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Examining the Lasting Impacts of COVID-19 on College Students and Professors
Get PDFThis study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health, academic performance, and socialization of college students, as well as college professors’ perceptions of their own mental health, workload, and observed changes in students. University of Arkansas undergraduate students were surveyed online about their pandemic experiences, and faculty members were interviewed on similar topics. Students reported a noticeable decline in mental health, primarily due to isolation, being confined to their homes, and reduced contact with friends. Faculty faced stress from the rapid shift to virtual learning, decreased student engagement, and the challenge of balancing work and family while maintaining academic standards. Students indicated that online learning negatively affected their education, while faculty observed a decline in student engagement, increased introverted tendencies, and expressed concern for students entering professional spaces. Students also reported that the pandemic negatively affected social skills. However, faculty noted some positives, such as increased technology use/understanding and increased family time. Overall, the pandemic negatively affected students\u27 mental health, education, and socialization, while also imposing challenges on faculty. This study contributes to pandemic-related research by highlighting how COVID-19 continues to affect the post-pandemic classroom
Synthetic Dataset Generator to Assist in Training of Multilayer Perceptron based Neural Network
Get PDFSynthetic dataset generation attempts to solve the issue of needing large datasets to train models and observe behaviors in both a cost and time effective way. This project aims to highlight the value of synthetic data creation and how it was useful when training a neural network model by creating a synthetic dataset generator for a specific model in order to evaluate its behavior in difference scenarios. The model that was used in this project was created to select high-quality papers while maximizing the diversity of authors based on race, gender, and country characteristics, essentially mimicking a review process. The goal of this synthetic dataset generator is to provide an efficient way to test the model on relevant data in order to train the model and evaluate its effectiveness.
Two experiments were conducted, the first verifying that the generator created a dataset with the correct user-provided proportions, and the second to test how well the model behaved when run on a synthetic dataset. The first experiment did indeed verify that the generator created datasets with the correct percentages provided by the user and the second experiment revealed that the synthetic data simulated real data well based on the performance results from the model
Promoting Safe Firearm Storage Through Media-Based Interventions
Get PDFGiven the ongoing phenomenon of unintentional pediatric firearm deaths, this project seeks to examine how the mainstream media reports on these events and how media frames could be altered to better promote public health prevention efforts
The Effects of Starting Hormonal Contraceptive Use on Rumination
Get PDFRumination, a cycle of repetitive dwelling on negative feelings and distress, is associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Although there is a substantial body of research on rumination and its association with depression and anxiety in women, there is a lack of studies specifically examining the role of hormonal fluctuation in this process. Changes in the menstrual cycle linked to estrogen and progesterone have been associated with mood regulation and susceptibility to depression, yet the impact of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) on rumination remains unexplored. The current study examined the role of HCs on rumination by comparing women starting the use of HCs with naturally cycling (NC) women in their follicular phase, both groups taking two online surveys spaced 2-3 months apart. I hypothesized that changes in rumination from Time 1 to Time 2 would differ between women starting hormonal contraceptives and naturally cycling women, due to the hormonal and emotional alterations associated with HC use. Additionally, I explored whether changes in rumination differed by type of HC used. Results showed that rumination changes differed by group, specifically between Nexplanon users and IUD users in the reflection subscale. Nexplanon users also showed consistently higher levels of brooding and depression-related rumination in comparison to other groups. Findings indicate that type of HC may affect levels of rumination
Assessing the Fate of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater Treatment Processes
