Digital Commons Network^™

Incorporating Census Data Into A Geospatial Student Database, Edwin Agbenyega

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The University of New Mexico(UNM) stores data on students, faculty, and staff at the University. The data is used to generate reports and fill surveys for several local, statewide and nationwide reporting entities. The reports convey statistical and analytical information such as the graduation rates, retention, performance, ethnicity, age, and gender of students. Furthermore, the Institute of Design and Innovation (IDI), and the Office of Institutional Analytics (OIA) at UNM use the data provided for various predictive studies aimed at improving student outcomes.

This thesis proposes geospatial data as an additional layer of information for the data repository. The paper …

Examining The Use Of Amazon’S Mechanical Turk For Edge Extraction Of The Occlusal Surface Of Fossilized Bovid Teeth, George K. Thiruvathukal, Gregory J. Matthews, Maxwell P. Luetkemeier, Juliet K. Brophy

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

In order to reconstruct environments associated with Plio-Pleistocene hominins in southern Africa, researchers frequently rely upon the animals associated with the hominins, in particular, animals in the Family Bovidae. Bovids in southern Africa are typically identified by their teeth. However, identifying the taxon of a bovid tooth is challenging due to various biasing factors. Furthermore, inaccurate identification of fossil bovids can have significant consequences on the reconstructed paleoenvironment. Recent research on the classification of bovid fossil teeth has relied on using elliptical Fourier analysis to summarize the shape of the outline of the occlusal surface of the tooth and the …

Making Pictures, Writing About Pictures, Discussing Pictures And Lecture-Discussion As Teaching Methods In Art History, Jari M. Martikainen

Art History Pedagogy & Practice

This article discusses making pictures, writing about pictures, discussing pictures, and lecture-discussion as methods of teaching art history in Finnish Upper Secondary Vocational Education and Training (Qualification in Visual Expression, Study Programmes in Visual and Media Art Photography). A total of 25 students majoring in Visual Expression participated in the research by studying art history using picture-based–visual and verbal–methods and reflecting on their learning experiences. This article introduces the concept of ‘contextual subject-related didactics,’ by which conceptions of contemporary art history, together with the objectives and aims of the curriculum, guide the choice of teaching methods. The article argues that …

Persons, Materialism And Consciousness, Brendan Neufeld

Episteme

In this article, the author criticizes the materialist theory of mind but salvages the causal insights put forth by neurophysiology’s linkage of the mind and the brain. P. M. S. Hacker’s exegesis of Wittgenstein argues that materialist philosophers and neuroscientists make grammatical contradictions when accounting for the mental. To begin to pinpoint the error of physicalism, the author provides examples that elaborate on Norman Malcolm’s two distinct senses of the term “consciousness.” Materialism’s (and neurophysiology’s) causal nature accounts for intransitive consciousness, but neither are especially promising when it comes to transitive consciousness. In the background, there is a major problem: …

Explanatory Pervasion And The Unity Of Science, Andrew Miller

Episteme

The philosophy of science has seen a range of theories since the radical introduction of reductionism as an offshoot of the logical positivists. This author argues that while the various sciences may not be unified by law, there is every reason to believe that they are unified by explanation. In essence, Alan Garfinkel and David Owens are judged to be less convincing that the arguments given by Karen Neander and Peter Menzies. The author shows the insufficiency of Garfinkel’s attempt to illustrate the missing link between macro and micro explanation in the theory of explanatory pervasion. The author then supports …

Addressing The Racial Disparity In Birth Outcomes: Implications For Maternal Racial Identity On Birthweight, Wanda M. Burton, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Brad Lian

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: As a widely used marker of health, birthweight has been a persistent racialized disparity with the low birthweight rate of Blacks in Alabama nearly doubling the national average. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of racial identity and acculturation on birthweight in a sample of Black women living in Alabama.

Methods: Black women (n=72) in West Alabama were surveyed about the birthweight of their first born child. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted.

