Digital Commons Network^™

Using Behavior Skills Training To Increase Quality Parent Talk During A Read-Aloud, Britnea Monaco

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Reading to children is one way to engage a child in high-level conversations that go beyond the explicit message of the book. There is a positive correlation between the amount of high-quality caregiver/child joint attention activities and language development. The purpose of this study was to use Behavior Skills Training to teach parents seven component reading skills in order to increase parents word count and quality of words read during read-alouds with their children. Results showed as parents mastered the seven reading components they increased their overall word count. Implications of these findings are discussed within the context of caregiver/child …

Gear Specific Catch Rates And Population Dynamics Of Channel Catfish In The Mississippi River, Colby Gainer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perpetual anthropogenic alterations have imposed deleterious effects on aquatic ecosystems. In the Mississippi River, channelization, dams, and loss of floodplain connectivity have all been reputed as detrimental. Dynamic rate functions (i.e., recruitment, growth, and mortality) are the driving forces behind fish populations. Understanding population dynamics is important for guiding management decisions. Knowledge of vital rates can provide pivotal information that will determine spatiotemporal population-level changes within the system. In the Mississippi River, Channel Catfish are a commercially and recreationally important species. However, limited population demographic information currently exists in the Upper Mississippi River. We sought to determine the most effective …

The Use Of Animal-Assisted Therapeutic Interventions In The Hospital Setting During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alicia Cesare

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Handlers of therapy and/or facility dogs working within hospital settings have experienced various barriers and challenges within their practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Animal-assisted interventions, specifically therapeutic working dogs, are a valued source of support to individuals, communities, hospital settings, and disaster sites during times of community distress. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and solutions to the continued use of animal-assisted therapeutic interventions in support of patients and families within the hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This researcher’s position within the research is the knowledge and experience of being a facility dog handler within the …

“Tomorrow Never Dies”: Recent Advances In Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention Modalities Against Coronavirus (Covid-19) Amid Controversies, Partha Laskar, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV or COVID-19) is responsible for severe health emergency throughout the world. The attack of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is found to be responsible for COVID-19. The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing global public health emergency as a pandemic. The whole world fights against this invincible enemy in various capacities to restore economy, lifestyle, and safe life. Enormous amount of scientific research work(s), administrative strategies, and economic measurements are in place to create a successful step against COVID-19. Furthermore, differences in opinion, facts, and implementation methods laid additional layers …

Development Of Thrombocytopenia Is Associated With Improved Survival In Patients Treated With Immunotherapy, Hussein A. Assi

School of Medicine Publications

Background:

Immune-related adverse events are associated with efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We hypothesize that immune-mediated thrombocytopenia could be a biomarker for response to ICIs.

Materials & methods:

This retrospective study included 215 patients with metastatic malignancies treated with ICIs. Patients were stratified by nadir platelet count. Outcomes of interest were progression-free survival and overall survival.

Results:

On multivariate analysis, grade 1 thrombocytopenia was positively associated with overall survival compared with patients who did not develop thrombocytopenia (hazard ratio [HR]= 0.28 [95% CI: 0.13–0.60]; p = 0.001), while grade 2–4 thrombocytopenia was not (HR= 0.36 [95% CI: 0.13–1.04]; p …

Modulation Of Hedgehog Signaling By Kappa Opioids To Attenuate Osteoarthritis, Alexander E Weber, Omid Jalali, Sean Limfat, Ruzanna Shkhyan, Robert Van Der Horst, Siyoung Lee, Yucheng Lin, Liangliang Li, Erik N Mayer, Liming Wang, Nancy Q Liu, Frank A Petrigliano, Jay R Lieberman, Denis Evseenko

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Inhibition of hedgehog (HH) signaling prevents cartilage degeneration and promotes repair in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA). This study, undertaken in OA models and in human OA articular cartilage, was designed to explore whether kappa opioid receptor (KOR) modulation via the inhibition of HH signaling may have therapeutic potential for achieving disease-modifying activity in OA.

