Digital Commons Network^™

Cognition, Emotion, Personality And The Conservation And Management Of Wild Ungulates, Rob Found

Animal Sentience

Increasing public understanding of the complexity of wild ungulates can improve animal welfare and advance global conservation efforts of these keystone species. Unfortunately, shaping public opinion on wild species is challenging because personal experience with wildlife is declining, popular education is still biased towards the predator instead of the prey, and scientific research is more difficult to conduct on wild ungulates compared to those on farms, in zoos, or otherwise in captivity. Nevertheless, studies of cognition, individuality, and intelligence of wild ungulates are increasing. I briefly highlight some major results from my own work on complexity in wild elk, illustrating …

Social Cognition In Sheep: Welfare Implications, Keith M. Kendrick

Animal Sentience

More research has been carried out on social cognition in sheep than in other farm animal species. Although this has often been featured widely in the media, there is still limited public awareness of it. Marino & Merskin’s review is therefore both important and timely. In my commentary, I focus primarily on what has been established about the complexity of sheep social cognition, at the level of both brain and behavior, and on some of these findings for sheep welfare.

Why Factual Appeals About The Abilities Of Sheep May Fail, Sarah Gradidge, Magdalena Zawisza

Animal Sentience

Marino & Merskin (2019) express hope that providing people with positive information about the abilities of sheep (factual appeals) will improve perceptions of them and thus improve their welfare. However, these factual appeals can, and do, fail to change perceptions of animals. This commentary considers why and when factual appeals fail, and with whom they may be effective.

Deepening Our Understanding Of Sheep, Lori Marino, Debra Merskin

Animal Sentience

Our Response is centered on five major themes: (1) our presentation of human mythologies about sheep; (2) the relevance of cognitive complexity (“intelligence”) as a dimension underlying the way people perceive and treat sheep; (3) whether our review is too anthropocentric or anthropomorphic; (4) animal welfare versus animal rights (abolitionism); and (5) whether knowledge and education are enough to change human attitudes and behavior.

Quasi-Likelihood Ratio Tests For Homoscedasticity Of Variance In Linear Regression, Lili Yu, Varadan Sevilimedu, Robert Vogel, Hani Samawi

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Two quasi-likelihood ratio tests are proposed for the homoscedasticity assumption in the linear regression models. They require few assumptions than the existing tests. The properties of the tests are investigated through simulation studies. An example is provided to illustrate the usefulness of the new proposed tests.

Seed Predation Study Data, John M. Carroll

Biology: Faculty Datasets (2016-2023)

These data were collected as part of the seed predation study which examined the role of different seascape metrics with seed consumption in a New York estuary. Data collected include number of seeds consumed, size of the seagrass patch in which the seeds were deployed, location of the seed predation unit either in sand, or when placed in seagrass, whether the unit was in the center or edge of the patch, the patch ID, and total seagrass area within different sized buffers around the location of the seed predation unit.

California Floras, Manuals, And Checklists: A Bibliography, James P. Smith Jr

Botanical Studies

No abstract provided.

Best Practices For Facilitating Difficult Dialogues In The Basic Communication Course, Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, Karla M. Hunter

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Effective facilitation of classroom dialogue can stimulate open discussion and debate, challenge students to consider diverse perspectives, and promote critical student reflection and growth. Unfortunately, some instructors may be hesitant to approach controversial topics, for fear of losing face or risking chaos in the classroom. By learning and practicing established facilitation techniques, teachers can develop confidence and competence in harnessing the pedagogical power of difficult dialogue while maintaining classroom cohesion and community. This article provides 10 best practices for facilitating difficult classroom dialogues. These practices equip instructors with resources for building community, maintaining classroom immediacy, and grappling with disagreements without …

Richwood, West Virginia After The 2016 Flood: Place, Devastation, And Hope In An Appalachian Community, Christine Elizabeth Witt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

How does a community cope with a crisis that threatens its identity or even its existence? This is the question facing the town of Richwood, West Virginia, after a devastating flood that impacted much of the town in 2016. Some of the consequences of the 2016 flood were the loss of the high school building, followed by difficulties receiving the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money to rebuild the school, and a loss of additional FEMA money for other critical issues due to alleged corruption. How do community residents cope emotionally with devastation? How do they understand the causes of …