Results: Racial identity was the only significant predictor of birthweight. Mothers with a strong racial identity reported having low birthweight …

Risk For Cardiovascular Disease In Blacks With Hiv/Aids In America: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Calvin Odhiambo, Jessica Davis, Bernard Omolo

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) related to HIV infection is becoming a major public health concern in the United Stated. Epidemiologic studies show that prolonged use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, HIV/AIDS itself, and a combination of traditional vascular risk factors increase the risk for CVD among people with HIV/AIDS. However, little is known about any racial disparities in the risk for CVD in the HIV/AIDS population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of literature on HIV/AIDS and CVD (June 1, 2010-July 31, 2014) through MEDLINE to examine whether and how HIV-positive African Americans are disproportionately affected by CVD compared to …

Exposure To Secondhand Smoke And The Development Of Childhood Caries: Nhanes (2011-2012), Deborah Mattheus Phd, Msn, Pnp, Krupa Gandhi Mph, Eunjung Lim Phd, Maureen Shannon Cnm, Fnp, Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Dental caries continue to plague young children worldwide with numerous adverse effects including pain, poor growth and development, decreased quality of life as well as the potential for the development of life threatening secondary infections. Factors associated with the development of childhood caries are complex as they relate to social, economic and/or cultural behaviors. Recent evidence has linked secondhand smoke to the development of childhood dental caries. The purpose of the study is to re-examine the association between the frequency and extent of exposure to secondhand smoke with the development of childhood caries in the United States. Cross-sectional data of …

Residential Segregation, Neighborhood Social And Physical Context In Obesity Disparities In Hispanic Preschoolers: A Conceptual Model, Catherina Chang Martinez Phd(C), Nasar U. Ahmed Phd, Ruby A. Natale Phd, Psyd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

During the last decade, there has been a significant inclusion in obesity prevention studies from individual characteristics to household factors then neighborhood factors. The study of place in the context of early childhood obesity studies has been limited to the food and physical built environment. With the persistent disparities in the prevalence of childhood obesity, and Hispanic minorities being increasingly affected, there is a need to reexamine existing models and develop new model conceptual frameworks to examine the role of place and residential segregation in the context of race, ethnicity, social position, and socioeconomic disparities. In the context of place …

Pre-Vet Life @ Dordt College, Kate Henreckson

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Following Your Gut, Sally Jongsma

The Voice

No abstract provided.

New Research Institute Brings New Funding, Sally Jongsma

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Taking Climate Action, Lydia Marcus

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Inchoate Feminism In Plato's Republic V, Amy Coplan

Episteme

Is Plato a feminist from the classical era? No, but he comes closer than any other man from that time. Although by no means reducible to modern feminist arguments about equality, Book V of the Republic espouses some important ideas about women, nature, and society. There is no doubt that Plato challenged the prevailing wisdom in Athens and sought a utopia that produced the best possible men and women—at least for the guardian class. We should understand that it is Plato’s elitism, not his misogyny, which influences his handling of the lower social strata. And furthermore, his sexist remarks are …

A Question Of Ethics, Joseph Landau

Episteme

“If we look around us, there is no doubt that the question of ethics is currently more complex than it has ever been,” writes the author of this paper, who examines the existential importance that the question of ethics carries in modern times. The author believes that out of this age of confusion and difference, what is needed is an ethic that emphasizes community and mutual understanding. We cannot rely on capital T truth or the ethicists that came before us. Instead, once we realize our dialectical, interdependent identity, we will be able to increase our mutual conversation and acceptance. …

The Successful Use Of Case Studies In Biochemistry, C. Michele Davis Mcgibony

Georgia Journal of Science

The Department of Chemistry at Georgia Southern University provides foundation courses for nutrition majors in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. One foundation course is Nutritional Biochemistry- a one ­semester course that focuses on the basic principles of biochemistry as they apply to human metabolic systems. The students gain familiarity with biological molecules such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and they learn how the body metabolizes each of these molecules. Tradition­ally this course has been taught with a lecture-based format placing the students in a passive learning role. Recently, case studies have been incorporated as a supplement to these lectures …

