Digital Commons Network^™

A Directory Of Threat Assessment Models, Amber Seaward, Zoe Marchment, Paul Gill

Reports, Projects, and Research

• Threat assessment is a process of identifying, assessing, and managing threats of targeted violence prompted by warning behaviors.
• Threat assessment is an evolving field with no singular guidebook that can cover the range of settings to which it is applied.
• Therefore, there are many different practical models of threat assessment implementation.
• This directory reviews how threat assessment is practically implemented in various settings, by systematically reviewing case study literature that describes the structure and operations of existing threat assessment teams and models.
• The directory compiles information on 27 threat assessment models which cover a range of harms within educational settings …

Clinical Mycology Today: Emerging Challenges And Opportunities, Jessica Little, Adriana M Rauseo, Julio C Zuniga-Moya, Andrej Spec, Peter Pappas, John Perfect, Todd Mccarthy, Ilan S Schwartz

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium is a collective of clinicians, researchers, and educators with the common goal to advance awareness, diagnosis, and management of invasive fungal diseases. Clinical Mycology Today, the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium's biennial meeting, is dedicated to discussing the most pressing contemporary issues facing the field of clinical mycology, promoting clinical, translational, and basic science collaborations, and mentoring the next generation of clinical mycologists. Here, we review the current opportunities and challenges facing the field of mycology that arose from discussions at the 2022 meeting, with emphasis on novel host risk …

Negotiating Police Reform, Cynthia Alkon

Faculty Scholarship

In the summer of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, the national conversation around police reform intensified and was part of a conversation with students at Texas A&M University School of Law. Students wanted more discussion and teaching about police, police misconduct, police reform, and defunding the police. Following those discussions, I created a simulation on local level police reform that, as of this writing, I have used twice in my negotiation class. Simulations are helpful teaching tools in a variety of settings, including law schools. Simulations can be particularly useful to help students discuss difficult topics in different …

Estimating The Potential Value Of Msm-Focused Evidence-Based Implementation Interventions In Three Ending The Hiv Epidemic Jurisdictions In The United States: A Model-Based Analysis, Benjamin Enns, Elvin H Geng, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Improving the delivery of existing evidence-based interventions to prevent and diagnose HIV is key to Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States. Structural barriers in the access and delivery of related health services require municipal or state-level policy changes; however, suboptimal implementation can be addressed directly through interventions designed to improve the reach, effectiveness, adoption or maintenance of available interventions. Our objective was to estimate the cost-effectiveness and potential epidemiological impact of six real-world implementation interventions designed to address these barriers and increase the scale of delivery of interventions for HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in three …

Communication, Electrodes, Appropriateness Setup, And Education (Cease) Bundle Implementation In The Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Tina J. Garcia Miller

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

An estimated 85-99% of alarms in the intensive care unit (ICU) do not require nursing intervention. This overabundance of non-actionable alarms can contribute to sensory overload and is a significant factor in alarm-related safety events. The aim of this project was to reduce the prevalence of non-actionable alarms through the implementation of an evidence-based alarm management bundle. The CEASE Bundle, a comprehensive five-step protocol encompassing Communication, Electrodes, Appropriateness, Setup, and Education, was implemented in an 11-bed surgical intensive care unit. Continuous alarm data was collected for 12 weeks before and 12 weeks after the implementation of the bundle for comparative …

Language Discrimination Using Bilingual Picture Exchange For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, River Waits

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Recent research suggests that one-fifth of United States households use non-English languages in the home setting. Ethically and effectively supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) clients (e.g., autistic individuals) presents a growing challenge to practitioners of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Though efforts to address the linguistic needs of the population have grown in recent years, current literature focuses on language selection for monolingual services and underemphasizes the need for bilingual service provision. Studies were conducted to (I) evaluate the efficacy of bilingual picture exchange (i.e., mand response) across items, speakers, and languages (i.e., English and Spanish) as well as (II) …

The Effect Of Season On Neuroendocrine Interactions In The Mare, Victoria N. Bailey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Reproductive seasonality in the mare involves various neuroendocrine modulations, and a series of experiments were conducted to investigate the anatomical and physiological roles of some of these seasonal modulators. The first experiment incorporated kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) into a treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) and sulpiride, aiming to induce early cyclicity in seasonally anovulatory mares. Incorporation of Kp10 resulted in more mares ovulating earlier compared to mares receiving EB-sulpiride. Although plasma prolactin increased in both groups, concentrations were notably higher in Kp10-treated mares. Therefore, the subsequent experiment explored the anatomical interaction of kisspeptin and prolactin, aiming to determine whether kisspeptin may regulate …

The Hoof Inside Out: A Comprehensive Investigation About The Shoe Configuration Effects On The Behavior Of The Equine Hoof, Rita Aoun

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The equine hoof is a unique organ in biology that has intricate elastic properties. From simple protection to therapeutic and corrective measures, horseshoes are widely used in the equine industry. Various types of shoeing have been designed and used based on their unique targeted functions following hoof care. Shoes can modify the gait of the horse, affect the alignment of the distal joints, and alter stress and strains on specific hoof regions. The objective of this dissertation is to provide an overview of the available research on the existing methodology and literature on the effects of shoeing on equine gait …

Skilled Labor Shortage In Construction: Deep Dive Of Impactful Factors And Influential People Of The Decision-Making Process, Nicholas B. Hardy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The skilled labor shortage is well documented from a historical perspective via studies focusing on various construction trades such as carpentry, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and tile setters. Causes of such shortages such as industry image, college as a preferred choice after high school, and construction being a last resort have been investigated extensively. Consequently, possible solutions ranging from amplifying shop classes in high school to intensifying recruiting efforts for union training programs have all been addressed throughout the last 40 years. However, recent studies have focused on identifying the magnitude and reach of the skilled labor gap while limited attention …

