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The Impacts of Cross Country
Get PDFThis piece is a memoir that covers the topic of how deciding to take a risk and join the cross country team in high school changed my life. It is about how my life was negatively impacted by COVID, and how running cross country helped me find myself and overcome the battles I faced mentally. It is supposed to be an inspiring piece with a positive ending
Synthesis of Mesalamine Capped Copper Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
No full textMetal nanoparticles have become useful in drug delivery. In this project, mesalamine capped nanoparticles are investigated for their possible use in IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn\u27s disease. This experiment used copper specifically, as copper is a low cost, readily available alternative to both gold and silver metals, and contains anti-inflammatory properties. Copper acetate and mesalamine were combined in a chemical reduction synthesis under basic conditions using hydrazine as a reducing agent, affording the copper nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were also tested under different pH’s, revealing that there is need to increase the pH to induce chemical reduction. Alternatives for hydrazine and basic conditions are currently being studied. This work presents spectroscopical evidence of the synthesis of the mesalamine capped copper nanoparticles, and preliminary results detailing the tuning of reaction conditions
Esterification Reactions Under Solvent Free Conditions
No full textThe esterification of 4-ethoxyphenol with phenylacetic acid yields (4-ethoxyphenyl) 2-phenylacetate, a commercial chemical with floral properties largely demanded by perfume-related industries. The purpose of this study is to conduct the benign synthesis of a perfumery grade product with the use of a heterogeneous acid catalyst, rather than a traditional problematic homogeneous acid catalyst, under solventless conditions. Furthermore, the reaction we present is aligned with the principles of green chemistry, which emphasizes benign reagents, minimum waste, and allows for the recycling of recovered and unreacted reagents. The reaction was carried out with an excess amount of 4-ethoxyphenol with limiting phenylacetic acid via a reflux system with the addition of amberlyst-15 to enhance the rate of the reaction and the yield of the desired product. Additionally, the esterification of isoamyl alcohol with glacial acetic acid yields isohexyl acetate, a food flavoring-agent. The on-going synthesis of isohexyl acetate is used as a precursor reaction for the preliminary investigation into solvent-free conditions. In future studies, the heterogeneous catalyst conditions will be applied to the synthesis of isohexyl acetate, in addition to the continuation of solvent-free conditions. Currently, studies are being carried out to reuse the recovered 4-ethoxyphenol and recycled catalyst in future esterification reactions. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) was used to confirm the formation and purity of each product
Family Values From Adoption and Immigrant Households
No full textFamily values vary from household to household. Each family has principles that they uphold and unique aspects on how they function and work together. However, when looking at a family with adopted kids, families must work together to accommodate these children, possibly by changing family dynamics and values. Foster and adopted children oftentimes have conflicting feelings on their situation and identification with who they are, and where they stand to fit in a family dynamic (Fineran 2012). Children in foster care who had more of an attachment adoption style to their foster families had more benefits than children who did not. Children who stayed more in contact with their biological family did not seem to mix well with the foster family they were staying with (Sinclair 2005). This finding may suggest that family values may be hard to implement with foster children who are still in contact with their biological families. The immigrant parent(s) many times have family values that the child may not identify with or live by. However, that doesn’t mean that the difference in family values affect the care and importance they have for each other. According to a 2008 study, families create strong emotional ties that bond members together. Even young people who resent parental constraints and obligations feel, at the same time, a complex combination of affection, loyalty, gratitude, responsibility, and a sense of duty to their immigrant parents (Suarez-Orozco et al. 2008). Yet, the impact of having immigrant parents alter and shape their children\u27s family values. This present study is thus aimed to examine how adoptive families and immigrant household values differ. Its purpose is to study how the adopted child adapts or is willing to adapt to the family values of the family. Similarly, the study examines whether the child of an immigrant parent(s) is open to accept their parents\u27 family values or if they choose the family values of the society they are growing up in. The data is being collected through an online self-report survey, distributed to college students in the Southeast of the United States. The results contrasting different types of families, adopted and immigrant, will be shared and discussed at the conferenc
Instagram or TikTok?: Effects of using social media to cope with feelings of ostracism
