30233 research outputs found
Sort by
Metacognitive mapping: developmental biology students struggle with higher-order cognitive skills in multiple course formats
No full textA grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Reflective assignments are a powerful tool in undergraduate STEM courses to promote student metacognition and give instructors and researchers a view of that process. We were interested in understanding student challenges in our developmental biology course, so we used reflective assignments to uncover these challenges and also add to our understanding of student metacognition in upper-level courses. We used structural and initial coding and themed student responses. Then, we were able to compare results across two different course formats. We also compared these analyses with student performance on weekly formative assessments and completed item analysis. Our analyses suggest that students struggle the most with application. Notably, student responses did not differ in an asynchronous online class versus a high-flex in-person class. We also surveyed students (n = 162) on their use and perceived value of the metacognitive assignments for further comparison to other studies of upper-level student metacognitive regulation. Results indicate a strong majority of students completed more than half of the assignments, found the assignments beneficial to their learning, and used the opportunity to plan study time. Overall, we find that upper-level college students have accurate metacognitive knowledge, allowing them to identify challenging topics and cognitive skills, and have acquired the metacognitive regulation tools to develop study plans when prompted by a reflective assignment
International Trade Law: A Comprehensive E-Textbook, Volume 5 Remedies (6th Revised Edition)
No full textThis book is Volume Five of an Eight-Volume set. All of the Volumes are available in KU ScholarWorks. Links to all eight volumes are available in the Abstracts file in this record.
About the Author:
Born in Toronto of Indian and Celtic heritage, Rakesh (Raj) Kumar Bhala is a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen prominent in the fields of International Trade Law, Islamic Law (Sharī‘a), and Law and Literature. Raj is a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas, School of Law (KU Law). He is published widely world-wide – authoring over 100 scholarly articles and 13 books, including the International Trade Law Textbook, which has been used at over 100 law schools around the globe. Ingram’s Business Magazine designated him as one of “50 Kansans You Should Know.”
Raj has testified before the U.K. Parliament, House of Commons, International Trade Committee, on trade and human rights. Media frequently call upon Raj. Across 65 consecutive months (from January 2017-October 2022), “On Point” was his column on International Law and Economics, which Bloomberg Quint / BQ Prime (Mumbai) published and distributed to approximately 6.2 million readers globally.
Raj is a Harvard Law School (HLS) graduate (Cum Laude). As a Marshall Scholar, Raj earned two Master’s degrees, from the London School of Economics (LSE) in Economics, and from Oxford (Trinity College) in Management (Industrial Relations). His undergraduate degree is from Duke (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), where he was an Angier B. Duke Scholar and double-majored in Economics and Sociology. After HLS, Raj practiced at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he twice won the President’s Award for Excellence thanks to his service as a delegate to the United Nations Conference on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), along with a Letter of Commendation from the U.S. Department of State. He is a member of the State Department’s Speaker Program.
Raj has served in officer positions at the International Bar Association (IBA) and Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), on the Executive Board of Directors of the Carriage Club of Kansas City (including as Treasurer), and been on the Alumni Association Board of the University School of Milwaukee (USM), his high school alma mater. He is grateful to his USM teachers for a liberal arts education that made all good things possible. Raj loves fitness training, has finished 115 marathons, including the “Big Five” of the “World’s Majors” (Boston twice, New York twice, Chicago twice, Berlin, and London). He enjoys studying Shakespeare and (especially since becoming Catholic at Easter Vigil 2001) Theology – and watching baseball.When countries lower tariff and/or non-tariff barriers through multilateral trade negotiations (MTNs) under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and World Trade Organization (WTO), or free trade agreements (FTAs), they are left with one category of measures to protect domestic producers: trade remedies. Volume Five covers this broad, deep specialty of International Trade Law. Remedies fall into four categories: (1) against unfairly traded merchandise; (2) against fairly-traded merchandise; (3) against non-market economies; and (4) unilateral action.
Parts One, Two, Three and Four deal with remedies to combat unfair trade, namely, antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVDs). Each of these Parts lays out the definition and elements of “dumping” and “subsidies.” The elements are technical, to be sure, but they are what International Trade Law practitioners “do” every day. Accordingly, all relevant case law is integrated into the AD-CVD material. Attention also is paid to fishing subsidies, in Part Four. World fisheries are depleted amidst subsidized commercial- scale international fleets (as from China), threatening the livelihoods of artisan fishermen and the protein-sources of hundreds of million around the world.
Part Five turns to remedies against fair trade. It explains why that counter-intuitive idea – fighting imported merchandise that is not dumped or illegally subsidized – makes sense in historical, economic, and political terms.
