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The effects of harmful male body representation: uncovered through the lens of podcasting
Get PDFA body of recent studies suggest men are objectified in the media, as men report increasing levels of body dissatisfaction and potentially, an array of negative consequences in response. Western media images of men, exemplified through media such as advertisements, television, and social media promote a “drive for muscularity” with attention to the upper body and abdominal region. Societal standards and norms have a documented influence on self-concept, and the current study investigates explicitly which influences hold the greatest magnitude during the development of one’s self-perception. In the present thesis project, men aged 18-25 were interviewed to gauge their perspectives on male objectification, masculinity, self-esteem, and body ideals. Interview questions were generated after reviewing relevant secondary research and were designed to be open-ended to spark conversation and produce qualitative data. The interviews were audio-recorded and edited thematically into a series of podcasts. The resulting podcast series, “One of The Boys” aims to lay a foundation accessible for public discourse, examining how college-aged men are socialized to view their bodies, the way men perceive male objectification, and the future of body representation in the media. The project finds coherence with much previous male objectification research, elaborating upon these with individual episodes including the body and masculinity, media influences that impact the formation of male self-perception, and the complexity of male objectification itself
Synthesizing and modeling the optical properties of silica aerogel
Get PDFSilica aerogel has attracted the attention of researchers for decades for its applications in insulation materials, storage, and solar-thermal devices. The appeal surrounding silica aerogel is attributed to its unique combination of physical and chemical properties. Silica aerogel is a highly porous, optically transparent nano-polymer with a low thermal conductivity. Additionally, the material boasts a super-low density, high specific surface area, and low dielectric constant. The following report proposes a viable method of synthesizing polyvinylpolymethylsilane (PVPMS) aerogel as well as a model for determining the optical performance of TMOS aerogel by determining its radiative properties. First, the report will explore documented applications of silica aerogel. Then, the chemistry and physics of sol-gel processing will introduce the theory section, followed by the microstructure of aerogel and its implications. After, the need for a valid optical model is expressed and the radiative transfer equation (RTE), its supporting equations, and boundary conditions are evaluated with respect to its application to porous, optically transparent materials. Methods in which PVPMS aerogel was synthesized and in which optical modeling was performed on TMOS aerogel will follow theoretical discussion
Meta-analysis of biological research literature
Get PDFComparative studies have been powerful tools in generating a broad understanding about the evolution of animal social systems but they currently rely on the slow, manual process of reading thousands of abstracts and papers from research databases. A web application was created for researchers conducting a comparative survey, in order to speed up their research. This web application automates the retrieval of research papers and their selection process. Using previously obtained data sets on the orders Artiodacytla and Lagomorph, a machine learning application was created to classify the papers. These techniques and tools should greatly increase the speed at which researchers are able to compile papers and improve progress towards publication and scientific advancement
Working with wildlife: the effects of stressors and resources on burnout and engagement for animal caretakers
Get PDFThe present study was designed to identify the impacts of stressors experienced by animal caretakers within zoos, aquariums, and shelters. To analyze these impacts, I administered a survey to individuals within this population which assessed interactions with environmental, social, and financial stressors for animal caretakers in relation to engagement and burnout. In total, 112 animal caretakers participated in the study. Results supported that physical stressors were most commonly encountered within the workforce, but coworker conflict was the only stressor to have consistent significant effects on burnout and engagement. Specifically, more coworker conflict was associated with more burnout and less engagement. In terms of resources, safety climate and work centrality were not found to moderate the effects of stressors on any outcomes. Based on these results, interventions may need to focus on addressing coworker conflict, as well as stressors unique to these occupations that are harder to capture with traditional measures
From the Ground Up: Developing and Implementing a Domestic Violence Examiner Program
