Digital Commons Network^™

Applied Research For Corn Production In Indiana, 2024, Daniel Quinn

Purdue University Press Books

The 2024 edition of Applied Research for Corn Production in Indiana offers accessible, research-based tips for farmers who want to improve corn production practices by using applied field-research trials. Daniel Quinn and the Purdue University Corn Agronomy team reveal practical ways to boost yields, reduce costs, and improve sustainability on the farm. Their findings are derived from applied research trials across the state and relate to important topics such as planting practices, fertilizer use, crop nutrition, cover crops, and new technologies. Applied Research for Corn Production in Indiana distills complex research into clear insights and supplies corn producers with effective …

Decisions That Shape Supply Chains, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

What drives consumer decisions, and how do those decisions ripple through our food and agricultural systems? In Decisions That Shape Supply Chains, readers are invited to look beyond conventional models of behavior and explore the complex, sometimes counterintuitive factors influencing real-world consumer choices. Drawing on behavioral science and applied research, this volume examines how decisions made in grocery aisles, drive-through lines, and online shopping carts ultimately inform what gets planted, processed, packaged, and promoted across the food-supply chain. From attitudes toward GMO foods to parenting as a form of consumerism and emotional decision-making under stress to the environmental tradeoffs consumers …

Teaming With Insects: Entomology For Grades 3-12, Natalie J. Carroll, Christian Y. Oseto, Timothy J. Gibb

Purdue University Press Books

Teaming With Insects: Entomology for Grades 3–12 is written for youth who enjoy learning about and studying science and nature. Insects have been around for millions of years and have evolved and adapted to many different habitats. Adaptations involving their anatomy, physiology, and behavior are what make insects so diverse and interesting. More than 1 million species of insects are known to scientists, and they believe there may be up to 40 million more we have yet to discover. Most people consider insects pests, and some insects do damage to homes, plants, crops, and stored foods. Others harm humans and …

Soil And Water Education For Grades 3-12, Natalie J. Carroll, Christian Y. Oseto, Timothy J. Gibb

Purdue University Press Books

Soil and Water Education for Grades 3–12 was written for youth who enjoy learning about science and two critical natural resources: soil and water. Level 1 introduces basic terms and concepts, and is intended for youth in grades 3–5. Activities focus on understanding important soil and water processes. Designed for students in grades 6–8, Level 2 offers readers more concrete examples of advanced soil and water concepts. The exercises in Level 3, which is geared toward grades 9–12, are divided into sections based on how readers might use the information they have learned, placing them in the shoes of homeowners, …

Consumer Lessons From A Pandemic, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

What did we learn about consumer behavior when the world was turned upside down due to COVID-19? Consumer Lessons From a Pandemic examines how a global crisis exposed and reshaped the values, priorities, and decision-making patterns of everyday people. From disrupted routines to supply-chain shocks, this volume explores the consumer behaviors that emerged in response to extreme uncertainty and how those behaviors continue to evolve. Topics include pandemic-induced grocery spending shifts, the importance of consumer trust, lessons from the infant-formula shortage, and the rise of remote work both as a preference and a negotiation point.

Fundamental Hydraulics Principles For Agricultural Systems Management And Technology, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Hydraulic systems have spread throughout modern technology, particularly in mobile equipment. The exercises presented in Fundamental Hydraulic Principles for Agricultural Systems Management and Technology are designed for the second-generation Parker Hydraulic Trainer to provide a basic understanding of hydraulic components and systems for technology and engineering students. Readers will learn how hydraulic pumps function, how linear actuators and their control circuits work, and how hydraulic motors operate and are controlled. Readers are also provided with the opportunity to attempt more advanced exercises. Aligned with beginning technology-based experiential hydraulics courses, this book emphasizes familiarity with common hydraulic components and circuit diagrams, …

Building Your Epic Life: Your Journey, Your Way, Your Masterpiece, Luciano Castillo

Purdue University Press Books

Building Your Epic Life empowers young people to understand that failure is an inevitable—and essential—part of the journey to success. The author shares his own challenges and struggles, showing that no path to success is linear and without setbacks. The book teaches the value of building a healthy body, mind, and spirit, and includes exercises that offer actionable plans for individuals to realize a meaningful, self-defined life based on their core values. A proven roadmap workbook and short lectures guide readers through a series of practical steps to discover their purpose, vision, and understand the value of mentorship—and why each …

