Creating Culturally Inclusive Text Sets for an Elementary Classroom

For this symposium project, my job was to research how to create a culturally inclusive text set for an elementary classroom. There are many different elements that a teacher should look for when selecting literature. These include having a diverse set of characters, authors, and an meaningful message behind the text. For my data analysis, I am making sure to select texts that hit these main elements as well as meet state standards. This is an important topic, because as educators we want to foster a welcoming classroom environment where all students can thrive. Before choosing texts, the teacher needs to develop a good understanding of the dynamics and background of the classroom. From there, the teacher can create a text set that is representative of their students. My findings after doing research, is that there are many children\u27s literature books that allow children to have a new perspective of the world around them. As a future educator, it is my job that my students develop important life skills of self-awareness and empathy. This can be achieved through the literature selected for class

Cat-Spoon, Pants-Car: Testing Trials Needed for a Picture Paired Associates Task for Adults

This study investigates the number of trials needed for accurate introspection on memory accuracy in adults. Prior research suggests preschoolers benefit from introspection tasks (Hembacher & Ghetti, 2014). Preschoolers encoded items presented once or twice, then completed a forced-choice retrieval test with confidence judgments. Research has also found that memory performance on a paired associates tasks in children is related to their word learning (Vlach & DeBrock, 2017). However, the optimal number of trials in a picture based paired associates task for adults remains unknown. A pilot test indicated 10 trials, commonly used with preschoolers, is insufficient for adults. Our experiment will investigate the appropriate number of trials needed for reliable introspection in adults, with an initial estimate of 40-55 trials based on existing literature

Fallen Kingdoms and Ancient Monoliths: The Influence of Atlantis and Egypt in Tolkien’s Númenor

In light of the recent publication of The Fall of Númenor, my essay aims to focus on Tolkien’s, somewhat underappreciated, influences on Gondor; particularly Ancient Egypt. This essay looks at Plato\u27s Timaeus and Critias, Ignatius Donnelly\u27s theories, and examines the Atlantean and Egyptian motifs in Tolkien’s version of Westernesse, in particular, the remnants of Atlantean civilization survived by Egyptian colonists which mirror the Realms of Exile (Gondor and Arnor)

Resonance of Response: Mahler’s Journey with his First Symphony in the Face of Criticism

Gustav Mahler\u27s Symphony No. 1 in D Major Titan initially faced criticism from both critics and the composer himself. The work premiered in Budapest in 1889, when Mahler was filling in for the ill music director of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Taking into consideration the audience’s reaction and his own experiences, Mahler revised the symphony, reflecting a combination of external criticism and internal artistic conflict. This research paper examines the context of the symphony\u27s composition, analyzing reviews by esteemed critics such as Eduard Hanslick, and statements from Mahler, Alma Mahler, and their contemporaries. Through this analysis, recurring themes in the critiques and insights into Mahler\u27s personal life shed light on the origination of Symphony No. 1 and Mahler\u27s compositional process. Scholars such as Jens Malte Fischer and Thomas Peattie have contributed to the knowledge of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony from both the theoretical and biographical standpoint. While there has been extensive research around the background of “Titan” and its impact on music history, there is currently a void this paper intends to fill in the area that directly relates Mahler’s revisions to the work to its reception. The revisions made to Titan exemplify Mahler\u27s responsiveness to feedback and his ongoing battle for progress in music history. By examining his mixture of artistic vision, audience reaction, and personal background, this paper brings out the complexities of Mahler\u27s creative process and his impact on the symphonic tradition

Cultivating Leadership: Female Leaders in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force

Lessons learned from the impact of COVID-19 have significant implications on crisis management for those serving in the military. Leadership must bear the full brunt of directing subordinates while addressing the crisis at hand. So how do we learn from those volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) situations that arise with no notice? Even more so, those in leadership positions in military branches are instrumental as first responders coming to the national aid of their people. Females continue to enter nontraditional occupational roles, including joining the ranks of leadership in military organizations. This is true in the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) as an increasing number of women have not only joined the ranks of this navy defense force but have taken on leadership roles and progressed up the ranks (McPhee, 2021). Integration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides an additional context for understanding the needs of our female leaders. This research reflects the insights provided by present RBDF female leaders at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The structure of this inquiry provides a qualitative methodology, gleaned from twenty (20) female leaders through interviews of fourteen respondents and a focus group of six participants. The major research question demonstrates how the impact of COVID-19 for RBDF female leaders affected their leadership on the job and their overall work-life balance. Furthermore, the personal implications of leadership and decision making while achieving a military career during a global pandemic and maintaining family responsibilities illuminates a resilience that this research seeks to uncover. Participants represent female officers and enlisted rates. Lessons from the recent epidemic assist leaders in preparation for the next disaster to be ready for the ensuing challenges. The first responders and leaders who guided a small island nation toward survival with a future for its citizens provide valuable information resulting from this research. Cultivating leadership for a thriving future helps us become better prepared for the next unexpected crises that descends quickly and with no advanced notice. This research provides great insight from those who met these challenges as first responder female military leaders directing a small island nation towards survival and a future for its citizenry

