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A Comparative Study of Why Chinese Graduates From Japanese or Australian Universities Return to China and How They Contribute
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Are objects oriented towards your dominant hand easier to recognize?
No full textPrevious research demonstrated that conceptual knowledge of manipulable objects is partially grounded in the motor system. For instance, explicitly retrieving knowledge about how a manipulable object is interacted with (e.g. pinched or clenched?) is easier for right handed people if the object is oriented so that it more easily affords grasping with the right hand (Chrysikou et al., 2017). We tested if motor experience through handedness also influences participants’ abilities to name objects that are commonly grasped with their dominant hand. Participants were asked to name images of graspable objects whose handles were oriented toward either their left or right hand. In a preliminary study, right handers (n=27) were faster to name images of graspable objects oriented toward their dominant hand, whereas the orientation of non-graspable control images (animals) did not influence naming latency. While only two left handers were tested, they showed a (n.s.) complementary pattern (Lautz et al., 2020). With a modified paradigm in our study, results indicated that there was no advantage when tools were oriented towards the dominant hand. This may be due to lack of activation of the motor system in this study (participants’ hands on lap), compared to activation of the motor system in previous studies through naming how one would interact with the object (Chrysikou et al., 2017) and grasping a handle during the naming task (Lautz et al., 2020). These results suggest that the action planning network is not always activated when thinking about tools (e.g. Bub et al., 2021) but may be context-dependent, or dependent on motor area activation
Self-Compassion Among K-12 Music Educators
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore self-compassion among K-12 music educators. Our sample consisted of 139 practicing K-12 music educators across the United States. Participants completed a modified version of the Self-Compassion Scale Long Form (Neff et al., 2021), which measured both positive (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness) and negative (self-judgment, isolation, over-identification) aspects of self-compassion (Neff, 2003). Through one-way ANOVAs, we found significant differences between teaching experience and participants\u27 scores for mindfulness, overidentification, self-judgment, isolation, and their overall self-compassion scores. We also discovered significant differences between age, over-identification, self-judgment, grade level taught, common humanity, and isolation
Proof: The Rule of Law’s Most Essential Element
No full textIn this seemingly apocalyptic age, when the rule of law appears under siege, the way forward should involve reaffirming our belief in the rule of law, through reaffirming the importance of proof to the rule of law. Indeed, proof is the rule of law’s most essential element, a significance codified in legal rules, exemplified by legal theory, and reflected in the main source of belief in the rule of law, its effectiveness
Assessing Health Implications of Monarch Butterfly Populations and Behaviors
No full textPollinator populations have seen massive declines over the past decade due to anthropogenic activity and climate change posing serious threats to the health of humans and ecosystems (Ulyshen & Horn, 2023). As agents responsible for the production of about 35% of micronutrient rich food crops necessary for adequate nutrition to lead healthful lives and prevent nutrition associated diseases, pollinator decline is a public health concern (Aizen et al., 2009). Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) serve as bio indicators for the health of pollinator populations because of their analogous habitat and food resources shared with many other pollinator species, including bees and moths (Ghazanfar et al., 2016). Monarch decline is therefore considered representative of threats faced by other pollinator species (Ghazanfar et al., 2016). A large decline in monarch butterflies has been observed due to a loss of milkweed stems, largely attributed to agricultural expansion (Thogmartin et al., 2017). Current monarch conservation strategies involve increasing pollinator habitat, recommending that specifically \u3e1.3 billion milkweed stems be planted in the United States (Thogmartin et al., 2017). Sufficient research has not been done to understand monarch feeding behaviors to best implement this habitat to successfully increase the population. Past research has observed larval feeding (Fisher et al., 2020) and oviposition (Haan & Landis, 2019) on the top portions of the plant where young leaves develop. Here, we investigate if immature milkweed leaves that are provided on the top portion of milkweed plants offer an advantage to monarch third-instar larvae. We quantified the area and biomass of milkweed, as well as differences in larval mass, instar progression, and survival when provided with four disks of only immature milkweed (treatment one), four disks of mature milkweed (treatment two), or a choice between two disks of immature and two disks of mature milkweed (treatment three). Finding an advantage to immature milkweed consumption may suggest that increasing the availability of immature milkweed, by mowing or clipping stems to encourage regeneration, may increase conservation success for monarch butterflies. This research may motivate future projects that further investigate trends in pollinator behaviors so that conservation efforts can be designed to align with insect biology, as innovating more successful conservation strategies is imperative for maintaining human and ecological health
