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Semiotically deconstructing parental and adolescent failed communication: It’s not what they’re saying, it’s their words
No full textLanguage change and creativity among adolescent language use, is nothing new. However, teachers in schools and parents in homes continue to feel left out of the linguistic figured world of the youth that they teach or raise, often leading to either perceived or real failed communication. In this study I offer a thoughtful and perhaps unique social semiotic analysis of the process and motivation for youth creation of new words or the resemanticization of existing words. Understanding the need for youth to create their own linguistic worlds for acceptance into social worlds has less to do with creating a barrier between them and their parents or teachers and more to do with positive identity development, could be the key for unlocking positive communication with the adults in their lives. Within, I put forth the idea that there exist purposeful in-groups and out-groups, of which the out-groups can be further divided into desirable and un-desirable out-groups. It is important to uncover the different affordances of existing terms and to create inventories of new terms and their synchronic meanings and possible diachronic evolution, in order for parents to understand the motive and need for youth creativity with language. Accepting the possibility, that youth are simply constructing and describing the world around them, changes the paradigm of parental-adolescent communication from a gulf or abyss to a potential bridge or a passageway connecting the two worlds
PERCEPTION & APPLICATION OF DIGITAL INTEGRATION IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
No full textThis comparative study examines the TPACK framework, initially proposed by creators Mishra and Koehler (2006). The framework assesses how teachers integrate technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge in their respective subject-focused classrooms. Within the classroom environment in an elementary school, the study focuses on perspectives from two groups: The subject teachers and their students in the 5th and 6th grades. The research expands on the importance of Digital Literacy, the difference between traditional vs digital literacy, and the misconception of disadvantages in the Digital Gap. It explores two different viewpoints: why teachers struggle in incorporating digital integration in the educational environment and in contrast, how districts and schools have incorporated TPACK into their environment. The comparative study included quantitative surveys distributed to both groups of teachers and students for data analysis, comparing the variances, means, and P-value within groups. By evaluating the effectiveness of these three disciplines, the study measures the teacher's self-assessment and the students' perceptions of their teachers
Phonological vs. Print Awareness: The Relationship Between Early Phonological Processing and Print Awareness for Children with Speech/Language Impairments
No full textEstablishing the foundation for reading comprehension in the preschool years is critical, as reduced emphasis on print-based reading may hinder the development of essential emergent literacy skills and potentially affect future academic success (Dynia & Solari, 2021). This research investigates preschool-aged children with speech and/or language impairments, focusing on their phonological and print awareness before and after therapy. Therefore, the research questions are: Is there a significant difference in the phonological and print awareness skills of young children with speech and/or language impairments before and after receiving treatment? Does the type or the severity of speech and/or language impairments, speech sound disorders, and single-sound or phonological disorders influence the response to treatment in young children with speech and/or language impairments regarding phonological awareness and print awareness targets? For young children with speech and/or language impairments, is there a correlation between the initial level of phonological awareness, print awareness, and the degree of improvement observed after treatment? Are there any differences in phonological awareness goals versus print awareness that indicate a more pronounced response to treatment in children with speech and/or language impairments or those with speech sound disorders? By analyzing data collected from preschool-aged children with speech and/or language impairments, this research compared pre- and post-treatment results to investigate the impact of the type of disorder and examining their response to treatment. Results indicate that children with mixed disorders (language disorder and speech sound disorder) exhibit more overall growth between the six phonological processing and print awareness tasks. The implications of these findings for children with speech and/or language impairments in mastering these foundational skills are discussed
The Impact of Alternative to Opioids (ALTO) Protocol on Opioid Reduction in the Community Emergency Department ¿ and the Impact of the COVID?19 Pandemic on the ALTO Protocol for Opioid Reduction in the Emergency Department
