The Provost's Honors Symposium is an annual event showcasing exceptional student research, scholarship, and creative activity at UWEC. Faculty mentors and departments nominate outstanding student projects, which are then reviewed by the University Honors Council. The Provost convenes the symposium, where selected students present their work in a professional conference setting. A companion event to CERCA, PHS is sponsored by the University Honors Program and the Provost’s Office.
Friday April 25, 2025 12:59pm - 5:30pm CDT Davies Student Center77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA
Using data from the World Value Survey (Wave 7) and hierarchical regression models, this study explores the impact of various factors—specifically, information sources, technology, and financial awareness—along with country-level contextual indicators on individual well-being, as measured by happiness and life satisfaction. The research underscores the growing importance of well-being studies and provides policy recommendations to address socioeconomic challenges, enhance individual well-being, and promote long-term sustainability across nations.
The world's population is continuing to age and older people use healthcare significantly more than younger people. Therefore, understanding behavioral factors that impact health in the older population is a critical public health concern. Older adults continue to consume alcohol, often in a dangerous binge pattern. Due to ethical issues, animal models are often used to investigate the effect of alcohol. Unfortunately alcohol self-administration and acute alcohol withdrawal are yet to be investigated in aged animal models leading to critical caps in our scientific knowledge. The current project investigates alcohol self-administration and acute alcohol withdrawal in female and male adolescent, adult and aged animals. Significant difference in both self-administration and acute withdrawal were found between the three age groups and the differences in self-administration are sex dependent. These data are the first to determine the effect of aging and sex on alcohol self-administration and acute withdrawal and provide further insights into behavioral factors that impact the health of the older population.
Research has consistently demonstrated a negative relationship between acute alcohol withdrawal and alcohol self-administration in inbred strains of mice. However, the impact of age and sex of subject on acute alcohol withdrawal has received little to any research. This lack of research is detrimental to understanding factors that may influence alcohol self administration across the lifespan, an important healthcare question considering the increased alcohol consumption in the aged population. The current experiment investigates acute alcohol withdrawal in three commonly used inbred strains of mice at several time points across their lifespan. In addition, acute alcohol withdrawal is determined in both female and male subjects to ascertain the impact of sex on withdrawal across the lifespan. We present data showing age and sex difference in response to an alcohol challenge. These data further highlight the importance of investigating both sex and age in relation to alcohol's effects and provides foundational work to investigate alcohol self-administration across the lifespan.
Understanding how alcohol impacts the older population is a critical public health issue. Older adults consume alcohol, often in a binge fashion yet little is known how alcohol interacts with aged biological systems. In addition, there is a dearth in our understanding of how sex impacts the effect of alcohol in older subjects. The current project investigated the effect of alcohol in female and male aged, adult and adolescent rats on a simple motoric and cognitive task. Findings from the research reveal that aged subjects, regardless of sex, are more impaired by alcohol compared to younger subjects. In addition, aged female subjects are significantly less impaired by alcohol compared to aged male subjects. These data extend our research investigating the impact of alcohol in aged subjects and highlights the role of sex in understanding the effect of alcohol in the aged population.
Food insecurity is a significant issue facing many American households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides increased access to food for families in need. Additionally, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been shown to improve health and reduce the risk of a variety of chronic diseases. However, poor nutrition among children and adults, including low FV intake have contributed to rising rates of obesity in America. It is particularly challenging for low-income households to purchase/eat the recommended amount of FV. Farmers’ markets offer a wide variety of fresh, local and healthy foods, especially FV, but data show that low-income households are much less likely to shop at farmers’ markets. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers’ Market (ECDFM) sponsors a Market Match Program (MMP) incentivizing SNAP households to shop at the market. This presentation connects our work to the literature on offering incentives to SNAP shoppers at farmers’ markets. Additionally, we reference our participation in a statewide coalition to develop a statewide FM MMP. We conclude with policy recommendations in the context of the history of SNAP.
Food insecurity is a significant issue facing many American households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides increased access to food for families in need. Additionally, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been shown to improve health and reduce the risk of a variety of chronic diseases. However, poor nutrition among children and adults, including low FV intake have contributed to rising rates of obesity in America. It is particularly challenging for low-income households to purchase/eat the recommended amount of FV. Farmers’ markets offer a wide variety of fresh, local and healthy foods, especially FV, but data show that low-income households are much less likely to shop at farmers’ markets. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers’ Market (ECDFM) sponsors a Market Match Program (MMP) incentivizing SNAP households to shop at the market. This presentation connects our work to the literature on offering incentives to SNAP shoppers at farmers’ markets. Additionally, we reference our participation in a statewide coalition to develop a statewide FM MMP. We conclude with policy recommendations in the context of the history of SNAP.
Food insecurity is a significant issue facing many American households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides increased access to food for families in need. Additionally, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption has been shown to improve health and reduce the risk of a variety of chronic diseases. However, poor nutrition among children and adults, including low FV intake have contributed to rising rates of obesity in America. It is particularly challenging for low-income households to purchase/eat the recommended amount of FV. Farmers’ markets offer a wide variety of fresh, local and healthy foods, especially FV, but data show that low-income households are much less likely to shop at farmers’ markets. The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers’ Market (ECDFM) sponsors a Market Match Program (MMP) incentivizing SNAP households to shop at the market. This presentation connects our work to the literature on offering incentives to SNAP shoppers at farmers’ markets. Additionally, we reference our participation in a statewide coalition to develop a statewide FM MMP. We conclude with policy recommendations in the context of the history of SNAP.
A student assumes the role of an Honors Tutor in a University Honors course focused on developing and implementing a service project aimed at fostering inclusivity and equity on campus. She will guide Honors students through the process of identifying areas for improvement, designing actionable initiatives, and executing their plans to create a more welcoming and fair university environment. By facilitating discussions, providing insights based on her experience completing a similar project, and offering mentorship, the Honors Tutor will help students develop critical thinking skills, enhance their understanding of diversity and inclusion issues, and gain practical experience in project management and community engagement. The project aims to not only benefit the university community through the implemented service initiatives but also to cultivate leadership skills and social responsibility among the Honors students. This experiential learning opportunity will empower students to become active agents of positive change, promoting a more inclusive and equitable campus culture for all.
