The LAIR at East Texas A&M
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The Elephant Brain in the Room: A Lecture Recital on Neurodivergent Advocacy
No full textThis is a lecture recital; an event where live, performed art music is combined with lecture, with both parts being related. In this case, my lecture was on neurodivergent advocacy and accommodations, and the selected musical pieces were composed by neurodivergent composers
Administrator Perceptions of the Texas-Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) Toward Teacher Growth in a Medium-size Suburban District
No full textFor this qualitative study, the researcher investigated the perceptions of assistant principal and principal teacher-appraisers in a medium-size suburban Texas school district. This narrative inquiry contains investigative semi-structured interviews to explore the teacher-evaluation perceptions and practices of 11 assistant principals and principals of elementary, middle and high school campuses. The researcher explored previous research to help identify gaps in the field, which helped shape and form the design of the study and the research questions. While researchers had investigated teacher perceptions of teacher evaluations, little was known about how Texas administrators perceived the effectiveness of the Texas-Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) in measuring teacher growth. If student growth relies on effective teaching, this researcher used a narrative inquiry study to examine administrators’ perceptions of each component of T-TESS, and also the holistic usefulness of T-TESS in promoting teacher growth. While campus administrators must be formally trained in T-TESS prior to using it to appraise teachers, many principals and assistant principals had vastly different perceptions of T- TESS’ usefulness in truly growing teachers. This study may further help principals and assistant principals understand to what degree their own perceptions align with the perceptions of participants of this study. Furthermore, by better understanding the perceptions of this study’s participants, other campus administrators may be able to apply this knowledge to their campus appraisal practices. The researcher determined that trust, building relationships, and working beside teachers to coach them rather than catch them, were essential for principals and assistant principals to grow teachers
\u3ci\u3eAnxia Roma Memorat\u3c/i\u3e: The Memory of the Social War in Augustan Literature
No full textThis thesis investigates the memory of the Social War and its effects on Roman politics in the Augustan age (27-14 CE). The Social War was a pivotal conflict fought between 91 and 87 BCE at the dawn of the final century of the Roman Republic that transformed the social and political landscape of Italy in this last century by formally enfranchising numerous groups in the Italian Peninsula who previously were legally separate allies of the Roman Republic. Large-scale enfranchisement substantially changed the political makeup of a rapidly fracturing Roman state. After the rise of Octavian, who was declared Augustus in 27 BCE after decades of civil war, the memory of the Social War still loomed large over Roman political life. By the end of his reign in 14 CE, Augustus solidified and expressed the victory of a concept called tota Italia. With this concept, Augustus sought to legitimize his new regime by claiming that the whole Italian peninsula was the new Imperial heartland and that newly enfranchised Italic peoples were a critical part of an expanding Roman Empire. This thesis seeks to understand the place of the Social War in this program, and to understand how Augustus’s reorientation of the memory of the Social War allowed the inclusion of formerly rebellious Italian peoples. Augustus’s regime successfully changed the memory of the Social War over time. Italy was in an uncertain condition in the Late Republic, but this uncertain Italy was the foundation upon which Horace, Ovid, and Virgil would use their literary might to contribute to Augustus’s state building program by writing Italy into their poetry in such a way that revealed tota Italia to be an aspiration of the age. Later Imperial authors such as Velleius Paterculus, Florus, and Juvenal would continue a narrative that suggested kinship between Romans and Italians— meaning that the whole peninsula was, by the mid-Empire, seen as one cohesive whole. The power of changing memory reveals itself throughout this progression of authors, and this thesis ultimately argues that Augustus’s reorientation of the Social War’s memory ultimately succeeded and echoed down the historical record
Lived Experience of Nontraditional Students Enrolled in Child Development Associate Courses at a Large Suburban Community College in Texas
No full textThis phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of nontraditional students enrolled in Child Development Associate (CDA) courses at a large suburban community college in Texas. These students were full-time childcare workers who balanced family responsibilities while pursuing coursework toward their CDA credentials. The purpose of this study was to explore what supported their persistence and how they developed self-efficacy while managing numerous challenges. Bandura’s (1997) Social Cognitive Theory provided the framework, with attention to mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological and emotional states, along with goal setting and personal agency.Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten participants and a focus group with six participants. Analysis revealed five themes: balancing responsibilities through support and agency, strengthening self-efficacy through relationships and role models, persistence driven by purpose and professional goals, coping with stress through flexibility and support, and financial support as a pathway to persistence. Findings showed that both internal beliefs and external supports shaped persistence. The participants were motivated by their children, encouraged by faculty and directors, and strengthened by scholarships such as TEACH and Curantis. Applying coursework directly in their classroom built confidence, while long-term goals provided meaning to their efforts. These findings extend the literature on nontraditional students by highlighting CDA students as a critical entry point into the early childhood workforce pipeline. Implications include the need for community colleges to expand family-sensitive support, provide flexible learning options, and sustain financial and relational support that fosters persistence
Wah Dem Tek Wi Fah: A Case Study on Second-Generation Jamaican Student Activists Challenging Institutions and Shaping Change
No full textDespite a rich history of Black student activism that has long served as a catalyst for shaping institutional change in U.S. higher education, little is known about the experiences of second-generation Jamaican students and their roles in cultivating change as activists. Using Paulo Freire’s Critical Consciousness theory as a guiding framework, this study explores how second-generation Jamaican students engaged in activism, challenged institutions, and contributed to campus change. The central research question for this study seeks to highlight how second-generation Jamaican students describe their activism and its impact on institutional culture and change. Through a multi-data sourced qualitative case study engaging semi-structured interviews, photovoice, and cultural artifacts. This study found four major themes: 1) My cultural identity, I believe, is layered , 2) I hold my family\u27s last name , 3) I had to step up! , and 4) We weren\u27t just yelling in the quad that revealed new insights into the activism experiences of Black second-generation Jamaican student activists. The study’s findings offer significant implications for higher education leaders, policymakers, and future research
