Digital Commons Network^™

Excessive Alcohol Use In Charlotte County, Florida, Lindsay Tomaras

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Significant Findings: Charlotte County in southwest Florida is a rapidly growing area for residents and vacationers alike. Although a naturally beautiful destination, excessive alcohol use is higher here than the state average, and motor vehicle crash deaths involving alcohol are significantly greater than both state and national averages (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2024). Alcohol use is a contributing factor to a multitude of physical and mental illnesses, resulting in a massive economic burden on society. These negative consequences disproportionately impact marginalized populations such as LGBTQ+ community members and Hispanic males. The county can reduce this financial strain through increased …

Awareness & Prevention Of Eco-Anxiety In Cook County, Illinois, Susan M. Lloyd

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To reduce the prevalence of eco-anxiety in adolescents and young adults from Chicago’s western neighborhoods and close suburbs Significant Findings: Eco-anxiety, “a chronic, [pervasive] unspecfied fear of environmental doom” (Dodds, 2021, p. 22) is emerging as a mental health issue among youth and young adults worldwide. Spurred by global warming, 53 percent of Americans are now “very” or “extremely” concerned about climate change (Leiserowitz, et al., 2023). Chicagoans are encountering more storms, poorer air quality, more health problems, and higher rates of high school depression and age-adjusted drug overdose (e.g., National Weather Service, n. d.; Chicago Department of …

Implementing A Stepped Care Model: A Case Study Of Two College Counseling Centers, Stephanie L Johnson-Kane

Dissertations and Theses

The demand for mental health counseling services has surged, but the capacity of college counseling centers to meet this demand has not kept pace. The effects of COVID-19 have exacerbated this already fragile system of care. College students are enrolling in college with increased levels of anxiety, depression, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and substance use. College counseling center staff are facing burnout. The waitlist to receive mental health services is at critical capacity. This multi-site case study was designed to foster an understanding of two college counseling centers' implementation of the stepped care approach as a mental health service delivery …

Internal Funding Newsletter, Academic Year 2023-2024, Uno Office Of Research And Creative Activity

Internal Funding Newsletters

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is committed to providing students and faculty unique, hands-on opportunities, internships, service learning, applied research, and other collaborative activities that enhance time in and out of the classroom. The 2023-2024 Academic Year saw many exciting opportunities for us to invest into even more programs promoting research and creative activity. This year's programs provided over $800,000, more than double the funding in 2022-2023, for student and faculty projects.

20-Year Outcomes Of High Tibial Osteotomy: Determinants Of Survival And Functional Outcome, Harry Constantin, Lucy Salmon, Vivianne Russell, Keran Sundaraj, Justin Roe, Leo Pinczewski

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a successful joint-preserving procedure for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis. Long-term survivorship of HTO ranges from 40% to 85%. There are consistent factors that predict failure.

Purpose: To determine the 20-year survival of HTO and identify predictors of failure.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: A total of 100 consecutive patients with medial bone-on-bone arthritis were prospectively studied to provide long-term patient-reported outcome measures after lateral closing-wedge HTO and determine the time to failure. Failure was defined as conversion to arthroplasty (total knee arthroplasty or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty) or revision …

Mycotoxin Detection Through Colorimetric Immunoprobing With Gold Nanoparticle Antibody Conjugates, Vinayak Sharma, Bilal Javed, Hugh J. Byrne, Furong Tian

Articles

Driven by their exceptional optical characteristics, robust chemical stability, and facile bioconjugation, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a preferred material for detection and biosensing applications in scientific research. This study involves the development of a simple, rapid, and cost-effective colorimetric immuno-sensing probe to detect aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone using AuNP antibody (AuNP-mAb) conjugates. Anti-toxin antibodies were attached to the AuNPs by using the physical adsorption method. The colorimetric immunosensor developed operates on the principle that the optical properties of the AuNP are very sensitive to aggregation, which can be induced by a critical high salt concentration. Although the presence …

Sex- And Gender-Specific Considerations In Mycotoxin Screening: Assessing Differential Exposure, Health Impacts, And Mitigation Strategies, Gayathree Thenuwara, Bilal Javed, Singh Baljit, Hugh J. Byrne, Furong Tian

