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Oxidation Camouflages Terrestrial Organic Matter to Appear Marine-Like
Full text linkThe export of terrestrial organic matter (TOM) to the ocean has been traditionally viewed to be minimal or only of significance in near-coastal continental margins. The broadly accepted explanation for the widespread loss of terrestrial lignin biomarkers and apparent disappearance of the \u3c-25‰ stable carbon isotopic signature (δ¹³C) of TOM is that TOM is almost fully degraded before reaching the open ocean. Oceanic carbon (δ¹³C value ≥ -22‰) is therefore thought to be derived primarily from algae. However, an alternative explanation for the different molecular and δ¹³C signatures in terrestrial and marine environments may be that oxidative processing transforms TOM to appear marine-like. To test this hypothesis, we subjected eight TOM samples to a strong oxidation gradient. At carbon losses typical of TOM degradation during transport and sedimentation (above 60%), the differentiators of provenance disappeared, leaving a residue that was marine-like both chemically (aliphatic- and nitrogen-rich) and isotopically (δ¹³C enrichment of 4 to 9‰). This challenges the validity of conventional two-endmember mixing models, suggesting that a much larger fraction than previously estimated of the organic matter found in the ocean may originate from terrestrial sources, impacting global models of carbon cycling and sequestration
48 - Improving worship Experience: A Secure application for generating worship questions using AI
Full text linkImproving worship Experience: A Secure application for generating worship questions using AI
Rhys Ferris
Under the direction of Hind Aldabagh, School of Cybersecurity
Generating discussion questions for family worship time during the week based on sermon notes presents an innovative and helpful tool to assist pastors in developing worship questions. Instead of using ChatGPT, hosting a small AI model with Mistral provides an alternative solution that better suits our project.
Using prompt engineering, a custom prompt was created within the statement of faith to guide the AI in reading the text file of the sermon notes. The front end consists of a small website that uses JavaScript to request a text file along with additional prompt guidance. On the backend, Python with Flask is used to receive the files and process them. Only pastors with verified usernames and passwords will be able to access the server and use the application to upload sermon notes, run the AI, and generate discussion questions.
Ensuring a secure and reliable process for generating worship questions is crucial for improving both pastor and family satisfaction. Pastors often experience long wait times when creating these questions. As a Cybersecurity student, I have volunteered to help serve my community and my pastor, leading me to develop a software solution to enhance the experience for churches and pastors. This application contributes to real-world needs by reducing wait times and increasing pastor and family satisfaction through a more efficient AI-generated question system. Future improvements should focus on enhancing the user interface while maintaining security and data protection
65 - Evaluating Drone-Based STEM Camps for Enhanced Engagement and SEL Development
Full text linkSTEM camps are programs designed to promote exposure to learning associated with science, technology, engineering, and math educational outcomes. However, there is a significant gap in participation for Black and Brown individuals in STEM careers. This study seeks to understand how STEM programs during out-of-school time may support students from underrepresented communities and foster future interest in STEM-related careers. This study employs a retrospective qualitative research design investigating program participation in a week-long STEM camp in Hampton, Virginia. Thirty middle and high school students participated in the curriculum, technical drone skills, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and social awareness. These findings underscore the value of integrating the Social and Emotional Learning Models (SEL) in enhancing STEM engagement and soft skill development, offering valuable insights for future program design and policy decisions in STEM education and STEM-aligned programming. Moreover, the results highlight the potential of applying SEL-infused STEM initiatives to create more able learning environments that improve opportunities for all students, particularly those impacted by social inequities or historically underrepresented in STEM fields
72 - Interprofessional Collaboration in Early Childhood Settings: A Scoping Review
No full textPreschoolers with developmental disabilities often receive services from multiple professionals; however, despite this frequent overlap, there is generally very little collaboration between professionals to comprehensively provide care. Our scoping review aims to identify components of effective interprofessional teams in early childhood settings, specifically in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004). First, a systematic search of the literature was conducted in January 2024 in ERIC (EBSCO), Academic Search Ultimate, Education Research Complete (EBSCO), and PQ Dissertation Theses (ProQuest). Our eleven-person team went on to screen the titles and abstracts of 2,965 articles to identify articles that meet the following inclusion criteria: (a) written in English, (b) published in 2004 or later, (c) in an empirical peer reviewed publication, (d) conducted in the U.S. or by guidance for U.S. preschool settings, (e) discuss collaboration between at least two different professionals, and (f) discuss collaboration in a preschool setting. Since September 2024, our team has screened the full-text of 378 articles. Of those articles, 20 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Our team is currently analyzing these articles to identify the essential components of effective interprofessional teams. The ultimate goal of this scoping review is to create an evidence-based observation tool that will be used to strengthen the collaborative skills of interprofessional teams in working in early childhood settings and inform professional development for early childhood professionals
74 - Age and Seasonal Blood Pressure Variation in People Experiencing Homelessness in Hampton Roads
Full text linkIntro: For older community members experiencing homelessness, both their housing status and age are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Lack of consistent protection from outdoor temperatures are hypothesized to affect variation in blood pressure seasonally. In this study, we sought to compare older (55+) and younger (under 55) individuals in this cohort and identify within-group associations between blood pressure (BP) and mean daily temperature (MDT) as affected by season.
