Digital Commons Network^™

Findings From A National Assessment To Support Implementation Of Cooperative Extension’S 2021 National Framework For Health Equity And Well-Being, Diana Charbonneau, Kerry Gabbert, Latoya O'Neal, Dawn E. Burton, Maggie Jones, Kate Katzman, Roger Rennekamp

Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being provides a roadmap for improving the health of communities. Core concepts include installing health equity a systemwide value and catalyzing community-level changes that ensure all people have an opportunity to be as healthy as they can. This article presents findings from a national readiness assessment for implementing the Framework across Extension. Results from a literature scan, national survey, and regional listening sessions identified internal facilitators and barriers to adoption. The article provides ideas for how Extension practitioners can engage in this work and shares an action plan developed from assessment results.

Promoting Digital Agriculture Adoption In Community-Based Agricultural Organizations, Jean Hardy, Abbey Palmer

Journal of Extension

Existing research and practice related to digital agriculture technology adoption is largely focused on large-scale producers. In this paper, we describe a case of adopting an advanced soil monitoring system in a community-based agricultural organization. We provide guidance for Extension professionals seeking to implement or promote digital agriculture technology adoption on: selecting appropriate technology, incorporating new technology into existing practices, harnessing local technology champions, and avoiding data-driven mission creep.

Proof Of Concept: Leveraging Large Language Models For Qualitative Analysis Of Participant Feedback, Andrew B. Crocker, Marcelo Schmidt, Juan Diego Tejeda, Howard Rodriguez-Mori

Journal of Extension

This proof-of-concept study explores the innovative application of Large Language Models (LLMs) for qualitative analysis of feedback from an Extension program, addressing the challenge of efficiently analyzing qualitative data. The study juxtaposes traditional human-led qualitative analysis with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven techniques, revealing the complementary strengths of human insights and AI efficiency. It underscores the potential of LLMs to enhance qualitative analysis while recognizing the need for human oversight to ensure depth and context accuracy. This research contributes to the fields of program evaluation and data analysis, offering a new paradigm for integrating advanced AI tools in qualitative research.

Building Resilience To Public Safety Power Shutoffs Through Public Education, Vikram Koundinya, Cristina Chiarella, Susan Kocher, Faith Kearns, Sabrina Drill

Journal of Extension

Public Safety Power Shutoff events are being implemented in California to reduce wildfire impacts. We surveyed California residents to identify their information needs and understand the potential role of University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in power shutoff management. A majority of respondents need information on alternative power sources and community power systems. Most respondents indicated family, friends, and neighbors as the important group to manage power shutoff. UCCE was least used and preferred source for power shutoff information. Our findings reveal a need for Cooperative Extension to play an important role in power shutoff management and educating the public.

Clark Moustakas’ Husserl, Thomas Byrne

The Qualitative Report

This paper critically examines Clark Moustakas’s presentation of Husserl in Phenomenological Research Methods. I argue that Moustakas’s account misrepresents two core elements of Husserl’s phenomenology – intentionality and the transcendental reduction – in ways that directly compromise the foundations of qualitative phenomenological research. First, Moustakas treats intentional meaning as something private, located within the individual, rather than as given in the world. This misreading severs the connection between experience and a shared world of meaning, leaving qualitative researchers unable to clarify participants’ accounts beyond private expression. Second, Moustakas reduces the transcendental reduction to introspective reflection, overlooking its function as a …

Offal Wildlife Watching: Connecting Hunters, Wildlife Researchers, And The Public Through Participatory Science, Ellen M. Candler, Grace Milanowski, Amy Rager, Joseph K. Bump

Journal of Extension

Offal Wildlife Watching is a participatory science project that engages deer hunters in wildlife research. The goal of the project is to better understand the ecology of scavenger species that visit deer gut piles across Minnesota. We asked hunters to deploy remote cameras at white-tailed deer gut piles that resulted from their freshly killed deer. Thus far 117 hunters have contributed images and recorded at least 49 different scavenger species. This project is a natural fit in Extension programs and can easily be adapted to other hunted species, biomes, and locations.