Method Development And Optimization For The Detection Of Synthetic Cannabinoids In Hair Using Lc-Msms, Linda K. Obeng

Student Theses

Synthetic cannabinoids represent one of the most prevalent and high-risk classes of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), continuously evolving in structure and potency. Their widespread presence in seized materials and toxicology casework underscores the growing need for reliable analytical methods capable of detecting these compounds in biological matrices. Hair offers several advantages for drug testing, including a long detection window, minimal invasiveness, and resistance to adulteration; however, detecting synthetic cannabinoids in hair remains challenging due to their low incorporation levels and structural diversity. This study focuses on the method development and optimization of an LC-MS/MS technique for the detection of selected …

Soil Fertility Forecasting With Neutrosophic-Based Uncertainty Management, Franklin Parrales-Bravo, Roberto Tolozano-Benites, Dayron Rumbaut-Rangel

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a machine learning framework that combines Random Forest classification with neutrosophic logic to predict soil fertility from 16 physicochemical properties. The model achieves robust classification accuracy (95%) while introducing a novel uncertainty quantification mechanism through neutrosophic truth (T ), indeterminacy (I) and falsity (F ) values derived from prediction probabilities, assigning high-confidence (T = 0.9) to probabilities ≥0.9, indeterminacy (I = 0.3) to borderline cases (0.5≤p

Cross-Country Differences In Adolescent Dietary Patterns And Body Mass Index: Spain And The United States, Rosa I. Chavez Jimenez

Honors Scholar Theses

In 2019, NCDs accounted for 38.8% of total global deaths in adolescents aged 10-24, and in 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 390 million youth were overweight or obese worldwide, highlighting the urgency of addressing poor nutrition and sedentary behaviors early in life. There is an extensive amount of research suggesting that the Mediterranean Diet (MD) is related to lowering NCDs and its risk factors. Thus, the present study explored cross-country differences in dietary patterns and Body Mass Index (BMI) between youth in Spain and the United States (US), two countries with contrasting dietary traditions: the Mediterranean …

Oxytocin Varies Across The Life Course In A Sex-Specific Way In A Human Subsistence Population, Abigail E. Colby, Dominik C. Jud, Valerie Baettig, Jordan S. Martin, Camila Scaff, Michael D. Gurven, Benjamin C. Trumble, Bret A. Beheim, Paul L. Hooper, Daniel K. Cummings, Hillard Kaplan, Jonathan Stieglitz, Arnulfo Cary Ista, Adrian V. Jaeggi

ESI Publications

Oxytocin, a hormone linked to reproduction and health, may mediate life-history trade-offs across the human life course. Yet, how oxytocin naturally varies with age remains poorly understood. Here, working with the Tsimane, forager-horticulturalists of lowland Bolivia, we collected the largest sample of oxytocin measurements to date (n = 1,242 samples, n = 405 individuals, age = 2 to 84 y, 51% female), and i) examined how oxytocin varies throughout the life course in females and males, and ii) investigated potential drivers of age- and sex-specific variation. Our sample provides rare insight into the relationship between oxytocin and age in a …

The Evolution Of Southern Ocean Net Primary Production In A Changing Climate: Challenges And Opportunities, Alessandro Tagliabue, Thomas Ryan-Keogh, Alex Baker, Thomas S. Bibby, Chris Follett, Maeve C. Lohan, Alberto Naveira-Garabato, Daniel J. Mayor, Angela Milne, C. Mark Moore, Simon Ussher

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Net primary production in the Southern Ocean plays a critical role in governing ecosystem production, the biological carbon pump, and global biogeochemical cycles. Recent work has advanced our understanding of novel factors regulating Southern Ocean net primary production and the regional physiological adaptations employed by Southern Ocean phytoplankton in terms of their photosynthetic strategies and resource acquisition. Here we assess trends in Southern Ocean net primary production from different remote sensing algorithms and bgc-Argo floats to compare them to the latest Earth System Models used to forecast future changes under three different future climate scenarios. Overall, remote sensing and bgc-Argo …

Objective Vs. Perceived Maternal Smartphone Use And Observed Mother-Infant Interaction Quality, Alison K. Ventura, Lara N. Wolfers, Sarah M. Coyne, Rachel Pfafman, Sabrina Uva, Karla I. Ceja Almontes, Aniruddha S. Shinde, Adam M. Galovan, Brandon Mcdaniel

Health Services and Informatics Research

Introduction:

Prior research links maternal smartphone use to reduced sensitivity and responsiveness to infant cues, but emerging evidence suggests that mothers' perceptions of their smartphone use - such as feelings of empowerment or distress - may also shape the quality of mother-infant interactions. This study examined how both objective and perceived smartphone use related to mother-infant interaction quality in naturalistic settings.

