Rhetorical Criticism- The Hunger Games Series

This is the rhetorical criticism I wrote for my Rhetorical Theory course last semester. I analyzed the feminist ideals in The Hunger Games series and how traditional gender roles were challeged throughout the books. Click the link below to download the Microsoft Word document

The Impact of the PHQ-8 on Referrals to Psychotherapy Services for Oncology Patients

Abstract Problem: Nearly seven million individuals will be struggling with both cancer and depression by 2040. Patients with cancer face a multitude of challenges. These challenges can impact a patient’s mental health and ability to cope with a cancer diagnosis. Currently, there is a large treatment gap among patients who are coping with both cancer and depression. Healthcare providers are neglecting to use evidence-based screening tools to assess patients for depression upon admission to inpatient treatment. Methods: This quality improvement project took place at a large metropolitan comprehensive cancer center in the Midwest. A descriptive observational design was utilized. Prescreen-post screen data was compared to determine if there was a relationship between evidence-based PHQ-8 screenings and referrals to counseling. Convenience sampling was utilized for patients who were admitted to a medical oncology unit over two months. Results: Overall, this quality improvement initiative did increase the number of referrals to counseling services (4.8% pre-screen vs. 5.2% post-screen), however the impact was not statistically significant (p = 0.43; CI = 95%). However, there may be positive qualitative outcomes. Implications for practice: Recommendations for sustaining change include involving advanced practice providers in obtaining screenings on patients admitted to the medical oncology unit. Doctorally prepared nurses can also work with information technologists to generate a best practice advisory based on score. Areas for future studies include screening nurses, assessing provider attitude toward mental health screening for oncology patients, and evaluating patient’s pre-counseling and post-counseling PHQ-8 scores

Genderlect Theory in Parks and Recreation

This is the theory analysis I wrote for my Communication Theory course this semester. I analyzed the genderlect communication theory in relation to the show Parks and Recreation. I tried to see how the show\u27s character\u27s related to classic gender communication styles. Click the link below to download the Microsoft Word document

Social Media Dashboard for Harrisburg YMCA

As part of my internship at the Harrisburg Area YMCA, I designed a social media dashboard for their four branches to use. This tool lays out social media post ideas and sample content for the 2016 year. Topics included are YMCA affiliated holidays and events as well as national holidays. Click below to download a PDF of the dashboard

Statuary Collections In The Late Roman Villas Of Hispania And Southwestern Gaul

Excavations in the Roman Southwest, in what is now Portugal, Spain, and southern France, have brought to light a diverse corpus of sculpture that was displayed in late antique villas, ca. 250-450 CE: monumental reliefs, mythological statues and statuettes, and portraits, of both private individuals and imperial personages. Although the production of some statues is roughly contemporaneous with the late antique villa in which they stood, many pieces were antiques, carved centuries earlier. But the diversity within and across these statuary assemblages, and the concentration of such finds in villas of Hispania and Gaul, have not been given a full treatment in modern scholarship. Rather, sculpture is interpreted generically as evidence for the elite status of a villa owner, leading to problematic assumptions that all statuary collections, and late-Roman villas more broadly, evince an indistinguishable class of “elite” Romans. This dissertation invites readers to reconsider the narrow but well-established definitions of the late antique elite, through analysis of the many differences that are readily apparent among villas and their material assemblages. I argue that material culture can and should be interpreted as evidence of the regionalism which played an important role in late antique society, and thus I treat sculpture as a window into the social practices and peer polity negotiations among villa domini

