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Calming Music as an Emotion Regulation Technique in Response to a Traumatic Sexual Assault Narrative
Full text linkExperiencing a sexual assault often results in lasting psychological trauma that inhibits the person’s ability to function, so coping strategies are needed to reduce those symptoms. This study was done to understand the effect of listening to calming music (vs silence) on both anxiety levels and memory recall following the description of a sexual assault. It was hypothesized that listening to calming music would decrease both anxiety and memory levels in a manner that the association between music and memory would be at least partially mediated by anxiety levels. Participants (N=99; 68% female; 84% White; 87% heterosexual) came into the lab, took a baseline state anxiety measure, listened to a sexual assault script, and completed the state anxiety measure again. Next, participants experienced either the calming music condition or silence condition, after which they took the state anxiety measure a third time. Participants then took a memory test based on the script, watched a mood-uplifting video, took the state anxiety measure a final time, and provided sociodemographic information. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and memory recall was assessed based on the number of correct answers in the memory test. Independent-samples t-tests, paired-samples t-tests, and correlations were used to analyze the data. This study found that listening to calming music significantly decreased anxiety levels when compared to silence. There was no correlation found between listening to calming music vs. silence and memory recall. These findings provide support for the use of calming music as a coping mechanism following a traumatic event
A Year in the Making: Evaluating SEC Cybersecurity Disclosure Rule Compliance Through Public Company Case Studies
Full text linkThis thesis evaluates public company compliance with the SEC’s 2023 cybersecurity disclosure rule, which mandates that material cybersecurity incidents be reported within four business days via Form 8-K, Item 1.05. Through case studies of UnitedHealth Group, AT&T, and Krispy Kreme, the research assesses firms’ performance across three key areas: materiality determination, timeliness, and the scope and depth of disclosures. Using a structured benchmarking framework based on SEC guidance, the findings reveal inconsistent compliance, with patterns of vague reporting, selective disclosure, and procedural adherence that falls short of regulatory intent. While Krispy Kreme aligned most closely with SEC expectations, UnitedHealth and AT&T demonstrated gaps that raise concerns about transparency and accountability. The analysis suggests that the effectiveness of the new rule relies not only on its structure but also on consistent enforcement and clearer expectations for follow-up reporting
Remembering the Stasi on the Screen: Historical Film Analysis of the East German Ministry for State Security
Full text linkThe purpose of this thesis is to assess how the history and identity of the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Ministry for State Security, Stasi) has been internalized by the German people through film media. Germans endured significant trauma and cultural manipulation at the hands of the Stasi and the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (Socialist Unity Party, SED) that is personified in many ways. The trauma that the Stasi inflicted sits heavily on the reflective interpretations of the DDR, complicating retrospection on life in the DDR and its positive elements. The Stasi have come to represent the essential negativity of life in the DDR in the popular historical memory of film; however, appreciating the historical memory spawned by this shared experience as it is today requires an understanding of how it has changed over time. Therefore, this thesis will analyze film depictions of Stasi characters or characters that interact with the Stasi, separating out thematic groups of individuals based on their relationships to the Stasi and identifying similar narratives between the relationships. A list of films ranging from those produced in Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic, DDR) to the most recent productions made for streaming platforms will be assessed to this end, covering to a varying degree of depth more than fifteen films and three television series in order to compile a substantially representative body of primary sources.