Method:

Participants were 147 mother-infant dyads from a longitudinal study of smartphone use and infant development. When infants were 2 months old, mothers completed 5 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA), reporting time spent with their infant, perceived smartphone-related …

A Neutrosophic Random Forest Approach For Preeclamptic Risk Prediction With Uncertainty Quantification, Franklin Parrales-Bravo, Rosangela Caicedo-Quiroz, Lorenzo Cevallos-Torres, Leonel Vasquez-Cevallos, Dayron Rumbaut-Rangel

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study presents a novel integration of Random Forest with neutrosophic logic to improve preeclampsia risk prediction while quantifying prediction uncertainty. Using clinical data from 352 patients, the model achieved 72.73% accuracy with high sensitivity (0.898) in identifying control cases, though with lower specificity (0.235) for preeclampsia detection. Key predictors identified were birthweight and hypertension his- tory, aligning with clinical knowledge. The neutrosophic framework successfully categorized predictions into truth (T), indeterminacy (I), and falsity (F) components, revealing that 90% confidence predictions showed T = 0.9 while uncertain cases (0.5 ≤ p < 0.9) demonstrated elevated indeterminacy (I = 0.3). The main contributions include: 1) an interpretable uncertainty quantification method for clinical predictions, 2) validation of key risk factors through feature importance analysis, and 3) a practical framework for identifying cases requiring additional clinical evaluation. This approach demonstrates significant potential for enhancing decision-making in maternal healthcare.

Neutrosophic Plithogenic Hypotheses On Bacterial Resistance To Conventional And Laser-Assisted Treatments, Emma Arroyo Lalama, Edison Haro Pujos

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Enterococcus faecalis is a common endodontic pathogen that causes unsuccessful treatments because standard methods of debridement cannot remove it from the root canal system. Methods of debridement are effective relative to debriding multifactorial bacterial biofilms in apical pathogens. Therefore, neutrosophic plithogenic hypotheses are proposed to measure the uncertainty and variability of the bacterial response. Therefore, this work attempted to determine the impact of laser treatment (diode and Er:YAG) as an adjunct agent relative to and in conjunction with traditional irrigants in the reduction of E. faecalis. The diode and Er:YAG laser support increased disinfection efficacy over standard irrigants as they …

Triadic Dynamics Of Clinical Decisions In Apical Surgery Based On Neutrosophic N-Alectic, Emma Arroyo Lalama, Edison Haro Pujos

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study explored the creation of a clinical decision-making model in apical surgery via Neutrosophic N-Alectic, blending affirmative (operate), negative (observe), and neutral (retry conventional endodontics) based on equivocal findings to offer potential solutions to the presentation of periapical lesions. The methodology consisted of dialectic considerations of previous surgeries retrospectively, meaning attributable elements such as lesion severity and response to previous treatment were assessed via a neutrosophic approach to assess the degree of truth, degree of falsity and degree of indeterminacy across all treatment options. The main findings are the neutrosophic model assists in determining the best decisions based on …

Intercultural Education From Ancestral Logic: Application Of The Ayni Method Multi-Neutrosophic To Strengthen Mixed Methodology In The Waorani Community, Johanna Estefanía Calle Imbaquingo, Karen Milagros Díaz Salambay, Jordy Alexis Vargas Yumbo, Kevin Christopher Carrasco Azogue, Otto F. Von Feigenblatt

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Research aimed at determining the Ayni method Multi-Neutrosophic by which a successful blended learning experience enhances multicultural education respecting Ancestral Logic of the Waoranis to create a hybridization of Ancestral Logic and institutional and classroom learning to preserve their cultural identity. A qualitative descriptive-legal research approach was utilized. The results of the documentary analysis included requirements from Ecuador (Constitution, ILO Convention 169) and semi-structured interviews with Waorani leaders and teachers, Triangulation through participant observation of the educational activities taught in the Waorani community. The Ayni method Multi-Neutrosophic was cultural reciprocity and neutrality established through indeterminacies in the blended Ancestral teachings …

