Digital Commons Network^™

Biplots For Compositional Data Derived From Generalized Joint Diagonalization Methods, Ute Mueller, R. Tolosana Delgado, E. C. Grunsky, J. M. Mckinley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Biplots constructed from principal components of a compositional data set are an established means to explore its features. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is also used to transform a set of spatial variables into spatially decorrelated factors. However, because no spatial structures are accounted for in the transformation the application of PCA is limited. In geostatistics and blind source separation a variety of different matrix diagonalization methods have been developed with the aim to provide spatially or temporally decorrelated factors. Just as PCA, many of these transformations are linear and so lend themselves to the construction of biplots. In this contribution …

Anti-Uterine Fibroid Effect Of Standardized Labisia Pumila Var. Alata Extracts In Vitro And In Human Uterine Fibroid Cancer Xenograft Model, Norfahana Zakaria, Khamsah S. Mohd, Mohammed A. A. Saeed, Loiy E. A. Hassan, Armaghan Shafaei Darestani, Fouad S. R. Al-Suede, Abdul H. Memon, Zhari Ismail

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Uterine fibroids are a common type of solid tumor presenting in women of reproductive age. There are very few alternative treatment available from conventional treatment involving surgeries. Labisia pumila var. alata or locally known as ‘Kacip Fatimah’ was widely used as traditional medicine in Malaysia. This plant has been used to maintain a healthy female reproductive system. The present study aimed to evaluate anti fibroid potential of L. pumila extracts through in vitro apoptosis activity against uterine leiomyoma cells (SK-UT-1) and in uterine leiomyoma xenograft model. Evaluation of bioactive markers content were also carried out. Methods: Apoptotic induction of …

A Secure And Energy-Aware Approach For Cognitive Radio Communications, Haitham Khaled, Iftekhar Ahmad, Daryoush Habibi, Quoc Viet Phung

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The cognitive radio (CR) technique has revealed a novel way of utilizing the precious radiospectrum via allowing unlicensed users to opportunistically access unutilized licensed bands. Using sucha technique enables agile and flexible access to the radio spectrum and can resolve the spectrum-scarcityproblem and maximize spectrum efficiency. However, two major impediments have been limiting thewidespread adoption of cognitive radio technology. The software-defined radio technology, which is theenabling technology for the CR technique, is power-hungry and this raises a major concern for battery-constrained devices such as smart phones and laptops. Secondly, the opportunistic and open nature ofthe CR can lead to major …

Synergistic Effect Of Hydrophilic Nanoparticles And Anionic Surfactant On The Stability And Viscoelastic Properties Of Oil In Water (O/W) Emulations; Application For Enhanced Oil Recovery (Eor), Sarmad Al-Anssari, Zain-Ul-Abedin Arain, Haider A. Shanshool, Alireza Keshavarz, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

With the rapidly increased global energy demand, great attention has been focused on utilizing nanotechnology and particularly nanofluids in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to produce more oil from low-productivity oil reservoirs. Nanofluid flooding has introduced as one of the promising methods for enhanced oil recovery using environment-friendly nanoparticles (NPs) to be as an innovative-alternative for chemical methods of EOR. This work investigates the synergistic effects of anionic surfactant and hydrophilic silica nanoparticles on the stability and the mechanical behavior of oil in water (O/W) emulsions for their application in EOR. To achieve this, an extensive series of experiments were conducted …

Does Relative Energy In Sport Undermine Bone Health?, Regina Louise Schimek

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is a term expanded from the female athlete triad the is inclusive to males and females and the negative physiological symptoms impacting athlete health and performance from low energy availability. Bone health is one of the ten health consequences of RED-S. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate RED-S in female and male collegiate athletes and determine if there is an association with bone health. Thirteen participants completed an electronic survey containing the LEAF-Q and EAT-26, a three-day food diary and exercise log, and a DXA scan. Energy intake and exercise expenditure …

