Full Disclosure: Scholars in Rhetoric and Composition Discuss Transparency in Religious-Based Research

This dissertation explores how and why scholars in Rhetoric and Composition, who study religious topics, choose to disclose (or not) their positionalities in relation to their research. Included in this investigation are scholars of atheist rhetorics, as well. Through interviews with scholars of religious topics in Rhetoric and Composition and textual analysis of religiously-based academic scholarship in the field, I explore the situations and contexts in which scholars feel most comfortable disclosing their positionalities and how they do so. Furthermore, I examine why some scholars choose not to disclose their positionalities in particular instances. Drawing upon queer theory and “coming out” discourse, I make connections between the language my participants use to express their positionality disclosures in relation to religious research topics. From here, I discuss the nature of scholars to seek “allies” and to establish a sense ethos in their positionality disclosures. Finally, I consider the defensive posturing some scholars assume during positionality disclosure as a means of managing public (audience) perception about a particular religious identity and how that identity pertains to the discloser. This dissertation illustrates that in the growing subfield of religious studies in Rhetoric and Composition, scholars of religious topics fear discrimination within the academy for disclosing their religious positionalities. Through interviews with several scholars and an analysis of several scholarly publications, this dissertation interrogates disclosure practices within the subfield of religious rhetorics. Ultimately, I argue that simply calling for positionality disclosure critically overlooks the fears religious scholars have of being perceived as intolerant, anti-intellectual, and/or politically conservative and the how these fears complicate a scholar’s sense of power, status, and comfort in the academic context. Furthermore, I argue for a more nuanced understanding of the struggles scholars in this area of research face and for the development of best practices for scholars to safely continue pursuing their work and for the continued expansion of this subfield

The Role of Large Woody Debris in Inhibiting the Dispersion of a Post-Fire Sediment Pulse

To further the understanding of how rivers process an instantaneous increase in sediment supply, a study was conducted on a gravel bed channel affected by post-fire debris flows. Sleeping Child Creek (SCC), a tributary to the Bitterroot River, is located in the Sapphire Mountains of west central Montana. In the summer of 2000, 1500 acres of Sleeping Child Creek\u27s watershed were burned with 65% of the area classified as a high severity burn. The following summer, intense rainfall triggered debris flows originating from tributaries of SCC with headwaters toward the north. Along a 7-km study reach, cross sections, longitudinal profiles, and pebble counts were taken near six debris flow fans in the summer of 2012. In addition, a survey of large woody debris was conducted throughout the study reach. Comparing the cross sections with previous measurements taken in 2005 demonstrated that the river has aggraded throughout most of the site. Moreover, the bed material has become finer and the amount of large woody debris has doubled in seven years. The aggradation and the finer bed material can be attributed to the increase in large woody debris in the channel. In 2005, the large woody debris in the channel was from the debris flows. Since then, the large woody debris has come from the severely burned slopes adjacent to the channel. The response documented in Sleeping Child Creek demonstrates that, in burned mountainous landscapes, the large woody debris can be instrumental in modulating the storage and release of the post-fire sediment pulse

Using Electronic Books to Increase Elementary Students’ Motivation to Read

One of the main challenges that elementary teachers face is developing a reading program that adequately meets the need of all students. Given that not all students learn in the same manner, it is imperative that teachers find ways to motivate and excite all students when it comes to reading. Research has shown that motivation for reading predicts reading achievement as it is reflected on standardized tests and in school grades (Sweet, Guthrie, & Ng, 1998). Forms of technology such as digital books, CD-ROM storybooks, and interactive software programs have been successful in both motivating students to read and improving reading fluency skills. This research explores ways in which electronic books can be used to motivate students to read, thereby improving their reading skills. This research also provides information detailing the extensive use of electronic books in one elementary classroom. Results indicate that electronic books are motivating to elementary students

The Acute and Residual Effect of a Single Exercise Session on Meal Glucose Tolerance in Sedentary Young Adults

The study goals were to (1) establish the variability in postprandial glucose control in healthy young people consuming a mixed meal and, then (2) determine the acute and residual impact of a single exercise bout on postprandial glucose control. In study 1, 18 people completed two similar mixed meal trials and an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). There were strong test-retest correlations for the post-meal area under the curve (AUC) for glucose, insulin, and Cpeptide (r = 0.73–0.83) and the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI, r = 0.76), and between meal and IVGTT-derived ISI (r = 0.83). In study 2, 11 untrained young adults completed 3 trials. One trial (No Ex) was completed after refraining from vigorous activity for ≥3 days. On the other 2 trials, a 45-min aerobic exercise bout was performed either 17-hours (Prior Day Ex) or 1-hour (Same Day Ex) before consuming the test meal. Compared to No Ex and Prior Day Ex, which did not differ from one another, there were lower AUCs on the Same Day Ex trial for glucose (6%), insulin (20%) and C-peptide (14%). Thus, a single moderate intensity exercise session can acutely improve glycemic control but the effect is modest and short-lived

