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Variation In Bat Activity Across Upland Embedded Wetlands In The Cumberland Ranger District Of The Daniel Boone National Forest
Get PDFWithin the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) in Kentucky, over 800 upland-embedded wetlands (UEWs) have been constructed in past decades to provide habitat for bats and other wildlife. This research focused on identifying differences in bat activity and occupancy across natural and constructed UEWs. Acoustic detectors were deployed at 9 natural and 31 constructed UEWs across the Cumberland Ranger District of the DBNF. Each UEW was surveyed across 3 intervals from May – August 2022, and each recording session spanned \u3e3 consecutive nights, yielding a total of 413 detector nights. Occupancy modeling and AIC model selection were used to evaluate the influence of environmental covariates on species-specific detection probability and habitat characteristics of site-occupancy for of bats 5 species groups (based on echolocation similarities). Factors influencing bat detection and occupancy varied among species groups. Probability of detection was commonly and negatively affected by precipitation, but was also negatively influenced by windspeed, and survey month across species groups. Occupancy of Myotis ssp. was negatively associated with percent slope of the landscape, while no other habitat variables was significantly associated with occupancy of other species groups. Bat activity was positively associated with the presence of standing water across most species groups. These data suggest constructed UEWs that do not dry during the year provide more consistently-used habitat for a variety of bat species. The influence that slope may have on UEWs should be considered during future construction efforts to effectively manage for imperiled Myotis species. Results of this study will provide resource managers with insight as to what UEW conditions are most important for bat communities in the Appalachian region
From the governor\u27s desk to a bullet in your chest: The fatal implications of anti-trans legislation
Get PDFProposed discriminatory legislation in the hundreds has resulted in a renewed look at trans communities, both of support and vitriol. Just as new legislation has been proposed in recent years at a rate that is higher than ever before, so has the reported rate of murder of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, seemingly at a similar rate with hate fueled rhetoric and legislation. This general observation was the driving force behind this study; to determine whether or not anti-trans legislation in particular coincided with the rate of murder of trans and gender non-conforming people. The study at hand examined the murders of trans people in the US between 2015 and 2022, alongside anti-trans legislation that occurred in that timespan, political majority of state governments at the time of the murders, all while utilizing intersectional frameworks so as not to discount the variability of the trans experience and potential role that intersectionality may play in terms of victimization. The data collected was analyzed through a series of bivariate correlations to further understand the sociopolitical and interpersonal variables surrounding the victims of homicide. This study gives a deeper understanding of not only trans victimization but also the fatal, sociopolitical impacts of discriminatory legislation and rhetoric
Do Foreign Accents Influence the Perceived Difficulty of a Sentence?
No full textEveryone has an accent. Accents that are perceived as foreign can influence listeners’ ease of understanding and empathy. We examined whether a speaker\u27s accent influenced the perceived difficulty of a sentence. In particular, whether sentences spoken by foreign-accented speakers were perceived as more difficult to understand. Our results indicated that, when listeners rate the difficulty of the sentence, they are influenced by the speaker’s accent. Listeners consistently rated sentences spoken by a foreign speaker as more difficult than sentences spoken by a native speaker, despite asking them to focus on the difficulty of the sentence itself. These results point to the conclusion that listeners are unable to discern between difficulties they are experiencing due to the speaker and difficulties they are experiencing due to the sentence. Implications of these findings can inform how diverse speakers are perceived in different settings like the classroom and the workplace.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1323/thumbnail.jp
How Do People’s Perceptions of Stigmatized Individuals Change Based on Word Choices?
No full text(Emergent research) Labels can shape the image we have of a person. When charged with social stigma, labels become self-reinforcing agents that guide views and expectations of certain qualities. For this study, we will ask participants to rate vignettes describing an individual with a stigmatized personal quality (incarcerated individual or those with a mental disorder). The vignettes will contain either stigmatizing (e.g., criminal, mentally ill) or non-stigmatizing labels (e.g., person with a criminal offense, person with a mental illness) for the individual described. Participants will be presented with several vignettes and will be asked to rate each vignette on a Likert-type scale measuring: danger, trustworthiness, and stigma permanence. We hypothesize that participants will rate vignettes using stigmatizing language as being more dangerous, less trustworthy, and more permanently deviant. The labels used for stigmatized populations may influence the life course, interpersonal relations, and systemic opportunities of those they describe. These stigmatizing effects can have a wide range of practical implications for those suffering from this labeling.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1331/thumbnail.jp
Identifying Discrepancies in a Local or Regional Parks Department in Kentucky
No full textKentucky, like many other lower-Appalachian states, are experiencing a bourgeoning recreation and tourism industry growth. A staple of many communities is a healthy and growing parks program. To achieve a popular and successful local or regional parks program, a fair deal of community involvement is required. Soliciting feedback from the citizens of a parks program is a key method to assuring this success marker is achieved. Another function for this data is to use it as a tool for comparison between the different parks departments in the state. A primary benefit for this data collection is for each individual agency to identify key areas and earmark them for improvement based on community feedback. Measuring the success of these different agencies also provides a secondary benefit in that an agency can use their collected data and compare that to other local and regional parks departments to provide a comprehensive analysis of where each department relates in terms of community satisfaction. The problem being addressed with this research will be the ensuring of proper amenities and recreational opportunities comparable to that of other departments in the state.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_graduategallery/1150/thumbnail.jp
