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National Survey Of Student Engagement 2021 Respondent Profile (Main Campus), National Survey Of Student Engagement

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Reports

The Respondent Profile presents both student- and institution-reported demographic information, allowing you to examine similarities and differences between your students and those at your comparison group institutions. This report uses information from all randomly selected or census-administered students. The display below highlights important details in the report to keep in mind when interpreting your results.

Implementing The Mothers And Babies Program To Reduce Preterm And Low Birth Weight Deliveries, Tan Frison

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Georgia ranks fourth (4th) in the nation for the highest low birth weight rate at 10%, and sixth (6th) in the nation for preterm birth rate at 11.7%, among the states. Based on statistical data Bulloch county has maintained an average low birth weight statistic of 10% for over a decade. In 2019, there were 107 preterm and 79 low weight births in Bulloch county, Georgia. These numbers confirm there is a need for more preventive resources for mothers and children within this community. To address this burden, the Bulloch County health department has decided to implement the Mothers and …

Farmer Suicide: Rates, Trends, And Associations To Commodity Production Among States Reporting Violent Deaths, 2003-2017, Paul Norrod

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Occupational studies show that farmers are at higher risk for suicide with rates at least two-fold those of the U.S. population.2-4 Therefore, the purpose of this study was to (1) determine age- and sex-specific farmer suicide rates, (2) evaluate rate trends, and (3) assess the relationship between commodity production and farmer suicide using the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and quinquennial Census of Agriculture. We identified 1,652 farmer suicide cases from the NVDRS. Age-specific rates showed the highest rates among male farmers over 64 at 14.03 per 100,000. Annual rates for the 15-year study period peaked during 2013 at …

An Opportunist Predator Hidden In The Vegetation: On The Predation Of Birds By Philodryas Olfersii (Serpentes: Dipsadidae), Fabio Teruo Mise, João Marcelo Deliberador Miranda, Danusy Lopes Santos, Alexandre Curcino, Fabrício Hiroiuki Oda

Neotropical Biodiversity

Snakes are common predators of birds. However, reported cases of snake predation on Troglodytes musculus are scarce. Here, we report a predation attempt of a Troglodytes musculus nestling by the dipsadid snake Philodryas olfersii. We also present a list with bird species recorded as prey of this snake species. We found 25 predation events of P. olfersii on adult, juvenile, and nestling birds. A total of 19 bird species from 14 families have been reported as prey of P. olfersii. Most predation events occurred on the vegetation, while some others were observed on the ground, cage, and artificial nest.

Predation On The Invasive Swimming Crab Charybdis Hellerii (Crustacea, Decapoda) By Myrichthys Ocellatus (Actinopterygii, Ophichthidae): The First Record Of Consumption By A Native Fish, Matheus Araujo Siqueira, Maria Laís Martins Vieira, Douglas Moraes, Alexandre Oliveira Almeida, João Lucas Leão Feitosa

Neotropical Biodiversity

Charybdis hellerii is an invasive swimming crab widely disseminated in the western Atlantic. This species became a threat to colonized ecosystems, competing with local species for resources. The extension of distribution and increasing population size of C. hellerii has been associated with the scarcity of indigenous predators and cases of predation report octopuses as the main native predators. In this study, we present the first evidence that native fish can consume C. hellerii. 53 individuals of the goldspotted snake eel, Myrichthys ocellatus, were collected at seagrass and macroalgal beds in Pernambuco State, Brazil, and had their stomach contents analyzed. Three …

Avifaunal Responses After Two Decades Of Polylepis Forest Restoration In Central Argentina, F. R. Barri, M. Toledo, P. Herzog, L. M. Bellis, D. Renison

Neotropical Biodiversity

The high Andean Polylepis woodlands are home to a unique biota, including an outstanding avifauna. They are one of the most threatened mountain ecosystems worldwide; accordingly, they have been the object of the first restoration initiatives in South America. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of 20-year Polylepis australis woodland restoration efforts to recover the woodland bird communities. We recorded bird diversity and abundance in an ongoing restoration site (with a high proportion of woodland) and in a control site, where no active restoration efforts were made (with a high proportion of grasslands and bare soil), 15 and 20 years after …

The Ecuadorian Microbiome Project: A Plea To Strengthen Microbial Genomic Research, Magdalena Díaz, Pablo Jarrín-V, Raquel Simarro, Pablo Castillejo, Gabriela N. Tenea, C. Alfonso Molina

