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Spectrum, Volume 54, Issue 1
Get PDFHighlights include: President Donald Trump’s Back in the Oval Office - SHU Cheer is Back on Top as UCA Champions - Engineering the Future of the WCBT: Prof. Earns Fellowship - The Heart of Service: Inside the Office of Community Engagement - Say Goodbye to Seasonal Depression
Using Function-Based Thinking To Support Adaptive Student Behavior For Elementary Students
Get PDFThis study investigated the factors influencing educators’ difficulty managing students’ maladaptive behavior in a suburban Pre-K-5 school. Research demonstrates that educators’ ability to manage student behaviors directly impacts students’ social, emotional, academic, and behavioral outcomes. This study examined the impact of an 8-week Function-Based Thinking (FBT) intervention on Pre-K-5 general educators’ ability to identify and implement function-based supports to promote adaptive behaviors for general education students in the classroom setting. The researcher conducted a convergent mixed-methods study with six general educators and merged quantitative data measuring FBT knowledge, beliefs about behavior, and students’ behavioral trends with qualitative findings from exit slips, consultation field notes, and a focus group. Results indicated that the FBT learning series significantly impacted educators\u27 FBT knowledge and their ability to implement function-based supports. Moreover, the 8-week intervention had a statistically significant positive impact on participants\u27 beliefs about student behavior, and the frequency of maladaptive behavior decreased following participants’ implementation of function-based supports with a focus student in their general education setting. Participants reported increased self-efficacy in managing student behavior and positive impacts on student-teacher relationships, students’ SEL, and the learning environment. The study’s findings identified case study sessions and individual consultations as effective professional learning modalities. These findings, in combination with the barriers to FBT implementation, informed recommendations for adopting, adapting, and expanding FBT at and beyond the research setting, including extending FBT learning to all educators, providing time for educators to collaborate on behavior management approaches, and using coaching to support educators in FBT implementation
Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridine Alkoxide-Ligated Metal Complexes
Get PDFThe pyridine alkoxide ligand “pyalk” is an important structure in organometallic chemistry and has been ligated to several transition metals, most notably iridium and copper. These metal complexes have been remarkably active in water oxidation catalysis reactions, which are important for the development of artificial photosynthesis technologies. Despite its activity and relatively simple structure, the potential of pyalk-derived ligands has not been fully explored. The synthesis of a novel suite of pyridine alkoxide ligands may enable the further development of highly efficient and sustainable first-row transition metal catalysts. These ligands are based on the known pyalk scaffold and include variations of their steric and electronic properties so that ligand effects on the structure and reactivity can be understood. Here we discuss the synthesis and characterization of the suite of ligands and pyalk-ligated first-row metal complexes, as well as future plans for studies of their catalytic activity
Assessing patterns of parasites in Long Island Sound horseshoe crabs
No full textAssessing patterns of parasites in Long Island Sound horseshoe crabs Megan Prettyman, Robert Bevilacqua, Jo-Marie Kasinak M.S. Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield CT, 06825 The American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, plays an important role in both biomedical and ecological fields. Their blood is used to make Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), because it clots on contact with bacteria and other pathogens. Because of this, they are harvested and bled so that this compound can be used in the pharmaceutical industry to test vaccines, medical devices, and other products for contamination. Ecologically, horseshoe crab eggs serve as an important food source to migratory shorebirds, such as the Red Knot, during their migration. Limulus can be found along the east coast of North America and the population is stable in many areas, however, it is declining in the Long Island Sound (LIS). A parasite has previously been identified, Bdelloura candida, which lives and lays eggs in the organism’s gills. This study sought observe comparisons of parasite load in LIS horseshoe crabs. Through Project Limulus horseshoe crabs were tagged and released all over the coast of Connecticut. Data was collected on Limulus between May 2024 and mid-July 2024 including sex, size, location, shell condition (scale of 1-3), and parasite load (scale of 0-4). Analysis of the data is ongoing and will be assessed to identify trends between parasite load and other factors. This analysis will be relevant in learning more about the parasite and how it may affect the horseshoe crab’s population, including important conservation implications
Assessing the effects of spatial and temporal variation in sediment conditioning on seagrass seed germination and seedling performance
No full textMason J. Tsaglos1, Forest R. Schenck2, and Torrance C. Hanley1
1Sacred Heart University, Department of Biology, Fairfield, CT
2Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Salem, MA
