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Profiles of Major Amish Settlements in North America: A Guide for Researchers and Service Providers
Full text linkAmish populations cluster in ethnic enclaves, or “settlements,” which are located across much of North America, notably in the regions of the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Midwest, and Upper South. This article profiles 38 of the largest and best known Amish settlements. The profiles include (1) a recent population tally and population projections to 2050, (2) population density maps, (3) settlement history, (4) socio-economic attributes, (5) religious affiliations, and (6) an overview of the physical and economic landscape. The purpose of this article is to provide scholars and service providers an informative introduction to the different settlements. This article can help inform applied projects such as local health department outreach or transportation/land use planning initiatives, research publications where scholars reference multiple settlements and need an article to point readers to for more information, and scholar probes into possible field research locations. [Abstract by authors.
Faculty Senate Chronicle February 6, 2025
Full text linkMinutes for the regular meeting of The University of Akron Faculty Senate on February 3, 202
Voice Operated Automatic Chessboard
Full text linkChess is a board game played at a variety of skill levels worldwide. Over 1000 years, chess has always required players to move the pieces manually. Unfortunately, anyone who lacks dexterity in their hands or arms cannot manually move the chess pieces on their own. Consequently, a chess board that can be played without hands or arms must be created to accommodate a broader audience. This is the motivation behind the Automatic Chessboard. This design will allow a player to engage in a dynamic and physical game of chess using only their voice. A 3-axis control system will allow for functionality across the chess board. The location of the pieces will be tracked and managed locally within the control module, allowing for accurate bookkeeping, rule checking, and decision making to take place without additional input from the user
Indirect Calorimetry: The Effects of Overfeeding and Underfeeding Mechanically Ventilated Patients
Full text linkThis research focuses on the effects of overfeeding and underfeeding mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU and how indirect calorimetry plays a role in improving patient outcomes. Research was pulled from eight peer reviewed sources written within the last ten years to support this statement. It includes multiple types of studies including but not limited to a retrospective cohort study, meta-analysis, review, and deterministic cost-sequences analysis. Indirect calorimetry measures carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption to calculate energy expenditure and determine the number of calories needed to sustain one’s body. This allows us to determine the number of calories a patient needs to ensure we are not over or underfeeding our patients, as this can lead to an increased length of stay, nosocomial infections, and even mortality (Sanjith et al., 2022). It was found that the caloric intake of a patient is commonly miscalculated with the use of predictive equations and does not meet the patient’s accurate energy expenditure. This fact is supported by Haines et al. (2024) stating that evidence has proven predictive energy equations inaccurately estimate the caloric needs of patients, but many hospitals continue to utilize them. This is due to the usage of predictive equations because they are not likely to factor in individual patient variables, which can negatively impact patients and healthcare institutions by leading to adverse patient outcomes and an increase in health costs. The objective is to determine whether indirect calorimetry should be utilized for all patients. The motivations and benefits, if successful, are to advocate for indirect calorimetry to be used for all mechanically ventilated patients so there is a smoother and faster liberation process. While also prioritizing patients’ nutritional needs, some of these patients are mechanically ventilated for extended periods of time; therefore, it is important that they are getting the nutrients. The consensus from multiple peer-reviewed sources found that indirect calorimetry is more accurate than predictive equations, is more cost effective, and is crucial to improving patient outcomes by preventing overfeeding and underfeeding
Cost-Effective Brake Rotor Resurfacing Tool
Full text linkBrake rotors can develop uneven spots over time, causing vibration and poor braking performance. Commercial brake lathes are effective but often too expensive or complicated for at-home mechanics. This project aimed to create a low-cost tool, around 300, to resurface four rotors in under two hours. We explored two main designs: a pad file system and a motorized endmill powered by a handheld drill. Calculations ultimately showed that the pad file was not viable, so the final prototype produced was the endmill-based design. Our testing showed we were limited by poor stiffness in the endmill and unforeseen loading. Although the prototype did not meet the target performance, we determined the causes for the prototype tool\u27s failure. We formulated two potential ways to revise the design with these failures identified
Dismembering the Final Girl: Examining the Shifting Trope in Contemporary Horror Films
Full text linkThis research explores gender representation in horror films as it moves away from representation shaped by the male gaze and, instead, showcases social values related to current feminist movements. While the horror genre is largely considered to be lacking complex messages or social commentary, many contemporary horror films actually utilize well-known tropes to cultivate a larger discussion on social issues. With the rise of the slasher film in the 1970s and 1980s, the character of the Final Girl was popularized. These final surviving female victims are usually defined by a constricting set of rules; however, newer trends in horror films have begun to subvert the trope, highlighting women’s experiences, conveying female empowerment through sexuality, and even tackling larger social issues spanning beyond gender
Psychological Interventions in the Work Environment and Reducing Burnout in Critical Care Nurses
Full text linkBurnout is an increasing issue in the nursing field, particularly for critical care nurses. The purpose of this systematic review is to discover how the work environment impacts burnout of critical care nurses, and how different psychological interventions instituted by the workplace impact their burnout levels. The PICO question is: In critical care nurses, do work environments that provide psychological interventions compared to work environments that do not provide psychological interventions document outcomes of less burnout? The articles used within this systematic review were found using the databases Academic Search Complete and PubMed. Articles were selected based on the inclusion of the variables being studied, which are burnout levels and psychological interventions that are, or can be implemented in the work environment. Based on the results, the main psychological interventions that demonstrate effectiveness in reducing burnout are improving workplace relationships, establishing nurse recognition, and providing emotional intelligence and resilience training. Psychological interventions that require more research include Moral Case Deliberation, Mindfulness Based Interventions, and the “sacred pause.” Overall, it is evident that workplaces need to care for the mental wellbeing of their critical care nurses, and that practices should be implemented within the workplace to prevent burnout
Reproductive Rights: How Voting Behavior Illustrates Shifting Political Attitudes
Full text linkThis research project intends to explore a causal link between the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u27s Health Organization (2022) and shifting political attitudes as modeled through voting behaviors. Research will be conducted by using data from government and reputable sources that are representative of the general public to show that political attitudes have shifted since the release of the Dobbs decision. Additionally, the question will be analyzed through discussing several political theories and applying them to the current issues being studied. This research could help show how the Supreme Court is an important actor in the political process and how their decisions directly impact elections
Urotropine as a Corrosion Inhibitor in Steel Rebar: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Full text linkThis project investigates the behavior of corrosion in rebar, a critical component in infrastructure such as roads and skyscrapers. Corrosion of rebar can lead to structural instability, visible as cracks or pitting on the surface. The primary focus is on the potential of urotropine as a corrosion inhibitor. Urotropine, known for its ability to inhibit corrosion in mild steel in acidic environments, is hypothesized to be effective in preventing corrosion on rebar. To explore this, molecular dynamics simulations using LAMMPS were conducted, modeling urotropine molecules in an acidic solution (PH = 1) interacting with iron atoms, mimicking rebar. Simulations were performed with varying urotropine concentrations (1, 2, 5, and 10 molecules) for 13 nanoseconds. The interaction energy between urotropine and iron was analyzed to assess the inhibitor’s effectiveness. Results showed that the simulations accurately predicted the interaction energy, providing valuable insights into the potential of urotropine as a corrosion inhibitor for rebar. This research contributes to understanding corrosion mechanisms and paves the way for further investigation into urotropine’s practical applications