The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria to maximize agricultural sustainability is becoming more widespread. For example, Azospirillum are associative bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form useful to plants, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. While Azospirillum is conventionally applied to soil, its effectiveness in hydroponic systems is a point of interest as hydroponic agriculture is an effective and low-impact way to grow crops with just water and dissolved nutrients in the absence of soil. In this study, lettuce and soybean plants were grown hydroponically with and without the presence of Azospirillum. Following 7 weeks of growth, lettuce chlorophyll levels were higher in Azospirillum treated than untreated plants, however photosynthetic rates were unchanged. For both species, plants accumulated more total biomass when grown with Azospirillum. These results suggest a higher nitrogen availability for plants in hydroponic systems when Azospirillum is added. This study demonstrates that Azospirillum can promote plant growth in hydroponic systems as it has when applied to soil, which proposes an encouraging option for the future of agriculture.
In two experiments, previous students in the Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology lab investigated the extent to which individuals’ reactions to scholarly information critical of psychiatric medication prescribing in the U.S. is (1) related to individuals’ own personal use of psychiatric medication and (2) influenced by the purported lived experience and expertise of the messenger providing the information. Over the fall semester, Felicia and I met regularly to analyze the data for these two experiments, create tables that summarize the descriptive and inferential statistical output of those analyses, and design clear visual displays of the primary findings. Viewing the results of the two studies side by side, we found that participants in both studies were more receptive to the information when the messenger was described as an expert (a doctor), and participants who used psychiatric medications wanted to censor the information more than did participants who did not have personal experience with psychiatric medications. Our data are relevant to concerns about free inquiry in the academy and public understanding of science.
This study examines how parenthood and work influence gendered well-being in the U.S., Brazil, and the Netherlands using World Values Survey Wave 7 data. We find that while having children boosts women’s short-term happiness, its long-term effect on life satisfaction varies across countries. The number of children significantly impacts women’s well-being. Men’s happiness is more influenced by occupational status than fatherhood. The relationship between women’s employment and well-being differs by country. We discuss implications for gender equality, workforce participation, and policies addressing the motherhood dilemma.
Rare diseases affect 30 million Americans, many of whom remain undiagnosed. Propionic acidemia is a genetic disorder with symptoms such as digestive issues and failure to thrive. While the Wisconsin newborn screening panel tests for the disorder and symptoms often emerge within the first few days of life, not all patients are properly diagnosed. One challenge in diagnosis is the more than 400 DNA variants that have not yet been specifically associated with disease symptoms. Our lab uses a minigene system to investigate a subset of these variants. While this system is effective in assessing individual variants, it is not high throughput. We are currently testing new approaches including altered processing of samples and Next Generation Sequencing technology in order to streamline and improve analysis. In the long term, we hope that identification of additional variants linked to propionic acidemia will allow for earlier diagnosis and that the pipeline may be applied to analysis of variants potentially associated with other rare genetic diseases.
This project examines how the expansion of online course offerings has influenced student academic performance, retention, and equity in higher education. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) methodology, we analyze student outcomes from 2015 to 2024 at UWEC, comparing trends across in-person and online learning environments. The research explores whether online prerequisite courses impact student performance in subsequent coursework and evaluates demographic shifts in course enrollment. Findings indicate that post-pandemic, in-person course GPAs have converged toward online GPAs, largely due to increased withdrawal rates among struggling students. This study contributes to ongoing discussions on optimizing instructional delivery and student success strategies in higher education.
As a lasting impact from COVID, many colleges and universities worldwide, including UWEC, continue to offer online classes to their student bodies. One of the main reasons for this continuation is that online classes are perceived to be more convenient and therefore more desirable to students. This research project aims to find whether or not this perception is reality. Data come from the 2024 Eau Claire Longitudinal Student Survey. Results show that although students like online classes for their convenience, they also feel as if they learn less overall from these classes and therefore do not prefer them. Furthermore, the preference for online courses is associated with barriers to taking in-person classes and with outside work and caregiving responsibilities; however, it is not associated with variables typically associated with non-traditional students, like age and socio-economic status. Surprisingly, preference for online courses is not associated with technology problems or barriers to online learning. We conclude that increasing online course availability would improve educational access but not educational quality; therefore, care should be taken to ensure that increasing online course availability does not decrease educational quality.
Behavioral flexibility is an important mechanism by which animals may respond to changing environments. Within the context of foraging, dietary shifts allow animals to react to changes in foraging risks and opportunities. A large literature demonstrates that many prey species, including various squirrel species (family Sciuridae), adjust their foraging to predation risk. However, far fewer studies have systematically documented the behavioral shifts of squirrels to large pulses of food. Here we document the novel emergence of widespread hunting of California voles and carnivorous feeding behavior by California ground squirrels. Over two months in the twelfth year of a long-term study on the squirrel population, we document 74 events of juvenile and adult ground squirrels of both sexes depredating, consuming, and/or competing over vole prey. Our video footage, photographic evidence, and direct observations of marked individual squirrels provide insights into the ecological circumstances favoring behavioral flexibility associated with a decadal peak in vole abundance. Future studies are required to track the effects of innovative hunting behavior by the California ground squirrel on ecological processes.
Feeling overstimulated? Need some time to regulate your senses amidst the activity of CERCA? The Sensory Space/Decompression Room is here to provide relief for those moments when the day gets too loud, too intense, too smelly, or just too MUCH. If you are in need of a space for a sensory break or a moment to decompress, please stop by the Mohican Room (310), Davies Center.
This project aims to discover whether there were any trends in the politics of five subject countries—the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—during elections that took place after periods of economic dislocation that challenged dominant economic orthodoxies at the time, the two periods being the Great Depression and the “Stagflation Crisis”. This trend would be a change in ideology, not just in terms of political party. To complete this study, I conducted a large review of literature not only about certain elections, but about the individuals those elections elevated, and the proper way of studying shifts in politics during economic events. I also read literature related to certain key terms that would help me in my studies, like those of ideology (modern liberalism, neoliberalism) and of political history (the history of all major parties in studied countries). After conducting this research, I found that following the Great Depression, there was only a slight shift to the left across the five countries, as while the United States and New Zealand elected strong “modern liberal” governments, Australia and the United Kingdom did not (although the United Kingdom did join the leftward shift in the Depression-focused 1945 election), and Canada was restrained from doing so by a leader who only took limited steps towards modern liberalism. In the case of the Stagflation Crisis, there was a more definitive shift to the right, as the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand all elected neoliberal governments following the crisis. Australia and Canada, meanwhile, ended up with modern liberal governments, although ones that were beginning to embrace some tenets of neoliberalism as well. However, governments were less stable during this crisis, and government shifts came late, after less reactionary alternatives had been attempted, a hesitancy not found in the post-Depression electoral period.