Core categories of relationships under review will be the outsiders, sub-categorized as prisoners, suspects, and Western interests; inoffizielle Mitarbeiter (unofficial collaborators, IMs), divided into informants and special agents; and official agents of the Stasi separated into low and high command positions when possible. These categories will be reviewed in the context of a continuous development over time with particular attention to shifts occurring before or after Germany’s Wende (Peaceful Revolution, directly translated as the Turning Point)
Engaging Future Engineers: Utilizing AI-Generated Video to Promote the Chemical Engineering Profession
Full text linkThe expected incline of the chemical engineering profession faces a growing need to attract the next generation of prospective students. This research explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) software to create an innovative form of media fit for secondary school and early college outreach. The pre- and post-video questionnaires were taken by a voluntary population comprised of high school students, college students, and parents. Overall, the feedback received was generally positive but indicated that the AI avatars and the lip-sync discrepancies may disrupt the video more than enhance it. In the future, a larger population will be surveyed to draw a firm conclusion on the results. Once revised for higher engagement, the video will be used as a primary form of media for the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas whilst they conduct student outreach
Agent-Based Modeling for Faulty System Analysis
Full text linkNumerous approaches exist for computational modeling of complex, dynamic systems. One particular option is the use of agent-based modeling, which simulates the behavior of numerous autonomous agents interacting with each other and with the system at large. Current agent-based modeling research has largely focused on studying the system level behavior of a model, as this is generally the main concern for any real world application. However, the characteristics and behaviors of agents deserves consideration as well. The issue with this area of interest lies in the fact that the agent data cannot be as quickly obtained and analyzed as system level data. In order to develop this idea, this paper focuses on utilizing system level data to determine the state of agents in a model. Specifically, it will consider systems where faults have occurred and find the point(s) of failure. A Python model will be developed and study for this purpose, focusing particularly on an electrical network. From this research, it is found that agent- based models can be effective for identifying faults and their source in a system. These models are limited by a lack of learning on the part of agents and could be improved through the implementation of reinforcement learning algorithms
Multifunctional PVDF Ionogels with Magnetic Nanoparticles for Electroactive and Magnetic Actuation
Full text linkThe fast development of compact and multifunctional electronics has driven interest in smart materials capable of responding to multiple stimuli. Ionogels, polymers that have been swollen with ionic liquids (IL), offer several favorable electrochemical and thermal properties due to their intrinsic ion conductivity, wide electrochemical window, non-flammability, and high thermal stability. However, their poor mechanical properties (e.g., modulus and strength) limit their use in applications. In this work, multifunctional PVDF ionogel composites were made by blending magnetically responsive iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) into the polymer matrix. The influence of MNP concentration (9-21 wt%) on composition, ionic conductivity, and mechanical properties were investigated to demonstrate dual stimuli response through electroactive and magnetic actuation. The resulting materials show fast macroscale actuation under magnetic fields and microscale electroactive actuation at low voltages, demonstrating their potential for applications such as soft robotics or wearable electronics
Leveraging P4 Programmable Switches for Resilient Operation and Design of Phasor Measurement Unit Networks
Full text linkThe power grid utilizes a device called the phasor measurement unit (PMU), allowing power system administrators to remotely monitor and manage the state of the grid in Wide Area Monitoring Systems (WAMS). The advantages of PMUs – such as fine-grained, time-synchronized measurements and efficient, decentralized monitoring – are what make them key devices in the power grid. However, PMU technology also comes with new threats of the digital age, like malfunctions and cyberattacks, which can result in missing and faulty measurements that compromise power grid observability. P4 programmable networks can be used to detect faulty PMU data in a decentralized, efficient manner. Existing work has introduced in-network missing data recovery using P4. In this work, we extend that approach by adding the capability to detect and recover delayed PMU data to add onto the recovery scheme. We implement in-network PMU data logging on P4 switches, enabling retroactive power-system analysis without the need for changes to existing PDC hardware. Under a 5\% packet loss scenario, the mean absolute percentage error for voltage magnitude is 0.0279\% and the phase angle error is at 0.0272 degrees, demonstrating the effectiveness of incorporating delayed data recovery
Can Shame and Guilt be used as a Deterrent for Drug Use and Drug Crime Recidivism?