Drying, Freezing, And Ethanol Preservation Lower Shell Strength Of Two Freshwater Pulmonate Gastropods, Christopher G. Brown, Riccardo Fiorillo, Richard Yi, Sairam Tangirala, Joseph Ametepe

Georgia Journal of Science

Many studies have measured gastropod shell strength to investigate abiotic interactions and responses to predation. Shells are often preserved before strength is measured, but preservation may affect shell biomechanics, potentially influencing the outcome of these studies. We hypothesized that commonly used preservation methods (ethanol, freezing, and drying) lower shell strength of two pulmonate snails, Physella sp. and Pseudosuccinea columella. Compared to controls, all preservation methods significantly lowered strength for both species, except freezing in Ps. columella. To date, no studies have addressed the effects of preservation on shell strength in freshwater pulmonates. These results suggest that preservation methods …

Transport Properties In Porcine Meniscus Fibrocartilage, Kelsey L. Kleinhans

Open Access Dissertations

The knee meniscus is a complex structure that has been the focus of important and extensive research for many years. The most common areas of study include meniscal structure, meniscal tears, regeneration, and the biomechanical and anatomical forces endured by the meniscus. Although much research has been done regarding these tissues, more is needed in order to fully understand the role that menisci plays in the function and pathophysiology of the human knee. The fibrocartilaginous meniscus plays an essential role in distributing the majority of the load and maintaining not only congruency, but also lubrication in the knee joint. Degeneration …

We Are...Marshall, July 12, 2017, Office Of Marshall University Communications

We Are ... Marshall: the Newsletter for Marshall University 1999-2023

No abstract provided.

Sheldon Authors Article On Construction Of Heterosexual Masculinity In American Evangelicalism, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of A School Nurse Led Education Intervention On Blood Pressure And Physical Activity Levels In Adolescents, Nancyruth Leibold

Dissertations

Regular physical activity (PA) is a necessary health promotion behavior for adolescents. Benefits of regular physical activity are optimal body weight, lowering blood pressure (BP), and decreasing risk factors for chronic illnesses. Yet declining physical activity levels and increasing sedentary behaviors along with the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension exists in teenagers. The purpose of this quantitative research was to study the effects of a School Nurse led teaching intervention to promote physical activity as a healthy behavior on blood pressures and physical activity levels in adolescents. Youth empowerment was the theoretical framework for …

The Lived Experience In Relation To The Educational Needs Of Nurses Caring For Induced Hypothermia Patients, Marie Hankinson

Dissertations

Ongoing educational development is essential to ensure the effectiveness of professional nurses' learning experiences. Understanding the ways in which workplace learning occurs is fundamental to enabling nurse educators to deliver that knowledge. Induced hypothermia was introduced as a new treatment modality in 2005 and education surrounding the care of the hypothermia patient is lacking in the literature.

The purpose of this study is to illuminate how nurses learn new knowledge in the clinical setting. Theoretical Framework: The learning theory chosen for this study is the three dimensions of learning by Illeris (2004).

High-Resolution Elevation Mapping Of The Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, And Surrounding Regions, Andrew G. Fountain, Juan C. Fernandez-Diaz, Maciej K. Obryk, Joseph Levy, Michael N. Gooseff, David J. Van Horn, Paul Morin, Ramesh Shrestha

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present detailed surface elevation measurements for the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica derived from aerial lidar surveys flown in the austral summer of 2014–2015 as part of an effort to understand geomorphic changes over the past decade. Lidar return density varied from 2 to > 10 returns m−2with an average of about 5 returns m−2. Vertical and horizontal accuracies are estimated to be 7 and 3 cm, respectively. In addition to our intended targets, other ad hoc regions were also surveyed including the Pegasus flight facility and two regions on Ross Island, McMurdo Station, Scott Base (and surroundings), and the coastal …

Embracing Challenges In Times Of Change: A Survey Of The Readiness Of Academic Librarians In New Jersey For Transition To The Acrl Framework, Leslin H. Charles

