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The effect of deliberate instruction of science disciplinary literacy strategies on science self-efficacy of science students
No full textThis study evaluates the effect of disciplinary literacy instruction on student self-efficacy in high
school biology. An action research project, this study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating
both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative component included a self-efficacy
assessment adapted from the Metacognition, Self-Efficacy, and Learning Processes in Science survey by
Thomas et al. (2008), administered as a pre- and post-test to measure changes in students’ self-efficacy in
biology class. The qualitative component consisted of student reflective journals and focus group
conversations, with insights from the researcher's reflective journal entries. These data provided insight
into students' experiences with and opinions of various disciplinary literacy tools. Findings indicate that
self-efficacy in biology increased following the implementation of disciplinary literacy instruction. These
results suggest that explicitly teaching students how to approach scientific texts through a disciplinary
literacy framework can enhance their confidence and engagement with science content. This study
contributes to the growing body of research on literacy-based science instruction and its role in growing
student self-efficacy
THE SILENCE OF VIOLENCE: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN PORTRAYALS IN THE MEDIA
No full textWhen reviewing major stories of missing or murdered women in North America, the media has demonstrated its extensive interest and fascination with instances of missing, harmed and murdered white women. In contrast, women of color receive significantly less coverage from media outlets, despite women of color experiencing significantly higher rates of violence. Despite Native and Indigenous women's higher representation of missing and murdered cases in North America, the media?s coverage of these cases is often limited, overlooked and disregarded. This project examines the differential coverage of missing white woman cases when compared to the coverage surrounding missing Native American and Indigenous women.
An issue with nationwide reach and impact, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, commonly referred to as MMIW, addresses the centuries-long crisis of disproportionate experiences of sexual assault, abduction and murder perpetrated against American Indian and Indigenous women. The MMIW crisis may be considered a result of government policies and practices introduced during colonization, such as violence perpetrated against Native communities, forced removal, and seizures of land. Contemporary Native American and Indigenous women continue to experience alarmingly high rates of violence, leading to generational cycles of violence perpetrated against Native peoples..
Despite these advocacy efforts from Native American and Indigenous communities, instances of missing and murdered Native American, Indigenous and aboriginal women receive less media coverage when compared to white women. The review analyzes the distinction between media coverage of missing and murdered white Native women and white women. In addition, this project identifies how media framing behaviors may perpetuate stereotypes and impact the lack of media coverage of MMIW cases and experiences
Leadership styles of police chiefs and their impact on organizational culture, recruitment, and retention
No full textThis study explores the impact that the leadership styles of police chiefs have on the culture of their organization as well as officer recruitment and retention. A purposive convenience sample of North Texas chiefs of police was selected for in-depth qualitative interviews. Semi-structured Zoom interviews of thirteen (13) current North Texas chiefs of police were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. The aim of this study was to add to the body of research by examining themes on this topic from a diverse group of chiefs from small to large agencies that operate in rural, suburban, and urban settings. The research found that the leadership styles of chiefs have evolved over time, the influence a chief has on the culture of an agency is dependent on agency size, and the leadership style of the chief and the organizational culture impact recruitment and retention. The research also found that impediments to changing organizational culture also differed with agency size. Finally, chiefs discussed how they changed the organizational culture within their organizations. With recruiting and retention being priorities for every chief of police and the organizational culture playing a significant role in these, the leadership lessons learned from this study should be evaluated further and potentially shared with all chiefs of police
Protein Crystallization from Metastable Protein-Rich Droplets as a Novel Protein Purification Method
No full textProtein purification is a critical step in protein downstream processing. Although chromatography is the most employed technique for protein purification, novel strategies that reduce operational costs and increase the amount of purified protein must be developed. These strategies can reduce the price of protein-based pharmaceutical and biotechnological products. Preparative protein crystallization is one such economically sustainable alternative to chromatography. However, protein crystallization is slow and difficult to implement in protein purification protocols. In recency, an increasing number of reports have shown that aqueous protein solutions exhibit liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). LLPS is a metastable phase transition that is typically induced by cooling protein aqueous samples below a well-defined temperature. In our lab, we explore how LLPS can be used to promote protein crystallization for applications as a protein purification method.