No full textBackground: Social media engagement (SME) may provide a meaningful source of such social contact, however it is unclear whether contact via social media is effective for managing negative life experiences. The current study proposes to examine these ideas jointly. We hypothesize that passive scrolling on Instagram will exacerbate negative feelings following ostracism, while passive scrolling through TikTok will work as an effective coping mechanism, decreasing negative feelings following ostracism. Methods: For the current ongoing study, participants first complete a survey measuring their baseline mood, demographics, and dispositional measures. Then, all participants are ostracized using Cyberball (Williams et al., 2006). The Cyberball paradigm will employ 40 throws of a ball among 4 “online participants.” 3 of the “participants” are computer generated. After the first twenty throws, the computer generated participants begin to leave out the real subject. After the 40 throws participants complete a collection of state measure surveys including state self-esteem, mood, and envy. They are then randomly assigned to passively scroll through TikTok or Instagram for 10 minutes. After that, they are given a final state survey measure. Following this, they are fully debriefed and thanked for their participation. Results: We predict that passively scrolling on TikTok will be a more effective mechanism for coping with induced ostracism than Instagram. Specifically, we expect that using TikTok following ostracism will result in improved mood and state self-esteem, and less envy compared to using Instagram following ostracism. Implications: If our hypotheses are supported, the results would suggest that TikTok helps with college students coping with feeling ostracized, and that Instagram is not an effective coping mechanism. This may provide college-aged individuals with a more effective strategy for engaging with social media during or after facing stressful events
Exploring Veteran Identity Using the Photovoice Technique
No full textVeteran identity has been operationalized to be a Veteran’s self-concept deriving from their shared military experiences. After separation from service, many Veterans experience “reverse culture shock,” which can negatively impact interpersonal relationships and results in negative feelings such as helplessness, isolation, and emotional disconnection. Understanding how Veterans define themselves in their civilian lives can give us insight that could bridge the gaps between them and their available support systems. We utilized a qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) model which empowers Veterans to use their personal voices to tell their stories and help researchers communicate those stories to the community. In this framework, we employed the Photovoice technique where Veterans take pictures that represent the answer to the following prompt: What does being a Veteran mean to you? This study is part of a larger project using photovoice and lyric analysis to help define the “sights and sounds” of Veteran identity. Veterans were then asked questions individually and as a group to help the researchers understand the meaning of the images relating to the prompt. Transcripts of the interviews are being analyzed to uncover common themes and elements that represent a definition of Veteran identity. The conceptual framework for this project was presented last year. This year, preliminary results of these analyses will be discussed. To allow Veterans’ stories to be told to the public, our next aim is to create an immersive, interactive gallery reflecting their experiences through their photos. We argue that without more emphasis on qualitative CbPAR methodologies, research with special and/or marginalized populations, like Veterans, will continue to be more exploitative than beneficial for them. CbPAR methods help eliminate the distrust in scientists and clinicians already experienced by many in these populations
Designing Affordable Luxury: Brand Development Research for Five Star Resort
No full textHave you ever wondered why it matters whether your laptop displays a certain fruit, or why you are attracted to certain products in the grocery store? Consider two goods which are identical but presented to you in different packages. What are the factors that lead you to decide between them? In a world where consumers consult image before anything else, “brand” has become a critical consideration in every company. This study examines the materials, colors, typefaces, shapes, and compositions which make up a brand, specifically a five-star resort named Velvet Villas. My research revealed first how these factors contribute to the brand, and second how to implement the brand to every area of the business. I began with ideation to develop a name, style, logo, and word mark for the resort. Next, I created consumer profiles to narrow the style of typography, color palette, architecture, and overall mood guests might be attracted to. Throughout the design process, I revisited and refined each choice until I created a theoretical brand tailored to Velvet Villas’ target market. Next, I applied the brand to every detail of the resort, including stationery, signage, wayfinding, amenities, advertising, and architecture. Lastly, I compiled my work into a manual guide which outlines all design decisions and guidelines for usage, as well as digital renderings and mockups. The purpose of my research is to demonstrate the design process for creating and implementing a brand while integrating important marketing and consumer behavior concepts. Keywords: graphic design, branding, marketing, consumer behavior, design process, creative problem solvin
Preliminary Diversity of Panamanian Amphipod Crustaceans Within the Parvorder Caprellidira
