Digital Commons Network^™

Multiple Use Of Grassland Resources (Grasslands To Provide Natural Resource Conservation And A Quality Environment For Mankind), P J. Edwards

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The grasslands of the world ( and communities closely akin to them, such as shrub and savanna types) provide not only a very effective mantle for protection of the soil, but also the main source of feed for herbivores. They also cater to many other needs of mankind. Increasing population results in competition between types of grassland use for specific sites. Sound planning is necessary to resolve this conflict in the way most beneficial to mankind. In order to plan logically it is necessary to make an inventory of the resources, to consider the various uses to which grasslands can …

Nitrogen Relationships In Grassland Ecosystems, A Lazenby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Some recent findings affecting nitrogen (N) cycling in grassland ecosystems are discussed, and an indication is given of major problems requiring research and development. The importance of modern techniques is stressed to enable further quantification of the pathways and processes of the nutrient in grassland; such data are needed both to improve understanding and to enable more efficient use of N in practice. A brief description of the N in soil organic matter is followed by an account of symbiotic N fixation by legumes, including estimated levels and rates of fixation and factors affecting the process. Data are presented on …

Practical Livestock-Forage Systems: Model To Manager, R W. Brougham

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The developments in practical livestock-forage systems research during this century are outlined, and present-day approaches are discussed. Some examples of production levels presently being obtained from research stations, top farmers, and average farmers in different regions of the world are presented. These indicate that production levels being obtained from livestock­forage systems research remain appreciably higher than levels being obtained from the best farmers. Comments are made on the many different research techniques used to demonstrate these levels in both developed and developing countries. The value of this type of research to the farm adviser and farmer is also noted. Some …

Contribution Of Forages To Worldwide Food Production: Now And In The Future, E F. Henzell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbivorous livestock provided during the 1970s an estimated minimum 7%-17% of the total dietary protein in Asia and Africa compared with about 30 % in Latin America and just over 30 % in the developed countries. Cattle accounted for approx­imately 70% of the world's domestic animals (calculated in units weighted for size), buffaloes for 10%, and sheep and goats for 11 % . About 69 % of these animal units were in the developing countries, but productivity was higher in the developed coun­tries. Forages, defined broadly to include all edible plant materials except grains and concentrates, provided more than 90% …

Potential Productivity Of Temperate And Tropical Grassland Systems, G O. Mott

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasses of temperate regions of the world belong primarily to the subfamily Festucoideae, whereas tropical regions are populated by tribes of the Panicoideae subfamily. Temperate grasses have a C3 biochemical pathway of photosynthesis in con­trast to tropical grasses, which have a C4 photosynthetic mechan-ism. Both tropical and temperate legumes are C3 plants. Com­patible mixtures of legumes and grasses have long been successful in many temperate regions, but combining C4 grasses and C3 legumes as mixtures in the tropics has been only moderately successful. Maximum net primary productions of temperate and tropical grasslands are in the order of 25 and 80 …

Use Of Genetic Resources For Improvement Of Forage Species, J R. Harlan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of genetic resources of forage species poses some special problems because of the number of species involved, the in­adequacy of our knowledge about them, the fact that they are often used in combination and should be evaluated in terms of livestock product, and so on. Collections should be as comprehensive as possible at the outset of improvement programs; other­wise, there may be much use of inferior material and much waste of time and effort. Most of the forage species in use come from (1) Europe (excluding Mediterranean zones), (2) Mediterranean Basin and Near East, (3) African savannas (mostly …

Forage Quality: Assessing The Plant-Animal Complex, D J. Minson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

At the VI International Grassland Congress held at Pennsylvania State College in 1952, the late Dr. C.P. McMeekan re­viewed the many problems associated with the plant-animal complex. Great stress was placed on the need to measure forage in­take accurately as a prerequisite to an under-standing of the plant-animal complex. Progress in the development of more accurate :methods of estimating the forage intake of grazing animals is reviewed, in­cluding the introduction of different methods of administering chromic oxide, the esophageal fistula for obtaining samples of selectively grazed material, the in-vitro technique for estimating the digestibility of the forage eaten, and the …

Competitive, Adaptive, And Evolutionary Process In Grassland Ecosystems, B D. Patil

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the tropics, grasslands or grazing lands are found where the forest vegetation climax has been subjected to fire, grazing, felling, or other disturbances. Grazing lands in the tropics form various ecosystems under the major climatic types. Delineation of such ecosystems is possible through remnants of the climax vegetation of undisturbed or least-disturbed areas. Several subecosystems exist as seral stages under each ecosystem, the floristic composition of which is a reflection of the edaphic and soil­moisture-fertility conditions. Biological production in terms of energy for grazing animals varies among these ecosystems and subecosystems. Reconstruction of the adaptable competitive flora with woody …

Black Joy And The Mother Connection: An Evaluative Case Study Of A Graduate Book Club, Shandria Hill, Meredith A. Rausch, Megan Buning, Janny Liu, Tyler Gray

Journal of Graduate Education Research

This article reviews an evaluative case study of implementation of a six-session virtual book club on connection, attachment, and Black joy in women who identify as Black and African American. Participants included six women and one group leader, all but one of whom were currently enrolled in a higher education setting. Members read selected chapters from two books--What my mother and I don’t talk about: Fifteen writers break the silence (Filgate, 2019), and You are your best thing: Vulnerability, shame resilience, and the Black experience (Burke & Brown, 2021). We present the qualitative summary of the potential impact of …

Researcher Identity In Non-Conventional Research Settings: An Autoethnography, Irina Berry, Robin Hardin, Hunter B. Porter

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Scholars have emphasized reflexivity as a key practice for addressing potential biases and enhancing the credibility of research. Although reflexivity has been recognized as essential to qualitative rigor, limited attention has been given to its theoretical integration with broader social identity processes, particularly in non-conventional settings. This manuscript extends social identity theory and demonstrates how the insider/outsider model adds additional layer of complexity to the understanding of researcher identity negotiation. In this study, the researcher used an autoethnographic approach to examine the experiences of an able-bodied researcher conducting research in adaptive sport settings and featuring adaptive athletes. Strategies that emerged …

Exploring The Simultaneous Processes Of Academic Job Search And Dissertation For Culturally Diverse Doctoral Candidates In Counselor Education Programs, Galaxina G. Wright, Jasmine Griffith, Jasmine Garrison, Inga Antrobus

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Doctoral candidates face several challenges as they complete their academic journeys, particularly as it relates to the unique balance of applying for faculty positions while completing their dissertations. Though both processes have been explored separately within some educational fields, minimal research exists within the field of counselor education (CE) examining simultaneous experiences, particularly those from historically marginalized populations. Guided by the Career Self-Management (CSM) framework and an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), we explored the perspectives of 11 CE candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds engaged in both processes. We identified five main themes and four subthemes that participants experienced. We discuss …

Cognitive Predictors Of Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

This study examined whether the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT), administered during acute rehabilitation, improved the prediction of 5-year functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) beyond standard demographic and injury-severity variables. Data were obtained from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) National Database (N = 6,880; enrolled 2017 onward). Missing data were handled using multiple imputation (20 datasets). Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOS-E) as outcome measures. Demographics (age, sex, education, race) were entered in Block 1, injury severity indicators (post-traumatic amnesia [PTA] duration, …

Self-Esteem Development And Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Bahaa Al Ghraibeh

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Self-esteem is a fundamental psychological construct that develops across the lifespan and influences academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Research consistently links healthy self-esteem with positive developmental outcomes, including improved educational achievement, stronger interpersonal relationships, and better mental health. At the same time, emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are associated with persistent emotional, behavioral, academic, and social difficulties that can interfere with healthy self-development. This paper reviews the developmental trajectory of self-esteem from early childhood through adulthood and examines how the experiences commonly associated with EBD may negatively affect that trajectory. The review discusses how children begin forming self-esteem at …

Prior Traumatic Brain Injury As A Predictor Of Cognitive Deficits After Moderate-To-Severe Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Prior traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common among individuals who later sustain a moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI), and cumulative injury models suggest repeated TBIs may worsen long-term cognitive outcomes. This study tested whether prior TBI history independently contributes to cognitive performance one year after an index msTBI beyond demographic and injury-severity factors. Data were drawn from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database (N = 6,880 enrolled since 2017). 2,773 participants completed the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone at one-year follow-up. Hierarchical regression models evaluated whether prior TBI history accounted for incremental variance in overall cognitive status and …

Method For Active Aligning A Microdisplay To A Freeform Lightguide, Ozan Cakmakci, Weicheng Lai, Christian Lizarazu, David Karr

Defensive Publications Series

Techniques are described for aligning a display element relative to an optical component using image-based measurements and model-driven estimation.  One or more image-derived metrics, such as a modulation transfer function (MTF) and/or geometric characteristics including feature displacement or distortion, are evaluated as a function of alignment parameters including translational and rotational degrees of freedom.  A set of measurements may be obtained by sampling the metric or metrics at selected positions, and a model of the metric may be constructed or updated using measurement data and prior information, for example derived from simulation or calibration.  An alignment configuration associated with improved …