Enzymes exist in crowded cellular environments. However, conventional laboratory studies are typically conducted in dilute conditions that do not account for the molecular crowding effects on enzyme structure, dynamics, and function. Our research focuses on investigating the crowding effects on the structure and stability of a multidomain enzyme, prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) from Escherichia coli. ProRS catalyzes the ligation of proline to tRNAPro, a crucial step in protein biosynthesis. We are using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), a type of scanning probe microscopy that produces high-resolution topographic images at the nanometer scale, to analyze protein structural changes. AFM images of ProRS in crowded environments will be presented. The results of this study are significant for rational drug design.
Tumor ablation can be used to treat cancer by injecting a needle-like probe to the site of a tumor and using extreme heat to kill the cancerous tissue. While this extreme heat effectively destroys cancer it can also damage nearby healthy tissues and lead to complications. Current techniques to minimize heat spread, including carbon dioxide and saline, fall short as they do not maintain adequate contact throughout the procedure. Our research proposes a biocompatible foam from all FDA-approved materials to separate and protect healthy tissues and minimize complications. Evaluation of the rate of foam collapse, thermochromic tissue mimics, rheology, pendant-drop tensiometry, and in-vivo studies have been used to characterize properties of the foam. Through further experimentation, the project will improve cancer treatment and minimize patient risk.
In this project, students in the Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology (IDEP) lab are investigating (Study 1, in progress) the extent to which college students hold various hopes and fears when they imagine having a conversation about controversial topics with a fellow college student who holds differing political views, and (Study 2, in preparation) the extent to which those various hopeful and feared outcomes manifest in such conversations. The students on this project collected nominations from 80 students last fall to identify common hopes and fears that students have, and those hopes and fears serve as the stimulus materials in Study 1 and Study 2. Sample hopes include learning new perspectives, gaining practice articulating one's views, making a new friend, etc.; sample fears include looking stupid, getting into an argument, talking with someone who is hateful, etc. The students will be ready by April 25 to describe the method and findings of both of their studies, as well as the implications of their data for encouraging civil dialogue on campus.
Designing Curatorial Stories is a collaborative creative research project between Senior graphic design student, Drew Bauer, Associate Professor of Art Cedar Marie, and Assistant Professor of Art, Mykola Haleta, to study collaborative curation and design an artist catalog for the exhibition "Drawing on Narratives". The exhibition opened at MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery in Norman, Oklahoma December 13, 2024, and will close on February 14, 2025. UWEC Associate Professor Cedar Marie curated the exhibit which explores the ways artists tell stories through visual imagery, metaphor, and the drawing process. The exhibition also collaborated with the University of Oklahoma student group Composers United, to compose scores for a featured artwork from each artist in the exhibition and to perform live at an event scheduled for February 13, 2025 at Mainsite in Norman.
Enzymes are Nature's catalysts and often perform very challenging reactions in a highly selective manner. However, accessing and purifying enzymes for synthetic purposes can be challenging and expensive, limiting their use by organic chemists. As an alternative, we can add cells directly to our reactions which harbor the enzyme of interest. Monitoring the progress of a reaction in this format (called whole cell reactions) can also be a challenge, as the cells must first be removed to check reaction progress. In this project, we developed a new spectrophotometric method by which whole cell reactions can be monitored without cell removal. This method uses an integrating cavity spectrophotometer to quantify reaction progress live, offering a streamlined solution to this challenge. We performed kinetic profiling experiments to analyze the reaction of a ring-cleaving dioxygenase in both whole cell and purified enzyme format. We evaluated differences in enzyme behavior in these different preparations. The results of these experiments and the advantages of this approach will be presented.
Over the summer of 2024, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Permanent Art Collection, comprised of nearly 800 pieces, received a digital reboot. Under the supervision and guidance of Greg Kocken and Anna Zook, Michelle McMahon, an Integrative Visual Arts major, curated multiple exhibits in a newly established online Omeka site. These exhibits, representing 100+ years of artists and stories, have created a new method for campus visitors and students to engage with the art within this remarkable collection of 3D and 2D art, creating new avenues for teaching, research, and study.
Greg Kocken is the Head Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He has a public history background and completed his graduate training in archives and records administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He played... Read More →
The Fox River and Green Bay watersheds have hosted a successful manufacturing and paper industry since the mid-19th century. This activity has propelled the area’s development and shaped its regional identity. However, because of human activity, the Green Bay and Fox River contain high volumes of point-source water contaminants, like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using models such as the Environmental Kuznets Curve and an exploration of various pollution control methods, this thesis will characterize current and historical patterns in water pollution with respect to industrial activity and intervention methods. The discussion will also explore the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of implemented control measures while using an economic lens to evaluate them from a theory perspective.
Providing for the diverse needs of the unhoused population is generally believed to be a governmental responsibility, but recent research suggests that some disparities can be ameliorated by businesses. This project seeks to investigate how businesses’ policy decisions can impact social capital development and maintenance among the unhoused, and how such choices impact the greater community. MAXQDA analysis of an ongoing ethnography, which includes interviews with business stakeholders and passive observations in public spaces, highlights the diversity of homelessness management policies, underlying motivations, and their community impacts in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. How interviewees spoke about business practices regarding unhoused individuals demonstrates a balance between two conflicting desires: altruism and individualism. Business stakeholders expressed similar beliefs regarding the business mindset, which is based in concern that excessive altruism poses a threat to a business’s success. However, the different proportions of altruism and individualism in businesses’ homelessness management policies have implications for social capital among the unhoused. Balanced policies may actually ease conflicts between the unhoused and business communities and, in conjunction with other existing public and nonprofit services in the area, improve life conditions for unhoused patrons through social capital development.
