University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
The DU Undergraduate Research Journal is an annual, peer reviewed publication of research articles from all undergraduate disciplines. The mission of DUURJ is to encourage, recognize, and celebrate intellectual activity that occurs outside of the classroom, though exemplary research conducted in classroom settings may also be displayed. The journal staff is comprised entirely of DU undergraduate students and works in conjunction with the Undergraduate Research Association to promote academic research across all disciplines. DUURJ accepts manuscripts on a rolling basis. For information on submission guidelines, click here. If you have questions about how to submit, please see here or contact us directly at duurj@du.edu. If you are interested in joining DUURJ as an editor, please email us at duurj@du.edu.
DU Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works
Copyright (c) 2025 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
Exploring the roots of Republican factionalism in contemporary U.S. politics
The Republican Party has experienced significant internal divisions in recent elections, with the 2024 Presidential Primary revealing a party divided between two factions: Donald Trump’s followers, often referred to by his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) slogan; and those that adhere to traditional Republican values that have defined the Grand Old Party (GOP) for decades. While MAGA Republicans still espouse conservative social values, they break away from the party when it comes to their “America First” ideology, another popular Trump slogan. The United States has long been a leader on the world stage, a position that both Democrats and Republicans have found useful to the nation’s foreign policy agenda. However, Trump’s supporters believe the U.S. government should be more focused on domestic issues and advocate for the country’s withdrawal from international treaties and global initiatives. Although this divide points to a difference in financial and political priorities, it fails to explain where such a divide originated. The following paper explores how educational attainment influences ideological leanings and candidate preferences within the party, with a particular focus on the 2024 primaries. Through polling data and historical analysis, I conclude that educational attainment significantly shapes these divisions, finding that recent populist rhetoric has exacerbated this divide. While college-educated Republicans tend to favor traditional GOP values and candidates like Nikki Haley, those with lower levels of educational attainment are more likely to rally behind Donald Trump’s brand of populist nationalism and identity politics. This educational divide has broad implications for the future of the Republican Party and the ideological trajectory of American politics, particularly in regard to recent polarization within and between the Democratic and Republican parties.
Investigating the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis in Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) following an acute stressor
This study investigated the response to acute stress in Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and HPI axis regulation of glucocorticoid production during stress by examining the expression of key genes―corticotropin-releasing hormone (crh), corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (crhr), proopiomelanocortin (pomca/pomcb), melanocortin 2 receptor (mc2r), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star)―that are associated with hypothalamus/pituitary/interrenal (HPI) axis of bony fishes. Additionally, tyrosine hydrogenase (th1 and th2) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck), found in catecholamine-producing cells in the head kidney of the sturgeon, were investigated as alternative pathways of stress regulation outside of the HPI axis. We sought to test the hypothesis that there is an upregulation of one or several components of the HPI axis in A. oxyrinchus to produce a corticosteroidogenic response to acute stress. Atlantic sturgeons were exposed to an acute stressor, netting, and were sampled at 1, 6, and 24 h during recovery whilst maintaining an unstressed control. The fish were examined for plasma cortisol, plasma glucose, and the relative abundance of crh, crhr, pomca, pomcb, mc2r, star, th1, th2, and pepck. Our investigations demonstrated a significant elevation in plasma glucose and cortisol in response to stress; however, there was no significant transcriptional upregulation of the expected corticosteroidogenic HPI axis components crh, crhr, pomca, pomcb, mc2r, and star. The investigation revealed significant upregulation of th2 and pepck in response to stress, which provides a possible explanation for elevated plasma glucose levels that were observed. These findings indicate that there may be alternative pathways for stress regulation of plasma glucose in A. oxyrinchus, and further investigation is necessary for a more comprehensive understanding. Our findings fail to explain the increase in plasma cortisol levels that was observed. Future studies directed at the stress-responsive regulation of cortisol and catecholamines may offer a greater understanding of the neuroendocrine pathways regulating steroidogenesis and gluconeogenesis during stress in A. oxyrinchus as well as basal vertebrates in general.