Absence Of Tev Halos Around Millisecond Pulsars, A. U. Abeysekara, R. Alfaro, C. Alvarez, J. C. Arteaga-Velázquez, D. Avila Rojas, H. A. Ayala Solares, R. Babu, E. Belmont-Moreno, A. Bernal, K. S. Caballero-Mora, T. Capistrán, A. Carramiñana, S. Casanova, U. Cotti, J. Cotzomi, S. Coutiño De León, E. De La Fuente, D. Depaoli, P. Desiati, N. Di Lalla, R. Diaz Hernandez, M. A. Duvernois, J. C. Diaz-Velez, K. Engel, T. Ergin, K. L. Fan, K. Fang, N. Fraija, S. Fraija, J. A. Garcia-Gonzalez, F. Garfias, M. M. Gonzalez, J. A. Goodman, J. P. Harding, S. Hernandez-Cadena, D. Huang, F. Hueyotl-Zahuantitla, A. Iriarte, S. Kaufmann, D. Kieda, A. Lara, J. Lee, H. Leon Vargas, J. T. Linnemann, A. L. Longinotti, G. Luis-Raya, K. Malone, O. Martinez, J. Martinez-Castro, J. A. Matthews, P. Miranda-Romagnoli, J. A. Morales-Soto, E. Moreno, M. Mostafa, M. Najafi, L. Nellen, M. Newbold, M. U. Nisa, R. Noriega-Papaqui, N. Omodei, Y. Perez Araujo, E. G. Perez-Perez, C. D. Rho, D. Rosa-Gonzalez, E. Ruiz-Velasco, M. A. Roth, H. Salazar, A. Sandoval, J. Serna-Franco, Y. Son, R. W. Springer, O. Tibolla, K. Tollefson, I. Torres, R. Torres-Escobedo, R. Turner, F. Urena-Mena, E. Varela, L. Villasenor, Xiaojie Wang, Z. Wang, I. J. Watson, H. Wu, S. Yu

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

TeV halos are extended very-high-energy (VHE; 0.1-100 TeV) gamma-ray emission around middle-aged pulsars. So far, they have only been found around isolated pulsars, but it has been suggested that they may also be powered by millisecond pulsars (MSPs). We searched for VHE gamma-ray emission from MSPs reported by radio and GeV gamma-ray observatories in 2565 days of data from the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory. We found no significant emission from individual pulsars. By combining the likelihood profiles of all MSPs accessible to HAWC, our analysis suggests that the excess emission around the MSP population is consistent with a background. …

De-Dollarization And South Asia: Challenges And Opportunities For Nepal In A Multipolar Currency World, Keshav Bhattarai, Ambika P. Adhikari

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

The United States dollar’s dominance as the global reserve currency, established under the 1944 Bretton Woods system, persists despite the 1971 decoupling of the gold backing to the dollar. Its liquidity, stability, and full support by the US government confer a solid financial security and advantage to the currency, including a universal acceptance of the dollar and a relatively low borrowing cost. Because of these reasons, the US dollar has been able to dominate the global financial markets for the past eight decades. However, the rapidly emerging global political and economic power shifts are challenging the status of the US …

Workshop Wine Wednesdays: Change In Behavior Around Local Wines, Aude Watrelot, Sarah Francis, Sarah Al-Mazroa Smith

Journal of Extension

Wine workshops hosted at local wineries positively impacted the behavior of Iowa wine consumers. Many participants (75%) reported visiting an Iowa winery following the workshop. The percentage of participants consuming Iowa wines increased by 20.6% (p

Perceived Hbv-Related Stigma Is Associated With Lower Antiviral Medication Adherence In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B, Hee-Soon Juon, Daniel Yang, Cindy Xin Fang, Hie-Won Hann, Ho Bae, Mimi Chang, Ann C. Klassen

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Medication nonadherence among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can lead to severe liver disease progression, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet the factors that influence adherence in high-risk groups, like Korean Americans, remain unclear. Thus, this study explored the psychosocial and clinical factors affecting medication adherence in CHB patients. A cohort of 365 Korean American patients with CHB from two clinics in Philadelphia and Los Angeles was studied. The 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) gauged their adherence to antiviral medication. Using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses, we identified factors associated with MMAS-8 scores. Of the …

The Vrkc: A Newly Updated Tool To Help 4-H Volunteers Develop Foundational Competencies, Jennifer Lobley, Gemma Miner, Meggan Franks

Journal of Extension

Volunteers play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of the 4-H program. Research demonstrates that offering professional development opportunities to volunteers contributes to retention. The Volunteer Research Knowledge Competency Taxonomy (VRKC) is a framework that pinpoints essential competencies for proficiently delivering 4-H youth development programs. This article provides an overview of newly refined VRKC resources and discusses their application with volunteers for virtual and in-person delivery.

