140816 research outputs found
Sort by
Equipping Teachers to Support Comic Literacy: An Analysis of the Educational Potential of TOON Book
Full text linkTeachers frequently reach for leveled readers to help facilitate their guided reading groups; however, there can be limits in using these leveled readers. One such limit relates to enjoyment and engagement. An answer to this is using TOON books during guided reading time. TOON books are graphic novel leveled readers and were created in response to a need for high quality books for readers of all levels. However, in reading these books teachers need to be aware of the comics form and how those features impact the reading process. In this article, we outline the features common in graphic novels and provide an argument and examples for why teachers need to teach these features to best support their students
Honors Civic Foundations Faculty Fellows Program
No full textIn 2022–2023, Drexel University’s Pennoni Honors College implemented the Honors Civic Foundations Faculty Fellows Program, a new initiative for faculty development and enrichment grounded in principles of civic education
Novel Chloroviruses With Unique Glycans On Their Major Capsid Proteins
No full textChloroviruses, of the family Phycodnaviridae, are large, dsDNA viruses with a genome of 290 to 410 kb. These virus genomes are so large that they are classified as “giant viruses”. Within this genome, up to 16 tRNAs and 330 to 450 proteins are encoded. Among the massive amounts of genes and proteins are unique carbohydrate synthesis/metabolism genes, which are responsible for the glycosylation of chloroviruses major capsid proteins. In most viruses, these proteins are glycosylated by the host enzymes located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Instead, Chloroviruses encode their own glycosylation machinery; essentially decorating themselves. Furthermore, these chlorovirus glycans are unlike any glycans seen in any other domain of life. Why these viruses go through the trouble of self-glycosylation and the function of the glycan groups is not known, but the forerunning theories including virion stabilization and host attachment. The goal here was to identify more of these unique glycan structures (or possibly new mutant chloroviruses) through polyclonal antibody screening plaque assays for selecting natural chlorovirus mutations in order to gain a better understanding of the genetics and physiology of this phenomena. Some viruses that escape glycan-specific antibodies were identified, and the structures of these glycans are currently being identified by our glycochemist collaborator in Italy.
Key Words: Chlorovirus, gene, glycan/glycoprotein, major capsid protei
Systemic Failures of the Criminal Justice System
No full textAmerica’s history as a nation that was founded on the unjust treatment of the people of color has forever shaped the way our justice system has evolved. From slavery to “Black Codes” to Jim Crow Laws, the system has never been set up for equal administration of justice. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate how the Criminal Justice System disadvantages and targets individuals at all stages of justice involvement, with a particular focus on individuals from communities of color
Carbon Fiber CV Tripod Axle Design: Husker Motorsports Formula SAE
No full textThe 2024–2025 HMS Formula SAE senior design team successfully reduced axle system weight, cost, and improved manufacturability using a bonded tripod joint and ±45° intermediate modulus carbon fiber tube. The final design was validated on HMS 25, with no failures under rigorous testing.
Budget:/= / \u3e Total project cost was 1,000 target due to unanticipated test rig expenses. However, per-axle production cost was reduced from 383.37 through in-house manufacturing, use of on-hand epoxy (DP460), and switching to cost-effective 7068 aluminum. The axle-specific cost was $766.74.
Timeline:/= / \u3e Despite early delays from building a torsional testing rig and ordering the correct carbon tube, the team met all deadlines by overlapping tasks, extending work hours, and using contingency plans. Final manufacturing was completed by April 30, 2025.
Successes:
Weight: 43% reduction (2.3 lbs → 1.3 lbs/axle)
Cost: 37% per-axle reduction
Manufacturability: Fully in-house; reproducibility rated 4/5
Testing: Failures occurred in the tube, not the bond, validating adhesive reliability
Documentation: Comprehensive design review documents were prepared for future teams and FSAE judges
The design was implemented successfully on the car, offering a robust, lighter, and more cost-effective alternative to previous steel axles
Benefits of Informal Practical Experiences as a Central Teaching Method in a Literature of Adolescents Course
No full textThis portfolio includes the course context and organizational format of a junior-level required course for pre-service secondary English teachers. Formatting and context information include teaching methods and course materials. As a central teaching method of the course, students are required to attend a practicum that is additional to their observational practicum (sophomore year) and their clinical practicum (senior year). In this way, the praxis of the coursework and the informal practicum serve as an intentional moment of praxis, while also scaffolding students towards their senior year practicum and beyond (student teaching, early career teaching). Ultimately, the argument of the portfolio is that this structured clinical experience, though additional to clinical hours towards certification, is beneficial for pre-service teachers\u27 growth as practitioners
Digestibility, Palatability, and Nutrient Composition of Three Species of Whole Prey in Three Species of Snakes
Full text linkSnakes in human care often lack diversity in the diet. Rodents account for the majority of meals, while wild snakes are consuming a varied diet composed of multiple different whole prey species. By feeding only one species of prey, the chance of nutrient deficiencies and other health concerns increases. To promote variety in the managed diet, two commercially available whole prey species (mice (Mus musculus) and chicks (Gallus spp.)) and one novel species (Seba’s short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata)), were analyzed for their dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and gross energy (GE) concentrations. Additionally, the three whole prey species were fed to three species of snakes to measure and compare CP, CF, and GE digestibility. Palatability of mice and bats was compared to determine if bats make for a suitable prey species to feed in rotation to three species of snakes. Mice were the most calorically dense prey and had the highest fat concentration (25.7%). On the contrary, bats were the least calorically dense and had the lowest crude fat concentration (14.7%). Chicks had the highest concentration of CP (76.4%). Digestibility of CP and GE were not significantly different (P \u3e 0.05) in any of the snake species for any of the whole prey. However, CF digestibility was significantly lower (P \u3c 0.05) in chicks (87.4%) than in bats (97.5%) and mice (97.9%). When offered the choice between a bat and a mouse simultaneously, snakes approached the bat first in 21 out 32 observations (65.6%), and consumed the bat in 20 out of 32 trials (62.5%). Based on these results, bats are a suitable rotational prey item to feed to snakes in human care.
Advisor: Lisa Kar
Comparative Analysis of Gunshot Trauma and Decomposition in Southeast Nebraska
Full text linkAccurately identifying gunshot trauma (GST) in forensic anthropology remains a significant challenge, particularly in distinguishing the effects it has on decomposition. This study investigates how different types of gunshot trauma influence the rate and characteristics of decomposition in a humid continental climate, specifically southeastern Nebraska. Utilizing Sus scrofa domesticus (domestic pigs) as human proxies, four pigs were euthanized by professionals and subjected to controlled conditions at the Reller Prairie Field Station. Three pigs were inflicted postmortem with close-range gunshot trauma using a 9mm handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun, and an AR-15 rifle, while a fourth served as a trauma-free control. For the study, environmental factors, scavenger activity, and trauma patterns were meticulously documented through decomposition and skeletal analysis. The research aimed to determine whether the number and type of ballistic wounds would accelerate decomposition and influence the visibility of skeletal trauma post-decomposition. Findings suggest that trauma presence and type, combined with climate variables and scavenging, significantly impact decomposition rate and the preservation of trauma evidence. The purpose of this study is to contribute to forensic anthropology by contextualizing trauma analysis within regional climate conditions and offering insight into decomposition variability related to gunshot trauma.
Advisor: William R. Belche