UARK (University of Arkansas )
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Co-Creating Play:Utilizing Comics to Potentialize Participatory Self-Determination in Marginilized Young Adults
No full textStorytelling has long served as a vital mechanism for preserving cultural heritage, transmitting values, and fostering intergenerational connection (Moeshlin, 2024). Despite this significance, graphic narratives such as comics and graphic novels have been historically marginalized—dismissed as trivial “children’s media” or reduced to entertainment rather than recognized as culturally resonant tools (McCloud, 1993). This marginalization intensified as comics evolved to depict adult themes and, at times, harmful stereotypes, triggering social backlash that stigmatized their utility for younger audiences (Segran, 2020). Consequently, scholarly exploration of comics’ therapeutic potential has stagnated, hindered by the medium’s tumultuous history. This study bridges this gap by investigating how participatory-designed narrative tools can harness comics’ unique strengths to support mental health. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000), which identifies autonomy, competence, and relatedness as pillars of psychological well-being, the research integrates principles of narrative therapy, play therapy, and participatory design (PD) into a novel framework termed comicboarding. By centering users as co-creators in the design process, this approach seeks to empower marginalized individuals—particularly young adults aged 16-20 in Black communities—to engage in self-expressive storytelling that addresses their psychological needs. The primary outcome is a prototype narrative comic toolbook designed to guide users in crafting visual narratives, fostering emotional well-being through creative agency and participatory engagement. This work advances comics’ recognition as legitimate therapeutic tools while offering practical, culturally responsive strategies for mental health intervention. Ultimately, it underscores the transformative potential of user-centered, visually driven storytelling to amplify marginalized voices and promote healing
Simulation- and Machine Learning-based Methods for Inland Waterway Operation and Maintenance Decision-making
No full textThe U.S. inland waterway transportation system (IWTS) is an essential part of the country\u27s multimodal freight transportation network. In addition to seasonal droughts and floods, the operations of the IWTS may be disrupted by random malfunctions and scheduled maintenance of its critical components. Among these critical components, locks play a key role in the operation of navigable inland waterways, and lock-induced disruptions to the supply chains of related industries, such as agriculture and manufacturing, often result in significant economic losses. To assess the performance of the U.S. IWTS, we develop a PyNetLogo simulation tool to capture the movements and delays of cargoes considering various sources of uncertainty such as water level, lockage time, and lock failure. Using this simulation tool, a series of lock repair and preventive maintenance actions are determined via Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to minimize the loss due to lock-induced disruptions. To illustrate the proposed modeling and decision-making method, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is considered in our case study, where a random policy and a first-come, first-served policy conventionally implemented in practice are also presented for comparison. The results show that the optimal strategy obtained by the proposed DRL-based approach outperforms the conventionally implemented alternatives in various aspects. Most importantly, the levels of availability of all the locks are significantly improved, enabling a more seamless cargo flow along these navigable inland waterways. For the benefit of stakeholders, our further study reveals that employing multiple full-time repair crews instead of one can further increase the availability of the locks, but the idle time of these maintenance crews becomes more significant. This provides a way of thinking about the recruitment, deployment, and utilization of maintenance crews responsible for the smooth operation of such critical infrastructures
The Kids Aren’t Alright
No full textIt is not new that students struggle in law school. Research has shown for decades that, while students generally begin law school with healthy well-being, the competitive nature of law school combined with the stress of the Bar and securing post-Bar employment causes increased anxiety, depression, isolation, and related symptoms among students, especially women and underrepresented groups. What is new is the sheer number of law students struggling with serious mental health challenges today—a number that has reached crisis proportions.
