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Rural Business Development Corporation Annual Report 2025-26, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Reports

Overview

In this report, the Rural Business Development Corporation is referred to as ‘the Corporation’ or ‘the RBDC’. The RBDC is an independent statutory authority of the Government of Western Australia (WA), established under the Rural Business Development Corporation Act 2000 (Act). The Act preserved and continued the body corporate established by the Rural Adjustment and Finance Corporation Act 1993.

What we do

The RBDC administers approved assistance schemes on behalf of the WA Government for the benefit of rural industry and regional communities. Approved schemes may provide financial assistance by way of loans, grants, or other financial incentives. The …

Social Media Adoption In Urban And Rural Flood Risk Management: Evidence From Nebraska’S 2019 Flood-Affected Regions, Anisha Khandokar

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural hazards, causing significant economic losses and threatening public safety. While social media has emerged as a powerful tool for disaster communication, its effectiveness in rural flood risk management remains underexplored. This study evaluates the role of social media in disseminating flood-related information and engaging communities during and after 2019 Nebraska floods. This study incorporates SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis method to examine how the seven core communication functions were utilized for flood risk management at the state, regional, and local levels. The findings reveal that while state agencies dominated social …

There Is No Free Benchmark: An Institutional View Of Legal Ai Benchmarking, Neel Guha, Andy K. Zhang, Christine Tsang, Christopher D. Manning, Julian Nyarko, Daniel E. Ho

Faculty Scholarship

Despite substantial excitement around the use of AI in law, little information exists on the performance and associated risks of the domain’s widely marketed tools. Recent work, for instance, has demonstrated the significant potential for “hallucinations” — wherein models make up facts, law, and precedent — leading Chief Justice Roberts to spotlight this risk in his annual report on the judiciary. We argue that there is a need for public AI benchmarking in law. First, relative to other AI application domains, the legal AI ecosystem lacks legibility — there is little information about the design and performance of many commercial …

The Effect Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions On Stress Resilience And Wellbeing Among Graduate-Level Nursing Students: An Integrative Review Across Disciplines, Delia Linch

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background

Graduate nursing students frequently experience significant academic, clinical, professional, and personal demands that contribute to stress, burnout, and psychological distress. Mindfulness-based interventions have emerged as a potential strategy for promoting well-being and resilience among healthcare learners.

Purpose

The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on stress, burnout, resilience, and emotional regulation among graduate nursing students.

Methods

An integrative review was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl methodology. Literature searches were performed in CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Primary research studies examining mindfulness-based interventions among graduate nursing …

Reducing Stress Through Low-Carbohydrate Nutrition Education In Emergency Department Staff – A Quality Improvement Project, Hassan Oman Gomar

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction and Background

Emergency department staff often face job-related stress, which can lead to burnout, reduced compassion satisfaction, and adverse effects on patient care. Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) offers support programs, including Care for the Caregiver (C4C) and the Living Whole Employee Wellness program, that provide emotional and general wellness resources. While these programs are helpful, they do not offer practical solutions for everyday stress. There is a need for simple, lasting, and food-based ways to help staff manage stress and perform better. Recent research shows that eating patterns, especially high intake of processed carbohydrates, can alter energy and …

Antibiotic Administration After Previable Preterm Prelabor Rupture Of Membranes Is Associated With Prolonged Latency, Alexandra L Hammerquist, Alexander M Saucedo, Selina L Bowler, Mohan Pammi, Catherine Eppes, Ignatia Van Den Veyver, Michael D Jochum, Enrico R Barrozo

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction: While antibiotics have been shown to increase the interval to delivery between rupture of membranes and delivery (latency) and improve neonatal outcomes after viable preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), this has not been well investigated in the previable PPROM population. We aimed to investigate the association between antenatal antibiotics and latency following previable PPROM. Secondarily, we examined various maternal and neonatal outcomes. We hypothesized that the administration of antibiotics would prolong latency in pregnancies with previable PPROM.

Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study that included pregnancies diagnosed with previable PPROM between 140/7 and 216/7 and delivered between 2012 and …

The Hope College Department Of Biology: The First 50+ Years, Christopher C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Hope College Department of Biology was founded in 1899 with the appointment of the first Professor of Biology at Hope, Samuel Mast. During the first 50+ years of the Biology Department, there were eight total faculty members in the department, including Frances Koeman, the first female faculty member in the natural sciences. Four faculty members, Mast, Frank Patterson, Oscar Thompson, and Teunis Vergeer were primarily responsible for developing the department’s curriculum and programs, with Mast and Vergeer also carrying out published research. The department was housed primarily in Van Raalte Hall and the Science Building (now Lubbers Hall) for …

Patient Perspectives On Psychiatric Polygenic Risk Scores In Reproductive Decision-Making And Polygenic Embryo Screening., Lauren A Ginn, Amanda R Merner, Page M Trotter, Kaitlynn P Craig, Abigail C Martinez, Ana Lucía Battaglino, Dorit Barlevy, Daphne M Ayton, Takahiro Soda, Eric A Storch, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Stacey Pereira

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) estimate individuals' genetic risk for developing multifactorial conditions. Recent genome-wide association studies have enabled development of psychiatric PRS, which hold potential to streamline diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric conditions. As individuals with mental illness often identify concern about passing on psychiatric conditions as a key factor in family planning, some may also seek to use psychiatric PRS in reproductive decisions like childbearing or embryo selection for in vitro fertilization. Despite calls for increased regulation, there remains no clinical consensus on the utility of psychiatric PRS in reproductive contexts. Therefore, we conducted semi-structured interviews of adults with …

Summer 2026, Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois

Augustana Magazine

No abstract provided.

Fast Online Inference On Semiparametric Models, Xiaohong Chen, Elie Tamer, Qingsong Yao

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper develops a framework for fast online inference on semiparametric models with large sample sizes and possibly many covariates. The computational algorithm itself is the object of statistical study: after a globally consistent warm start in the first phase, the path of averaged online iterates generated in the second phase automatically delivers estimators with optimal convergence rates and valid confidence sets. Both phases require only a single pass over the data stream and are well suited to streaming data or to settings with storage/privacy constraints. For semiparametric monotone index models, the averaged trajectory of the second phase lead to …

[5,5]-Fused Anhydride, Thioanhydride, And Imide Derivatives Of Cyclopentadienyl Complexes, Uttam R. Pokharel, Sean Parkin, John P. Selegue

Chemistry Faculty Publications

A new approach to 5,5-fused heterocyclic derivatives of cyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl and pentamethylruthenocene is presented. 1,2-Dicarbophenoxycyclopentadienyl complexes of manganese and ruthenium were hydrolyzed to 1,2-dicarboxylic acids. Oxalyl chloride converted the acids to chlorocarbonyls, which reacted with bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfide to give the cyclopentadienyl-fused thioanhydrides. Alternatively, dehydration of the diacids with trifluoroacetic anhydride closed the diacids to cyclopentadienyl-fused anhydrides. Treatment of the anhydrides with p-toluidine followed by oxalyl chloride led to cyclopentadienyl-fused carboxylic imides. This approach enables direct comparison of electron-deficient Mn(CO)₃ and electron-rich Ru(Cp*) coordination environments on the 5,5-fused heterocycles. Spectroscopic data reveal systematic downfield NMR shifts and higher infrared carbonyl stretching …

A Long Loop, Dan Wessner

GHEA21 Publications

No abstract provided.

Freewrite: Synchronizing Mind, Hand, And Pen – An Excavation Of A Basic Practice, Ibrahim Marazka

GHEA21 Publications

No abstract provided.

The Study Of How Sensory Marketing Techniques Used By Beauty Brands Influence Engagement And Consumer Perception On Social Media Platforms, Particularly By Evoking Specific Consumer Emotions, Eeshani Juthani

Digital Marketing Theses

This study describes how a consumers' attitude towards beauty products on social media is affected by sensory marketing techniques and cues. This study also examines how sensory marketing tactics and elements such as sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste affects the way a consumer engages with content on social media platforms like Tiktok and Instagram.

Preliminary Findings From Intermountain West County Emergency Manager Survey, Bailey Holdaway, Courtney Flint, Gina Gilson, Richard Rushforth

Environment and Society Student Research

In the Intermountain West, water resources and weather conditions are increasingly plagued by uncertainty. Population growth throughout the region may further intensify many of these water-related hazards. County emergency managers are responsible for managing hazards and coordinating interactions among entities at various management levels. They are important entities in efforts to safely and effectively manage water-related hazards in the region.