Articles

Mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, present significant health risks through contaminated food and feed. Despite broad documentation of their general impacts, emerging research highlights the requirement of addressing both sex- and gender-specific differences in the risk of exposure, susceptibility, and health outcomes in mycotoxin screening and mitigation strategies. Distinct biological (sex-based) and sociocultural (gender-based) factors can influence the risk of mycotoxin exposure and subsequent health impacts; women may for example exhibit specific exposures to certain mycotoxins due to physiological and hormonal differences, with increased risks during critical life stages such as pregnancy and lactation. Conversely, men may demonstrate …

Biosensor-Enhanced Organ-On-A-Chip Models For Investigating Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics, Gayathree Thenuwara, Bilal Javed, Baljit Singh, Furong Tian

Articles

Glioblastoma, an aggressive primary brain tumor, poses a significant challenge owing to its dynamic and intricate tumor microenvironment. This review investigates the innovative integration of biosensor-enhanced organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models as a novel strategy for an in-depth exploration of glioblastoma tumor microenvironment dynamics. In recent years, the transformative approach of incorporating biosensors into OOC platforms has enabled real-time monitoring and analysis of cellular behaviors within a controlled microenvironment. Conventional in vitro and in vivo models exhibit inherent limitations in accurately replicating the complex nature of glioblastoma progression. This review addresses the existing research gap by pioneering the integration of biosensor-enhanced OOC …

Characterization Of Spent Grain From Irish Whiskey Distilleries For Biorefinery Feedstock Potential To Produce High-Value Chemicals And Biopolymers, Rasaq S. Abolore, Dileswar Pradhan, Swarna Jaiswal, Amit K. Jaiswal

Articles

Distiller's spent grain (DSG) is a byproduct generated in large quantities during the mashing process, particularly in the production of alcoholic beverages such as whiskey. This study aimed to characterize DSG from nine different distilleries as a potential biorefinery feedstock for the synthesis of high-value bioproducts. Key components, including protein (12.38–26.32%), cellulose (11.75–32.75%), hemicellulose (6.97–19.47%), lignin (8.44–15.71%), and total phenolics (1.42 to 3.97 mg GAE/g), were analyzed to evaluate their variability and suitability for industrial applications. The results reveal that DSG composition varies significantly across distilleries due to differences in processing techniques, even though the starting grain composition had minimal …

A Comprehensive Review Of Food Safety Culture In The Food Industry: Leadership, Organizational Commitment, And Multicultural Dynamics, Ashwini Sadashiv Pai, Swarna Jaiswal, Amit K. Jaiswal

Articles

Food safety culture (FSC) has transitioned from a narrow compliance-based concept to a comprehensive organisational value that is essential for ensuring food safety. This review explores the pivotal roles of leadership, organisational commitment, and cultural diversity in shaping an effective FSC. It highlights how leadership style, particularly transformational leadership, can enhance employee engagement and foster a proactive safety culture. Additionally, the impact of national and organisational cultures on FSC is analysed, emphasising the challenges posed by a multicultural workforce in standardising food safety practices. This article also provides a comparative analysis of FSC across various sectors, such as meat and …

Effective Strategies For International Phd Applications, Srinivas Sulugodu Ramachandra, Shelly Arora, Vijay Kumar

Health Professions Education

Introduction: This article introduces a fresh perspective on the digital and communication challenges faced by international PhD applicants. This article focuses on issues such as digital literacy, email etiquette, and communication barriers, offering practical strategies to help applicants effectively navigate online applications and remote interactions with supervisors and Graduate Research Schools. This article provides insights for international doctoral applicants in navigating the complex process of approaching potential supervisors and applying to PhD programs at top-ranking international universities.

Methods: The availability of limited number of positions, supervisors and funding opportunities compared to the number of applicants makes the competition …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, December 2023, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Biom 1720: Introduction To Biomedical Engineering Tools, Stephen Strain

Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Use of computer tools for data analysis, presentation, documentation; introduction to programming; individual and group design projects.