An Inventory Of Private Well Programs Across The United States, Bethany G. Foust, Ann S. Ojeda, Jessica Curl, Eve Brantley, Stephanie R. Rogers

Journal of Extension

Private well owners comprise approximately 15% of the United States (US) population and are responsible for managing their well water. Management of domestic wells can be burdensome, requires knowledge, and is critical for maintaining clean drinking water. Management resources vary by state and the resource landscape across the US is unclear. Thus, our objective was to inventory where resources exist, while also highlighting geographic areas that may need improved resources to ensure that people have the ability to safely manage their drinking water. Results of this inventory showed that 64% of states have programs; 72% of which were Cooperative Extension.

Treated Wastewater Reuse For Non-Direct Food Consumption Crops In Nebraska: Barriers And Benefits Of Municipal Irrigation Lagoons, Sussan Moussavi, Bruce Dvorak

Journal of Extension

Reusing treated wastewater for agricultural purposes can provide local benefits to small, rural communities. Additionally, irrigation lagoons can be an attractive wastewater treatment technology in areas with high agriculture demands and low water availability. This descriptive study used stakeholder discussions to identify barriers and benefits of irrigation lagoons. Dissemination materials were developed to help Extension professionals distribute information regarding these systems to the communities they work closely with.

Menstrual Poverty In Egypt: Padding The Way To Period Equity, Sara Hesham Nasr

Theses and Dissertations

With approximately 800 million women menstruating daily worldwide, a significant portion of this demographic experiences barriers to accessing sanitary products. In Egypt, despite having around third of the population in reproductive age and menstruating monthly, an economic turmoil in 2017 opted the government to label menstrual products as luxury items and the prices have increased since then.

The current study aimed to investigate menstrual poverty in Egypt, focusing on the economic and social challenges faced by women during menstruation. Key objectives include assessing the financial challenges related to menstruation, exploring existing policies aimed at alleviating these challenges, and proposing evidence-based …

Copyright Law And Metaverse: A Comparative Study Of Challenges And Opportunities Of The Egyptian Copyright Law Entering The Virtual Era, Ayat Khalaf

Theses and Dissertations

Metaverse invokes legal challenges of Intellectual Property Rights in a limitless world of imagination for both entertainment and business aspects. The virtual world requires special devices and technologies to be accessed such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) appliances. The creation and protection of these devices cannot operate without patents. Besides, the protection of their software and platforms goes through copyright protection. Moreover, this imposes a non-traditional sense of trademark protection for new categories of goods and services. The peculiarities of copyright in the metaverse lie in two main challenges: firstly, copyright in the virtual world is usually …

The Hypocrisy Behind The Absolute Banning Of Torture: Historical Fallacies, Factual Necessities, And Judicial Artifices, Abdelalim Morsy

Theses and Dissertations

The absolute and non-derogatory prohibition of torture is embedded in almost every international or regional human rights instrument that deals with civil rights. However, this ban witnesses a diversion between theory and practice. While this diversion is comprehendible in authoritarian states, democratic regimes also implement it in some instances. This usage notably arose in the wake of the 11th of September 2001 and the accompanying usage of physical coercion in the interrogation processes. Simultaneously, some scattered, though notable, scholarly voices started challenging the absolute prohibition against torture. This pro-torture school of thought echoed in some legislative and executive works. The …

Supporting Egypt's Industrial Decarbonization: The Role Of Dfis In Cbam Alignment, Malak Elsaid

Theses and Dissertations

The European Union’s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) introduces a new linkage between trade and climate policy by requiring importers to report and pay for embedded emissions. For Egypt, characterized by high trade exposure to the EU through the export of carbon-intensive products, CBAM serves as a regulatory catalyst for industrial transformation, posing significant competitiveness risks. Recent assessments indicate that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces a significant CBAM burden, approximately three times that of other emerging market and developing economies.

Utilizing the Institutional-Capacity Response Model as an analytical tool, this study examines how such external …

Understanding The Accuracy And Best Use Of The Woodland Stick As A Tree Height And Diameter Measurement Tool: A Case Study In Oregon, Francisca Belart, Lauren Grand, Alicia Christiansen

Journal of Extension

We conducted a study to assess the accuracy of the Woodland Stick in determining tree diameter and height as compared to professional measurements and how bias can affect tree volume calculation. After comparing professional measurements with five non-professionals (NP’s) using the Woodland Stick, we found that three out of five NP’s had significant differences in mean dbh, and all of the NP’s had significant differences in mean total height. The overall bias for dbh across users was +0.5 inches and +5.1 ft for height. These deviations can result in volume differences between 0 and 30 bf on a single tree.

