Digital Commons Network^™

Managing Protein In Spring Wheat With Aerial And Satellite Imagery, Dennis L. Wright Jr., Glen Ritchie, V. Philip Rasmussen, R. Douglas Ramsey, Doran Baker

Online Journal of Space Communication

Nitrogen fertilizer application can help wheat growers increase crop value and marketability by increasing grain quality. Nitrogen (N) is often applied at heading as a method of increasing protein content and therefore quality of wheat. Our objectives were to obtain spectral signatures of wheat under various N rates (0, 72, 180, 234 kg N ha-1), test various spectral methods of identifying crop stress, and observe the grain protein response to a midseason N application. Spectral data from satellite and aerial platforms were compared to preseason N treatments and flag-leaf tissue samples. Spectral data correlated well with preseason and flag leaf …

Green Versus Green: When The Economic Needs Of Minority Communities Clash With Environmental Justice Concerns, Rhoda J. Yen

Journal of Natural Resources & Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Symptom Expressions And Transmission Rates Caused By The Plant Pathogen Phytophthora Ramorum On Native Chaparral Plants From The Genus Arctostaphylos, Bharati Gaonker

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Phytophthora ramorum is the causal agent of Sudden Oak death (SOD), ramorum dieback and ramorum leaf blight which affect both forest environments and nurseries. This oomycete pathogen has had a huge economic impact on the nursery and lumber industry. Forests in California have experienced substantial mortality of oaks affecting the forest dynamics and diversity. Our research investigates four native species and two ornamental cultivars of plants, which belong to the genus Arctostaphylos (manzanita) and are considered to be new hosts for P. ramorum in the chaparral ecosystem of California. Symptom expression and transmission rates were analyzed on Arctostaphylos glauca, …

Reconsidering Extension: Defining Urban Extension In Kentucky, Kristina D. Hains, Jeff Young, Addie Reinhard, Bryan J. Hains

Community & Leadership Development Faculty Publications

As the vast majority of the population in the United States shifts to dwelling within large population centers, it is necessary to examine the responsibility and role that Cooperative Extension has to serve urban communities. Throughout its history, the land-grant system, through Cooperative Extension, has demonstrated the ability to impact the lives of individual citizens and communities positively. Within this theoretical discussion, we illuminate Cooperative Extension’s responsibility to serve urban communities in the 21st Century and highlight essential milestones in the development of urban Extension throughout the past 100 years. Also, we explore the foundations and relevance of recently developed …

Members Of Gardner-Webb Alpha Chi Participate In Virtual National Convention, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University Alpha Chi members recently participated in the National Convention, which was held virtually this year. Rising senior Grace Burgin, of Iron Station, N.C., was awarded a Region III scholarship. A biology major, Burgin presented a paper that examined how fetal nutrition and development are affected by a mother’s participation in fad diets. She conducted her research through the GWU Summer Undergraduate Research Scholar program.

Principle Of Cbdr-Rc: Its Interpretation And Implementation Through Ndcs In The Context Of Sustainable Development, Stellina Jolly, Abhishek Trivedi

Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy

For the international community, 2015 was a momentous year in terms of transformative legal developments. Climate change response culminated in the adoption of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which heralded a new era in the international community’s pursuit of sustainability. Both of these developments are complementary; the climate change legal framework acknowledges sustainable development, and SDGs explicitly recognize the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement presented to the global community an objective to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, through sustainable development and efforts to …

Developing A Practical Application Of The Isometric Squat And Surface Electromyography, David Phillips, Angelic Rose Del Vecchio, Kevin Carroll, Evan L. Matthews

Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education Scholarship and Creative Works

Electromyography (EMG) is a research tool used in gait analysis, muscle coordination evaluation, clinical evaluation and sports techniques. Electromyography can provide an insight into neural adaptations, cross education effects, bilateral contraction deficiencies, and antagonist activity in exercise-related movements. While there are clear benefits to using EMG in exercise-related professions, accessibility, cost, and difficulty interpreting the data limit its use in strength and clinical settings. We propose a practical EMG assessment using the isometric squat to identify compensatory activation patterns and report early observations. Ten healthy participants were recruited. Participants performed a 2-min isometric handgrip protocol and an isometric squat protocol. …