METHODS: Primary human articular cartilage and synovial tissue samples from patients with knee OA undergoing total joint replacement and from healthy human subjects were obtained from the National Disease Research Interchange. For in vivo animal studies, a partial medial meniscectomy (PMM) model of knee …

Science Communication: Synthesis Of Research Findings And Practical Advice From Experienced Communicators, Amy Elizabeth Jenkins, Alexandra Grygorczyk, Andreas Boecker

Journal of Extension

Use of effective public communication strategies is critical for Extension professionals to successfully navigate challenges faced by the agriculture sector and local community, effect policy changes, and ensure public value for the Extension program. Simply addressing the public knowledge deficit is ineffective for gaining public trust in science. Thus, implementation of public engagement and increased dialogue are central to contemporary Extension practice. Such an approach requires balancing factual knowledge with an engaging and open communication style. We draw on both research findings and advice from experienced science communicators to provide a synthesis of practical tips for achieving this balance. Guidance …

Structured Support Advances Extension Educator Intercultural Development During A Short-Term Study Abroad Experience, Marygrace Erickson, Jacie Grant, Elizabeth L. Karcher

Journal of Extension

Extension educators need intercultural competence to communicate with international audiences and facilitate dialogue in diverse domestic communities. Although many Extension professionals have traveled abroad, experience abroad does not necessarily lead to intercultural competence without intentional intercultural development support. We describe a novel program designed to develop Extension educators' intercultural competence by involving them as mentors in an undergraduate agriculture study abroad program. Statements by the participating educators support increased ability to recognize and adapt to multiple frameworks, increased self-reflection, and enriched interactions and programming for their diverse communities.

Survey On Equine Parasite Control In The Midwestern And Southwestern United States, Gary W. Webb, Heidi Brady, Cassandra O'Hara, Sadie Sacra

Journal of Extension

We conducted a survey to assess parasite control programs used by three groups of horse owners. The majority of those surveyed indicated that they received information on parasite control from veterinarians, with only 6% indicating reliance on Extension materials for such information. Most participants did not use fecal egg counts as part of their parasite control programs, and most were not aware of parasite resistance to anthelmintics. Our survey results highlight areas in which education for horse owners may be needed.

Food Safety Needs Assessment For Georgia Specialty Crops, Camila Rodrigues, Beth Oleson, Laurel L. Dunn

Journal of Extension

We conducted a needs assessment to determine food safety resources required by produce growers in Georgia. Most respondents were farm owners (52.5%), food safety managers (48.3%), and/or farm managers (34.2%). The most requested topics for training included how to improve food safety management skills and how to manage a food safety program. Of 120 respondents, 25 were unsure whether their operations were required to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. This information will guide Georgia food safety educators in developing materials and curricula for growers throughout Georgia. Additionally, our survey and findings may be of use to Extension professionals elsewhere …

Quantifying Attitudes And Knowledge Change About The Meat-Animal Industry Via A Massive Open Online Course, Chad Carr, Katie Abrams, Grady Roberts, Kylie Phillipps, Victoria Velinsky, Larry Eubanks, Jason Scheffler, Dwain Johnson

Journal of Extension

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) offer a unique platform through which Extension can provide valuable education. We explored The Meat We Eat, a MOOC designed to create a more informed meat consumer and increase perceptions of transparency surrounding meat production. Compared to pretest respondents (n = 490), students who completed the posttest (n = 226) had an improved attitude toward meat and slaughter, an improved perception of the meat industry’s transparency, and increased knowledge. These findings suggest the relevance and value of MOOCs as Extension activities for improving knowledge and attitudes toward animal agriculture and other topics.