Methods: 301 patients from two student-run free clinics met BP inclusion criteria. MDT was sourced from the Global Historical Climatology Network daily dataset. Interquartile range method for outlier detection limited visits per patient within group. Wilcoxon test compared mean BP between groups. Spearman’s Rank Correlation test determined within group significance.
Results: Among 689 analyzed visits, 379 were 55+ (mean age: 61.6, 76% male) and 310 were under 55 (mean age: 43.0, 71% male). Older compared to younger individuals had statistically elevated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) (143.6mmHg and 134.5mmHg, respectively; p=1.443e-08) and elevated mean diastolic pressure (DBP) (87.3mmHg and 83.3mmHg, respectively; p=4.874e-05). Decreased MDT was associated with increased SBP (p=0.017) and DBP (p=0.029) for those 55+. For younger patients, only SBP (p=0.041) was associated with MDT, but not DBP (p=0.201).
Conclusion: Older free clinic patients had higher BP on average than younger patients. Likewise, decreased MDT and increased SBP and DBP were associated for those 55+. These data suggest that consideration of seasonal context may be particularly important in older individuals for community interventions regarding hypertension management for this vulnerable cohort
78 - The Impact of Sleep Quality on Executive Function in Individuals with a History of Concussion
No full textIntroduction: Executive functioning aids skills like planning, multitasking, and reasoning. Strong executive function and good sleep are crucial for athletic preparation, both in and off-season. Athletes at all levels face rising concussion injuries, leading to poor sleep and reduced executive function. This study examines the link between sleep quality and executive function in those with concussion history.
Methods: NCAA Division I athletes underwent baseline concussion testing, evaluating sleep quality with a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and assessing executive function with the Shifting Attention Test. They were grouped by self-reported sleep quality: Normal (0-4), Mild (5-7), Moderate/Severe (8-17), where higher scores indicate poorer sleep. A One-Way Between-Subjects Analysis of Variance compared executive function across groups.
Results: A total of 112 NCAA Division I athletes across 12 sports were included in this study. The mean scores for executive function for each sleep group are as follows: Normal (n=30) = 47.63+9.27, Mild (n=45) = 46.58+9.86, Moderate/Severe (n=37) = 48.70+9.09. No statistically significant differences were found in executive function performance between sleep quality groups, F(2, 109) = 0.51, p = 0.60.
Conclusion: Overall, this study revealed that for individuals with a history of concussion, sleep quality does not impact executive function. Despite this finding, research has demonstrated that sleep quality is an important aspect of overall health and well-being, particularly in athletic performance. We suggest future research include individuals with no history of concussion and evaluate sleep quality and executive functioning
17 - mpark: a humanities makerspace
Full text linkOur mission is to promote nontraditional understandings of the textual object and to recover and celebrate the historical contributions of women and other marginalized groups to textual cultural heritage. We explore text-making with materials like thread, fiber, leather, wood, and plastic as well as a wide range of digital tools and visual recording equipment. We are devoted to expanding the impact of the humanities by supporting cross-disciplinary collaboration and by reaching beyond the university to engage with innovations and challenges that face our larger geographical and social contexts. Founded in Fall 2023 and occupying 400 square feet on the second floor of Batten College of Arts and Letters, mpark’s first years have been devoted to acquiring old and new technologies and to physical renovations of our space. We have partnered with the honors college on a pilot digital humanities course, hosted a media archaeology class, and offered approximately a dozen workshops and community events (Craft Ins)
28 - Game Design Program
Full text linkOur Game Design presentation will provide an interactive and engaging experience that showcases student work and encourages discussion about game development. The booth will be structured into three distinct sections:
Game Jam Winner Showcase: A laptop will be set up for attendees to play the first-place game from the recent Game Jam. This will highlight the creativity and talent within our student community.
