants (N = 42) completed three sessions across one week. Sessions 1 and 3 included a stress induction and five minutes of gratitude journaling, whereas Session 2 served as a midweek check-in. In Session 1, anxiety significantly increased following stress induction but returned to baseline after journaling (p \u3c .001). By Session 3, the induction no longer elevated anxiety, yet journaling again reduced post-induction anxiety—suggesting emerging psychological resilience. Emotional regulation patterns varied across the week. Cognitive reappraisal decreased from Session 1 to 2 (p = .001), while expressive suppression increased initially and then plateaued (p \u3c .001), indicating change in how participants may manage emotional expression. Self-efficacy decreased midweek but returned to baseline by Session 3, and self-esteem showed a similar short-term rise and return.
Across sessions, total gratitude (p = .038) and appreciation of others (p = ,026) increased, and negative affect decreased (p = .003). These findings suggest that even brief, consistent gratitude journaling has the ability to not only relieve immediate stress symptoms, but also promote mental resilience
Strain Effect on Thermal Transport in 3D Nanostructures
No full textThis research is intended to test if a hexagonal boron-nitride compound is a suitable replacement for carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene as well as other nanomaterials. This research tries to understand the thermal properties of a hexagonal boron-nitride (hBN) junction while deformed and under mechanical strain. In this study we generate hBN sheets and nano tubes with the molecular graphics software VMD, then using MATLAB we code a junction made of these sheets and nano tubes for our research purposes. Once a simulation of this hBN structure is completed, we take the code and use a molecular dynamics software known as LAMMPS, and stretch the structure along the z-axis. While this structure is being stretched, we test the thermal conductivity of the junctions between the hBN nano tubes and the hBN sheets. Expected results based off previous studies on thermal capabilities of hBN are that the thermal conductivity of the junction will decrease a consistent amount proportional to the amount of strain that the structure is subject to
Driving Efficient Warehouse Optimization Through Structured Processes and User Adoption
No full textAutoScheduler, the company that designs unique warehousing solutions for its clients through its optimization software, was struggling to make its software user friendly to fulfill warehousing tasks. With minimal training documentation in place for teaching clients functions in the software, the clients were often left unmotivated to use the software in the way that was intended. This was creating conflict between AutoScheduler and the clients, as there was often confusion for the clients regarding why they were not acquiring the profits they were promised. To reduce this client reluctance to use the optimization software, the objective of this project was to develop reference documents to explain how to use certain functions in the software quickly and to develop a sounder training program for AutoScheduler employees to communicate the most important software features to clients in a more structured way. Another objective was to develop a better-defined software implementation phased approach that the AutoScheduler employees could use to guide the clients from the data collection phase to the software setup and usage phase. This would assist in communicating better to the clients the overall purpose of the software and help them understand how their warehousing data is being used to develop a plan. Finally, there was an objective to establish a defense for AutoScheduler for observing client usage of the software, which would be models that reveal how often clients are navigating the software and their degree of adherence to the plans generated for them
DISASTER VULNERABILITY AND RECOVERY: SOCIOECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND PSYCOLOGICAL INSIGHTS FROM HURRICANE KATRINA
No full textNatural disasters often exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities within affected communities, with vulnerable populations experiencing severe socio-economic and psychological repercussions. This study investigates the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of building damage severity and psychological distress following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Following the hurricane\u27s impact on August 29, 2005, residents of New Orleans faced significant hardships, with many losing their homes and family members. Utilizing data from the Displaced New Orleans Residents Survey (DNORS), conducted from mid-2009 to mid-2010, this research examines households and individuals living in New Orleans immediately prior to Hurricane Katrina. The study employs multinomial logistic regression and various regression techniques to analyze socio-demographic characteristics including age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, homeownership, household income, education level, employment status, insurance coverage, and presence of children, alongside psychological measures such as mental health symptoms, posttraumatic stress, depression, and perceived stress. The results reveal that race, homeownership status, insurance coverage, employment status, presence of children in the household, and the number of household members are key factors influencing the extent of damage and psychological vulnerability experienced by households. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted policy interventions that address systemic inequalities, enhance disaster preparedness, and support vulnerable populations. By adopting an equity-centered approach in disaster planning and recovery that integrates both physical and mental health considerations, policymakers can develop more effective post-disaster recovery strategies and foster more resilient and sustainable communities better equipped to withstand future catastrophes
Cybercamp: an Experience Report on the Transformations of an Intensive Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Students
No full textThe Cybercamp is a Cybersecurity summer camp for high school students that has been held for the last nine years at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Since its inception in 2016 the Cybercamp has undergone several transformations in response to budget reductions and the COVID pandemic, to finally become its current version: a rich, hands-on learning experience that we believe is easily replicable even in resource-challenged environments.
In this paper, we document the transformations of the Cybercamp and discuss the developed curriculum and materials in hopes that others will reuse, adapt, and improve upon them. In the Cybercamp, we apply active learning practices that have been shown to be effective in STEM education. We perform hands-on, activities, providing Capture The Flag (CTF) style practice exercises with automatic grading. The Cybercamp is assisted by college students who serve as peer-assisted leaders. The educational materials were designed with culturally relevant case studies, using open source technologies, and following Universal Design Learning best practices to make them as accessible as possible, particularly to low-income students. We discuss how we prevented students from falling behind and successfully completed the Cybercamp
Front Matter, YALJOD 5.1
No full textIncludes: Editorial Review by Dr. Sombo Muzata, Editor in Chief, Young African Leaders Journal of Development; Foreword by Prof. Plo-Lumumba; Foreword by Prof. Tim Kiruhi; and Preface by Prince C. lfoh, Founder and President, Young African Leaders Forum (YALF)
NGOs’ Role in Voluntary Repatriation of the African Diaspora
No full textThe African diaspora consists of people who were displaced far from their ancestral homeland because of slavery, colonization, and other forms of direct and structural violence. This paper will discuss the voluntary repatriation of displaced people, specifically Black people living outside of the continent of Africa, who desire to voluntarily repatriate back to their ancestral countries of origin, their ancestral home, and/or some location on continent of people of African descent. This article identifies a viable group within the international law arena to support in addressing the requests for voluntary repatriation of African descendants to their African countries of origin. The writer argues that NGOs can play a primary role in voluntary repatriation of people of African descent and other diasporic groups
Mainstreaming Africa’s Third Sector for Africa’s Development
No full textAfter independence, most African governments pursued public sector based economic development strategies based on import substitution which were considered to be key to rapid industrialization and modernization oflow-income countries. This public sector-led economic development however, proved to be unsustainable. There were severe economic crises associated with lack of growth, high inflation, rising internal and foreign debts, crumbling infrastructure and shortage of essential commodities. Protected from competition, the public sector and its enterprises failed to innovate, relied on inappropriate capital-intensive technologies, and became dependent on imported inputs. With this, came the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP\u27s) where the public sector became the regulator and facilitator, as the private sector stepped up in driving economic growth. Onboarding the private sector hasn\u27t been a perfect model either. In driving growth, the market forces have brought about income inequality, exploitation, and disregard for social welfare, thus fueling the increased emergence and intervention of third sector organizations. This sector is called upon to balance transitional interplay of the public and private sector forces in fostering development. Drawn upon from a review of relevant policy and political literature, the conclusion presented in this review study reflectively outlines that the growth of third sector organizations in Africa presents important opportunities, notably improving the diversity of service providers and fostering innovative and responsive local services