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Adolescent Identity Development: Impostorism and Parentification
No full textAdolescence is a critical stage for identity development in which young people begin to define their values, goals, and sense of self. Family relationships play a pivotal role in the process of identity development, particularly when adolescents take on adult roles and responsibilities. This role reversal, known as parentification, can foster maturity and competence, but also stress, boundary issues, and self-doubt (Minuchin et al., 1967). Such self-doubt is similar to impostorism, which is the persistent feeling of inadequacy or fear of being a fraud despite evidence of success (Leary et al., 2000). The present study aimed to investigate how experiences of parentification in adolescence is related to impostorism in emerging adults. In this study, emerging adults with siblings (N= 49, Mage = 25.20) filled out an online survey through Prolific that measured demographics, parentification, and impostorism. Results conveyed that greater parentification was not significantly correlated with higher levels of impostorism. This research and further exploration of this topic can help understand issues regarding identity in adolescence and help predict the development of impostorism in later stages
An Eye-Tracking Study on the Cognitive Effects of AI Assistance in Academic Reading and Writing Tasks
No full textAccording to a study conducted by the Digital Education Council, 86% of university students use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with their academic work, and one in four university students uses it daily (Campbell Academic Technology Services, 2025). AI has become ingrained in the lives of college students, yet little is known about how it impacts their academic work. The present study aims to understand how AI affects college students\u27 cognitive processes and comprehension.
To complete this study, participants are required to complete a reading and writing assignment while they are connected to a BIOPAC system, used for physiological eye-tracking. Participants are randomly assigned to a control group (reading and writing without AI) or an experimental group (reading and writing with AI). Eye-tracking metrics, including mean fixation duration, total fixation count, and the amount of deviations, are recorded while participants read informational texts.
Data will be analyzed using paired-samples t-tests and inter-rater reliability scoring for the participants’ written work. It is hypothesized that AI assistance will reduce cognitive load, as well as decrease critical-thinking quality in writing. By comparing performance across both conditions, this study aims to reveal whether relying on AI makes academic tasks easier but potentially less engaging. Unlike previous studies that rely on surveys or self-reports, this study uses physiological eye-tracking data to capture cognitive engagement in real-time. This provides a more objective view of how students interact with AI while using it for reading and writing.
As AI continues to evolve, it is important to understand how it affects the way students engage with their work. Understanding AI’s effects on comprehension and engagement is essential in developing teaching practices. Results from this research may help administrators create policies regarding AI usage without compromising the process of authentic learning
Effects of Caffeine and Alcohol on Astrocyte Viability and Morphology
No full textOften referred to as “America’s most popular drug,” caffeine is consumed daily by nearly 90% of adults in the United States. Chemically, caffeine acts as a stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors, temporarily increasing alertness and reducing fatigue. While moderate consumption is generally safe, excessive intake can be harmful, particularly for individuals with cardiovascular conditions, digestive issues, or during pregnancy. Elevated caffeine exposure during pregnancy has been linked to developmental abnormalities that may persist throughout life. In this study, we focused on the effects of caffeine on glial development using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The Tg[gfap:GFP] transgenic line, which expresses green fluorescent protein in astrocytes, glial cells essential for neural development and maintenance, was used to visualize glial morphology. Embryos were bred from this transgenic line and randomly assigned to groups exposed to varying concentrations of caffeine. Glial development was assessed at 3–4 days post-fertilization (dpf) using fluorescence microscopy. In control embryos, astrocyte signals were localized only within the spinal cord, indicating normal glial organization. In contrast, caffeine-treated groups showed altered astrocytic morphology, with increased fluorescence intensity observed outside the spinal cord, particularly in the dorsal region. To determine whether these effects were specific to caffeine, additional alcohol exposure trials were conducted. Results indicated that the astrocyte-specific changes were uniquely associated with caffeine exposure, highlighting the potential risks of excessive caffeine consumption during early neurodevelopment