Psychological Trauma And Resilience Of Police Officers Involved In An Ambush: An Exploratory Study, Erin A. Teaff

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Law enforcement officers are widely recognized as having one of the most dangerous and stressful occupations, which can lead to lasting physical and psychological impacts. While research has examined the psychological trauma and resilience experienced by police officers, there have been very few research studies involving ambushes. Due to the continued risk of ambushes on police officers, gaining insight into the trauma and resilience of officers during these types of situations would be beneficial in providing psychologists with information to aid in their treatment officers involved in an ambush and similar unprovoked attacks. The primary aim of this study was …

Does Emotional Distress Tolerance Predict Fear Responding In A Heights-Fearful Sample?, Amber Lynn Billingsley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Emotional distress tolerance—or the ability to withstand negative emotional states—is considered a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. Although it is theorized to play an important role in anxiety, research aiming to delineate the relationship between anxiety and emotional distress tolerance is lacking. The current study tested whether an individual’s self-reported emotional distress tolerance predicted avoidance in the presence of feared stimuli using a heights-fearful sample. Moreover, the study tested whether emotional distress tolerance predicted other relevant in-the-moment fear responses, such as peak anxiety, anxious cognitions, and bodily sensations while in a heights scenario. Participants (N = 85) completed a …

Identity Formation Of Adolescents Who Are Homeschooled: Mothers' Perceptions, Peggy Joan Mcqueen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Homeschooling is a growing educational choice with very little research about the psycho-social outcomes associated with the process. This qualitative study sought to examine the potential facilitative benefit of homeschooling upon the formation of identity. The participants were 26 mothers of homeschooled adolescents in Pennsylvania. Parent responses were examined using thematic analysis. Constituent aspects of parental motivation and methodology were investigated to assess the presence of elements facilitative in the process of identity formation as identified by Erik Erikson (1959, 1963). In examining methods used in homeschooling, it was found that the mothers in this study are providing the support …

The Potential Promises And Pitfalls Of Using Local Norms For Gifted Identification, Marla S. Hartman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Who are the gifted? This question has plagued the field since its inception. Historically, gifted education has been predicated on the values of the Caucasian, upper- to middle-class majority. As a result, underrepresentation of students from economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse families have been well documented in the literature and continues to this day. Some scholars have suggested the use of expanded definitions of giftedness to increase participation of students from underrepresented segments of the population. This study used regression and hierarchical linear models to predict the proportion of students identified across various thresholds focusing on how definitions impacted differential …

Comparison Of Drag Area Estimation Using Natural Coast Down And Constant Speed Test Methods, Cem Baki Mr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Currently in US, more than 26 percent of the total GHG emissions comes from transportation and mostly from heavy duty vehicles. Similarly, the European Council stated that 25 percent of the emissions comes from heavy duty transportation and they expect it to be further increased in the future. However, with the new coming regulations US EPA and European Council aiming to reduce the emissions by 80 percent in US and 60 percent in EU. In order to keep track and control the emissions, both authorities published new regulations and testing methods for certifying the new vehicles.

Aerodynamic testing is one …

Genet-Cnv: Boolean Implication Networks For Modeling Genome-Wide Co-Occurrence Of Dna Copy Number Variations, Salvi Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Lung cancer can be categorized as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC makes up about 80% to 85% of lung cancer cases diagnosed, whereas SCLC is responsible for 10% to 15% of the cases. It remains a challenge for physicians to identify patients who shall benefit from chemotherapy. In such a scenario, identifying genes that can facilitate therapeutic target discoveries and better understanding disease mechanisms and their regulation in different stages of lung cancer, remains an important topic of research.

In this …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Pete Master’S Programs In The U.S. And Their Alignment With Advanced Teaching Standards, Jamie K. Gilbert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: This study provided a descriptive analysis of PETE master’s degree programs in the United States. Program demographics and curriculum alignment with SHAPE America’s three advanced teaching standards and four guiding principles were the focus of this research.

Methods: This research utilized a non-experimental, cross-sectional descriptive research design and a two-phase approach to collect data. The quantitative survey component analyzed the demographics of programs (n=13) using descriptive analysis. Phone-based semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from program affiliates (n=4) concerning program adherence to three advanced PETE standards and four guiding principles.

