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Reflected Desires: An Immersive Myth
No full textThis Independent Study explores the ways in which digital technology and immersive theatre engage audience members differently than traditional theatrical performances through a production of Reflected Desires: An Immersive Myth. It discusses and compares the January 2025 London productions of All’s Well that Ends Well, Guys & Dolls - Standing Immersive, Twelfth Night, and Matilda as well as the two art installations, Frameless and the Twist Museum. Chapter One is the review of literature on immersive theatre and shadow puppets. Chapter Two discusses the myth of Echo and Narcissus and my design concepts. Chapter Three is my production journal, including an account of my whole creative process. Chapter Four is my reflection on what I learned from doing the entire Independent Study
Water Rights and Wrongs: A Comparative Case Study of Water Management Frameworks in South America
No full textThis study examines how the inclusion and accommodation of indigenous peoples in state formation processes impacts communal water management frameworks in South America. By exploring the historical background of indigenous rights in selected states in South America, the study shows how stronger indigenous rights lead to stronger trans-community networks and an abundance of political associational space, for both indigenous and non-indigenous communities. I examine community water management arrangements in three cases across Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, and use Spanish and English sources and find that indigenous majorities and accommodations enable resistance and organization against water privatization. Next, I show that recognition of indigenous peoples at the time of state building has clear benefits for those communities, as well as local non-indigenous communities, in the contemporary period. Early recognition of autonomous rights leads to better outcomes for communal water management with equitable access. This serves as a model as to why local water management succeeds in some South American states but fails in others
Exploring the Relationship Between a Fungal Pathogen and the Skin Microbiome in Northern Two Lined Salamanders
No full textBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is an emerging fungal skin pathogen of amphibians that has affected frog and salamander populations across the globe. Some populations appear to tolerate Bd better than others, and there is evidence that bacteria of the amphibian skin microbiome may play a role in this phenomenon. The relationship between Bd and amphibians is not only an issue of great conservation significance, but studying it can shed light on host-pathogen interactions more generally, particularly the role microbes play in disease dynamics of wild organisms. In this study, skin swabs were collected from northern two-lined salamanders and analyzed for the presence of Bd using qPCR. Then, the microbiomes of Bd positive and Bd negative individuals were characterized using 16s v3-v4 metagenomic sequencing and compared.
Of the salamanders sampled in this study, 6.1% (n = 98) were positive for Bd. This study is the ninth year of sampling for Bd in this population, and, across all years, 13.6% of salamanders were positive for Bd (n = 704). Over the past nine years, there was a significantly higher frequency of Bd prevalence in 2020 and 2022. There were also significant differences in the frequency of Bd between creeks sampled over the past nine years.
Metagenomic sequencing revealed that various genera known to contain Bd-inhibiting species were present on all individuals sequenced (n = 15). One family of bacteria, Alcaligenaceae, was significantly more abundant on Bd negative salamanders (n = 8). One uncultured phylum, GAL15 (Sysuimicrobiota), was significantly more abundant on Bd positive salamanders (n = 7). These results suggest that Bd is in the enzootic phase of disease within our population, and that Bd-inhibiting bacteria are common both on Bd positive and negative salamanders
The Politics of Artistic Mediums: John Sloan and the Ashcan School
No full textThe Impressionist period of art is typically defined by soft, pastoral scenes, nymphlike women, and idealized romantic relationships. However, American painter and print artist John Sloan defines the expectations of this period. His works of print reflect his socialist and feminist beliefs, forming works of political solidarity and working class-representation which, by virtue of their plebian style, form, and dissemination, escaped the larger critiques of contemporary art critics. His subject matter further distanced his art from that of his contemporaries. His treatment of women as individuals with agency, prospective, and power reflects both his personal relationships with the women in his life and the changing social dynamics of turn-of-the-century New York City. In this paper, I intend to prove that John Sloan’s use of both print and painting mediums was central to his ability to express political messages in his art
Cybersecurity and Electronic Medical Records