Pharmed. System Manual: Hololens Application, Eden Woldeselassie

Systems Manuals - 2026

This document provides the full life cycle of PharmEd HoloLens. PharmEd stands for Pharmacy Education. The overall document will go through the complete system manual by going over requirements, followed by design, how to install the application, how to upload the application to Microsoft store, troubleshooting and source code. The first section will explain the background, the existing problems and why the need to develop PharmEd.  Here techniques of requirement gathering and some statistics will elaborated. The following section discusses about functional requirements. The requirement section includes subtopics: functional and nonfunctional requirements for both -programmer and end user- and the …

Robot Remote Control Utility, Jeremy Cantu, Paul Uhlig

Systems Manuals - 2026

The purpose of this document is to describe the Robot Control Management Utility developed in the course of this graduate project. Information included in this document will include the background of the developed product, as well as the functional requirements, data structures, software modules, interface design, installation guide, and sample and troubleshooting guides.

E Classroom+, Ami B. Jariwala

Systems Manuals - 2026

A software platform that enhances many processes correlated with learning is called a learning management system (LMS). It is also known as a management software package that enables the delivery of learning content, resources and activities and also that handles the correlated administration operations. In classrooms, today, teachers, are being commenced with convenience to remodel learning from a traditional transmission model to a student-centered model where students are mostly responsible for their learning. The research conveys that in order to remodel learning, schools require to support a student-centered approach where students can be supported in finding, analyzing, organizing, evaluating, internalizing, …

Kta System Manual, Cayden Garcia

Systems Manuals - 2026

The purpose of this document is to explain the ins and outs of KTA. This includes but not limited to:

- The problem that colleges face when it comes to data analysis and collection

- The history of data analytics at a collegiate level

- Software and hardware requirements for KTA – Developer and User

- The overall design of KTA, how the software is structured and how the stack interacts with one another

- How to install KTA on your machine

- Sample Sessions – including issues that the user may run into and how to fix them

Smart Atm, Majid Hakeem

Systems Manuals - 2026

The Smart ATM is a new system that goal is to create a new experience for ATMs users by creating a different way of using the ATM. It would protect users from germs and bacteria. Instead of using buttons and touch screens, the main input for this system will be the motion sensor. To specify, the system uses Microsoft Kinect, which is the motion sensor for the Xbox One.

This document is a user guide, which is intended to give assistance to users for using the Smart ATM. This document contains an application overview, list of user requirements, the design …

Idioma Tutor, Oralia Mijares

Systems Manuals - 2026

The Idioma Tutor was developed specifically for individuals who desire to learn English through a non-traditional approach, eLearning. Idioma Tutor is an interactive game designed to strengthen individual’s English language adaptation, using an individual-learner approach. The game uses immediate feedback to provide self-analysis for learners. It captivates users and applies best-practices in eLearning and game development to retain and fully engage learners. This system manual outlines provides detailed information for using the Idioma Tutor. This system will be used as a catalyst to support the success of individuals who desire to learn the English language in a fun and interactive …

Solving Rubik's Cube By Using Artificial Intelligence, Polat Coban, Seth Reed

Systems Manuals - 2026

This document will detail a proposal to build a Rubik’s cube simulator, and a Rubik’s cube solver. It is broken into several sections which in turn are broken into subsections.

Data-Driven Characterization Of Counties In The Prison Industrial Complex Using Clustering Analysis, Riley N. Tuccio

Capstone Projects

This project investigates the complex relationship between counties that house prisons in the United States and the rurality associated with them. The central research question explores how both county characteristics, such as variables corresponding to cost of living and demographics of a county, and prison characteristics, such as programming available to inmates and staffing levels, differ across the census-designated rural-urban distinctions. Furthermore, the study examines whether modern data science methods can more accurately define and distinguish these characteristics, providing a nuanced understanding of the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) and its manifestation across various American communities. The motivation for this research …