Exercise And Nutrition To Counter Age-Related Decrements In Muscle Health And Function, Kara Ann Trautman

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Muscle atrophy and strength decrements can occur following disease (e.g., cachexia), with increasing age (e.g., sarcopenia), or from disuse related to injury or occupational environment (e.g., microgravity). High-load resistance training and adequate protein and amino acid intake are effective countermeasures. However, high-load training may not be feasible in all populations. Lower intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (BFR) is an effective alternative and its benefits may be increased when combined with supplementation of protein and leucine. Two studies explored the relationships between nutrient intake and physical activity and the effects of short-term combination on muscle health in middle age. …

A Comparison Of Kinesio® Taping Methods For Subjects With Patellar Tendonitis, Kathleen Yvette Gallais

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

This project investigated the effects of Kinesio® Tape on pain, kinesiophobia, and proprioception in participants with patellar tendonitis. Thirty participants with patellar tendonitis were divided into three groups, the first received a supportive Kinesio® Tape application at the knee, the second received a facilitative application at the hip, and the third received both. A Visual Analog Score, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia score, and a proprioceptive score quantified through the Biodex Balance System were obtained both immediately after application, and 24 to 36 hours following. Statistically significant improvement in VAS scores and in proprioceptive ability with eyes closed 24 to 36 …

Use Of The Graston Technique® In Clinical Practice By Certified Athletic Trainers, Jenna Marie Treloar

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

The Graston Technique® is a common treatment that combines a warm-up, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), stretching, and strengthening protocols. The treatment is commonly chosen by clinicians to treat musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine how the Graston Technique® is used in clinical practice by certified athletic trainers to compare to recommendations made by the Graston Technique®. Factors such as time, expense, lack of training in the Graston Technique®, availability of resources, and an overall lack of evidence-based recommendations may have influenced inconsistencies in clinical practice. Although the technique is not always performed according to …

The Effects Of Remote Post-Exercise Ischemic Conditioning On Recovery From Strenuous Exercise, Thomas Jonathan Lillquist

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

BACKGROUND: Strategic limb occlusion applied after exercise (PEIC) may expedite recovery, not just in directly affected tissue, but over the entire body via circulating factors. METHODS: Twenty active college-age males took part in a single-blind randomized crossover design. Participants underwent intervention and SHAM treatments after strenuous exercise sessions. Peak Torque production and soreness measures were gathered directly before and 24-hours after two exercise sessions. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: A 2 x 2 repeated measures analysis of variance with sidak corrections (significance of p<0.05) was used to analyze peak torque and VAS scores. RESULTS: Significance was not observed between any associated pre- and post-peak torque test (p > 0.05). Post-treatment VAS scores were statistically higher than pre-treatment for all conditions except pre-and post-intervention in the direct leg …

Dustbowl Waters: Doctrinal And Legislative Solutions To Save The Ogallala Aquifer Before Both Time And Water Run Out, Warigia M. Bowman

Articles, Chapters in Books and Other Contributions to Scholarly Works

Eighty-three years after the Dust Bowl, residents of America’s High Plains face a dire threat: their primary aquifer faces depletion, and entire sections of the country are set to run out of groundwater by the end of the century or sooner. The Ogallala Aquifer provides a significant amount of America’s agricultural irrigation water and is a primary source of drinking water for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. This Article argues that policymakers should slow the Aquifer’s depletion rate by implementing changes to irrigation technology, crop choice, consumer behavior, legal doctrine, and legislation. This Article …

Strategies For The Reduction Of Adipose Tissue And Retention Of Muscle Mass In Overweight Individuals, Christopher Joseph Kotarsky

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether time-restricted feeding (TRF) was an effective dietary strategy for reducing fat mass and preserving fat-free mass while evaluating potential changes in cardiometabolic biomarkers, hormones, muscle performance, and energy and macronutrient intake after eight weeks of aerobic exercise and resistance training in overweight and obese adults. Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled trial. Sedentary, overweight and obese adults (mean ± SD; age: 44.48 ± 7.28 years; BMI: 29.61 ± 2.62 kg/m2; females: 85.71%; males: 14.29%) were randomly assigned to a TRF or normal feeding (NF) dietary strategy group. The TRF …

