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From Measurement to Performance: Psychometric Validity and Psychological Predictors of Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets’ Performance on the Army Combat Fitness Test
Get PDFUnderstanding the psychological and physical readiness of future military leaders is crucial for improving recruitment and retention. The U.S. Army faces increasing obesity rates and declining physical fitness among recruits, reducing the pool of eligible candidates and raising costs. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), which commissions 59% of officers, has higher attrition rates than other sources, underscoring the need to identify psychological predictors of performance. This dissertation examines the psychometric properties of psychological instruments used to assess ROTC cadets and their relationship with Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance. Two research questions were explored: (1) What are the psychometric properties of instruments measuring the psychological characteristics of ROTC cadets? (2) What psychological characteristics are associated with ACFT performance? A sample of 180 cadets completed assessments, including the Academic Motivation Scale – Revised (AMS-R), Academic Motivation Scale – College (AMS-C), Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS), Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Inventory – 2 Revised (CSAI-2R), and Resilience Scale (RS). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) indicated acceptable reliability and validity for most instruments, with strong model fit for CSAI-2R (CFI = 1.00, TLI = 0.99, α = 0.94) and AMS-C (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.95, α = 0.94). Regression analyses identified resilience (β = 0.21, p \u3c 0.05) as a significant predictor of hand-release push-up scores, while self-confidence (β = 0.33, p \u3c 0.05) predicted two-mile run performance. Cognitive anxiety was positively associated with the two-mile run (β = 0.31, p \u3c 0.05), suggesting moderate anxiety may enhance focus. Academic identified regulation and intrinsic motivation were also significant predictors. This study provides insights into the psychometric properties of thirteen instruments among ROTC cadets and elucidates how psychological traits affect ROTC performance. These findings support integrating psychological assessments into training and selection processes to improve cadet identification, training, retention, and cost efficiency. Future research should validate these results in larger, diverse samples and use longitudinal designs to explore long-term impacts
The Search, The Localization, and The Characterization: Fast Radio Transients
Get PDFFast radio transients are energetic bursts in centimeter or meter wave-lengths, lasting only milliseconds, and originating from both Galactic and extra-Galactic sources. In our Galaxy, these transients primarily originate from pulsars, which are rotating neutron stars. The more energetic extra-galactic transients, known as fast radio bursts (FRBs), have unknown origins. This thesis explores various techniques, including single dish and interferometric observations, to detect and accurately localize fast radio transients. It also investigates how the propagation effects of radio waves can reveal characteristics of the local environment and potential FRB sources. Furthermore, it demonstrates how FRBs can be used to study the medium between their source and the observer.
We report on observations of repeating FRB 20190520B over seventeen months, noting highly variable Faraday rotation that changes sign twice and shows depolarization below 1–3 GHz frequencies. These properties suggest changes in the parallel component of the integrated magnetic field along the line-of-sight, possibly due to a turbulent, magnetized plasma screen between 10-5 to 100 parsecs from the FRB source, potentially influenced by the winds of a binary companion.
Additionally, we detected radio bursts from the Galactic bulge using the realfast system at the Very Large Array during a survey of unidentified Fermi γ-ray sources, achieving subarcsecond localization. Follow-up observations with the Green Bank Telescope revealed more bursts, nearly 100% linearly polarized, with one showing up to 12% circular polarization. This high spatial resolution localization associates the source with the Fermi γ-ray source, suggesting it could be a young pulsar, magnetar, or binary pulsar system.
Finally, we report on the discovery and localization of two FRBs piercing M31 by the realfast fast transient detection system at the Very Large Array. The unique geometry of the line-of-sight of FRB 20230930A was used to constrain the electron density distribution of the M31. We localized FRB 20230930A to a host galaxy at a redshift z = 0.09. After accounting for the dispersion contribution from the Milky Way, the host galaxy and the intergalactic medium along the line-of-sight of FRB 20230930A, we estimate that M31 will likely contribute between 87–305 pc cm−3 with a 90% confidence. We also modelled out the M31’s disk contribution to the DM, which was determined to be 139 ±70 pc cm-3, to determine the halo contribution. We find that the halo of M31 will contribute between 28–219 pc cm-3 with 90% confidence. This is consistent with the predictions from modified Navarro-Frenk-White profile of M31 halo for a given impact parameter. The ions of the cool halo alone cannot account for the calculated DMM31,halo and therefore this measurement presents an indirect evidence of the hot halo of M31
Relationships Among the Concepts of Organizational Theory and Nurse Burnout Before and After COVID-19
Get PDFBackground: Nurse burnout is a global health priority that has been compounded by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Organizational theory states that nurse burnout is directly impacted by operant mechanisms (nurse characteristics, nurse specialization) and hospital-wide models. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between hospital wide models (evidence-based care, team-based care, discharge planning, care coordination), operant mechanisms (nurse characteristics, nurse specialization), and outcomes (nurse burnout) before and after COVID-19.