Results: Public universities granting …

Short Beam Shear Strength Evaluations Of Gfrp Composites: Correlations Through Accelerated And Natural Aging, William Todd Barker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) composites have been materials of interest in replacing or reinforcing steel, wood, and concrete, but lack of understanding of degradation under physical and chemical aging is a main concern. Through many years of research, the understanding of aging or durability of GFRPs has improved. To be able to evaluate aging related degradation rates, an accelerated aging methodology under varying environments is introduced. Accelerated aging is a concept used to age composites in a lab controlled environment under varying pH conditions (2 to 13) and temperatures (~ -20° to +160°F). Once acceleratedly aged testing is completed, Arrhenius …

A Timeless Ritual, Luke Thomas Doyle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written thesis is the supporting documentation for A Timeless Ritual, my Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition. The exhibition seeks to define my expression of aesthetics through utilitarian vessels to create a sense of nostalgia with the user my mimicking industrial objects.

The research pertaining to my thesis explores the interactions between object and user. A patina layered over time evokes a sense of age, weathered memories of a time once lived. I look for these subtle nuances in form. Borrowing an aesthetic from manufactured products and reviving it in a domestic space is where my pots takes life. …

Ferritin: An Iron Deficiency Biomarker In Collegiate Female Distance Runners, Ty Bigelow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context: Iron deficiency is a concern in distance runners due to the implications that hemoglobin production becomes impaired limiting oxygen uptake and tissue oxidation in the body. Ferritin is a biomarker used to diagnose iron deficiency. The related signs and symptoms of iron deficiency are associated with decreased performance and prolonged recovery. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the change in ferritin levels affect measures of performance, measures of recovery, and rate of perceived exertion in female endurance runners. Design: The study was a descriptive longitudinal study. Setting: The study was conducted at a Mid-Atlantic Division …

Talking Foreign Policy: North Korea Summit, Paul Williams, Shannon French, Michael P. Scharf, Milena Sterio, Tim Webster

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

No abstract provided.

Cracking The Copyright Dilemma In Software Preservation: Protecting Digital Culture Through Fair Use Consensus, Peter Jaszi, Patricia Aufderheide, Brandon Butler, Krista L. Cox

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Copyright problems may inhibit the crucially important work of preserving legacy software. Such software is worthy of study in its own right because it is critical to accessing digital culture and expression. Preservation work is essential for communicating across boundaries of the past and present in a digital era. Software preservationists in the United States have addressed their copyright problems by developing a code of best practices in employing fair use. Their work is an example of how collective action by users of law changes the norms and beliefs about law, which can in turn change the law itself insofar …

Identity Development And University Adjustment, Meghan Yerhot

Human Development and Family Science

Colleges and universities across the U.S. continue their efforts to enroll students from diverse backgrounds. Those students from lower socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds and first in their family to attend college have been found to experience a great deal of challenges once enrolled. Individuals from different class backgrounds have been shown to experience a different form of socialization, which may influence their experiences in higher education both positively and negatively. There is limited research, however, on how the presence of internal and external characteristics influence the way in which students make sense of themselves within these new environments. This is particularly …

Student-Instructor Out-Of-Class Communication: A Media Multiplexity Approach, Cathlin V. Clark-Gordon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present set of studies examined media multiplexity theory (MMT; Haythornthwaite, 2005) in the context of student-instructor out-of-class communication (OCC) in two samples: undergraduate and graduate students. It was predicted that student-instructor tie strength (closeness) would lead to a greater number of modes used for OCC, and subsequently, the number of modes used for OCC would predict positive classroom outcomes, including communication satisfaction, cognitive and affective learning, and motivation. It was also predicted that the effect of closeness on the number of modes used for OCC would be moderated by student’s enjoyment of online communication, insofar as it would suppress …

Mine Reclamation Using Biofuel Crops: Insights Into The Microbial Ecology Of The Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) Microbiome, Brianna L. Mayfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bioenergy crop production has steadily increased due to growing political support for renewable energy, thus initiating a demand to find alternative agricultural land. An innovative option is the use of marginal soils, such as reclaimed mine lands, to produce bioenergy crops. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a promising bioenergy crop that can be grown on marginal lands due to its robust growth in various soil types and climates. However, little is known regarding plant-microbe interactions among switchgrass systems within reclaimed mine lands. A study conducted in 2008 grew switchgrass on high- and low- quality reclaimed mine sites (Hampshire and …