The interior of a cell contains biomolecules of various sizes and chemical properties, impacting each other's structure and function. Generally, these molecules cause crowding by reducing the available space. Additionally, confinement occurs when the functional dynamics of biomolecules become severely compromised. A third consequence is liquid-liquid phase separation, when biomolecules cluster together, leading to phase separation within the intracellular environment. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these distinct phenomena is not fully understood. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we have been studying these phenomena by using synthetic polymer crowders and a multi-domain protein system - E. coli prolyl-tRNA synthetase. A member of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, this enzyme exhibits spectacular preorganizing dynamics of a distal domain that impacts its catalytic function. Three polymer crowders have been used: polyethylene glycols, Dextran 40k, and Ficoll 70k. Analysis of the interactions reveals different types of forces responsible for various protein-crowder assembly formations, which can explain the phase separation phenomenon. These theoretical observations are being validated using spectroscopic and microscopic tools.
The Watchman procedure, also known as left atrial appendage (LAA) closure, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that aims to prevent strokes in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The procedure is performed by inserting a catheter into the vein in the leg. The catheter is guided up to the left atrial appendage where the device is deployed. Using 3D printing, a surgical trainer has been developed to allow clinicians to practice the Watchman and other heart procedures in a non-clinical setting.
Layers of (in)QUEER(y), a queer art exhibition shown in the fall of 2024, provided an exploration of queer theory, identity, expression, and art. The exhibit included work from 13 artists, over 10 accompanying workshops and artist talks, impacted over 600 visitors. Layers queered the Eau Claire community and brought awareness to diverse identities. With the inclusion of a Satellite Alumni Exhibit at McIntyre Library, our team explored the inherent queer history of UW-Eau Claire.
Raw milk and the policies surrounding it are a topic that has been discussed in health and in agricultural settings for quite a while. However, with the recent increase of influencers and other well-known figures promoting raw milk consumption, there is a lot of confusion circulating online about the safety of raw milk and what the risks of consuming or using raw milk are to individuals. There are different policies at both the state and federal level regarding what can be done with raw milk, but finding in depth information on those policies and their impacts to compare is not something as easily available. This project aims to compare policies by state in detail to make them more understandable to others. It also aims to analyze the impacts of the raw milk policies in place to determine their impact on human health, businesses, and agriculture.
The architectural coatings industry is a multibillion-dollar market where cost efficiency and environmental impact are major concerns. Titanium dioxide (titania) is a critical but expensive component in paint formulations, and its production has significant environmental consequences. This research explores the use of stimuli-responsive “smart” polymers to enhance titania dispersion in water-based coatings, reducing the amount required without sacrificing performance. By improving opacity and gloss while lowering titania content, this approach could decrease manufacturing costs and lessen the environmental burden of titania mining and processing. Our study evaluates titania dispersion using Leneta charts, assessing key properties through opacity, gloss, and secondary tests such as water droplet. If successful, this technology could lead to more sustainable and cost-effective coatings, benefiting both manufacturers and consumers. With increasing demand for water-based paints due to environmental concerns and regulations on oil-based coatings, widespread adoption of this technology could have significant economic and environmental benefits for the global paint industry.
Providing opportunities for Interprofessional Education (IPE) is a requirement of educational programs across multiple health professions, including Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Physical Therapy (PT). The purpose of this study was to measure each disciplines’ perceptions of IPE and application of IPE to a clinical case following a simulated interdisciplinary case evaluation experience. Participants included 22 OT and 45 PT graduate students from UW-La Crosse and 27 SLP graduate students from UW-Eau Claire and Viterbo University. Data included a pre-event survey gauging their understanding of a left cerebrovascular accident (CVA) case through open-ended questions and Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) scoring, and a post-event survey that included open-ended case responses, OASIS scoring, and a self-rating of their IPE skills using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS). Quantitative and qualitative data about changes to student content knowledge and IPE knowledge and application will be presented.
This project focuses on applying a coding-theoretic community clustering algorithm to detect community groups within a datasetof Indigenous beaders on Instagram. Maddie collected and formatted the data using Python, then implemented and contributed to the development of a clustering algorithm alongside Dr. Allison Beemer and Dr. Jessalyn Bolkema (CSU-Dominguez Hills).Maddie was able to produce community clusterings of the dataset of Indigenous beaders, and is working to place these mathematically-generated subgroups in cultural context. In addition, Maddie developed theoretical bounds on the complexity of the algorithm by looking at a parameter called the covering radius of a code, which approximately measures how “far apart” different community structures can be.
This presentation applies ideas of psychologist Carl Jung to examine the internal structure of Bharatanatyam, an Indian Classical dance form. Taking inspiration from Acrobats of the Gods: Dance and Transformation by Joan Dexter Blackmer and from the presenter’s training in Bharatanatyam, the presentation relates Jung’s analysis of alchemy as a psychological process and relates it to the spiritual practice that is Indian Classical dance. Alchemy as a spiritual process involves the integration of matter and spirit, which is evident in the practice of sacred dance. The presentation cross-examines the traditional stages of the alchemical process with the stages of learning the repertoire in Bharatnatyam. The traditional repertoire of a performance, called the margam, is shown to contain a deep psychological structure, which is mirrored by the stages within alchemy. The performance of Bharatnatyam becomes not just a theatrical experience but a spiritual system helpful in the process of individuation.
Edible and leisure items are often used in behavioral intervention to teach skills or reduce problem behavior. Previous research conducted investigating preference displacement between edible and leisure items has shown mixed results. Researchers attribute this to potentially present motiving operations such as satiation and deprivation of items. The purpose of the current study is to further manipulate the motivating operations (MOs) in combined class multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments. Multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments were conducted to identify highly preferred stimuli from both edible and leisure classes to use in combined assessments. In the deprivation combined class assessments either edible or leisure items were deprived for 24 hours prior to the assessments. Following the pre-satiation condition the two non-deprived items were satiated using a pre-determined number of edible stimuli or time. The combined assessment was then repeated to assess the effects of satiation. Preliminary results suggest that effects of satiation and deprivation are present, but that MOs do not reliably predict preference displacement or outcome of one class of stimuli over another.
