URSA - Mercer University Research, Scholarship, and Archives
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Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church Minute Book, 1892-1921
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church in Chattooga County, 1892-1921
THE POTENTIAL POWER OF PEER FEEDBACK: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL EXPLORATION OF GIFTED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF PEER FEEDBACK AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL TO IMPROVE SCIENCE LEARNING
No full text2024This study investigated how peer feedback as an instructional tool might increase the engagement of gifted middle school science students, potentially impacting their academic performance in science. It specifically addressed gifted students’ perceptions of peer feedback in science. Furthermore, it explored how peer feedback could be considered a potentially effective learning strategy to increase student’s engagement and learning from their peers in the science classroom. In this quantitative study, the researcher examined the independent variable, which was comprised of three peer feedback conditions: learning condition, rubric condition, and line condition, to see how students’ perceptions of the usefulness of peer feedback were in science. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to understand if there were any changes in student perceptions during peer feedback conditions through a STEM prosthetic hand project. All students participated in each stage of the study design by learning about the peer feedback conditions (learning, rubric, and line-by-line condition) and completed each survey at the conclusion of each condition. Within each peer feedback condition, students were learning how to give, receive, and apply peer feedback (the peer feedback cycle). However, the results of statistical analyses revealed no significant differences among the three peer feedback conditions. These findings challenge much of the available literature on peer feedback and suggest that these different conditions may be influenced by factors not accounted for in this study. There is evidence to suggest that there is enough promise in utilizing peer feedback, specifically using peer feedback in science and STEM courses. Future research should explore the potential impact on study results if the peer feedback cycle is applied after engaging in extensive community-building, in non-gifted learning environments, and with a control condition over a longer implementation period.Allee, Karyn AFord, Deana JAllaire, Franklin SLuther, Vicki LD.Phil
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS-INDUCED VIRAL REACTIVATION ON THE SR-BI PATHWAY AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
No full text2024Chronic stress has become an issue that plagues modern day humanity. In short bursts, stress can be beneficial; however, in the longer term, stress can become harmful to the human body. Chronic stress leads to the overstimulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA), resulting in an overproduction of cortisol. Initially this can aid in several anti-inflammatory responses, such as tissue repair; however, prolonged elevated cortisol levels may suppress the immune system and impair its ability to control opportunistic pathogens in the human body (Gu, et al., 2012). Previous studies in our lab have identified significant changes in the brain and heart of mice subjected to stressful environments and infection with murid herpes virus type 4. These findings suggest that there is a common factor causing this, which we believed could be vascular changes triggered by the stress response and the re-activation of latent viruses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of chronic stress-induced viral re-activation on the development of atherosclerosis through the suppression of the SR-BI/HDL pathway. SR-BI is a multi-functional scavenger receptor with high affinity for HDL that plays a role in lipid transport out of cells for loading onto HDL and delivery back to the liver for secretion (Linton, et al., 2017). It is expressed on macrophage and endothelial cells, which are key players in the pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis. In literature, it has been observed that in the absence of SR-BI, plaque formation occurs at a higher rate within arterial walls (van Eck, et al., 2003). According to the CDC, there currently exists a high prevalence of heart disease and stroke within underserved communities. These communities face increased levels of poverty that can directly translate into chronic stress within individuals. If this is paired with the re-activation of dormant viruses within individuals in these communities, then it may play a role in atherosclerosis induced vascular dysfunction that could explain the increased prevalence of heart disease and strokes. This study consisted of an in-vivo and in-vitro model in which mice and cells were studied to assess changes in gene and protein expression of atherogenic markers in response to chronic stress and viral infection. The in-vivo portion consisted of mice subjected to stress and infected with murid herpes virus 4 as a model of Epstein Barr virus infection in humans. The in-vitro portion of this study dealt with creating a model that could mimic stress and viral infection within cultured macrophage and endothelial cells with the use of Cortisol and Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C). The in-vivo and in-vitro studies were performed in tandem to reinforce the validity of the in-vivo results as well as to further isolate whether macrophages or endothelial cells within the brain and heart could contribute more to atherosclerosis development. Our results suggest that stress-induced viral re-activation may indeed play a significant role in the development of plaque within arteries and contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular/neurovascular diseases.Uchakin, Peter NMatin, AngabinDrummond, JamesGheidi, AliM.S
Books at Birth
No full textProposal and final report of a Service Scholars project "to provide appropriate, high-quality literature to children to encourage parent-child bonding through engaged reading and enhance reading time to increase cognitive and language development.