Exploring relationships between racial bias, state empathy, and perceived recovery time following a medical hardship
This experiment investigated whether racial biases exist in laypeople's perceptions of recovery time following a common, medically-related hardship and whether these biases can be explained by differential empathy across race. White participants (n=133) read a vignette describing either a White or Black target who experienced a minor car accident. They then rated the amount of time they felt was reasonable for the target to take off from work and normal activities and how much time it would take to recover physically and mentally. Participants also completed measures of state empathy toward the target and their sleep quality. Results showed a significant main effect of target race, such that participants perceived shorter recovery times for the White (relative to Black) target. The predicted mediation through state empathy was not significant, and sleep quality did not moderate recovery time judgements. Current literature related to race and recovery-related perceptions focuses primarily on medical contexts, but little to no work has investigated the perception of medical recovery times in everyday scenarios such as school life, work life, and social life. We addressed this gap in the literature by investigating whether lay perceivers’ predictions of recovery time varied across target races. Understanding lay perceivers’ racialized beliefs about recovery time may have implications across employment (e.g., supervisors determining appropriate time off following hardships), education (e.g., different expectations for students coming back from personal hardships), or social domains (e.g., perceptions of one’s ability to return to normal social life following a hardship). This experiment adds to a better understanding of the mixed findings in the current literature, though further research is needed to clarify whether and why people judge the recovery time of individuals differently based on their race.
Exploring buffering effects of interpersonal relationships on the impacts of stress on physical health
We examined the potential moderating effects of interpersonal relationships on the association between stress and physical health. We hypothesized that there would be a significant main effect of stress on physical health, a significant main effect of relationships on physical health, and a significant interaction between stress and relationship quality on physical health, such that quality relationships provide a buffering effect, reducing the negative impacts of stress on physical health. Data was collected through a self-report Qualtrics survey on CloudResearch. We found a significant main effect of stress on physical health and a significant main effect of relationship quality on physical health. An interaction was only observed in romantic relationship subtypes, such that low-quality romantic relationships exhibit a greater decline in physical health than high-quality romantic relationships in conditions of low compared to high stress. Important implications exist in which enhancing relationship quality could be a vital strategy in mitigating stress-related health consequences. This may include therapeutic interventions, socioemotional- based school curricula, and holistic healthcare opportunities.
Massacre vs. shooting: Exploring CNN and FOX’s coverage of the Uvalde Robb Elementary School attack
This study dissects FOX News Media (FOX News) and Cable News Network’s (CNN) media coverage differences of the Uvalde, Texas Robb Elementary School terror attack (Uvalde shooting). On March 24, 2022, Salvador Ramos perpetrated a mass shooting, killing 19 children and two teachers and injuring 17 others. This paper showcases that the incident qualifies as terrorism and explores how two major U.S. news outlets framed and covered the incident differently in their headlines, images, captions, sources, and tone. While CNN emphasized police culpability, victim perspectives, and presented a somber tone, FOX News downplayed the severity of the attack, highlighted police preparedness, and maintained a more positive tone regarding law enforcement actions. Through analysis of these framing techniques, this study underscores the importance of media literacy, urging news consumers to critically evaluate the biases of their chosen news sources and understand the impact of political ideologies on framing terrorism incidents.
Copyright (c) 2024 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
Strategies in Time-Based Media Conservation: An Evaluation of Three Institutional Approaches
Time-based media (TBM) is a category of art in which the works rely on the passage of time and often the integration of technology to convey their artistic concepts and narratives. It encompasses various artistic expressions, including video installations, sound art, performance, and interactive digital works. This diverse array of mediums present distinct challenges to institutions responsible for their storage, preservation, and accessibility. The rapid evolution of technology and the inherent fragility of the media formats make the proper management of time-based media art equipment a critical concern. This paper examines three case studies of time-based media artworks from the Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art, and Smithsonian American Art Museum, evaluating the approaches employed by each institution to address the unique challenges of conserving display equipment for exhibition. By analyzing the outcomes and implications of these approaches, this study aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of effective strategies for preserving and presenting time-based media artworks in museum settings. Many of these time-based media works consist of three essential technical elements: the information carrier, the playback equipment, and the display equipment. For example, a VHS tape—the carrier—is responsible for storing the data, a VHS player—the playback equipment—reads the data, and a CRT video monitor—the display equipment—renders the data in a consumable format for the viewer. In this constructed “dynamic system,” each of the components is vulnerable to degradation and technological obsolescence, so parts must eventually be repaired or replaced. While regularly exercising a time-based media work is vital to keeping it and the institutional knowledge of its installation alive, it also introduces loss to the dynamic system by gradually degrading the equipment with each use. Consequently, two fundamental tenets of the museum—preservation and exhibition—are at odds with one another. The active role of a TBM conservator is to strike a delicate balance between these two institutional missions, and to do so they must make decisions that require a certain degree of nuanced, conceptual interpretation. If a piece of equipment fails, should it be replaced with the exact same model as the original or can modern technology be used in its place? If the equipment is updated, what aesthetic or auditory qualities—if any—inherent to the original technology should try to be emulated? If the original hardware is considered invariable—meaning the work’s authenticity is reliant on that specific equipment—how does the institution source and preserve the backup equipment that may have become scarce since the artwork’s inception? There are never perfect or one-size-fits-all answers to these questions. Technological obsolescence is a common hurdle, and the work becomes more vulnerable to loss as the equipment becomes more invariable and specialized. A conservator must work with other stakeholders such as the artist, curators, collections managers, and fabricators to determine the best strategy for each specific TBM artwork. Pip Laurenson—the first TBM conservator to be appointed to any institution worldwide in 1996—posits that there are three main strategies to address equipment failure of media artworks. The first entails replacing technical components with spare parts of the same equipment as it was originally installed. While this strategy preserves the work’s conceptual and physical integrity the most, it may not be the most sustainable option due to the necessary stockpiling and upkeep of obsolete, often rare technology. The next strategy involves swapping out failing components with new or modified technologies while maintaining what is considered to be significant to those pieces—like integrating modern components within an original casing or updating the information carrier and playback equipment while preserving the original display equipment. Lastly, a TBM work’s significant features can be recreated by substituting the equipment with an inexact alternative that uses the same technology or by emulating quantifiable outputs like dynamic range, resolution, audio levels, and rhythm with modern technologies, reproducing functionality and behavior through imitation. As Laurenson states in her seminal work, “Authenticity, Change and Loss in the Conservation of Time-Based Media Installations,” even identifying a piece’s “significant features” or “work-defining properties” is a complicated endeavor, especially when the artist has not provided detailed installation instructions, is not available for interview, or is no longer a reliable source of information and decision-making. The statement of an artist must be contextualized by conservation expertise and the conservation treatments should also consult the artist’s original vision. The care of a TBM work is a constant, cyclical, collaborative process that varies based on the piece’s unique dynamic system, available technologies, and institutional context. Different institutions may use different conservation approaches based on their resources and needs. Although TBM conservation treatments are complex and nuanced, individual case studies can be evaluated based on the same criteria to determine their efficacy.
Examining the performance of an insect generalist reared on unused host plants in Colorado
Dietary generalist insects are important to ecological communities because they are commonly found in many environments and play important roles in ecosystem services like pollination and decomposition. Although dietary generalist herbivores eat a broad range of plant species, regional populations of these species may have significantly narrower or specialized diet breadths. Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, hereafter FW) is a dietary generalist at the species level, but we do not know if there is dietary generalism at the population level or how generalism varies across populations. In Colorado, FW larvae feed on only a few plant species, but many plant species are available that are used by FW elsewhere and not locally. We investigated if FW may be an example of a species that is a dietary generalist when considered over a large geographic range but is composed of populations with narrower diets regionally. We reared FW larvae from fifteen maternal lines in Colorado on a local high-quality host plant and compared their performance (survival, development time, and pupal mass) with larvae reared on plants that are not used locally. We found that FW performance was significantly reduced on plant species that Colorado FW does not use. Our findings demonstrate that Colorado FW cannot eat the same plants as FW in the eastern United States and thus lack the physiological ability to feed on these plants. Our research also suggests that FW are a generalist species with narrower diets that vary regionally at the population level.
diet breadth, dietary generalism, Erebidae, insect herbivore, Lepidoptera
Insect ecology, diet breadth, dietary generalism, Erebidae, insect herbivore, Lepidoptera
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Gender diversity in the workplace: Pronouns, gender-stereotyped job listings, and perceptions of hireability
Past research has investigated the impact of gender and gender biases on hiring decisions for cisgender individuals. However, there is a lack of research on how perceptions of gender diverse individuals impact hiring decisions. The current work explores how a job applicant’s gender pronouns may impact the likelihood of the applicant getting hired. We also investigated whether this likelihood varied depending on the job description—specifically whether it included content related to gender stereotypes (e.g., “nurturing” versus “leadership capabilities” as a desired trait in job applicants). Ninety-six participants were randomly assigned to view an application package including she/her, he/him, or they/them pronouns, then rated the hireability of the applicant for two gender-stereotyped job listings (masculine, feminine) and one no-trait job listing (referenced as job trait: masculine, feminine, unspecified). We predicted that applicant pronouns would bias judgements of hireability, with nonbinary being rated least hireable, and further that this effect may be moderated by gendered job characteristics. Results indicated that there was no main effect of gender on hireability, nor an interaction between job applicant gender and job trait. Our study furthers the discussion on conceptualizations of nonbinary people and how others ascribe gendered traits to them.
Studies of Identity in Modernity: Literary, Phenomenological, and Psychoanalytic Approaches
This was a year-long project studying the innovations in psychoanalysis, philosophy, and literature as they relate to new notions of identity and selfhood in the Modernist period (1890-1945). Significant research has been done in Italian academic circles into Pirandello’s fiction, and Heidegger’s work remains a topic of contention in modern philosophy. However, there have been fewer multi-plural studies in the modernist tradition, and understanding how technological, industrial, and socio-geographical changes of the period were felt across a range of fields is the goal of this thesis. I analyze the existential uncertainty of Vitangelo Moscarda, the protagonist of Luigi Pirandello’s novel One, No One, and One Hundred Thousand, in conversation with Martin Heidegger’s phenomenological approach to being and the alterations of personality and cohabiting identities charted by psychologist Alfred Binet. I study how Pirandello addresses the social, cultural, and political shifts of the period in Italy, and how they impacted the placement of the individual in the broader social fabric, and influenced ideas of identity and selfhood. The novel demonstrates a more fluid, provisional view of identity that is representative of Heidegger, Binet, and Pirandello’s views of selfhood, and an emphasis on a “process ontology” that is found throughout modernist works. Through this investigation into Pirandello’s fiction, we find the possibility for further study in interdisciplinary, comparative studies of modernism.
Utilizing Existing Postfeminist Framework to Explore a Sexualized Media Test Case: “Man Needs a Woman” by Maty Noyes
Postfeminism is simply referred to as the most recent wave of feminism, but feminist scholars have failed to reach a standardized definition that recognizes the nuances of sexuality, media, and culture present within the field. This paper utilizes the postfeminist framework of two prominent feminist scholars: Rosalind Gill and Feona Attwood. Specifically, this paper draws from Gill’s interpretation of postfeminism and Attwood’s interpretation of the sexualization of culture and the overlap between the two theories. Rather than attempt to offer a concrete definition in such a rapidly evolving field, this paper offers a music video from a lesser-known pop artist, Maty Noyes, as a test case to operationalize the theories of Gill and Attwood. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the applicative success of Gill and Attwood while offering an example of the evaluation of a media text as a postfeminism phenomenon.