The qualitative multimodal content analysis of Goldman Sachs’ Instagram account examined how the company has visually communicated their corporate identity following dress code policy change in March 2019. Grounded in multimodal theory and corporate identity construction, the case study examined how professional attire is curated on social media to convey corporate values and identity. Using a refined analytical template, systematic coding of the dataset that included 48 posts featuring 126 images was conducted. The template used key categories--salience, multimodal attire, professional ensemble, and authenticity--to guide the process. Five thematic patterns were constructed including homage to tradition, salient power moves, intentional styling, (in)authentic expression, and curated inclusion. The findings contribute to understanding how corporations visually construct their identity on social media and through corporate dress codes.
The instructional internship program was founded in the CSD department in 2006. It provides an opportunity for students who have successfully taken a course to serve as part of the instructional team in a subsequent semester. A number of investigations have been conducted to examine the impact of this program on students serving as instructional interns, the students being served by instructional interns, and to faculty members. Several positive impacts have been reported for all groups. The program has served as a model to similar programs within the university and to other universities. The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive tutorial for the instructional internship program, drawing upon a systematic review of existing evidence, and addressing procedures for a successful program.
Television has been frequently criticized for its stereotypical and oftentimes exaggerated coverage of white female victims, violent crime, and offenders of color (Britto et al., 2007; Chermak, 1995; Cuklanz & Moorti, 2006; Entman, 1990; Gerbner et al., 1980; Kelly, 2023). Media plays a significant role in perpetuating and reinforcing Christie’s (1986) stereotypical ideal victim narrative involving White, female victims being attacked by strangers (Madriz, 1997). The current study explored the disabled and LGBTQ+ victim representation in Law & Order: SVU, using a content analysis of approximately 56 episodes of SVU; the following areas were considered: (a) victim demographic variables (e.g., race, gender, class), (b) special victim category (e.g., disability type and/or sexual orientation), (c) crime type, and (d) system interactions (e.g., officer response/treatment and court response/treatment).
Gender is a highly discussed and debated subject within the current political climate with there being a large discussion about the prevalence and use of gender labels and pronouns. With this comes questions about how one forms their gender identity and to whom they disclose that identity to. This research aims to explore the development and understanding of nonbinary identity formation, the importance of labels, and how nonbinary students view gender and sexuality in romantic relationships. We used semi-structured interviews with ten participants who identify as nonbinary to explore the experiences that nonbinary students have with understanding their gender and how it has been influenced by and influences their personal relationships. The majority of our participants mentioned that they don’t think gender labels should be obligatory, however, they mention that they understand others may prefer to have a label for themselves. Multiple participants also discussed that they feel most comfortable disclosing their identity to people who they feel would be understanding of their gender. This research demonstrates how identity labels are not just an outcome, but also part of the process by which people seek validation and acceptance for their gender identity.
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional injuring of one’s body without the intent to die (Lewis et al., 2019). Efforts are needed to understand the motivation and recovery process of NSSI (Liu et al., 2024). Recovery can be experienced differently by individuals and may be influenced by various mechanisms (Lewis & Hasking, 2021). Andersson et al. (2024) qualitatively found three themes of recovery that encompass facets of self-compassion, social support, resiliency, and mental health distress. Most studies investigating NSSI recovery utilize qualitative methods (Lewis & Hasking, 2021) and our study expands this work by quantitatively examining variables related to perceived NSSI recovery. We hypothesized that self-perceived recovered individuals would score higher in self-compassion, social support, and resiliency and lower in mental health distress and self-criticism. We also explored which of these factors would predict perceived recovery. Participants included 712 young adults from a Midwest University (Mean age = 19.55, SD = 1.46, 73.4% female, 90.8% White) recruited through email to complete an anonymous online survey of constructs related to NSSI recovery. A 3x5 ANOVA revealed significant differences between groups and Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc tests indicated selfperceived recovered individuals scored higher than unsure and not recovered individuals on social support and resiliency, and unsure individuals scored higher than not recovered individuals, all ps < .05. Unique group differences existed in self-compassion, self-criticism, and mental health and will be discussed. Linear regression analyses identified that all variables studied were significant predictors of perceived recovery, F(8) = 12.16, p < .001, accounting for 14.1% of the variance. Results indicate the recovery process is influenced by self-perceptions and general mental health. Although qualitative research indicates individual differences at various phases of recovery, the variables quantitatively studied should be accounted for when creating a plan for NSSI recovery.
Rare earth-doped barium copper oxide (REBCO) is superconducting material capable of generating magnetic fields over 20T at high current densities. As such, it is an emerging magnet conductor choice for nuclear fusion magnets and particle accelerators. However, REBCO is fabricated by a complicated metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, and it is difficult to produce REBCO tape with uniform properties over the hundreds of meters needed for a magnet winding. In this project, the variability in structural features in the REBCO layer of commercial tapes is assessed by scanning electron microscopy in order to gauge the relative maturity of the manufacturing processes used by companies around the world. Image analysis and data visualization techniques were developed as part of the project, and the data produced here will be help manufacturers improve the reliability of their processes, and will further give magnet builders insight into which tapes are the most reliable for magnet performance.
The rapid surge in technological advancements has profoundly transformed various aspects of life, including medicine, access to information, and global connectivity. However, the speed and scale of these changes have given rise to new questions about their impact on the development of younger generations. One of the most drastically affected areas is socialization. Children no longer need face-to-face interactions to engage with their peers, as digital communication has become the norm. Additionally, it is often more convenient for parents to hand their child a tablet or phone for entertainment rather than arranging in-person playdates. The shift away from direct social interactions could have adverse effects on the development of young children’s social skills. This project aims to synthesize the existing research concerning the impact of technology use on young children’s social skills through a meta-analysis. By combining data from multiple studies, this approach will provide more reliable conclusions and help identify overarching trends.
