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Partisans Like Leaders Who Confirm Beliefs About Social Norms: Evidence from a Survey Experiment
No full textSenior Honors Thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonPolitical leaders are frequent purveyors of misinformation, particularly when bolstering claims about support for their beliefs. We conducted two studies to determine how individuals respond to leaders spreading false information. In Study 1 (N = 475), participants read a vignette in which a leader shared information about the percentage of Americans who support policy taking action against climate change. This information was either true or false with two levels of misinformation: underreport (information about support below the true statistic) or overreport (information about support above the true statistic). Participants had more favorable views of leaders who shared information aligning with the participant’s beliefs regardless of its truthfulness. In Study 2 (N = 506), we presented 4 Instagram posts to participants. One post included a leader sharing information about support for addressing climate change that was either true, overreported, or underreported. We found that Democrats liked Democratic leaders sharing information about support for climate policy. However, we did not find this in Democratic participants when unspecified or Republican leaders shared the same information. Additionally, we found that Republicans preferred unspecified leaders, as opposed to partisan leaders, when the leader underreported information about support for climate policy. We found that people prefer leaders who share information that affirms their worldview. Further, we found that Democrats on average liked their own leaders more than Republicans did when sharing about climate change. Our results inform how people view leaders sharing misinformation and the possible effects that messaging could have on perceptions of leaders
Microwave-Assisted Fenton-Like Reaction: An Advanced Approach for PFAS Degradation
No full textPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant environmental and health risks due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Conventional removal methods can be categorized as either non-destructive, such as adsorption, or destructive, such as advanced oxidation processes. While adsorption using activated carbon and ion exchange resins is well-established, it merely transfers PFAS without breaking them down, making it an unsustainable long-term solution. In contrast, destructive methods, including electrochemical oxidation, sonolysis, photolysis, and Fenton-based reactions, aim to degrade PFAS into less harmful byproducts. Among these, the microwave-assisted Fenton-like reaction has emerged as a promising approach due to its ability to generate hydroxyl radicals efficiently, leading to rapid PFAS degradation. This method offers advantages such as enhanced reaction rates, reduced chemical consumption, and improved energy efficiency. However, challenges remain, including catalyst stability, reaction optimization, and scalability for real-world applications. This poster explores the principles, benefits, and challenges of the microwave-assisted Fenton-like reaction and its potential role in advancing sustainable PFAS remediation strategies.Wisconsin Consortium for Extension and Research in Agriculture and Natural Resource
Characterization and Comparison of Friction Surfacing to Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing and Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition
No full textThe development of hybrid additive - subtractive manufacturing has created new possibilities for producing complex metal components with greater design flexibility, enhanced mechanical properties, and reduced post-processing effort. Fusion-based processes, particularly Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition (LP-DED), have gained widespread use in structural applications. However, these techniques often suffer from drawbacks such as excessive heat input, large heat-affected zones, porosity, and anisotropy. Solid-state processes like Friction Surfacing (FS) present a promising alternative by eliminating the melting phase entirely. Instead, FS uses frictional heating and intense plastic deformation to deposit material, resulting in fine - grained microstructures and minimal distortion.
This thesis examines the feasibility of FS as a solid-state additive manufacturing process through a direct comparison with WAAM and LP-DED. A standardized test artifact was fabricated using 316L stainless steel across all three processes. The evaluation criteria included deposition efficiency, hybrid efficiency, energy consumption, thermal distortion, microstructure, hardness, and mechanical strength. FS was implemented on a conventional 3-axis CNC milling machine, while WAAM and LP-DED were performed using a 6-axis robotic welding setup and a commercial hybrid machine tool, respectively. Among the three, WAAM achieved the highest deposition efficiency and the shortest cycle time. FS, by contrast, produced the least substrate distortion and the finest grain structure, owing to the absence of melting. LP-DED delivered the highest near-net shape accuracy, but also incurred the highest idle energy consumption due to its more complex machine architecture.
The FS portion of the study offers valuable insights, particularly regarding the challenges associated with multilayer deposition. The lack of a shielding gas during deposition led to the formation of oxide layers between passes, weakening interlayer bonding and, in some cases, resulting in delamination. These issues adversely affected the tensile strength and consistency of the deposited material. Nonetheless, FS showed higher hardness near the substrate due to strain hardening. Interestingly, despite being a solid-state process, FS consumed nearly three times more energy than WAAM. This was primarily due to its slower deposition rate and the additional intermediate machining required between layers.