NetTech Warriors Display: This section will feature materials related to the NetTech Warriors project, including visuals, documentation, and insights into its development.
Student Work Video Montage: A monitor will continuously play a video montage of student projects, showcasing the range of skills and creativity in our game design program
Millennial and Gen-Z Experiences in Healthcare and Education in the US
Full text linkIn the United States, healthcare and educational institutions have a deep-rooted history of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and other demographic factors, resulting in unequal access to services and mistreatment of minority populations. This history extends to the field of speech-language pathology, with disparities in service being cited in the literature due to lack of clinician knowledge, non-diverse standardized testing measures, lack of resources and support, among other factors. Policies and legislation in recent decades have attempted to address these serious issues. This survey research investigates the childhood healthcare and educational experiences of individuals born during or after 1981, focusing on how cultural, ethnic, racial, and linguistic factors may have impacted the quality of services they received. These early experiences are also examined in relation to participants\u27 current or familial perceptions of healthcare and education providers, including their present levels of trust. Data were collected through a 31-question survey posted to platforms targeting young adults. Despite efforts to reduce discrimination and bias, findings from 229 respondents representing diverse backgrounds indicate continuing critical inequities in both healthcare and education services across race, SES, and language. Access to and satisfaction with healthcare and education services in the United States is colored by disparities in availability of linguistically appropriate material, culturally-accepting providers, and equitable treatment. Respondents uncover systemic barriers that may inform future strategies for implementing culturally responsive practices in healthcare and education, where speech-language pathologists provide services, ultimately working to dismantle structural inequities that perpetuate disparities in service delivery. Expanding the focus on culturally responsive practice at the academic and workplace level is essential in prioritizing accessibility improvement for underrepresented groups and addressing biases in service to promote and ensure equity in public services
A Wild Rabbit Chase: When Tularemia Hops into the Differential
No full textCase Presentation
A 43-year-old previously healthy male presented to the ED for four days of a painful skin lesion, which he had attributed to a suspected spider bite. He reported associated chills, myalgias, and headaches. The wound was cultured, and he was discharged on empiric cephalexin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Five days later he returned to the ED with progressive symptoms, including high fevers, shortness of breath, nausea with emesis, diarrhea, blurry vision, and visual hallucinations. His exam was significant for an eschar at the left lower chest with surrounding erythema and pustules. Labs revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated transaminases, and hyponatremia. He was admitted for broad-spectrum antibiotics and additional work-up. Further testing including CT head, lumbar puncture, and routine blood cultures were negative. A CT chest revealed multiple pulmonary nodules concerning multifocal infection or septic emboli. A TTE did not show any valvular pathology or vegetations. A punch biopsy of the eschar showed epidermal ulceration, a dense dermal inflammatory infiltrate, and peri-eccrine inflammation, suggestive a spider bite. He improved and was discharged home on a short course of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and doxycycline. His initial wound culture was ultimately sent to the state health department for further identification, and Francisella tularensis was diagnosed via PCR. The F. tularensis IgG drawn during his hospitalization also returned positive. Although he still had some residual symptoms, he declined re-admission for aminoglycoside therapy and was started on 10-day course of ciprofloxacin with near symptom resolution and interval reduction of pulmonary nodules on follow up CT chest. Discussion
Tularemia may develop after the bite of an infected insect, such as a tick or deerfly. Individuals typically develop symptoms three to five days after a bite. Domestic animals, including dogs, can sometimes play a role in transmitting the pathogen to humans. Tularemia presents in six major clinical forms: glandular, ulceroglandular, oculoglandular, typhoidal, pneumonic, and oropharyngeal. Symptoms may be nonspecific, and patients may infrequently display features of several forms. Severe disease can occur in healthy, young adults and is not restricted to those with weakened immune systems or preexisting health conditions Approximately 200 cases of tularemia are reported annually in the United States, with the highest incidence in the southern and central states. In 2023, only two cases were reported in Virginia. Microbiology lab members should be alerted immediately with any concerns for tularemia due to the need for special culture media and biosafety precautions. Aminoglycosides remain gold standard therapy, though doxycycline or a fluoroquinolone may be prescribed for mild-moderate infections. This patient’s partial response to doxycycline may be attributed to the higher rates of treatment failure and relapse associated with doxycycline compared to fluoroquinolones in the treatment of tularemia. Tularemia is uncommon in the Southeast US, and disseminated tularemia with primary skin lesions is rare. A high index of suspicion and a careful review of exposure history are essential for more rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment