Digital Commons Network^™

North Carolina Chefs Who Cultivate Restaurant Gardens: A Population With A Hunger For Extension Information, Kelsie Sommerfeld, Jackie Bruce, Jay Jayaratne, Ben Chapman, Chris Gunter

Journal of Extension

As part of a larger study designed to explore the gardening practices and educational needs of North Carolina chefs who cultivate restaurant gardens, the chefs' desired areas of knowledge and preferences for delivery of educational material were identified. As a result, a plan for North Carolina Cooperative Extension to use in developing educational programs for this population was completed. This article provides information on this emerging population and focuses on specific techniques Extension might use in developing educational programs that engage this audience.

Economically Disadvantaged Minority Girls' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Science And Engineering And Related Careers, Hui-Hui Wang, Barbara L. Billington

Journal of Extension

This article addresses economically disadvantaged minority girls' knowledge and perceptions of science and engineering and the influence of their experiences with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) on their choices for future careers. We interviewed three girls who participated in a 4-H–led gender-inclusive STEM program. Our findings suggest that the girls lacked opportunities to learn STEM in out-of-school settings and that they had very limited knowledge about STEM professions. They did not associate their job aspirations as being related to STEM, even though they were. To better prepare such girls to engage in STEM, educators need to provide long-term interventions …

Closing The Science Comprehension Achievement Gap Through The Use Of An Extension Youth Development Science Comprehension Model, Peter Skelton, Tom Dormody, Margaret Lewis

Journal of Extension

Improving youth science comprehension is critical to youth development, yet this intended outcome is often overlooked in terms of how Extension programs are delivered. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to determine through the assessment of potential student growth whether applying features of a youth science comprehension model to an Extension youth development program targeting underserved middle-school youths led to improved student academic achievement. Program delivery incorporating key features of the model resulted in improved scores for youths performing at or below grade level. These results suggest that the model offers a promising tool for improving …

Ya4-H! Youth Advocates For Health: Impact Of A 4-H Teens-As-Teachers Program, Mary E. Arnold, Jeffrey M. Flesch, Carolyn Ashton, Lynette Black

Journal of Extension

This article reports the results of an evaluation of the YA4-H! Youth Advocates for Health—Teens as Teachers program. Consistent with previous research on the impact of teen teaching, the teens participating in the program gained confidence and skill with regard to teaching younger youths. The program also affected the teens' understanding that they are role models for younger youths and their desire to be role models. Additionally, the teens learned the content they taught and adopted new healthful behaviors. These results are promising and add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that teens learn and adopt practices they teach …

Sharing Resources: A Bistate Extension Specialist Position, Londa Nwadike, Jo Britt-Rankin, Paula Peters

Journal of Extension

As Extension budgets across the United States continue to tighten, sharing a specialist between states could become an increasingly effective way to provide high-quality programming at a lower total cost. This article describes the working modalities, benefits, challenges, and outputs of an existing two-state Extension consumer food safety specialist position. Overall, this bistate position has been beneficial to both states involved. The model could be implemented in other states, and the descriptions of aspects of the position provided in this article may be instructive for states considering such an option.

Using Importance-Performance Analysis To Guide Extension Needs Assessment, Laura A. Warner, Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Alexa J. Lamm

Journal of Extension

Importance-performance analysis is a methodology that may allow Extension professionals to prioritize the characteristics of an issue, a resource, or so on that should receive the most attention. Through this approach, high priority is assigned to elements that clients are unsatisfied with but view as highly important. We explored applying the method to the selection of messages on water conservation. Findings are presented in the context of water conservation programming, but implications may apply across Extension. We recommend that Extension professionals consider using this methodology to analyze target audiences and prioritize associated communications.

