28653 research outputs found
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Reimagining early childhood learning in rural setting
No full textBy integrating nature-based learning spaces into a traditional rural setting, schools can foster a sense of belonging and environmental responsibility among students. Young learners in rural areas often have a pre-existing interest in their community's agricultural pursuits. Nature-based learning spaces, emphasizing exploration, creativity, and environmental consciousness, provide a tailored educational experience. Incorporating the surrounding landscape enhances academic development and overall well-being among early childhood learners.
Playful Nature, an early childhood learning campus in Nashville, Illinois, caters to children aged 3 to 7. It aims to empower children through tailored educational experiences that reflect their community's agricultural traditions. Emphasizing indoor-outdoor connections, the building's architectural language draws from vernacular forms such as barns, seamlessly blending with the natural and agricultural context. Fluid movement between indoor and outdoor spaces encourages exploration and learning in environments that mirror the beauty and functionality of their surroundings. By immersing students in nature-infused learning spaces reflecting local landscapes, the project aims to enhance academic achievement and nurture personal interests from an early age, fostering a love for learning and discovery.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
El Pueblo de Tres Rios
No full textQ: How can a multigenerational housing complex provide residents with an environment that improves their physical, emotional, and mental health?
Urban landscapes have been in a state of change as humanity developed, however, a demographic shift in population has introduced an urban mutation. The traditional three phase life course which included childhood, adulthood, and old age is not a true representation anymore. With a greater proportion of the population now reaching retirement age in a state of good health, the course of life has been reformed to childhood, adulthood, young-old, and old old-age. The rapid increase of a fourth age group and economic insecurity has crippled systems created to provide for them such as retirement benefits.
In addition, financial disparity has forced families to adopt a multigenerational living standard within nuclear family structured homes to deal with inflation. This thesis explores multigenerational living through ethnic groups ranging from Asians to Latinos who have benefited by integrating the living arrangement. As well focus on enhancing residents and surrounding communities physical, emotional, and mental health through the inclusion of gathering spaces supported by fundamental amenities such as health care, education, recreation, employment, and local production of food.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
The heartbeat of design
No full textDoes architecture care? With diverse perspectives and no definitive answer, this project explores the role of architecture that cares, showcasing methods through material selection, honoring site history, appealing to human senses, and more. While Hurricane Katrina left a lasting impact through all of New Orleans, the particularly marginalized Lower Ninth Ward was selected to be the focus of this exploration. The design blends new architectural approaches with local tradition and materials, celebrating regional identity. Centered around the adaptive reuse of a vacant church on Andry St., this project is not a solution—but an idea that intends to breathe new life into the historical site while addressing the contemporary challenges of a neglected community. Recognizing the influential role of food culture, this project takes shape as a community culinary learning center, featuring a public gathering space, demonstration kitchen, garden, and food bank. By empowering the community and restoring agency to the people, this architectural intervention aims not only to provide functional spaces but also to nurture a deeper, empathetic connection between residents and their environment, symbolizing the resilience and spirit of the Lower Ninth Ward.Thesis (B. Arch.
Women's inclusion in Colombian Western classical music: an examination of four contemporary flute pieces
No full textThis dissertation examines four flute pieces by Colombian women composers and
provides a historical study of women’s inclusion in classical music culture in Colombia. The
musical analysis provides a historical overview, analysis, and performance guide for four flute
compositions from the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. “Pasillo 3/Contrastes” by Francy
Montalvo and “Chirimías Metálicas” by Carolina Noguera represent a nationalistic approach by
incorporating traditional Colombian musical elements such as the pasillo and La Guaneña. “El
Encantador de Pájaros, Op. 24” by Amparo Ángel and “El lugar de las palabras, Mi primer
poema cardiocéntrico” by Laura Zúñiga demonstrate a more personalized compositional
language by closely relating the music to the meaning of the piece. The analysis of these musical
works investigates elements such as rhythm, harmony, and instrumentation, as well as the Neo-
Classical and Neo-Romantic elements, such as musical form, melodic, and harmonic design. The
performance guides provide exercises and practice suggestions to overcome these musical
works’ challenges from my experience as a musician trained in Western Classical and traditional
Colombian music.
Over the last decade, several Colombian women composers, including Montalvo,
Noguera, Ángel, and Zúñiga, have gained recognition despite a historically male-dominated
music industry. This document also highlights the evolution of women’s roles in music and their
significant impact on the Colombian music scene, paving the way for future generations.