Communications in Information Literacy

Many academic librarians in the state of New Jersey (NJ) have successfully integrated information literacy (IL) into the curriculum using the ACRL IL Competency Standards for Higher Education (Standards). These Standards formed the underpinnings of IL curriculum mapping and assessment plans, and have been adopted by administrators in higher education institutions across the state. The advent of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework) prompted the author to survey IL coordinators to investigate how their institutions are embracing the opportunities presented by the challenge of looking at IL through this new lens. This paper presents a snapshot …

Use Of Biomarkers For The Evaluation Of A Psychoeducational Program In Mexican Informal Caregivers, Nadia Jasso, Maria De Los Angeles Villarreal-Reyna, Jesus Acevedo-Aleman, Maria Magdalena Delabra-Salinas

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Evaluate, through biomarkers the effect of a psychoeducational program addressed for nursing guide to improve the emotional health in mexicans informal caregivers of older adults with dementia.

Methods: Quasi-experimental design with repeated measurements and two different groups: the experimental group will participle in a psychoeducational program which consist in 12 sessions of two hours per session in which will develop abilities for the solution of problems for care and self-care in the informal caregivers participants; the control group will receive conferences about chronic illness and healthy life style. The central hypothesis in this project is that the informal caregivers …

Combining Literature Review, Qualitative Descriptive Analysis, And Computerized Lexical Analysis To Investigate Hrqol In Schizophrenia, Carlos M. Janela

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

People with schizophrenia experience hallucinations, emotional withdrawal, and cognitive impairment as well as a variety of comorbidities that lessen their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Barnes et al., 2012; WHO, 2016). HRQoL refers to ways in which health, illness, and medical treatment influence a person"s perception of functioning and well-being (Chan et al., 2007). Optimizing HRQoL is a goal set by leading national and international health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization (Healthy People 2020, 2016; WHO, 2016). Recently, the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) 2016 draft strategic plan identified the improvement …

Using Trigger Films As A Bariatric Sensitivity Intervention To Improve Nursing Students' Attitudes And Beliefs, Margory A. Molloy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This project was a program evaluation. Its aim was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effects of a bariatric sensitivity intervention (BSI) on nursing students" attitudes toward obesity and their beliefs about caring for obese patients.

Methods: One-group repeated measures design used surveys immediately before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 30 days after the intervention to evaluate the effects of the BSI on nursing students" attitudes toward obesity and beliefs about obese persons. The BSI was delivered to a convenience sample of 70 first-semester nursing students enrolled in the introductory clinical nursing course of an accelerated BSN …

Cell Dynamics In Three-Dimensional (3d) Culture Environments, Rong Fan

Theses

A three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system provides an effective platform to study cell dynamics in in vivo-mimicking conditions and thus plays an important role in understanding cell biology, organ function, and disease model. This dissertation investigates cell dynamics in a variety of 3D environments including solid and liquid matrix. We study cell dynamics in 3D hydrogel microparticles and show that cells exhibit significant differences with that from 2D monolayer culture, including cell cycle, survival, morphology and the sensitivity to inflammation. We further develop a 3D printed cell-laden hybrid hydrogel construct to investigate colon cancer cell dynamics in physiologically relevant bowel …

Status Epilepticus Due To Intraperitoneal Injection Of Vehicle Containing Propylene Glycol In Sprague Dawley Rats, Evon S. Ereifej, Seth M. Meade, Cara S. Smith, Keying Chen, Nanette Kleinman, Jeffrey R. Capadona

Faculty Scholarship

Published reports of status epilepticus due to intraperitoneal injection containing propylene glycol in rats are sparse. In fact, there are no reports specifying a maximum safe dose of propylene glycol through intraperitoneal administration. We report here a case of unexpected seizures in Sprague Dawley rats after receiving an intraperitoneal injection containing propylene glycol. Nine-week-old, 225-250 gram male rats were reported to experience tremor progressing to seizures within minutes after given injections of resveratrol (30 mg/kg) dissolved in a 40: 60 propylene glycol/corn oil vehicle solution by direct intraperitoneal (IP) slow bolus injection or via a preplaced intraperitoneal catheter. The World …

Volume 54, Number 48: July 12, 2017, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.