THE LINE OF THEN AND NOW: A NOVELLA AND OTHER STORIES

This thesis is a final portfolio of several short literary fiction stories and a novella written as a final Master’s of Arts in English project

Bankruptcy Courts are Divided on Reducing a Debtor’s Obligation to Pay Rent When Government Regulations Restrict a Debtor’s Ability to Generate Income

(Excerpt) Many indoor retail establishments and restaurants that faced shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic (the “Pandemic”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), and subsequently requested rent abatement under § 365(d)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code or state law. Notwithstanding the unique and extreme circumstances caused by the Pandemic, not all bankruptcy courts agree on the extent to which judges have the discretion to grant abatement motions for rent payments that are otherwise due under § 365(d)(3). Some bankruptcy courts have granted debtors the ability to defer post-petition rent payments, especially in the early months of the Pandemic. However, rent abatement is not a guarantee in chapter 11. This Memorandum addresses the varying views of bankruptcy courts with respect to rent abatement. Part I examines the different rationales based in the Bankruptcy Code or contract doctrines for rent abatement. Part II illustrates examples of bankruptcy courts’ approach to rent abatement motions throughout different stages of the Pandemic

Renovations and how ADA updates were addressed at an academic institution

After a three-year renovation of the Chester Fritz Library, the presenters were tasked with reviewing the building for updates done and how they addressed needs within the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This presentation covers pre-renovation concerns, what changes were made, the process used to determine the criteria if an issue had been resolved, and what their next steps are going forward.https://commons.und.edu/cfl-lpp/1017/thumbnail.jp

The Effects of Previous Childhood Trauma on Dissociative Symptoms in Adult Survivors of Recent Trauma

This presentation aims to examine the effects of previous childhood abuse (e.g. physical or sexual abuse) on the dissociative symptoms experienced by adult survivors of recent traumas (e.g. physical or sexual assaults). The aims of this study are to examine the self-reports of the participants regarding childhood experiences of trauma, their current dissociative experiences and the severity of those experiences, and physiological markers such as skin conductance and heart rate that may play a significant role in their experiences of dissociation. The hypothesis of this research is that previous childhood abuse will significantly increase the likelihood and severity of the adult survivor reporting dissociative experiences, and that their physiological data will indicate a significant difference between individuals who experienced childhood trauma and those who did not

Training to be CHAMPS: How Training Affects Behavior

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1134/thumbnail.jp

Deaf individuals’ bilingual abilities: American Sign Language proficiency, reading skills, and family characteristics

The current study investigated the bilingual abilities of 55 Deaf individuals, examining both American Sign Language (ASL) competency and English reading skills. Results revealed a positive relationship between ASL competency and English skills, with highly competent signers scoring higher on a measure of reading comprehension. Additionally, family characteristics (e.g., parental education level, family hearing status) were entered into the analysis to ascertain their effect on Deaf individuals’ bilingual abilities. The findings support the theory that competency in ASL may serve as a bridge to the acquisition of English print. Moreover, the findings provide support for the critical period hypothesis for first language acquisition and its later impact on other cognitive and academic skills

Analyzing the Prevalence and Severity of Cribra Orbitalia in Bronze Age Arabia

Background: The Umm an-Nar period (ca. 2700-2000 BCE) in southeastern Arabia was marked by the intensification of oasis agriculture and a corresponding shift to sedentism. Cribra orbitalia lesions from tombs Unar 1 and Unar 2 (Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, UAE) were observed for rates of nonspecific stress during this period of transition. We hypothesized that due to increased reliance on agriculture beginning around 2200 BCE, Unar 1 individuals would have a higher prevalence of active cribra orbitalia. Methods: Given the commingled and fragmentary nature of these collections, we first scored percentage of orbit present in 25% increments. Scorable orbits (defined as ≥25%) were then evaluated as present or absent for cribra orbitalia and scored for severity and healing. Results: There was no statistically significant differences in rates of cribra orbitalia between tombs (2=0.02, df=1, p=0.89), nor for measures of severity (2=0.59, df=2, p=0.74). However, a statistically significant difference was found between tombs for degree of healing for the left orbit (Fisher’s Exact; p=0.0004, df=3), with individuals from Unar 1 (69%) exhibiting higher rates of healing compared to Unar 2 (14%). Stable resource accumulation from oasis agriculture and herding coupled with enhanced interregional trade may explain this difference. Conclusion: Our results suggest frequency and severity of cribra orbitalia did not change over time, despite archaeological evidence for agricultural intensification in the latter third millennium, and that later individuals possessed improved healing of these lesions. This indicates that local inhabitants of this region were able to adapt successfully without negatively impacting their health. Funding Statement: This research was funded by a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Award (#1852426)https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/present_yr2/1001/thumbnail.jp