5646 research outputs found
Sort by
Damaged Goods
Full text linkIra Satpathy is a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major at DePauw University. They enjoy making portraits, writing poetry, and playing badminton. Listen to them on What the Feminism!, their podcast on intersectional feminism
if its cold I will be late for class
Full text linkIra Satpathy is a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major at DePauw University. They enjoy making portraits, writing poetry, and playing badminton. Listen to them on What the Feminism!, their podcast on intersectional feminism
What’s Behind a Number? An Analysis of Maternal Healthcare in Cuba and the Impact of Policy on Women’s Autonomy
Full text linkThe primary aim of this research is to contrast personal testimonies from birthing women in Cuba with the frequently boasted Cuban health statistics in order to illuminate important discrepancies existing between what is reported by the state versus the reality of individual experiences. Investigation into women’s personal testimonies of mistreatment within maternity homes and hospitals in Cuba will reveal significant disparities that exist within the socialist healthcare system that have otherwise gone unconsidered. In order to contextualize these lived experiences as products of problematic post-revolutionary ideologies, the political, economic, and social stakeholders in the Cuban healthcare system will be outlined. Therefore, the relationship between political motives and health outcomes in Cuba brings forth important implications for health statistics that extend beyond just a measurement of public well-being, but also as a genuine point of moral legitimacy of Cuba’s socialist society
Tiny Creatures, Big Lessons: Using Music Education and Ecoliteracy to Impact Young Learners\u27 Perspectives on Bugs and Nature
Full text linkThis thesis aims to demonstrate that relationships between students and nature can be improved through teaching young learners about music and bugs together, potentially leading to a greater overall love for and willingness to protect nature. The thesis features original teacher action research conducted over multiple weeks in a first grade classroom, with observations and data to support the efficacy of the methods discussed. This thesis analyzes literature that supports how increasing empathy toward bugs at a young age can have tangible benefits for the environment, how ecoliteracy as a framework is an effective means of teaching about nature, and how implementing constructivist learning theory can benefit an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on music and bugs. Takeaways from this literature are applied to a set of lesson plans and materials that general elementary music teachers in kindergarten to second grade contexts can adapt and employ within their classrooms while still meeting music education standards. A three step process for preventing and reducing fear of bugs is created to address gaps in the referenced literature to provide an educational scaffolding: demonstration and exposure, education, and facilitation of activities. Overall, this thesis aims to set a foundation for young learners to develop musical abilities, empathy for bugs, and apply other skills learned to the future climate decisions they will have to make
How It Will End: Physical and Philosophical Implications of the Fate of Our Universe
Full text linkWhat does physics have to say about the end of our universe? And what does it mean for us, if anything? Answering these questions requires an understanding of the so-called lambda-cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model of cosmology, which models the universe as containing an expanding pressure, Λ or dark energy, in a battle with the gravitational attraction provided by dark and regular matter. First, the physics (including observations and theory) of the ΛCDM, including the Big Bang and CMB, the inflationary period, and equations that govern the way the size of the universe changes with respect to time for different components are explored. Given different components, potential fates of the universe that may come from the ΛCDM, including a continued accelerated expansion, referred to as a Big Chill, and a recollapse into a singularity like the Big Bang referred to as the Big Crunch are compared. Reactions to these fates of the universe differ depending on individual beliefs and backgrounds. Then, the philosophical implications of these models are explored. First, the ways philosophy can (and cannot) contribute to cosmology are discussed. Then, an overview of particular philosophy of cosmology issues, including epistemological concerns of the ΛCDM, the role uncertainties play in drawing conclusions, possible connections to religion including fine tuning, the cosmological argument, and the anthropic principle, are explored
AOT in isooctane Reverse Micelles Varying Size and Phase Stability with Amides: Comparison of Urea Formamide and Acetamide