Hyperbolic Geometry And Neutrosophic Trigonometry: A Unified Approach To Uncertainty Management In Geometric Spaces, Yismandry González Vargas, Diana Padrón Carrasco

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This paper addresses the challenge of modeling uncertainty in hyperbolic geometry, where non-Euclidean properties, such as angle sums in triangles smaller than 180°, complicate traditional trigonometric calculations. The relevance of this topic lies in its application in fields such as cosmology, robotics, and signal processing, where curved spaces and imprecision are common. Although the literature has explored fuzzy geometry and trigonometry under uncertainty, it lacks a framework that integrates negative curvature with explicit indeterminacy. To overcome this gap, a methodology is proposed that combines hyperbolic geometry with neutrosophic trigonometry, using neutrosophic sets (T, I, F) to represent angles and calculate …

Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L) Flavonoids Are Hydrolyzed During Digestion And Their Bioaccessibility Is Under Stronger Genetic Control Than Raw Material Content, Michael P Dzakovich, Alvin L Tak, Elaine A Le, Rachel P Dang, Benjamin W Redan, Geoffrey A Dubrow

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

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Profit & Loss: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Salience Of The Black Male Experience In Top-Tier U.S. Mba Programs, Craig Woodward

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study aimed to explore the educational, cultural, and personal challenges faced by Black males in MBA programs and to identify factors that aid their persistence in completing their degrees. The research design employed a qualitative approach to narrative inquiry as its methodology, using one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The study used resilience theory as its theoretical framework, approaching it from both an academic and psychological perspective. Respondents were recruited from the top 50 MBA programs in the United States according to the 2023 edition of U.S News and World Report (2024). There were a total of 15 African American respondents who …

Investigation Of Mono-Allelic Rack1 Deletion Effects On Cell Growth And Pkc Mrna Expression, Ashen Quiambao

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The µ-opioid receptor is a primary target of clinically used opioids, and RACK1 regulates its transcription by physically interacting with MOR transcription regulator PCBP1 in the cytosol to prevent its nucleus translocation. Two mono-allelic RACK1 knockout cell lines named RACKA and RACKB were generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 technique using WT NMB neuroblastoma cells. As RACK1 also contains a PKC-binding domain, this study aims to evaluate the impacts of mono-allelic deletion on cell growth rates and PKC isoform expression. Although a slight decreased tendency of growth rate in RACKA and RACKB cells was observed when compared to that of WT NMB …

Socially Interfering Sexual Behaviors In Autistic Adolescents And Treatments As Reported By Behavior Analysts, Steven Pai

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Caregivers often express concern regarding socially interfering sexual behaviors (SISB) in autistic adolescents, yet recent literature offers limited updates on this topic. Existing survey studies have primarily relied on parent, caregiver, or educator reports, with little focus from the perspective of healthcare professionals. To address this gap, the present study surveyed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) about the SISB they encounter, commonly utilized interventions employed, and their perceived effectiveness. Of 120 respondents, 74 qualified BCBAs provided data on behaviors such as socially interfering comments, public masturbation, touching others, and public disrobing. Public arousal, verbal remarks/comments, and sexualized gestures were the …

Clerodendrum Kelli (Lamiaceae), A New Species From Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, And Lectotypification Of Clerodendrum Mindorense, David Justin R. Ples, Jacek Patykowski, John Charles A. Altomonte, Adriene B. Tobias, Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante

Biology Faculty Publications

Clerodendrum kelli (Lamiaceae), a new species from the montane forests of Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, is described and illustrated. The species shares morphological features with Clerodendrum quadriloculare and C. mindorense, but differs in inflorescence structure, corolla tube length, and calyx shape and color. A lectotype for C. mindorense is also designated. Preliminary conservation assessment places C. kelli in the Critically Endangered category (CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)). This study contributes to Philippine plant biodiversity knowledge and informs conservation strategies.

Current Insight Into Ldlr And Pcsk9 Genetic Variants: Investigating Genetic Keys To Cholesterol In A Cohort Of Stroke Patients From Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Loury Priskila, Lenggana Relung Atmadi, Arya Taksya Bagaskara, Andreas Mercyan Anggitama

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the incidence of stroke (14%) is higher than the national average. We therefore investigated the roles of LDLR rs688 (C/T) and PCSK9 rs562565 (A/G) polymorphisms in familial hypercholesterolemia as predictors of first-time ischemic stroke.

