UARK (University of Arkansas )
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A Living House Never Stands Still
Get PDFA Living House Never Stands Still is an exhibition that explores the interplay between place, memory, and the suspension of time through diverse mediums and materials. I engage with seemingly mundane objects, interpreting them through a non-linear, dream-like, and irrational framework to unearth latent connections across time–past, present, and future. Central to these explorations is the concept of home—not merely as a physical location, but as an evolving entity. Home is a sacred space for me.
My recent studio reflections are focused on the lifecycle of objects, the emotional responses they evoke, and how these cycles emulate the human body and condition. Every object has a life cycle; an object starts as new, serves its purpose, deteriorates, and eventually becomes obsolete or is discarded. And yet, the value which we place on objects often transcends practicality, floating somewhere in the murky waters of sentimentality. I question how an object’s value begins to shift once it confronts its fate of being discarded: does it lose significance, or does its absence intensify its desirability? This inquiry parallels the relationships we have with our own bodies, the bodies of others: both objects and bodies share a journey from presence to absence, resonating with memories and emotional experiences.
My artistic practice is a continuous dialogue between the physical and emotional landscapes of our lives. Through the lens of home, memory, and the exploration of objects, I seek to capture and preserve the essence of these experiences. By reinterpreting everyday artifacts, I aim to illuminate the connections between our personal histories and the objects that shape them, celebrating the ways in which care, nostalgia, and sentimentality intertwine
LGBTQ+ Childhood Abuse, Reporting, & Parental Rights
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate LGBTQ+ childhood maltreatment, its reporting generally, and the impact of religion on reporting. It was hypothesized that LGBTQ+ youth will experience more maltreatment than their non-LGBTQ+ peers; among those who experienced maltreatment, LGBTQ+ youth will be less likely to receive help or have reports made; and those from more religious families will be less likely to have received help or had their maltreatment reported. A sample of individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, currently living in the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, or Texas, was recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Quota sampling (50:50) was conducted by Qualtrics to ensure a comprehensive comparison between LGBTQ+ individuals and their cisgender, heterosexual peers. This study found that LGBTQ+ youth experienced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at higher rates than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Additionally, it was found that LGBTQ+ youth were not less likely to receive help or have reports made compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Among LGBTQ+ participants who experienced maltreatment, those from more religious families were also not less likely to have received help or had their maltreatment reported. The findings of this research indicate a need for further advocacy for LGBTQ+ clients and for policies that protect them, as well as affirming providers. Additionally, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the impact of religion and parental rights on the reporting of such maltreatment, highlighting the need for further research
Rewriting the School Calendar: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Four-Day School Week Implementation in Arkansas
Get PDFThe four-day school week (4DSW) has gained traction across the United States, particularly in rural districts seeking innovative responses to mounting challenges. Despite its expanding adoption, key questions remain regarding the motivations for implementing 4DSW schedules and their implications for teacher well-being and student achievement. This dissertation examines the emergence and effects of the 4DSW in Arkansas, where adoption has increased rapidly in recent years, offering a unique context shaped by state-level policy and rural dynamics. Employing a mixed-methods, this dissertation investigates (1) why and how districts adopt the 4DSW, (2) whether the policy alleviates teacher burnout, and (3) how it affects student academic outcomes. The first paper draws on qualitative interviews with district and school leaders and finds that 4DSW adoption is often framed as a strategic response to teacher recruitment and retention challenges, burnout, and post-pandemic pressures. Implementation is highly localized and shaped by stakeholder engagement. The second paper analyzes survey data, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Educator Survey, and finds that teachers in 4DSW districts report significantly lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, particularly in rural areas. The third paper uses a staggered difference-in-differences design with student-level standardized achievement data. While no average effects are found across subjects, science scores exhibit modest cumulative declines over time. This dissertation contributes new evidence to policy discussions about instructional time and educational equity. Findings underscore the importance of local context, timely implementation research, and attention to both workforce sustainability and student outcomes as districts increasingly pursue alternative calendar models
Application of Ordinal Regression Models to Acquired Stress Resistance in Wild Strains of\u3ci\u3e Saccharomyces cerevisiae\u3c/i\u3e
Get PDFThis thesis explores the application of ordinal regression to the analysis of semi-quantitative growth assays often used when comparing fitness for different strains of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For stress survival assays, yeast stress resistance is measured using an ordered survival score that ranges from 0 (no growth) to 4 (confluent growth). Traditional approaches to analyze this type of data either treats data as a nominal categorical variable or as a continuous numerical variable. These approaches risk loss of information or violation of testing assumptions. In contrast, cumulative logit ordinal regression uses the information contained in the order of the data scores without requiring equal spacing between scores. This work also compares censored Poisson regression for colony count data while accounting for overlapping colonies.