Youth Participatory Action Research On How Out-Of-School Programs Can Support The Transition Out Of High School: Moving Beyond “Getting Stuck”, Sam M. Intrator, Erin Decou, Graeham Dodd, Nicole Lussier, Joesiah Gonzalez, Nyasia Velazquez, Vanessa Otero, Denys Candy

Education and Child Study: Faculty Publications

The transition out of high school and into young adulthood is often fraught with challenge and uncertainty, especially for youth of color and first-generation students. This two-part research study first reports on interviews with young adults who describe the obstacles they faced in making this critical life transition. The second part of our study describes the findings from interviews with young adults who participated in Out-of-School (OST) programs during their transition to young adulthood. Through youth-engaged research, we identify six pillars or key elements that OST programs can offer to young people in building a sense of possibility and identity, …

Grazing Intensity And Frequency Effects On Herbage Accumulation And Nutritive Value Of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass (Cynodon Sp.), Kesi Liu, Lynn E. Sollenberger, U. Renée White, Y. C. Newman, Joao M. B. Vendramini

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Additive On Alfalfa Mixed Silage Quality, X. X. Li, Q. Zh. Sun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

It's All About The Land: How Plan Colombia Contributed To Oil Palm Expansion And Forced Displacement In Colombia, Camila Ferguson-Sierra

Theses - ALL

Between the 1960s and 1980s, global land dedicated to monocultures for biofuels tripled and continues to increase (Gerber, 2011). While biofuels are considered sustainable alternatives to their nonrenewable counterparts (Pye, 2018), concerns have been raised regarding their environmental impact. Some of these crops, such as soybeans and corn, are known as flex crops, or crops with uses extending beyond the fuel industry and into food and other sectors. Another such crop is African or oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Palm oil in its various forms is found virtually everywhere, extending from biodiesel blends to food and household items. Plantations have spread …

Three Essays On Climate Change Adaptation In Rural African Communities, Hannah Patnaik

Dissertations - ALL

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of the present era, bringing new risks and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities across the world. While there is a broad recognition that solutions around climate change will require coordination and support across borders and governments, a large body of scholarship has focused on the local-level realities of climate change and the disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable populations. The climate vulnerable poor do not have the privilege of waiting for global policy and commitment to emission reduction targets. They need planned and proactive adaptation support to build resilience to the changing climate and …

The Effects Of Whole Genome Duplication On Functional Traits And Interactions With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Thomas Anneberg

Dissertations - ALL

Whole genome duplication is one of the most pervasive forces driving plant evolution, yet modelling efforts on the establishment of polyploid plants have shown that early generation polyploids, or "neopolyploids", should experience high extinction rates due to a population demographic disadvantage. A major gap in understanding why established polyploids are so prevalent despite theoretically high extinction rates is that we know so little about the ecological consequences of neopolyploidy. For example, by investigating how neopolyploidy affects plant ecophysiology, or functional trait variation across environments, we can understand the ecological contexts that can promote polyploid establishment. Thus, a major goal of …

Internet Of Medical Things (Iomt): Overview, Emerging Technologies, And Case Studies, Sahshanu Razdan, Sachin Sharma

Articles

No abstract provided.

Year-Independent Prediction Of Food Insecurity Using Classical & Neural Network Machine Learning Methods, Caleb Christiansen, Torrey J. Wagner, Brent Langhals

Faculty Publications

Current food crisis predictions are developed by the Famine Early Warning System Network, but they fail to classify the majority of food crisis outbreaks with model metrics of recall (0.23), precision (0.42), and f1 (0.30). In this work, using a World Bank dataset, classical and neural network (NN) machine learning algorithms were developed to predict food crises in 21 countries. The best classical logistic regression algorithm achieved a high level of significance (p < 0.001) and precision (0.75) but was deficient in recall (0.20) and f1 (0.32). Of particular interest, the classical algorithm indicated that the vegetation index and the food price index were both positively correlated with food crises. A novel method for performing an iterative multidimensional hyperparameter search is presented, which resulted in significantly improved performance when applied to this dataset. Four iterations were conducted, which resulted in excellent 0.96 for metrics of precision, recall, and f1. Due to this strong performance, the food crisis year was removed from the dataset to prevent immediate extrapolation when used on future data, and the modeling process was repeated. The best “no year” model metrics remained strong, achieving ≥0.92 for recall, precision, and f1 while meeting a 10% f1 overfitting threshold on the test (0.84) and holdout (0.83) datasets. The year-agnostic neural network model represents a novel approach to classify food crises and outperforms current food crisis prediction efforts.