A Contextual Analysis of Life Stories From Older Adults Participating in a Telephone Reminiscence Program
No full textLife satisfaction, loneliness, and mental health & well-being are important factors to consider when working with the older adult population. This population is predisposed to many risk factors for mental health problems such as coping with a serious illness, losing a loved one, living alone, cognitive deficits, and more. Reminiscence is one simple, flexible, and cost-effective intervention that can be utilized to promote the mental health and well-being of older adults. Reminiscence is defined as the cognitive process of recalling the past. Numerous studies have shown beneficial effects of reminiscence in older adults: increased self-esteem, enhanced quality of life, increased life satisfaction, decreased loneliness, improved cognitive functioning, and overall promotion of mental health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively analyze participant responses in a telephone-based reminiscence program and draw common themes. This study utilizes data from a larger study conducted by the STARR group at the University of Connecticut. STORII, an automated telephone-based reminiscence program, was used to record participants\u27 life stories by asking questions that were thought-provoking. Through the contextual analysis of 24 participant profiles and their answered questions, seven qualitative themes emerged from the data. The themes were reflective of positive reminiscence, as evidenced by the participants recall of positive memories from their past life. When participants recalled positive memories, they were able to reconnect with the past and find meaning from it. The telephone format of reminiscence was useful to this population because of its ease of use and simplicity. The use of reminiscence has many beneficial impacts on older adults and it should be a normalized intervention when working with this vulnerable population
Use of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) in Simulating Components of a Water Pump
No full textThe simulation of the manufacturing of different components of a scavenge water pump led to the creation of different manufacturing process models. These included, but are not limited to, milling machine processes, drilling processes, and turning processes. The design process included finding certain parameter values and equations in the DFMA software, creating a model in Matlab, testing, and incorporating other desired elements such as the type of materials. This final report provides a comprehensive explanation of the different parts of the water pump and the necessary manufacturing processes, the creation and details of the models, and the testing process. For testing, results of the code were compared with DFMA, and once the workings of the code were validated, adjustments to values were made to provide further information. Future work can build on the models by either creating more for other processes or fine tuning them for a complete water pump simulation from start to finish
Early Career Teachers’ Readiness to Teach Students with Exceptionalities
No full textOver the past decade, the majority of music educators in the U.S. have reported working with students with exceptionalities (VanWeelden & Whipple, 2014). However, literature suggests that many early career teachers do not feel prepared to engage with exceptional students, largely due to gaps in their undergraduate exceptionality courses. These gaps appear wider for preservice music educators as opposed to other content areas. Strategies and examples traditionally discussed in these courses are not always applicable to the wide range of classes that music educators teach, particularly ensemble classes. The purpose of this study was to explore early career teachers’ perceptions of readiness to teach students with exceptionalities, and gather the ways in which they apply salient aspects of exceptionality in their curriculum and instruction. Data was collected through focus group discussions with music educators in their first five years of teaching. Findings suggest that music educators feel more comfortable supporting students with exceptionalities in certain (non-ensemble) types of music courses; developing a language and toolkit to advocate for exceptional students is imperative for support; strategies for engaging exceptional learners in music classes may not work for all exceptional students; and that they did not feel adequately prepared by their exceptionality courses to work with exceptional populations. Participants’ commentaries on their undergraduate and in-service experiences provided perspective on how preservice music educators may more effectively be prepared to teach students with exceptionalities
Interrogating Haaland v. Brackeen: Family Regulation, Constitutional Power, and Tribal Resilience: The Connecticut Law Review Symposium
No full textIn October 2023, the Connecticut Law Review hosted the Symposium “Interrogating Haaland v. Brackeen: Family Regulation, Constitutional Power, and Tribal Resilience.” The symposium was centered on the state of federal Indian law in the wake of the Brackeen decision. This decision was a victory for Indigenous families and Native nations as it left the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) unscathed and affirmed the constitutional relationship between tribal nations and the United States. However, threats to tribal sovereignty continue as a handful of states and interest groups continue to seek ways to challenge tribal authority and federal laws that support it. This Introduction summarizes the arguments of several of the symposium’s contributors and authors in the Connecticut Law Review