The Rocky Road to Statehood: Colorado Statehood and the Contested Election of 1876
This thesis will explore Colorado’s path to statehood. It begins with a summary of the election of 1876 to set up the research question: why did Colorado, a Republican-territory, become a state in a critical election year when the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives? Next, it covers the historiography to gain insight into how scholars view Colorado statehood and its relationship to the election of 1876 given that both happened in the same year and that coincidences in politics are rare. A follow up will occur with an explanation of the differences between a state and a territory to demonstrate the importance of statehood alongside a discussion of the unsuccessful attempts to make Colorado a state that came from both within the territory and in Congress. Then, events inside the territory leading up to the successful bid for statehood will be discussed to gain an understanding into the origins of that effort. Afterwards, national events will be covered to narrate a familiar experience for Colorado statehood – that various occurrences at different moments appeared to halt statehood for the time being. Finally, this thesis ends with a discussion of the final statehood bill in Congress to explain how it finally passed. The major argument will be that political developments inside Colorado territory promulgated the successful statehood effort while the inability of the Congressional Democratic leadership to hold the party together in opposition to Colorado statehood allowed it to pass and in time to participate in the election.
SHAMING WOMEN TO SHAME MEN: A CASE STUDY OF THE HOUTHIS AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONOR CULTURE IN YEMEN AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE YEMENI CIVIL WAR
The factors that influence an armed group’s use of sexual violence against women during times of conflict is a much studied area due to the prevalence of the phenomenon, and the significant implications it has for human rights. Studies on the subject have generally contended that cultural attributes and practices present during peacetime play a significant role in determining whether or not an armed group will incorporate sexual violence as a part of their strategy. A relatively under-researched cultural practice that could influence the use of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is the presence and importance of honor culture in a society experiencing conflict. This article seeks to expand on the understanding of its influence by analyzing the relationship between honor culture in a society and how its characteristics influence the groups operating within it to use sexual violence against women as part of their strategy, using examples of female victims of CRSV carried out by the Houthis in Yemen. It concludes that the honor culture of the society the group operates within influenced them to use more CRSV. This understanding has significant implications for policymakers and academics in predicting the severity of sexual violence that might occur in a given conflict happening in an honor-based culture.
Caprin1 and Fmr1 Genetically Interact to Regulate the Development of the Larval Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent inherited neurodevelopmental disorder and the most common single-gene cause of autism (Richter and Zhao 2021). FXS occurs due to the loss of the Fmr1 gene, and its respective protein, the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein (RBP) with notable functions in synaptic development. Given that cellular processes often entail the collaborative actions of multiple proteins acting as binding partners to regulate mRNA metabolism, identifying FMRP's associates is essential for comprehending FXS mechanisms. Caprin1 was identified as a high-confidence interactor via its co-immunoprecipitation with FMRP in an IP/LC experiment done in the Barbee laboratory, among others (El Fatimy et al. 2012; Taha et al. 2020). The objective was to determine if Caprin1 and Fmr1 genetically interact and regulate synaptic development of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). Drosophila melanogaster is a well-understood model organism for studying FXS because it shares many similarities with human FXS (Drozd et al. 2018). To determine if a molecular interaction between the RBPs existed, a genetic cross of drosophila melanogaster with mutated copies of Fmr1 and Caprin1 was created. The analyzed synapses were analogous to the overgrowth seen in the FXS brain. Fmr1 and Caprin1 were determined to be genetic interactors in the regulation of synaptic development in the Drosophila melanogaster NMJ. These findings offer a glimpse into the intricate molecular processes governing neurodevelopment in the presence of mutated Fmr1 and Caprin1 genes, providing valuable insights into their contributions to the molecular pathology of FXS. Future experiments should aim to determine the function of Caprin1 within neurons and examine the biochemical interaction between FMRP and Caprin1 proteins
Passive Mechanical Properties of Cardiac and Arterial Tissue: A Paired Comparison Study in a Calf Model
Background: The mechanical behavior of heart tissue plays a crucial role in elucidating cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. Accurate measurement of the mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissues is indispensable for advancing computer simulations and developing medical devices. This study aimed to assess the passive mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissue in a calf model using a paired comparison method. Methods: A planar biaxial stretching device was used to determine the mechanical characteristics of 84 square specimens obtained from 14 different anatomical regions. Cauchy stress-Green strain curves were constructed for each anatomical area, and a Fung-type constitutive model was applied to fit the raw data. The strain energy and anisotropy index were subsequently calculated. Results: The experimental results indicated that all tissue specimens exhibited nonlinear responses to biaxial stress. Comparison based on the magnitude of the strain energy function revealed that the aorta showed the highest strain energy, followed by the left ventricles, pulmonary artery, right ventricle, left atrium, and right atrium, respectively. Among the different areas, the left ventricle displayed the highest level of tissue anisotropy. These observations align with previous investigations on human heart tissue. Conclusions: We comprehensively characterized the mechanical behavior of various heart chambers and significant arteries using rigorous quantitative analysis. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights for advancing our understanding of heart physiology and exploring potential therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases.