The Impact Of Direct Sowing Into Sward Of Permanent Grassland On Forage Production, P. Komárek, A. Kohoutek, P. Nerušil, V. Odstrčilová

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Mineral Elements Of Some Range Species In Contrast Of Livestock Requirements, S. H. Kaboli, Hossein Arzani, L. Fazel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Herbage Biomass Production And Nutritive Value Of Morus Alba And Calliandra Calothyrsus Harvested At Different Cutting Frequencies, Fred Kabi, F. B. Bareeba

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Carcass Characteristics Of Sheep Fed High Moisture Corn Silage With Or Without Whole Sunflower Or Urea Finished In Feedlot, C. C. Jobim, F. A. F. Macedo, A. F. Branco, L. Lombardy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

The Associations Of Chronic Stress, Social Support, Health Behaviors And Metabolic Syndrome Among Hispanic Women, Edna Esquer

Dissertations

The Associations of Chronic Stress, Social Support, Health Behaviors and Metabolic Syndrome Among Hispanic Women

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence is 25% among Mexican American women 30 – 49 years of age, compared to 22% among non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Little is known about the additional contributions of chronic stress, social support and health behaviors to the development of MetS among this population.

Purpose: Describe the associations between chronic stress, social support, and health behaviors and the presence of MetS in Hispanic women living in an underserved community.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study design. The Adult Treatment Panel …

Motivational Interviewing And Frequent Follow-Up In A Pediatric Primary Care Setting To Improve Diet And Activity In Adolescents, Celeste Armenta, Kathy James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Adolescent obesity is a serious health concern with increased worldwide prevalence. Excess weight gain can affect adolescent’s physical and emotional health. The adolescent with excess weight can involve acute and chronic long-term health complications that continue into adulthood.

Methods: Health care providers screened for overweight and obese adolescents during annual physicals and follow-up visits. Thirty adolescents at the 85th - 95th percentile and above on the growth chart received a pre and post clinical-screening questionnaire for eating behaviors and exercise. Individualized education with parent involvement and motivational interviewing (MI) was implemented with monthly follow-ups for 4 months.

Findings: Data …

Obesity Prevention Toolkit To Combat Weight Gain Related To Sedentary Behavior And Dietary Habits In College Students: An Evidence-Based Project, Maria Amos, Martha Fuller

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Forty percent of the US population ages 20-39 are categorized as obese,

their BMI is over 30, and 35% of college age students are obese or overweight. Issues related to obesity cost the US $147 billion annually. Between 40%-50% of college students are reported to be inactive. Inactivity can lead to increased morbidity and mortality related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, musculoskeletal issues, and depression. Providing dietary and physical activity education and access to nutritional information promotes behavior change in young adults.

Aims of Service Change: This evidence-based project proposal aims to provide a toolkit …

It's All About The Land: How Plan Colombia Contributed To Oil Palm Expansion And Forced Displacement In Colombia, Camila Ferguson-Sierra

Theses - ALL

Between the 1960s and 1980s, global land dedicated to monocultures for biofuels tripled and continues to increase (Gerber, 2011). While biofuels are considered sustainable alternatives to their nonrenewable counterparts (Pye, 2018), concerns have been raised regarding their environmental impact. Some of these crops, such as soybeans and corn, are known as flex crops, or crops with uses extending beyond the fuel industry and into food and other sectors. Another such crop is African or oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Palm oil in its various forms is found virtually everywhere, extending from biodiesel blends to food and household items. Plantations have spread …

A Cross-Cultural Approach To Vocal Music Therapy In Cancer Care, Development Of A Method, Erin Raber