Harmony Baptist Church Minute Book, 1874-1898
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Harmony Baptist Church in Baldwin County, 1874-1898
Harmony Baptist Church Minute Book, 1903-1928
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Harmony Baptist Church in Baldwin County, 1903-1928
Shiloh Baptist Church Minute Book, 1933-1937
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Shiloh Baptist Church in Greene County, 1933-1937
Stillmore Baptist Church Minute Book, 1909-1915
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Stillmore Baptist Church in Emanuel County, 1909-1915
MINISTERING WITH THE FORGOTTEN FORGETFUL: ADDRESSING THE SPIRITUAL PAIN OF DEMENTIA PATIENTS UNDER CARE WITH VIA HEALTH PARTNERS THROUGH THE USE OF MODELING CLAY AND SCRIPTURE READING
No full text2024ABSTRACT
CHRISTOPHER J. HENSLEY
MINISTERING WITH THE FORGOTTEN FORGETFUL: ADDRESSING THE SPIRITUAL PAIN OF DEMENTIA PATIENTS UNDER CARE WITH VIA HEALTH PARTNERS THROUGH THE USE OF MODELING CLAY AND SCRIPTURE READING
Under the Direction of C. Gregory DeLoach
Ministry with dementia patients who are under hospice care is a delicate matter and one which requires flexibility, patience, and creativity. The purpose of this work is to broaden the toolbox of chaplains or spiritual caregivers who minister with dementia patients under hospice care and to seek to aid the patients in making connections with their spiritual or religious roots through the use of modeling clay and the reading of the twenty-third Psalm. This study examines the connection between the tactile stimuli of the modeling clay and the familiar scriptural text in an effort to determine whether or not the tactile stimuli ground the dementia patient in such a way as to aid them in experiencing a moment of spiritual peace.
Structured interviews were conducted with eight participants diagnosed with some form of dementia and under hospice care. Each participant was given a lump of modeling clay while the researching chaplain read the twenty-third Psalm from the King James Version. Following the reading, the chaplain monitored the response of the patient to the tactile and verbal stimulants.
Analysis revealed that engagement with both the tactile stimulant and verbal stimulant allowed patients to make connections to their spiritual and religious roots.
The research chaplain concludes that using a tactile stimulant as a grounding tool is beneficial in helping dementia patients make deeply rooted spiritual and/or religious connections.
Keywords: dementia, hospice, clay, twenty-third PsalmDeLoach, C. GregoryDeLoach, C. GregoryEnohmbi, Antoinette OkalaMassey, DeniseD.Min
GETTING DUSTY WITH THE DIVINE: LESSONS LEARNED FROM JACOB'S DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
No full text2025This thesis project will answer the question: In what ways does Jacob’s experience at the Jabbok in Gen 32 demonstrate a dark night of the soul? This question will be further developed into these three subquestions: (1) How does a reception history of the Christian mystical tradition read the Jacob narratives in a way that sets the stage for a dark night of the soul as described by St. John of the Cross? (2) How does a literary/rhetorical reading of Gen 32 open up possibilities for a mystical interpretation of this story? And, lastly (3) How do St. John’s writings and Jacob’s story interweave together to determine precisely how Jacob received the wound that resulted in his blessing? The primary methodology for answering these questions will be reception history and reader response criticism. Additionally, findings from disability and queer commentaries of this text assist in drawing the conclusion that Jacob’s nighttime encounter was a dark night of the soul, making it a valuable text for Christians leaving evangelicalism.Garber, David G.Garber, David G.Parker, Angela N.DeLoach, C. GregoryM.Div