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Consideration to Improve College Student Involvement and Retention
No full textThe primary objective of this assessment was to ascertain strategies for enhancing student engagement within their chosen academic disciplines in the college setting. A comprehensive review of the extant academic literature revealed a multitude of advantages associated with heightened student involvement in their collegiate pursuits, alongside a nuanced exploration of the challenges and corresponding remedial measures pertinent to students\u27 engagement within their declared majors. Furthermore, the researchers conducted a systematic inquiry into the intricate interplay of depression, stress, and financial constraints, and their ramifications on both student success and the degree of commitment exhibited within their chosen areas of study. Throughout this case study, the analysis not only draws attention to its findings but also offers implications for prospective research endeavors, thereby extending the discourse on strategies to foster and bolster student engagement. Furthermore, this inquiry contributes a set of recommendations for enhancing the overall level of student involvement, resonating within the milieu of academic disciplines and offering insights for the amelioration of the student experience
The Relationship Between Student Engagement And ACT Aspire Reading Scores Among Ninth-Grade Students In One Northwest Arkansas Junior High School
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and attendance. Reading proficiency is foundational to overall academic success. In this study, reading proficiency served as the operational definition for the level of student academic success. Out-of-school suspension is a disciplinary consequence as a result of student behavior and correlates to student attendance. This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between student engagement, as defined by student attendance and discipline, and reading proficiency, as measured by the 2021-22 ACT Aspire Reading scores for ninth-grade students in one northwest Arkansas junior high school.
Descriptive data analysis was conducted to show the demographic makeup of the school and the frequencies and means of attendance and discipline data. Raw scores for the ACT Aspire Reading Assessment were used as a measure of student academic success. Using Spearman Rho and multiple linear regression analysis, the results of this study revealed the effect of chronic absenteeism on the reading proficiency of these ninth-grade students in one Northwest Arkansas junior high school. Three regression models were formulated using student attendance, gender, and ethnicity as predictor variables, with a combined 11.6% explanation for the variance in the reading scores. While the analysis indicated that attendance, gender, and ethnicity predicted reading scores, student discipline was removed from the regression analysis as a predictor variable.
Conclusions from the research include that out-of-school suspensions have a negative effect on reading proficiency due to their increasing student attendance. Discipline alone did not appear to affect reading proficiency and academic achievement significantly. The results support previous research in this field, indicating that students with higher attendance tend to have better reading proficiency. This research suggests that school leaders must provide alternatives to out-of-school suspensions and find solutions to negative student behavior to increase instructional time. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the negative academic impact of low attendance, exacerbated by out-of-school suspensions and academic achievement
Gifted and Talented Student Performance on State Achievement Tests
Get PDFThe exploration of dissecting gifted and talented programs combined with student advancement and academic success is one daunting but doable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the equity of the gifted and talented program while analyzing the achievement scores of these students compared to their peers. This quantitative study includes an evaluation of third through fifth grade students in a central Arkansas school district while merging the relationships of the general education population versus the academically gifted and talented population. Both groups were examined through the independent variables classified as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. A descriptive data analysis was conducted to assess the academic performance of students enrolled in the gifted and talented program, paralleled with their counterparts in the general education setting. The findings of this study reveal valuable insights into the equity of gifted and talented programs and the impact of such programs on the academic success of their participants. A Chi-Square test was conducted to determine if there was an association between the number of students admitted to the gifted and talented program and those not admitted based on ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. The data indicated that students were selected disproportionately for gifted and talented programs based on ethnicity and socioeconomic status. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue surrounding educational equity and provides recommendations for policymakers and educators to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments
Identifying the Effects of Covid-19 on Visitor Place Attachment of State Parks in Arkansas
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, recreation sites around the country experienced a rise in visitation numbers as residents looked for alternatives to staying home. The researchers hypothesized that the social and cultural changes associated with the pandemic have increased the level of visitor place attachment towards these sites. This research works to identify the level of connection guests have towards Arkansas State Parks (ASP) during COVID-19. Results from this study have shown that attachment towards ASP has grown throughout the pandemic and has increased the likelihood that these visitors will return to the site in the future
The Impact of Road Crossings on Karst Headwater Streams in Northwest Arkansas