No full textAcetamide, Formamide, and Urea are all polar, highly water-soluble molecules; this makes them useful as osmolytes in model systems for nanoconfinement. These model systems form from Aresol-OT (AOT) in isooctane reverse micelles with the osmolyte present at the interface, forming an AOT/isooctane/polar phase system. The systems are characterized by their Wo,which is a measurement that can impact the size of the reverse micelles and is defined as Wo = [Polar phase]/[Surfactant]. Here, we measure the impact of these various osmolytes on the size of the reverse micelles at different concentrations and at different Wo using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The size of the reverse micelles, as quantified by hydrodynamic diameter using DLS, follows an observable trend, with size increasing following the addition of osmolytes. Additionally, by adding a high concentration of these osmolytes, we see the partitioning of the sample into multiple reverse micelle groups. Along with measuring size using the DLS, we measured phase stability by creating ternary phase diagrams based on the formation of reverse micelles at various concentrations and Wo. This data shows an observable trend regarding the stability levels of each osmolyte’s system; systems with formamide are the most stable, followed by those with acetamide, and then those with urea. Furthermore, the diagrams show that the addition of any of the three osmolytes shrinks the single-phase microemulsion, indicating that stability is reduced as a result of the osmolytes having a destabilizing impact.https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/1209/thumbnail.jp
K847A Mutation and Anionic Lipid-Presence Modify Opa1 Enzyme Kinetics and Function
No full textOpa1 is a dynamin superfamily protein that is responsible for the fusion of the mitochondrial membrane. However, nobody knows the specific chemical mechanisms of how it interacts with lipids. Our research focuses on investigating how Opa1 interacts with lipids. In other words, we want to figure out which amino acids are crucial for Opa1\u27s ability to bind with lipids. In hopes of understanding how Opa1 mutations affect neurodegenerative diseases, such as dominant optic atrophy.https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/1212/thumbnail.jp
Birth Outcomes in the Hispanic Population in the United States: Trends, Variation, and Determinants (2011–2021)
No full textInfants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birthweight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic regression and classification tree models to assess associations between maternal, infant, and clinical factors and birth outcomes. We find that Hispanic mothers have birth outcomes similar to non-Hispanic Whites and better than non-Hispanic Blacks. However, prematurity rates among Hispanics have slightly increased over time. Mexican mothers exhibit the most favorable outcomes, while Cuban mothers show higher rates of C-section, and Puerto Rican mothers show higher rates of low birthweight and prematurity. Logistic regression results highlight multiple births, breech presentation, and hypertensive conditions as important factors associated with adverse birth outcomes. Our biomedical approach emphasizes physiological and clinical risk factors such as multiple births, breech presentation, hypertensive conditions, and obesity. In parallel, our biosocial analysis incorporates demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables to contextualize how social determinants interact with biology to influence outcomes. Complementing these findings, our classification tree analysis identifies inadequate gestational weight gain (less than 15 pounds) as a prominent risk factor for both low birthweight and prematurity. Additionally, obesity emerges as a significant factor linked to an increased likelihood of C-section. While birth outcomes among Hispanic mothers are generally favorable, subgroup differences and emerging disparities highlight the need for disaggregated research and culturally tailored public health interventions.https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/1214/thumbnail.jp
Forecasting Nuclear Energy Consumption in the U.S. and France: An Optimized Grey Model Approach
No full textThis study investigates nuclear energy consumption trends in the United States, and France by applying advanced time-series modeling and computational optimization techniques. Using annual consumption data from 2005 to 2023, the research compares the predictive accuracy under data scarcity of the AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Grey Model (1,1,t), Grey Model(1,1,t²), and an Optimized Structure-Adaptive Grey Model (OSGM). This OSGM (1,1,t) extends the traditional Grey Model (1,1) by introducing time-dependent terms and parameter tuning through particle swarm optimization and Monte Carlo simulations. Models are trained and tested using an in-sample and out-of-sample period framework. Then, forecast accuracies are compared using Mean Absolute Percentage Error, and the Root Mean Squared Error. The results show that the new Optimized Structured Grey Model and the ARIMA models surpass the other models in achieving accuracy forecasts. While ARIMA performs well with sufficient data, the OSGM (1,1,t) , however, offers greater adaptability to nonlinear patterns and structural shifts, adapting to country-specific dynamics. The integration of informatics-driven optimization into grey system modeling presents a viable approach for energy forecasting in data-constrained environments. These results validate the model\u27s suitability for situations with limited data and offer a useful tool for climate-aligned decision-making and sustainable energy planning.https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/1225/thumbnail.jp