Digital Commons Network^™

Screening For Antibacterial Activity In Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts Against Xanthomonas Euvesicatoria, Medya Ahmad Salih, Tavga Sulaiman Rashid

Polytechnic Journal

Background and objectives: The environment and human health have fared badly from the use of synthetic pesticides as a form of pest control. Plants are considered as an alternate pesticide for pest control without sacrificing the environment and their potency on pests. Methods: Aqueous extracts of (Lavender flower, olive leaves, thuja leaves and fruit, fig milk, clove flower buds, Arabic gum, Borage, Tarragon, Cress seed and Carob tree) were tested against newly isolated Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Acc.No. OP115671) from symptomatic tomato plants. Results: The in vitro results showed that clove extract is highly effective in inhibiting bacterium growth followed by borage, …

Review Of Feature Selection Methods Using Optimization Algorithm (Review Paper For Optimization Algorithm), Zana O. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Many works have been done to reduce complexity in terms of time and memory space. The feature selection process is one of the strategies to reduce system complexity and can be defined as a process of selecting the most important feature among feature space.Therefore,themostuseful features will be kept,and the less useful features will be eliminated.In the fault classification and diagnosis field, feature selection plays an important role in reducing dimensionality and sometimes might lead to having a high classification rate. In this paper, a comprehensive review is presented about feature selection processing and how it can be done.The primary goal …

Aortic Stress Activates An Adaptive Program In Thoracic Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells That Maintains Aortic Strength And Protects Against Aneurysm And Dissection In Mice, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Abhijit Chakraborty, Yang Li, Kimberly R. Rebello, Pingping Ren, Wei Luo, Lin Zhang, Hong S. Lu, Lisa A. Cassis, Joseph S. Coselli, Alan Daugherty, Scott A. Lemaire, Ying H. Shen

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: When aortic cells are under stress, such as increased hemodynamic pressure, they adapt to the environment by modifying their functions, allowing the aorta to maintain its strength. To understand the regulation of this adaptive response, we examined transcriptomic and epigenomic programs in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during the adaptive response to AngII (angiotensin II) infusion and determined its importance in protecting against aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD).

METHODS: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (scATAC-seq) analyses in a mouse model of sporadic AAD induced by AngII infusion. We also examined the direct …

Office Of Equity And Inclusion Newsletter - February 2023, Office Of Equity And Inclusion, East Tennessee State University

Office of Equity and Inclusion Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Cover Crop Planting Practices Determine Their Performance In The U.S. Corn Belt, Katja Koehler-Cole, Roger W. Elmore, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Charles A. Francis, Charles A. Shapiro, Christopher A. Proctor, Sabrina J. Ruis, Suat Irmak, Derek M. Heeren

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

Cover crop growing periods in the western United States Corn Belt could be extended by planting earlier. We evaluated both pre-harvest broadcast interseeding and post-harvest drilling of the following cover crops: (a) cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) [RYE]; (b) a mix of rye + legumes + brassicas [MIX1], (c) a mix of rye + oat [Avena sativa L.] + legumes + brassicas (MIX2), (d) legumes [LEGU]) and (e) a no cover crop control. These were tested in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) [corn–corn] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn systems [soybean–corn] at three sites in Nebraska …

Neighborhood Deprivation And Residential Property Values Do Not Affect Weight Loss At 1 Or 3 Years After Bariatric Surgery, Adam Drewnowski, Benjamin D Hong, Ernest Shen, Ming Ji, Silvia R Paz, Bhumi B Bhakta, Mayra Macias, Cecelia L Crawford, Kristina H Lewis, Jialuo Liu, Darren D Moore, Sameer B Murali, Deborah R Young, Karen J Coleman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between individual- and neighborhood-level sociodemographic factors and surgical weight loss at 1 year (short term) and 3 years (long term).

METHODS: Data were obtained from the baseline survey of the BELONG (Bariatric Experience Long Term) prospective longitudinal cohort study. Individual-level self-reported data on sex, race and ethnicity, education, and household income were obtained by survey. Data from the 2010 US Census were used to calculate area Neighborhood Deprivation Index score and median value of owner-occupied housing units at the census tract level.

RESULTS: Patients (N = 1341) had a mean age of 43.4 (SD …

Early Feasibility Of Endovascular Repair Of Distal Aortic Arch Aneurysms Using Patient-Specific Single Retrograde Left Subclavian Artery Branch Stent Graft, Joshua Wong, Emanuel R Tenorio, Guilherme Lima, Marina Dias-Neto, Aidin Baghbani-Oskouei, Bernardo Mendes, Jarin Kratzberg, Laura Ocasio, Thanila A Macedo, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To describe the feasibility and outcomes of endovascular repair of distal aortic arch aneurysms using a patient-specific stent graft with a pre-loaded single retrograde left subclavian artery (LSA) branch stent graft.

METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data and outcomes of consecutive patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective, non-randomized physician-sponsored investigational device exemption study to evaluate the outcomes of endovascular aortic arch repair using patient-specific arch branch stent grafts (William Cook Europe, Bjaeverskov, Denmark) between 2019 and 2022. All patients received a design with triple-wide scallop and a single retrograde LSA branch with a pre-loaded catheter.

RESULTS: There were five …

Glucose As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Sleep And Cognitive Performance, Mercedes Gremillion

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Y. Liu et al., 2016) reports that 34.8% of adults living in the United States of America are getting less than their recommended amount of sleep per night. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation (2014) reports that 35% of adults have poor sleep quality. Sleep problems appear most prevalent in young adults (Hershner, 2015). Rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus are also on the rise in this specific population (Kaufman, 2002). Interestingly, research has consistently found that both sleep quantity and quality are associated with glucose levels (Ip & Mokhlesi, 2007; Padilha et …

Propagation Of Bananas, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Horticulture factsheets

Tissue culture is the best method for propagating bananas. It ensures they are true to type and free from pests and diseases.

Check with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development quarantine officer before bringing tissue culture material into Western Australia.

However, planting with bits is cheap and guarantees that new diseases are not introduced.

Surgical Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Ablative Dose Radiation Among Patients With Borderline Resectable And Locally Advanced Pancreas Cancer From The Multi-Institutional Phase 2 Stereotactic Mr-Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy (Smart) Trial, Parag J. Parikh, Domenech Asbun, Michael D. Chuong, Lorraine Portelance, Jashodeep Datta, Michael F. Bassetti, Sharon M. Weber, Bassem I. Zaki, Kerrington D. Smith, Ann C. Raldow, Timothy R. Donahue, Hyun Kim, William G. Hawkins, Patrick Kelly, Daniel Low, Percy Lee, Martin Fuss, David S. Kwon

Radiation Oncology Meeting Abstracts

Background: Acute grade 3+ toxicity was rare in the multi-institutional phase 2 stereotactic MR-guided on-table adaptive radiation therapy (SMART) trial (NCT03621644) for locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC/BRPC). Surgery may be considered after ablative SMART although the feasibility and safety of this is not well understood. Postoperative outcomes of the subset of patients in the SMART trial are examined here.

Methods: Trial eligibility included BRPC or LAPC without metastases after a minimum of 3 months of induction chemotherapy. All patients received SMART prescribed to 50 Gy in 5 fractions using an integrated 0.35T MR-radiation therapy device equipped with …

Clinical Outcome In Patients With Early-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Surgery Or Radiation In The Absence Of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation: A Single-Center Retrospective Study, Sondos Al Khatib, Khaled Adil, Lonni Schultz, Shirish M. Gadgeel, Andrew Popoff, Munther Ajlouni, Michael Simoff, Benjamin Movsas, Aharon Feldman

Radiation Oncology Articles

PURPOSE: As screening chest computed tomography for patients at high risk for cancer has become more widely accepted, increasing numbers of patients with early-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are being diagnosed. Although surgery is an accepted option for patients with early-stage SCLC, for patients who decline or cannot undergo surgery, stereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT) is an alternative. Although prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) improves survival in patients with limited-stage SCLC, PCI for early-stage SCLC (stage T1-T2) has not been explored. This study defines survival and recurrence patterns in patients with early-stage SCLC who were treated with surgery or SBRT …

Navigating The Digital World: A Study Of Parental Guidance Of Children’S Media Consumption In Kampala., Kamakune Jackline

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The notion of whether children are consuming age-friendly media content has always been a subject of debate. This qualitative study aimed to explore parental guidance of pre-teenage media content on smart mobile devices in Kampala. The objectives of this study were: to establish the smart mobile devices that pre-teenage children have access to in Kampala, to establish the kind of media content pre-teenage children consume in Kampala, to establish the guidance parents provide to their pre- teenage children in regards to children’s media consumption as well as to explore what informs the decision-making concerning the choice of content the parents …

Implementation Of New Vision’S Digital Strategy: Analysis Of The Website, E-Paper, And Social Media Platforms, Obonyo Frank Nyanjeye

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

There is an increased shift from traditional to digital media operations in Africa. The general objective of this study was to analyse the adoption and implementation of the digital strategy of the New Vision with a focus on the challenges and opportunities to help understand the shift from traditional to digital media. This study investigated the implementation of New Vision’s digital strategy, focusing on the website, e-paper and social media platforms. The study employed an in-depth interview guide for data collection: The collected data was transcribed and organized following the research questions. The data was reviewed and explored deductively, then …

Print Media Coverage Of Politicians With Active Economic Crime Cases In Kenya: A Case Of Daily Nation And The Standard Newspapers, Donald Magomere Nyonje