Sediment Carbon Storage In Subtidal Beds Of The Invasive Seagrass Halophila Stipulacea Along An Extreme Water Depth Gradient, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Demian A. Willette, Kelsey M. Vaughn, Allie Durdall, Marilyn Brandt, Sophia Costa, Kristin Wilson Grimes

Biology Faculty Works

Blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds are found globally and are fundamental to fisheries production, storm surge protection, and carbon sequestration. The contribution of seagrass ecosystems to global carbon stocks is still not well understood, including in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). No study has been published to-date assessing the sediment carbon density (SCD) in seagrass beds in the USVI. This study focused on the carbon storage ability of the invasive species, Halophila stipulacea, which is compact in size compared to common native seagrasses and has spread rapidly to become a dominant seagrass in …

Social And Political Factors In A Model Of Economic Development And Distribution: An Application To The Philippines, Delano S. Villanueva

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This quantitative historical paper presents a model of endogenous economic growth and distribution explicitly incorporating social extraction and political competition, with application to the Philippine experience. The model is tested and simulated using institutional information and historical data. The major objective is to explain developments in the distribution of national income and wealth and in the growth rate of per capita national income. When calibrated, the model is found to be consistent with the broad contours of Philippine macroeconomic history. The study concludes with several policy implications for a successful strategy of economic development.

Facebook Marketplace: The Mediating Effect Of Perceived Quality To Image Quality And Purchase Intention, Tyron W. Yap

DLSU Business & Economics Review

With the limitations posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, marketers and sellers have shifted to using online platforms to market and sell their products. Thus, the objective of this study is to test the influence of the quality of food images used online on the perceived quality of the food product and on customers’ intent to purchase. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test four hypotheses. Results suggest that food image quality significantly influences perceived value, perceived value significantly influences purchase intention, and food image quality significantly influences purchase intention. Further, it was revealed that perceived quality …

Introducing Business School Research And Positive Impact, Howard Thomas

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Typically, there are three main priorities, and dimensions, which interact with each other as business schools frame their visions and missions of enhancing management knowledge and producing distinctive management theories and insights. First, the processes of knowledge generation and development to produce high quality, often multi-disciplinary research outputs involving academic faculty, doctoral students and ‘tri-sector’ participants. Second, knowledge dissemination in teaching and learning activities enabling the growth of quality education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and thus contributing to student intellectual growth and societal socio-economic development and advancement. Third, knowledge transfer through ‘tri-sector’ collaboration, engagement and practice enhancements that is …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #63 January 2024

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Paul E. Read

Gamma Sigma Delta committees 2024

2022 chapter awards: The Honor Society of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta

New members inducted

Annual dues notice, Robert J. Wright, membership Coordinator

Membership list

Membership renewal form

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Outstanding Graduate & Undergraduate Student Award Fund

In memoriam: Dennis Lee Kahl (February 8, 1950-August 12, 2020); Col. Warder L. Shires (March 23, 1932-March 6, 2021); Dr. Leland "Lee" Julius Albert Volker (October 24, 1942-March 11, 2022); Richard "Dick" Dam (September 17, 1929-September 17, 2022); John W. Doran (November 12, 1945-November 30, 2022); Donald H. Steinegger (January 1, …

Barriers To Higher Education Daca Recipients Face In The United States, Natalie Porter

Ballard Brief

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that provides temporary relief from deportation to young undocumented immigrants, as well as social security cards and legal work authorization to qualifying individuals. Students with DACA encounter a variety of barriers to completing higher education due to the nature of the DACA policy. DACA places restrictions on access to federal resources and state resources, inhibiting access to financial aid opportunities. DACA does not provide lawful status to recipients—this breeds uncertainty about the future, preventing DACA students from scholastic planning. The uncertainty of the future is exacerbated by the fact that DACA …

Declared Guiltless Justification By Faith In The Latter-Day Saint Classroom, Stephan Taeger

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Religious educators can face unique challenges when teaching the doctrine of grace. Some students struggle with excessive guilt and do not think they are doing enough to live the gospel. Others think that grace somehow excuses their sins. Helping students better grasp the doctrine of justification by faith can help them feel peace with God while inspiring them to be more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. This article uses the words of scripture, modern prophets, and trusted scholars to clarify this doctrine and discusses how understanding it removes guilt and inspires obedience to God’s commandments. The concluding section provides practical …

“An House Of Prayer For All People” A Guide To Christ’S Cleansing Of The Temple, Joe Cochran

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

This article explores the contextual background of Christ’s cleansing of the temple as recorded in the four Gospels. An analysis of scriptural and historical evidence can help teachers and learners better understand what Christ cleansed and for whom his actions were undertaken. Discovering specific meaning and purpose behind the Savior’s words and actions in the temple helps establish this event as yet another witness of the loving, compassionate, and justice-seeking Savior we all know well.