Neotropical Biodiversity

A technological revolution provides nations with access to unprecedented quantities of molecular information, and this is particularly evident in the vast and yet poorly understood realm of the microbiome. Traditionally, many developing countries in Asia, Africa, and South America remain marginal participants in the global flow of biodata, which will eventually affect their productivity and economies. Here, we present the Ecuadorian Microbiome Project (EcuMP) as an integrative initiative to close the research gap in the microbiome for Ecuador. We discuss the relevance that the study of the microbiome has for our understanding of diversity and new forms of production and …

Evaluación Del Estiércol De Mamíferos Nativos Como Potenciales Atrayentes Para El Muestreo De Escarabajos Coprófagos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae), M. Edivaldo Rodríguez-López, Gibrán Sánchez-Hernández, Benigno Gómez

Neotropical Biodiversity

Mammalian dung represents a primary feeding and reproductive resource for most dung beetle species. Competition for the trophic resource is common among the subfamily Scarabaeinae showing different habits depending on the quantity and quality of food available. In this study, we evaluated the dung of six species of mammal native to Chiapas (Mexico) as attractants for sampling dung beetles. The six species have different feeding habits (carnivores, herbivores and omnivores) and the feces used were obtained from Zoo animals fed a standard diet. Sampling efficiency was over 99% for each of the attractants. Tapirus bairdii feces attracted the highest abundance, …

Controles Extrínsecos E Intrínsecos En La Descomposición De Hojas De Tres Especies De Árboles Pioneros Comunes En Quebradas De Bajo Orden En Los Andes Centrales De Colombia, Lina Paola Giraldo, Juan F. Blanco-Libreros, Julián Chará

Neotropical Biodiversity

Riparian forests provide high amounts of leaf litter to tropical headwater streams (1–3 order) and its decomposition is controlled by interactions between leaf quality and macroinvertebrate activity. However, few studies have been conducted in North Andean streams. We conducted a leaf litter decomposition experiment using three native tree species (Heliocarpus americanus, Nectandra sp., and Cecropia telealba) in two headwater streams in the Colombian Coffee-growing Eco-Region. The interactive roles of intrinsic factors (quality) and extrinsic factors (presence/absence of macroinvertebrates) on decomposition rates were tested. Three single-species treatments, a species-mixture treatment, and an artificial substrate treatment were incubated in either coarse-pore mesh …

Oceanic Primary Production Trend Patterns Along Coast Of Ecuador, Nicole Chinacalle-Martínez, Elka García-Rada, Jean López-Macías, Silvia Pinoargote, Gema Loor, Javier Zevallos-Rosado, Pedro Cruz, David Pablo, Belén Andrade, Carlos Robalino-Mejía, Stephanie Añazco, Jéssica Guerrero, Andrea Intriago, Callie Veelenturf, César Peñaherrera-Palma

Neotropical Biodiversity

Primary productivity (PP) is a vital oceanographic process generated by photoautotrophic organisms that transform inorganic carbon into organic macronutrients and micronutrients via photosynthesis. While in situ studies have shed light onto the spatial and seasonal variations of chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, and thus PP, in specific study sites, there are no comprehensive monitoring programs to assess its long-term variation nor its seasonal patterns in broader areas of coastal Ecuador. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate changes in Chl a concentration along the coast of Ecuador and examine how these changes correspond to changes in Sea …

Feeding Of Humpback Whales In Low Latitudes Of The Southeast Pacific Ocean, Ana M. García Cegarra, Cristina Castro, Koen Van Waerebeek

Neotropical Biodiversity

Humpback whales perform long migrations from their breeding and nursing areas at low latitudes to feeding grounds at high latitudes. Nonetheless, this strictly dichotomous paradigm of migration is challenged by accumulating examples of occasional or regular feeding at low latitudes for several stocks worldwide. Here, we report multiple evidences of “Stock G” humpback whales feeding in coastal waters, at low latitudes of the Southeast Pacific Ocean. Lunge feeding behavior and defecation were observed in Ecuador, while both lunge- and trap feeding in pursuit of Peruvian anchovy was documented in northern Chile. A photographically re-sighted individual feeding at different latitudes of …

Projecting The Theoretical Niche Of A Recently Re-Discovered Population Of Feral Asian Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) In The North Rupununi Wetlands, Guyana, Matthew T. Hallett, Gerard Pereira, Oswin Ambrose, Diane Mcturk, Brittany A. Bankovich