Seagrass meadows provide numerous ecosystem functions and services, making conservation and restoration of these ecologically-valuable systems a high priority for coastal managers. The global decline of seagrass meadows necessitates finding consistently effective restoration methods. Recently, there has been increased interest in seed-based methods of seagrass restoration. However, these methods have had mixed success, with highly variable outcomes. Relatively little is known about how sediment characteristics, including soil conditioning by seagrasses at different spatial and temporal scales, may affect seed germination and seedling success in a restoration context. To examine the effects of seed source and sediment characteristics, we conducted a laboratory experiment using eelgrass seeds collected from different source meadows and comparing i) sediment collected different distances from a natural meadow (0, 1, 25, and 250 m from the edge) and ii) sediment that varied in historical seagrass presence (seagrass present currently and seagrass present ~1, 5, 10, and 20 years ago). We measured seed germination and seedling performance, and also assessed seed quality and viability. Our results can be used to inform seagrass restoration in New England, suggesting that i) sourcing seeds from multiple meadows will increase the likelihood of including higher quality seeds, and ii) including sediment inoculations from vegetated sites may increase success
In Process: The Mind of a Dancer as Seen Through The Eyes of AI
Get PDFBeing one of the most changing forms of art, dance is a construct that grows with the body overtime. This process is one that is personal to every dancer, and one that I wanted to translate for myself. Through the eyes of AI, I was able to create abstract images that represent three stages of my personal process. Notice how each dancer in all three categories looks exactly the same in size, stature, and body type. The eyes of AI prove quite clearly that there is one type of dancer. Therefore, that translates to one process. It is important to recognize that each dancer goes through a journey in which they learn how their bodies and experience impact their own lives. I invite you to take a look at my process, and how AI sees it
Understanding College Students\u27 Knowledge about Filing Taxes
No full textTaxes serve as the foundation for security and prosperity in any organized government. In the United States, taxes play a vital role in allowing our government to provide us safety, education, healthcare, retirement, and an endless list of necessities U.S. citizens depend on. It is our responsibility as citizens to properly pay the taxes we owe our government. However, one apparent flaw regarding taxes in the U.S. is the ability to educate young adults on how to correctly file and pay the taxes they owe as they become productive members of society. The objective of this study is to assess a sample of students at Sacred Heart University to gain a greater understanding of how much the average college student knows about the personal tax filing process. In this study, survey questions will be distributed among Sacred Heart students. We will implement statistical analysis to conclude how students truly understand tax filing requirements, and the factors determining their tax literacy
Cognitive Testing in Dogs: Long-Term Memory and Puzzle Feeders
Get PDFThis study explores long-term memory in domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) using puzzle feeder tasks to evaluate problem-solving retention over time. Nineteen dogs participated in two sessions spaced one month apart, where they interacted with five different puzzle feeders designed to vary in complexity. Each session was recorded and coded for interaction types and solution times. Results showed that 14 out of 19 dogs solved at least one puzzle, and paired sample t-tests revealed a statistically significant reduction in solution time during the second session (p = 0.001), suggesting memory retention of the puzzle-solving strategies. These findings support the hypothesis that dogs possess long-term memory capabilities relevant to spatial and problem-solving tasks. Future research will examine how personality traits may influence memory performance in dogs
The relationship between psychological distress, work burnout, and firearm ownership among correctional officers
Get PDFIntroduction. This study examines the relationship between psychological distress, work burnout, and firearm ownership among correctional officers. Methods. Using secondary cross-sectional data, we investigated psychological distress, work burnout, and the impact of firearm ownership among 211 correctional officers (COs). Results. Psychological distress is alarmingly high across all racial/ethnic groups, with the vast majority classified as likely to have a severe mental disorder. White COs exhibit the highest mean distress scores. Over half of the COs enrolled reported owning a firearm (54.5%). Those who reported having to own a firearm tended to have higher work burnout compared to those who never and do not currently own a firearm. In the minimally adjusted models, we found COs who currently did not own a firearm had a 31% (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.30,1.58) reduced odds with each increasing score of work burnout compared to those who never owned a firearm. Those who reported owning a firearm had an 82% (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08,0.40) reduced odds with increasing work burnout score compared to those who never owned a firearm. In the fully adjusted model, those who owned a firearm had a 68% (OR= 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.67) with each increasing work burnout compared to never owners. Conclusion. While firearm ownership is often perceived as a means of security, our results suggest that it may exacerbate stress levels in the high-pressure environment of correctional facilities
Whispers of Loss
Get PDFThis capstone project is a collection of original poems centered on the theme of loss, exploring its emotional complexities and the profound impact it has on personal identity and relationships. Each poem delves into different aspects of loss—whether through the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the quiet erosion of everyday experiences—and reflects on the various ways grief and memory shape our understanding of the world. Alongside the poems, I have included reflective paragraphs that explore the personal significance of each piece, detailing how the themes and emotions conveyed in the work resonate with my own life or the overall human condition. These reflections examine the moments of grief I have experienced, the coping mechanisms I have developed, and the transformative process of finding meaning in loss. Through this project, I aim to create a space where personal pain and universal experiences intersect, providing a deeper understanding of how loss shapes both the individual and their creative expression