Rational Love: How Personality Types Can Influence Conflict Resolution

Is love rational? Current literature tells us that personalities impact how an individual handles general conflict (Deventer et al., 2019; Geukes et al., 2019). Due to previous research, we now hypothesize that parties with dissimilar love languages and/or enneagram types may experience conflict more intensely than those similar. Love languages and enneagram types both help to explain human personality and interpersonal interactions. Personalities impact how an individual handles general conflict and the duration of any conflict (Deventer et al.,2019; Geukes et al.,2019). Conflict duration is prolonged with those who take conflict personally, believing that their personality is viewed negatively (Squires, 2022). In addition, TCP type is less likely to resolve conflict and more likely to grow the conflict into a serial argument (Squires, 2022). Additionally, while conflict may be more hostile for those in a committed relationship, less committed individuals experience fewer conflicts overall (Lemay, 2015). Individuals often assume that others hold similar personality traits which may cause conflict (Liu, 2018). When comparing themselves to their partner, the individual will tend to believe that their personality is better than their partner’s (El, 2015). Here, we see confirmation bias (i.e., the tendency to only seek out information that supports one idea) in action which is likely to prolong the conflict overall.? Our previous research indicates that an individual’s love language & enneagram type (i.e., personality type) influences the way that they resolve conflict within their interpersonal relationships. For example, those with quality time as their primary love language tend to be level-headed during conflict resolution and may step away for a cooling off period, except for peacemakers, who may prefer to solve the conflict right away.? Our current study will explore how perfectionists, givers, challengers, & peacemakers act when resolving conflict with those who are different than them. Because we found that individuals look for similar personality traits in friendships and romantic relationships, we hypothesize that individuals with dissimilar personality types may endure conflict more intensely

Structure of a human translation termination complex

In contrast to bacteria that have two release factors, RF1 and RF2, eukaryotes only possess one unrelated release factor eRF1, which recognizes all three stop codons of the mRNA and hydrolyses the peptidyl-tRNA bond. While the molecular basis for bacterial termination has been elucidated, high-resolution structures of eukaryotic termination complexes have been lacking. Here we present a 3.8 angstrom structure of a human translation termination complex with eRF1 decoding a UAA(A) stop codon. The complex was formed using the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) stalling peptide, which perturbs the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) to silence the hydrolysis activity of eRF1. Moreover, unlike sense codons or bacterial stop codons, the UAA stop codon adopts a U-turn-like conformation within a pocket formed by eRF1 and the ribosome. Inducing the U-turn conformation for stop codon recognition rationalizes how decoding by eRF1 includes monitoring geometry in order to discriminate against sense codons

Structure of a human translation termination complex

In contrast to bacteria that have two release factors, RF1 and RF2, eukaryotes only possess one unrelated release factor eRF1, which recognizes all three stop codons of the mRNA and hydrolyses the peptidyl-tRNA bond. While the molecular basis for bacterial termination has been elucidated, high-resolution structures of eukaryotic termination complexes have been lacking. Here we present a 3.8 angstrom structure of a human translation termination complex with eRF1 decoding a UAA(A) stop codon. The complex was formed using the human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) stalling peptide, which perturbs the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) to silence the hydrolysis activity of eRF1. Moreover, unlike sense codons or bacterial stop codons, the UAA stop codon adopts a U-turn-like conformation within a pocket formed by eRF1 and the ribosome. Inducing the U-turn conformation for stop codon recognition rationalizes how decoding by eRF1 includes monitoring geometry in order to discriminate against sense codons

Inverted classroom backstage. Videoproduktion, interaktive Elemente und Gamifizierung

So schnell wie das Wort Inverted Classroom gesagt ist, ist jedoch eine Umgestaltung einer Lehrveranstaltung in einen Inverted Classroom nicht getan. Dass sich ein Wechsel trotz des Aufwandes lohnt, und welche Aspekte dabei zu beachten sind, möchte der vorliegende Beitrag aufzeigen. Es werden die Schritte nachgezeichnet, die gegangen wurden, um eine Grundlagenvorlesung aufzuzeichnen und in einen interaktiven und gamifizierten Inverted Classroom umzugestalten. Der Beitrag fokussiert auf die Out-of-Class Phase, benennt die verwendeten digitalen Tools und schließt mit dem Kapitel 6: Lessons Learnt, damit Sie bei Ihrem Umgestaltungsprojekt von unseren Erfahrungen profitieren können. (DIPF/Orig.)The transformation of a series of lectures into an Inverted Classroom is not done quickly. The article shows that a change is worthwhile despite the effort and which aspects have to be considered. It traces the steps taken to record a series of lectures and turn it into an interactive and gamified Inverted Classroom. The article focuses on the out-of-class phase, names the digital tools used and concludes with Chapter 6: Lessons Learnt so that you can benefit from our experience in your own redesign project. (Authors