While FS demonstrates several advantages as an additive process, this study also identifies clear areas for further development. The use of shielding gas could significantly reduce oxide formation and enhance interlayer adhesion. Additionally, fine-tuning parameters such as plunge depth, tool tilt, axial force, and substrate preheating may improve deposition uniformity and bonding strength. With continued refinement, FS has the potential to evolve from a niche coating and repair process into a viable solid-state additive manufacturing solution for structural hybrid applications.Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation endowed professorship (FFG no. 846946), the project A4M (FFG no. 910323)
Detecting Introgression in Helianthus Populations in Wisconsin
No full textColor poster with text, maps, charts, photographs, and graphs.Introgression is the incorporation of genetic material from one species into another and can contribute to evolution. The goal of this research was to detect if introgression occurred in population of three sunflower species in Wisconsin, Helianthus giganteus, H. grosseserratus, and H. maximiliani. Previous studies have detected introgression in other sunflower species and there are both historical records of morphological intermediates and evidence for hybridization from crossing experiments for these species. I used the bioinformatics pipeline ipyrad on raw RADseq data from 357 samples to clean, align, and detect SNPs across the dataset. I then used TreeMix to create a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree for the set of populations to look for evidence for introgression. I found no detectable introgression among the sunflower populations in this study. Instead, it appears that two samples of unknown populations are not of hybrid origin, and instead likely belong to Helianthus giganteus.National Science Foundation grant CNS-1920220; Milwaukee Public Museum Rundblad Fellowship; University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
Relationships Between the Characteristics, Professional Experiences, Phases of Professional Development, and Sustainability of Selected Practicing U.S. Montessori Teachers
No full textMontessori EdDUtilizing a cross-sectional survey design grounded in a postpositivist paradigm, this quantitative,
exploratory, and descriptive-correlational study examined the sustainability of selected
Montessori teachers currently teaching in U.S. classrooms. Framed by Huberman’s theory of
teacher development and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, this study investigated how
professional experience, development stage, and contextual characteristics relate to longevity and
intent to remain in the classroom. A national sample of 393 Montessori teachers responded to a
43-item survey distributed through snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests,
Spearman’s correlations, and regression analyses were employed to examine associations among
variables. A composite variable, Teaching Experience Profile (TExP), was developed to reflect
experience and future teaching intent. Significant associations were found between teacher
sustainability and age at credentialing, income, teacher education program affiliation, and school
type (p < .001). Regression analysis revealed that years of Montessori teaching (β = .224, p <
.001) and participation in professional development (β = .157, p = .002) were significant
predictors of teacher self-efficacy (R² = .082). Through Huberman’s teacher development theory,
teachers with 4–7 years of experience reported the highest levels of burnout, while those with 8+
years reported the greatest sense of professional fulfillment. Bandura’s model underscored the
importance of mastery and social persuasion in building durable self-efficacy. The study
recommends practice and future research on teacher preparation, mentorship, leadership
development, and systemic supports contributing to Montessori teacher longevity and
sustainability
Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions of Narrative’s Role in Character Development : Implications for Holistic Intervention Practices
No full textColor poster with text and images.This study aims to understand how school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) view their role in the character education of their students and their beliefs about literature-based intervention beyond academic outcomes. Reading and listening to stories is fundamental to moral and character development, yet children with developmental language disorder (DLD) often face barriers to engaging with narrative-based materials. Despite this, SLPs' perspectives on literature's value beyond academic outcomes remain unexplored. If SLPs perceive their value as limited to non-flourishing purposes, they are less likely to engage with literature-based intervention holistically. To address this gap, we will survey school-based SLPs across the US to assess their views on literature's role in their students' lives, the perceived value of narrative beyond academics, and their attitudes toward integrating character education principles within their practices. The findings will identify knowledge gaps and inform future efforts to develop resources that help SLPs integrate flourishing-related principles into their interventions. Data collection is in development and will begin soon.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
A Model for Subglacial Conduits on Erodible Beds
No full textThe fast movement of many ice streams and glaciers is due to sliding at the ice/bed interface. The ease of sliding is determined by the effective pressure at the bed (the difference between ice overburden pressure and water pressure). The effective pressure is determined by the movement of water at the base of the glacier. However, only few models of subglacial hydrology on soft (i.e. deformable and erodible) beds exist. One of these models was developed by Ng (1998), who proposes that water can flow in subglacial conduits eroded into the ice and deformable bed. Here we analyze the model presented by Ng (1998) to determine how melting and viscous deformation of the ice and erosion, deposition, and sediment fluxes along the bed shape these conduits. We numerically determine the relationship between conduit discharge and effective pressure for a range of representative glacier morphologies
