Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Intensive Grassland Systems: From Science To Practice, D G. Mccall, G W. Sheath

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Level of nnimal production from grassland is determined by the amount of pasture grown, pasture utilisation and animal conversion efficiency. The key components affecting production are pasture growth and animal conversion efficiency. These arc mainly influenced by environment, genetics and through inputs to maintain soil fertility or animal health. Systems development aims to link pasture growth and animal conversion through efficient strategies for pasture utilisation. The means of influencing pasture utilisation is through adjustments to animal feed demand, feed supply or grazing management. Stock policies that adjust the pattern and level of feed demand are of greatest significance in developing …

Leading The Families Of First Baptist Church Of Long Beach, Ca, To Support The Foster Care And Adoption Community, David B. Delaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The PLACED project is a faith-driven initiative to equip First Baptist Church to support the foster care community through practical care, education, and community engagement.

The Connections Among Adoption, Attachment, And Violence, Victoria M. Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research regarding the experience and outcomes for adopted children has largely ended upon the individual turning 18 years old and has failed to provide adequate information about how adoption impacts an individual throughout the lifespan. Because of a lack of information gathering from the Department of Justice, there is little information about the incarceration rates of adopted individuals and the reasons for those incarcerations. This qualitative research study seeks to gain a better understanding of those individuals who were adopted and committed murder at some point after they were adopted. Court records, transcripts, motions, and evidence related to the murders …

Church Adoption: Three-Pronged Elements That Support The Revitalization Of Coastal Church Battery Park Location In Virginia, Michael Christopher Bard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church is God’s plan for delivering the good news of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross. This finished work is evidenced through the bodily resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15). In the US a steady decline in church attendance has been prevalent over the past three decades and church buildings are either near empty or closing. This research explores the concept of church adoption merger in hopes of one avenue that would promote revitalization of local fellowships. Though multiple elements are supportive in revitalization this research explore three elements that should lead towards centralizing the church on Christ. …

Tolkien’S Orphaned Heroes: Kullervo, Húrin And The Limits Of Fostering, Deidre Dawson

Journal of Tolkien Research

Tolkien’s legendarium features many characters who have lost one or both parents through death or abandonment, and who are consequently fostered or adopted. While there are many positive depictions of fostering in the legendarium, the cases of Kullervo and especially Túrin Turambar stand out because of their similar tragic outcomes involving sibling incest followed by suicide. The contrast between the depiction of fostering in these stories is stark: The Story of Kullervo depicts a case of poor fostering involving violence and neglect, whereas The Children of Húrin describes a loving and nurturing foster environment for its hero, Túrin. Both tales …

Nebraska Conventional Farmers’ Perspectives Toward Agricultural Hemp: A Qualitative Insight Guided By The Diffusion Of Innovations Theory, Blake C. Colclasure, Nicholas Gray, Laura E. Young

The Journal of Extension

The legalization of hemp cultivation in the United States has provided opportunities for farmers to grow a new crop. Despite these opportunities, significant social, economical, and technical challenges to growing hemp have been well documented. The purpose of this research was to explore Nebraska conventional farmers’ perceptions toward hemp cultivation. Using the diffusion of innovations theory as a framework, one-on-one interviews were conducted with seven conventional farmers in Nebraska. Data were analyzed using deductive coding methods. Results are presented in four emergent themes describing farmer perceptions: 1) limited prior exposure; 2) perceived technical challenges; 3) advantages; and, 4) impartial feelings.

Plant Improvement: The Evaluation And Extension Processes, A S. Laidlaw, K.F M. Reed

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Registration and evaluation systems throughout the world range from voluntary registration to compulsory schemes involving assessment of taxonomic and agronomic characteristics. Evaluation can be confined to agronomic tests simulated under grazing management or extended to feeding-value trials. Criteria include adaptation to climate and soils, persistence and seasonal growth, annual dry matter production, resistance to pests and diseases, and association with beneficial organisms. The need for stress (e.g. drought, low nutrients, acidity, salinity, heat or cold) to be given more emphasis in programmes in specific localities is suggested. In developing regions the emphasis is screening a wide range of grasses and …

Technology Transfer Strategies For Products Of Environmental Research And Development Projects, N D. Macleod, J A. Taylor, P.G H. Van Beek, P N. Vance

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Potentially high net benefits from Research and Development on sustainable grazing systems will not be captured unless the outcomes are adopted. Adoption is a complex process, often requiring integration with other technologies, and specialised extension packages. Technology transfer strategies based on experiences with relatively simple innovations are unsuited to more complex environmental innovations, A 6-stage interactive process involving researchers, extension specialists and potential end-users is suggested.