Web-Based Geographic Information Systems: Experience And Perspectives Of Planners And The Implications For Extension, Z. Asligül Göçmen

Journal of Extension

Web-based geographic information system (GIS) technology, or web-based GIS, offers many opportunities for public planners and Extension educators who have limited GIS backgrounds or resources. However, investigation of its use in planning has been limited. The study described here examined the use of web-based GIS by public planning agencies. A 2013 web-based survey of 274 public planning agency staff throughout Wisconsin revealed that use of web-based GIS for planning tasks lags behind use of software-based GIS and that agency use is hampered by a number of barriers. The findings suggest that Extension professionals can help practitioners become more familiar and …

Climate Change Challenges For Extension Educators: Technical Capacity And Cultural Attitudes, Terrie A. Becerra, Gerad Middendorf, Amber Campbell, Peter Tomlinson

Journal of Extension

We surveyed Extension educators in the southern Great Plains about their attitudes and beliefs regarding climate change, their interactions with constituents surrounding climate change, and challenges they face in engaging constituents on the topic of climate change. Production-oriented and sociocultural challenges in meeting constituents' information needs exist. Educators reported (a) lacking capacity for addressing climate change issues and (b) needing information, especially regarding drought and extreme or unseasonable weather events and related management practices. Educators also identified a need for more educational resources, including print materials and online decision aids. Implications are relevant to educators working beyond the study area …

Minimizing Disparities And Developing Support By Identifying Differences In Confidence And Knowledge Related To Water Issues, Melissa Taylor, Alexa J. Lamm

Journal of Extension

Extension educators face challenges as they strive to keep up with critical issues in their communities, such as those surrounding water. A growing population and a diminishing water supply necessitate that Florida residents become more knowledgeable about water issues. We conducted research to determine how confident both the general public and decision makers are in Florida's water resources and to assess how aware both groups are of the state's water policies. The results revealed significant statistical differences between the two groups in almost every category analyzed. We propose relevant ways to engage in targeted programming that will bridge the gap …

Transforming The Knowledge Gap For Local Planning Officials: Impacts Of Continuing Education In A Master Citizen Planner Program, Wayne Beyea, Rohit Menon, Pat Crawford

Journal of Extension

In an era of increasing complexity, the majority of local land-use decisions in the United States are made by volunteer citizen planners. Often these elected or appointed volunteers enter their positions with a passion for their communities but without appropriate background training. The Michigan Citizen Planner Program was developed to address this gap. The study described in this article investigated the self-assessed impacts on graduates of basic and advanced training. Findings suggest that training conducted as the result of collaboration by university Extension, other state agencies, and nonprofit groups is essential to realizing the positive community development impacts expected by …

Evaluation Of User Perceived Qoe In Mobile Systems Using Social Media Analytics, Ahmed Yaseen Mjhool

Theses and Dissertations

In mobile system environments, the quality perceived by users is inconstant and reliant on many factors such as cellular network, data connection, cost, coverage area, etc. Even though Quality of Service (QoS) management is enabled in most modern telecommunication systems, it does not guarantee the actual user’s perceived Quality of Experience (QoE) level. Many cellular networks rely on engineering test research, such as drive testing or smart mobile applications, to collect the required parameters in order to provide better service quality to users. However, this approach does not always yield customer satisfaction. Hence, user opinions should be considered. These opinions …

A Study To Develop An Electronics Chassis Compound Cylinder Pressure Vessel Using Finite Element Modeling, Gordon Randall Straley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops a process to design and analyze a two-layer compound cylinder pressure vessel utilizing an inner insert to house electronic circuit card assemblies. The process begins with sizing and analysis of a compound cylinder based on analytical formulas and progresses in complexity to a 2-Dimensional plane stress finite element model of the chassis assembly and ends with a computationally expensive 3-Dimensional finite element analysis of the pressure vessel. Comparing the results from the compound cylinder to the electronics chassis, it is observed that the inner insert geometry has a strong influence on the interfacial pressure at the upper …

Real Talk: Developing A Computer-Delivered Sexual Health Program For Black Men Who Have Sex With Men, Charles H. Klein, Carmela Lomonaco

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

HIV disproportionately affects Black men who have sex with men (MSM), yet there are few evidence-based programs that respond to the diverse realities of Black MSM communities. This article examines the development of Real Talk, a new harm reduction-based, sexual health intervention for Black MSM. We first analyze the key themes from our formative research: (1) stigma, discrimination, and intersectionalities in the lives of Black MSM, (2) the importance of safe spaces and community provided by health promotion programs, and (3) moving beyond condoms in sexual health messaging. We then describe our agile design product development process and present an …

Quality Of Life After Stroke In Pakistan, Wardah Khalid, Shafquat Rozi, Tazeen S. Ali, Iqbal Azam Syed, Michael Mullen, Saleem Illyas, Qamarunnisa, Nabila Soomro, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal

Department of Medicine

Background: There is very little information about the quality of life (QOL) of stroke survivors in LMIC countries with underdeveloped non communicable health infrastructures, who bear two thirds of the global stroke burden.