Measuring The Economic Benefit Of Extension Leadership Programs: Mcleod For Tomorrow, Brigid A. Tuck, Scott A. Chazdon, Catherine M. Rasmussen, Hannah J. Bohn

Journal of Extension

Extension-led leadership programs provide economic benefits. Historically, evaluators have struggled to quantify these benefits as compared to costs. Further, leadership programs have both public and private value, which are difficult to quantify. To address gaps in understanding the value of leadership development programs, we quantified the economic benefit of the McLeod for Tomorrow leadership program. Through an alumni survey and a mind-mapping session, we collected data on the program's public and private benefits. Our findings show that each dollar invested creates $5.60 in economic benefit and that public value exceeds private value. Our article provides insights into methods for quantifying …

The Flip Side Of Presubmission Reviews And August Joe Highlights, Debbie Allen

Journal of Extension

In the last issue of JOE, I stressed to authors the importance of having one's work read before submitting it. In "The Flip Side of Presubmission Reviews," I explore this topic from the reader's perspective. In "August JOE Highlights," I note articles that underscore the need for health-related policy, systems, and environmental change interventions and other programming meant to right inequities as well as articles describing innovations Extensionists have applied to various challenges, including those produced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washed Away: Native American Representation In Oklahoma Museums And High Schools, 2000 – 2020, Catherine E. Thompson

Graduate Masters Theses

Each state in our union has a unique history and story as it plays into the formation of the United States; one of the unique and historically relevant narratives to United States is that of Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma has gone through a multitude of changes over the last several centuries. Unfortunately a significant part of the history that has made Oklahoma so singular continues to be overlooked by the public and through education. Native Americans were forced off their ancestral lands and moved to Oklahoma. The state was then developed through a series of federal acts and invasive …

Useful Materials: Pxrf Analysis Of 17th-Century Flat Glass From Plymouth Colony, Grace E. Bello

Graduate Masters Theses

This master’s thesis uses a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer to date and identify flat green glass fragments from English colonial sites in New England. Three sites from the 17th-century Plymouth Colony produced flat glass tested in this thesis. These sites include the Burial Hill site (164 samples), the Alden site (764 samples), and the Standish site (21 samples). Based on the pXRF testing conducted, it was determined that 17th-century flat glass samples can be identified and dated using elemental and physical characteristics. Green window glass produced between 1567 and 1700 can be identified by the presence of a relative …

Effects Of Prenatal Exposure To Phenobarbital On Verbal Abilities In School-Aged Children, Jocelyn M. Lutes

Graduate Masters Theses

Phenobarbital is one of the oldest medications used for the treatment of epilepsy. Although its use has declined in many developed nations, phenobarbital is still a first-line treatment in several developing countries across the globe. If possible, current American Academy of Neurology guidelines advise against the use of phenobarbital during pregnancy due to an increased risk for structural malformations. However, less is known about the risk that prenatal exposure to phenobarbital poses to the cognitive and behavioral development of the child. Adams et al (in progress) have shown that, in comparison to demographically matched controls, children prenatally exposed to phenobarbital …

“Even If It Means Our Battles To Date Are Meaningless” The Anime Gundam Wing And Postwar History, Memory, And Identity In Japan, Genevieve R. Peterson

Graduate Masters Theses

Since 1945, three narratives have dominated Japan’s postwar memory landscape: the heroic narrative, the victim narrative, and the perpetrator narrative. There are few places in Japanese public discourse demonstrating an engagement with the gray areas between the narratives. What makes a hero? What kinds of visions do victims cast? How evil are perpetrators? While often absent in public discourse, these questions are frequently explored in Japanese popular media, including anime. When the 50th anniversary of the end of the Asia-Pacific War occurred in 1995, Japan’s public figures attempted to lay its memory to rest. In the same year, on April …

Fate And Transport Of Phosphorus-Containing Land-Applied Swine Slurry In A Karst Watershed, A. N. Sharpley, M. B. Daniels, K. R. Brye, K. Vandevender, J. Burke, L G. Berry, P. Webb

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Phosphorus distribution in pasture soils underlain with karst geology was determined on a 0.10-ha grid in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Two fields (Fields 1 and 12) received swine slurry from a concentrated animal feeding operation, whereas another (Field 5) received mineral fertilizer. All fields were grazed by cattle and periodically hayed. Mean Mehlich-3 extractable P in the top 10 cm increased (p ≤ .05 level) for Fields 1 (59–91 mg kg⁻¹) and 12 (63–122 mg kg⁻¹) between 2014 and 2018, with little change for Field 5 (45–47 mg kg⁻¹). Over the 5-yr monitoring …

An Ar Safety Instruction App Designed For Kids, Shaowei Leng

Theses

Safety is very important for little kids. Our children could be harmed by various kinds of danger. According to the statistics, among those 0 to 19 years of age, more than 12,000 people die from unintentional injuries . Meanwhile, more than 9.2 million of them are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries .

There are few lessons which could teach kids about what can do with the surroundings and what they could not do. Few kids know when facing threats, how to fix it.

In this paper, a safety instruction app is designed for kids. The app could help …

Tumor Organoids To Study Gastroesophageal Cancer: A Primer, Ramon U Jin, Jason C Mills

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Gastroesophageal cancers are leading causes of cancer death. Our attempts at adopting molecularly based treatment approaches have been slow and ineffective even though we begin to identify specific targetable gene mutations and pathways. It is clear that we should no longer treat all gastroesophageal cancers as a homogeneous disease, which is what we do when we use non-specific chemotherapy. However, we currently cannot monitor successful gene/pathway targeting, nor understand how/when tumors develop resistance, nor predict which patients will derive maximal benefit. To improve outcomes, we must precisely detail the heterogeneity of these tumors to then individualize cancer therapy as well …

Discerning A Dignitary Offense: The Concept Of Equal 'Public Rights' During Reconstruction, Rebecca J. Scott

Articles

The mountain of modern interpretation to which the language of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution has been subjected tends to overshadow the multiple concepts of antidiscrimination that were actually circulating at the time of its drafting. Moreover, as authors on race and law have pointed out, Congress itself lacked any African American representatives during the 1866–68 moment of transitional justice. The subsequent development of a “state action doctrine” limiting the reach of federal civil rights enforcement, in turn, eclipsed important contemporary understandings of the harms that Reconstruction-era initiatives sought to combat. In contrast to the oblique language …

Population Genomics And Conservation Of Texas Cave And Spring Salamanders (Plethodontidae: Eurycea), Andrew Brian Corbin

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Understanding species boundaries and gene flow among the cave and spring salamanders of the central Texas region (genus Eurycea) has been a challenge for many decades. Although previous research has greatly increased our understanding of these salamanders, there are still many unanswered questions involving the number of species in the group and the degree to which populations are connected. The plummeting cost of DNA sequencing has transformed the field of biology, including the field of population genetics. Before the recent advent of high-throughput sequencing, population genetic studies in Eurycea were limited to only a few genetic markers. Here, we leverage …

Taxonomy, Systematics, Biogeography, And Conservation Of Toads (Anura: Bufonidae) In The Sunda Shelf Of Indonesia, Goutam Chandra Sarker

Biology Dissertations - Archive

After Van Kampen’s 1905–1911 visit to Indonesia culminating in his Amphibians of the Indo-Australian Archipelago (1923), there has been no extensive herpetological exploration and compendium for Indonesia, particularly for Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan. This lack of herpetological surveys has resulted in recent molecular studies from Southeast Asia lacking samples from Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan, and subsequent underestimation of herpetofaunal diversity, inaccuracies in phylogeny and biogeography, and lack of massive conservation status assessments. This is truer for the not so aesthetically appealing and rather warty bufonid toads of Indonesia, which have received very little attention from the small scientific community who …

Cellular And Circuit Properties Of Slow Oscillations In The Thalamic Reticular Nucleus, John O'Malley

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

During sleep, neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) generate distinct types of oscillatory activity. While the reciprocal synaptic circuits between TRN and sensory thalamic nuclei underlie the generation of sleep spindles, the mechanisms regulating slow (<1 >Hz) forms of thalamic oscillations are poorly understood. Under in vitro conditions, in the absence of synaptic inputs, TRN neurons can generate slow oscillations in a cell-intrinsic manner. Activation of postsynaptic Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) leads to long-lasting plateau potentials thought to be mediated by both T-type calcium currents and calcium-activated nonselective cation currents (I_CAN). However, the identity of …

Longitudinal Clonal Lineage Dynamics And Functional Characterization Of Pancreatic Cancer Chemo-Resistance And Metastasization, Chieh-Yuan Li