Vital Gospel Nutrients, Dale G. Renlund

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Instead of sharing “spiritual Twinkies,” or shallow teachings, teachers can provide deep spiritual nourishment to students. Four spiritual principles, or “staples,” are essential to help students grow strong in faith: (1) nurturing students’ testimonies of Jesus Christ and the gospel, (2) fostering students’ personal relationships with teachers, (3) facilitating students’ confidence in addressing gospel questions, and (4) preparing students’ hearts to feel the Spirit.

Seminaries And Institutes Reach And Impact Update, Chad H. Webb

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

This article highlights efforts of Seminaries and Institutes instructors to support youth and young adults worldwide. It addresses concerns about previously declining institute enrollments, sharing strategies implemented to mitigate and reverse the trend. Feedback from focus groups emphasized the need for relevance, belonging, accessibility, and deepened conversion to Jesus Christ. As a result, initiatives such as workshops, new classes, and online options have been implemented. Notably, institute enrollments have increased by 20 percent, and seminary enrollment has also grown, with the programs adding over 126,000 students in the last three years. It emphasized the need for continual innovation, grounded in …

Addressing The Crisis In Meaning And Identity Through Covenant Relationship, Jenet Jacob Erickson

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Our youth are experiencing a profound hunger for connection, evidenced by an epidemic of loneliness and increasing mental health challenges despite the seeming connectivity of a world swimming in social media. The deepest loneliness stems from disruption and disorder in family life, including ruptured or never formed family relationships. In answer to this relational fracturing, the gospel of Jesus Christ offers covenant belonging and connection. The revealed understanding of the nature of our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and his work in enabling eternal bonds within the family and across the entire eternal family is at the heart of helping …

Full Issue

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Healing From Toxic Perfectionism, Debra Theobald Mcclendon

BYU Studies

Perfect is the enemy of good.” This phrase is derived from a French proverb, yet it is most often attributed to the famous French writer Voltaire. It observes that those striving for perfection are their own worst enemies.1 Indeed, perfectionism is overly demanding of those who struggle with it. With its irrational and impossible demands, perfectionism can cause anxiety, create high levels of distress that inhibit learning and performance, damage relationships, and diminish the quality of life for otherwise highly competent and dedicated individuals. Perfectionism can be the main problem that leads someone to seek therapeutic services from a mental …

Perfectionism’S Influence On Adolescent Mental Health, Mark D. Ogletree

BYU Studies

Years ago, I was sitting in my counseling practice with a sixteen-year- old young man. He was a great teenager with many positive qualities. However, on this particular summer day, he came in a somber mood. I asked him what was bothering him. He began to share some of his problems with me. In my opinion, none were out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, I could see his lips begin to quiver, and then he broke down in tears. When he could compose himself, he uttered, “I know that God hates me.” And with that declaration, I knew that we had …

A New Day For Environmental Justice At The U.S. Epa, Clifford Villa

Faculty Scholarship

September 24, 2022, was a big day in the history of the EPA. On this day, EPA Administrator Michael Regan signed an order creating a new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (“OEJECR”) within the EPA. We’re very excited about our new office of environmental justice at the EPA. However, the EPA takes environmental justice seriously across all the offices, including my own Office of Land and Emergency Management (“OLEM”).

In this lecture, we will begin with some early history of environmental justice, how we realized the existence of environmental injustice in the first place. Then we’ll talk …

Standing In The Way Of Environmental Justice, Lauren Cormany

Utah Law Review

Private citizens need an avenue for justice through the judicial system on the siting of hazardous facilities. The health impacts of exposure to toxic facilities—like cancer, respiratory illnesses, and birth defects—are severe and victims deserve their day in court. While initiatives by government agencies and grassroots organizations provide influential roads to improvement, the judiciary stands to only bolster the efficacy of the work in the environmental justice field. The most effective way to include the courts is through the legislature creating a cause of action targeting the issues that communities face. Solutions to the issue of citizen standing in challenging …

Old And New Environmental Racism, Tseming Yang

Utah Law Review

Over the past five decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) moved from purposeful disregard of environmental racism to a public embrace of environmental justice as an organizational priority. Unfortunately, its efforts to address environmental discrimination remain a work-in-progress. This Article posits that the Agency’s core difficulties have arisen out of its reluctance to accept the continuing salience of race and the substantive implications for its regulatory work. It has blinded the Agency to the evolving manifestations of environmental discrimination and associated harms. The effect has been to impede the aggressive enforcement of antidiscrimination laws, particularly the discriminatory effects regulations …