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Many of the techniques and methods used in the music therapy field today are derived from non-Western and ancient methods of healing with sound and music; however, these methods are often seen as falling outside the boundaries of professional music therapy. This study demonstrated the need to expand music therapy and mental health practices beyond ethnocentric orientation by exploring the efficacy of a cross-cultural vocal music therapy method to address biopsychosocial and spiritual concerns in cancer care. The method was an expressive, voice-based music therapy approach combining theories and ideas from transpersonal and psychodynamic frameworks and ancient and modern sound …

The Great Yemeni Chess Game, John Frederick Mueller

Senior Theses

Since the establishment of a unified and internationally recognized country in 1990, Yemen and its people have struggled to reconcile their differences, leading to numerous civil wars. The most recent civil war, which officially started in 2014, has decimated the nation and its people as it continues unabated. Yemen’s geo-strategic location as well as the political and religious nature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran’s rivalry has led them to back opposing sides in Yemen’s civil war. Both parties' involvement in the conflict has intensified and prolonged the fighting. As a result, Yemen’s key infrastructures, such as their …

Implementation Of The Center For Disease Control (Cdc) Prediabetes Risk Test In The Medical Weight Loss Setting, Gabriela Miller, Rn, Bsn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugars are higher than normal which increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), heart disease and stroke. One in three US adults have prediabetes and 90% of them do not know. Losing 5-7% of body weight and regular physical activity can lower the risk of developing T2DM by more than half.

Methods: Screening patients for prediabetes at a medical weight loss clinic using the evidence-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Prediabetes Risk Test. A score of five or higher on the screening tool indicates the patient is at risk …

Sunscreen Use And Screening In College Athletes: An Evidence-Based Pilot Project, Nicole Brustkern Bsn, Rn, Cpn, Sharon Boothe-Kepple Phd, Msn, Fnp-C, Phn (Chickasaw)

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Melanoma is the third most common cancer in individuals ages 15 – 29. The greatest risk for melanoma is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Collegiate athletes are exposed to 1,000 more sun hours per year than the average adult, placing them at higher risk for melanoma. Evidence supports sunscreen education and screening to promote protective behaviors in young adults.

Objective: This evidence-based pilot project implements the standardized screening of sunscreen use and sun protective behaviors in women’s soccer players ages 18 to 21 years old at the University of San Diego.

Methods: The Sun Exposure and Protection Index …

Managing Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis In The Allergy Clinic: Use Of An Eczema Action Plan To Improve Caregiver Understanding And Self-Efficacy, A Pilot Study, Danielle Hubacek

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a complex and chronic condition that affects approximately 10% of children throughout the United States (Brown et al., 2018). The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) (2017) estimates the average cost of eczema management for each patient is approximately $3,302 per year. The complex nature of atopic dermatitis indicates a need for individualized treatment plans. Research has shown that standardized patient teaching, written education materials, and Eczema Action Plans (EAP) reinforce patient teaching, parental understanding, and improve quality of life. This evidence-based practice (EBP) project introduces the use of a written Eczema Action …

Weight Reduction Motivation In Osteoarthritis Patients Through Nurse Practitioner Driven Education And Follow-Up: A Pilot Project, Caoilfhionn Mulvey, Martha Fuller Phd

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose of Project: The ultimate goal of this short-term pilot project is for

overweight or obese osteoarthritis patients to increase their knowledge on the benefits of

weight loss and physical activity. Research shows that for every kilogram of weight lost,

2.2–4.0 kilograms of weight is taken off of the joint and could reduce joint pain up to

thirty to fifty percent and improve quality of life. Following education from the provider,

patients will understand the correlation of osteoarthritis symptom management with

weight loss.

EBP Model/Frameworks: This project utilizes the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based

Practice to Promote Quality Care. This addresses …

Reducing Obesity Rates Among Adults In A Primary Care Setting: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Raxita Neupane

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Over 60% of adults in the United States meet the criteria for being overweight or obese. The estimated obesity-related health care costs are as high as $147 billion per year. Despite the alarming health risks and increasing health care costs, the rates of screening and counseling for obesity in the primary care setting are merely 30%. This project outlines weight-management counseling strategies.

Purpose of Project: The purpose of the evidence-based practice project was to implement patient-tailored evidence-based nutritional assessment tools and intensive behavioral counseling. The ultimate goal was to reduce body mass index (BMI) among overweight and obese …