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Investigation of Water Effect on Ignitable Liquid Residue Analysis by Coupling Solid-Phase Microextraction with Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry
No full textArson investigation and explosive analysis is a subfield of forensic science that focuses on examining the physical evidence that is collected from a scene in which a fire occurred. Accelerants and ignitable liquids (ILs) are often used in arson fires to maximize the damage that the fire creates. Common ILs include lighter fluid and gasoline, with gasoline being one of the most volatile compounds. Direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) is known for its ability to analyze volatile weather-exposed compounds and to demonstrate sensitive detection of explosives. In recent research, the DART-MS was coupled with an extraction method called Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) to aid in the analysis of IL residue on substrates (i.e., wood floor, paper). This study hypothesizes that water could interfere with gasoline residue analysis by DART-MS which is dependent on the gasoline to water ratios and the type of substrates. The objective is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the water effect in gasoline residue detection by DART-MS method to provide results that will aid in a better understanding of water and substrates factors in the IL detection method
Campus Cravings: Recipes for the Homesick Student
No full textAs an out-of-state transfer student, I got homesick and craved the flavors of home.
In this thesis, I created an Instagram cookbook called Campus Cravings: Recipes for the
Homesick Student (@campus_cravings) of recipes to provide Middle Tennessee State
University students a taste of home and indispensable basic kitchen skills they can later
apply to nutritional advice and goals. Students submitted recipes to a survey, and some of
the recipes are classic American comforts while others showcase other cultures. Each
recipe is a post with a caption of a brief description of the dish and a brief story that the
student who submitted the recipe provided. Each recipe includes nutrition facts about an
ingredient of my choice to show that all dishes can provide some health benefits. From
the survey, time and money were the main barriers that prevented students from cooking,
and the 30-minute shrimp etouffee post performed the bes
Collaborative Creativity in Undergraduate Mathematics: Exploring Student Experiences of In-Class Collaborative Proving
No full textCreativity and collaboration are key components of a mathematician’s work, and thus in the preparation of future mathematicians, undergraduate mathematics courses should aim to develop students who can effectively work collaboratively and creatively with one another. Despite this need, research on mathematical creativity has primarily investigated creativity as an individual, rather than collaborative, construct. At the undergraduate level, there is even less research on collaborative creativity and how students experience it in mathematics. Undergraduate introduction-to-proof courses provide a context in which students transition from computational-based mathematics to abstract, proof-oriented mathematics and are potentially challenged with becoming practitioners of their own mathematical ideas for the first time. This course provides a context ripe for exploration of experiences in collaborative creativity in mathematics. Throughout this dissertation, I respond to the overarching research question: How do students experience creativity in collaborative proving? This research is presented in the form of three research studies and corresponding manuscripts, each investigating student experiences of collaborative creativity in proving from a different perspective.
Each of the three studies presented in this dissertation were conducted in the same context of an undergraduate introduction-to-proof course. This course was instructed through collaborative, inquiry-oriented methods, including regular engagement in small-group collaborative proving activities and whole-class discussions. Data in the form of in-class video recordings, student written reflections, and focus-group stimulated-recall interviews were collected over the course of a semester-long introduction-to-proof course.
Beginning in Manuscript 1: Critical Moments in Creative Collaborative Proving, I examined the creative processes a group of three students engaged in during three different collaborative proving episodes. In this first study, I examined collaborative creativity in proving through a lens of intersubjectivity, viewing the group of students as both a whole unit as well as each student as a component part. The second manuscript, In-the-Moment Experiences of Creativity in Collaborative Proving, focused upon only the individual experience of creativity through collaborative proving and examined student reflections of how they felt, or did not feel, creative in their in-class collaborative proving activities. The third and final manuscript, Student Experiences of Creativity in a Collaborative, Inquiry-Oriented Introduction-to-Proof Course, de-emphasized the daily collaborative proving course activities, and rather “zoomed out” to examine what contexts students recalled throughout their course as having fostered their creativity and what within each of those contexts allowed them to feel creative.
Many of the findings presented throughout these manuscripts illustrate how collaborative creativity in proving is similar to individual creativity in proving, but others highlighted how a collaborative context may introduce unique experiences and complexities to be considered in conceptualizing creativity in proving. Specifically, it was observed that students recognize themselves as creative in collaborative contexts, and unique features of a collaborative setting, like social risk taking (i.e., making mistakes, seeking/receiving help, diverging from a teammate’s idea), a shared sense of responsibility and ownership over creative ideas, and exposure to a variety of mathematical proving approaches from multiple peers. These results distinguish collaborative creativity in proving from extant findings regarding individual mathematical creativity.Ph.D
Striving for Equity: How Walker Library Supports Student Success Through Textbook Affordability Programs
No full textPresentation at the 2024 TASSR Conference on September 26, 2024 in Murfreesboro, TN. Provides an overview of how Walker Library fosters a culture of student support by actively removing textbook barriers. We achieve this through "traditional" collections of print and electronic textbooks on reserve, as well as Open Educational Resources (OER).