Get PDFAmphipods are an order of Crustacean which are responsible for many ecosystem services including nutrient cycling, environmental bioindication, as well as supporting higher trophic levels as a primary food source. Amphipods are incredibly successful and as such, can be found in high volumes in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems. Panama is typically associated with well-documented biodiversity because it is part of the Caribbean. Despite this, amphipods have previously been understudied within Panama with only 33 species reported before this study. Due to the success of caprellidiran amphipods, we hypothesized that there would be a higher number of amphipods within the parvorder Caprellidira in Panama than previously reported. Using light microscopy, the preliminary analysis of collections taken from 2005, 2021, and 2023 within Bocas del Toro, Panama has revealed a significantly larger number of species from within the area than previously reported. In total, five families, 12 genera, and 22 species have been identified within this parvorder with 12 of these species are believed to be new to science. Scientific illustrations and an identification key to species will be completed to assist in the future identification of difficult species within the parvorder. Molecular analysis of a few species will also be completed to assist in identifying otherwise unidentifiable species. Ultimately, this research clarifies the often-confused descriptions of amphipod species and contributes to the knowledge of phylogeny
Nurse workforce retention: Identifying modifiable factors that affect nursing retention post-COVID
No full textNurses are a vital part of the healthcare system workforce, comprising approximately 4.2 million registered nurses (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2022). They account for approximately 30% of the hospital employment workforce (U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). A shortage associated with this group could have a devastating effect on the healthcare system. Nurses provide care 24 hours, seven days a week to hospitalized patients. Their ability to competently provide evidence–based, efficient, sustainable, and safe care is critical to maintaining a healthcare system’s accessibility, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety. Consistent and adequate nurse staffing in the acute care setting is not realized in some organizations resulting in the inability to obtain the best outcomes for its patients, employees, and organization (Bakhamis et al., 2019).
Hospital expenditures associated with nursing turnover are estimated to be 270,800 (njsna.org, 2020). These expenditures can significantly burden a hospital’s budget if the hospital has a low retention rate. The money spent to train nurses does not deliver a return on investment if the nurse leaves the facility prematurely. They not only leave with the training the facility invested in but also leave a vacancy that must be filled. As cited from the Nursing Solutions, Inc (NSI) January 2023 report, authors Minjeon, Seongkum, Yoon, JinShil, and Yoenhu, (2022) note the turnover percentages for Novice nurses at 39.8% turnover rate, while for nurses with more than five years of experience turnover rate at 13.4%. They cite from the NSI the difference in turnover rates relative to the size of the hospital, for instance, hospitals with 200-399 beds have a turnover rate of 24.4%, while hospitals with more than 500 beds have a turnover rate of 17.4% (Minjeong et al.,2022). As noted previously, registered nurses account for approximately 30% of the healthcare workforce, totaling 4.2 million positions. Even with a ten-percentage turnover rate, that would equal 420,000 nurses leaving the profession. High turnover rates open doors to adverse events, physical and mental fatigue, and increased turnover.
Therefore, hospital leadership should investigate the factors influencing nurses\u27 decision to leave their current employer. Investigating these factors can lead the organization to a proactive approach toward nursing retention. Once the factors have been identified, the hospital can begin strategizing to decrease or eliminate those factors associated with nurse turnover. These strategies could lead to improved retention rates and patient outcomes, decreased employee burnout, and improved organization morale (Marufu, et al., 2021)
Veganism Vs Meat Consumption
No full textA notable discussion that is frequently debated in everyday culture is the topic of veganism and ethical consumption. Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of food that is derived from animals. Vegans eat a plant-based diet and base many of their purchase decisions on whether or not an animal was involved in the manufacturing process in an attempt to limit exploitation and cruelty towards animals. In countries like Morocco, live animals such as chickens are often sold at fresh markets, unlike American grocery stores where meat is prepackaged in plastic wrapping. Since most American markets allow customers to purchase meat that has already been slaughtered, processed, and packaged, would Americans eat less meat if they saw the live animal they were going to eat? Despite only making up 4.23 percent of the world’s population, the United States is a leading consumer of animal products with the average resident eating approximately 219 pounds of meat in 2018. This was followed by Australia whose average was 203 pounds per resident. In America, about 95 percent of the country consumes meat, and the amount of meat produced has been steadily rising over the years. If the general perception of the morality of meat consumption was shifted in any way, it would have a significant impact on agricultural industries and other industries as a result. A mixed-method approach will be utilized starting with exploratory qualitative and quantitative research. The sample will ultimately comprise of students enrolled at GCSU