Methods: In this case-control study, 119 first-time ischemic stroke patients were divided into dyslipidemia (N = 71) and non-dyslipidemia groups (N = 48). The DNA of the nucleotide polymorphisms LDLR rs688 (C/T) and PCSK9 rs562556 (A/G) was extracted and analyzed using the PCR-RFLP method, and statistical analyses were performed to evaluate …

Moving Toward Healthy Ageing: The Role Of Physical Activity In Cognitive Function And Self-Esteem Among Older Adults In Türkiye, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan, Müjde Kerkez

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between religious attitudes and breastfeeding attitudes and the effect of this relationship on breastfeeding practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 251 older adults. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Spearman’s correlation and chi-square tests were employed for statistical analysis.

Results: Physical activity levels were positively correlated with both cognitive function (r = 0.546, p < 0.001) and self-esteem (r = 0.168, p < 0.05). No significant association was observed between cognitive function and self-esteem. Physical inactivity, cognitive decline, and low self-esteem were more prevalent among women, participants with lower educational attainment, those with chronic diseases, and individuals engaged in polypharmacy.

Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of integrating physical activity promotion into national healthy ageing policies, particularly in Mediterranean contexts such …

Understanding Parental Perceptions Of Truancy In Connecticut Youth: Identifying Risks And Prevention Strategies, Samantha Villa

Honors Theses

This research investigates Connecticut parents' perspectives on effective strategies for addressing truancy. By examining stakeholder attitudes and beliefs, the study aimed to understand the relationship between perceptions of responsibility for truancy prevention and support for punitive versus non-punitive intervention approaches. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on truancy rates, current legislation and interventions have proven inadequate. This study assessed Connecticut adults' recommendations for truancy policy reforms and explored the potential for community-based interventions to enhance family engagement and reduce reliance on court involvement and punitive sanctions. IBM SPSS was used to analyze an existing dataset from the Tow Youth …

Effects Of Proactive Interference On Adults With Adhd: A Sex-Based Study, Julia Switzer

Honors Theses

ADHD is a widespread phenomenon that affects individuals in a variety of ways. Many individuals exhibit strong proactive interference, in which past memories interfere with the memorization and recall of new information. One of the ways symptoms differ is through the biological sex of individuals, although differences in proactive interference have not been studied in relation to sex. This study hypothesized that women with ADHD are better at resisting proactive interference than males with ADHD. The study involved a digital activity in which a series of colored shapes was shown to participants, who identified whether the previously displayed shapes or …

Race, Fear Of Falls, Built Environment And Physical Activity In Older Adults With Cancer, Kristen Fessele

General Submissions: Community and Population-based Materials

Motivation for older adults with cancer (OAC) to engage in physical activity (PA) during and after cancer treatment may be limited by many factors. OAC may be affected by persistent symptoms limiting PA capability such as fatigue, pain and dyspnea, or lack safe home or neighborhood spaces to engage in activity. Fear of falling (FOF) is a major concern among OAC and may decrease PA and life-space mobility. To understand how OAC perceptions of cancer treatment, FOF and their local built environment (BE) influence PA behaviors, we partnered with ResearchMatch.org to recruit a sample of 19 people with a history …

Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword In Support And Subversion Of The Biological Weapons Convention; Part Two: Implications And Recommendations, Diane Dieuliis, Elise Annett, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary is Pt. 2 of the "Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword in Support and Subversion of the Biological Weapons Convention" series. This piece analyzes how artificial intelligence (AI) interacts with the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in both supportive and potentially adversarial ways. The authors explain that AI can strengthen biodefense by improving detection, biosurveillance, and compliance monitoring of biological threats. For example, AI can integrate large datasets to identify anomalies in genomic sequences or global research activity that indicate misuse. However, the same capabilities can be exploited to develop, conceal, and disseminate biological agents, automate laboratory processes that lower …

Studying Causal Inferences For Student Success In Higher Education, Prabesh Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions strive to support students in achieving their academic goals through targeted interventions and data-driven strategies. This study analyzed 19 variables, spanning student demographics, enrollment patterns, and institutional interventions, to identify predictors of students completing all enrolled courses in a semester. Using random forest, logistic regression, and bootstrap forest models, we assessed variable importance and derived causal estimates to determine their impact. Results from causal analysis indicate positive effects from session type, term load, referrals, kudos, flags, and scholarships, while negative impacts were associated with location, course delivery method, enrollment status, advisor contact, and registration interval. These findings …