16144 research outputs found
Sort by
The Invisible Man
No full textArtist Statement: The book I chose to work with was a collection of H.G. Wells novels. The title that caught my eye was, The Invisible Man. My whole artist book is based around the themes of invisibility, floating, or illusion, to reflect The Invisible Man title. Though I could not make the book actually float or be invisible I tried to create an illusion of such.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/altered_book/1089/thumbnail.jp
Program Booklet: 13th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance
Get PDFThe 13th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance was held on April 11, 2014 in the Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse at Hope College and featured student-faculty collaborative research projects. This program is a record reflective of those projects between the 2013-2014 academic year
Population Genetic Structures of Two Sister Tulip Tree Species: Implications for the Diversity Anomaly Between Eastern Asia and North America
No full textIt has become increasingly evident that biodiversity in the world has been decreasing. In order to face this problem head on we need to understand the underlying mechanisms for the formation of the patterns of biodiversity. A well-known pattern of biodiversity comes from the intercontinental disjunction of plant genera between eastern Asia and North America with unequal species richness. One hypothesis explaining the greater species diversity in eastern Asia than in North America states that faster speciation occurred on the eastern Asian side of the intercontinental disjunction than on the North American side. If this is true, we expect a greater genetic diversity across populations of eastern Asian species than the sister species in North America. In this study, we used tulip tree Liriodendron as our model system to test the hypothesis. Thirty individuals representing nine populations of the North American species (L. tulipifera) and 17 trees from three populations of the eastern Asia species (L. chinense) were included in the study. Sequences of the plastid rpl32-trnL intergenic spacer were obtained from all trees. Phylogenetic analyses using Magnolia species as the outgroup supported the sister relationship of the two species. Both the average number of differences between populations and the number of haplotypes per population were higher in the eastern Asian species than in the North American counterpart. Nonetheless, the short sequences of the rpl32-trnL region (ca. 1400 bp) provided limited information of genetic variation. Therefore, we obtained the entire plastid genome from one tree of the populations sampled, which resulted in over 97,000 bp. This study represents the first comparative genetic analyses of sister species between eastern Asia and North America to gain insights into the formation of the patterns of the species diversity between the two continents
Encapsulation of an Antimicrobial Drug in Biodegradable Nanoparticles
No full textBacterial infections are a cause of numerous illnesses and deaths in the world. Although numerous antimicrobial drugs have been developed, many lack effectiveness in animal systems. There are numerous reasons for this, including poor water solubility which can limit their bioavailability and thus their efficiency. One such drug, SV7, has been shown to kill numerous Gram positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus; however, the drug has only modest activity in animal models and no activity when given orally. Polymer based nanoparticles represent one mechanism to improve the bioavailability and effectiveness of a drug like SV7. We sought to investigate whether encapsulation of SV7 within the biodegradable polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) could increase the effectiveness of this agent. Spherical nanoparticle/SV7 formulations were created by solvent evaporation resulting in SV7 encapsulated within PLGA. The encapsulation efficiency was determined with UV spectrometrically and found to be approximately 60%. Hydrodynamic diameters were determined by Dynamic Light Scattering and the particles varied in size from approximately 2 mm to 100 nm in diameter. The particles were also analyzed for their Zeta Potential and the particles were determined to be quite negative. Fortunately, these nanoparticles were still effective against the bacteria cells when studied using the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Assay
Cultural Storytelling and Life Satisfaction: Storytelling Practices in American, Japanese, and Slovakian College Students
No full textCommunication through stories and narratives is universal, and current research posits personal stories and gossip make up 65 percent of our daily conversation (Dunbar, 1997). In addition, studies show a connection between storytelling and the creation of strong communities (Carr, 1986; Ball-Rokeach, Kim, and Matei, 2001), and strong communities in turn are known to have a lasting increase on life satisfaction (Meyer, 1992; Haidt, 2006; Diener and Biswas-Diener, 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between culture, storytelling practices, and life satisfaction. The research for this study came from three countries: Japan, Slovakia, and the United States. Japan and the United States respectively represent high and low context cultures, and Slovakia fits in between the two (Hofstede, 1980). It was expected that lower context cultures would see storytelling as more pertinent to building and maintaining social relationships—thus important to one’s happiness—than higher context cultures
Society: The Ex-Convict’s New Prison?
