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Examining the Lasting Impacts of COVID-19 on College Students and Professors
Get PDFThis study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health, academic performance, and socialization of college students, as well as college professors’ perceptions of their own mental health, workload, and observed changes in students. University of Arkansas undergraduate students were surveyed online about their pandemic experiences, and faculty members were interviewed on similar topics. Students reported a noticeable decline in mental health, primarily due to isolation, being confined to their homes, and reduced contact with friends. Faculty faced stress from the rapid shift to virtual learning, decreased student engagement, and the challenge of balancing work and family while maintaining academic standards. Students indicated that online learning negatively affected their education, while faculty observed a decline in student engagement, increased introverted tendencies, and expressed concern for students entering professional spaces. Students also reported that the pandemic negatively affected social skills. However, faculty noted some positives, such as increased technology use/understanding and increased family time. Overall, the pandemic negatively affected students\u27 mental health, education, and socialization, while also imposing challenges on faculty. This study contributes to pandemic-related research by highlighting how COVID-19 continues to affect the post-pandemic classroom
The Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Partner Opposition in Conflict Resolution
Get PDFGiven the inevitability of conflict in romantic relationships, understanding its biological impact is crucial for developing conflict resolution strategies that promote physical health. While many studies highlight relationship conflict’s negative effects on bodily systems, few examine how specific facets of conflict, such as opposition, impact the body. Partner opposition may contribute to oxidative stress, a biological marker associated with poor physical health, by activating the amygdala. This study investigated the association between partner opposition and oxidative stress in 126 couples expecting their first child. Participants attended a lab session where problem-solving discussions were recorded to assess oppositional behavior and urine samples were collected to assess oxidative stress levels. Multi-level modeling was used to test the hypothesis that individuals whose partner showed greater oppositional behavior during conflict would have higher oxidative stress levels. Contrary to expectations, no significant association was found between partner opposition and oxidative stress. However, results trended in the hypothesized direction for partner rejection. Findings also indicated that an individual’s own oppositional behavior, particularly indirect opposition, was negatively associated with their own oxidative stress levels. Additionally, oxidative stress levels were significantly higher in pregnant individuals compared to their partners. These findings may be influenced by limitations such as unaccounted factors affecting oxidative stress levels, the cross-sectional nature of the study, or observer bias. Future research should control for additional variables, incorporate a longitudinal approach, and utilize a validated coding scheme to clarify the association between partner opposition and oxidative stress
The effect of language on student achievement across countries
Get PDFDoes language matter in achieving higher scores in school? Do international standardized tests measure students speaking different languages equally? We study whether a language students speak affects their academic achievement. Understanding this research might also help construct a format for standardized testing. It might also help to build a curriculum for bilingual students and facilitate foreign language learning in schools. We analyze the role of institutional factors and the role of linguistics in student’s performance. To do so, we use PISA 2018 data and linear regression models for both the whole sample of students in each country and first and second-generation immigrants in each country. Focusing on migrants allows us to separate and estimate the effects of language while controlling for country-specific institutional factors. We analyze the effect of language with 7 top-level family language classifications. Our results show that the language of students has a large effect on students’ academic achievement. Sino-Tibetan children outperform all others by \textit{large} differences in all the subjects, followed by Japonic, Koreanic, and Uralic. Among first-generation immigrant students, Atlantic-Congo and Chocoan Wounaan performed significantly worse than Sino-Tibetan in math, with more than 2 standard deviations difference in performance, and Uralic did better in reading by 0.4 standard deviations. Among second-generation immigrant students, we find that the effect of language is less negative. Compared to Sino-Tibetan, Altantic-Congo, Chocoan Wounaan, Pidgin, and South Omatic did especially worse, while Dravidian surpassed Sino-Tibetan by 1.28 and 0.7 standard deviations in reading and science, respectively
The expression of intestinal tight junction proteins induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-glycosides supplementation to reduce bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis lameness in broilers
Get PDFBacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) is a leading cause of lameness in broiler chickens, impacting animal welfare and commercial poultry production. Supplementation using organic trace minerals, vitamin D, probiotics, and prebiotics has been studied to mitigate BCO lameness incidences in broiler chickens. Our previous study demonstrated that feeding Panbonis®-G-1,25(OH)2D3 from Solanum glaucophyllum, containing 1 µg/kg G-1,25(OH)2D3, to broilers for the first 28 days of their production cycle reduced BCO lameness by approximately 50%. In this study, we investigated the impact of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 supplementation on the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins to further understand its mode of action in safeguarding birds from BCO disease.
We measured the mRNA expression of claudins (CLDN1 and CLDN5), occludin (OCLDN), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the epithelial barrier of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts at 14, 21, and 28 days post-hatch. RNA extraction was performed using the QIAGEN RNeasy Plus Mini Kit, and gene expression was analyzed with RT-qPCR for key TJ genes, with GAPDH serving as a housekeeping gene. Expression levels were quantified using the ΔΔCt method to assess differences between experimental and control groups.