KEYWORDS: textbook affordability, open educational resources, OER, student succes
The Rhetoric of Restriction: A Content Analysis of Voter Identification Laws in Local News and Political Discourse in Tennessee
No full textThis thesis examines the partisan frames used when discussing voter ID legislation, opening into a larger discussion about these laws’ effects on voter turnout and civic engagement. Tennessee, which has among the lowest voter turnout rates in the United States, implemented strict voter ID requirements in 2011, raising concerns about the potential for voter suppression, especially among marginalized groups. Using content analysis of articles from Tennessee's top news sources and statements from elected officials spanning from 2011 to the present, this study explores the framing strategies used by Republican and Democratic politicians to promote their respective positions on voter ID laws. The research reveals that Republicans frame the laws as necessary safeguards to prevent voter fraud, while Democrats emphasize their restrictive nature and their disproportionate impact on minority voters. These competing narratives reflect broader ideological divisions, with Republicans focusing on election security and Democrats prioritizing access to the democratic process. The findings highlight how partisan language shapes public perceptions and policy debates, illustrating the role of political rhetoric in influencing public understanding of electoral law. Overall, this thesis opens dialogue regarding the need for policymakers to balance election security with equitable voter participation, ensuring that voter ID laws do not create barriers to the democratic rights of all citizens
Examining Processed Foods in Food Banks and the Presence of Chronic Diseases in Food Bank Clientele
No full textFood insecurity affects millions of Americans and puts them at an increased risk of developing chronic disease. Food banks are essential in improving food access for this population. However, previous studies have identified gaps in the nutritional quality of items donated to food banks, thus decreasing clients’ access to nutritionally adequate food. The first part of this study aimed to examine the presence of chronic disease in food bank clientele by distributing a survey to clients in the waiting room of a local food bank. The second part assessed the nutritional quality of donated items based on their level of processing using the NOVA Food Classification tool. The study found that the majority of food bank clients had been diagnosed with a diet-related chronic disease, and that slightly over half of donations were ultra-processed foods. This information can be used to form collaborative approaches between food bank staff, their clients, community leaders, and donors to help improve access to nutritious food for those facing food insecurity
Providing for the Increasing Human Population: Soils' Sustainability and Potential Must be Maintained and Replenished for Increased Food Production
No full textTo provide for the growing population, soil’s sustainability and potential must be replenished and maintained for increased food production. Solutions must be implemented to increase and sustain the soil’s potential, and sustainability so that plants are able to grow and produce for this increased production. A few methods that will be discussed are crop rotation, soil management practices, the introduction of healthy bacteria, and the increasing of nutrient availability. The main solution we are trying to propose is the reduction in soil erosion. With the reduction in soil erosion, soils will continue to improve and be able to continue with the production needed. Some methods of reducing soil erosion are cover cropping, crop rotation, stubble mulch, no till management, etc. Cover cropping is the practice of planting a crop to cover the soil so that soil erosion agents, water and wind, will be less severe on soils. Crop rotation is a method that many farmers implement to increase nutrients in the soil as well to provide cover. Stubble mulch is a management practice that allows for the residues of past crops to be left on the top of the soil to provide a cover for the soil, as well as a nutrient boost. No till management is the practice of using no tillage and minimal to no mechanical implements, which leads to a reduction in blow off of soils and other erosion techniques. This implementation must be done, not just by a few individuals, but by all to have effectiveness. The problems of the past were created by all, so the solutions of the future need to be implemented by all to ensure a viable world. There is only one Earth so we must take care of it and its soil or increased food production will be a dream only thought of, not realized
Metagenomic Profiling of Nitrogen Cycling Potential in Caribbean Sponges
No full textThe high species diversity of coral reefs is in part possible because of the efficient recycling of essential nutrients facilitated by resident organisms and their microbiomes. Sponges and their symbionts play a role in the recycling of nutrients and help ensure productive energy flow, allowing coral reefs to thrive. Here we present a metagenomic analysis of common and abundant sponges from the Caribbean, where microbial metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) were assembled from shotgun sequencing data and were annotated for metabolic function. We focused on the completeness of nitrogen cycling pathways and the presence of genes from these pathways because bioavailability of nitrogen compounds can be essential in maintaining high biodiversity on coral reefs. We recovered high-quality genomes that spanned twenty-five unique taxa, with eleven of them contributing to the nitrogen cycling potential of the sponge holobiont. Insights on how common reef animals such as sponges interact with biologically important compounds may be a key component in understanding how coral reefs will continue to change in the coming decades.M.S
Contrafact, Country Music, and Challah: An Analysis of the Influence of Nashville’s Popular Music on Liturgical Music of Reform Jewish Temples in Nashville
No full textEven within a city as varied in its musical history as Nashville, Tennessee, few religious congregations utilize medieval-style musical techniques, hits from Walt Disney Animation’s Frozen, and songs from Holywood’s Golden Age, all in the same service. In this paper, I will analyze the music of the two Reform Temples in Nashville, Congregation Ohabai Sholom (also known as Temple Nashville), and Congregation Micah. I do this through interviews with Cantor Josh Goldberg from Congregation Micah and Cantor Tracy Fishbein and Rabbi Mackler from the Temple Nashville. I also analyze the use of lyrical contrafaction in the two Temples, as well as an analysis of the history of the cantors in these temples. Through these interviews and analyses of their liturgical practices, I have found a clear connection between the popular music of America and the liturgical music of the Reform congregations of Nashville.M.A
Too Little, Too Late?: Japanese Americans' Views on Redress and Reparations
No full textJapanese American incarceration in World War II was recognized through redress and reparations, which was the approval and dispersion of a government-endorsed apology and twenty thousand dollars. Post-war interviews of the incarcerated Japanese Americans contain their reactions regarding redress and reparations. From these interviews, three categories of responses emerged: approving both the apology and money, approving only of the apology, and disapproving of both the apology and money. My research reveals the reactions to redress and reparations found in Japanese Americans’ responses center around the amount of money, the recognition from the government through the apology, and historical significance. Some of the sentiments are either more positive or negative if an interviewee was involved with the redress efforts, but no concrete formula for responses emerged. I also consider the implications of redress for other, similarly affected people groups, and what precedent the Japanese Americans’ reactions sets for similar scenarios