Phase‑Aligned Predictive Audio Modulation Utilizing Biomechanical Telemetry And Asymmetric Compute, Nikita Agarwal

Defensive Publications Series

Current physiological audio‑feedback systems may rely on reactive media adjustments (e.g., track skipping, uniform time‑stretching), which can disrupt user immersion or introduce acoustic phase distortion. This publication describes a predictive audio modulation system that dynamically isolates and modulates individual instrumentation layers within an active audio track. The system utilizes a machine learning model to anticipate pacing deviations based on cardiovascular exertion and topographical data. To improve synchronization, the system phase‑locks audio transients to biomechanical footstrikes using an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Further, the system employs an asymmetric computing architecture to dynamically balance computational loads between a primary wearable device and …

Ambient Cognitive‑Clearance System (Accs V4.0): A Zero‑Wearable, Non‑Contact, Sleep‑Synchronized Glymphatic Modulation Platform For Dementia Prevention And Cognitive Health, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Ambient Cognitive‑Clearance System (ACCS v4.0) is a non‑contact, zero‑wearable, room‑scale device designed to support cognitive health by enhancing sleep quality, autonomic stability, and glymphatic clearance — the brain’s natural waste‑removal system.

Unlike wearable neuromodulation, ultrasound helmets, or extracorporeal systems, ACCS v4.0 requires no physical contact, no user compliance, and no medical infrastructure.

The system uses contactless sensing (radar, thermal, acoustic) to detect sleep stages and respiration, and delivers low‑intensity, air‑coupled acoustic/ultrasonic pulses, 40 Hz diffuse light, sub‑audible gamma acoustics, and micro‑airflow cues — all synchronized to the user’s natural physiology.

This document provides full engineering specifications, regulatory considerations, consumer …

Becds V2.0 — Bilateral Ear‑Canal Closed‑Loop Dementia Support System, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a non‑invasive, ear‑based neuromodulation system for dementia support. It uses bilateral ear‑canal devices to:

• Sense autonomic state (heart rate, HRV surrogate, temperature, motion).

• Capture ambient sound (TV, conversation, music).

• Deliver gentle electrical and acoustic stimulation in a closed loop to support arousal stability, calm, and engagement.

It is intended as a supportive system, not a cure or neuron‑regrowth therapy.

Cognitive Fabric Os (Cfos), Johny Manuel-Devadoss, Jayden Jack Johnson

Defensive Publications Series

Modern infrastructure orchestration is approaching a fundamental architectural limit. Most existing systems—whether container orchestrators, HPC schedulers, cloud control planes, or GPU resource managers—still operate using largely reactive models. They rely on predefined resource declarations, queue-driven scheduling, and short-term optimization logic to manage increasingly complex environments.

That model worked well when infrastructure was relatively predictable. It does not hold up in the era of hyperscale AI training, sovereign compute requirements, globally distributed inference systems, autonomous scientific computing, and energy-constrained data centers. Infrastructure today is no longer static. It is dynamic, geographically fragmented, thermally sensitive, economically constrained, and continuously changing in real …

Adaptive Communication Interface With Vocal Identity Persistence, Purvam Pujari

Defensive Publications Series

The User Experience Challenge: During real-time audio calls, severe background noise or strict social constraints often force the sender to abandon live speech. Currently, users must either endure broken, unintelligible audio or abruptly terminate synchronous calls—destroying conversational flow and stripping away the sender's personal vocal presence from the receiver.

The Technical Solution: This disclosure introduces an on-device AI voice bridge to preserve the sender's uninterrupted vocal presence. The system continuously monitors the call's audio quality at the sender's terminal using multidimensional acoustic measurements. The interface executes a graceful handover to a synthesized stream when environmental noise …

Method, System, And Computer Program Product For Difficulty-Driven Temporal Adaptation Of Direct Preference Optimization, Ziwei Wu, Rashidul Islam, Yiwei Cai

Defensive Publications Series

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for difficulty-driven, temporal adaption of direct preference optimization of a large language machine learning model. An example method includes receiving pairs of responses associated with text prompts, determining a probability margin score for a pair of responses, computing a measure of semantic similarity associated with the pair of responses, computing a difficulty score for the pair of responses based on the probability margin score, computing a time-dependent temperature parameter for the pair of responses based on a minimum time-dependent temperature parameter, a maximum time-dependent temperature parameter, a time parameter associated with training …

Dual-Axis Scoring For Automated Synthesis Of Operational Architectures, Hariprasad Rengarajan, Rahul Jindal