Isolated cases of plague and widespread paranoia infected San Francisco. Fledgling practices of bacteriology debuted the ability to identify Pestis bacteria. No longer was it the faceless enemy of the Black Death. Yet a contentious set of unknowns remained — competing medical groups clashed politically, socially, and professionally over the plague's transmission, treatment, and existence. Often to the detriment of Chinese Immigrants. Previous scholarship documented the outcomes of the plague and subsequent political battles as a vector to the construction of race, intertwining it with public health. This paper then looks at the commonality between these competing groups; the absence of critical epidemiological knowledge. It utilizes a study of ignorance, intentional or incidental, through the analysis of archival court cases, medical journals, correspondence, and newly translated Chinese newspapers. Rather than focusing on the outcomes of these battles, it shifts its focus to the underlying foundations. I then argue that the insertion of each group's respective ideology into the unknown variables formed the results of the plague; ignorantly shaping knowledge, and racist systems of policy while conversely allowing the Chinese to counteract them. Thus revealing how knowledge itself is the battleground for power.
When defining walkability, many geographers determine urbanized, condensed communities are ideal spaces to create safe, accessible, interesting, and diverse pedestrian areas. The condensing of neighborhoods allows for accessibility to amenities surrounding them, such as healthcare, education, green spaces, food sources, public transportation, and entertainment. While these highly populous living areas may seem ideal for walking logistically, the Perceived Neighborhood Walkability (or PNW) from a resident’s perspective is not commonly taken into account when determining the walkability of an area. While methods to determine walkability, such as WalkScore and 15-minute walking radiuses, quantifiably analyze communities, the PNW should be a factor in making changes and updates to a neighborhood plan. This research continues to analyze the Putnam Heights Neighborhood walkability and determines the Perceived Neighborhood Walkability of the neighborhood in Eau Claire Wisconsin. Furthermore, it utilizes this perception to determine how walkability should be defined in rural and suburban spaces. By determining the PNW, inequities in this neighborhood, and inaccessibility to amenities can be better analyzed from a resident’s perspective
Development of a system that can deploy a stent graft in a peripheral artery with a collateral vessel without blocking the collateral vessel has been undertaken to assist in treating different arterial conditions like atherosclerosis. Currently no commercially available system exists that can deploy a stent graft without inhibiting flow to the collateral vessel; surgeons must create a fenestration in the main graft through which to deploy a smaller device. The fabrication of this system involved modifying and combining prefabricated catheters to make a complete system that can deploy the stent with good turnability. The system has a port to both inject dye and insert a wire to probe for correct placement of the device fenestration. The research effort has produced prototypes of a multi-lumen intravascular catheter deployment system for stent graft placement where a stent graft can be placed via the system and proper fenestration alignment to the collateral vessel can be confirmed.
Breast awareness refers to knowing one's breasts and, therefore, being able to identify changes. Breast awareness is made possible through breast self-examination (BSE), a periodic and systematic self-assessment of the breasts and surrounding area using inspection and palpation. Most women attending universities are too young to have their breasts screened through mammography, and they could benefit from BSE. This study aimed at describing the knowledge and attitudes related to BSE among university students in the midwestern US. This was a cross-sectional study, via Qualtrics. A total of 759 undergraduate students answered at least 80% of the survey. Most participants demonstrated satisfactory knowledge about the steps included in BSE. Still, they referred to being "unsure" related to specific BSE steps such as squeezing the nipples and the frequency of performing BSE. Almost 70% of the students said they rarely or never perform BSE. Overall, females were more knowledgeable than males about BSE. These results suggest that activities related to breast health promotion can be implemented on campus to improve breast awareness.
The purpose of this project was to illuminate the stories of people through songs sung as children - stories of playing, dancing, spending time with family, friends, and more. The research team received a grant for a project focusing on diversifying folk song repertoire to be used in the music classroom. The researchers conducted interviews with culture bearers to collect songs and stories to share with children. We hope to highlight how children around the world connect with music so that we can show children similarities in this engagement and appreciate differences. Although each researcher has a unique rationale for participation in this project, the overarching goals are to have more students feel represented in the music classroom and to find out more about our cultures and those around us along the way.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution contains the citizenship clause, which contains the protection of “birthright citizenship.” This clause has generally been settled law for most of its history, since the US Supreme Court decided US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). Recently, legal theorists have begun to question the meaning of the clause the Court adopted in Wong Kim Ark, advocating for a narrowing of the citizenship clause and birthright citizenship. This academic debate is also reflected in contemporary political discussion, both from executive action and legislative proposals. This research aims to understand the debate over the meaning of the citizenship clause and understand how the Supreme Court should rule on what the citizenship clause means currently. The debate will be contextualized with a view of birthright citizenship before the 14th Amendment was ratified, and the development of understanding after ratification.
Background: Matrigel, a derivative of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a mouse sarcoma, simulates a basement membrane in culture and has previously shown positive results in stem cell culture. Microencapsulation of cells is a 3D cell culture technique in which cells are enveloped in a matrix to promote the formation of spheroids. Spheroids are advantageous as they encourage better maintenance of cellular phenotype and more closely emulate in vivo conditions due to 3D cellular interactions. In this project, a microfluidic device was used to encapsulate cells in a hollow, bioactive PEG-heparin shell. We hypothesize that adding Matrigel to the core of the bioactive microcapsule will result in increased definitive endoderm differentiation efficiency for pluripotent stem cells. Methods: Microencapsulation was achieved with a microfluidic Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device. The shell is composed of 4-arm-polyehtylene glycol and methacrylated heparin. Spheroid formation encouraged with ROCK inhibitor. Definitive endoderm differentiation was induced with growth factors Activin A and CHIR99021. Experimental groups used: Matrigel growth factor containing (GF+) in core, Matrigel growth factor reduced (GFR) in core, and capsules without Matrigel in the core. Method of analysis: RT- qPCR. Results: After using a seven-day procedure for definitive endoderm differentiation, encapsulated cells cultured with Matrigel (GF+ and GFR) in core displayed a higher expression of definitive endoderm markers Sox17 and CXCR4 than cells in capsules without Matrigel. The use of Matrigel in the core did not significantly induce expression of markers for mesoderm or ectoderm. Conclusion: Matrigel in the core of a bioactive core-shell microcapsule improves definitive endoderm gene expression compared to cells differentiated in capsules without Matrigel. These findings may indicate improved downstream differentiation efficiency after Matrigel incorporation. Further studies would demonstrate any impact Matrigel core encapsulation would have on other germ layer differentiations. These technologies with increased efficiency of definitive endoderm could ultimately be used in cellular therapy applications.
