Transposing from the laboratory to the classroom to generate authentic research experiences for undergraduates.

Large lecture classes and standardized laboratory exercises are characteristic of introductory biology courses. Previous research has found that these courses do not adequately convey the process of scientific research and the excitement of discovery. Here we propose a model that provides beginning biology students with an inquiry-based, active learning laboratory experience. The Dynamic Genome course replicates a modern research laboratory focused on eukaryotic transposable elements where beginning undergraduates learn key genetics concepts, experimental design, and molecular biological skills. Here we report on two key features of the course, a didactic module and the capstone original research project. The module is a modified version of a published experiment where students experience how virtual transposable elements from rice (Oryza sativa) are assayed for function in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. As part of the module, students analyze the phenotypes and genotypes of transgenic plants to determine the requirements for transposition. After mastering the skills and concepts, students participate in an authentic research project where they use computational analysis and PCR to detect transposable element insertion site polymorphism in a panel of diverse maize strains. As a consequence of their engagement in this course, students report large gains in their ability to understand the nature of research and demonstrate that they can apply that knowledge to independent research projects

Repeated Disasters and Chronic Environmental Changes Impede Generational Transmission of Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous coastal communities are interdependent with the environment and families are vulnerable to the environmental changes that disrupt culture, continuity, and livelihood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate meaning from shared cultural perceptions of experiencing repeated disasters and other environmental changes among a United States Indigenous coastal community. This study is part of a larger community- engaged study and reports results from phenomological semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews (n=19). Participants were enrolled tribal members with a strong ethnic identity and earned a majority of their income from subsistence activities. The results highlight that discrimination, which is part of the broader context of historical oppression, has set the stage for heightened vulnerability in Indigenous communities. Indigenous families are highly connected to their place and environment, yet environmental changes (e.g. repeated disasters, chronic land loss, and climate change) creates barriers for many elder participants pass on traditional knowledge and lifeways to their grandchildren and future generations. Indigenous peoples’ relationship with the land is spiritual, cultural, and place-specific. Interruption of Indigenous Peoples’ ability to interact with the land acculturation, lack of self-determination and discrimination are contemporary forms of trauma

Pressure test analysis of 200-inch multicell test tank

Pressure test analysis for large multiple cell tank with sectioned ski

An Exploration of Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Association between Perfectionism and Disordered Eating in College Students

Perfectionism is a robust risk factor for eating disorders (EDs). Although individually-oriented dimensions of perfectionism are strongly related to eating pathology, less is known about the contribution of parent-oriented dimensions, specifically parental expectations (PE) and parental criticisms (PC). Further, few studies have investigated these effects within racially/ethnically diverse samples. However, PE and PC might be particularly relevant to eating pathology among certain cultural groups, such as those from collectivistic and interdependent societies. This study examined associations among PE, PC, and ED symptoms across racial/ethnic groups. Undergraduates (N=706; 74.8% Female; 48% White, 19.8% Black, 7.1% Latinx, 16% Asian, 9.1% multiracial) completed online surveys assessing perfectionism and ED symptoms. Multiple and logistic regressions examined the association between parent-oriented perfectionism, global eating pathology, loss-of-control (LOC) eating, purging behaviors, and ED risk status (EDE-Q global \u3c 4.0). Analyses were conducted by racial/ethnic group, controlling for gender. Both PE and PC were related to greater ED pathology in students identifying as White (pp=.03), Asian (p=.02), and multiracial (pp=.19). Higher PC was related to a greater likelihood of endorsing LOC eating in White (p=.004) and Black students (p=.05) and purging behaviors in White (p=.004), Asian (p=.04), and multiracial students (p=.03). Greater PC was also associated with ED risk in Asian (p=.03) and multiracial participants (p=.01). Findings indicate that the relations between specific aspects of parent-oriented perfectionism differ among cultural groups and are associated with ED symptoms in college students. PC seemed more relevant to ED pathology than did PE overall. Findings suggest that parent-oriented perfectionism, particularly PC, might be important to include in clinical assessment and treatment with students at-risk of EDs.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1039/thumbnail.jp

Involution factorizations of Ewens random permutations

An involution is a bijection that is its own inverse. Given a permutation $\sigma$ of $[n],$ let $\mathsf{invol}(\sigma)$ denote the number of ways to express $\sigma$ as a composition of two involutions of $[n].$ The statistic $\mathsf{invol}$ is asymptotically lognormal when the symmetric groups $\mathfrak{S}_n$ are each equipped with Ewens Sampling Formula probability measures of some fixed positive parameter $\theta.$ This paper strengthens and generalizes previously determined results on the limiting distribution of $\log(\mathsf{invol})$ for uniform random permutations, i.e. the specific case of $\theta = 1$. We also investigate the first two moments of $\mathsf{invol}$ itself.Comment: 23 pages, no figures. Some minor edits. Extra material added to sections 2 and 4 and concluding remark

Plantinga and the Theory of Knowledge

Kuhn argues that a paradigm generally emerges from among such competing schools as the result of a particularly attractive or powerful accomplishment that places one school in a better position than the others. With the establishment and common acceptance of one particular theoretical structure, researchers can direct their observations and experiments in accordance with the ontological and methodological landscape provided by the agreed upon paradigm. Under such guidance, scientists are in a position to judge the value of various observations, and delineate between important lines of investigation and those without promise. Thus normal science, in contrast to its immature precursor, is characterized as purposeful, directed, and capable of advancement just in light of the fact that a paradigm exists as a qualifying standard

What Were the Factors that led to the GameStop Short Squeeze?

The world of finance is rapidly evolving - for better or for worse. The introduction of social media in sentimental stock market trading, and new brokerage apps, combined with the new resurgence of retail investors, has led to some interesting results. These new factors in the stock market have challenged the status quo of the stock market. A group of retail investors has led this change on a Reddit forum known as /r/WallStreetBets In early January 2021, a group of retail investors collaborated a short squeeze on GameStop stock, creating an attack against the hedge funds on a popular Reddit trading form called /r/WallStreetBets (Faris, 2021). A short squeeze occurs when a stock or other asset jumps sharply higher, forcing traders who had bet that its price would fall to buy it to forestall even more significant losses. The retail traders on /r/WallSteetBets realized that they would have enough leverage to successfully execute this short squeeze against the hedge funds if they combined their buying power. The brokerage of choice for these retail traders was Robinhood. This 0% commission brokerage firm was top-rated at the time for its simplicity and low barrier for entry on investing. The short squeeze made hedge funds lose a vast amount of profit. By January 28, 2021, Melvin Capital, an investment fund that heavily shorted GameStop, lost 30% of its value since the start of 2021 (Stevens, 2021). This communication to execute /r/WallStreetBets short squeeze occurred on Reddit, a popular social media and news website. The GameStop short squeeze became the first time that many retail traders were able to formulate a plan of this magnitude, and they were able to formulate their plan with the power of social media. It also should be noted that I participated in the buying of GameStop stock during this time. There are still many questions surrounding the short squeeze that was orchestrated by /r/WallStreetBets. To make more informed decisions on regulating these kinds of events, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors and changes in the finance world that lead to this short squeeze on GameStop by the retail traders on /r/WallStreetBets