Get PDFThe increasing need for clean water has paved the way for the creation of systems for reusing water, such as wastewater treatment plants (“WWTPs”), to provide potable water. But in recent years, such systems have raised concerns about the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (“ARGs”). Bacteria are adapting to antibiotics by the evolution of resistance mechanisms, such as high mutation rates and horizontal transfer. The presence of ARGs, particularly tetracycline ( tetA ) resistance genes, in wastewater effluents is of concern, as they can survive treatment, spread to bodies of water, and pose a threat to human health. In this study, the impact of treatment processes on the fate of tetA in WWTPs has been analyzed. Five stages were sampled, including grit removal, activated sludge, clarification, granular filtration, and UV treatment. They were then quantified for tetA gene copies by qPCR. The results indicated that clarification had a significant reduction in tetA gene copies, while granular filtration had no reduction. Interestingly, UV exposure increased the number of tetA gene copies, potentially resulting from mutations in DNA or DNA extraction issues. These findings reveal that the current WWTP processes used cannot effectively remove ARGs, suggesting that improvements in treatment processes are necessary. Although wastewater reuse is promising, the presence of ARGs in treated wastewater represents a public health threat as well as a global threat to antibiotic resistance. The treatment strategies should be optimized and targeted to mitigate ARGs to guarantee that the reuse of water does not contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria
Occupancy sampling to examine spatial distribution of Oklahoma Salamanders (Eurycea tynerensis) among headwater streams in the Ozark Highlands
Get PDFWater conditions are changing globally due to climate change (Gleick, 1989). Headwater streams specifically are vulnerable to changes in hydrology, water quality, and physical characteristics from anthropogenic practices due to their small watersheds with shallow soils, yet they are often not a priority in conservation (Campbell et al., 2011; Abell et al., 2017). Within streams, plethodontid (i.e., lungless) salamanders, which are also sensitive to environmental changes, may be restricted in their distribution due to undefined stream characteristics and predation by fish (Welsh and Droege, 2002; Kuhajda et al., 2015). To better understand the pressures that influence stream salamander occupancy, I had two objectives: (1) examination of spatial distribution of the Oklahoma salamander (Eurycea tynerensis) in relation to stream size and physical characteristics within the Ozark highlands and (2) define these interactions within the context of flow characteristics in headwater streams. To achieve these objectives, I conducted visual surveys for E. tynerensis across varying flow regimes. I also recorded stream covariates and analyzed their relationship with salamander abundance using negative binomial regression, focusing on variables such as stream width, stream width variation, and substrate composition. Model selection was performed using an information-theoretic approach, with the final model including mean stream width and stream width variation as significant predictors of salamander abundance. I found that salamander abundance significantly decreased with increasing mean stream width, especially in streams smaller than 5.0-7.5 meters wide. Stream width variation was positively associated with higher salamander abundance, but substrate composition, canopy cover, and survey temperature were not significant predictors. These findings suggest that smaller, more variable watersheds may provide more suitable habitat for E. tynerensis, which has important implications for headwater stream management and conservation
Development of Modern Methods for Evaluation of Bridge Timber Pile Capacity
No full textTimber piles are widely used as foundational support for bridge substructures; however, they are susceptible to deterioration over time. This significantly impacts their load-bearing capacity and overall structural integrity. Despite their critical role in bridge safety, a lack of effective methods exist for assessing the in-service load capacity of timber piles. The ability to accurately determine load-bearing capacity is essential for transportation agencies to estimate the remaining service life of bridges, plan maintenance repairs, and ensure public safety. However, research in this area has been limited, with most studies focusing on retrofitting or repair techniques rather than evaluating the in-use structural capacity of timber piles. For this study, a survey was conducted to examine the current inspection methodologies used by bridge inspectors, the frequency of inspection, and the number of timber pile bridges found in various states throughout the country. The results indicate that many states rely on outdated inspection practices and lack standardized procedures for determining the load capacity of in-service timber piles. Furthermore, the survey revealed that most states do not calculate a timber pile load capacity rating but rather leave uncertainties regarding the actual weight limits that these piles can safely support. In addition to the survey, this research investigates the primary causes of timber pile deterioration, ARDOT’s current bridge rating procedures, and the tools presently used to assess timber piles. Timber pile testing and section loss analysis performed at the Civil Engineering Research and Education Center shows the reduced load capacity of a deteriorated pile. The overall objective of this study is implementing improved methodologies and load capacity calculations to enable transportation agencies to make better educated decisions regarding bridge maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement, and therefore enhance the longevity and safety of timber pile-supported infrastructures