The effect of leaf composition and structure on decomposition rates in Primula sp. and Allium schoenoparsum
No full textDecomposition is the process by which dead organic matter is broken down by bacteria and fungi. Leaves are a prominent form of organic matter that decomposes and enriches soil by returning nutrients. In this experiment, chive and primrose leaves were investigated. Chive leaves are thinner and softer, while primrose leaves are thicker and more dense, supporting our hypothesis that Chive leaf litter will decompose faster than primrose leaf litter because chives have a lower lignin content and are structurally narrower, making them easier to decompose. For this experiment, we placed around 4 grams of both species into a series of 4 groups of porous wire gridded leaf litter bags on the 5th floor green roof of the Janet Ayres Building in 4 separate locations to allow natural decomposition to take place through physical breakdown, chemical leaching, and microbial activity. Every 3 weeks, we collected 4 leaf bags, which were dried and re-weighed to determine mass loss as an indicator of decomposition rate. Our results showed that the chives decomposed much faster than the primrose, and the primrose did not fully decompose since we started the litter bags, while all the chives had fully decomposed
Potential Impacts of Construction on Bat Populations in Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee
No full textHuman development continues to alter natural landscapes, often with significant consequences for wildlife populations. Among the most sensitive taxa to such disturbances are bats, which serve vital ecological roles as insect predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers. Because bats depend on specific roosting and foraging habitats, even minor environmental changes can strongly influence their activity and diversity. A new road is proposed through an area of Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee which is otherwise untouched. This may affect the biodiversity and the populations of bats as a result. Wildlife Acoustic MiniBat 2 acoustic monitoring equipment was used to gather echolocation calls of bat species across 3 locations during October 2025: pristine site near the center of the park, roadside site, and the proposed road site. These recorded calls were analyzed using the Kaleidoscope software to identify species. By comparing species richness we can estimate a potential impact to bat populations in the otherwise untouched proposed site. Nine species were found, 8 at Proposed, 6 at Roadside, and 5 at Pristine. Three species were only found at Pristine, 2 of which are threatened
Effects of Caffeine and CBD on Vascular Development in Danio rerio
No full textCaffeine and cannabidiol (CBD) are among the most commonly used psychoactive and therapeutic compounds worldwide, but their impacts on early embryonic development remain poorly understood. My research aims to investigate the impact of caffeine and CBD exposure on embryonic development using embryos of Danio rerio (zebrafish) as a model organism. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of caffeine and CBD to assess developmental abnormalities. Vascular defects were examined using the transgenic line Tg[kdrl:GFP], which expresses green fluorescent protein in endothelial cells, allowing visualization of blood vessel formation during development. In this study, we observed that embryo length was reduced at 100 mM caffeine concentration, while exposure to CBD produced non-conclusive results. The length of intersegmental vessels (ISVs) appeared unchanged, and ISV fluorescence intensity remained largely unaffected. Similarly, fluorescence intensity in the middle cerebral vein (MSV) showed no noticeable change. In contrast, the caudal vein plexus (CVP) exhibited reduced fluorescence intensity when exposed to caffeine, accompanied by an increase in the number of intercapillary spaces within the CVP region. These findings underscore the importance of further investigating the developmental effects of commonly used substances such as caffeine and CBD, particularly their potential impact on vertebrate embryonic growth and vascular development
Neighbors with Paws, Claws, and Hooves
No full textOften we speak of nature as out there separate from ourselves. Viewing the other living creatures around us, those chosen as company and those who make their way into our worlds, as neighbors can enhance our lives and learning. What if fence lines are created for the protection of our animal company, not to keep them out but to keep them safe from modern threats? What might be learned if our capacity to see and hear all the life that surrounds us was extended and full of welcome
Seeing Our Non-Human Neighbors: A Drawing and Writing Workshop
No full textDiscuss importance of slowing down and paying attention. sketch and describe a plant or animal
Who Is My Neighbor? Reflections on the Parable of the Good Samaritan
No full textThis presentation is part paper and part workshop. The paper will be a close reading of the Good Samaritan parable from the Gospel of Luke. Then students and faculty will be given the opportunity to rewrite and retell the story in a current context through guided application