Through simulation and example datasets, the performance of ordinal regression is compared to nominal-based tests (chi-sq, fisher’s exact) and summary approaches (t- test of score sums) for identifying differences in effect of treatment according to genotype. Results show ordinal modeling is a powerful technique that is manages to control Type I (false positive) error. Additionally, proposed here is a biologically intuitive summary statistic, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), derived from ordinal model estimates to quantify the lowest dose of stress that prevents survival.
Application of ordinal regression to example datasets further demonstrates advantages of ordinal regression for quantifying stress resistance. In one dataset, the effect deleting CTT1, a key gene for stress protection, is quantitatively assessed across different conditions. A second dataset evaluates hybrid yeast strains crossed from stress- sensitive and stress-resistant parents, allowing for quantification of resistance profiles across genetically diverse isolates. This thesis highlights the merits of ordinal regression for analyzing semi-quantitative survival data. By utilizing model-based estimation of effects with interpretable metrics, this thesis supports wider adoption of ordinal regression in cell and molecular biology research
Exploring the potential of cold plasma as a pest management strategy
No full textEffective insect pest management is crucial for ensuring global food security, as insect pests can cause severe economic losses in key crops that produce our food and feed. Modern pest management strategies heavily rely on chemical insecticides which lead to negative consequences, like pest resistance, resurgence and residual effects on food and water, thus necessitating the exploration of non – chemical alternative strategies. These alternatives can help mitigate pest proliferation as well as the harmful impact of pesticide residues on environmental and human health, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and food security. Among these alternatives, strategies that are notable for their potential advantages, including reduced carbon footprints and environment friendly characteristics are of interest. Cold plasma treatment is one such strategy of interest due to its distinctive physicochemical properties and potential applications in enhancing crop yield, improving seed germination rates, and controlling plant pathogens, making it a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture. However, whether cold plasma can effectively protect plants against foliar feeders, and enhance plant defenses is poorly understood.
Cold plasma operates at near - room temperatures, making it suitable for operations involving heat-sensitive materials. This allows for the treatment of seeds, plants, and soil without causing thermal damage, thereby preserving their integrity and functionality. While cold plasma technology shows great promise in agriculture, there are still numerous areas where its potential, particularly in integrated pest management (IPM), has yet to be fully explored. Further research is needed to uncover the full range of benefits that cold plasma can offer in enhancing IPM strategies, thereby contributing to more sustainable and effective pest control solutions.
This thesis explores cold plasma\u27s novel, eco-friendly role in pest management by examining its effects on plant defense, and insect growth and development. The thesis also identifies further research opportunities, such as optimizing plasma parameters for seed treatment, irrigation, and integrated pest management, evaluating long-term effects on plant growth and development, for developing cost-effective, scalable plasma generation systems.
The first part of the thesis investigates the effectiveness of cold plasma against insect herbivory, specifically targeting a polyphagous lepidopteran pest, fall armyworm (FAW) on rice. Using an atmospheric plasma jet reactor, rice seeds from two Arkansas cultivars (Diamond and Jewel) were treated with cold plasma, followed by irrigation with plasma-activated water (PAW). The results demonstrated significant negative effects on FAW feeding, growth, and development, offering evidence of cold plasma as a novel component for sustainable pest management.
The second part focuses on optimization and examining the differential effectiveness of various cold plasma seed treatments on plant and insect herbivore traits. Soybean and sorghum sudangrass seeds were treated under different voltages and time exposures using two plasma generation reactors. The study revealed significant positive effects on soybean plant growth and development, alongside negative effects on herbivore growth and development in sorghum - sudangrass. These findings underscore the need for continuous optimization of cold plasma treatments to fully harness their potential while ensuring safe and effective application across different domains.
The results shows that cold plasma is a potential sustainable pest management strategy that positively impact plant growth and defense traits against herbivores. By addressing research gaps in the application of cold plasma technology in agriculture, this thesis aims to pave the way for innovative agricultural practices that contribute to global food security and environmental sustainability
Adult Effects and Affects: Dialogic Reflections and Theoretical Analysis of Systemic Led Education, Early Childhood Education, and Art Education
Get PDFThrough self-exploration, reflexive dialogue, and literature review I look to the grey areas, contradictions, and margins of hegemonic educational practices. I highlight the ways in which the standard of education is structured in opposition to how children seek to understand and make sense of the world. In my analysis of early childhood settings and art education under the umbrella of the U.S. education system, I approach historical antecedents involving colonialism and systemic injustice. Within the field of art education, I specifically look at the artistic and imaginative ways that children resist societal norms in early childhood education. As such, I am guided by the following set of questions: What happens in the earliest educational experiences that informs how the child views and understands themselves in relation to the world around them? What affects do childcare settings have on the child’s understanding of identity formation, art/making, or on their visions of social justice/equity? What systemic, structural, societal models effect such affects? My interaction with these questions is written in tandem with reflexive discourse analysis and my own discovery of my place in research and scholarship. Through this thesis I aim to promote similar heuristic processes amongst caretakers, educators, and academics
Community Perceptions of a Crisis Response Collaboration: A Community Survey of Attitudes Towards Police and the Crisis Intervention Response Team.