Exact X2 Statistic Critical Values For Dice Fairness Testing, Warren Campbell

SEAS Faculty Publications

Two questions were addressed: 1) What are the exact values of the c² statistic critical values? 2. Does a dice tower offer improved fairness of dice rolls?  Critical values of the statistic asymptotically approach those given by the continuous chi-square distribution, but the exact distribution is discrete.  The exact distributions only asymptotically approach the chi-square distribution, and the convergence is slow (1/number of rolls).  Th exact distributions are a function of the number of rolls, the chi-square distribution is not a function of the number of rolls.  Exact values of c² at the 90, 95, and 99 percent …

Reducing Caregiver Burden In Hospice Care, Aubrey Martin Bsn, Rn

Nurse Residency

In family caregivers of adult hospice patient’s, does a nurse-led support program, compared with usual hospice education, reduce caregiver burden?

Building Community Leadership Capacity Through Extension Partnerships: An Evaluation Case Study, Paul A. Hill, Lendel K. Narine

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This evaluation study examines the effectiveness of the Leadership Dixie program in enhancing leadership capacity among participants in Washington County, Utah. As a program partner, Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted the evaluation on the program’s 25th class, comprising 27 participants (N = 27). The program, characterized by 10 monthly “Challenge Day” field tours, was evaluated using two instruments to collect data on participant learning and satisfaction levels, overall program experience, demographics, and impacts on social capital, interpersonal leadership skills, community engagement, and volunteerism. Results indicate strong positive outcomes in social capital, community engagement, and volunteerism while highlighting areas for …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Community-Based Prenatal Education Program On Maternal Knowledge And Intentions In Utah, Aaron T. Hunt, Jenna Dyckman, Kaylee Cox

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Maternal and infant health in the U.S. has worsened, with rising rates of maternal mortality, gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, and infant mortality. Prenatal education is a proven strategy to improve outcomes, yet many expecting parents rely on unvetted information or lack access to reliable resources. To address this gap, a pilot prenatal education program was implemented through Utah State University Extension to improve knowledge, attitudes, and intentions related to breastfeeding, nutrition, mental health, and other key topics. The program consisted of 3 1-hour, evidence-based workshops incorporating lectures and interactive activities. A retrospective pre-post survey was completed by 28 pregnant participants …

Affirming Farmer Assets And Visions: Results From A Pilot Appreciative-Inquiry-Based Asset-Mapping Workshop, Andrew R. Smolski, Elisabeth Ramsey, Cathy Royal, Michael Schulman

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension Services and non-profit farm advocacy organizations assist farmers through network development and resource referrals to access information and services needed to operate resilient farms. One method for building networks and assessing existing resources is through participatory asset-mapping tools to document community strengths. In this research brief, we describe the results of a pilot study to test, evaluate, and refine an asset-mapping tool based on Appreciative Inquiry principles. Our goal in the pilot project was to assist the assembled farmers in identifying objectives for a sustainable future and understanding the existing set of resources that would empower them toward …

A Comparison Of Regional Food Systems And Food Security In Rural Mississippi And Italy, Reinhard M. Knerr, Athan M. Gregory, Anne Cafer

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

In the Mississippi (MS) Delta, more than 40% of residents are food-insecure despite predominantly agricultural land use. We hypothesized that limited social networks and non-navigable food market systems constrain MS producers, limit market viability, and hinder regional food sovereignty. This ethnography compared rural Italian and Mississippian food systems through semi-structured interviews of food producers, processors, and marketers. We described differences in social networks between groups that led to differential capacities to share capital and to overcome producer and labor constraints. We also described key differences in governmental and Extension support of local food systems. Finally, we provided suggestions for addressing …

Making Digital Connections: Extension Educators’ Perceptions And Use Of Qr Codes, Kobina D. Fanyinkah, Jefferson D. Miller, Casandra Cox, Will Doss

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While Extension educators recognize the potential of digital tools for outreach, there are still barriers to adoption, effective implementation, and acceptance. The goal of this study was to evaluate Extension educators’ perceptions concerning quick-reponse (QR) codes in outreach activities, including their effectiveness, integration, and barriers faced when using them. The study used a qualitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews of twelve Extension professionals purposely sampled from the Ozark region of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Participants perceived the effective use of the technology to be related to their target clients’ age and technological proficiency. Additionally, Extension professionals reported …