Nuanced Narratives: Reporting With Critical Race And Feminist Standpoint Theories, Emily Margaret Pelland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Google Expedition titled WWI Era Through the Eyes of the Chicago Defender explores African American experiences during the early years of the Great Migration (1910-1970). Conventional journalism relies on the false idea that journalists are meant to be, and can be, objective, outside observers. This report provides tools for journalists to create more nuanced, thorough storytelling endeavors. This report describes the theoretical framework and intent of the Virtual Reality (VR) project for students in grades 8 and above. It utilizes Feminist Standpoint Theory (FST) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) to cultivate a VR experience that acknowledges particular, overlooked aspects …

Mindfulness For Musicians: Bringing Sport Psychology And Mindfulness-Based Therapies To The Practice Room And The Concert Stage, Lauretta M. Werner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Due to the profession’s competitive nature, time-consuming demands, and frequent evaluations, many musicians experience debilitating music performance anxiety, hypercritical thoughts, and/or avoidance of specific performance situations. To cope with these experiences, musicians can cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness is purposefully and non-judgmentally paying attention to the present moment, developing awareness of emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations, and acknowledging the reality of one’s experience. “Mindfulness for Musicians: Bringing sport psychology and mindfulness-based therapies to the practice room and the concert stage” discusses how cultivating mindfulness helps musicians cope with intense emotions, such as panic or fear, and explores how cultivating mindfulness helps musicians …

Ethofumesate 4sc Applied Postemergence In Sugarbeet, Alexa Lynn Lystad

Plant Sciences

Experiments evaluated sugarbeet tolerance, herbicide efficacy on common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus (moq.) J.D. Sauer), and rotational crop safety to ethofumesate (2-Ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-5-benzofuranol methanesulfonate) in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Ethofumesate applied at 2.24 or 4.48 kg ha-1 at the sugarbeet two-true leaf stage reduced sugarbeet stature and recoverable sucrose in field experiments. Ethofumesate at 1.12 kg ha-1 plus glyphosate at 1.26 kg ha-1 applied preemergence (PRE) or early postemergence (EPOST) to 1.3-cm weeds provided broad spectrum control with the least sugarbeet stature reduction in field and greenhouse experiments. Corn (Zea mays L.), …

Cornus Mas L. Cultivar Selection Based On Hardiness And Propagation, Meredith Swanson

Plant Sciences

Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) is a deciduous shrub/small tree native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. It is unique among the Cornaceae (dogwood) family in that the fruit is used for human consumption and is highly nutritious and contains high amounts of antioxidants and anthocyanins. While this plant has many desirable fruiting and ornamental characteristics, it has seen limited use in North America. Several of these desirable characteristics are low disease and pest incidence, fruit qualities, and early yet long-lasting flowers. With limited use in North America, hardiness speculations are based on only a few individual plants. In this document, …

Evaluation Of Management Tools For Stripe Rust In Hard Red Spring Wheat And Assessment Of Virulence Phenotypes And Aggressiveness In Puccinia Striiformis Isolates, Bryn Anndi Evin

Plant Sciences

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an economically important foliar disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum). In the last decade, losses from stripe rust in North Dakota (ND) have increased, peaking at 5% in 2015. Three research studies were conducted to address questions on the pathogen, varietal resistance, and integrated management. The objective of the first study was to (i) identify virulent phenotypes of Pst isolates collected from ND from 2015 to 2017 and assign races, and (ii) determine the effect of temperature on in vitro urediniospore germination, latency, and lesion spread. Across the three years, …

Transfer Of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance To Hard Red Winter Wheat, Hongbin Tao

Plant Sciences

Fusarium head blight (FHB; caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) is a serious disease of hard red winter wheat (HRWW) in North Dakota. Current varieties are lacking in resistance. Many resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) were discovered in spring wheat that can be employed in HRWW. The North Dakota State University breeding program aims to acquire and pyramid useful FHB resistance QTL into its breeding population. Therefore, hybrid populations derived from CM82036 (Fhb1 and Qfhs.ifa-5A), PI277012 (Qfhb.rwg-5A.1 and Qfhb.rwg-5A.2), Frontana (Qfhs.ifa-3A), and TA5660 (Fhb6) were tested for type II resistance to: derive new FHB resistant HRWW lines with pyramided QTL (Fhb1+) …