This thesis will explore the relationship between poetry and the expression of emotions through this creative writing style. Looking deeper at this message design tactic, poetry allows for emotions to be explored and communicated to properly express thoughts, feelings, and ideas. This thesis will offer a deeper analysis of the sharing of emotions in current society, how poetry works within that emotional exchange, and an analysis of some poetry to offer a creative example to this process. By collecting qualitative data and offering specific creative works, this thesis will combine creativity and scholarly context to explore the general communication of emotions and experiences.
Oral contraceptives have a variety of uses; within the inpatient behavioral health population, omission of prescribed oral contraceptives can cause changes in mood, adverse mental health symptoms, and possible unintended pregnancy. The continuation of prescribed medications throughout hospital admission is an important component of high-quality inpatient care and Joint Commission Standards. A chart review of a local inpatient psychiatry and psychology (IPP) unit from 2022 and 2023 revealed that out of 730 total days in 2022 and 2023, there were 277 patient admission days (38%) in which 51 patients should have received their oral contraceptive while admitted to the IPP unit. A total of 34 patients (66%) with 38 occurrences of 141 patient admission days (51%) did not receive their oral contraceptive while admitted to the IPP unit. There were 17 patients (33%) with 21 occurrences of 136 patient admission days (49%) that did receive their oral contraceptive while admitted to the IPP unit. Chart review results informed the need for an oral contraception procurement workflow. A quality improvement project with the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework to improve female behavioral health inpatient’s access to their prescribed oral contraception was developed. In January 2025, an oral contraception procurement workflow was implemented. The workflow involves inpatient staff ordering a monthly pack of the patient’s oral contraceptive from the onsite outpatient pharmacy to be delivered to the IPP unit to reduce missed medication administrations. Data is being collected from January 20, 2025-April 30, 2025. Thus far, the workflow has shown to be effective in improving oral contraception access (N = 2, n = 2, 100%). The creation of an oral contraception procurement workflow addressed a patient care gap for a potentially vulnerable and frequently marginalized patient population.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by cells into the extracellular space, EVs have therapeutic potential as EVs possess neuroprotective properties. EVs are gaining attention as a new method used for neuroregenerative therapies without the need for neurosurgical intervention. Astrocytes provide a good feeder layer which is known to release growth factors into the culture media that support the growth of target cells. Astrocyte feeder layers provide extracellular secretions to help another cell proliferate. My hypothesis is that astrocytes extracellular secretions into the culture media will increase neurite length of glutamatergic neurons. Cells obtained from patient skin punch biopsies are differentiated into fibroblasts and then differentiated to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from iPSCs were differentiated into induced glutamatergic neurons with a 14-day protocol. NSCs underwent transduction with ngn2 and rtTA 1 day after seeding onto 96-well plate. Doxycycline was used to induce the overexpression of ngn2 and rtTA until days in vitro (DIV) 9. Transduced cells were selected with puromycin on DIV 2. Cells were cultured in neural expansion media DIV -2 to 0 with EGF and FGF growth factors, DIV 1 to DIV 14 in neural maturation media with BDNF and GDNF growth factors. Astrocytes were cultured and matured with a 42-day protocol. Astrocyte culture media was removed when astrocytes matured. Astrocyte differentiation media that had not touched cells was also obtained. Both medias went through centrifugation in 3 kDa and 100 kDa centrifugal filter tubes, at 4,000 g and 15ºC for 10 minutes. Concentrated medias were placed on mature glutamatergic neurons at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. Neurite length was measured with Incucyte, a quantitative live cell analysis system. Image captured at hour 0 prior to placing concentrated medias. Serial images captured at 24, 48, 72-hour intervals after concentrated medias were placed. Glutamatergic neuronal networks did not appear to be in abundance or healthy, producing inconsistent results. In conclusion, the majority of glutamatergic neurons did not form the amount of distinct neuronal networks necessary for accurate Incucyte analysis of neurite length.
Since arriving in Wisconsin in 2022, Iryna has been dedicated to advocating for her home country, Ukraine, through powerful storytelling initiatives. Her presentation will explain her advocacy efforts and their impact, including her experience bringing the worldwide “Unissued Diplomas” exhibit to UW-Eau Claire in November 2024 and her current project, “Ukrainian Stories,” organized by Vladyslav Plyaka at UW-Oshkosh. Both projects aim to humanize the conflict through personal stories of Ukrainian students, enhancing cultural understanding and global mindedness on UW System campuses. Iryna will also discuss other crucial efforts to foster a supportive and informed community that recognizes the need to stand with Ukraine. Through her work, she hopes to empower individuals to take meaningful action.
Tang Ping (躺平) and Quiet Quitting have become popular concepts embraced by many young people in China and the U.S., referring to a simple lifestyle without effort making. This research project explores the impact and similarities between Tang Ping and Quiet Quitting and their impact on the younger generations between China and the U.S. In this comparative study, the research team collected data through surveys and semi-structured interviews with instructors and students in both countries, to investigate whether this is a generational or cultural issue, looking at how this will impact the student’s future as they advance into the workforce. This study will take an integrated lens to examine this concept in relation to other sociocultural aspects. This study will illuminate the connections between these two cultural issues and their prominent impact on the young generation and society, as well as offer suggestions for teaching and learning.