No full textResearch Question: In patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED), is an Alternative To Opioid (ALTO) protocol for pain management effective in reducing opioid administration in the ED?Background and Significance: The Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) approach utilizes non?opioid medications for pain management to ultimately diminish opioid utilization in the emergency department (ED).Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single center, cohort study investigates the impact of the ALTO protocol on opioid use, patient satisfaction with pain control, and subsequent ED flow. Patients receiving pain medication in an urban level three trauma center from March to August of 2018 prior to implementation of the ALTO protocol were identified as the pre?protocol control group and patients receiving pain medication between March to August 2019 after implementation of the protocol in the same ED were allocated to the postprotocol group. The primary interest of the study was the effect on opioid use in the ED. The secondary outcomes investigated were door?to?doctor time, the left without being seen (LWOBS) rate, patient satisfaction with pain control, and the average turnaround time.Results: Total opioid administration decreased by 59.6% in the post?protocol group. The LWOBS rate (p=0.003) and the average door?to?doctor time (p<0.001) were significantly decreased in this group as well. No significant difference in patient satisfaction to pain control (p=0.192) or average turnaround time (p=0.209) was identified between the groups.Conclusion: ALTO protocol implementation was associated with a significant reduction in opioid administration without impacting patient satisfaction with pain control or ED flow
Modeling the impact of climate change on the hydrology of Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas
No full textThis study investigates the modeling of climate change impacts on streamflow dynamics within the Upper West Fork Trinity Watershed, employing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The study begins with the successful development and validation of a SWAT model for the historical period (1990-2022), demonstrating strong agreement between simulated and observed streamflow data. Subsequently, the model is utilized to assess the impacts of projected climate change scenarios (2030s and 2080s) under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) on streamflow dynamics.
The findings reveal consistent trends of increasing average temperatures across all scenarios, with temperature projections aligning with global warming patterns observed in various watersheds worldwide. Moreover, projected precipitation patterns indicate both increases and decreases, leading to increased uncertainty and variability in future climatic conditions. These changes in temperature and precipitation translate into significant alterations in streamflow dynamics within the watershed. Despite anticipated increases in average annual precipitation, the model projects a decrease in streamflow, particularly during spring and early summer months, which could impact water availability in the Eagle Mountain Lake reservoir. Specifically, the average annual streamflow in the watershed is projected to decrease by 17% to 20% under future climatic conditions compared to the 2003 – 2022 observed streamflow. However, projections also suggest an increase in streamflow during summer, fall, and winter months by 18%, 12%, and 3.6% respectively, potentially offsetting spring deficiencies in the reservoir but also raising concerns about riverine and lake flooding.
Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential impacts of climate change on water resources within the Upper West Fork Trinity Watershed, highlighting the importance of adaptive management strategies in mitigating the effects of evolving environmental conditions
Millie's Market
No full textGrowing up in a very small town in the south, going to the grocery store was always a journey for me and my family. Since I was ten years old, we have lived in a quaint rural town called Whitesboro, Texas, where the most reliable produce we could find was the kind we grew in our very own backyard; the closest supermarket was a forty-five minute drive away, making it more challenging to consistently access fresh fruits and vegetables. Although my family and I were blessed to have the option of driving to the store, a lot of people in our town did not?and this truly concerned me. In the United States it is estimated that 13.5 million people have restricted access to a supermarket. These communities, also known as food deserts, do not have reliable sources for fresh and affordable produce, which can contribute to a poor diet and unhealthy eating habits. Most food deserts are found in low-income communities, throughout rural and urban areas; however, 82% of people in these food deserts are living in urban areas (Ver Ploeg et al). This project will involve the branding and marketing for Millie's Market, a mobile farmers market that delivers fresh produce and goods to food desert areas, with the goal of increasing access to healthy food options and educating communities on sustainable consumption practices. This was achieved by conducting research surrounding food deserts and their prevalence, the impact of nutrition education, competing mobile grocers, and branding design that reflects community values
The Aha Moment! The Effects of Serendipity and Innovation on Crowdfunding Performance
No full textSerendipity has played a significant role in the history of invention. Yet, little is known about whether serendipitous inventions are perceived as more or less innovative and thus achieve greater success in seeking funding than those resulting from deliberate processes. The current study explores this issue using a matched-pair sample of 168 serendipitous and non-serendipitous inventions used by entrepreneurs to raise capital through crowdfunding. The results demonstrate that serendipitous inventions are more positively related to crowdfunding success than non-serendipitous ones via perceptions of product innovativeness. Thus, serendipitous inventions appear to be socially rewarded rather than penalized in the context of crowdfunding