This Article is divided into four parts. In Part I, I explore the mental health landscape for high school, college, and law students as well as practicing attorneys. In Part II, I explore some notable takeaways from the mental health literature, including that more women and underrepresented groups are suffering, and few students are seeking treatment In Part III, I explore research on Gen Z. Finally, in Part IV, I explore research on why law school causes elevated mental health symptoms among students and propose steps law schools and professors can take to improve students’ well-being
Conservatorship: An Enabler of Involuntary Servitude
No full textWhat happens when the conflict of interest relates to the conservatee’s substantial talents and their potential earnings? In this circumstance, a conservator has a perverse incentive to profit off of and coerce their conservatee into labor which serves to benefit the conservator—a kind of involuntary servitude that would seem to implicate the plain text of the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
This Note proceeds in three parts. Part I describes the history of conservatorships, why they were created, and the problematic issues that have arisen from the conservatorship system. Part IIanalyzes how the lack of meaningful judicial oversight creates the harmful potential for dynamics that arguably implicate the Thirteenth Amendment’s prohibition on involuntary servitude. Finally, Part III suggests a step forward to addressing the problem: a Guardianship Bill of Rights
Rice Cultivar \u27Ozark\u27
No full textA rice cultivar designated ‘Ozark’ is disclosed herein. The present invention provides seeds, plants, and plant parts derived from rice cultivar Ozark. Further, it provides methods for producing a rice plant by crossing Ozark with itself or another rice variety. The invention also encompasses any rice seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by the methods disclosed herein, including those in which additional traits have been transferred into Ozark through the introduction of a transgene or by breeding Ozark with another rice cultivar
Apparatus For Integrated Microwave Photonics On A Sapphire Platform, Method Of Forming Same, And Applications Of Same
Get PDFAn integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) apparatus is provided using sapphire as a platform. The IMWP apparatus includes: a sapphire substrate having a step-terrace surface; and a III-V stack layer epitaxially grown on the sapphire substrate. The III-V stack layer includes: a first III-V layer disposed on the sapphire substrate; a low temperature (LT) III-V buffer layer disposed on the first III-V layer; multiple second III-V layers disposed and stacked on the LT III-V buffer layer; a third III-V layer disposed on the second III-V layers; a III-V quantum well layer disposed on the third III-V layers; and a fourth III-V layer disposed on the III-V quantum well layer. The second III-V layers are respectively annealed. A growth temperature of the LT III-V layer and a growth temperature of the III-V quantum well layer are lower than a growth temperature of each of the first, second, third and fourth III-V layers
Fungi To Form: Exploring Mushroom Mycelium as a Bio-material for Zero-waste Interior Furnishings and Forms
Get PDFThis capstone explores new applications for mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, in the architecture and interior design industry. Due to its naturally renewable and 100% compostable nature, mycelium proves itself to be a highly sustainable material. Through a combination of research, analysis, and hands-on experimentation, both the challenges and possibilities of mycelium are documented and defined in the context of solutions for fast-furniture waste, a phenomenon that includes mass-produced, low-cost items designed for short-term use. Following a foundation of literature reviews and case studies, this paper documents small-scale prototyping of mycelium-based models for the Ground-Up Chair, a simple yet uniquely crafted design for a seat that users can grow in their very own living room and fertilize their garden with it as the end of its life as a chair
Administering Grant-Subsidized Workforce Training: A Critical Case Study
Get PDFGrant monies are distributed for the purpose of funding workforce training programs aimed at affecting the skills gap in the United States. While research has shown that these grants are being awarded, there is not a well-established standard for designing and implementing the programs they fund. This study focuses on recording and classifying the lived experiences of grant staff working on a state funded workforce training program in the United States. This study will employ a qualitative case study approach designed to capture and codify, in the words of those most familiar with it, the aspects of the grant program that worked well and those that did not. The primary objective of this research is to provide an account of the experiences of grant staff working on the front lines of a bureaucratic organization over which they have little or no control. The findings of this research will add a unique and valuable perspective to the body of literature surrounding not-for-credit post-secondary education, specifically that which is designed to affect the workforce. In doing so, this research will inform stakeholders at every level in a manner that empowers them to make administrative decisions that will improve the experience of staff and students alike
Creating a Sense of Home: Hispanic Students at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
Get PDFHispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) provide critical access to higher education for Hispanic students, yet their designation is based on enrollment rather than active support for student success. The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the sense of belonging for Hispanic students at a select Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with a high percentage of Hispanic students. Using photo voice, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews, the study identifies five key themes: (1) agency in belonging, (2) club participation, (3) fostering a sense of value, (4) institution and institutional agents, and (5) scholarship and funding. Findings underscore the need for HSIs to move beyond demographic designation and intentionally foster environments where students can create their own sense of belonging. Implications include strategic policy development, faculty engagement, and resource allocation to enhance Hispanic student success. Future research should explore belonging at institutions with lower Hispanic enrollment, the role of student agency in belonging, and how HSIs can better serve their evolving student populations
From Adolescence into Adulthood: How Exclusionary Discipline and Sex Impact Early Adulthood Social and Economic Opportunities
Get PDFThe school-to-prison pipeline has established the relationship between school exclusionary discipline and an increased likelihood of experiencing criminal justice contact. Furthermore, exclusionary discipline serves as a precursor to several negative life outcomes, including educational and economic disadvantages. Using a life course perspective and longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) collected from 1998 to 2024, this study aims to understand the role that sex plays in exclusionary discipline and explores sex differences in early adulthood life opportunities post-exclusionary discipline. This study utilizes logistic regression analyses to answer the following questions: (1) Are there different early adulthood social and economic opportunities for those who experienced exclusionary discipline compared to those who did not? (2) Do girls who experienced exclusionary discipline have better early adulthood social and economic opportunities than boys who experienced exclusionary discipline? Findings suggest that those who experience exclusionary discipline are significantly more likely to have lower educational attainment and lower economic potential. Females who experience exclusionary discipline are significantly less likely to have higher economic potential than boys who experience exclusionary discipline. Keywords: Exclusionary discipline, social and economic opportunities, education, economic status, sex, life cours