Arsenal: Volume 7, Issue 3 (Fall 2024)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/625564
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Item Open Access Arsenal: Volume 7, Issue 3 (Fall 2024)(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Le, Kaitlyn T.; Adu, Zaneta; Allen, Tate; Johnson, TrinityItem Open Access How Playing with Virtual Dirt Got Me a Biology Degree(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Le, Kaitlyn T.Last summer I spent 20 hours a week crafting in the void that is virtual pottery for research. I signed up for this project merely because it sounded like the most fun. I did not foresee that the skills I learned would aid my journey in getting my biology degree. The privilege of participating in undergraduate research at Augusta University has completely rewired the way I think innovatively, ask questions, and build relationships. Which have yielded skills and resources that contributed to my academic success in getting my degree, and also developed me as a young adult in the real world.Item Open Access The Link between Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities, Maternal Mental Health, and Birth Outcomes(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Adu, ZanetaThis study sought to understand the link between maternal mental health and birth outcomes, exacerbated by ethnic and socioeconomic disparities among women in the U.S. It was hypothesized that minorities experienced adverse birth outcomes, specifically preterm birth and low birth weight, due to a higher risk for mental health disorders. The study used a data set consisting of 38 participants, two of whom had twins, who utilized a pregnancy and postpartum assessment application called vidaRPM, to produce 41 sets of data. Data from this application were collected and examined for potential relationships between mood alerts (moments of concern for a participant’s mental health) and preterm birth, low birth weight, and high blood pressure. The results did not indicate any significant relationships between mood alerts and any of the physical health indicators analyzed in this project, suggesting that there are more aspects to consider than just ethnicity when conducting a study of this magnitude.Item Open Access Kynurenine’s Effect on the Different Stages of Osteoblastic Differentiation(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Allen, TateThis study focuses on the dynamics of age-related changes in osteoblasts’ matrix production, with a specific focus on the involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The AhR is activated by kynurenine, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan that tends to increase with age. Kynurenine has been known to impair osteoblasts’ bone formation ability, however, the point at which this occurs is unknown. The study utilizes a 21-day differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells. “Window experiments” that vary the intervals of kynurenine treatment to explore its impact at different stages of osteoblast development were utilized. The experimental setup involves four distinct conditions: a control group with a vehicle, a group treated with kynurenine, a group with an AhR antagonist (BAY), and a group treated with both kynurenine and BAY. The AhR antagonist, specifically BAY2416964, serves to investigate whether any observed effects of kynurenine are mediated through AhR signaling. Results, analyzed through alizarin red staining, demonstrate a notable negative impact of kynurenine on matrix production, particularly in the middle stages of osteoblast differentiation. The study further employs crystal violet staining to confirm the presence of cells in the experimental wells, providing assurance of the reliability of the alizarin staining procedure. Importantly, this staining procedure also suggests that the effects of kynurenine on mineralized matrix production are largely independent of any potential impacts on cell viability.Item Open Access Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Kinesiology Schools: Impact on College Success(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Johnson, TrinityThis study addresses higher education in kinesiology’s need for application of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), specifically through the importance of student and professor relationships. The aim of this study is to explore how student and professor relationships can influence students’ success, engagement, and sense of belonging in college. To discover these findings, researchers investigated if kinesiology students perceived their professors as promoting CRP and if their perceptions correlate with academic success. CRP has three foundational aspects which are: academic achievement, cultural competence, and critical consciousness. The research methodology involved using a Qualtrics survey distributed to undergraduate kinesiology students. The Qualtrics survey incorporated Likert scale and open-ended questions to apprehend students’ perspectives on CRP within their program and their feelings towards professors’ willingness to form relationships. Qualitative data analysis, employing both deductive and inductive coding, was used to identify themes and sub-themes. Results indicate that most participants perceive their professors as culturally relevant with positive behavior such as: inclusive-ness, respect, and understanding.Item Open Access Student Publications in 2024 (Bibliography)(Augusta University Libraries, 2024-11) Oberther, T. J.; Feinberg, G.; Mehra, K.; Patel, P.; Owens, S. L.; Ahmed, S. R.Presents a bibliography of undergraduate students who served as co-authors on presentation and publications in 2024.