What’s that? A New Set of Novel Stimuli for Research

Word learning studies require the use of novel stimuli to effectively test participants. Previous research has found that novelty of objects can affect the learning of these objects (Horst & Hout, 2015). Children who have been exposed to a novel object for a short time are less likely to associate novel names to these objects than still-novel objects (Horst et al., 2011). Having an extensive list of novel objects, as well as the novelty of these objects is important. Certain studies require objects to be easily distinguishable (Twomey et al., 2014), while others find it more useful for objects to look similar (Homa et al., 2011). Thus, we have created a set of unique items that include both easily distinguishable items and items that are highly similar that differ in surface level features, such as color. These objects were a combination of hand-crafted and store bought items that were unique and did not have easily identifiable names. These objects were tested by the public to ascertain their effectiveness as novel objects. Through a survey format, we introduced participants to these novel objects and asked a series of questions to discover how novel these objects were. This project will provide another database of novel objects for use in other researchers’ studies. This study also allows our lab to have a collection of objects that can be used in person or through digital form in any future studies that we conduct and will provide other researchers with additional stimuli options

Evaluation of Continuous Auxiliary Lanes at Cloverleaf Interchanges

This research focuses on the potential redesign of cloverleaf interchanges to enhance safety and efficiency by the addition of auxiliary lanes connecting exit and entrance ramps throughout the limits of interchanges, replacing the existing, discontinuous, exit, weave and entrance areas. Leveraging VISSIM simulation software, this study evaluates the effectiveness of this design modification in mitigating the hazards associated with merging traffic, particularly at the central weave area of the cloverleaf – a recognized weakness of this type of interchange. By extending a new auxiliary lane on the right side of the through lanes in all directions, throughout the limits of the interchange, the redesign aims to provide a dedicated space for vehicles to transition smoothly into and out of the through lanes of the cloverleaf, particularly in the central weaving zone where the additional, continuous lane will allow exiting and entering vehicles a much greater distance in which to decelerate and exit or accelerate up to mainline speed and merge. Through a comparative analysis of traffic performance metrics, including merging delays, queue lengths, and other safety indicators, the study assesses the impact of the extended right turn lane on overall intersection operations

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 56 Nos 3 & 4

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 56 Nos 3 &

Major Northeastward Range Extension for a Western Grasshopper Species: New State Record for Trimerotropis pallidipennis (Burmeister) in Wisconsin

Trimerotropis pallidipennis (Burmeister) mostly occurs in the southwestern U.S., but is known to migrate significant distances periodically. It appears that some individuals of this species occasionally migrate very long distances. Here I present an extreme record for this species, over 480 km northeast of any previously known records, including any others recorded from 2022. A single male specimen was collected and photographed in Price County in north-central Wisconsin in June 2022

ERCP extraction of stones in situs inversus patients; state-of-the-art techniques

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital disease that causes mirror transposition of the abdomino-thoracic structures. When such patients develop pathologies related to the bile duct, most commonly choledocholithiasis, the optimal diagnostic process can be hampered by the rarity of such a pathology and the lack of medical information on this topic. Once the diagnosis is established, through endoscopic ultrasound and MRCP, the patient is sent to perform ERCP, which requires tailored approaches for each case. We present the case of a 33-year-old patient who was previously documented with SIT. On admission she presented with abdominal pain and fever that started a week before presentation, so antibiotic therapy was initiated. Imaging investigations revealed intrahepatic gallstones, so she underwent ERCP the next day with the identification of an intrahepatic bile lake containing stones within. Naso-biliary drainage was placed and further 2 ERCP procedures followed, with the insertion of 3 plastic biliary stents. The evolution was favorable, until the complete removal of gallstones and remission of clinical symptoms. The patient was carefully monitored in the following two days and the stents were removed, being later discharged and monitored for a period of 6 months in which no biliary/digestive symptoms were noted