The Impact of an Educational Human Trafficking Panel on Occupational Therapy Students’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy
Get PDFA rise in attention to and assistance for human trafficking (HT) victims and survivors has resulted in a call to action for occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals. Victims and survivors often seek healthcare services in a variety of settings, yet ill-equipped healthcare professionals lacking training and self-efficacy with this population have left many unidentified needs unaddressed. Occupational therapists possess the skills necessary to support and assist survivors of HT in their reintegration and healing processes. However, little to no specific training for practitioners in this field has been developed. This study explored how an educational panel of OTs and HT experts who have worked with occupational therapists impacted occupational therapists’ knowledge and perceived self-efficacy regarding HT and its intersection with occupational therapy. A 1.5-hour interactive panel was assembled and prepared for a synchronous Zoom meeting by the researchers. Eighty students completed both pre- and post-surveys. Post-panel surveys revealed that students’ knowledge of the intersection between HT and occupational therapy improved, their perceived self-efficacy in assisting victims and survivors of HT increased, and their perspective on the panel format and content was favorable. The survey findings also indicated students’ desire for continued professional education and occupational therapy practice skills focused on the topic of HT. One way to address the gaps in the knowledge and self-efficacy of healthcare providers is to equip them with knowledge and skills on treating HT victims through training during their didactic curriculum and in clinical practice
Lived Experiences of Filipino Male Occupational Therapy Students
Get PDFThe historical dominance of women working in occupational therapy, coupled with the underrepresentation of males in the field globally, creates a need to investigate the experiences of male students in occupational therapy programs. In the context of the Philippines, where women make up 74.72% of the occupational therapy workforce, this study aims to address the following scaffolding problem by exploring the experiences and motivations of male students in Philippine occupational therapy programs. This study seeks to shed light on the factors influencing their educational journey and contribute to a better understanding of gender dynamics within the field. A qualitative design was used. Nine male occupational therapy students from various universities across the Philippines completed a survey questionnaire developed by the authors and attended a focus group discussion. Qualitative data was recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Upon analysis, five themes emerged: (1) Means and Not the End, (2) Rapport and Communication, (3) Society and Stereotyping, (4) Introspection of Male Students, and (5) Furtherance of Gender Inclusivity. The findings suggest that there are roles and expectations specific to male occupational therapy students within the Philippines, which may differ to some extent from those of their female counterparts. The participants experienced particular challenges and opportunities due to their gender. These results may be used to understand the existing gender disparity still present in different occupational therapy workforces
Units and linear independence
No full textAn algebra A will be called fluid if for any linearly independent set X consisting of units, the set X−1 of inverses of the elements of X is also linearly independent. We consider various examples of fluid algebras and study fluid algebras in some specific settings including direct sums, field extensions, quotient rings of the ring of polynomials over a field, and matrix algebras. Pertinent parameters for the study of fluidity are also introduced and studied
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide hyperpolarizes the membrane potential and is antagonized by the K2p channel blocker doxapram
No full textExposure of Drosophila skeletal muscle to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) rapidly and transiently hyperpolarizes membrane potential. However, the mechanism responsible for hyperpolarization remains unclear. The resting membrane potential of the cells is maintained through multiple mechanisms. This study investigated the possibility of LPS activating calcium-activated potassium channels (KCa) and/or K2p channels. 2-Aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB), blocks uptake of Ca2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER); thus, limiting release from ryanodine-sensitive internal stores to reduce the function of KCa channels. Exposure to 2-APB produces waves of hyperpolarization even during desensitization of the response to LPS and in the presence of doxapram. This finding in this study suggests that doxapram blocked the acid-sensitive K2p tandem-pore channel subtype known in mammals. Doxapram blocked LPS-induced hyperpolarization and depolarized the muscles as well as induced motor neurons to produce evoked excitatory junction potentials (EJPs). This was induced by depolarizing motor neurons, similar to the increase in extracellular K+ concentration. The hyperpolarizing effect of LPS was not blocked by decreased extracellular Ca2+or the presence of Cd2+. LPS appears to transiently activate doxapram sensitive K2p channels independently of KCa channels in hyperpolarizing the muscle. Septicemia induced by gram-negative bacteria results in an increase in inflammatory cytokines, primarily induced by bacterial LPS. Currently, blockers of LPS receptors in mammals are unknown; further research on doxapram and other K2p channels is warranted
Exploring Voice Therapy Through Experiential Learning
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the learning process of 28 Communication Sciences and Disorders students enrolled in an undergraduate voice disorders course. Students engaged in experiential learning (“learning by doing”) of one evidence-based voice therapy program called Vocal Function Exercises. Teaching unfolded in three phases: traditional instruction involving reading and lecture; participation in a hands-on workshop; and teaching vocal exercises to an acquaintance. Students participated in self-rating and self-reflection of knowledge and skills following each phase. Preliminary results of this scholarship of teaching and learning study suggest that experiential learning tasks improved students’ knowledge and skills and promoted higher levels of learning according to Bloom’s Taxonomy. Students’ self-ratings were significantly higher following experiential learning opportunities compared to didactic approaches (p = 2.267e-13, α = 0.05). Students described experiential learning as “challenging,” “interesting,” and “fun.” Thematic analysis is ongoing, however preliminary themes include voice therapy feels silly, empower patients to take ownership, and effective to demonstrate. These findings support augmentation of traditional learning approaches through instructor demonstration and opportunities for student practice. Further research should identify aspects of teaching and learning that underlie career readiness and prepare speech-language pathologists to deliver effective interventions