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Who drops back in? An investigation into non-traditional post-secondary students who return after time away
Full text linkNon-traditional students are adult learners that begin working on an undergraduate degree after their 25th birthday, many of whom enroll in a flexible baccalaureate program. These are programs that involve some component of learning outside of a traditional classroom (i.e., online, a job-site, etc.). The purpose of this research study was to investigate the like-experiences that exist among non-traditional students that left education and later returned, and to investigate desirable alternatives for students considering dropping out (taking time away). Three research questions guided this study, they were as follows: To what extent do personal events contribute to students choosing to take time away from their post-secondary education? To what extent do personal events contribute to students’ choosing to return to postsecondary education after they take time away? Which, if any, of the existing re-enrollment best practices of flexible baccalaureate programs, if offered prior to their intended departure, would be desirable alternatives to students taking time away, thus keeping these post-secondary students enrolled?
Using a qualitative research design, this study conducted six semi-structured interviews. Data analysis indicated that there were patterns that existed among adult learners based on financial status, learning preferences, and familial relationships. The conclusions drawn from the study highlight the opportunity for policymakers to remove systemic financial barriers for adults seeking undergraduate learning. Additionally, the study outlines actionable initiatives which post-secondary intuitions can adopt to address the unique challenges of adult learners including support for caretakers, sudden crises, the need for employment, and more. This study contributes to the body of academic literature on non-traditional students by providing key insight into lived experiences. Given the specific scope of this study, future research should focus on nontraditional students from affluent backgrounds and those that leave education for longer than ten years
Reproductive costs in female, island-dwelling eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus)
Full text linkEastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus; EDBs) are a declining species endemic to the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Reproduction is costly for females, which are ovoviviparous, slow to mature, reproduce infrequently, and are often emaciated after parturition. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the trade-offs associated with their reproductive biology. Thus, I had three objectives: 1) assess reproduction-associated water stress and determine how female EDBs respond to altered water budgets in situ (Chapter 1), 2) evaluate the interactive effects of body condition and rainfall on female hydration, with a special focus on musculature as a condition index (Chapter 1), 3) characterize differences in blood chemistry parameters associated with reproduction and use circulating solute concentrations to measure hydration state in the absence of an osmometer (Chapter 2), and 4) evaluate predictors of mature female survival probability (Chapter 3). I collected data from an island-dwelling population in South Carolina between 2022–2023. For Chapter 1, I measured plasma osmolality (pOsm, determined via freezing-point depression osmometer) of mature females (n = 41) of known reproductive status (nonreproductive, reproductive [i.e., gestating]). I used an information theoretic approach to explain trends in pOsm associated with rainfall, reproductive status, body size, gestation time, and relative fecundity. Mean plasma osmolality of adult females was 331 mOsm.kg-1 . Results indicated osmoregulation can prove challenging for EDBs despite a subtropical climate, and that females rely on precipitation to osmoregulate; pOsm was negatively associated with precipitation and positively associated with time since rain. Further, pOsm was positively associated with the temporal progression of gestation (n = 15), indicating that gestating females became more vulnerable to osmotic stress as parturition neared. Additionally, females (n = 26) with reduced musculature tended to experience a more lasting hydric benefit from rainfall events. In coming decades, summer droughts are expected to increase in frequency, when hydric demands are likely at their highest for this demographic. Water scarcity emerging with climate change therefore has the potential to further destabilize populations under extreme conditions, and managing freshwater resources may become indicated. For Chapter 2, I compared standard blood chemistry analytes and used levels of sodium, potassium, glucose, blood-urea-nitrogen, and uric acid to calculate pOsm (calculated plasma osmolality; pOsmc). I used Bland-Altman plots to determine levels of agreement between measured pOsm (pOsmm, determined via osmometer) and pOsmc. Further, I compared EDB pOsmm with those of other squamates. Reproductive females slightly higher chloride (n = 22) and lower cholesterol (n = 19) levels than nonreproductive snakes, and the equation 2([Na+ + K+ ]) + (Glu/18) was effective for calculating plasma osmolality (n = 22), baselines for which appear species-specific. Results from this work offer the first published description of EDB blood chemistry parameters and provide an equation for pOsmc, potentially benefitting further research into EDB hydration or provision of medical care in captive settings. Findings also suggested that plasma osmolality is a useful measure of hydration state regardless of reproductive status. For Chapter 3, I used a known fate framework in program MARK to quantify annual survival of telemetered females (n = 23) with respect to dormant season body condition, reproductive status, relative fecundity, season, and ordinal severity scores reflective of grossly apparent lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis (caused by the pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola; Oo). Mature female survival was negatively associated with lesion severity and dormant season body condition. The survival estimate for this subset was the lowest on record (i.e., 68%), suggesting that ophidiomycosis poses a critical health threat to EDBs and that additional research to understand and mitigate this threat is urgently needed