Part Six covers material that, with the November 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, might have been dismissed as irrelevant thereafter. In fact, given the economic policies of China (and other countries), remedies against imports of merchandise originating in countries that do not play be market economy standards and rules, i.e., non-market economies (NMEs), remain relevant. Such remedies include modified metrics for AD-CVD, plus market disruption.
Part Seven is about the most controversial trade weapon in America’s trade arsenal: Section 301. This Part explains the theory and practice of why and how America acts on its own against foreign government acts, policies, or practices that are unreasonable or discriminatory, and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Yes, Section 301 is an example of constructive ambiguity to deter possible “bad” behavior. But yes, the flexibility constructive ambiguity affords has led to major cases, indeed, trade wars, as between the U.S. and China.
Finally, Part Eight deals with a topic not well covered at any level of International Trade Law – multilateral, FTA, or national – namely, currency manipulation. How are foreign exchange rates set, how does foreign exchange (FX) trading work, and what are the criteria to determine when one country manipulates its currency to bolster its exports and disincentivize imports
Corrosion Resistance of Continuously Galvanized Reinforcement
No full textWhile many studies have evaluated the corrosion performance ofhot-dip galvanized reinforcement (ASTM A767), few have evaluatedthat of the newer continuously galvanized reinforcement(ASTM A1094). This study compared the corrosion resistance ofASTM A767 and A1094 reinforcement, along with uncoated reinforcement, using the Southern Exposure (SE) and cracked beam(CB) tests. The galvanized reinforcement was tested both with andwithout damage to the coating, as well as after bending the bars.Both ASTM A767 and A1094 reinforcement exhibited better corrosion resistance than uncoated reinforcement, but corrosion rates on both types of galvanized reinforcement increased when the bars were bent. ASTM A767 and A1094 reinforcement exhibited similar corrosion resistance and can be used interchangeably
A GREAT MASS OF DEPRAVED AND DEGENERATE: THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR’S FIGHT TO RESTRICT IMMIGRATION, EXCLUDE UNDESIRABLES, AND KEEP LABOR AMERICAN IN THE 1920s
No full textSubmitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honorsThe American Federation of Labor was a staunch supporter of immigration restriction in the 1920s, and lobbied for the passage of the Immigration Act of 1924, which heavily restricted incoming Eastern and Southern European immigration. Though the AFL denied that they were prejudiced against the affected immigrant groups, they used language which denoted ethnic hierarchies and a desire to preserve American identity. The AFL held an exclusionary attitude towards immigrants, minorities, and women in regards to both who should be allowed in America, and who should be allowed in a trade union.
Previous labor histories have characterized the AFL as wary of high levels of immigration for fear of the threats immigrants posed to union bargaining power. Using official AFL publications, AFL leaders’ personal correspondence, and contemporary labor news, this thesis aims to push back against that characterization, and suggest that AFL leadership was prejudiced against perceived un-American peoples. As anti-immigrant rhetoric increases in our country daily, it is time to reexamine the nature of the AFL’s attitude towards immigrants, minorities and women workers more critically. A century later, understanding the connections between American workers’ attitudes towards subjugated groups and national trends of rising conservatism and nativism is more important than ever
Development of Long-acting Formulation for Hydrophobic Kifunensine Analogues as Potent Inhibitors of Type I Mannosidase Enzymes (Dataset)
No full textThis dataset accompanies the article, Development of Long-acting Formulation for Hydrophobic Kifunensine Analogues as Potent Inhibitors of Type I Mannosidase Enzymes, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2025.107844.Aberrant protein glycosylation is known to induce immune suppression, which can contribute to cancer malignancy and metastasis. The enzymes responsible for glycan biosynthesis may be modulated as a therapeutic strategy to improve the anticancer immune response. Kifunensine is a potent inhibitor of one of these enzymes, type I α-mannosidase, which can increase cell surface glycosylation through upregulation of high mannose N-glycans over branched and complex N-glycans. However, the high polarity of Kifunensine limits its cell permeability. Here, we report two hydrophobic analogues of Kifunensine designed for improved cell permeability. The hydrophobic analogues were formulated in an ethyl oleate oil vehicle to prolong release in vivo. The therapeutic efficiency of the developed formulation was examined using an immunocompetent mice model of colon cancer, which showed a marginal delay in the tumor growth with treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated overexpression of high mannose N-glycans after treatment with both analogues, but only a slight increase in immune cell infiltration was observed. While previously reported studies showed significant upregulation of immune cells with Kifunensine, the present study suggests that Kifunensine may have limited efficacy as a monotherapy in colon cancer
THE ADAPTIVE MONUMENT: AUTHENTICITY AND ADAPTATION IN NOTRE-DAME’S POST-FIRE REVIVAL