Get PDFIn Tennessee, 40% of women and 32.5% of men experience domestic violence (DV) during their lifetime (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2015). DV is the primary cause of traumatic injury to women with 50% of DV events resulting in injury (Johnston, 2006; Tribal Forensic Healthcare, 2017). In addition to acute injury, victims of DV experience increased chronic health problems (World Health Organization, 2012). After a DV event, 49% of victims desire healthcare assistance to address health concerns; however, only 18% of victims seek medical treatment (Tribal Forensic Healthcare, 2017). Many hospitals screen for DV in order to identify at risk patients; some hospitals provide specially trained forensic nurses to care for victims (International Association of Forensic Nurses [IAFN], 2014). Using a trauma-informed approach, domestic violence examiner (DVE) programs allow forensic nurses to effectively identify and address adverse health implications of DV through a forensic medical exam that includes a health history, physical exam, screening for and treating injuries, photo documentation, and referrals (IAFN, 2014). During 2017, a community-based DVE program was developed and implemented in a mid-sized Southern United States community. The purpose of this poster presentation is to engage participants by 1) exploring how DV impacts the health of victims, 2) describing the development and implementation of a DVE program, and 3) discussing outcomes of a community-based DVE program. As a result, participants will gain an increased understanding of the impact of DV on health and methods of holistically addressing DV
Dialogic inquiry and active learning
Get PDFAmong the tools used in the active learning model, dialogic inquiry is one of the most popular. This presentation shares the results of research into the impact of dialogic inquiry on engagement within an active learning space
Radioactive decay simulations for testing of the timing detectors in the Nab experiment
Get PDFLocated at the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge National Lab, the Nab experiment aims to yield a measurement of the electron-neutrino correlation parameter, a, and the Fierz interference term, b, in neutron beta decay. These parameters are located in the energy and the angular distribution of the particles produced through neutron beta decay. Using silicon detectors, a direct measurement of the phase space distribution of the resultant electron energy and proton momentum can be obtained. The silicon detectors of the Nab experiment will be tested using well-known radioactive isotopes. Simulations of systematic testing use the associated energy levels, decay probabilities, and decay options of radioactive sources such as Ce-139, Ba-133, and Sn-113 to determine the expected results of experimental testing. Presented here is an analysis of the Monte Carlo simulations of the radioactive decay of Ce-139, Ba-133, and Sn-113, and their ability to be useful to the Nab experiment as a whole
Analysis of Dynamic Load Factor in a Fail-safe Crane Equipped with a Hydraulic Equalizing Cylinder
Get PDFA model is proposed for the dynamic behavior of an equalizing cylinder when coupled to a fail-safe crane mechanism. The constitutive equations involve the continuity of the fluid in the equilizing bar and time-dependent incompressible one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for the detailed motion of the cylinder coupled with the dynamics of the traveling block and the elastic cable. These yields a nonlinear 2nd-order ordinary differential equations. The results for the Dynamic Load Factor (DLF) is presented
The future of biomechatronics at UTC
No full textBiomechatronics is the development and optimization of mechatronic systems using biological and medical knowledge. Moreover, biomechatronics describes the research and design of assistive devices for patients with an impaired motoric system. With the increasing and rapidly aging world population, biomechatronics has become an important issue. Medical doctors and physiotherapists are practitioners of the biomechatronics systems. Since they are keenly aware of their patients need, it will be effective for them to assist engineers in the design process. However, to be successful in this process, they need to know some basic engineering terms and structures. Participants will have obtained general knowledge about technical aspects of the rehabilitation of patients with motoric disorders, in particular, with prostheses and orthoses, and electro stimulation with emphasis on the sensors and actuators
Habitat suitability modeling for Lontra canadensis in east Tennessee
Get PDFPredictive niche modeling is an essential tool in effectively managing and conserving wildlife habitats. With environmental and landscape data, we can determine and assign priority areas for conservation efforts targeting the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) in east Tennessee and beyond. The focus of the present study is the relationship between otters and land cover. Using citizen-science, an analysis was conducted using ArcGIS and Maxent to determine potential habitat for river otters using presence-only data. The results of this study detail a habitat suitability map for river otters in east Tennessee, indicating a strong positive correlation between mixed forest land cover and otter presence. This information can be expounded on with further field testing and utilized by state officials in managing wildlife. As river otters are indicators of stream ecosystem health, maintaining habitat that is suitable to L. canadensis would also mean providing quality habitat for many riparian species