Previous work has shown that cooling aqueous samples of lysozyme protein at pH 7.4 in the presence of salt (NaCl, 0.15 mol L?1) and an organic buffering molecule, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), 0.10 mol L?1) below the LLPS temperature produces extensive lysozyme crystallization. However, the actual yield of crystallization was not characterized. This thesis will examine the effect of temperature on LLPS-mediated crystallization, the specific additives used in our solutions LLPS, crystallization yields, and temperature-turbidity phase diagrams. This thesis will also demonstrate that LLPS-mediated crystallization is an effective alternative to preparative chromatography and protein crystallization
Next-generation synbiotic supplementation post-antibiotic intervention in individuals with overweight or obesity: a triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial
No full textIntroduction: The global obesity epidemic, driven by environmental factors such as antibiotics, exacerbates insulin resistance, visceral fat accumulation, and mental health disorders, calling for effective therapeutic interventions.
Aim: To evaluate the effects of a 3-day vancomycin intervention followed by 12-week next-generation synbiotic supplementation on insulin resistance, body composition, and mental health in individuals with overweight and obesity.
Methodology: Seventy-five adults underwent a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial receiving vancomycin treatment followed by synbiotic or placebo. Outcomes were assessed through blood samples, DXA scans, and psychological questionnaires at baseline, post-antibiotic, and post-intervention.
Results: Vancomycin significantly increased fasting insulin levels (p = 0.022), suggesting impaired insulin sensitivity. Contrary to expectations, the synbiotic supplementation led to increased body weight (p = 0.016), BMI (p = 0.020), fat mass (p = 0.001), and HbA1c (p = 0.006).
Conclusion: Short-term antibiotics induce glycemic-related metabolic disturbances that seem to be exacerbated by synbiotic supplementation. While probiotics are commonly recommended post-antibiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, this practice may pose long-term metabolic risks, particularly in individuals with overweight and obesity. Further research, including mechanistic studies and sex-stratified analyses, is needed to refine clinical guidelines and balance potential benefits in high-risk populations
EMPLOYING THE VENDYS DIGITAL THERMAL MONITORING AND HAIR SAMPLES TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF LONG COVID ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AND CORTISOL LEVELS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS
No full textThe long-term effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as long COVID, have generated increasing concern regarding its impact on cardiovascular health and chronic stress regulation. While much of the existing research has focused on older adults or individuals with pre-existing conditions, young adults, particularly college students, remain an understudied population in this area. Given the unique physiological and psychological stressors that students experience, it is critical to explore whether long COVID contributes to measurable changes in stress biomarkers and vascular function, both of which have implications for long-term health outcomes.
This study aims to examine the relationship between long COVID, cortisol levels, and endothelial function in college students by utilizing two key physiological assessment methods: the VENDYS II Digital Thermal Monitoring (DTM) system to evaluate endothelial function and hair cortisol analysis to assess chronic stress levels. The study included participants who self-reported long COVID symptoms and those who did not, allowing for comparative analysis between the two groups. The primary outcome measures were cortisol levels, which provide insight into prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis due to chronic stress, and the vascular reactivity index (VRI), which serves as a marker of endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health.
Findings from this study indicate that students with long COVID exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to their counterparts without long COVID, suggesting a prolonged physiological stress response. However, while an upward trend in cortisol levels was observed, statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.08), potentially due to sample size limitations or variability in individual stress responses. More strikingly, the vascular reactivity index was significantly lower in the long COVID group (p = 0.05), indicating compromised endothelial function. This finding is particularly concerning as impaired endothelial function is an early marker of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that even in a young, otherwise healthy population, long COVID may contribute to long-term vascular impairment.
These results underscore the necessity for early detection, lifestyle modifications, and targeted interventions to mitigate both cardiovascular and stress-related risks in young adults recovering from COVID-19. Given the increasing prevalence of long COVID and its potential to affect daily functioning, college students may benefit from institutional policies that incorporate screening measures, mental health support, and education on stress management and cardiovascular health. Nurses play a pivotal role in addressing these concerns through patient education, advocacy, and the development of care strategies aimed at minimizing long COVID-related complications.
