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How Work Arrangements Shape Firm Productivity: The Hidden Impact on Performance
No full textFollowing the introduction of remote work during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, discussion has arisen surrounding the optimal work model that maximizes personal well-being and firm productivity. With the two factors being interrelated, the hypotheses formulated are as follows: Remote work decreases the overall productivity of the firm, and Hybrid work increases the overall productivity of the firm. These hypotheses were drawn from aspects within the Principal-Agent theory and the concept of shirking. A series of scholarly research pieces were reviewed to provide a better understanding of the implications of work arrangements. To test these hypotheses, a series of regression estimations were conducted accounting for industry-fixed effects, time-specific effects, and heterogeneity regarding industry capability to participate in remote or hybrid work. Through the multiple regression analysis, we find that increases in industry remote work participation decrease indexed productivity for industries with high capabilities and industries with low capabilities to work remotely. The analysis also showed that increases in industry participation in hybrid work decreases indexed productivity for industries with high capabilities and industries with low capabilities to work hybrid. However, due to the limited number of observations, it was deemed necessary to analyze the raw data rather than the regression results. From this, we found that remote work decreases the indexed productivity within industries, and hybrid work increases the overall productivity within industries. This research provides firms with the knowledge necessary to make work arrangement decisions to maximize productivity and personal well-being, therefore maximizing operational efficiency
Student Success at The College of Wooster
No full textStudent success is a multidimensional concept influenced by various academic, social, and personal factors. This study explores the key determinants of student success at The College of Wooster, emphasizing the impact of demographic variables, mental wellbeing, and campus involvement on academic performance. Data was collected through a comprehensive survey assessing students’ academic backgrounds, engagement in extracurricular activities, and mental well-being using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ). Using a combination of different analysis methods including linear and logistic regressions, as well as decision trees, the study identifies significant predictors of GPA and overall student mental well-being. The findings suggest that factors such as race and ethnicity, gender identity, first-generation status, and international student classification play crucial roles in shaping academic outcomes. Additionally, participation in student organizations and leadership roles correlate with higher success metrics. The study also highlights the strong relationship between mental well-being and academic achievement, reinforcing the importance of psychological health in student success
Advisors and Influence in Foreign Policy: Expanding Leadership Trait Analysis to the U.S. Secretary of State
No full textThis research project applies Leadership Trait Analysis (LTA) to a new type of leader: the U.S. Secretary of State. Additionally, it looks at the impact on how a secretary seeks to influence foreign policy decision making. Thus, the research question analyzed is: How do leadership traits of the Secretary of State impact the way secretaries exert their influence in foreign policy? This research is important because LTA has primarily focused on chief executives, such as the U.S. President, leaving a gap in the literature regarding lower-level advisors. In answering the question, this study conducts a complete LTA profile on four Secretaries of State: Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry. Additionally, every secretary is measured to create a profile on where they attempt to exert influence in foreign policy. Applying their influence behavioral profile to the different trait profiles establishes the potential connections between LTA and U.S. Secretaries of State as foreign policy actors
Level of Religiosity on Perceptions of Adulthood Among College Students
No full textThe current study is interested in how religious beliefs and practices affect perceptions of the criteria for reaching adulthood. The study examined an emerging adult sample of 18–23-year-olds at the College of Wooster. Participants completed an anonymous survey asking demographic questions, a survey measuring religious strength, and a survey measuring perceptions of what constitutes reaching adulthood. Participants were collected through SONA systems, word of mouth, and fliers on campus. Data was analyzed with t-tests and ANOVA procedures. Results suggest that higher levels of religiosity are correlated with a more defined view of adulthood while lower levels of religiosity are correlated with a less defined view of adulthood
Remediation of Heavy Metal Ions Using Ferritin Immobilized in Swellable Organically Modified Silica
No full textThe Role of Bacteriophages in Modulating Trimethoprim Resistance in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