No full textThe rapid digitization of healthcare through Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems has transformed patient care, enabling advanced Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Health Information Exchange (HIE), and Personal Health Records (PHRs), yet it has also introduced significant cybersecurity and interoperability challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive study of modern EMR systems, focusing on the design, implementation, and evaluation of HealthVault, a secure and scalable EMR prototype. Chapter 1 explores the technological advancements and cybersecurity vulnerabilities of EMRs, highlighting their financial benefits and standardization issues. Chapter 2 examines regulatory frameworks like HIPAA and GDPR, emphasizing the balance between data accessibility and security. Chapter 3 analyzes the evolving cyber threat landscape, detailing attack vectors like ransomware and social engineering. Chapter 4 describes HealthVault’s three-tier architecture, integrating role-based access control, FHIR interoperability, and robust security features, while Chapter 5 evaluates its performance under high loads and identifies vulnerabilities through extensive testing. The study underscores the need for multi-layered security, regulatory compliance, and patient-centric design in EMR development. HealthVault demonstrates a practical approach to addressing these challenges, offering insights for future innovations in secure healthcare systems
Canine Distemper Virus: A Review and Future Directions for Antiviral Treatment
No full textThis paper thoroughly covers aspects of the highly contagious Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) which affects many different species including felids and other non-canid animals. CDV is a deadly RNA virus in the morbillivirus genus that’s related to the measles virus and rinderpest virus. While CDV does affect domesticated animals like dogs and ferrets, it has a wide scope of afflicted species that bring concerns for wildlife and endangered species; including conservation issues and preventing further spread of the virus. We will examine three aspects of CDV infection: Neurological, Cross-Species infection, and Vaccinations as well as Antiviral research. Recently there have been heightened concerns about the transmission of CDV to humans, as has been seen in our closest non-human primate relatives like Rhesus monkeys. While the currently available vaccines are effective in limiting the spread of CDV, there is no direct treatment for infected animals and most afflicted animals end up dead, especially once the virus reaches the brain. The purpose of this review is to bring attention to the severity of the virus and the need for a readily available antiviral treatment
Spending in Trauma: A Study on How Trauma Impacts Spending Behavior in College Students
No full textThis study investigates the impact of traumatic experiences on the financial behavior of college students, with a primary focus on impulsive spending habits. It draws from the junction of existing literature with behavioral economics and consumer psychology to analyze whether exposure to trauma increases impulsive spending among college students. For this, it uses 2 empirical studies of survey data collected from College of Wooster students, comparing changes in impulsive spending behavior between students who experienced trauma and those who did not. The theoretical framework is based on the consumer theory, containing the Cobb-Douglas utility function to explain how trauma may shift students’ financial preferences between saving and impulsive consumption. The empirical strategy combines this theoretical foundation with robust regression models to study the trauma-finance relationship. Findings reveal that there is a statistically significant relationship between traumatic events and increased impulsive spending, with the effect being greater among certain demographic groups. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on behavioral responses to trauma by highlighting the importance of mental health in financial decision-making among young adults. It emphasizes the need for targeted financial counseling and mental health interventions on college campuses to mitigate the adverse financial outcomes associated with trauma
The Burden of Adversity: Examining the Links Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Academic Self-Concept, and the Moderating Role of Trauma-Informed Practices
No full textThe purpose of the current study was to examine academic outcomes through the lens of the Bioecological model to highlight relationships between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the formation of Academic Self-Concept (ASC), while exploring the moderating impact of Trauma-Informed Practices (TIPs). Specifically, the aim was to expand on previous studies of childhood adversity to emphasize the social, behavioral, and cognitive impact of trauma on an individual’s experience of education. Ninety-one students from the College of Wooster completed a survey using the ACE questionnaire assessing encounters with trauma, their self-perceptions in academia using the ASC scale, and their experience with trauma-informed practices using the trauma-informed practice scale. Results aligned with the primary hypothesis and indicated that an increased exposure to adverse childhood experiences is associated with a decline in academic self-concept. Secondary results revealed that trauma-informed practices alone were not beneficial enough to moderate the relationship between ACEs and ASC; however, positive associations arose between TIPs and ASC outcomes. These findings suggest the need to address adverse childhood experiences in real-time within the classroom to boost students’ perceptions of their academic skillset. These findings add novel insights into the impacts of adverse developmental contexts (i.e., trauma) on students’ internalized experience of education and emphasize the need for specialized interventions to mitigate the consequences of adversity