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

In the run-up to the 2022 general elections in Kenya, there was a general concern about political candidates vying for elective seats with active economic crimes cases. This study set to establish print media’s coverage of politicians with active economic crimes, analyse the framing of political candidates with active economic crime cases and identify factors that influence the framing of these political candidates during the electioneering period. Anchored on the framing theory, the first and second phases of the project entail content analysis, during which the data gathered was coded, analysed, and presented using tables. The third phase incorporated in-depth …

How Climate Change Advocacy By Ngos In Kenya Is Covered By The Media, Victor Anyura Oluoch

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The world is dealing with the effects of climate change, and the threats appear more menacing in developing countries like Kenya. The case for dealing with the effects of climate change is made more significant because Kenya’s economy largely depends on natural resources such as agriculture, tourism and energy to support its growing population. These challenges require the concerted efforts of various stakeholders to bring about meaningful solutions. With its power to set and influence agendas, the media is crucial, and so are environmental NGOs working with various communities to develop solutions. In this environment, NGOs and the news media …

A Study To Investigate The Uptake Of Digital Technology In Ruben Fm Radio Station, Nahashon Shisia Wasilwa

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Having realized the potential of digital technologies, radio stations in Kenya have embraced technology to improve “interactivity with their listeners”. However, the extent to which digital technologies are used at radio stations and existing challenges and opportunities in uptake is yet to be established. The research's primary goal was to investigate technology uptake in Ruben FM radio stations. Specifically, the study sought to examine the extent of use of the existing digital technologies in Ruben FM radio station, explore other digital technology opportunities for uptake in Ruben FM radio station and establish challenges facing digital technology uptake in Ruben FM …

The Effects Of Social Media On Newspaper Content Distribution: A Case Study Of The Star Newspaper, Mercy Gakii Kiunga

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The Star newspaper is arguably the epitome of bold experimentation in the newspaper industry in Kenya. Over time, Star has evolved from a social features newspaper to a political newspaper, growing from a weekly tabloid to a daily circulation newspaper. It is now at the forefront of distributing content on social media channels, print circulation, and digital platforms. This research explored the influence of social media channels on content distribution in Star newspaper. As people use social media platforms to consume news, an increasing number of newspaper channels are turning to social media to catch users' attention. The use of …

Gatekeeping Processes In Content Produced By Kenyan News Content Creators On Youtube, Judith Vereso Mwanga

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Gatekeeping is a crucial process in journalistic content production and especially news. This is because the information collected from various sources must be subjected to journalistic practices such as verification to establish authenticity before dissemination to audiences. The growing popularity of online media content and the desire to attract more followers means news content creators on YouTube could be conflicted on the key reason they are producing content for the platform. The study aimed to establish the gatekeeping process employed by Kenyan news content creators producing content on YouTube and whether decisions are in the public’s interest or lack thereof. …

Coverage Of Environmental Issues By The Kenyan Media. A Case Study Of Citizen Television, Scarlet Chebet Chemarum

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Media worldwide has always been a strong instrument for disseminating, promoting awareness and establishing of social, economic and political agendas. There is no denying that environmental issues such as climate change are indeed on the rise worldwide, and while the media covers these environment and climate change calamities, events and news-making stories, that is as far as the story goes. That said the need for a well-informed public on environmental issues has increasingly become very crucial, especially with the growing concerns over environmental issues worldwide. Environmental issues have thus fast become an area of much interest and debate. Developed nations …

The Acquisition Of Knowledge And Practical Skills By Freelance Media Practitioners In The Digital Era, Loyce Achieng’ Odhiambo

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study sought to understand how freelance media practitioners are acquiring knowledge and practical skills for the different newsrooms they produce content for in the current digital world, a time when there are dynamic technological trends and an audience that is not only changing but also creating news and media content. The study was based on the Skill Acquisition Theory, which describes how people progress in learning a variety of skills, from beginner to advanced proficiency. The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods by use of questionnaires and interview guides. Data emanating from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS and …

An Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage Of Far-Flung Counties In Kenya, Galgallo Duba Fayo

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study explored how the Kenyan Print Media covers far-flung counties, with a case study of Marsabit, Turkana and Mandera counties. The following research objectives guided the study: (i) To analyse the prominence of Marsabit, Turkana and Mandera Counties issues by the Daily Nation and The Standard (ii) To determine the frames that the Daily Nation used and The Standard in coverage of issues from far-flung counties and (iii) To analyse the extent to which stories from the three counties published by the publications draw from local sources and realities. The two newspapers were selected from the population of 44 …

Relationship Dissatisfaction And Partner Access Deficits, T. Joel Wade, Maryanne Fisher, James Moran

