Sacred Heart University

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    What the Focal?

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    This paper focuses on exploring the rich oral tradition of Irish storytelling through a linguistic and cultural lens, highlighting its distinct narrative structures. Focusing on alliterative runs—mnemonic, rhythmic linguistic patterns unique to the Irish language—the study compares traditional Irish storytelling with the predominantly written American narrative tradition. The Irish storytelling\u27s oral heritage fosters unique linguistic features that can be misunderstood or misdiagnosed in clinical contexts when assessed through a standard American English framework. The paper emphasizes the need for cultural competence in speech-language pathology, especially when evaluating narrative skills across different linguistic traditions. Translation and cultural misunderstanding can obscure the depth and purpose of Irish oral narratives. Ultimately, it reveals how translation and cultural misunderstanding can obscure the depth and purpose of Irish oral narratives, advocating for a more nuanced, culturally aware approach to linguistic analysis and clinical practice

    Using Markov Chains to Analyze Board Games

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    A Markov chain records the outcomes of a sequence of chance experiments. We will define Markov chains and introduce some general theory about them. This theory will be applied to model two board games, Chutes and Ladders and Monopoly, as Markov chains. We will use the results obtained from modeling them as Markov chains to analyze each board game individually

    Connecting Continents: Historical Analysis of European Immigrants and their Impact on Connecticut’s Development

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    Immigration has been a constant factor of historical growth in America’s history, forging newfound developments across a variety of fields. Whether it be fluxes of immigration affecting the nation as a whole or just within a single state, the impetus behind this research was to uncover how immigrant communities within the state of Connecticut were able to establish themselves within the state’s history. The research examines the work of local historians, museums, US Census data, naval records and genealogical records to uncover how a series of European immigrant groups partook in unique trends that significantly impacted the state’s development through history. This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of how these differing trends among distinct communities produced significant developments encapsulating how immigrant groups acted as substantial agents of change. Groups such as the Irish community spearheaded industrial shifts, the Portuguese immigrant community single-handed mastery of maritime trades and the Polish community’s unique contributions to urban expansion perfectly encapsulated how unique trends allowed such immigrant groups to distinguish themselves in their contributions to a state’s history. This thesis concludes that as these communities underwent unique changes their actions created a mutual relationship with the state they had resided in, contributing to a system of advancement, while simultaneously benefiting from the environment. These benefits range from political expansion among these communities to the augmentation of Connecticut’s capabilities as national power. This thesis highlights the intricate interplay between communities and state development showcasing the critical advancements driven forward by distinct trends

    The Effect of Financial Literacy on Firm Performance

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    This study examines the influence of financial literacy on firm performance by integrating state-level financial literacy data with firm-level metrics including Market Capitalization, Tobin’s Q, ROA, ROE, and EBIT. Utilizing data from the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) and COMPUSTAT for the years 2009 to 2024, and a sample size of 100,126 observations, it highlights how higher levels of financial literacy correlate with improved firm valuation and profitability. The study employs the Financial Literacy Index and its imputed counterpart using the Fully Conditional Specification (FCS) method to address missing data. Regression analyses reveal that financial literacy significantly impacts both valuation and profitability measurements, though the results vary across metrics. For valuation measurements, higher levels of financial literacy are negatively associated with Market Capitalization, demonstrating financially literate environments reduce overvaluation and speculative pricing, aligning firm valuations more closely with intrinsic fundamentals. Similarly, financial literacy positively influences Tobin’s Q, suggesting that firms in regions with higher financial literacy levels are more efficient in utilizing their assets relative to market expectations. The impact on Tobin’s Q is mixed, with mostly negative results but some positive estimates in specific models, indicating that financial literacy moderates speculative pricing but may also improve valuation recognition for firms with strong fundamentals. For profitability measurements, financial literacy is positively associated with ROA, demonstrating that firms in financially literate regions optimize asset utilization and enhance operational efficiency. The impact on EBIT is mixed, showing that while financial literacy can contribute to improved profitability, its effect varies based on industry dynamics and external market factors. The relationship with ROE is statistically insignificant across most models, suggesting that shareholder returns may be influenced by additional factors such as corporate governance, leverage decisions, and financing structures rather than financial literacy alone. These findings highlight the dual role of financial literacy in reducing speculative valuations and enhancing operational efficiency. However, its effects vary across firm performance metrics, suggesting context-dependent influences shaped by industry, macroeconomic conditions, and governance factors. The use of imputation methods strengthens data integrity, ensuring a rigorous assessment of financial literacy’s impact. Future research should explore sector-specific variations and long-term trends to better understand its evolving role in corporate financial decision-making

    A Comparative Analysis of CDC and AI-Generated Health Information Using Computer-Aided Text Analysis

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    Background AI-generated content is easy to access. Members of the public use it as an alternative or to supplement official sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the quality and reliability of AI-generated health information is questionable. This study aims to understand how AI-generated health information differs from that provided by the CDC, particularly in terms of sentiment, readability, and overall quality. Language expectancy theory serves as a framework and offers insights into how people’s expectations of message content from different sources can influence perceived credibility and persuasiveness of such information. Methods Computer-aided text analysis was used to analyze 20 text entries from the CDC and 20 entries generated by ChatGPT 3.5. Content analysis utilizing human coders was used to assess the quality of information. Results ChatGPT used more negative sentiments, particularly words associated with anger, sadness, and disgust. The CDC\u27s health messages were significantly easier to read than those generated by ChatGPT. Furthermore, ChatGPT’s responses required a higher reading grade level. In terms of quality, the CDC\u27s information was a little higher quality than that of ChatGPT, with significant differences in DISCERN scores. Conclusion Public health professionals need to educate the general public about the complexity and quality of AI-generated health information. Health literacy programs should address topics about quality and readability of AI-generated content. Other recommendations for using AI-generated health information are provided

    Breaking the Chains: Challenging Antiblackness In Social Work Education and Practice: a Qualitative Study

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    This dissertation critically examines the pervasive effects of anti-Blackness within social work education, focusing on how these experiences influence the development of Black identity among social work faculty. Situated within a historical context of systemic exclusion, marginalization, and racial discrimination, the study investigates the strategies employed by Black social work educators to navigate and construct their professional identities. The central research question explores how anti-Blackness within social work members. The study\u27s findings are organized into five key themes: recognition of systemic racism, challenging dominant narratives, amplifying counter-narratives, intersectionality and complex identities, and advocacy for systemic change. These themes highlight the deep-rooted nature of racism in social work education, including challenges such as curricula that neglect Black communities and the resistance encountered when addressing race and privilege. The research also emphasizes the role of intersectionality in complicating the navigation of personal identity, with Black faculty members often facing microaggressions and societal pressure to conform, which undermines their sense of belonging. In addition, the dissertation advocates for significant institutional changes, including curriculum reform, increased diversity among faculty, and the integration of antiracism training into professional development. The findings suggest that such changes are crucial for creating a more inclusive and supportive academic environment for Black educators and students. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of the barriers faced by Black individuals in social work education and offers practical strategies for promoting an academic culture that fosters equity, inclusion, and systemic transformation

    Pioneer Times, Volume 2, Number 1

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    Highlights include: SHU Named a Top College by Princeton Review, Dance Company Takes Stage in Bari, Italy, Latest Blogs: 5 Growing Careers in Health Care, Upcoming Event

    The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins

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    Suzanne Collins was born in Hartford.https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/didyouknow/1019/thumbnail.jp

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