Youth Public Speaking Self-Efficacy Survey Tool, Roshan Nayak, Steven M. Worker, Nicole Marshall-Wheeler

Journal of Extension

Extension has a role to play in workforce development by preparing the next generation to be successful communicators. While Extension 4-H youth programs have contributed to public speaking development since their inception, there has not been a validated instrument to assess young people’s public speaking self-efficacy. We utilized an iterative-scale development process to develop, test, and refine such a tool. We hope youth development professionals will consider using the Youth Public Speaking Self-Efficacy (PSSE) survey tool to measure and report youth’s PSSE skills, along with the sources influencing these skills, to help with program planning, implementation, and professional development activities.

Leveraging Community Partnerships And Resources To Address Food Insecurity In A Rural County During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kristen Johnson, Amy Elizer, Karen L. Franck, Soghra Jarvandi

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals are skilled at connecting with community partners and community members to identify needs and address challenges. This paper outlines how Extension professionals quickly responded to address rising rates of food insecurity in a rural Tennessee County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an extensive network of state, regional, and local partners, Extension professionals and partners planned and implemented mobile food distributions through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families program. These Extension-led efforts resulted in sustainable, community-driven initiatives to improve food insecurity. Lessons learned can help Extension professionals respond to emerging needs.

Promoting Equity: Embracing Food Justice In The Transformation Of The Food Systems For Bipoc Communities, Frank Yeboah Adusei

Journal of Extension

The food justice movement addresses systemic food inequities impacting BIPOC communities, rooted in civil rights and environmental justice movements. It advocates for fair access to culturally relevant food, combating food deserts, and promoting food sovereignty. Recognizing intersectionality, it emphasizes collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers. This study aims to understand BIPOC communities' challenges and effective strategies, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts for lasting systemic change. Extension professionals face challenges but can contribute through equity-focused strategies, community engagement, and partnerships, advancing food justice and fostering inclusive food systems.

Beer And Biology, A Perfect Pairing: Using Beer To Spread Awareness About Invasive Species, Samuel Nutile, Adam Simpson, Sara Stahlman, Lynne E. Beaty

Journal of Extension

Managing the spread of introduced invasive species relies on educating recreationists that currently or potentially harbor such species. By partnering with a local brewery, we developed the Lagers for Lakes Draft Series to facilitate outreach about aquatic invasive species in Erie, Pennsylvania. To date, Lagers for Lakes drafts and associated launch events have reached over 230 individuals and increased awareness of invasive species by 86%. With the materials provided here and the lessons learned from these events, we hope similar outreach efforts can be developed elsewhere to educate and minimize the spread of invasive species.

Outcomes Of Arteriovenous Malformation Patients With Multiple Versus Single Feeders: A Multicenter Retrospective Study With Propensity-Score Matching, Stavropoula I Tjoumakaris, Christopher S Ogilvy, Howard Riina, Sandeep Kandregula, Adam A Dmytriw, Kareem El Naamani, Ahmed Abdelsalam, Natasha Ironside, Deepak Kumbhare, Cagdas Ataoglu, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Abdullah Keles, Sandeep Muram, Daniel Sconzo, Arwin Rezai, Omar Alwakaa, Salem M Tos, Ufuk Erginoglu, Johannes Pöppe, Rajeev D Sen, Christoph J Griessenauer, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Robert M Starke, Mustafa K Baskaya, Laligam N Sekhar, Michael R Levitt, David J Altschul, Malia Mcavoy, Assala Aslan, Abdallah Abushehab, Christian Swaid, Adib A Abla, Saman Sizdahkhani, Sravanthi Koduri, Elias Atallah, Spyridon Karadimas, M Reid Gooch, Robert H Rosenwasser, Christopher Stapleton, Matthew Koch, Visish M Srinivasan, Peng R Chen, Spiros Blackburn, Joseph Cochran, Omar Choudhri, Bryan Pukenas, Darren Orbach, Edward Smith, Pascal J Mosimann, Ali Alaraj, Mohammad A Aziz-Sultan, Aman B Patel, Hugo H Cuellar, Michael Lawton, Bharat Guthikonda, Jacques Morcos, Pascal Jabbour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The impact of multiple feeding arteries on clinical outcomes of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is not well understood. This study aims to compare outcomes between AVMs with multiple versus single feeding arteries.

Patients and methods: Data from the Multicenter International Study for Treatment of Brain AVMs (MISTA) consortium were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance cohorts. Subgroup analysis was conducted for ruptured and unruptured AVMs and different treatment options, and multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the impact of feeding artery origin.