Identification And Comparison Of Hydration Practices In Marathon Runners During Intended Training, An Intended Marathon, And Self-Reported Hydration Practices During A Marathon Event, Suzanne Louise Young

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Title: Comparing hydration practices of long-distance runners during intended training, an intended event, and an actual event during COVID-19. Context: Prior studies on long-distance runners have yet to compare hydration practices intended in training to an actual event. Optimal hydration strategies and knowledge of EAH was assessed. Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess and compare the self-reported hydration practices of long-distance runners during an intended training run, an intended event, and during an event. Design: Cross-sectional online survey design Setting: 2020 Hyannis, Massachusetts Marathon; Connecticut trail races; online. Participants: There were 46 participants in the Hyannis, 26 …

Investigating The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality In Certified Athletic Trainers, Lucas William Lammert

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are often the first to respond to an athletic sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and are expected to administer the highest quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) possible. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between confidence and CPR quality in ATCs. Fifty ATCs completed confidence questionnaires before and after performing a prolonged CPR assessment on a medium-fidelity manikin. CPR data included measures of chest compression and ventilation quality. Data were analyzed to compare confidence levels pre- and post-CPR assessment, as well as to determine the relationship between CPR performance and self-efficacy. A small, negative …

The Battleground For The American Past: The Influence Of The Vietnam War In Contemporary Memory, Chelsea Dawn Olmsted

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

Commemorative programming for historic anniversaries reveals an interpretive and narrative evolution between public memory and history. The divisiveness of the war and the public’s ambivalence about its meaning allowed for broader interpretive perspectives compared to earlier war commemorations. Research on the evolving narratives considers how public memory informs identity and affects historical interpretations. Recent museum exhibits, historic sites, and films about the Vietnam War bring into focus the changing narrative of the Vietnam War. Case studies for this research are the Washington, D.C. National Archives and Records Administration Remembering Vietnam exhibit, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s plans for an education …

'They Ain't Afraid Of No Ghosts': Dark Tourism At Historic Sites, Kaci Lynn Johnson

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

Dark tourism, a subsection of heritage tourism, is growing in popularity and center around historic sites and museums. Those sites are put in the position to take advantage of the surging popularity of dark tourism by offering programming that complements it. Ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and haunted houses have all been utilized by museums and historic sites to boost revenue and attendance numbers. The implementation of dark programming raises difficult discussions on the role of museums in society and the ethics of profiting off of ghosts, spirits, and the paranormal. The decision to produce dark programming as a complement to …

Reciprocal On-Site Access: Sharing Information By Sharing Library Spaces, Beth Posner, Dennis Massie, Jennifer Devito, Katharine Haldeman

Publications and Research

On-site reciprocal access to libraries is a valuable benefit of consortial membership. This article details its advantages, offers a sample of some ways in which consortia facilitate such access and reviews the work of the authors, within the SHARES consortium, in this area. Relevant challenges to creating policies, as well as suggestions about how to determine best practices, will also be offered for librarians and their partners to consider and build upon.

A Five-Sample Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study Of Burnout-Depression Overlap, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Jay Verkuilen

Publications and Research

Objective: It has been asserted that burnout—a condition ascribed to unresolvable job stress—should not be mistaken for a depressive syndrome. In this confirmatory factor analytic study, the validity of this assertion was examined.

Methods: Five samples of employed individuals, recruited in Switzerland and France, were mobilized for this study (N = 3,113). Burnout symptoms were assessed with the Shirom–Melamed Burnout Measure, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)—General Survey, and the MBI for Educators. Depressive symptoms were measured with the PHQ‐9.