Passive Mechanical Properties, Planar Biaxial Testing, Cardiac and Arterial Tissue, Anisotropy
Tissue of Animal Heart ( Six Calf Hearts). Calf Hearts
Carbon Sequestration in Peatlands: Using Environmental Proxies to Understand the Impact of a Changing Climate on Global Carbon Storage
Peatlands are a type of terrestrial wetland ecosystem in which consistently waterlogged conditions prevent the decomposition of organic matter. These conditions allow for sequestered carbon in plant matter to remain stored in the soil to such a great degree that peatlands store more carbon than all other vegetation types in the world combined. By inhibiting decomposition, the composition of water-rich peat soil remains representative of the environmental conditions during the period in which the peat was formed. The collected peat samples can then be utilized as environmental proxies to determine historical temperature, moisture, and carbon content and extrapolated to predict the future capacity of carbon sequestration in the context of a changing climate. The peat samples in this research were collected during the fall of 2020 in the Echo Lake Fen of Grand Mesa, Colorado, and analyzed using humification analysis to determine changes in organic content over time. This research examines over 200 cm of peat from the Echo Lake Fen, dating back over 8,000 years. Each sample was divided into smaller sections to represent shorter periods of time and tested to determine organic matter content. Results suggest that warmer climates lower the water table of a peatland and expose plant matter to oxygen, allowing plants to decay and release carbon into the atmosphere. This raises concerns about the amount of carbon that could be released into the atmosphere in the future as the climate is predicted to get hotter and drier. Understanding that carbon, as a greenhouse gas, exacerbates already rising global temperatures and increases the rate of plant decomposition is important in predicting how the loss of peatlands would impact future climate conditions. Peat soils contain more than 600 gigatons of carbon worldwide, which represents up to 44% of all soil carbon. Thus, it is essential that efforts to preserve and restore peatlands are prioritized to minimize the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. This research serves as strong evidence for investing in peatland conservation and restoration.
Copyright (c) 2023 University of Denver Undergraduate Research Journal
An interview of Dr. Debak Das by our Editor at Large, Elijah Kruger.
Seed Aid: The Importance of Local Decision-making
This policy paper focuses on the disconnect between donor and recipient states regarding seed aid and the implications of seed aid on local agricultural sovereignty and sustainability; it proposes that a reevaluation of international seed aid policies is needed. International food security organizations and food aid donors should prioritize local seeds for seed aid purposes to support local biodiversity and food sovereignty, and the stability and sustainability of local agricultural systems in the long term. Making adequate and accurate assessments of situations is crucial, and sourcing locally is an integral aspect of supporting local seed systems. The fundamental problem with the seed distribution system today is the limited availability of local seeds. Responding to food crises with an influx of seeds from donor countries poses a serious risk of undermining the livelihood security of farmers by disrupting local seed systems, risking local biodiversity, and resulting in genetic erosion. Therefore, efforts to increase food security in crisis situations should focus on supporting local seed production in the region or country whenever possible rather than bringing seeds in from outside or abroad.