Risk Preferences Impact On Cattle Producers’ Use Of Price Risk Management, Sourav Barua

Masters Theses

The first chapter of the thesis delves into the adoption of price risk management tolls among beef cattle producers in the United States (US), namely options contracts, futures contracts, and livestock risk protection (LRP). However, use of price risk management tools among beef cattle producers has historically been limited despite price risk being one of the primary sources of risk to the United States (US) cattle industry. The purpose of this research is to determine factors associated with the use of options contracts, futures contracts, and LRP insurance. We conducted a survey of US cattle producers and estimated a multivariate …

Factors Affecting Adoption Of Cooking Gas In Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria, Muhammad-Bashir Owolabi Yusuf, Ridwan Olabisi Yusuff, Dauda Ishola Jimoh

Arab Economic and Business Journal

This research delved into the influencing factors behind the adoption of cooking gas in the Ilorin metropolis. The primary aim was to investigate the growing trend of adopting cooking gas in this area. The study utilized Binary Logistic Regression as its analytical method to assess the relationships between various variables. The findings unveiled several key insights. Firstly, there exists a noteworthy negative correlation between the age of households and their inclination toward adopting cooking gas (0.641, p < 0.05). On the other hand, the level of education displayed a positive but insignificant association with gas adoption. Factors like Family Size, Occupation, Safety, and the Availability of other energy sources demonstrated a positive yet insignificant correlation with the adoption of cooking gas. Notably, household income exhibited a statistically significant positive relationship with cooking gas adoption (1.547, p < 0.05). Conversely, the presence of gas shops showed an insignificant positive relationship with households' decisions to adopt cooking gas. Moreover, the level of awareness and social influence exhibited insignificant negative associations with households' decisions to adopt cooking gas. Aligned with these findings, the study proposes recommendations for action. It suggests that the Nigerian government should focus on elevating educational standards and promoting an improved quality of life to incentivize fuel substitution. This shift can lead to more efficient energy usage and mitigate adverse environmental, social, and health impacts. This approach can significantly reduce wood energy consumption, subsequently relieving pressure on wood resources and aiding in the effort to combat deforestation.

The Archeology Of Adoption: Tracing The Journey From Birth Through Adoption Using Pre-Adoptive Artifacts, Ellen Reeve

Educational Studies Dissertations

Adults adopted in childhood often face a heightened susceptibility to psychological and behavioral challenges compared with their non-adopted peers. Scholars examining this phenomenon associate various factors, including an adoptee’s sense of self as an individual within a complex adoption background. This qualitative study utilized a material engagement theory to explore birth through adoptive narratives among adults adopted in closed settings during childhood. Through participatory research, participants examined a range of artifacts related to maternal relinquishment, encompassing foster and adoption records, original birth certificates, letters, photographs, birthmarks, clothing, hair, scars, and DNA test results. The study focused on understanding these artifacts’ …

Eviction-Driven Infanticide And Sexually Selected Adoption And Infanticide In A Neotropical Parrot, Steven R. Beissinger, Karl S. Berg

School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Significance

Infanticide and adoption are puzzling forms of sexual conflict and cooperation, respectively. However, both may be explained by sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. Our long-term study of a parrotlet in Venezuela found infanticide attacks were mostly enacted by nonbreeding pairs attempting to evict parents from their nests to usurp the cavity. Infanticide attacks occurred less often at nests where a parent died, and adoption by stepparents was as common as infanticide. Becoming an adoptive …

Molding The Self: Understanding Adoptees' Identity Formation, A Literature Review, Carolyn Brazil

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The topic under investigation focuses on the complex process of identity formation in adoptees, particularly those in transracial and international adoption scenarios. Grounding this topic in theory, the author draws from psychological and sociological perspectives. The literature illustrates key factors in adoptees' identity formation, and it emphasizes the importance of family involvement and cultural connections in integrating identities, as well as the role of cultural ties in understanding racial identities. The conclusion from this study reveals the complexities and clinical considerations of adoptee identity formation, showing their challenges in combining birth and adoptive cultures. It underscores the value of art …

Beyond Blood: Informal Adoption And Family Dynamics In Yaoundé, Cameroon. Examining The Social, Traditional, And Family Values Associated With Informal Adoption, Elizabeth Greenberg

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although formal adoption exists in Cameroon, it is governed by colonial systems that directly contrast with the values and traditions of the citizens the laws are meant to protect. For this reason, informal adoption is the most prominent method of child circulation. This informal movement of children occurs for various reasons, many of which reflect the sociocultural context in which the children live. The intention of this study was to determine how adoption processes demonstrate Cameroonian notions of family, how individuals perceive the concept of family, and how informal adoption impacts family dynamics. Informal observations and interviews informed the conclusion …