Get PDFThe karst region of NW Arkansas is home to many headwater endemic Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). This includes many species of darters, such as Etheostoma cragini, E. microperca, and E. mihileze, as well as crayfish such as Faxonious meeki brevis and F. nana. NW Arkansas is rapidly urbanizing, increasing the need to construct structures like culverts, bridges, and fords. These man-made road crossings can cause stream habitat degradation and fragmentation, as well as impair overall stream connectivity. To evaluate the impact that road crossings have on aquatic SGCN species and their habitat, 30 headwater streams were sampled throughout Benton and Washington counties. A series of Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine relationships between road crossing presence and stream habitat. Stream sites with road crossings had significantly higher water temperatures and conductivity, as well as more embedded substrates and increased levels of bank incision. Partial least squares regression was used to examine how road crossing presence and stream habitat variables influence SGCN abundance, density, condition, diversity indices, and community metrics. The composition of fine sediment and aquatic vegetation, which is preferred habitat for E. cragini and E. microperca, was significantly lower at sites with road crossings. SGCN darters tended to occur less frequently at sites with these structures, and at smaller abundances when they did occur. However, SGCN crayfish occurred at higher abundances at sites with road crossings, which typically had larger substrates. Additionally, the condition of F. nana, along with two other non-SGCN species, was significantly higher when these structures were present. These data suggest the need for multispecies conservation approaches, as road crossings may affect SGCNs uniquely, especially across taxonomic groups
Development and Application of SEM/EDS in Biological, Biomedical & Nanotechnological Research
Get PDFThis comprehensive review discusses the development of scanning electron microscopy and the application of this technology in different fields such as biology, nanobiotechnology and biomedical science. Besides being a tool for high resolution imaging of surface or topography, the technology is coupled with analytical techniques such as energy dispersive spectroscopy for elemental mapping. Since the commercialization of the technology, it has developed manifold and currently very high-resolution nano scale imaging is possible by this technology. The development of FIB-SEM has allowed three-dimensional imaging of materials while the development of cryostage allows imaging of hydrated biological samples. Though variable pressure or environmental SEM can be used for imaging hydrated samples, they cannot capture a high-resolution image. SBEM and ATUM-SEM has automated the sampling process while improved and more powerful software along with user-friendly computer interface has made image analysis faster and more reliable. This review presents one of the most widely used analytical techniques used across the globe for scientific investigation. The power and potential of SEM is expanding with the development of accessory technology
Demonstration of Hydrogen Combustion Properties
Get PDFThe Hydrogen Flame Demonstration project encompasses the design, fabrication, and usage of a pressure vessel system with the goal of demonstrating the hazardous flammable properties that are associated with gaseous hydrogen. This project was completed as a part of a 16-week internship at the NASA White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico during the Spring of 2022. As the interest of technologies using hydrogen as a fuel, or otherwise, increases, informing and setting ‘best practices’ for use of pressure systems containing hydrogen becomes increasingly necessary. Gaseous hydrogen is highly flammable with the presence of air or oxygen. Since the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen with air is exceptionally low at 0.017 mJ, the lower flammability limit of hydrogen in air is only 4% by volume, hydrogen flames in air are invisible to the naked eye, and the size of the hydrogen molecule is small which makes it prone to leakage, common failure modes of hydrogen include deflagration, detonation, and non-visible flames. However, the technologies associated with hydrogen as a fuel are promising and could be the solution to climate change issues. To unlock the potential of hydrogen-based technology, researchers, engineers, and handlers that associate with such technologies should be informed and design for the hazards involved. This project demonstrated the characteristics of a hydrogen flame with in-person demonstrations, high quality video of the demonstrations, and will serve as the foundation of future experiments to investigate hydrogen flame properties such as auto-ignition conditions in collaboration with the US Department of Energy
Environmental and Agricultural Effects on Waterfowl Population in Arkansas
No full textThis paper discusses some of the positive and negative effects of environmental and agricultural influences on the waterfowl population in the state of Arkansas. Waterfowl hunting has been a prominent source of revenue to the state of Arkansas for many decades. Waterfowl hunting will continue to be prominent in this state in future as long as Arkansans maintain and preserve the natural resources here as well as use our own to further progress the waterfowl industry in Arkansas. Through aerial surveying, requiring hunters to purchase licenses and stamps to legally hunt waterfowl, and conservation efforts from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and other organizations, it has become much easier to determine how many ducks are utilizing Arkansas as a habitat as well as how many hunters are harvesting waterfowl during the year within the state
Spatial Assessment of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities in Tributaries of Lake Dardanelle
Get PDFAquatic macroinvertebrates are key bioindicators of water/habitat quality and can be used to catch changes in the health of the aquatic systems that they live within. They can also be used to determine a fish community as many fish species require macroinvertebrates as a key part of their diet. These macroinvertebrate communities can change significantly due to varying land-use practices on surrounding riparian area. This is especially in places like Arkansas with lots of agriculture and an increasing population. We assessed 6 tributaries of Lake Dardanelle (Bakers Creek, Shoal Creek, Spadra Creek, Middle Fork Illinois Bayou, Hurricane Creek, and Mill Creek) to compare the spatial difference of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities within the local area. We captured all macroinvertebrates with d-frame kicknets and identified them down to family with a Swift SM-80 dissecting microscope. We then used a Bray-Curtis analysis to compare these communities for overall similarity or dissimilarity. Spadra Creek was the most diverse site with 24 unique species while Hurricane Creek was the least diverse with only 13 unique species. On average, Shoal Creek () and Bakers Creek () were more dissimilar with all sites. We believe this is likely due to the varying land-use practices within the riparian area of these waterways. Hurricane Creek appears to have the most agriculture use around it as it has a higher abundance of cattle farming and smaller riparian distance than the rest of the tributaries
Importance of Preparedness for the City of Guangzhou to Enhance Response Capabilities Related to Disease Outbreaks
Get PDFThis research study underscores the importance of preparedness for the City of Guangzhou to enhance response capabilities related to disease outbreaks. By reviewing existing literature, this study examines preparedness and response activities adopted by various countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic and further provides strategies to reduce impacts and facilitate effective response and recovery for future public health emergencies