Pitch it Big: Cultivating Entrepreneurism Through Use of an Innovative Competitive Business Plan and Presentation

This educational innovation aimed to explore the effectiveness of a student assignment titled ‘Pitch it Big,’ designed to enhance understanding of the business aspects outlined in the accreditation standards for occupational therapy programs. Limited research evidence exists for business education related to occupational therapy. Working in self-chosen groups based on their targeted area of interest, students collaboratively wrote a business plan for a fictitious occupational therapy business or product invention. Students then participated in a competition modeled after the popular television program Shark Tank, where they pitched their business proposals to a panel of experts acting as judges. The panel included a physical therapist, a nurse, a health sector not-for-profit director, and a business data analyst. Judges utilized a rubric to score students on specified business criteria, and winners received non-cash prizes. A pre-post survey administered to 21 master’s students in occupational therapy indicated improved knowledge in the business aspects of practice, suggesting promising preliminary outcomes for this method of business instruction. The most significant increases in knowledge were in business plan development (54%) and financial management (46%). The post-survey also included open-ended questions that revealed qualitative themes, indicating that students valued the active learning components of the assignment and believed it would help them pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Replicating this innovation across larger sample sizes is necessary to validate these outcomes

The Dark Triad and Digital Politics: Personality, Behavior, and Parasocial Bonds in the U.S 2024 Election

In a time when online interactions are so ubiquitous and frequent, understanding the dynamics between individuals engaging in online discourse, through their personality traits and parasocial relationships, has become increasingly important. While research has been conducted on these constructs separately, little is known about how they interact. This study aims to determine the effects of Dark Triad personality traits (psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) on online behaviors and parasocial relationships with U.S presidential candidates in the 2024 election. With an expected total of 425 participants, the sample will be recruited from the undergraduate participant pool at Eastern Kentucky University and Prolific. All participants will complete questionnaires about perceived severity of abuse and victim blaming, political parasocial relationships, Dark Triad traits, self-control, and political extremism. It is hypothesized that individuals scoring high in Dark Triad traits, who regularly engage in politics, will demonstrate more political extremism and resulting parasocial relationships. It is also predicted that psychopathy and machiavellianism will be more predictive of engaging in negative online behaviors, and that self-control will moderate the associations between Dark Triad traits and negative online behaviors

Investigation into the Long-Term Thermal Stability of Tetraaryl Phosphonium Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids, substances that are liquid below 100°C with no discernible vapor pressure, have become popular in recent years for their ability to be “designer” solvents due to the endless cation and anion combinations that are possible. Phosphonium ionic liquids (PILs) are known to have high thermal stabilities which lend themselves to applications such as lubricants and thermal transfer fluids. This thesis investigated a novel tetraaryl phosphonium cation (dubbed [Mopyphos]+) and two substituted methyl derivatives to determine if substituted PILs were less thermally stable than non-substituted PILs and if the position of the methyl group affected long-term thermal stability. All three novel tetraaryl PILs were combined with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf2N−) anion, and short-term analysis indicated that these PILs are extremely thermally stable above 300°C, which compared favorably to existing ionic liquids. This work extends the thermal analysis to look at long-term stability via measuring the rate of mass loss as a function of temperature. The results provide a value that represents the temperature at which 1% of the PIL has been degraded after ten hours (T0.01/10hr). T0.01/10hr values for PILs are lower than short-term decomposition temperatures by 50-100°C, depending on the desired timeframe. This analysis also indicates that the 4-methyl and 6-methyl derivatives were less long-term thermally stable than [Mopyphos]Tf2N and that the position of the methyl group affected the long-term thermal stability

Effective Implementation of eBook Guide Supports Student Success in Occupational Therapy Anatomy Education

EBooks have been proven to be a successful supplemental resource in cadaveric anatomy laboratory sessions. However, the implementation of the eBook and its impact on student performance, especially in occupational therapy (OT) anatomy laboratory sessions, has not been well documented. This study shows that providing students with an eBook guide enhances student learning and increases eBook usage. For lab sessions, an eBook guide directed students to eBook specific figures and text that related to that session’s material. In alignment with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, providing eBooks as well as a guide gave students multiple avenues to learn human anatomy. Laboratory sessions were split between days, with access or no access to an eBook guide to determine which learning environment better supported student learning in lab sessions. Student performance was assessed with laboratory quizzes following each session. EBook usage was also collected across three learning environments: a) when eBook guides were provided during a lab session, b) when eBook guides were not provided during a lab session, and c) outside of the in-person lab sessions. Students\u27 performance and eBook usage increased with access to an eBook guide. It was determined that eBooks can increase student performance and are a supplemental tool to learn anatomy, consistent with the UDL framework, but only when students were provided with specific instructions on how to use the eBook. This suggests that effective implementation of technology into an OT anatomy lab requires explicit guidance on how students use the technology to support student success