Methodology: We used a sequential mix methods approach. First, a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 700 participants, who constituted 350 stroke survivor and their caregiver dyads. QOL of stroke survivor was assessed via Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQOLS) whereas QOL of caregivers was assessed through RAND-36. In addition; we assessed complications, psychosocial and functional disability of stroke survivors. Following this quantitative survey, …

Schools Of Public Health In Low And Middle-Income Countries: An Imperative Investment For Improving The Health Of Populations?, Fauziah Rabbani, Leah Shipton, Franklin White, Iman Nuwayhid, Leslie London, Abdul Ghaffar, Bui Thi Thu Ha, Rajiv Rimal, Anwar Islam, Amirhossein Takian, Samuel Wong, Shehla Zaidi, Kausar S. Khan, Rozina Karmaliani, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Farhat Abbas

Community Health Sciences

Background: Public health has multicultural origins. By the close of the nineteenth century, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) began to emerge in western countries in response to major contemporary public health challenges. The Flexner Report (1910) emphasized the centrality of preventive medicine, sanitation, and public health measures in health professional education. The Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (PHC) in 1978 was a critical milestone, especially for low and middle-income countries (LMICs), conceptualizing a close working relationship between PHC and public health measures. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2005-2008) strengthened the case for SPHs in LMICs as …

Non-Musical Choreographic Inspirations: Choreographic Curriculum Challenges With High School Students, Leslie Kaye Williams

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

For this study a curriculum was designed which encouraged high school students to explore non-musical inspirations for their choreography. The questions of concern in this study were: 1) What are the effects of non-musical inspirations on high school student choreography? 2) What curriculum will be most effective for encouraging student creativity? 3) How will this new curriculum align with national and state curriculum standards? 4) Will students and audiences be emotionally connected to compositions created this way? Students were led through a series of choreographic and improvisational lessons, and at the conclusion of the lessons students rehearsed selected pieces of …

Connection Between Involvement In Dance And Building Character: An Analysis Of Student Behavior, Megan L. Hoggarth

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dance involvement on

high school students’ behaviors. This quantitative and qualitative study was designed to answer the three essential questions and to determine the connection if any between involvement in dance class, and changes in students’ character traits and behaviors. The research instruments were a student character trait survey, student interviews, and observation forms. The study is based from the seven character traits listed in Paul Tough’s book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character and from the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). The seven …

Social Media Marketing In The Film Industry: Using Social Media To Create A Successful Marketing Campaign For The Theatrical Release Of A Film, Katherine Baker

Journalism

This study analyzes the use of social media as a marketing tool within the film industry including its successes in regards to popular social tactics and campaigns as well as where it may fall short within the realm of marketing as a whole. As the world is racing to be the first to implement the “next biggest thing” and beginning to drift away from traditional marketing practices, social media is potentially the next step to ensuring a successful marketing campaign for any product or service. This study takes a look into how social media can best be used and implemented …

The Use Of Video Outreach To Increase Incoming Students’ View Of The Higher Education Institution As A Whole: A Case Study At California Polytechnic State University, Leah Horner, Michelle Logan

Journalism

No abstract provided.

Using Video To Increase Awareness Of Inclusivity For Lgbtq+ Students On University Campuses: A Single-Site Case Study On Cal Poly, Mallory St. George

Journalism

This project is focused on the use of online video in creating awareness for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. In particular, it focuses on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, hereafter referred to simply as "Cal Poly," and the campus climate's effect on the LGBTQ+ student community. It aims to give a brief recap of Cal Poly's history in relation to its queer population, highlight the experiences of present-day students, assess what progress has been made, and provide a snapshot of the campus climate in 2016 to be used as a drawing point for future senior projects and evaluation of inclusivity progress. …

Using Relationship Theory To Improve Stem Outreach To Corporations: A Case Study For Starbase Los Alamitos, Mark Gibson

Journalism

The goal of this study was to improve corporate outreach efforts for an educational program called Starbase Los Alamitos. This Starbase program is part of a larger effort by the Department of Defense to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in the United States.