Research Question: The specific aim of this study is to determine the relationship between hospital wide models (evidence-based care, team-based care, discharge planning, care coordination) and operant mechanisms (nurse characteristics, nurse specialization) and outcomes (nurse burnout) before and after COVID-19.
Methods: A secondary data analysis using the 2018 and 2022 NSSRN data set was used to analyze frequencies of operant mechanisms (nurse characteristics, nurse specialization) and hospital-wide models. Chi-square for independence test was used to compare the difference in nurse characteristics between those who left the profession before and after COVID-19. Chi- square for independence tests were performed and analyzed to describe the relationship between operant mechanisms, hospital-wide models, and nurse burnout. Significant results were analyzed using a general linear regression to determine predictive and protective factors.
Results: Participants were found to be older in age 30 to 64 (85%) in 2018, than in 2022, with nurses only ranging in age from 30 to 54 (51.6%). Nurses were found to not be working in nursing due to retirement, family caregiving, and burnout. Evidence-based care and team-based care were both reported at least somewhat in over half the sample in 2018 and 2022. The highest degree in nursing, years since graduation, age, year (before and after COVID-19), advanced practice certification, and team-based care were found to the predictive factors in the general linear regression analysis. Evidence-based care was not found statistically significant in the general linear regression analysis.
Conclusion: The study findings indicate that COVID-19 did influence nurse burnout. Highest degree in nursing, years since graduation, age, year (before and after COVID-19), advanced practice certification, and team-based care were all found to be predictive factors for nurse burnout. Evidence-based care was found to be a protective factor for nurse burnout. Future research should focus on investigating hospital-wide models that mitigate burnout and are prepared for catastrophic events. Additionally, future research needs to focus on the socio-economic, cultural and health disparities within burnout to provide further information on burnout and the effects on these groups
Fingerphoto Deblurring using Wavelet Style Transfer
Get PDFThis work focuses on a deblurring network designed specifically for the task of deblurring contactless fingerprints, a.k.a fingerphotos. This network takes the general idea of style transfer, and applies it to the realm of deblurring. The standard use case for style transfer networks is artistic style transfer, which is used for recreational purposes. For this work, though, style transfer is used in the context of deblurring. Since style transfer can transfer artistic styles from one image to another, who\u27s to say it can’t transfer clarity and sharpness as well? This is the focus of this work; taking a blurry fingerphoto, and deblurring it using the sharpness and clarity found in a sharp fingerphoto. To accomplish this feat, the Discrete Wavelet Transform is used in order to split images into their respective directionally-specific sub-bands. Then, each blurry and sharp sub-band is combined, resulting in a deblurred set of sub-bands. Finally, these sub-bands are sent to a neural decoder for reconstruction and refinement. The result is a deblurred version of the original blurry fingerphoto, with minimal loss of fine details and minutiae
Political Scandals and the print media: A content analysis of the press coverage of the Access Hollywood scandal
Get PDFSex scandals have been a significant focus over the years in both academic research and media coverage. The Access Hollywood scandal of 2005 was not going to be an exception. Yet, it remains to be seen how the print media have reported these scandals related to high-profile politicians. In this study, the researcher investigates how the print media responded to the scandal in terms of amplifying or countering the narratives in the political discourse. To do so, 83 articles were reviewed during the first two weeks of the Access Hollywood scandal following the previous work of Larson (2016). Framing theory was employed to guide content analysis to examine the two major newspapers in the United States: The New York Times and The Washington Post. Results were further compared to assess how each newspaper built its narratives around the scandal. Findings indicate that both The New York Times and The Washington Post used frames identified in Larson’s (2016) work. Findings help extend knowledge of media coverage of a high-profile sex scandal and provide a better understanding of its possible role in shaping public perception during one of the largest sex scandals of a presidential campaign
Terms of Injustice
Get PDFTerms of Service (ToS) of online platforms often contain Consumer Unfriendly Terms (CUTs). The CUTs encompass clauses limiting consumers’ rights in dispute resolution, limitations on remedies, and corporations’ rights to unilaterally modify the service, delete users’ content, and benefit from their data. The ToS resemble the offline “boilerplate” but, given the context of their functioning—digital capitalism—they also exhibit some critical differences, rendering the context-specific analysis necessary.
This Article argues that the continued toleration of the CUTs is undesirable on economic and democratic grounds. In digital capitalism, online platforms often enjoy a (quasi-)monopolistic position. Further, they can (factually and legally) collect and use consumer data to shape their experience and preferences, as well as to harm their privacy and mental health. Finally, the platforms can control the users’ behavior through the environment’s design and the “digital self-help.” Platforms are powerful market actors who face no significant economic pressure and, at the same time, are like private governors of the online environments who do not face any meaningful political pressure.