The results revealed a time-dependent pattern of TJ gene expression, with no and limited expression at days 14 and 21, respectively, and significant upregulation at day 28. T3 (1 µg/kg for 21 days) primarily influenced the gastrointestinal tract, while T4 (1 µg/kg for 28 days) had the strongest impact on the respiratory tract. Notably, CLDN1, OCLDN, and ZO-1 showed significant upregulation at day 28 in both the ileum and jejunum, whereas the trachea exhibited substantial changes only in response to T4 supplementation. These findings suggest that TJ protein activity is regulated developmentally and tissue-specifically, highlighting the potential role of gut and respiratory barrier integrity in BCO susceptibility.
Understanding these molecular mechanisms contributes to developing targeted nutritional strategies to reduce lameness in broiler chickens and informs potential genetic markers for selective breeding programs
A 360 Perspective About Corporate Finance
Get PDFThis thesis provides a comprehensive reflection on the author\u27s experience in the “Finance 360” rotational internship program at Burns & McDonnell, a program designed to expose interns to the diverse functions within a corporate finance and accounting department. Over the course of 10 weeks, the author completed 12 different rotations, gaining hands-on experience across various financial disciplines. This paper highlights five rotations—Operational Financial Analysts, Financial Analytics, Internal Audit, Project Accounting, and Investments—that had the greatest impact on reshaping the author’s understanding of corporate finance. These experiences revealed the deep integration of finance with accounting, analytics, and strategic decision-making, far beyond the textbook concepts initially understood. In addition to technical exposure, the program emphasized mentorship, professional development, and the company’s strong employee-ownership culture. The experience not only deepened the author\u27s knowledge of corporate finance but also clarified future career interests and demonstrated the value of rotational internships in shaping career readiness
Mind Matters: Curriculum and Design for a 16-Week Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group Addressing the Most Prevalent and Overlooked Needs of Individuals Post-TBI
No full textBackground
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a global health issue that affects millions of individuals. Despite its prevalence, there is minimal research on the most effective support group content for patients with a TBI.
Purpose
This project aims to investigate the need for traumatic brain injury support groups, along with what curriculum and design would be beneficial in a TBI support group.
Method
This study proposes a TBI support group program that focuses on addressing prevalent yet overlooked struggles post-TBI through the content and design of a 16-week support group.
Results/Conclusion
Ultimately, this project aims to improve patients with a TBI’s quality of life through addressing difficult primary and secondary symptoms of TBIs within a community context
Extending Simulation-Enhanced Bayesian Optimization of System Designs: A Computational Study
Get PDFThis honors thesis builds off work initially accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the 2025 IISE Annual Conference & Expo, which introduced “Simulation-Enhanced Bayesian Optimization” (SEBO)—a hybrid testing optimization approach that combined the usage of unbiased but costly physical experiments with the usage of cheaper but potentially biased computer experiments to optimize engineered systems. The original study established the SEBO methodology and demonstrated its effectiveness on a multimodal, two-dimensional benchmark function. Expanding on the work performed, we conduct a broader evaluation of the SEBO framework through parameter testing and experimentation under a variety of additional benchmark functions. This investigation seeks to assess the robustness, flexibility, and performance of our method under a variety of different testing conditions. Results of the study further showcase the potential of the SEBO methodology and enhance our understanding of hybrid Bayesian optimization techniques
Optimizing Fire Station Placement in Sugar Land, TX: A Socioeconomic Risk-Based Approach
Get PDFFire station placement has a critical role in emergency response efficiency and community safety. Traditional optimization models focus on mainly the minimization of response times and the maximization of coverage. However, this approach may overlook potential socioeconomic disparities that can influence emergency demand. This study seeks to expand upon the existing project of zoning a fire station in Sugar Land, TX, by integrating spatial road network analysis and publicly available census data—including population density, median household income, and age-based vulnerability—into a Maximal Coverage Location Problem (MCLP) framework. Using a road network-based travel time with realistic constraints, the goal is to identify an optimal location for an additional station. This weighted optimization’s goal is to ensure that the coverage is equitably distributed, prioritizing vulnerable populations while maintaining efficiency. The findings will provide a data-driven methodology for emergency planners to enhance public safety via equitable resource allocation
Examination of Language Sample Analysis in Children Who Are D/hh Using CLAN
No full textHearing is the building block of developing receptive and expressive oral language skills used to effectively communicate. Children who experience hearing loss typically experience delays in phonological, morphological, semantic, and even pragmatic development. Understanding the specific language challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing (D/hh) young preschool-age children is crucial for developing targeted intervention strategies aimed at optimizing their language development. This research aims to analyze the nuanced aspects of phonological, morphological, semantic, and pragmatic language development among D/hh children, shedding light on areas that may require specialized support. The preliminary research will inform best practices in language assessment for children who are D/hh. By observing and evaluating the language skills of D/hh children within the Head Start program who have a hearing loss. Data will be gathered using Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) software to analyze language samples. The utilization of CLAN software enables the examination and quantification of language samples, allowing for a thorough exploration of the linguistic abilities and challenges faced by D/hh children in real-world settings. Conducting an in-depth analysis of language samples will increase our ability to discern and gain deeper insights into the specific language skills for children who are D/hh