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis (NIPD) of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetically inherited, recessive mutation of the haemoglobin ?S-gene. Each year, over 300,000 babies are born with SCD, which will have a significant impact on their quality of life and average life expectancy. Currently, for SCD to be tested prenatally, foetal DNA is extracted by amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling or cordocentesis, and then analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for instance. These procedures increase the risk of foetal miscarriage by less than 0.5%. SCD may, however, be tested non-invasively using cell-free foetal DNA (cffDNA), which is extracted from maternal blood plasma. In this study, the current accuracy of using cffDNA testing for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of SCD will be shown. Methods: Using databases such as PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, this study systematically reviewed existing studies pertaining to the use of cffDNA maternal blood samples for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or diagnosis (NIPD) for SCD in patients who were at risk of having a baby with SCD. The data collected from the systematic review of the studies was statistically analysed in the form of a meta-analysis, describing the proportion of correct diagnosis results for this method of prenatal testing. Results: Of over 3,600 papers identified from the database searches, only five studies contained data pertaining to the use of cffDNA for prenatal testing of SCD and conformed to the inclusion criteria set out by this study. Collectively, these data showed an average of 81.30% accuracy of diagnosis when using cffDNA to test for SCD, with 18.70% of foetuses incorrectly diagnosed. These data were compiled as a Forest Plot meta-analysis. Conclusion: CffDNA for non-invasive prenatal SCD diagnosis appears to have the potential to be an accurate technique for the testing of this genetic disease, despite not currently indicating a proportion of correct diagnosis results which would encourage the technique for clinical implementation. Whilst there are currently very limited data on the use of this technique for the specific testing of SCD, there is great opportunity for further research into the standardisation and clinical application of this procedure

Health Status and Preventive Health Services Among Reproductive-Aged Women in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utilization of preventive health services and the prevalence of chronic health conditions among a cohort of women in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS: Ninety-seven women who were receiving treatment for OUD from a single urban treatment program completed a self-administered anonymous online questionnaire that asked about demographics, health, receipt of preventive health services, and utilization of health care. Descriptive statistics were used to describe data. RESULTS: More than one-third of respondents reported that their health was fair or poor, whereas one-quarter were very concerned with their health. Most participants (59%) reported at least one chronic health condition; nearly 1 in 5 reported two or more conditions. Less than half of respondents had received a routine medical examination in the past year. Vaccine uptake was low; 56% received the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine and 36% received the annual influenza vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Women in treatment for OUD could benefit from enhanced health care to address the high rates of chronic diseases and risk factors and underutilization of recommended preventive health services. Interventions and models of care that aim to enhance utilization of such services, and ultimately improve the health of this vulnerable population, may be worth exploring

Concert recording 2022-11-20

[Track 1]. Golliwogg’s Cake Walk / Claude Debussy -- [Track 2]. Morning Mood / Edvard Grieg -- [Track 3]. Portraits of Josephine. IV. Thank You, Josephine / Valerie Coleman -- [Track 4]. Petite Offrande Musicale / Nino Rota -- [Track 5]. Variations / Cara Haxo -- [Track 6]. Suite for Wind Quintet / Amanda Harberg

Concert recording 2022-11-20

[Track 1]. Golliwogg’s Cake Walk / Claude Debussy -- [Track 2]. Morning Mood / Edvard Grieg -- [Track 3]. Portraits of Josephine. IV. Thank You, Josephine / Valerie Coleman -- [Track 4]. Petite Offrande Musicale / Nino Rota -- [Track 5]. Variations / Cara Haxo -- [Track 6]. Suite for Wind Quintet / Amanda Harberg

Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cells

Children typically experience more mild symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) when compared to adults. There is a strong body of evidence that children are also less susceptible to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with the ancestral viral isolate. However, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has been associated with an increased number of pediatric infections. Whether this is the result of widespread adult vaccination or fundamental changes in the biology of SARS-CoV-2 remain to be determined. Here, we use primary nasal epithelial cells (NECs) from children and adults, differentiated at an air-liquid interface to show that the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 replicates to significantly lower titers in the NECs of children compared to those of adults. This was associated with a heightened antiviral response to SARS-CoV-2 in the NECs of children. Importantly, the Delta variant also replicated to significantly lower titers in the NECs of children. This trend was markedly less pronounced in the case of Omicron. It is also striking to note that, at least in terms of viral RNA, Omicron replicated better in pediatric NECs compared to both Delta and the ancestral virus. Taken together, these data show that the nasal epithelium of children supports lower infection and replication of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, although this may be changing as the virus evolves.Peer reviewe