The islands of the North Atlantic (the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland) are unique for their polar environments and geopolitical significance. Though they exist at what has been termed the edge of the world, each holds vast environmental, strategic, and cultural importance. As such, their sovereignty and identity are continuous themes in their literature. Such works can demonstrate how the islanders regard their land, their national and cultural identity, and their sovereignty. A rich body of research regarding the Arctic nations and their sovereignty exists, but this issue has yet to be studied extensively through the lens of literature. Current geopolitical developments also call for a reevaluation of Arctic politics, culture, and in the case of Greenland, indigeneity. To answer this question, I will conduct literary, historical, and geopolitical research, using translated literary works and academic scholarship. In addition to writing a research paper, I plan to disseminate my findings to a wider audience by creating a digital exhibit using the methods, standards, and practices I have studied in HIST 380: Museums, Theory and Practice. By completing this research and sharing it in via a an accessible, public exhibit, I aim to share the stories of diverse northern cultures and their current position in geopolitics with non-academic audiences.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a neurological intervention that can treat drug-resistant neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease. It involves implanting electrodes into a specific brain region and applying electrical stimulation. This surgical procedure has proven effective in relieving the motor symptoms of such patients, but there needs to be more clarity on the pathways it affects to better refine it. To improve the understanding of one of these pathways called the hyperdirect pathway that is a main focus in PD DBS, nanoparticle-driven fluorescent beads were used to map the regions around the subthalamic nucleus (target of DBS), the primary motor cortex (potential DBS effector), and the ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus (input to the primary motor cortex). Red and green Lumafluor Retrobeads were injected into four rat brains in these three areas. Histology was collected two days after perfusions, followed by imaging using a fluorescent microscope to identify the nanoparticles. From imaging over 100 slices of these brains, it could be seen that there were a multitude of areas that projected to each of the three areas injected. However, there were only some that displayed a rather strong connection. Furthermore, some areas projected to more than one injection site, displaying just how intricate these pathways are. All the projection sites for the subthalamic nucleus, primary motor cortex, and the ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus are laid out in a table with the color indigo indicating the strength of the projections. All the data collected provides more specific anatomical information for ongoing DBS work for PD.
Emojis have emerged as a universal means of expressing emotions in the current socio-cultural landscape; yet, their application in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remains underexplored. Previous research has demonstrated that emoticons can effectively and intuitively convey emotional states across different cultures and languages. For instance, studies have shown that emojis can enhance the accuracy of self-reported mood and well-being by providing a more relatable and accessible mode of expression compared to traditional text-based surveys. In the context of incurable diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), communicating emotional states to care teams is crucial for optimal disease management and improved PROs. This study involved 200 MS patients who assessed their cognitive status, mood, fatigue, and ambulation using the Mayo Clinic Electronic Emoji-Based Neurological Impairment Status (MEBNIS) survey. Each participant also completed multiple well-established clinical tests/surveys for MS evaluation and underwent 3T brain MRIs within one year of the clinical evaluations. To validate the MEBNIS survey, we compared its results with those from the other clinical tests/surveys. Our findings revealed several strong positive correlations between MEBNIS results and other clinical test outcomes. In addition, MRI analysis showed negative correlations between the emoji-based responses and respective brain region volumes. Furthermore, patient engagement improved with the use of MEBNIS. These results demonstrate that MEBNIS provides an effective and user-friendly method for assessing neurological impairment in MS patients, offering an overview of their status while bridging language barriers and literacy gaps, thus facilitating more natural communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a chronic condition that affects signaling in the nervous system by damaging important components, such as neurons. When injury occurs, excessive thrombin is released. However, if protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is removed, studies have shown that there is a possibility for regeneration of necessary aspects in the spinal cord. A critical part of nervous tissue is the myelin sheath, which covers axons to help deliver signals both within the central nervous system and throughout the body. Myelin, and many other aspects of the nervous system, are largely made up of lipids. In injury, the myelin sheath can experience severe degradation. While the importance of lipids in this model is known, their interaction with PAR1 is yet to be discovered. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is an important carrier of these lipids and their transport mechanisms in injury could prove important in the SCI PAR1 deletion model. Assessment of this process was completed by comparing the presence of different cell types (oligodendrocyte precursor cells, astrocytes, and neurons) and their colocalization to ApoE in wild type mice (PAR1 +/+) as well as PAR1 knockouts (PAR1 -/-). This analysis identified that PAR1 deletion resulted in an increase in presence of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, GFAP+ astrocytes, and neurons. This leads to the belief that removal of PAR1 improves functional recovery and increases ApoE expression.
This project evaluates the use of social media platforms Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok as tools to identify EBP in a graduate aphasia course. We also will evaluate how graduate students perceived using social media as an educational tool compared to other coursebased learning supports. Twenty-four students completed this assignment. The students used the social media platforms of Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to find social media posts as guided by 5 prompts. Each student was assigned to every social media platform twice with them rotating throughout the semester. For each prompt, students were required to find a social media post on their assigned social media platform. Students submitted their findings in response to the prompts such as “How do we create an Aphasia friendly environment?” or “How do people get better with Aphasia?” The students were not required to post on their assigned social media platform or comment on the posts they found. If students were opposed to using social media, an alternative assignment was assigned. However, they were required to post a screenshot and a 3-5 sentence narrative describing what they found to be the most important information relevant to the prompt. Students submitted their posts and narratives to the course through Learning Management System (LMS; Canvas). These student submissions were classified as “social media relics”. These “relics” were coded to one or more components of the evidence-based practice triangle. Results will be discussed relating to effective pedagogical strategies to support EBP access and potential relative values of social media platforms to specific types of EBP.
This paper delves into the history and cultural significance of weaving in the Maya culture, specifically as practiced by Mayan women in Guatemala across many generations. Through a description of the technical and artistic aspects of craft and its roots in Maya legends, the craft is discussed as a means by which Maya culture was preserved despite centuries of colonization and during periods of Guatemala’s history in which the government targeted Mayan communities for persecution if not outright elimination. The research shows how this practice has therefore, in its use of patterns that specifically identify the various Maya communities that create them, have historically served as acts of resistance to a problematic history.
When he published The Orphanage in 2017, prolific Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan stated his aim in writing the work was to portray the real experiences of people in his home region in the Donbas as Russian troops aided anti-Maidan separatists. A function of realistic representation is the banishment of stereotypes, which begs the question: how does Zhadan deal with or even use common stereotypes about residents in so-called “post-Soviet states”in The Orphanage? Does he seek to actively banish those stereotypes, or does he let them remain, wanting the work to be seen as “authentically” Ukrainian? In this paper, I argue that Zhadan uses the “post-Soviet loser” concept, developed by theorist Tamara Hundorova, to construct the main character of Pasha. Like Hunderova’s concept of a “post-Soviet loser”, Pasha is apathetic and disillusioned with the state that he works on the behalf of. However, as the novel goes on, Zhadan seeks to subvert and replace the “post-Soviet loser” concept within Pasha, with a new concept of the post-Soviet citizen—one less pathetic and more fitting of, and more inspiring to, a war-weary people. He does this through connecting Pasha with his nephew, who as a member of a new and more strident generation is able to inspire Pasha towards greatness, compared to the apathy stirred in him by the older generations.