Get PDFThis thesis examined community perceptions of the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) and its Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT), focusing on how racial minorities and individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds view these professionals and their roles in crisis situations. The research also aimed to determine whether perceptions of the collaborative effort through CIRT influenced views of the FPD. Previous research has explored perceptions of police, social workers, and co-response teams individually, but a gap remains in understanding how community members feel about the collaboration between police and social workers and whether these perceptions influence their views of the police. Regression analysis indicated that SES does not significantly predict views of the FPD or CIRT, rejecting the first hypothesis. Race was a significant predictor for traditional optimism towards CIRT, with White participants reporting higher optimism compared to non-White participants, partially supporting the second hypothesis. Finally, attitudes towards CIRT, particularly optimism for non-traditional policing outcomes and pessimism toward potential burdens on police, significantly influenced perceptions of police legitimacy, supporting the third hypothesis. Consequently, community perceptions of co-response programs, which involve collaboration between police and social workers, might be more positive than those of the police alone and could potentially influence overall community perceptions of the police. Understanding how community members view co-response teams is crucial for improving trust, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring that these teams meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Additionally, community support is essential for the sustainability of publicly funded programs like these
The Relationship Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Problematic Internet Usage in LGBTQ+ Adults
Get PDFThis thesis explores how LGBTQ+ adults who experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomology perceive and navigate potential problematic Internet usage (PIU). Utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological approach, twelve participants were interviewed to gain insight on how neurodivergence, queer identity, and Internet engagement intersect. Findings revealed two overarching themes: 1) the interplay between PIU, ADHD, and sexual/gender diversity, and 2) the meaning of the Internet for individuals with intersecting minority identities. Participants widely endorsed the Internet as an important space for identity negotiation, community, and affirmation for their multiple minority statuses, but acknowledged their vulnerability to the Internet’s attention-capturing mechanisms, reporting how the Internet served as a distraction and contributed to social withdrawal and ADHD symptom exacerbation. Gender diverse participants exhibited enhanced connection to PIU and ADHD due to more severe ADHD test scores, greater levels of minority stress, and heightened difficulty in accessing accommodations. This study highlights how these intersecting identities shape internet use and suggests implications for social work practice, policy, and future research on diverse neurodivergent LGBTQ+ populations in the United State
Foreword
Get PDFThe 2024 Arkansas Law Review Symposium, Embracing the Past, Enhancing the Future: Exploring the Evolution of Legal Education, was a prominent event in the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Centennial Speaker Series. As the School of Law celebrated its 100th anniversary, it seemed an appropriate time to focus our collective attention on critical and emerging issues: recent developments in bar admission processes, shifts in accreditation standards, online legal education, approaches to Artificial Intelligence in the classroom and the profession, and the newly developed NextGen Bar exam
In Vitro Assessment of the Antihistomonal Activity of Methyl Jasmonate and Jasmonic Acid
No full textHistomonas meleagridis is a protozoan parasite and the causative agent of histomonosis in gallinaceous birds. There are currently no approved prevention or treatment options available for histomonosis control in the United States. Mortality in affected turkey flocks can exceed 80% which highlights the urgent need for research investigating novel strategies to mitigate histomonosis in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antihistomonal and antibacterial effects of of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and jasmonic acid (JA), two plant-derived compounds, in a xenic culture of H. meleagridis. Assays were conducted using cultured H. meleagridis (PHL strain) treated with varying concentrations of MeJA (0.5–10 mM; 3 assays) and JA (1–10 mM; 2 assays). Viable histomonad concentration (Log10 H. meleagridis cells/mL) was determined at 44-48 hours post-incubation at 40C. Chromagar Orientation agar was used for bacterial recovery (Log10 CFU/mL) in MeJA assay 3 and JA assay 1. Across the MeJA assays, treatment with MeJA ≥7.5 mM significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced H. meleagridis to a non-detectable level compared to the non-treated control. Bacterial recovery was significantly higher in the groups treated with 5 mM (7.85 ± 0.12) and 10 mM (7.81 ± 0.03) of MeJA compared to the non-treated control (6.77 ± 0.03) and the group treated with 1 mM of MeJA (7.09 ± 0.13), suggesting a trend of increasing bacterial growth as histomonad viability declined. In both JA assays, H. meleagridis concentration was significantly reduced in all groups treated at 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM compared to the non-treated control. Although the effect of JA at all concentrations was significant, the effect of JA only reduced histomonad concentration by \u3c 1 log compared to the non-treated control group. In Assay 1, bacterial recovery was markedly reduced in the group exposed to 10 mM JA (8.26 ± 0.02) compared to the non-treated control (8.68 ± 0.12). These results suggest that MeJA potency and effect on histomonad growth in vitro is more pronounced than JA and that the impact of both compounds on H. meleagridis was not related to inhibition of the bacterial population in the xenic culture. Research is underway to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of MeJA treatment in H. meleagridis infected turkeys