Relational Permanence For Individuals Adopted From Care, Darci Nelsen

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how individuals adopted from foster care experience the concept of relational permanency using an arts-based storytelling process. Participants were eight young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 who were adopted from foster care as youth. All participants identified as cisgender women, 75% identified as Black/African American (n = 6) and 25% as white (n = 2). Participants completed a demographic survey and engaged in a single 60-to-90-minute interview session. The interview was comprised of three main components, a semi-structured interview regarding participant understanding of relational permanency, an embodied check-in focused on physiological …

Cartographies Of Black Diaspora And Foster Care Diaspora: Arguments Toward Abolition In The Aftermath Of Partus Sequitur Ventrem, Alicia Boyce

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In this dissertation I argue that global foster care and adoption systems should be abolished because they are trauma inducing and grief producing state apparatuses that cyclically act to destabilize Black and “Other” subaltern populations from one generation to the next. Global foster care and adoption systems have become as common sensical as enslavement and chattel slavery all were as these systems are considered widely socially acceptable, common modes of domination and methods for controlling Black and “Other” populations. I coin a diaspora of community and cultural destabilization called the foster care diaspora (FCD), a theory and framing device that …

Discussing The Influence Of Racial/Ethnic College Identity Groups On Asian Transracial, Transnational Adoptee Racial/Ethnic Identity Development, Sophia Y. Stampalia

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

Being able to define your racial/ethnic identity is an important aspect in defining who you are. For Asian transracial/transnational adoptees, racial/ethnic identity formation can be difficult due to a variety of factors. Adoptees undergo many experiences that impact the way they view their own comfortability with their ethnicity and race. Racial/ethnic identity development is also heavily influenced by the college experience. This research studied the potential influence racial/ethnic college identity groups have on the racial/ethnic identity formation of Asian transracial/transnational adoptees. Data was collected through the University of Vermont’s REDCap platform and was sent out through a survey to the …

Family-Building Desires Among Adopted Adolescents With Lesbian, Gay, And Heterosexual Parents, Abbie E. Goldberg, Lea Silvert, Rachel H. Farr

Psychology

Objective: This study qualitatively examined family-building desires of diverse adopted adolescents.

Background: Research on parenting aspirations has rarely included youth with LGBTQ+ parents and/or from adoptive families. Understanding diverse adopted adolescents' feelings about parenthood may yield insights regarding identity and ideas about family.

Methods: We conducted a thematic analysis of interview data from 48 adopted adolescents (27 were LGBTQ+) in the United States, aged 13 to 18, from lesbian, gay, and heterosexual two-parent families. Results: Most adolescents desired future parenthood, after achieving other normative milestones, and they typically did not feel familial or societal pressure to become parents. LGBTQ+ participants …

Insiders/Outsiders In America: Students Capture Shifting Perspectives, Madelyn Ayers, Shanyn Furlong, Chris Wood, Leslie Bejaran Solorio, Shannon Chloe Cheng, Christopher Mendez-Lemus, George Faithful

Social Justice | Student Perspectives on Religious Nationalism

What the U.S. is and ought to be depends on who you ask, where they stand, and their personal story. In this volume’s essays, student authors built on their work in Dominican University of California’s 2024 “Religious Nationalism” course to capture some of the divergent possibilities, including shifts in their own perspectives.

Adoption As Substitute For Abortion?, Malinda L. Seymore

University of Colorado Law Review

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito relied on adoption as part of the justification for holding that abortion is not constitutionally protected. First, he said, “[s]tates have increasingly adopted ‘safe haven’ laws, which generally allow women to drop off babies anonymously.” Second, “a woman who puts her newborn up for adoption today has little reason to fear that the baby will not find a suitable home.” Using adoption as an adequate substitute for abortion is a long-standing strategy for the antiabortion movement, but it is often embraced by pro-choice advocates as well. This position is supportable …

An Empirical Study To Understand The Role Of Institution-Based Trust And Its Antecedents In Iot Adoption By Individuals, Anupam Kumar Nath, Amit Kumar Nath

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

ABSTRACT

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables the connection between humans, physical objects, and cyber objects, resulting in monitoring, automation, and decision-making capabilities. This connection can be complex and lead to uncertainty for individuals before adopting IoT technology. To address this, we conducted research on the role of Institution-based trust in the context of IoT adoption. Our model for IoT adoption is based on existing literature and includes the components of Institution-based trust and its antecedents. Through empirical testing, we confirmed that Institution-based trust positively affects IoT adoption at the individual level. Additionally, we found that User confirmation/disconfirmation and familiarity …