This study was guided by the following research question: How can STEM programs use relationship management theory to improve corporate outreach? A review of the literature was performed and this study used relationship theory to design eight questions for a four person focus group. Control and treatment websites were identified. Participants were shown the …

Neurological Health Profile In Pakistan – A Health Systems Based Needs Assessment, Tauhid Awan, Arsalan Ahmad, Ather Javed, Mohammad Wasay, Muhammad Babar Khan, Haroon Awan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

The aims of our study were to develop a neurological health profile in Pakistan from a health systems perspective, ascertain the readiness of neurology with regards to Sustainable Development Goals, and proffer recommendations for policy advocacy and planning in neurology.

Northern Utah Grass-Fed Beef Production Costs And Returns, 2016, Kynda Curtis, Trevor Knudsen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is intended to be a guide used to make production decisions, determine potential returns, and prepare business and marketing plans.

Red Yucca (Hesperaloe Parvifolia) Use In Utah, Michael Caron, Taun Beddes

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Red yucca and its use in the landscape, including planting, care, and maintenance, varieties, and diseases and pests.

A Word From The Writing Center (December 2016), Jennifer Wilson, Ms, Els

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Writing tip
• Books on writing
• Writing Café

Using Digital Performance Feedback To Increase Teacher Treatment Integrity, Heather Marie Whipple

Master's Theses

In intervention research, assessing treatment integrity is important to establish functional control of the independent variable and make accurate decisions regarding treatment effectiveness. This study examined the effects of digital performance feedback (DPF) as a follow-up strategy for teachers to increase integrity. A multiple baseline design was utilized to determine the effectiveness of this strategy. Results from this study expanded previous literature on ways to promote treatment integrity and help move toward a science of intervention implementation. The primary dependent variable measured was treatment integrity. Student behavior was also assessed to determine if there is a relationship between treatment integrity …

Police Education And Training: A Comparative Analysis Of Law Enforcement Preparation In The United States And Canada, Citlali Alexandra Déverge

Master's Theses

Police academy training for newly hired officers varies across locations and regions in regard to both training process and training content. The needs and demands of modern-day societies have evolved, and it is very important for police training academies to keep up with the practice of the police profession. Higher education adds value to police training as it reinforces the development of critical thinking skills and the necessary values needed to face the needs and demands of society, particularly in terms of accountability, professionalism, and legitimacy. This research presents a case study of two police training academies located in a …

Evaluating The Independent Group Contingency: “Mystery Student” On Improving Behaviors In Head Start Classrooms, Jamie Pasqua

Master's Theses

An increasing number of preschool children exhibit challenging behavior in the classroom. Head Start children are particularly at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders due to numerous risk factors. Unfortunately, some preschool teachers are ill equipped to manage the challenging behaviors that preschool children exhibit. The current study investigated the effects of the group contingency, “Mystery Student,” on improving preschool classroom behaviors. The Mystery Student intervention is a novel, independent group contingency, with an added randomized component. An ABAB reversal design was employed to determine how effective the Mystery Student intervention was at decreasing the disruptive behaviors and increasing the …

Investigation Of Polymer–Plasticizer Blends As Sh-Saw Sensor Coatings For Detection Of Benzene In Water With High Sensitivity And Long-Term Stability, Pintu Adhikari, Laura Jeanne Alderson, Florian Bender, Antonio J. Ricco, Fabien Josse

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

We report the first-ever direct detection of benzene in water at concentrations below 100 ppb (parts per billion) using acoustic wave (specifically, shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave, SH-SAW) sensors with plasticized polymer coatings. Two polymers and two plasticizers were studied as materials for sensor coatings. For each polymer–plasticizer combination, the influence of the mixing ratio of the blend on the sensitivity to benzene was measured and compared to commercially available polymers that were used for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) detection in previous work. After optimizing the coating parameters, the highest sensitivity and lowest detection limit for benzene were found …

The Role Of Spirituality And Religiosity In Persons Living With Sickle Cell Disease, Dora L. Clayton-Jones, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious debilitating chronic illness, affecting approximately 90,000 Americans and millions globally. Spirituality and religiosity (S/R) may ease the burden faced by persons living with SCD. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD in the research literature.

Method: The electronic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Source Nursing/Academic, ProQuest Health Module, PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed, and the American Theological Library Association were searched from January 1995 to December 2014.

Findings: Of the 89 studies retrieved, 11 articles between 2001 …