Faculty Contributions to Books

In this chapter, we discuss how partners’ feelings about relationship inequity (i.e., unequal access to relationship resources, such as sex, emotional investment, finances, and family-size decisions) can cause relationship dissatisfaction. Individuals may initiate a romantic relationship with the desire to create a long-term committed relationship that is emotionally and sexually fulfilling. However, romantic relationships do not always fulfill both partners’ needs and desires, and couples often experience conflict and dissatisfaction when this happens. In this chapter, we explore both the proximate and ultimate reasons for why individuals experience dissatisfaction in their relationships. Proximate reasons include issues such as finances, cultural …

Black History Is Much More Than One Month, Mary J. Lomax-Ghiraduzzi

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Publications

February is Black History Month and University of the Pacific has planned a robust calendar of speeches, music, theater, health clinics and more to celebrate African American heritage and culture, provide learning opportunities and bring awareness to critical social issues.

Shared User Engagement Duties Among Reference And Research Services Department Members: A Case Study On The Development Of Outreach Initiatives, Sarah Cooper, Lance Day

Alabama Libraries

No abstract provided.

Agency, Identity, And Writing: Perspectives From First-Generation Students Of Color In Their First Year Of College, Jie Park

Education

This paper highlights the perspectives of first-generation students of color in their first year of college, and the ways in which they exercised agency in their writing. Framed by definitions of agency as mediated action that creates meaning, the paper reports on qualitative data collected from a summer writing program for first-generation students and students of color, and from writing samples and follow-up interviews with six students who participated in the summer program. Findings suggest that students in their first year of college leveraged their social and discoursal identities to offer new ways of understanding an issue. They also wrote …

Development And Testing Of An Iot Spectroscopic Nutrient Monitoring System For Use In Micro Indoor Smart Hydroponics, Joseph D. Stevens, David Murray, Dean A. Diepeveen, Danny Toohey

Horticulture Research Articles

Nutrient monitoring in Micro Indoor Smart Hydroponics (MISH) relies on measuring electrical conductivity or total dissolved solids to determine the amount of nutrients in a hydroponic solution. Neither method can distinguish concentrations of individual nutrients. This study presents the development and testing of a novel spectroscopic sensor system to monitor nitrogen changes in nutrient solutions for MISH systems. The design phase determined that using an inexpensive AS7265x Internet of Thing (IoT) sensor in a transflective spectroscopic application could effectively detect small fluctuations in nitrogen concentraation. Next, a novel transflective sensor apparatus was designed and constructed for use in a MISH …

Ruben Fm And Its Involvement In Socio-Economic Challenges Of Mukuru Kwa Ruben Slums Of Nairobi, Henix Obuchunju

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

vii ABSTRACT Slums are a reflection of underdeveloped and marginalisation. It is so yet the traditional watchdog genre of journalism and the commercial press are both as old as the slums themselves. Past studies show that community radios are struggling with feedback. As such they are yet to assess their value to the world. This study sought to assess the impact of the Mukuru kwa Ruben-based Ruben FM in addressing the socio- economic needs of its listeners; and whether it is advancing the tenets of Solutions Journalism practice. That is; coverage of solutions rather than the problems. The study relied …

Monetisation Of Digital Media, Its Impact On News And Journalism, Irine Julia Majale

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study sought to investigate the implications monetization strategies of the digital native media houses operating in Kenya have on the quality of the journalism produced in digital newsrooms. This is prompted by the challenges experienced by media houses in generating revenue and the tremendous disruption in the media industry occasioned by technology. Digital native media houses largely depend on revenue streams built on programmatic channels and social media platforms. New entrants of tech giants have also drastically changed the media landscape as they eat into the revenue initially taken by the media players, which has posed a threat to …

Moi’S Legacy – Remembrance Or Mis-Remembrance? Four Kenyan Dailies’ Coverage Of Late President Moi Following His Demise On February 4, 2020, Dennis Oduor Ogongo

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

When Kenya’s second and longest-serving President died on February 4, 2020, four local dailies Daily Nation, The Standard, People Daily and The Star were dominated by stories around his legacy. This was because Moi was the longest-serving President in Kenya, having been in power for 24 years, unprecedented. His tenure in power was marred with various controversial events, including an attempted coup, a single-party state, amongst many other events that have had a significant impact in Kenya’s history, making his death an event of interest to reevaluate his legacy. This study aimed to analyze the dominant thematic narratives in the …

Let The Devil Speak For Itself: Should Chatgpt Be Allowed Or Banned In Hospitality And Tourism Schools?, Faizan Ali, Chatgpt Openai, Inc

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

Since the inception of Open AI’s ChatGPT, its usage has been a polarizing topic. This is particularly true for the higher education sector, specially disciplines such as hospitality and tourism. As such, this opinion paper provides a balanced stance and outlines the benefits and limitations of using ChatGPT by students and faculty members in hospitality and tourism schools. This paper also outlines some ethical aspects revolving arounds usage of ChatGPT in hospitality and tourism schools.