No full textThe rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens has renewed interest in bacteriophage (phage) therapy as a potential alternative treatment. However, the evolutionary interplay between phage resistance and antibiotic susceptibility remains poorly understood, particularly in Pseudomonas species. This study investigates how phage resistance in Pseudomonas chlororaphis, a less virulent relative of P. aeruginosa, influences susceptibility to the folate pathway inhibitor trimethoprim. We hypothesized that phage-resistant mutants would exhibit altered trimethoprim sensitivity due to pleiotropic effects on efflux pumps, cell envelope structures, or biofilm formation. Using the ancestral P. chlororaphis strain (14b11), we generated phage-resistant mutants and assessed their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for trimethoprim. Most mutants showed reduced growth at sub-MIC trimethoprim concentrations compared to the ancestral strain, suggesting increased susceptibility. However, some mutants displayed variable responses, indicating possible divergent resistance mechanisms. These findings suggest that phage resistance may incur fitness trade-offs affecting antibiotic susceptibility and highlight the potential for combined phage-antibiotic therapies. Given the genetic overlap between P. chlororaphis and P. aeruginosa, these results offer a safer framework for preclinical exploration and highlight the need for future molecular investigations
Fantastic Fishing Fleets and Where to Find Them: Investigating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing by the Chinese Deepwater Fishing Fleet in and around the Exclusive Economic Zones of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile in the late 2010s
No full textThis IS is about Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing (IUU) by the Chinese Deepwater Fishing Fleet (DWF) in and around the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador in the late 2010s to early 2020s. Starting in roughly 2018, a huge fleet of hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels, complete with tankers, refrigerator ships, and any other vessel needed to keep fishing boats operational for months on end appeared by the Galapagos Islands, cruising between those islands and northern Chile in search of Jumbo Squid. Chinese fishing boats have a long history of causing mischief, most notably in the South China Sea, but their activities have a global range. IUU by the Chinese DWF is most studied in the South China Sea, and significantly less studied in South America. The goal of this IS is to help fill the gap in literature on this topic. By creating historical case studies of three of the Latin American countries most affected by Chinese IUU we can better understand the consequences of leaving IUU unchecked and explore how states are able to resolve problems with larger states without violence. Each of the countries that are studied used a different strategy to combat IUU, and each country had a different level of success. Ultimately, the evidence shows that Ecuador’s strategy of bilateral diplomacy backed by shows of resolve is the best way to resolve fisheries disputes in the 21st century
Coastal Economies: A Study of the Economic Value of Boston’s Public Beaches
No full textThis study investigates the economic value of Boston’s public beaches. Living closer to coastal amenities has typically provided a value premium for residential properties. However, sea level rise and coastal erosion puts ecosystem services in danger. This research uses the hedonic valuation method to assess whether Boston’s public marine beaches continue to provide a premium for nearby properties, or if climate change concerns have diminished this value. Using a comprehensive property-level dataset, sourced from Massachusetts state databases, the study reveals that home buyers are willing to pay an additional 68,000. These findings indicate that consumers are both consciously appreciating the value of coastal ecosystems, while being risk adverse to climate change threats. This paper contributes to the broader understanding of ecosystem service valuation and offers insights for policy makers that seek to balance conservation with economic development
Aphid Avengers: Examining the Efficacy of the European Garlic Mustard Aphid (Lipaphis alliariae) as a Biocontrol for Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
No full textGarlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive species threatening North American forest understories by outcompeting native plants and disrupting ecosystems. Classical biological control, introducing host-specific natural enemies from the plant’s native range, has emerged as a promising pest management strategy for controlling A. petiolata invasions. This study evaluated the European garlic mustard aphid (Lipaphis alliariae), a recently discovered aphid in North America, as a biological control agent to reduce A. petiolata populations. Through greenhouse and field experimentation, I evaluated aphid population dynamics and host-specificity on garlic mustard, as well as the effects of aphid influence on plant development, as measured by seed number, height, viability, and pod openness, and rosette height, dry weight, and stomatal conductance. Results showed that L. alliariae populations grew rapidly from one individual to over 647 within 28 days, which coincided with a significant decline in viable A. petiolata leaves. While the presence of aphids on plants did not impact seed number, plants with aphids produced seeds with 60% lower viability, reduced seed weight, and thicker, unopened pods relative to plants without aphids, indicating a potential negative impact on reproduction. Infestation of L. alliariae on A. petiolata rosettes reduced biomass (dry weight) by over 68%, decreased height by an average of 0.89 cm, and lowered stomatal conductance by 67%. Host-specificity trials confirmed L. alliariae’s preference for A. petiolata over other agricultural brassicas, showing minimal risk to economically important crops like broccoli and horseradish. These findings suggest that L. alliariae can reduce A. petiolata’s growth, reproduction, and competitiveness, supporting its potential as an effective and host-specific biocontrol agent. However, longer, more in-depth research into the seasonal phenology and host-specificity of L. alliariae is necessary before widespread field release is considered
