Augustana Seniors Fall 1884: Johan Sven Carlson

Johan Sven Carlson was a senior at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, in the fall of 1884. His name appears in the college catalog of 1884 – 1885, along with his birthplace, the year of his birth, and a few other facts. From this start, we researched the genealogy and family history of Johan Sven Carlson. This paper contains a short biography of J. S. Carlson, a report on his ancestors, a report on his descendants, and some open questions for further research

Creation of Interactive VR Application that Supports Reasoning Skills in Anatomy Education

For our creative work thesis, we developed a VR (Virtual Reality) Program that allows a user to view and interact with muscles and nerves of a canine leg that would support students to understand the relationships between nerves and muscles. Using an industry-style pipeline, we developed anatomically accurate models of canine muscles and nerves, which we textured, rigged, and animated for use in an educational virtual reality platform. The end goal of the project is to create and measure the efficacy of a visually dynamic experience for the user, allowing them to generally explore canine limb anatomy, and to specifically visualize deficits in muscle movement, produced by user interaction with the canine nervous system. This tool explores the possibilities of Virtual Reality and seek to improve upon existing methods of higher-level anatomy education. Traditionally, higher level anatomy education is taught through the use of cadaver dissections, two-dimensional anatomical diagrams and didactic lectures. However, these traditional methods of teaching anatomy have many limitations and are not enough to build a visual-spatial understanding of anatomical structures. Virtual reality is a strong tool that allows students to directly manipulate anatomical models and observe movements in a three-dimensional space. While the literature has been filled with VR applications that aim to fill this need, many existing tools offer only a static model for the user to explore by rotation, adding and subtracting layers, and viewing labels to learn about the anatomical structure. We seek to increase the level of dynamic interaction that the user has, by allowing the user’s touch of the models to change the animation and movement of the three-dimensional models in their environment. Our outcome is a VR learning tool that has potential for further exploration in higher level anatomy education. Our creative work employs the methodologies of “art-based research”. Art based research can be defined as the systematic use of the artistic process, the actual making of artistic expressions as a primary way of understanding. The project was created iteratively while working with content experts, specifically anatomy experts from Dept. of Veterinary Sciences at Texas A&M University. Implementing anatomy education using virtual reality and developing a universal pipeline for asset creation allows us the freedom to dynamically build on our application. This means that our tool can accommodate for the addition of new muscle and nerves. By continuing to develop our virtual reality application in future works, we can expand the breadth of knowledge a user can gain from interacting with our application

Creation of Interactive VR Application that Supports Reasoning Skills in Anatomy Education

For our creative work thesis, we developed a VR (Virtual Reality) Program that allows a user to view and interact with muscles and nerves of a canine leg that would support students to understand the relationships between nerves and muscles. Using an industry-style pipeline, we developed anatomically accurate models of canine muscles and nerves, which we textured, rigged, and animated for use in an educational virtual reality platform. The end goal of the project is to create and measure the efficacy of a visually dynamic experience for the user, allowing them to generally explore canine limb anatomy, and to specifically visualize deficits in muscle movement, produced by user interaction with the canine nervous system. This tool explores the possibilities of Virtual Reality and seek to improve upon existing methods of higher-level anatomy education. Traditionally, higher level anatomy education is taught through the use of cadaver dissections, two-dimensional anatomical diagrams and didactic lectures. However, these traditional methods of teaching anatomy have many limitations and are not enough to build a visual-spatial understanding of anatomical structures. Virtual reality is a strong tool that allows students to directly manipulate anatomical models and observe movements in a three-dimensional space. While the literature has been filled with VR applications that aim to fill this need, many existing tools offer only a static model for the user to explore by rotation, adding and subtracting layers, and viewing labels to learn about the anatomical structure. We seek to increase the level of dynamic interaction that the user has, by allowing the user’s touch of the models to change the animation and movement of the three-dimensional models in their environment. Our outcome is a VR learning tool that has potential for further exploration in higher level anatomy education. Our creative work employs the methodologies of “art-based research”. Art based research can be defined as the systematic use of the artistic process, the actual making of artistic expressions as a primary way of understanding. The project was created iteratively while working with content experts, specifically anatomy experts from Dept. of Veterinary Sciences at Texas A&M University. Implementing anatomy education using virtual reality and developing a universal pipeline for asset creation allows us the freedom to dynamically build on our application. This means that our tool can accommodate for the addition of new muscle and nerves. By continuing to develop our virtual reality application in future works, we can expand the breadth of knowledge a user can gain from interacting with our application

Gender Differences in Law Enforcement Leadership Style: Implications for Subordinate Job Satisfaction

Undergraduate Applie

A Comparison of an Aerobic Exercise Program and a Resistance Training Program on Cognitive Functioning in Healthy College Students