No full textSubmitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honorsThe 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral fire ignited critical debates about architectural preservation and authenticity. This research examines how preservation theory evolved from 19th-century Romantic ideals to modern international standards, particularly those established by UNESCO and ICOMOS, tracing the influential contributions of four key theorists: French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's interventionist approach, English critic John Ruskin's conservationist philosophy, Italian architect Camillo Boito's scientific methods, and Austrian art historian Alois Riegl's value-based framework. This evolution in preservation theory marks a transition from pursuing idealized historical appearances to understanding monuments as carriers of accumulated cultural meaning through time, informing contemporary preservation approaches. Through comparative analysis of Notre-Dame's successive restorations, this study uses historical records, preservation charters, and modern media to trace the cathedral's architectural history and theoretical debates, challenging the perceived conflict between innovation and tradition in preservation theory. The cathedral that burned in 2019 was already a testament to centuries of architectural adaptation, where each era's modifications preserved and transformed the structure. The current restoration, integrating traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, demonstrates how these seemingly opposing forces have always coexisted in architectural preservation. This research contributes to ongoing discussions about authenticity in historic preservation, offering a framework for future restoration projects facing modern challenges like climate change and disaster prevention
Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Community-Based High-Intensity Functional Training for Adults with Mobility Disabilities and Overweight/Obesity: A Pilot Study
No full textA grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Background: Preliminary evidence supports high-intensity functional training (HIFT) for improving various health outcomes in non-disabled adults with overweight/obesity. It remains unknown whether HIFT produces similar benefits in individuals who are overweight/obese and also have a mobility disability (e.g., spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis)—a population disproportionately affected by obesity-related health conditions and systemic barriers to exercise. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a 24-week HIFT intervention, delivered at community sites by certified trainers, for adults with mobility disabilities (MDs) who were overweight/obese. Methods: Twenty adults with MD and overweight/obesity (self-reported BMI 25–46 kg/m2) enrolled in a 24-week HIFT intervention (3 days/wk, 60 min sessions) delivered at four community-based facilities by certified trainers. Feasibility indicators included recruitment, retention, and attendance; adverse events were tracked. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated for changes in obesity-related measures, physical function, work capacity, and psychological measures from baseline to post-intervention. Results: Feasibility targets were met, with a recruitment rate of 72.2%, 76.9% retention, and 80.7% attendance. Thirteen adverse events occurred. Effects on obesity-related measures ranged from negligible to moderate, with stable weight/BMI, reduced waist circumference (45% ≥ 3 cm decrease), decreased body fat, and increased lean mass. Functional outcome effects ranged from small to large and included grip strength, balance, and walking speed. Large improvements were observed for the endurance, speed, work capacity, and self-reported physical function. Conclusions: A community-based HIFT program is feasible and may improve health outcomes in adults with MD and overweight/obesity.National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Healt
3D Seismic Characterization of the Arbuckle Group in the Wellington Field, South-Central Kansas
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy (IMAGE) held in Houston, Texas on 08/27/2025.The Upper Cambrian and Lower Ordovician Arbuckle Group in the Wellington Field, south-central Kansas, a saline aquifer used for wastewater disposal, is a potential candidate for carbon sequestration operations in the U.S. Mid-continent region. It is composed primarily of dolostones and some incursion of detrital clays which have considerable porosity, modified by dolomitization, karsting, fracturing, and hydrothermal alteration. This study focuses on the seismic characterization of the Arbuckle by utilizing 2016 reprocessed 3D poststack and prestack time migrated (PSTM) seismic data at Wellington Field, covering approximately 23 Km2. It incorporates borehole measurements from KGS 1-32 and KGS 1-28, and core data from KGS 1-32.
A Stratigraphic Modified Lorenz Plot (SMLP) was generated from KGS 1-32 core data within the approximately 300 m Arbuckle interval and identified 26 flow units with varying thicknesses from 0.43 m to 53.3 m. These flow units were subsequently grouped into 10 major hydraulic zones to match the vertical resolution of the seismic data which is approximately 30 m. The seismic analysis revealed karst features, two intra-Arbuckle unconformities, and small offset faults with predominant orientations; north-northeast to south-southwest (NNE- SSW) being dominant and a few in the northwest-southeast (NW-SE) aligning with the structural orientation of the Precambrian basement of Kansas (Baars, 1995).