The Impact of Affect on Second Language Acquisition: A Literature Review
No full textThe purpose of this study is to provide a description of affect as one of the most important factors that impacts second language acquisition (SLA) based on literature from the field. In this study, I expanded on the current work of individual differences in SLA by examining how affect and cognition intersect according to the literature. Additionally, I explored the link between emotions, thinking, and learning as well as how they impact language acquisition
Perfectionism, Anxiety, and Depression: A Comparison of Student Mental Health at East Texas A&M University: Honors vs Non-honors
No full textHonors students at East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) may have higher expectations to succeed due to greater course load and pressure versus students who are not in the honors program. These expectations can lead to stress that may cause perfectionism, anxiety, or depression (Rice, 2006; Wan, 2022; Van Praag, 2004). This study sought to determine if higher expectations and course load could lead to differences in mental health in honors versus non-honors students at East Texas A&M University. In order to determine these mental health characteristics, data was gathered using responses to a Qualtrics survey sent to 7527 ETAMU undergraduate students. We asked various questions regarding each student’s perception of their mental health. These questions pertained to symptoms of perfectionism, anxiety, and depression. Our results determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between people who are in the honors college and the following statements: ● “I am a person who sets high standards for myself.’’ ● “I often check my work carefully to make sure there are no mistakes.” ● “Others expect me to be perfect.” There were no other significant correlations between the other mental health questions and enrollment in the honors program at ETAMU. Optional questions were included asking the students what they think should be done by the university to improve their mental health. The most frequently given answers were about wanting more help with paying off tuition and wanting more guidance from professors and advisors. These results can help improve the understanding of the mental health of undergraduate students and how greater expectations and pressure can influence it. The results can also help the university work to improve the mental health of undergraduate students
Effects of Cooking Oil and Bitter Gourd on Obesity Development in C57BL/6J Mice
No full textThis study examined the use of different oils in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with bitter gourd incorporated into unhealthy diets to assess its effects. A total of 72 mice were divided into six groups. Two of these groups were gavaged with an aqueous solution of bitter gourd, with one group additionally receiving corn oil and the other receiving lard. The four groups that did not receive bitter gourd were each fed a different diet containing either corn oil, lard, canola oil, or olive oil. Measurements of weight, food intake, water consumption, blood glucose levels, and performance on a balance beam walk assay were collected over a one-month period. It was observed that a diet high in olive oil caused the mice to gain weight the fastest while maintaining a healthy BMI and blood glucose level, suggesting that olive oil may promote muscle mass and body length rather than fat accumulation. Additionally, the combination of lard with bitter gourd was found to lower body weight. Both the olive oil and lard with bitter gourd groups demonstrated the best performance in the balance beam assay, indicating potential benefits for maintaining cognitive and motor function. However, a full two year study is necessary to draw more definitive conclusions
Drinking Behavior and Performance in Neonatal Swine
No full textThis behavioral study analyzes the relationship between water intake and growth performance in pre-weaned piglets. Growth is paramount in pork production, and maximizing growth in weaned piglets has been thoroughly researched. However, one crucial aspect of growth is often overlooked: water, especially in neonatal piglets. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there is a positive relationship between water intake and performance in pre-weaned piglets by observing different behaviors. Weights were recorded at birth, after 7-10 days, and at weaning. Piglets were observed three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for 21 days via scan sampling. Observation periods lasted 15 minutes, and a variety of behaviors were documented, with an emphasis on water visits and drinking. The impact of observation day and observation time on drinking behavior was analyzed via chi-square analysis and was significant for both traits (P \u3c 0.0001), though results regarding observation day were ambiguous. The relationship between drinking behavior and body weights was analyzed via a mixed model analysis, and statistical significance was found between drinking and Day 21 weights (P = 0.0012). Any changes in drinking behaviors impacting weight gain can positively impact pork production. Even a small increase in growth during the pre-weaning phase could mean greater profits for producers and more pork available for consumption. Increasing water availability and consumption by neonatal piglets can also have a positive impact on overall animal welfare
Effects of Cytochalasin D on Motor Function in \u3ci\u3eDrosophila\u3c/i\u3e
No full textActin proteins play an important role in microfilaments, one of the three components of the cytoskeleton of the cell. The actin protein is responsible for cellular functions such as with their role in neuromuscular junctions. The dynamics of these proteins can be further explored with manipulation of polymerization through the treatment of a biochemical drug, Cytochalasin D. This fungal toxin caps the ends of actin filaments, destabilizing them by inhibiting G- and F-actin monomers from binding. Treating Drosophila in their early embryonic stage with this drug after permeabilization can give insights on the importance of actin proteins at neuromuscular junctions during an organism\u27s development. In a larval crawling assay, it is hypothesized to cause the treated larvae to have disordered movement, which would result in slower speeds in crawling trials. Three trials were performed for 15 control larvae and 15 experimental larvae, each having three runs per larvae. This assay resulted in the experimental larvae having faster crawling times. Run three showed a closer mean average crawl time, with significance between the control and the experimental larvae. Compensatory mechanisms and chemotaxis may be viable explanations for the results. This experimental research can assist in the understanding of dynamics of actin filaments and how it relates to neural development. This in turn can be used in further research to understand the role of actin motor disorders and neural defects