Results: In all five samples, the latent factors pertaining to burnout’s components correlated on average more highly with the latent Depression …

The Distributional Short-Term Impact Of The Covid-19 Crisis On Wages In The United States, Yonatan Berman

Publications and Research

This paper uses Bureau of Labor Statistics employment and wage data to study the distributional impact of the COVID-19 crisis on wages in the United States by mid-April. It answers whether wages of lower-wage workers decreased more than others', and to what extent. We find that the COVID-19 outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities. Workers at the bottom quintile in mid-March were three times more likely to be laid off by mid-April compared to higher-wage workers. Weekly wages of workers at the bottom quintile decreased by 6% on average between mid-February and mid-March and by 26% between mid-March and mid-April. The average …

Parental Knowledge And Other Factors Associated With Infants' Exposure To Screens, Shea Lammers

Human Development and Family Science

Excessive screen time in children is linked to reduced white matter integrity and developmental delays such as reduced vocabulary. Nevertheless, many parents allow their infants and toddlers to have access to screen devices. The current study examined mothers’ awareness of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, parenting information sources utilized, and motivational and contextual factors associated with screen time exposure in mothers who had a child under the age of two. Results indicated that over 60% of mothers were aware of the recommendations, usually citing educational benefits as their rationale for infant screen time use. Most mothers reported they receive …

Exploring The Meaning Of A Rural Mind-Body Medicine Group Curriculum From The Perspectives Of Community-Based Participants, Joanne Marie Riegert

Human Development and Family Science

The challenges and stress that are present in our daily lives can be consuming and are often associated with chronic illnesses and mental health concerns. In rural communities, residents may experience greater exposure to a range of potentially traumatic events at both a personal and community level (Handley et al., 2015). Additionally, in many rural areas, the availability of health services is a significant issue. One emerging approach utilized to treat the increasing numbers of chronic illnesses and trauma-related mental health problems in a rural population is the integration of meditation skills presented in a group setting, to counterbalance the …

Improving Low Health Literacy In Poststroke Patients By Educating The Health Care Staff, Marthilde Brzycki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Lack of health literacy in the poststroke patient population is a serious issue; with the addition of the homeless population to that group, the result may be devastating. According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA, 2016), stroke is considered the primary cause of death and one of the chief reasons for disability in the United States, and nearly75% of strokes occur in those who are 65 years of age or older. Nurse practitioners are vital, providing necessary training and stroke education to the nursing and other health care staff. This DNP project was initiated to …

A Phenomenological Study On The Influence Of A Leadership Living-Learning Community On First-Generation College Student Social Integration, Jeremy Todd Sheffield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students are a growing and unique population in the United States. First-generation college students face far more barriers to success when compared to their continuing-generation peers. Student retention and success is a primary concern for institutions of higher education in the United States as economic challenges and pressures grow. Therefore, retention and success for the growing number of first-generation college students is a priority for higher education leaders. A vital component of student retention and success is effective social integration. A proven high-impact practice for increasing student social integration is participation in a living-learning community. A descriptive phenomenological …

Reducing Gaps In Knowledge About Electroconvulsive Therapy Among Mental Health Nurses, Janice L. Edmonson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This DNP study was conducted to identify knowledge gaps about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among mental health nurses and to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude of mental health nurses about the use of ECT at a psychiatric hospital. In this study, the researcher sought to build upon an existing knowledge base using principles of adult learning theory to enhance the therapeutic relationship of the nursing staff when caring for ECT patients. A sample of three-quarters (N = 119) of the mental health nursing staff employed by the psychiatric hospital consented to participate in …

Curating Digital Pedagogy In The Humanities, Rebecca Frost Davis, Matthew K. Gold, Katherine D. Harris

