Summit Institutional Repository @ PSU (Plymouth State University)
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Cataloguing and data collection for Plymouth State University herbarium (PSH)
No full textIn today's world of instant information, some argue that physical information centers (e.g., libraries, museums) are obsolete. The Plymouth State University Herbarium (PSH) is one such information center that was actively utilized but was forgotten until it was rediscovered in 2016. Our objective was to assess the value of PSH, first in terms of its possible utilization for teaching botany-related courses, and second in terms of its representation of the flora of New England. We hypothesized that there would be around 4000 specimens in total based on coarse visual analysis. We also predicted at least 50 percent of the New England angiosperm flora would be represented in our collection. We began by organizing all specimens alphabetically by family, genus, and species. Next, we checked the taxonomy to verify and update the specimen names and validity. We found that a total of 5,631 angiosperm specimens were present, almost half of which are historic, and that 70 percent of New England's angiosperm flora is represented. As student collections are incorporated, PSH collections will not only increase in size and diversity, but can also help to increase the notability of the herbarium as well as the plant sciences program at Plymouth State University.Student Showcase of Research & Engagement 201
Theory of computation lecture notes (student version)
Get PDFLecture notes for an undergraduate Theory of Computation course. These notes assume some back-ground in discrete math or set theory. The notes deviate from the normal topic order by covering all the machines first, then properties of the language classes, and finally non-inclusion into those classes. Many sections of the notes have yet to be completed
A mother's perspective: factors influencing the well-being/wellness of Muslim American children in the northeastern United States
Get PDFThis ethnographic research was conducted in the Northeastern U.S. to investigate factors influencing wellness/well-being among Muslim American children in this region from their mothers' perspectives, and to explore how Muslim mothers mediate challenges faced by their children in order to support their children's well-being. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with seven Muslim mothers from different countries, observation, and field notes. The ecological model and Hettler's definition of wellness were used as frameworks for understanding Muslim mothers' experiences. Using thematic analysis, two categories of themes emerged as research questions: 1) factors impacting wellness/well-being (discrimination, cultural friction, apprehension and fear, lack of awareness of Islam, and misalignment of organizational processes); and 2) mother's methods of mediating their children's challenges (nurturing, cultural accommodation, and acceptable adaptations within family practices. The study identifies its limitations and implications for future research.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
The relationship between coping skills and burnout in international school principals
Get PDFThis study investigated coping strategies that predict the frequency of three dimensions of burnout in international school principals. Prior research has established that many principals feel overloaded, overwhelming levels of stress, and emotional exhaustion. Research has also shown that many principals also feel low levels of professional accomplishment and job satisfaction. Principals who experience chronic stress struggle to be effective leaders, which directly impacts student learning. In this study, a diverse group of international school principals was surveyed using the Coping Strategies Inventory Short Form (CSI-SF) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Educators Survey (MBI-ES).
Responses from 117 principals were analyzed using multiple linear regression in order to determine whether the frequency of using coping skills can predict the frequency of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment in a sample of international school principals. Responses indicate that international school principals report infrequent levels of depersonalization and frequent levels of personal accomplishment. Findings suggest that problem-focused engagement coping skills, which include problem solving and cognitive restructuring, have a statistically significant predictive relationship with a reduction in the frequency of depersonalization. Findings also suggest that problem-focused disengagement coping skills, which include problem avoidance and wishful thinking, have a statistically significant predictive relationship with an increase in the frequency of personal accomplishment.