Women’s equality in Colombia is improving with more opportunities for women musicians and
various initiatives to promote and recognize their work.D. A
Temporal variation in macroinvertebrate assemblage in the Ohio river
No full textA history of industrialization, oil spills, fires, and silt pollution from agriculture and urbanization led to the Ohio River being listed as one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and its members responded and conducted monitoring programs for pollutants to monitor water quality. ORSANCO collects annual macroinvertebrate samples at multiple locations. However, collection techniques changed from the early years to Hester-Dendy samplers. Collections using Hester-Dendy samplers resulted in 2,934,984 macroinvertebrates in 321 species. We evaluated temporal variation in traits and taxonomic diversity of Ohio River macroinvertebrates. A Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) identified high temporal variation in assemblage structure. A PCoA analysis using trophic and tolerance traits also resulted in significant temporal patterns. A two-way ANOVA test of biological traits showed significant variation in PCoA axes with year. Our results show that the macroinvertebrate richness of the Ohio River has increased since the implementation of the clean water act. Further, all trophic traits have increased in abundance within the macroinvertebrate population over time. We interpreted these patterns as evidence for improvements in water quality and associated macroinvertebrate assemblages.M. S
Design game-based learning system to facilitate elementary students in recognizing and reporting emergencies
No full textThe universal emergency number in the United States is "911," offering quick and
straightforward access to a public safety answering point. However, a study conducted by Aswell
(2022) revealed that approximately 91% of elementary school children struggle to recognize and
report emergencies effectively through 911. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating
the factors hindering children's ability to recognize and report emergencies while also proposing
educational solutions to address this issue. To achieve this, I conducted user research to identify
factors impeding children's emergency recognition and strategies that support emergency
education. In particular, I interviewed elementary school teachers, first responders (police,
firefighters, and EMS officers), parents, and public safety answering point officers. Thematic
analysis was used to analyze the gathered information. The findings from thematic analysis were
then used to conceptualize the design and development of a game-based learning system called
Emergency Heroes.M. A
The art of math in war: cryptology throughout World War 2
No full textFrom the American Revolution to the Cold War, American history has often been taught by looking from one battle to the next. These landmarks in our history are incredibly important and have affected the citizens of this country socially, economically, and politically for years in the past and likely for years to come. Now, alternatively, the mathematics that has been highlighted in the American education system is just the basics—enough to build upon for the students who would like to go further, but not so much as to overwhelm those who will never use math past algebra. Due to this lack of depth in our mathematics education, these two incredibly important aspects of our history—math and war—have rarely been connected in any meaningful way for most people learning one or both of these subjects. This overlap, however, is an incredible part of the history of the United States, especially as it relates to World War 2 within the realm of cryptology. From the Enigma machine and its decoding to the information surrounding D-Day, mathematics played a vital role in World War 2 and through these incredible mathematicians and the work that they did, our country has been able to continue progressing in these fields and others to become the advanced nation we are today.B. ?Honors Colleg
Mediterranean diet components and depression: a focus on fiber with insights from Nhanes 2009-2017
No full textDepression is a complex condition influenced by genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors, and a recent addition to this list is inflammation (Otte et al., 2016). Diet, particularly the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and anti-inflammatory diets, has been consistently linked to a reduced risk of depression in cross-sectional studies because they are thought to aid in reducing presence of proinflammatory cytokines (Marx et al., 2021). However, these studies often do not dissect the specific components of anti-inflammatory diets that contribute to this reduction in symptoms. This research aims to evaluate the relationship between the total intake of MD components and depression scores using multiple regression.
This study utilizes archival data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009-2017 to analyze the intake of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, and fiber in relation to depression scores measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Additionally, this study delves deeper into the category of fiber due to its significant role in the gut-brain axis and its anti-inflammatory properties, which are critical aspects of the MD's impact on mental health.
The results of this study indicate significant inverse relationships between protein, vegetable, and fiber intake and depression scores. However, when controlling for confounding
factors, only protein and omega-3 intake maintain this inverse relationship. Further exploration of fiber revealed that intake from fruits, vegetables, and other sources is initially inversely related to depression scores. Yet, these relationships do not hold after adjusting for confounders. Overall, the fit of the models is poor, suggesting that the results should be interpreted with caution. These findings underscore the need for more targeted research to clarify the individual contributions of MD components to mental health and to improve model accuracy. Future research should continue to explore these relationships with a more nuanced approach.M. S
Dietary and gut microbial patterns in a southern Indiana cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea) population and the relationship between breeding phenology and larval Lepidoptera
No full textArthropod populations are dramatically declining due to human activity and climate change. Furthermore, deforestation, agriculture, and extreme climatic events are driving a loss in moth populations worldwide. Larval moths are a staple food source for breeding forest birds and developing nestlings, making it critical to understand avian dietary patterns and prey choice dynamics. The Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) is a declining Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that breeds in Eastern North America. These insectivorous birds glean arthropods from the canopies of white oak and hickory trees, but there is little knowledge about their prey preferences and diet composition. Previous studies have indicated that Lepidoptera larvae are fed to Cerulean Warbler nestlings more frequently than any other arthropod taxa. The objectives of this study were to describe the diet of adult Cerulean Warbler, quantify Lepidoptera larvae abundance in territories and consumption of Lepidoptera, determine prey composition differences between after-second year (ASY) and second year (SY) males and between breeding seasons, and the interaction between bird age and year. In this study I collected fecal samples from 53 adult male, one adult female, and two fledgling Cerulean Warbler. I collected caterpillar frass from Cerulean Warbler territories to compare Lepidoptera larvae availability to the frequency of Lepidoptera in the diet. Research was conducted in the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) in Yellowwood and Morgan-Monroe state forests in south-central Indiana during May – July, 2022 and 2023. Metabarcoding analysis was used to identify dietary items, and Lepidoptera larvae frass mass was determined by date in the breeding season. Cerulean Warbler consumed Lepidoptera and Araneae more frequently than any other prey order and selected prey items more often in the families Noctuidae, Tortricidae, and Philodromidae than other invertebrate families. Diet richness was greater in 2023 than in 2022 and there was a significant difference in prey composition between years. There were no differences in diet composition between age groups (ASY and SY) when samples were pooled for all years but there was a difference in prey composition between age groups in 2023. Lepidoptera family frequency in fecal samples fluctuated by date and Lepidoptera larvae varied in abundance throughout the breeding season suggesting that the adult diet changes with caterpillar availability. This is the most comprehensive study of the adult Cerulean Warbler diet and results demonstrate that Lepidoptera and Araneae are important prey orders for breeding populations. Long-term monitoring of the diet of imperiled bird species and the availability of arthropods in their habitats may provide further insight into patterns of bird declines and factors that influence dietary composition, particularly for bird species such as the Cerulean Warbler where we have limited knowledge of invertebrate consumption and prey preferences.M. S