In this context, from the economic perspective, the CUTs can neither be presumed to be efficient nor to come with positive price effects. From the democratic perspective, their presence runs against some foundational commitments of liberal democracy. At the same time, CUTs’ continued toleration replaces the platforms’ self-regulation with self-dealing by disincentivizing the creation of safe products.
The Article argues that the combined countervailing power of politicaleconomic thought, legal reform, and technologically assisted social mobilization is needed to remove the CUTs from the ToS. The strategies for deploying existing legal tools, creating new ones, and relying on social pressure, are briefly discussed. The primary battleground, however, is the realm of thought. For the CUTs to go, we need to want them to go. This Article’s primary objective is to convince the Reader of that necessity
The Socioeconomic Gap of Infertility: Medicaid Coverage of Infertility Treatments in West Virginia
Get PDFInfertility treatments have become more accessible and widely used in the last 20 years. As more couples look to these treatments in their struggle to start a family, health insurers are lagging behind in coverage for these options. For the majority of women in the country, paying for infertility treatment out-ofpocket is unrealistic. Not all states have approached this issue but those who have vary in their approach. Some are utilizing either mandate-to-cover for private insurers or Medicaid coverage to attempt to make treatments and diagnosis more accessible. Without policy solutions, the inequality of access between socioeconomic statuses will remain. This Note will analyze the current statutes and proposed legislation and recommend what lawmakers should propose to solve this disparity in access. With West Virginia’s rate of Medicaid use, expansion of coverage through Medicaid would be the most beneficial to women suffering with infertility in the state. This Note will argue that infertile women with low socioeconomic status are receiving unequal treatment since they are prohibited the opportunity to start a family due to the exorbitant costs of fertility treatments and lack of mandated coverage by insurance, and that a limited coverage of fertility drugs by Medicaid would help to alleviate this burden
Collegiate Student-Athlete Mental Health in West Virginia: An Occupational Perspective
Get PDFCollegiate athletes must take on multiple roles while they are attending a college or university, which can negatively impact their mental health. These student-athletes must not only follow the role demands and expectations of an athlete but also of a college student, all while emerging into adulthood in the college environment. This can be overwhelming for many collegiate athletes, and they often find it difficult to balance all their responsibilities to live a satisfactory life. Therefore, a role for occupational therapy exists in this realm. A quantitative study design using survey methods was chosen in hopes of identifying and describing the mental health characteristics in collegiate athletes of West Virginia that may be affecting their daily routines, thus determining a role for occupational therapy within this population. Forty-eight collegiate athletes completed the online, self-report survey, yielding results of occupational imbalance, perceived stigma surrounding the mental health of collegiate athletes, and the impact of support systems and the coaching staff. The participant responses indicated a need for occupational therapy services to support these collegiate athletes so they can experience a greater sense of occupational balance and improved quality of life
Keeping All American Workers Paid and Employed? How Small Businesses with Independent Contractors Feel Slighted by the Paycheck Protection Program and What Can be Done
Get PDFImagine it is late March 2020, and you own and manage a small transportation company that employs independent contractor drivers. In addition to managing the upheaval that has occurred to all small businesses across the country with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, you worry that your workers will not be able to keep food on the table. You hear about a new government program—the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) created by legislation known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)—that is meant to “keep[] American workers paid and employed.” You understand that the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has designated certain lenders to facilitate low-interest “PPP Loans,” which provide funds to qualifying businesses based on their payroll costs from 2019. Better yet, your bank tells you that as long as the loan proceeds are spent on certain specified payroll and non-payroll business costs, your business will receive full forgiveness of the PPP Loan, which will make the money more like a grant. You fill out the SBA’s PPP Loan application, and upon the guidance available to you at the time and the advice of your bank, you include independent contractor payroll calculations in your loan amount calculation. Based on your payroll costs from 2019 (including independent contractor payroll), you calculate your loan amount to be around $1 million. The loan is swiftly approved, and the loan funds are deposited into your business account within days. You use the loan funds for approved payroll and non-payroll costs. Fast forward one year, and you have applied for full forgiveness of the PPP Loan. However, the SBA denies your application, explaining that small businesses were forbidden from including independent contractor payroll in their PPP Loan amount calculation. Then, your bank informs you that your loan payments will become due shortly thereafter. Because your PPP Loan had a maturity date of two years, your first monthly payment will be tens of thousands of dollars. Had you known you would not be able to obtain forgiveness of your loans, you would never have applied in the first place and would have considered other means to weather the COVID-19 pandemic