Neotropical Biodiversity

We provide documentation of a population of feral domestic Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) that has persisted in the wetlands of the North Rupununi Region of Guyana for more than 75 years. Historical records indicate that water buffalo were incidentally introduced to the Rupununi by the colonial administration of British Guiana. Personal observations, camera trap photos, and reports of opportunistic encounters populate our maximum-entropy model, which projects a total of 2,489 km2 of suitable water buffalo habitat across the region, including 1,076 km2 of the RAMSAR-nominated North Rupununi wetlands (~11% of total land area). Key informants indicate that populations appear …

Implementing The Textme Cardiovascular Mobile Health Intervention In Detroit, Michingan, Melissa Horton

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States. One of the cities with the highest rates of cardiovascular disease is Detroit, Michigan. Those diagnosed with cardiovascular disease are encouraged to make lifestyle modifications to improve their health. However, if cardiovascular disease is not managed, it can lead to serious health outcomes such as stroke, heart disease, and death. The TEXTMe program is designed to send randomized text messages to participants to encourage lifestyle changes around diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Participants in the program will be recruited from three health clinics located in the city …

Epanorama September 2021, Southern Adventist University

Panorama Parent Newsletter

This issue of Panorama includes information about the Mental Wellness week occurring from August 30 to September 3 and student led organizations that improve campus life.

(Im)Mutable Race?, Deepa Das Acevedo

Faculty Articles

Courts rarely question the racial identity claims made by parties litigating employment discrimination disputes. But what if this kind of identity claim is itself at the core of a dispute? A recent cluster of “reverse passing” scandals featured individuals—Rachel Dolezal and Jessica Krug among them—who were born white, yet who were revealed to have lived as members of Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC) communities. These incidents suggest that courts will soon have to make determinations of racial identity as a threshold matter in disputes over employment discrimination and contract termination. More specifically, courts will have to decide whether …

Pandemics, Paid Sick Leaves, And Tax Institutions, Alex Zhang

Faculty Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently ravaging the world, and the United States has been largely unsuccessful at containing the coronavirus. One long-standing policy failure stands out as having exacerbated the pandemic in our country: the lack of a national mandate of paid sick leaves, without which workers face financial and workplace-cultural pressures to attend work while sick, thus spreading the virus to their fellow employees and the public at large.

This Article provides the blueprint for a national, subsidized mandate of paid sick leaves and two additional insights about our tax institutions as mechanisms of effectuating broader societal goals. It …

Migraine Triggers, Adina Jeidel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Migraines are a painful and life-interrupting disease which strikes around 23 million Americans every year (Goadsby et al., 2017). Not enough studies have been done to help the public fully understand migraines. Details regarding the causes and pathophysiology of migraines continue to be analyzed by physicians and scientists, as no theory has been fully confirmed regarding a migraine’s concrete path. The goal of this scientific review is to provide an overview for the main triggers of migraines, in reference to recent clinical investigations, and to understand why they might cause patients to be more prone to having a migraine attack …

Is Lsvt Big An Effective And Realistic Treatment Of Parkinson’S Disease?, Elisheva Erlbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common neurological disorders which disrupts the everyday lives of millions of people. This disease is categorized by the loss of dopamine in the brain, specifically the Substantia Nigra. People diagnosed with PD suffer from motor and cognitive impairments. While there is no one treatment which can completely cure the disease, there are many treatments available which can help alleviate symptoms. However, most of the treatments cause many negative side effects. Recently, a new physical therapy treatment, LSVT BIG has begun to show its effects. This revue describes the many factors and treatments of …

Effects Of Soy Isoflavone, Anne Roberts

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Soy, which contains a form of phytoestrogen known as isoflavones, impacts the biological activity of humans at all stages. There are many aspects to consider when determining whether soy is beneficial. Since the hormone estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining the biochemical and homeostatic conditions of an individual, it follows that the disruption of estrogenic levels can be detrimental. There are many hormone- dependent diseases that can be linked to one’s diet, and the possibility of utilizing phytoestrogens, such as soy, to prevent or control hormonal irregularities is compelling. This paper explores the effects that phytoestrogens, specifically soy, can …

The Relationship Between Autoimmunity And Polyautoimmunity, David Schon

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Autoimmune disease refers to a systemic immune response by the body against its own healthy tissue and cells. This results in various non-specific and systemic inflammatory processes that evolve into more than 100 individual diseases. Numerous biological similarities exist between the different pathophysiological pathways, including biochemical cascades and inflammasome mediators. This paper aims to investigate whether contracting one form of autoimmune disease can lead to the development of polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome. Scientists have identified chronic levels of high stress as a contributor to higher levels of C-reactive protein and several immune modulating interleukins, which can lead to both …

Full Issue: Volume 14, Number 2, Spring 2021

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 14, Number 2 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Spring 2021.