Electronic Medical Records and Physician Burnout: A Comparison by Specialty
No full textResearch Question: What is the relationship between EMR usage and physician burnout? Does this relationship change according to specialty? Further, does EMR use influence overall work satisfaction among physicians?Background and Significance: The widespread adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing the accessibility of healthcare records and centralizing information for physicians such as lab values from across specialties. However, as patient volumes in clinics increase and physicians take on increased clerical responsibilities, research shows that the use of EMRs may contribute to a higher incidence of physician burnout and dissatisfaction with work. Additionally, there is a notable increase in the time spent on documenting patient encounters. This study delves into the correlation between EMR usage patterns and physician job satisfaction. It also explores variations in satisfaction levels across different medical specialties, recognizing that the complexity of EMR system usage may vary among them.Materials and Methods: A survey, developed specifically for this study and derived from existing literature, was distributed to physicians practicing in various specialties across the Fort Worth area, as well as throughout Texas and the entire nation. The survey aimed to explore physicians' perceptions of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) usage and its impact on their career satisfaction. The research employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures, incorporating Likert scale items and encouraging open responses that shared personal anecdotes related to both challenges and positive experiences with EMRs in healthcare. Subsequently, the collected survey data underwent analysis to identify overarching trends, and team statisticians conducted further examinations of both inter-specialty and intra-specialty patterns within responses.Results: We anticipate that physicians specializing in particular fields may experience a lesser impact from the clerical burdens associated with Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), given the fewer unique clinical problems they typically encounter. Based on initial data collection, 69% of surveyed physicians expressed some degree of satisfaction with their current EMR practices, while 46% reported spending significant time addressing errors within the EMR system. Satisfaction levels with the EMR did not seem to differ significantly across specialties. Protected time for charting and the option to hire medical documentation staff were identified as perceived solutions to alleviate the clerical burden associated with documentation. About 31% of surveyed physicians reported experiencing burnout in their practices.Conclusion: While potential areas for improvement within EMR systems were identified to reduce documentation time and errors, the limited response rate and data composition prevent definitive conclusions regarding the relationship between burnout and EMR use across specialties. This highlights the need for further exploration and consideration in the design process of EMR software, as well as the implementation of strategies to mitigate physician burnout and clerical workloads
Using i-Tree Eco™ to evaluate ecosystem services following floodplain buyouts
No full textMunicipalities are increasingly participating in floodplain buyout programs to mitigate the risk and severity of flood damage. However, these buyout properties often remain vacant and underutilized. Planting trees in these areas could optimize ecosystem services, including carbon storage and sequestration, stormwater attenuation, air pollution removal, oxygen production, and urban heat island mitigation. The purpose of this research is to determine if planting trees within buyout sites would maximize ecosystem services. I measured 359 trees across a buyout landscape in Arlington, Texas, and calculated their ecosystem services using i-Tree EcoTM. A geographic information system was created to assess available planting space and model four tree planting scenarios. Scenario modeling indicated that planting at least 75% of the available space (504 trees) would optimize ecosystem services. The results of this research suggest that floodplain buyouts are not just effective for mitigating flood hazards; they also provide opportunities to maximize ecosystem services for local communities and municipalities
The Research, Ideation, and Creation of Scratch Cookie Dough Co.
No full textThis paper explores the journey from a childhood love for cookies to the creation of a customizable and eclectic flavored cookie dough company. Frustrated by the limited options available in store-bought cookie dough, a mission was ignited to provide consumers with a wider array of flavors conveniently deliverable to their doorstep. The project involved extensive research into existing cookie dough brands, the impact of advertising on brand identity, and the significance of package design in capturing consumer attention. Utilizing descriptive research methodologies, including case studies of related brands, advertising strategies, and business models, as well as secondary research to supplement findings, this paper delves into the intricacies of launching a successful cookie dough venture. The culmination of this endeavor resulted in the development of a comprehensive branding strategy encompassing logo design, advertising campaigns, product packaging, website creation, and social media presence, all aimed at introducing a novel and enticing product to the market