Cognitive functioning declines begin occurring as early as 30 years of age. Research has found evidence that exercise influences cognitive functioning in elderly patients with Alzheimer\u27s and dementia. However, while cognitive functioning has often been linked to academic achievement, there is a lack of research examining exercise and cognitive functioning in young and healthy populations. Furthermore, research has found both aerobic and resistance training can impact cognitive functioning, but there is a lack of literature comparing the impact of exercise mode on cognitive functioning. PURPOSE: To explore the differences between an aerobic and resistance training program on cognitive functioning in healthy college students. METHODS: A total of 15 students (n = 6 M, n = 9 F) participated in this study. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Stroop Effect Test with two congruent tables and one incongruent. Participants were then randomly assigned to either an aerobic or resistance training program. Participants assigned to the aerobic program cycled for 30 minutes at 60-70% of their age-predicted maximal heart rate. Participants in the resistance program completed a machine-based protocol consisting of ten strength exercises at 70% of their theoretical 1RM. These participants performed three sets of 12 repetitions in any order with 30-60 seconds of rest between exercises. All participants completed their assigned exercise protocol three times a week for four weeks. At the end of the exercise protocol, the participants completed the Stroop Effect Test a second time. An independent-samples t-test was calculated to compare mean Stroop Effect Test scores for participants in both training groups. A paired-samples t-test was conducted to compare Stroop Effect Test pre-test and post-test scores for all participants. RESULTS: No significant difference was found (t(13) = .699, p = .497 g = .362) between Stroop Effect Test scores of the aerobic training group (M = 4.75, SD = 9.33) and the resistance training group (M = 7.71, SD = 6.63). A significant increase in Stroop Effect Test scores from pre-test (M = 43.80, SD = 8.44) to post-test (M = 49.93, SD = 10.23) was found (t(14) = -2.95, p = .01, d = .654) for participants, regardless of exercise protocol. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in Stroop Effect Test scores between the aerobic and resistance group suggests that there is no difference between type of exercise and cognitive improvements in healthy college students. Results showed a significant improvement from the Stroop Effect Test pre-test and post-test scores for participants in both exercise groups, providing further evidence that exercise can improve cognitive function, regardless of exercise mode

Another City is Possible: Mujeres de Maiz, Radical Indigenous Mestizaje and Activist Scholarship

This dissertation examines the political and creative practices of Mujeres de Maiz (MdM/Women of the Corn), an Indigenous mestiz@ led feminist of color visual and performing arts collective based in Los Angeles. Since their inception in 1997, Mujeres de Maiz has used politically and spiritually charged art that aims to challenge social injustices, revise dominant cultural representations and build meaningful communities across differences. The research was drawn from a dual method approach: textual analysis and participant observation ethnography with the MdM collective from 2009 to 2014 to examine how urban Indigenous mestiz@s represent themselves in textual and social spaces. Few studies have paid attention to constructions of Chicano indigeneity, and fewer still to feminist indigeneity, in the twenty-first century that exists outside of Chicano nationalist and "Chican@ indigenist" paradigms. In contrast, this work examines the ways women shape, transform and extend Chican@ indigeneity and express manifestations of a "radical indigenous mestizaje" through their artivism. This research seeks to propel Chican@ Studies towards making room for a transnational feminist, hemispheric and grounded approach to indigeneity by demonstrating that these approaches are already being constructed on the ground. The dissertation is comprised of case studies and models of activist scholarship

Consumption of Alcohol Among University Students Leads to a Variety of Adverse Health Effects: An Analysis of Alcohol’s Impact on the Adult Mind, Body, and Neurological Behaviors

Binge drinking and alcohol-related health problems are particularly prevalent among university students due to college culture, peer pressure, and social norms. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption, quality of diet, mental distress, and neurobehaviors such as mindfulness and resilience. Research was conducted at Binghamton University through an anonymous online survey that was sent out to numerous age groups through social media platforms, which included questions relating to diet, alcohol consumption, behavior, and mental distress. The final sample of participants consisted of 151 people (72.7% female, age range = 18-29 years, 83.3% college enrolled). The data collected was then analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The results from this study were consistent with the original hypothesis that there is a positive association between the variables examined. Through this study, it was shown that males were more likely to have 5 or more drinks on one occasion (r = -.294, p \u3c .01). There was a positive correlation between followers of a Western Diet and consuming more than 5 drinks on one occasion (r = -.326, p \u3c .01). Findings also indicated a significantly positive correlation between forgetting what happened the night of consuming alcohol and having feelings of guilt and remorse the next day (r = .434, p \u3c .01). Implications for future research include developing preventative methods to reduce risk of adverse alcohol related consequences (i.e., mental distress, poor dietary patterns, reduced brain function) in university students.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2022/1006/thumbnail.jp

The Differences in Men and Women Senior Law Enforcement Leadership Style as it Relates to Subordinate Employee Job Satisfaction

Undergraduate Theoretica

Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Immunocompetent Mice Causes Postnatal Growth Impediment and Neurobehavioral Deficits

A small percentage of babies born to Zika virus (ZIKV)-infected mothers\u27 manifest severe defects at birth, including microcephaly. Among those who appeared healthy at birth, there are increasing reports of postnatal growth or developmental defects. However, the impact of congenital ZIKV infection in postnatal development is poorly understood. Here, we report that a mild congenital ZIKV-infection in pups born to immunocompetent pregnant mice did not display apparent defects at birth, but manifested postnatal growth impediments and neurobehavioral deficits, which include reduced locomotor and cognitive deficits that persisted into adulthood. We found that the brains of these pups were smaller, had a thinner cortical layer 1, displayed increased astrogliosis, decreased expression of microcephaly- and neuron development- related genes, and increased pathology as compared to mock-infected controls. In summary, our results showed that even a mild congenital ZIKV infection in immunocompetent mice could lead to postnatal deficits, providing definitive experimental evidence for a necessity to closely monitor postnatal growth and development of presumably healthy human infants, whose mothers were exposed to ZIKV infection during pregnancy

Country of origin, culture, self-esteem and intimate partner violence among community dwelling Hispanic women

The purpose of this study was to explore variations in demographics, culture, self-esteem and intimate partner violence among Hispanic women according to country of origin, and to identify factors that are associated with differences in intimate partner violence. Baseline data from a randomized control trial testing the efficacy of an HIV prevention program was used. Path analyses were conducted to describe relationships between variables and identify potential mediators. Differences between Colombian women and women from other Central/South American countries were noted for intimate partner violence. Self-esteem was the only factor that was associated with these differences. Interventions that address the unique needs of Hispanic sub-groups and promote self-esteem are needed