Publications and Research

This is the published introduction to the born-digital, open-access, peer-reviewed Digital Pedagogy in the Humanities. More a rationale and scholarly study of both Digital Pedagogy and DPiH in general, this introduces and articulates the uses, theory, and rationale about digital pedagogy as it has been shaped in U.S. institutions since the explosion of Digital Humanities in 2009. As a separate field now, Digital Pedagogy is built on the generosity of its practitioners, but saving the stuff of teaching and pedagogy is difficult. The introduction historicizes this now-published project, its open peer review process, and its development in the early …

Plans To Pedagogy Activity Report 2019: What Impact Does ‘Innovative’ Furniture Have On Student Engagement And Teacher Practices?, Julia Morris, Wesley Imms

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Phase One of this project, conducted during the 2019 academic year, used an A-B-A withdrawal design to rotate (terms 2, 3 and 4) the furniture in five primary school classrooms1 from ‘innovative’ to ‘traditional’ furniture arrangements2. Three-weekly repeated measures were taken across the year of (1) student perceptions of their cognitive and behavioural engagement, (2) teacher actions in these classrooms, and (3) photographs by students of their preferred furniture, with annotations explaining this preference. Once-a-term measures included (4) teachers completing a Teacher Mind Frames survey, and (5) teachers participating in a structured interview with the researchers...

Special Issue On The Third Workshop On Biological Mentality, Kenneth A. Augustyn

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The Third Workshop on Biological Mentality was held from September 23, 2019 to March 2, 2020 as a series of twenty-one Monday online conferencing sessions, each consisting of a talk followed by a Q&A discussion. Like the two previous workshops [1, 2], the objective of this workshop was to seek a deeper level of understanding the physical foundations of biological mentality (whether conscious or nonconscious).

Consciousness As A Factor In Evolution, Kenneth A. Augustyn

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

What I call the mind began as a non-conscious robotic biochemical process control system in the very earliest forms of life. As life evolved, problems in control became more difficult and exceeded the computational capabilities of the organisms. Nature discovered a means of transcending computable physical processes resulting in non-computational subjective mental capabilities that, while still not conscious, had a degree of genuine autonomy from the physical world. These autonomous subjective wants and goals now affected the course of (but not the mechanism of) evolution. The integrated amalgam of robotic and transrobotic unconscious capabilities eventually gave rise to consciousness, which …

‘Coronated’ Consumption In The Viral Market, Soonkwan Hong

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The universal exposure to the virus has disrupted institutions, redefined values, and reshaped systems, including the market. Idling, uncertainty, and liquidity encapsulate the ever-precarious individual lives and the reflexive socio-politico-cultural changes. These conditions and consequences nonetheless create paradoxical opportunities in the viral market. The new meaning of connectivity that promotes high-viscosity relationships and high-visibility identities will transform the market to better acknowledge and support humans and the new sociality.

Fast Preprocessing For Optimal Orthogonal Range Reporting And Range Successor With Applications To Text Indexing, Younan Gao, Meng He, Yakov Nekrich

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Under the word RAM model, we design three data structures that can be constructed in O(n√lg n) time over n points in an n×n grid. The first data structure is an O(n lg n)-word structure supporting orthogonal range reporting in O(lg lg n + k) time, where k denotes output size and is an arbitrarily small constant. The second is an O(n lg lg n)-word structure supporting orthogonal range successor in O(lg lg n) time, while the third is an O(n lg n)-word structure supporting sorted range reporting in O(lg lg n + k) time. The query times of these …

Impact Of Public Transit And Walkability On Quality Of Life And Equity Analysis In Terms Of Access To Non-Work Amenities In The United States, Muhammad Asif Khan

Transportation Logistics and Finance

The past literature suggest that transportation can impact quality of life (QOL) both directly and indirectly. The first part of this dissertation attempted to comprehensively evaluate the impact of transportation (specifically public transit, and walkability) along with physical built environment, and sociodemographic indicators on community QOL, and overall life satisfaction (OLS) of an individual living in his community. The study used an advanced technique of structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the impact of these factors on community QOL and individual’s OLS. The study results revealed that physical built environment, public transit need for a community, perceived public transit importance …