Creating Community in the Classroom through Co- Construction

Creating community in the classroom is a way to develop co-ownership of classes with students, promote belonging, and create safe learning environments. Collaborative strategies may be employed before the first class meets through final exam week. This article describes specific collaborative strategies and discusses factors that may influence strategy selection

Perceptions of Occupational Therapy Student Fieldwork Readiness in the Acute Care Setting

Occupational therapy student readiness for Level II fieldwork is necessary for preparing novice clinicians and is challenging to assess, as it requires applying didactic knowledge in real-world clinical settings. There is currently a gap in the literature regarding student perceptions of their readiness for Level II fieldwork, especially in the acute care setting. The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students’ perceptions of readiness for Level II fieldwork in an acute care setting. This basic interpretive qualitative research study utilized a purposeful sampling with students completing their Level II fieldwork in various acute care hospitals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually and audio recorded. Transcripts were de-identified, transcribed, coded, re-coded, and themes categorized. Information power was achieved after 11 participants were interviewed for this study. Themes that emerged from the analysis were: (1) didactic knowledge translation, (2) complexity of acute care occupational therapy, and (3) collaboration and therapeutic use of self in fieldwork. There is an opportunity to have more focused acute care education and practical hands-on skills training needed to perform occupational therapy services in this setting. Additionally, collaboration with acute care Level II fieldwork settings will help facilitate the application of this specialized education and skills

Navigating Peril: The Impact of Modern-Day Somali Piracy on Global Shipping Industries

This thesis addresses the issue of modern-day Somali piracy and the impacts it has had on the global shipping industry. As a persisting problem in the 21st century, piracy has had dramatic effects on the global economy, with billions of dollars being spent in reaction to the crisis. Piracy has become a resurging problem in recent years, and it is essential to understand the logistical and financial implications of piracy in the past so that the problem does not persist. Piracy in Somalia, is ultimately a result of state failure, demonstrated by the lack of government effectiveness and scarce employment opportunities for the youths. Because of this, piracy has thrived in the Horn of Africa, causing many problems for vessels travelling through the Suez Canal. In response, the shipping companies have opted for the Cape of Good Hope route, also proving many disadvantages. Many international responses have been taken to suppress piracy, but the root cause lies in Somalia’s failure. To fully eradicate piracy in Somalia, the international community must focus on long-term enhancements to give citizens more employment opportunities and improve the nation as a whole

Incorporating Experiential Learning for Sensitive Topics

One major goal of higher education is to develop the professional identity of the learner. This unique type of learning can be encouraged through experiential sessions, creative activities and small-group discussions. Stigmatized topics can be effectively tackled in these formats, if students are provided space for deeper engagement and reflection

Body Composition and Self-Image: Exploring the Impact on Exercise Motivation and Behavior

This study examines how self-perception and body composition (body fat percentage, lean mass, etc.) influence psychological and behavioral outcomes among college students. The research explores how body composition metrics are related to psychological factors such as stress management, enjoyment of physical activity, and leisure activity, and how appearance scores, as a reflection of self-perception, influence these outcomes. Drawing on a sample of 100 undergraduates from Eastern Kentucky University, data were collected through self-reported surveys measuring body satisfaction, exercise frequency, and motivational factors, alongside objective body composition metrics. Statistical analyses revealed that higher appearance scores were associated with better stress management (r = 0.378, p \u3c .001) and greater enjoyment of physical activity (r = 0.331, p \u3c .001), but not with leisure activity (r = 0.104, p = 0.162). Higher body fat percentage was linked to lower stress management and enjoyment, while greater lean mass correlated positively with leisure activity. These findings highlight the role of self-perception and body composition in shaping psychological well-being and behavior. The results suggest that fostering a positive self-image and healthy body composition could enhance mental well-being and promote physical activity. This research contributes to the broader conversation about mental health and exercise motivation, offering insights for healthcare providers, fitness professionals, and educators working to support student wellness