Results: Among 953 patients, 661(69.4%) had multiple feeding arteries, and 292 (30.6%) had …

Brittleness Indices For Chemically Corroded Rocks Under Unloading Confining Pressure, Hao Li, Leo Pel, Zhenjiang You, David Smeulders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rock brittleness constitutes a pivotal mechanical property for geotechnical engineering. In this paper, multi-scale investigations, involving Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), ion chromatography, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), as well as unloading tests, were conducted to examine the brittle behaviors and mechanisms of rocks under chemical-unloading confinement conditions. This paper defines rock brittleness as the capacity to withstand multiscale fracturing based on experimental investigations into multiscale damage mechanisms and macro-mechanical responses. After that, two novel brittleness indices are proposed, utilizing the dissipated energy consumption and energy-drop coefficients proposed in this study. These indices are then validated using experimental data. …

Inadequate Intensification Of Ldl-Cholesterol Lowering Therapy After Coronary Revascularization: Insights From The Gould Registry, James A De Lemos, Robert S Rosenson, Mikhail N Kosiborod, Christopher P Cannon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Patients with a history of coronary revascularization are at a higher risk for subsequent cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Lowering LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels post-revascularization significantly reduces these risks.

Methods: This analysis compared LDL-C-lowering therapies at baseline and over time among patients with and without prior coronary revascularization in the GOULD registry (a prospective multicenter cohort study). Baseline- and 24-month follow-up characteristics-including LDL-C levels and strategies for lipid-lowering therapy (LLT)-were evaluated.

Results: Out of 5006 patients, 2195 (43.8%) had prior coronary revascularization. At baseline, these patients had lower LDL-C (99.2 mg/dL vs. 102.5 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and were more likely to be on intensive LLT (52.8% vs. 42.7%; p < 0.001). At 24 months, they had small reductions in LDL-C (-15.6% vs. -13.7%; p = 0.145) and were more likely to be on intensive LLT (61.9% vs. 51.5%; p < 0.001). Similar LDL-C reductions were observed in the PCSK9i group regardless of revascularization status.

Conclusions: Despite slightly better baseline …

Safety And Immunogenicity Of Ascending Doses Of Influenza A(H7n9) Inactivated Vaccine With Or Without Mf59®, Sharon E Frey, Rebecca Brady, Lisa Jackson, Paul Goepfert, Hana M El Sahly, Robert L Atmar, Richard Rupp, C Buddy Creech, Getahun Abate, Grant Paulsen, Julia Weiss, Ashley Wegel, Paul C Roberts

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: While it remains impossible to predict the timing of the next influenza pandemic, novel avian influenza A viruses continue to be considered a significant threat.

Methods: A Phase II study was conducted in healthy adults aged 18-64 years to assess the safety and immunogenicity of two intramuscular doses of pre-pandemic 2017 influenza A(H7N9) inactivated vaccine administered 21 days apart. Participants were randomized (n = 105 in each of Arms 1-3) to receive 3.75 μg, 7.5 μg or 15 μg of hemagglutinin (HA) with MF59® adjuvant, or 15 μg of HA unadjuvanted vaccine (n = 57, Arm 4).

Results: The …

Acute Care For Elders Unit Implementation At Banner Health: A Quality Improvement Analysis, Jacob Lahti, Tony Gaidici, Shreya Bharath, Esha Saraswat, Nimit Agarwal

Annual Research Symposium

There is an increasing need to optimize hospital care for older adults as Age Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) become increasingly popular. Geriatric patients may often be subject to extended hospital stays, which can result in functional decline, increases in hospital-acquired injury, infections, and neurocognitive deterioration. Early acute inpatient rehabilitation (IRF) is known to improve functional optimization of older adults as compared to therapy in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). In this study we demonstrate the effect of a structured program based on the 4Ms of AFHS in our newly established Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit, a first in Arizona. …

Cover And Forewords, C. Nicholas Raphael

The Geographical Bulletin

Cover and Forewords

Volume 35-2 Complete Issue, C. Nicholas Raphael

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 35-2 Complete Issue

News From The Chapters 1992-1993, C. Nicholas Raphael

The Geographical Bulletin

This year was another exciting one for the Alpha Chapter. Duri ng National Geography Awareness Week we sold Tshirts and went on a wild weekend canoe and camping trip to Turkey Run in Indiana. The weather and fall colors were beautiful, hiking was fun, and the river was low, making a wet run for 5 out of 6 canoes. In November, the members took an Indianapolis trip to see an ice hockey game and to sightsee.