A Tale Of Two Motherlands: Bridging The Gap Between The American And Korean Identities Of Korean War Adoptees, Lily Zitko

The Great Lakes Journal of Undergraduate History

In 1955, the Harry and Bertha Holt successfully petitioned for the passing of Private Law 475 (Holt Bill) allowing for the adoption of eight orphans from South Korea. This was the beginning of a global revolution in transnational and transracial adoption. Prior to this, the idea of adoption outside of the United States was seldom possible; however, the work of the Holt family rationalized with the pubic and garnered much attention from the government and media. Even more so complicated was the idea of mixed-race Korean children, fathered by American G.I.s stationed in the Korea during the Korean War. Their …

Feature - Factors Influencing Maize Farmers’ Adoption And Use Intensity Of Hermetic Storage Bags In Dormaa, Ghana, Namah Taku-Forchu, Misty D. Lambert, Michael S. Retallick, Jonathan D. Ulmer, George P. Opit

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

ABSTRACT

Maize is a key staple in Ghana with a high production rate. With the growing development of the poultry and livestock sector, there is a need to boost maize production to meet the growing demand. The unfortunate thing is a significant amount of maize produced is lost during storage. The hermetic storage bag is an innovation proven to reduce maize storage loss. This study ascertains factors influencing smallholder maize farmers' adoption and use intensity of hermetic storage bags in Dormaa, Ghana. We used a multi-stage sampling technique and collected data from 217 maize smallholder farmers from four communities where …

Use Of Social Media In Public Archives: Perspectives About Ghana’S Readiness And Perceived Challenges., Reuben Saah, Samuel Abban, Esther White

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

The study explored the readiness and challenges of social media adoption at the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) in Ghana and was guided by the Iacovou, Charalambos L., Izak Benbasat, and Albert S. Dexter model of Electronic Data Interchange adoption. Using the qualitative approach, 13 participants drawn from the Archives Division were interviewed to explore their perspectives. The results showed that besides the participants high understanding and awareness of the benefits of social media adoption, clients were interested to engage PRAAD on social media. However, PRAAD’s readiness to adopt and effectively use social media was inadequate due to …

Factors Affecting Adoption Of Tiktok Among Students In The Dhaka City Area., Mahafizur R. Jim, Muhammad I. Alam

Business Review

This study investigates the factors affecting adoption of TikTok among the students in Dhaka city area. A structured survey questionnaire was developed through the survey tool, Google form and data were obtained from 529 respondents living in various locations of Dhaka city by an online survey method through using the social media platform, Facebook. Moreover, the multiple regression analysis was performed to test the research hypotheses. Results show that students perceive this app in a different way and do not consider this app as a great source of enjoyment. Moreover, they do not perceive this app as a decent media …

Aclp - Comments Re Tn Bead Initial Proposal Volume 2 - December 2023, New York Law School

Reports and Resources

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Needs And Priorities For Precision Agriculture And Soil Testing In Arkansas, Solomon Frimpong

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Optimum crop production is needed to meet the growing population's food, water, fiber, and energy needs. However, agricultural productivity is hampered by many destabilizing factors such as pest management challenges, declining water quantity, and climate change which threaten long-term food security. Maximizing productivity will require optimizing resources through Precision Agriculture (PA) by supplying inputs based on crop needs. Precision Agriculture offers tools that can be used to optimize crop management practices globally. However, stakeholders’ perceptions and the lack of data-driven site-specific recommendations limit stakeholders’ ability to fully harness the potential benefits of PA. Identification of stakeholder needs and approaches to …

Navigating The Bead Weeds - Project Areas - November 2023, New York Law School

Reports and Resources

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Factors Influencing Adoption Of Digital Banking In Emerging Markets: The Role Of Perception And Personality Antecedents, Ntswaki Petunia Matlala

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

The emergence of digital banking has presented the banking industry with benefits and challenges. Although digital banking services provide customers with increased convenience and accessibility around the clock, many still struggle to grasp their ever-changing nature. To address this, a study was conducted to identify the main factors influencing the adoption of digital banking in South Africa. The study used an e-readiness framework that combined the innovation diffusion theory and trust in technology with the technology readiness index to measure consumers’ adoption of digital banking channels. The researcher applied quantitative methodology to answer the research question. The snowball sample required …

International Relations: Adopted Into A New Hope, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Melissa Brown, assistant professor of social work at Cedarville University, doesn’t just teach caring for others, she lives it.

This September, she and her husband, Tom, adopted a boy from China. The Browns have four children between the ages of 7 and 13, the oldest of whom is Joey, the newest addition to their family.