“Jesus is Integrated”: The Black Sermon as Rhetorical Exercise in Radical Worldmaking
Full text linkThis essay analyzes Benjamin Mays\u27 1954 sermon to the World Council of Churches to argue that Black preaching offers a radical response to perspectives that portray racial justice advocacy as antithetical to the Christian Gospel. Through a close reading of Mays\u27 sermon, the authors contend that Mays employs an implicit ontological metaphor, “Jesus is integrated,” to position racial integration and justice not only as civic responsibilities but as Christian duties. The sermon disrupts hegemonic ideologies that marginalize others, mobilizes the organizing power of the church, and positions churches as spaces for radical worldmaking around race. By drawing on metaphor theory, the essay demonstrates how Mays\u27 sermon rearticulates the nature of the metaphysical body of Christ in relation to racial difference to decenter perspectives that affirmed segregation as biblically ordained. The essay performs a rhetorical recovery of Mays as an understudied but influential figure, demonstrating the pivotal role of Black preaching as a rhetorical exercise in reimagining doctrine and worldviews. It spotlights the historical challenge Black preachers have faced and continue to navigate—mobilizing their communities to recognize an inextricable link between Christian identity and the responsibility to pursue social justice
Participant 012: Reiki Master with three months of experience (Asian American & White; Female; New York, USA)
Full text linkThis is an interview about Reiki and its connection with overall well-being with a Reiki Master holding three months of experience (Asian American & White; Female; New York, USA). She was interviewed on May 21, 2025. The participant agreed to the terms outlined in the verbal informed consent form before this interview. Some of the broad conversations during this interview include the full circle moments of finding aspects of spirituality as a young adult, but revising it when you\u27re older; her first experience with a Reiki session being during her Reiki I attunement; Reiki\u27s place in helping participant find self-love and compassion; and the meditative nature of her self-Reiki practice. Lindsey Harper was the interviewer and the primary investigator for this project. Please download this document to read the full de-identified interview.https://mds.marshall.edu/reikiconversations/1013/thumbnail.jp
Assessing the foraging habits of two species of long-horned bees (Melissodes, Apidae) using DNA barcodes ITS2 and trnL
No full textSunflowers (Helianthus, Asteraceae) are an important crop used for oil, dye, fodder, and edible seeds. Long-horned bees (Melissodes, Apidae) are solitary species native to the Americas that specialize in sunflower pollination; they are among the most frequent visitors to sunflowers, and have been shown to enhance yield, offering considerable economic benefits to sunflower production. This study used metabarcoding to investigate the foraging habits of two understudied Melissodes species, M. trinodis and M. agilis. Using the ITS2 and trnL barcodes, our study aimed to (1) investigate the plants visited by M. agilis and M. trinodis and (2) assess the distances Melissodes fly to collect pollen by comparing the composition of pollen on bees collected from sunflower field centers vs. edges. For this, we collected a total of 138 female bees in 2022 from three sunflower fields in Minnesota and North Dakota, two with some pesticide use, and one organic farm with no pesticide use. Our results corroborate the specialized nature of Melissodes and their strong preference for sunflowers despite other available resources, as 99% of the reads recovered from the pollen were from Helianthus. Due to the abundance of Helianthus pollen, no significant difference was found in the pollen collected by M. agilis or M. trinodis, and no difference was found between the pollen collected at field centers or field edges. We found small amounts of pollen from other Asteraceae genera, and pollen from the legume family, Fabaceae, mainly alfalfa (Medicago sativa), yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), and white sweet clover (Melilotus albus). We provide the first record of Melissodes spp. visiting peppers (Capsicum, Solanaceae), and hazel (Corylus, Betulaceae). We estimated that one M. agilis specimen traveled 16 m, supporting hypotheses that Melissodes have small foraging ranges. Bees collected pollen from vascular plants only on the two conventional farms (with pesticide use), but at the organic farm, we identified an additional eight genera of algae and a bryophyte (Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis). Overall, our results contribute vital information on the foraging preferences of an important solitary bee and confirm they are sunflower specialists, while also identifying other crop species that may benefit from Melissodes pollination and could be planted near sunflower fields to supplement their diet before or after sunflower bloom
Ruptured internal mammary artery perforator after reduction mammoplasty: a case report
No full textA 60-year-old female who was 10 days post-reduction mammoplasty presented to the emergency department due to the sudden onset of swelling and pain in her left breast. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the chest revealed active arterial bleeding. The patient was emergently taken to the operating room, where she underwent evacuation of a large hematoma as well as ligation of a left internal mammary perforator artery. This case represents a rare occurrence of life-threatening postoperative bleeding into the chest wall/breast after reduction mammoplasty, which developed 10 days postoperatively. The successful outcome and complete recovery were attributed to the timely recognition of the problem, followed by prompt and effective surgical intervention