Full text linkIntroduction: The present study focuses on how shame and guilt can be used as a deterrent for substance use and substance-related crime recidivism. This research is significant because of on-going alcohol and other drug crime recidivism in the United States. About 68% of drug-involved offenders have been found to recidivate within three years of their release from prison. Understanding how guilt and shame affect one\u27s drug use and crime recidivism is important in recovery. This study was influenced by Braithwaite\u27s theory of reintegrative shaming: using shame and guilt as the specific deterrent for recidivism. Methods: Based on this theory, I developed vignettes to manipulate feelings of shame and guilt in the participant as a function of the degree to which the crime was publicly known versus private. Four vignettes are included: 2 drunk-driving (private and public) and 2 driving under the influence of marijuana (private and public), all of which were first piloted with students and experts. After the participant read their randomly assigned vignette, they were asked questions regarding their levels of shame and guilt (5-point scale), and likelihood to use the substance and likelihood to engage in the behavior again (7-point scale). I hypothesized that (H1) elevated levels of shame and guilt would be correlated with lower levels of likelihood to use and likelihood to engage in the behavior again, (H2) public factors would induce more shame than would private factors, and private factors would produce more guilt than public factors, and (H3) public factors would cause decreased likelihood to use and to engage in the behavior again than would private factors. Results: Shame and guilt were negatively correlated with the likelihood to engage in the behavior again (ps \u3c .001), but not likelihood to use the substance again. Public and private factors did not have significant main effects on levels of shame and guilt, and they were not significantly different across substance type conditions. There was no significant main effect on public and privacy factors on the likelihood to use again or the likelihood to engage in the behavior again. There were significant main effects of the substance type on the likelihood to use again across conditions, F (1,303) = 13.778, p\u3c .001. Conclusion: Results do not fully support the hypotheses or Braithwaite’s theory. However, future research can continue to understand how these results may differ among individuals with more severe drug-related crimes and use, and among other populations who have interacted with the criminal justice system (i.e., drug court participants, incarcerated adults)
Language Sample Analysis in Preschool-age Children at-risk for Speech Sound Disorders
Full text linkIntroduction: Language sample analysis is a highly beneficial tool that speech-language pathologists can utilize to provide a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for their client. This method is particularly valuable because it assesses a child’s speech in a naturalistic form, allowing therapists to observe how the child communicates in real-world settings. Speech sound disorders account for the highest number of cases treated by speech-language pathologist in the pediatric population. This thesis aims to investigate two different types of language sample analysis software, CLAN and SALT, as well as their benefits and limitations in diagnosing speech sound disorders. Understanding the use, strengths, and weaknesses of these programs could help speech-language pathologists make more informed decisions, leading to individualization of treatment methods and ultimately resulting in more effective treatment outcomes for children with speech sound disorders.
Methods: The research and data collection for this thesis were conducted at Old Farmington Road HeadStart Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Data were collected from a single participant over four months. The participant was a four-year-old female suspected of having an articulation disorder. Open-ended questions were used during a conversation-based session between the participant and examiner. The language sample was then transcribed using both SALT and CLAN databases. The transcription, coding, and analysis procedures to the time spent using each software. The results from the software analyses were then examined to aid in determining a diagnosis and therapy plan for the participant.
Results: Both language sampling software’s produced similar results for the child with a potential speech sound disorder. It was shown that her Type Token Ratio (TTR) and repetition of words were above average, while mean length of utterances (MLU) in words and intelligible words were below average. However, her number of total words (NTW) and response to questions remained higher than others her same age.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicate that language sample analysis is a highly beneficial tool for influencing effective diagnosis and therapy plans for speech sound disorders. The naturalistic setting allows therapists to observe how children communicate in real-world situations and identify areas of difficulty. However, its practical use for speech-language pathologist remains a consideration. Both software programs were found to be challenging to learn and master in a short period of time. Additionally, the time required to generate an analysis is not practical for a speech-language pathologist managing large case load. It was concluded that future studies should investigate the integration of accurate speech-to-text functionality and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the time required for transcription and coding
Ecological Interactions of Large Mammals in Luangwa, Zambia
Full text linkThe connection between mammalian behavior in national parks and human-driven environmental change outside national parks is tenuous. National parks are often considered the last vestiges of natural space, yet they are created and maintained by humans. South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) at the southern end of the East African Rift System (EARS) is a microcosm of this global problem. EARS is a biodiverse region made up of numerous smaller branches. In the Luangwa Valley, this biodiversity has been protected through conservation historically, but dynamic geopolitical forces have affected the relationship between large mammals and humans by extracting humans to create SLNP. Understanding the mammalian diets of megafauna (e.g., large animals such as elephants \u3e44kg) in the SLNP will provide a means of understanding variation in one aspect of mammal behavior that may be affected by changing animal-human relationships. This study develops a stable isotope baseline for carbon and oxygen variation in 61 enamel specimens from nine large mammal species like hippopotamuses, elephants, and buffalo. These stable isotopes reveal information about mammal interactions with the environment. We also consider ecological changes in animal diets that may have been due to human conservation decisions or ecological change that affect mammals and humans who depend on subsistence practices in the region. For example, though the region is classified as a woodland, most of the nine mammal species sampled show diets that are classified as grazers or mixed feeders. This could represent the decrease in wooded vegetation due to poaching that occurred intensely in the past 50 years. Animals with high human animal conflicts, like hippos and lions, have high oxygen isotope variation that could indicate that they visit a wide variety of locations from inside and outside the park. This combination of ecological and historical information has implications for both human evolution, which depends on national parks to represent ecosystems that are untouched by humans, and conservation ecology