These findings may inform international school principals and principal trainers of best practices in supporting principals to reduce the frequency of burnout. Implications for principal training are discussed.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
High schools demonstrating high academic growth: an examination of reform efforts and principal practices
Get PDFThis mixed-methods study examined what reform efforts are happening in high schools where students are demonstrating high academic growth, investigating the practices and behaviors principals are implementing within these schools, and determining if, and how, the six dimensions of PLCs (Hord, 1997; Hord & Tobia, 2012) are being implemented in these schools. This explanatory sequential design was based on the theoretical constructs of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) (Hord, 1997; Hord & Tobia, 2012) and the 21 Leadership Responsibilities (Marzano, Waters, & McNulty, 20005). Nine principals completed both the Professional Learning Community Assessment ��� Revised (PLCA-R) (Olivier & Hipp, 2010; Olivier, Hipp, & Huffman, 2003) and the Balanced Leadership Questionnaire (Marzano et al., 2005). Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze survey data and the interview questions were informed and grounded in the results of both surveys. Five principals participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings supported four reform efforts which included building a purposeful community, high expectations for all, shared and supportive leadership, and a focus on teaching and learning are each contributing to the student academic growth within these high schools. Additionally, the leadership practices and behaviors principals utilized were consistent with the 21 Leadership Responsibilities (Marzano et al., 2005) and the six dimensions of PLCs (Hord, 1997; Hord & Tobia, 2012) are being implemented in these schools. Both the leadership responsibilities and the dimensions of PLCs (Hord, 1997; Hord & Tobia, 2012) contributed to the student academic growth in these schools.Electronic Thesis or Dissertatio
Treatment of newborn narcotic withdrawal
Get PDFThis project explores the alternate treatments to increase the outcomes of newborns experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The project reviews five published articles on the treatment of NAS. A common treatment of NAS is the administration of morphine to help the newborn manage the withdrawal. The literature review was intended to find if a non-pharmalogical treatment could offer better outcomes for the newborn. The findings found that the lasting effects of being exposed to opioids or methadone in utero is unknown due to small sample sizes and environmental factors. The research was unable to identify the lasting effects of using morphine and other drugs to treat NAS. In conclusion, research found that the modified approach referred to "Eat, Sleep, Console," had incredible outcomes when used to treat newborns with NAS. Eat, Sleep, Console is a method of treatment that focuses on treating the newborn like a newborn. Feed them when they are hungry, cuddle them so they can sleep, and console them when they cry. It also focuses on treating the parents as parents and reducing the stigma of them being an addict to encourage them to still be a parent.Student Showcase of Research & Engagement 201
An analysis of Marvel Studio's social media presence
Get PDFThis social media analysis of Marvel Studios examines the multiple platform engagement of a prominent media company. It covers the major social media platforms they use and provides feedback on where the studio is doing well and where there is room to improve. I first examine the history of the company to provide a groundwork for the rest of the analysis. After that, I examined their presence on every major social media platform. Once that was complete I reviewed what they were doing well and where there was room to improve. I also compared Marvel to other film studios and concluded that what Marvel is doing isn't necessarily creative in any discernible way, but that it is still effective. This type of project is an important one for Media Studies, because this is the type of work one may find yourself doing for a professional media company once you get out of college. Social Media is an increasingly important tool for virtually every company and so it's crucial for students to have practice when it comes to understanding what each platform is used for and how to communicate that to potential employers.Student Showcase of Research & Engagement 201
To knit the knot: embodied mind in John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”
Get PDFFor John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”, cognitive ecology offers a new approach to the divide between Platonism and Aristotelianism in the poem, presenting a continuum between body and soul rather than an opposition or equivalence. In this essay, I argue that Donne charts a continuum of body and soul through a chain of metaphors, knitting together an ecstasy that is both outside and beside the self. One can neither conceive of nor experience such an ecstasy without employing embodied metaphors, metaphors that enable the conceptual movement within the poem. Strictly speaking, souls cannot move, speak, mix, or descend: all these actions are embodied concepts that use human motor-schema to map out abstract notions. The soul’s movement occurs in a conceptual space carved out through this chaotic change and exchange of embodied metaphors. This movement of the soul through the body, via the body, knits the “knot, which makes us man”
Sleep deprivation in hospitalized patients
Get PDFThis paper explores five published articles that report on research conducted about sleep deprivation in hospitalized patients. Many patients who spend the night in a hospital bed experience reduced quality of sleep due to various disruptions to sleep including alarms, staff noises and nurses doing care. Studies have shown that patients who are ill or are injured need an increase in sleep to speed up recovery time. Sleep quality restores function, promotes health, and provides a feeling of well-being. Sleep disturbances are associated with negative outcomes such as fatigue, negative moods, and disorientation. Many studies have shown that if nurses implement cluster care from 2200-0700 instead of typical routines there will be less sleep interruptions in older adult medical surgical patients. This literature review discusses many studies that were done to explore and describe patients sleep experiences and ways to improve the number of hours slept in hope to change the practice of night shift nurses.Student Showcase of Research & Engagement 201
New Hampshire foreign direct investment report: presence and contributions to state and county economies
Get PDFAccording to the U.S. Department of Commerce, “the United States remains an attractive foreign direct investment (FDI) destination”. Our report examines foreign direct investment in New Hampshire from the perspective of presence of foreign subsidiaries. The distributions of foreign subsidiaries are analyzed across counties and industries in New Hampshire, with accompanying inferences on contributions that foreign firms make to the state. The analysis is based on a sample of 447 subsidiaries of foreign firms.
The study is unique in its analysis of the distributions of foreign subsidiaries at the level of counties, sectors and industries, in addition to the explorations into firm size and presence in manufacturing and high-tech industries. It is also nuanced in terms of mapping the countries of origin for FDI in various aspects of New Hampshire economy. The results are meaningful for understanding the kinds of foreign firms that operate in New Hampshire, where such firms are located, where the investments come from, and what types of contributions they make to growth and development.
The information included in the report holds value for identifying the sources and geography of foreign presence in the New Hampshire business setting, the scale and main value chain activities of foreign firms, the sectors and industries where foreign firms add jobs and the extent to which foreign firms drive innovation. The report concludes on strategic aspects of FDI.Article