Defensive Publications Series

Some workflow automation systems may evaluate tasks based on a single dimension of logical feasibility, which may not account for human-centric factors and can potentially lead to suboptimal automation strategies. A system may utilize a dual-axis scoring engine to analyze discrete operational tasks along both a cognitive complexity axis and a relational sensitivity axis. Based on a resulting two-dimensional score, each task can be mapped to an execution authority protocol that suggests an appropriate level of automation. An algorithmic synthesis module may then restructure the operational process by applying a library of execution patterns, such as parallelizing independent tasks. This …

Using Data To Discern Whether Nepa Causes Delay, And What Can Be Done About It, John C. Ruple, David E. Adelman, Jamie Pleune

Public Land & Resources Law Review

This article proceeds in three principal parts. Part I provides an overview of NEPA that is focused on the requirements contained in the Act itself, the Supreme Court’s recent opinion in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, and developments involving agency NEPA regulations. Part II summarizes what we know about factors causing or contributing to delays in permitting in general and NEPA compliance in particular. The central question examined in Part II is the extent to which changes to NEPA respond to barriers to development and are therefore likely to be effective. Part III offers recommendations and is …

Poor Compliance With Private Nursing And Midwifery Practice Guidelines In Urban Settings In Uganda, Dan Muramuzi, Edson Atwine, Barbara Okiror, Mercy Muwema, Christine Nimwesiga, Laban Muteebwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Optimal compliance with private practice guidelines is one of the core components of quality improvement in nursing and midwifery professions. Private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines in Uganda were introduced in 2019. However, little has been documented about compliance with these guidelines, despite playing a crucial role in ensuring safe nursing and midwifery practice and maintenance of professional standards.  We assessed the compliance with private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines of Uganda (2019) and explored barriers to optimal compliance with these guidelines in private health facilities licensed by the Uganda Nursing and Midwifery Council (UNMC) in Kampala Metropolitan …

Take Me To The Museum: Exploring The Use Of Art Kits For Families In The Art Museum, Amanda Marriott Elton

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the use of participatory art kits as a strategy for transforming family engagement within the art museum setting. Drawing on theories of experiential learning from John Dewey and participatory art practices rooted in the Fluxus art movement, my research positions art kits as tools that invite active, social, and embodied learning. Using a design-based research methodology, this study investigates how families interact with art kits within gallery spaces and how these tools influence and encourage conversation, artistic behaviors and relational dynamics. Data were collected through observation, family feedback and iterative kit redesign. Findings suggest that art kits …

Volume Cxlv, Number 24, May 29, 2026, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Patria Laureano V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Accepts: Advancing Communication Competence And Equitable Practices When Training Students, Imani Smith, Jamie Mayer, Tertia Jeppson

Honors Capstones

This project aims to collaboratively create an online, interactive experiential learning program to enhance students’ communication skills when engaging with adults who have cognitive-communication disabilities (CCD). Effective communication is vital for patient-centered care, yet training often lacks contributions from those with lived experience. Using a community-based participatory research framework, this pilot study centers on a needs assessment through focus groups  involving adults with CCD (n=4-8 participants). Initial pilot work will involve structured discussions to examine views on communication barriers and strategies. Data will be analyzed qualitatively to identify main themes that guide program development. Early findings are expected to emphasize …

Online Shopping Non-Adoption In South Africa: A Distrust-Centric Framework Integrating Social Exchange, Trust Transfer, And Social Presence Theories, Cleopatra Moipone Matli, Jeevarathnam P. Govender

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Online shopping non-adoption remains critically underexplored, especially in emerging markets. Addressing this gap, the authors develop and test a distrust-centric framework that applies the inhibitory logic of social exchange, trust transfer, and social presence theories to explain pre-emptive avoidance. Focusing on South Africa, where only 18.16% of the population engage in e-commerce, data was collected from 414 consumers who have never shopped online. Structural equation modelling reveals that perceived lack of reciprocity directly increases the intention of non-adoption. Moreover, distrust in online payment systems transfers to broader channel scepticism, which in turn drives avoidance. Perceived lack of social presence further …

Unveiling The Power Of Credibility: How Virtual Influencers Shape Consumer Attitudes And Purchase Intentions In Fashion, Danita Van Heerden, Jade L. Verbeek

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of influencer marketing, particularly in the fashion industry. Consequently, brands are using virtual influencers (VIs) to engage consumers in this space. Yet little is known about VIs’ credibility and their influence on purchase intentions, especially in an emerging market where they are less prevalent. This study examines the influence of VIs’ credibility (i.e., trustworthiness, attractiveness, and expertise) on consumers’ attitudes towards VIs and the subsequent impact on purchase intention for fashion products in South Africa, grounded in the Source Credibility Theory. Data were collected from active social media users using non-probability convenience and …