The study also involved model-based poststack and simultaneous seismic inversion methods to correlate seismic interpretations with well data-derived petrophysical properties of the Arbuckle. A major baffle unit (Zone 3) identified from core data matched a high impedance zone in the p-impedance volumes generated from both inversion methods. The simultaneous inversion method revealed more heterogeneity within the Arbuckle.
Five permeable Zones, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 matched the low impedance areas from the simultaneous inversion p- impedance, with Zone 2 in Upper Arbuckle, Zone 6 in Mid Arbuckle and the remaining in Lower Arbuckle (Figure 1). An average porosity volume was generated using KGS 1-32 and KGS 1-28 average well logs from sonic, neutron and density porosity logs, acoustic impedance from seismic inversion and probabilistic neural network techniques.
Using a porosity limit of 4.3%, geobodies were extracted from high and low porosity zones which helped in understanding the spatial coverage of the reservoir and baffle zones within the Arbuckle (Figure 2). The density of CO₂ predicted using the NIST web database was higher within the lower Arbuckle at 623.56 Kg/m3 compared to the Upper Arbuckle at 26.63 Kg/m3.This showed that CO₂ reaches supercritical conditions in the Lower Arbuckle, which is more efficient for CO₂ storage, and maximizes the amount of CO₂ that can be stored in the available pore volume. The Flow zones, karst, faults and geobodies extracted improved the understanding of the heterogeneity of the Arbuckle Group in the Wellington Field
Taming Complexity in Computer Architecture through Modern AI-Assisted Design and Education
No full textThe escalating complexity inherent in modern computer architecture presents significant challenges for both professional hardware designers and students striving to gain foundational understanding. Historically, the steady improvement of computer systems was driven by transistor scaling, predictable performance increases, and relatively straightforward architectural paradigms. However, with the end of traditional scaling laws and the rise of heterogeneous and parallel architectures, designers now face unprecedented intricacies involving power management, thermal constraints, security considerations, and sophisticated software interactions. Prior tools and methodologies, often reliant on complex, command-line driven simulations, exacerbate these challenges by introducing steep learning curves, creating a critical need for more intuitive, accessible, and efficient solutions. To address these challenges, this thesis introduces two innovative, modern tools.
The first tool, SimScholar, provides an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) built upon the widely-used gem5 simulator. SimScholar significantly simplifies the simulation process, enabling students and educators to more effectively engage with architectural concepts through a visually guided environment, both reducing complexity and enhancing conceptual understanding. Supporting SimScholar, the gem5 Extended Modules API (gEMA) offers streamlined backend integration with gem5, ensuring efficient communication, modularity, and maintainability.
The second contribution, gem5 Co-Pilot, delivers an advanced framework for architectural design space exploration (DSE). Co-Pilot integrates cycle-accurate simulation via gem5, detailed power and area modeling through McPAT, and intelligent optimization assisted by a large language model (LLM). Central to Co-Pilot is the Design Space Declarative Language (DSDL), a Python-based domain-specific language that facilitates structured, clear specification of design parameters and constraints.
Collectively, these tools constitute a comprehensive approach to taming complexity in computer architecture, offering powerful, user-friendly solutions tailored to both educational and professional settings
TEACHING THE LOST-FOUND NATION: IDENTITY FORMATION AND THE FUSION OF NATIONALISM AND RELIGION IN THE NATION OF ISLAM’S SCHOOLS, 1960s-1975
No full textSubmitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honorsThis thesis examines the educational institutions of the Nation of Islam (NOI) during the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on how their schools, known as the Universities of Islam, cultivated a distinct Black identity by merging religious doctrine with Black nationalist ideology. This study focuses on Detroit and Chicago as the centers of the Nation’s schooling. While existing scholarship on Black alternative education often emphasizes secular models, this study highlights the NOI’s unique integration of theology and nationalism, offering a new perspective on Black nationalist movements traditionally framed as non-religious. The study explores four key dimensions of NOI education: (1) its emphasis on economic independence as resistance; (2) the gendered separation of students through classes like the Muslim Girls Training Class and the Fruit of Islam; (3) the teachings of Black power and pride; and (4) the tensions between the NOI’s separatist teachings and its public engagement with broader political movements. Challenging the secular lens in studies of Black nationalism, this thesis demonstrates how the NOI’s educational project complicates conventional narratives of Black Power. It argues that the Universities of Islam were not merely alternatives to public schooling but places of religious and nationalist teaching, fostering a worldview that mixed divine purpose with Black liberation. In doing so, this work expands scholarly conversations on Black education, nationalism, and the role of religion in identity formation during the civil rights and post-civil rights eras