Future research should focus on expanding sample sizes to improve statistical power, incorporating additional biomarkers to enhance the understanding of long COVID's physiological impact, and conducting longitudinal studies to determine whether observed vascular and stress-related impairments persist over time or improve with targeted interventions. Understanding the long-term effects of long COVID in young adults will be essential for developing effective public health strategies and ensuring that this population receives appropriate medical and psychological support
The Effects of Media Rhetoric on the Political Ideologies of College Students
No full textThis research analyzes media rhetoric during the 2024 presidential election cycle and determines its effect on undergraduate students at Texas Christian University. Young people have historically been disconnected from politics and political rhetoric, and therefore this study was intended to ascertain whether the same was true for college students. An anonymous Google Forms survey was released to TCU students in the Department of English which asked students what media sources they used to learn about four specific events of the election cycle: the Donald Trump assassination attempt, Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, the second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and the election itself. It also asked what the students' understanding of the event was after having consumed the information. Using these answers, specific examples of content released by several of these cited sources were analyzed in conjunction with student responses to establish their influence on the students' political ideologies. Ultimately, the results demonstrate that the rhetoric had little effect on students because they adhered to the norms of modern young people; they, too, were not interested in politics and even seemed repulsed by the subject. Nonetheless, rhetoric conveyed through video media (i.e. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) appeared to have the greatest influence on students
The Opportunity Cost of Being a Dancer
No full textThis thesis explores the financial landscape of the dance industry, focusing on the opportunity costs associated with pursuing a career in dance. The research examines how both the youth and professional dance sectors are funded, the financial investment required at each stage, and the implications of these investments for long-term success. Drawing on both quantitative data and qualitative interviews with industry professionals, the study highlights the significant financial barriers faced by aspiring dancers, including tuition, competition fees, and training costs. While the financial rewards of a dance career are often uncertain, the study reveals that exposure and early career opportunities are crucial factors that influence a dancer's trajectory.
In terms of future implications, the study underscores the need for further exploration into gender representation, financial sustainability, and the role of private equity in shaping the dance industry. The findings aim to inform parents, studio owners, and dancers on how to navigate the financial complexities of dance education and professional careers. Overall, while the opportunity cost of pursuing dance is high, the personal fulfillment and transferable skills gained from the dance experience provide meaningful returns that extend beyond financial success
College student engagement, success, and ADHD
No full textThis quasi-experimental study investigated the relationship between engagement and student success among college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study was conducted at a private four-year university in the southwestern United States, referred to as Dallas Fort Worth University (DFWU). The researcher aimed to fill a gap identified in existing literature regarding the engagement experiences of college students with ADHD. Initial database searches focused on keywords such as ADHD, engagement, success, and college, along with their synonyms, to underscore the limited attention given to this specific population in previous studies concerning engagement. The study found no statistically significant effects of engagement on success for college students with or without ADHD. Results indicated existing research and best practices on engagement and student success may apply to students with ADHD. This study provided insight for both practitioners and future researchers seeking to understand the experiences of undergraduate students with ADHD
Tracing the chemical enrichment of the Milky Way using star clusters: Measurement and analysis of neutron capture elemental abundances
No full textThe chemistry of stars in the Milky Way is a powerful tool for exploring the enrichment history of the Galaxy. With the all-sky spectroscopic surveys that are currently available to us, using chemistry as a means to identify the ages of field stars is becoming more feasible. However, in order to build an accurate and reliable age-chemistry relationship (or chemical clock), we first need reliable age tracers. Open clusters have long been used to determine ages of stars, helping to calibrate stellar evolution models and other methods of age dating stellar groups, e.g., gyrochronology and asteroseismology.
We used the Keck I and Magellan Baade telescopes to collect high-resolution (R ≥ 50,000), high-S/N ( > 75 at 5500A), optical spectra for 56 open cluster members in 18 open clusters, to build upon the SDSS-IV/APOGEE-based Open Cluster Chemical Abundances and Mapping (OCCAM) survey. With these data, we derive abundances with BACCHUS for 23 elements, specifically 10 not measurable by APOGEE. In this work, we derive s-process neutron-capture abundances, so that we will be able to measure the alpha-element ([s/alpha]) chemical clock and further explore age-chemistry relationship for stars in the disk. OCCAM has already been used to calibrate the [C/N] chemical clock, and in this work we lay the groundwork necessary to identify and calibrate the [s/alpha] chemical clocks. In particular, the new neutron capture abundances, first peak s-process elements (Sr, Y, Zr), second peak s-process elements (La, Ba, Ce), and r-process elements (Eu, Nd, Sm) are used to (1) characterize radial gradients in the Thin Disk, where we find the neutron-capture families show strong positive radial trends compared to the relatively flat light elements; (2) constrain age-abundance trends through a range of four billion years, where we find very few elements have significant age relationships, and the scatter is relatively large; and (3) identify age trends in the [s/alpha], [main/weak] s-process, [r/s], and [r/alpha] abundance ratios, due to the large scatter in any age relationships, and due to the relatively small sample size, we are not able to discern any significant chemical clocks at this time