No full textWhat kind of lifestyle do convicts have after they are released from prison? How easily are they able to reintegrate into society? Why do so many ex-convicts end up coming back to prison? To answer these questions, we explored the underlying causes of recidivism and the dissonance between ex-convicts and the ease of their reintegration into society. To tie in a global aspect, we decided to look at this topic from the perspective of a country similar in culture and economy as the United States: England. Through our research, we discovered two universal, overarching issues: the negative stigma associated with and, the lack of opportunities available to, ex-convicts. In our research, we explore how these issues overlap to exacerbate the problem and suggest ways to resolve the issue. We concluded that the media’s negative portrayal of convicts, ex-convicts, and the prison system play an integral role in molding society’s misconceptions. These misconceptions come to fruition in many ways, one of them being through the reluctance of employers to hire ex-convicts. This issue can begin to be resolved through the implementation of rehabilitation programs that seek to equip ex-convicts with the skills needed to successfully reintegrate into society
An Examination of Teacher Candidates’ Beliefs, Assumptions and Attitudes on the Use of Digital Technologies for Writing in Elementary Classroom Settings
No full textInnovations in digital technology are currently being incorporated into elementary classrooms. This has sparked discussions about the appropriate use of digital devices, as well as the dispositions of teachers who will incorporate them into their work with children. This study explored the beliefs, attitudes and assumptions that current teacher candidates hold about the use of digital devices for the teaching and learning of writing in kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5). We began with a review of the literature at the intersection of technology, schools, teacher candidates and writing pedagogy. Using an on-line survey of undergraduate teacher candidates, we examined the belief systems that may influence how these candidates will consider the use of technology in their own teaching of writing. Some participants also took part in focus groups to further excavate their thinking. Our initial findings suggest that current teacher candidates fit the technical definition of “digital natives.” From their earliest memories of schooling, they recalled the use of digital devices, thus they experienced “apprenticeships of observation” that were inclusive of technology. Most participants indicated that K–5 students should compose texts using digital devices. Their responses also suggested a “digital immigrant stance” based on this same “apprenticeship.” A majority of participants were limited to desktop computer technology, used primarily for word processing and gaming activities. Technologies currently available in schools were not part of their experience as K-5 students. While participants expressed support for the use of digital devices for composing texts, they frequently indicated a preference for the use of “paper and pencil” for their own future K–5 students. Thus, teacher candidates’ own beliefs, attitudes and assumptions about the use of digital technologies for K-5 writing efforts largely reflect a digital immigrant stance, despite evidence that puts them into the category of digital natives
The Effect of High Intensity Training on Cardiovascular Endurance and Body Composition in Non-Athlete College Women
No full textCommon forms of aerobic exercise consisted of running, swimming, or biking through the mid-1970s; however, aerobic-style workout videos become popular toward the end of that decade. Within the last decade, cross training and interval training have taken hold as popular exercise methods for athletes and non-athletes alike. Previous studies have demonstrated improved VO2max (aerobic fitness) values via high-intensity interval training interventions within as little as two weeks. Recently, many DVD-based high-intensity exercise training (HIET) programs have been released. One such program, P90X3, claims an average fat loss of 34% following program completion (90 days), yet no study to date has actually tested this or any other claims the exercise program has made. This study will determine how P90X3, a high-intensity training program, may affect lactate production, VO2 max, and body composition in non-athlete college women who use the program three times per week for four weeks. Twenty healthy, female college undergrads took part in the study; none of the participants were competitive athletes. Each participant took part in baseline testing which included assessment of height, weight, waist and hip circumference, body composition using the BodPod, VO2max, and maximal lactate production. During the intervention phase all participants will complete three 30-minute workout sessions per week for four weeks. However, ten participants will be in the control group completing standard aerobic exercise with resistance training and ten will be in the P90X3 experimental group. These groups were randomly selected based on baseline VO2max values. Each participant will complete post-testing to assess the effectiveness of the P90X3 program in comparison to the control-group program. Results from the intervention are forthcoming
“It’s Just a Bruise…Right?” Identification, Management, and Treatment of Osseous Contusions
No full textAn osseous contusion, more commonly known as a bone bruise, is caused by a macro-trauma or multiple micro-traumas to the bone. Bone bruises often accompany soft tissue damage associated with joint injury and therefore go unnoticed and untreated since the primary concern is the soft tissue damage. Complications can occur when treatment for the soft tissue injury is ineffective due to the undetected bone bruise. The gold standard test to identify a bone bruise is an MRI, and after one is obtained, there is a better understanding of steps to take in order to treat the entire injury. Bone is highly vascularized and the spongy/trabecular bone is the damaged structure. Subperiosteal hematoma, interosseous bruise, and subchondral bruise are the three different types of bone bruises which differ by the location of the hematoma. Recovery can take anywhere between four months and one year, and pain is often present for the majority of the healing process; this is longer than the recovery time of most soft tissue injuries. Bone bruises commonly occur during an ACL reconstruction, but are not included in the protocol for rehabilitation. Through awareness of osseous contusions, practitioners can have a better understanding of a patient’s pain and necessary recovery time. In this study, a specific case of an osseous contusion is examined and used as an example to present the identification process, treatment options, and management decisions