17504 research outputs found
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Fluency as a Deficit Narrative: Language Attitudes of Heritage Speakers
No full textAcademic standards for ‘fluency’ have tended to center the capacity for language production and comprehension demonstrated by native speakers of a language. However, the rigid definitions proposed by researchers do not necessarily reflect the understanding of fluency held by second language speakers. My study investigates how heritage speakers in particular define fluency, emphasizing the role of life experiences in shaping their perspectives. Through comparison with data collected on second language speakers more broadly, I come to the conclusion that heritage speakers’ conceptions of fluency is informed by experiences with linguistic policing and exposure to the language
The Dirt on Composting: A Feasibility Study on the Implementation of a Year-Round Composting System at The College of Wooster
No full textThis project is a feasibility study to create a year-round composting program at the College of Wooster. The College of Wooster currently lacks a comprehensive, year-round composting system. Currently, the college only composts organic waste from the dining hall during the winter months while sending all campus cafe food waste to a landfill. As a result, about 4 tons of organic waste are sent to landfills during warmer months, as well as over 2 tons from the cafes annually. This food waste also has the potential to generate more than 6 tons of greenhouse gases annually. Food waste is a significant global issue, with substantial economic, environmental, and social implications. In the United States, nearly 40% of food produced is wasted, contributing to landfills, methane emissions, and ecosystem damage. As major producers of food waste through their dining services, colleges and universities have the opportunity to lead sustainability initiatives by implementing effective waste management systems. This feasibility study evaluates the College of Wooster’s current food waste practices by conducting waste audits at the campus cafes and collecting data on the weight of the organic waste produced by the dining hall. The waste audits and dining hall data are used to calculate total annual food waste. This study also explores potential composting solutions while considering space constraints, budget, labor requirements, and sustainability goals. The findings suggest that expanding the Paradise Composting program to include year-round food waste pickups, with odor mitigation strategies in warm months, offers the most practical and cost-effective solution for the college. Additionally, the study proposes a framework for integrating composting at the cafes, as well as educational programs to raise awareness and promote proper waste disposal behaviors
Exploring Optimizations in the COSI High-Level Data Analysis Library
No full textCosipy is a custom-written data analysis Python package for the upcoming Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) - a gamma-ray space telescope set for satelitte launch in the near-future. The Cosipy data processing library will provide data retrieval and analysis functionality to astrophysicists, allowing them to make observations of nucleosynthesis, black hole accretion, and other gamma-ray band events using the COSI instrument’s observational dataset. This Independent Study represents a theoretical investigation into imaging algorithms, libraries and physical theory for Compton space telescopes in general and the COSI in particular. Theoretical work is done to explain de-convolution algorithms and the principle of image recovery from raw image datasets. Experimental work is done with the Compton experiment, to contextualize the raw COSI detector dataset and understand the Compton data space. Engineering work is done to accelerate the Cosipy library and meet performance require- ments for the astrophysics community; in particular, I contribute memory and compute time optimizations to two different Cosipy modules
Creating a Digital Collectible Card Game in Unity
No full textThis project is a digital implementation of the collectible card game Vortexia, a game of my own creation. Developed using the Unity game engine, the game allows players to collect cards through a shop system, manage their collections in an organized menu, and build decks from cards they’ve collected. The game also features a multiplayer mode where players can challenge each other in head-to-head matches. While primarily a proof-of-concept, this version exhibits the core functionality upon which a future full release of Vortexia can be built
Investigating Substrate Promiscuity of 6-Hydroxynicotinate 3-Monooxygenase (NicC): NicC Activity with 5-Chloro-Coumalate
No full textHow similar are we to man\u27s best friend? Investigating Genetic Predispositions to Symptomatic Lyme disease in Canis Familiaris
No full textLyme disease is widespread in the United States affecting tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of dogs each year. In this study, I investigated the relationship between sex, breed, age, and the time of year each dog was tested. In previous studies sex, age, breed, and time of year have been shown to have varying relationships with positive cases of Lyme in dogs. I found that none of these factors have a significant relationship with positive cases of Lyme in the data I collected. Additionally, this project focused on a genetic variant, I602S, which in humans and hamster cells was found to mute the response to triacylated proteins, like those in B. burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. None of the 32 dogs sampled in this study were found to have the I602S variant, perhaps indicating that the Isoleucine amino acid in that location is conserved in dogs for a reason. This study also included interviews with the owners of the 32 dogs who were sampled to investigate the dogs’ outdoor activity, typical outdoor habitat, and tick prevention used. The relationship between tick prevention and symptomatic cases was not found to be significant, but 76% of asymptomatic dogs used consistent tick prevention. The relationship between the use of tick prevention and symptomatic cases may be worth investigating further
By His Stripes, We Are Saved : How Church Leaders Perceive Health in Their Communities
No full textMy research seeks to understand how spirituality interacts with health or influences it. I wanted to find perspectives from those in religious leadership positions, and how health influences their teachings and programs offered within their institutions. I interviewed church leaders regarding their outlook on health, how their church engaged with health programs, theological reasoning for their perspective, and how they responded to a health crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through these interviews I was given many reasons as to why the church has suffered to the pandemic. They also gave a plethora of rich Bible verses that give theological reasoning for the way that my contributors view health and wellbeing. Their words also contributed to social support be considered a big factor in how health is perceived in their communities. Many congregants within these communities rely on the social support within the community to receive health advice and care
The Effects of Chain Length and Functional Groups on the Acid Dissociation Constants and Water Solubility of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
No full textEasyGoing: A Human-Centered Web Application for Student Organization Using LLMs
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) is shaping many industries, such as higher education, by offering transformative tools for personalized learning and academic assistance. While there is much concern for the student dependency of AI, there are tools to interact with AI while maintaining individual problem-solving, creative, and critical thinking abilities. This study dives into creating a tool for students to manage their demanding higher education schedules. An overview of user interface (UI), user experience (UX), and large language model (LLM) evolution builds the foundation of the web application, EasyGoing. To assess LLM integrity, preliminary case studies comparing the performance of three leading LLMs are rigorously examined. Usability testing is conducted to measure the effectiveness of the developed system, gathering user feedback on its functionality, adaptability, and ease of use. This paper explores the integration of AI-driven applications in educational environments, focusing on the design and usability LLMs for student time management