Towards Molecular Wires: A Density Functional Theory Study of Metallocenes
No full textThis poster was presented at the UWSP 2025 College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium.Organometallic sandwich complexes, also known as metallocenes, are some of the most instantly recognizable motifs in chemistry. In particular, triple-decker sandwiches are attractive because of their potential use in molecular electronics. We are using density functional theory to model the physical and electronic structure of a series of synthetically accessible metallocenes. This study benchmarks the most appropriate density functional for the compounds in question by comparing vertical and adiabatic ionization energies to experimental ionization energies for ferrocene and ruthenocene, two well-known metallocenes. Going forward, the density functional that best models these systems will be used to examine how their properties change with different substituents, with the intention of finding a structure with electronic properties suitable for molecular wires.National Science Foundation Grant CHE-084049
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: INSTITUTIONAL POWER AND DISCOURSES ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION – THE CASE OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND LARRY NASSAR
No full textSexual assault and gender-based violence are pervasive across all aspects of our society, pointing to their deeply systemic nature. Such acts of violence occur not only in private and intimate spheres but also in institutional and political settings. This dissertation critically examines how institutions perpetuate sexual violence through discursive practices. Focusing specifically on Michigan State University’s (MSU) response to the Larry Nassar case, this dissertation asks: How do institutions manage and shape sexual violence, and how can research on sexual violence be conducted ethically and accountably? Through situating U.S. colleges and universities as geopolitical sites that operate across intimate and global scales, this dissertation examines how MSU shapes sexual violence. The title, “In Their Own Words,” deliberately reverses the typical feminist use of this phrase. Rather than centering the narratives of those harmed, this study analyzes the words of MSU itself. This project turns the analytical lens toward MSU’s own narratives to examine how the institution represented and responded to sexual violence. Grounded in feminist geography, intimacy geopolitics, and feminist methodologies, this study utilizes a diverse array of materials—including public statements, press conferences, town halls, meeting minutes, and legal filings. It introduces the concept of “institutional distancing” to illustrate how MSU framed sexual violence as an individualized issue rather than recognizing it as a systemic problem, thereby avoiding accountability. Furthermore, this research explores how MSU constructed a victim-subject position that not only reinforces its institutional authority but also perpetuates harmful societal ideas about sexual assault and violence. Concluding with a critical focus on accountability, examining both how MSU worked to obscure its involvement and evade responsibility, and how feminist frameworks of accountability can offer meaningful responses. This dissertation sheds light on institutional power and the discursive tactics of silencing and exclusion, ultimately concluding with a feminist vision of accountability
CHANGES IN DEFORMATION WITHIN CARBONIFEROUS MASS TRANSPORT DEPOSITS, AGUA DE LA PEÑA CREEK (SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA)
No full textABSTRACT Mass transport deposits (MTDs) play a critical role in sediment reworking and distribution within marine environments. Agua de la Peña Creek (San Juan Province, Argentina) provides a well-exposed Carboniferous succession that records the final stages of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA) along the western margin of Gondwana. This succession, up to 1000 meters thick, consists of proglacial to subglacial sediment ranging from distal turbidites and shales to MTDs containing exotic clasts. Previous studies have primarily focused on the general characteristics and deformation of these deposits. By pairing stratigraphic sections with high-resolution imagery, this study aims to provide a detailed assessment of a singular flow evolution across a 300-meter outcrop, improving an understanding of mass transport process within proglacial to post-glacial environments along this section of western Gondwana. The study integrates deformation analysis, sediment body geometry, and high-resolution imagery to assess a singular mass transport at multiple scales. Findings indicate that (1) the basal shear zone of the studied MTD exhibits a transitional domain between erosion and liquefaction; (2) vertical deformation patterns in the MTD show a progressive increase in mixing and homogenization intensity from the base upward, with localized zones of complex deformation and kinematic indicators; (3) laterally in the MTD, block abundance and deformation varies broadly across an oblique cut to the overall direction of flow, which is likely due to lobe deflection, energy dissipation through unconfined flow distribution, and/or the total distance from the headwall scarp; (4) there is no evidence of glacial proximal-distal influence within the studied deposit. These results refine models of basal deformation, as well as vertical and lateral variability. Furthermore, they offer a comparative framework for evaluating deformation patterns in other depositional settings within ancient deposits