What Is The Underlying Cause Of Infantile Colic?, Tamar Itzkowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Infantile colic (IC) is an important area of current research due to the extreme distress it causes parents and their infants. It is vital that a cause is isolated so that treatment can be found because IC is a risk factor for child abuse. In this paper, two major theories were posed to elucidate the underlying cause of IC—the gastrointestinal model and the neurological model. The gastrointestinal model suggests that IC stems from issues such as an immature gut. The neurological model suggests that infantile migraines are the causative agents of IC. Both theories supply correlational evidence but are subject …

The Riddle Of The Fetal Allograft, Rachel Tepper

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The immunological paradox of nurturing a fetus with paternal antigens poses some perplexing questions. Peter Medawar, an immunologist, asked at a lecture, “How does the pregnant mother contrive to nourish within itself, for many weeks or months, a fetus that is an antigenically foreign body?” Researchers have since then struggled to answer this question. The research on this topic has led to a few general hypotheses that try to explain this phenomenon. The downregulation of T cells toward paternal alloantigens is an accepted hypothesis. Another hypothesis discusses the significance of the decidua and its ability to impair dendritic cells, which …

Rapamycin And Metformin In Treating Covid-19, Avrohom Karp

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread rapidly, resulting in a global pandemic. There is a great need for an effective drug cocktail therapy to combat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a major cause of death due to COVID-19. The two drugs examined are metformin, an antidiabetic medication, and rapamycin. Rapamycin is often prescribed for transplant patients as it has an immunosuppressive effect. The aim of the investigation was to determine the efficacy of metformin and rapamycin in treating COVID-19, and to examine what an effective protocol would look like. These two drugs both inhibit mTOR and can reduce the body’s auto-immune …

Lupus And The Effects On Pregnancy, Elana Eisenreich

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a disease that manifests in many different ways. The cause of lupus still remains elusive. However, many of the pathologies associated with the disease as well as the disease process have been described. The pathophysiology of the disease as well as its effects on specific patient groups will be discussed below. More specifically, Systemic Lupus’ effect on pregnancy with current diagnostic and treatment modalities will be the focus of this paper.

What Are The Possible Causes And Effective Therapeutic Approaches Of Preeclampsia?, Adina Hadi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy primarily characterized by hypertension and proteinuria and affects other organs as well. The underlying causes are not yet fully understood. However, it is suggested that angiogenic factors of the placenta, genetic factors, a malfunctioning immune system, and oxidative stress all play a role in causing preeclampsia. Currently, the only definitive cure known for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. Management of the condition includes taking preventative measures as well as drugs such as labetalol and MgSO4. This paper analyzes mechanisms of preeclampsia and determines the possible causes and most effective ways to manage the …

Do People With Hashimoto’S Disease Need A Thyroidectomy?, Miriam Minkowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases (Hiromatsu et al. 2013 p.13). It primarily affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland influences growth and regulates the body’s metabolism by manipulating hormonal levels. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis affects thyroid function through mechanisms that cause the hormone levels to become dysregulated. The standard therapy for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is hormone replacement. This approach helps most patients by regulating their thyroid hormones, though there are some individuals who fail treatment. Untreatable patients are plagued with weight gain, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms. Certain factors in thyroid disease may cause various secondary complications …

Developing Approaches Towards The Treatment Of Covid-19, Chana Weis

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

In late 2019 a newly identified strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 emerged, causing a worldwide pandemic of respiratory illness, Covid-19. Covid-19 has drastically transformed the world in numerous ways. The virus is highly contagious and, in some cases, fatal. A successful cure has not yet been discovered and therefore society is urged to take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the potentially fatal virus. This paper analyzes the proper precautions that should be taken as well as the ongoing research that has been done to stop the spread of the virus.

Full Issue: Volume 15, Number 1, Fall 2021

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 15, Number 1 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Fall 2021.

Unscripted Mock Trial And Full-Scale Litigation In A College Setting, Robert A. Kearney

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Mock trial programs in colleges do more than give students a taste of the lawyer’s life. At their best, they serve students: by connecting them to professional standards, by placing them in a competitive, though simulated, environment that requires critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience, and by giving students “authentic” learning activities not possible in the classroom. But in order to provide students with more than just a taste of litigation, one liberal arts school’s business program annually offers an open-enrollment, unscripted mock trial class that is both mock trial and full-scale litigation, complete with hours of depositions, tedious discovery, motion …