This interview was conducted by the DUURJ Editor At Large.
2017 Charlottesville Riots – Media Coverage Paper
This paper intended to dissect the similarities and differences of media coverage for a very significant recent event--the 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" riots and anti-racism protests. A focal moment within this series of events is the car attack by perpetrator James Alex Fields Jr., a white-supremacist responsible for the death of one woman and countless other injuries. The analysis reflects the coverage of this event through the lens of MSNBC and Fox News, two politically contrasting domestic news sources. An emphasis on media framing, which is loosely how media is manipulated to make the consumer think about a certain topic in one way, helped categorize and describe the differences of these two sources. This discussion of multiple framing variables ultimately showed that these two sources captured a single event in very different ways. These discrepancies illuminate a significant contrast in perspectives of this violent and hateful event.
Asymptotic Behavior of Random Defective Parking Functions
Suppose that m drivers each choose a preferred parking space in a linear car park with n spots. In order, each driver goes to their desired spot and parks there if possible. If the spot is already occupied then the car parks in the first available spot after that; if no such spot is available then the car leaves the street without parking. When m > n, there will always be defects–cars that are not able to park. Building upon the work in Cameron et al. "Counting defective parking functions," we introduce a multi-shuffle construction to defective parking functions and investigate parking statistics of a defective parking function chosen uniformly at random.
Buddhist Nationalism: Rising Religious Violence in South Asia
Buddhist nationalism has contributed to expanding religious violence in many South Asian countries. The roots of this violent form of nationalism are complex and multi-faceted, making a clear solution difficult to achieve. Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Burma are some of the most pressing and violent case studies in South Asia today and can illustrate the reliance of Buddhist nationalists on ethnoreligious identities to relegate non-Buddhists to second-class status, to the point of massive acts of violence and aggression. This paper seeks to illuminate the complex social history driving the rise of Buddhist nationalism in these countries, particularly strong military-religion relationships, histories of colonial oppression, long-standing cultural tensions, and Western rhetoric regarding Buddhist values. In the modern period, Buddhism has become increasingly politicized for the benefit of nationalist movements. Buddhist extremism is largely derived from the political contexts of increased ethnic nationalism and the influence of monks in Buddhist communities. Buddhist extremism often has more to do with ethnic tensions than religious tensions, though religious motivations are still substantial in many of the conflicts involving Buddhist extremists. In South Asian countries, the most substantial Buddhist nationalist movements tend to practice Theravada Buddhism. This Buddhist practice differs from other forms of Buddhism on the topic of non-violence and peace, aligning more closely with nationalist values and the connections between religion and state power; some Theravada sects view non-Buddhists as subhuman or second-class.
The Effect of Language Type and Perceived Controllability on Stigma and Compassion
Previous research suggests that mental health stigma creates significant barriers to treatment seeking and adherence, diminishes treatment outcomes, and motivates social rejection towards people experiencing mental illness; by contrast, compassion seems to offer protective effects, improving treatment outcomes and helping behavior. The current work extends the established literature by experimentally examining the independent and interactive effects of two factors theorized to influence stigma and compassion: controllability and language. Participants read vignettes about hypothetical mental illnesses explained with a genetic attribution (indicating low controllability) or a behavioral attribution (indicating high controllability) and completed measures of perceived controllability, stigma, and compassion. We found that genetic etiology, compared to behavioral etiology, decreased stigma and increased compassion. Although not statistically significant, preliminary evidence suggests that language might interact with etiology to affect stigma. In the behavioral etiology condition, identity-first language (compared to person-first) exacerbated stigma, whereas, in the genetic etiology condition, this effect was descriptively reversed, though statistically nonsignificant. Our findings provide evidence that emphasizing the contribution of uncontrollable factors (e.g., genetics) to psychopathology could help reduce stigma and increase compassion for people experiencing mental illness. Language may also interact with controllability to inform stigma. This work could aid in advising empathetic and supportive language practices dependent on condition characteristics (e.g., perceived controllability), however, replication is needed to demonstrate the reliability of these effects.