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

In recent years, technological advancements, such as next-generation sequencing and single-cell interrogation techniques, have enriched our understanding in tumor heterogeneity. By dissecting tumors and characterizing clonal lineages, we are better understanding the intricacies of tumor evolution. Tumors are represented by the presence of and dynamic interactions amongst clonal lineages. Each lineage and each cell contributes to tumor dynamics through intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, and the variable responses of clones to perturbations in the environment, especially therapeutics, underlie disease progression and relapse. Thus, there exists a pressing need to understand the molecular mechanisms that determine the functional heterogeneity of tumor sub-clones …

The End Is Upon Us: Attila The Hun And The Christian Apocalypse, Nathan Landrum

Masters Theses

Since their arrival onto the European landscape from beyond Scythia, the land north of the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, the Huns were originally perceived by the Roman world as a seemingly unknowable, uncivilized barbarian group that instilled fear on the unfortunate peoples in their path. As the Huns migrated further south and eventually permanently settled in the Great Hungarian Plain, the Romans’ original perception largely remained intact, but with great alterations. By the campaigns of Attila in the mid-fifth century, as numerous cities and towns were utterly destroyed across the Balkans, Gaul, and northern Italy, Attila and the …

Characterization Of Human Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase Enzymes Responsible For L-Proline Biosynthesis, Sagar Patel

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductases (EC 1.5.1.2) are important housekeeping enzymes of L-proline biosynthesis, which generate L-proline and influence redox cycling of NAD(P)H/NAD(P)⁺ to support cellular growth in all domains of life. Structural evidence from X-ray crystal structures of HsPYCR1 (PDB codes 5UAT, 5UAU, and 5UAV) shows both NADPH bound in the N-terminal Rao-Rossmann fold motif and an important hydrogen bond or proton donor role for Thr238 with L-P5C. The Thr238Ala mutation results in 10-fold loss in catalytic efficiency with varied L-P5C relative to the wild-type enzyme, thus indicating Thr238’s potential hydrogen bond and proton donation to L-P5C is critical for catalysis. …

Development Of Novel Catalysts For Hydrogen Gas Production From Biomass Compounds, Boanerges Bamaca

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Hydrothermal biomass gasification technologies (sub- and supercritical water gasification and aqueous-phase reforming) have considerable economic, environmental, and technical advantages over other energy-extensive technologies (e.g. natural gas reforming) for hydrogen gas production. However, lack of economically feasible and highly active catalysts is a main challenge that impedes upscaling of these technologies for hydrogen gas production.

The goal of this study was to develop innovative, economically feasible and active heterogeneous supported metal catalysts for hydrothermal processes for producing hydrogen gas from biomass-derived compounds. Because of its stable structure and chemical inertness, graphene was used as catalyst support. Graphene supported metal catalysts were …

Nitrate Dynamics And Source Within Nested Watersheds Of An Agricultural Stream, Nebraska, Usa, Galen Richards

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitrate concentrations have been increasing throughout the globe, primarily due to heightened agricultural activity. Nitrate concentrations in Bazile Creek, located in Northeastern Nebraska, have been steadily rising since the early 2000s. Groundwater nitrate concentrations within the Bazile Creek watershed are high (> 10 mg/L nitrate-N), and there is strong connectivity between groundwater and surface water systems. This study aimed to better understand temporal nitrate concentration variability within the watershed through sampling tributaries and the main channel during baseflow conditions. Nitrate source was also investigated though the use of dual δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O nitrate isotopes, with samples …

Teaching The Syllabus At The Community College, Yuemin He

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Reacting directly to the fact that even the best syllabus is worthless to the student who does not read it, this essay draws inspiration from research of the past decade, especially from the learning-focused syllabus concept that was introduced by three researchers at the University of Virginia, and uses a questionnaire to gauge our community college students’ needs. It suggests specific methods to build the bridge between course content instruction and syllabus teaching. Ultimately, it contributes to the discussion of several important syllabus-related questions: How can instructors use the syllabus as a pedagogical tool to build a strong student rapport? …