A Serial Mediation Model Of Depression And Drinking Motives Underlying Problem Drinking Among Hispanic College Women Following Rape, Michiyo Hirai, Laura L. Vernon, Andrew E. Dials

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Problem drinking and depression are common following sexual assault. The current study applied a coping motives model of drinking and examined the association between rape experiences and problem drinking serially mediated by depression symptoms and coping-depression drinking motives among Hispanic college women. A total of 330 college women were classified into a single rape experience (SGL) group (n = 44), a multiple rape experiences (MLT) group (n = 70), and a no sexual assault experience group (n = 221). Participants completed self-report measures online. Serial mediation analyses with multi-categorical predictors found that significantly increased alcohol consumptions in …

Writing About A Stressful Experience Can Impair Visual Working Memory, Colton Hunter, Grant S. Shields

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Acute stress has been well-established to impair working memory. However, less is known about how writing about an unresolved stressor may influence working memory or working memory processes. We addressed these issues in the present study (N = 282) by randomly assigning participants to write about an unresolved stressful experience (stressful writing condition or the events of the previous day). We then both measured performance on a change detection task and used computational modeling to estimate the processes underlying performance: attention, capacity, and guessing bias. We found that, relative to the control condition, writing about a stressful experience impaired …

Cognitive Control Training With Domain-General Response Inhibition Does Not Change Children's Brains Or Behavior, Keertana Ganesan, Abigail Thompson, Claire R Smid, Roser Cañigueral, Yongjing Li, Grace Revill, Vanessa Puetz, Boris C Bernhardt, Nico U F Dosenbach, Rogier Kievit, Nikolaus Steinbeis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cognitive control is required to organize thoughts and actions and is critical for the pursuit of long-term goals. Childhood cognitive control relates to other domains of cognitive functioning and predicts later-life success and well-being. In this study, we used a randomized controlled trial to test whether cognitive control can be improved through a pre-registered 8-week intervention in 235 children aged 6-13 years targeting response inhibition and whether this leads to changes in multiple behavioral and neural outcomes compared to a response speed training. We show long-lasting improvements of closely related measures of cognitive control at the 1-year follow-up; however, training …

John Willie Hill

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Across-Environment Seed Protein Stability And Genetic Architecture Of Seed Components In Soybean, Chengjun Wu, Andrea Acuna, Liliana Florez-Palacios, Derrick Harrison, Daniel Rogers, Leandro Mozzoni, Rouf Mian, Caio Canella Vieira

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The recent surge in the plant-based protein market has resulted in high demands for soybean genotypes with improved grain yield, seed protein and oil content, and essential amino acids (EAAs). Given the quantitative nature of these traits, complex interactions among seed components, as well as between seed components and environmental factors and management practices, add complexity to the development of desired genotypes. In this study, the across-environment seed protein stability of 449 genetically diverse plant introductions was assessed, revealing that genotypes may display varying sensitivities to such environmental stimuli. The EAAs valine, phenylalanine, and threonine showed the highest variable importance …

Evaluating Injury Risk Caused By Potential Drift Of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl Or Quinclorac In Corn, Amar Godar, Jason K. Norsworthy, L. Barber

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Of relevance to the off-target movement of herbicides in Arkansas is the drift of rice herbicides in the state’s agricultural landscape, where aerial application of herbicides is common, raising the prima facie question of the risk of damage to other sensitive crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of corn to postemergence applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl or quinclorac, which were applied directly to the crop at low rates (0.78 or 1.56 to 12.5% of the normal use rate for labeled crops). This was investigated through three site-year field experiments conducted in Fayetteville (2020 and 2021) and Tillar …

Center Of Pressure Velocity And Dynamic Postural Control Strategies Vary During Y-Balance And Star Excursion Balance Testing, Kristen L. Jagger, Brent Harper

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Dynamic postural control (DPC) describes an individual’s ability to maintain balance within their base of support in both anticipatory and reactive balance situations and has been measured using center of pressure (COP) velocity. Common standardized DPC assessments for active adults include the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (MSEBT) and the Y-Balance Test (YBT).

Hypothesis/Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore DPC during performance of the MSEBT, the YBT, and a modified version of the YBT, the MYBT. It was hypothesized that feedback from the YBT/MYBT reach indicator would enhance DPC.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study

Methods

Twenty-one participants …

Moringin, An Isothiocyanate Modulates Multiple Cellular Signalling Molecules In Breast Cancer Cells, Ankit Srivastava, Shruti Mishra, Avadhesh, Anusmita Shekher, Vipin Rai, Anupam Dhasmana, Jayanta Das, Daniele Perenzoni, Renato Iori, Subash C. Gupta

School of Medicine Publications

Highlights

• The cancer patients with changes in Prohibitin (PHB) exhibit significantly reduced ‘overall survival’ in comparison to the cases without alterations in PHB.

• Moringin (MG) is an isothiocyanate that can induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

• MG can trigger depolarization in mitochondrial membrane potential suggesting that MG induced apoptosis involves mitochondria.

• MG can suppress p65 nuclear translocation and can modulate lncRNAs expression in breast cancer cells.

• The activities of MG against breast cancer might result from its ability to modulate multiple cancer-related targets.

Abstract

Prohibitin (PHB) is a pleiotropic molecule with a variety of known functions and subcellular locations. PHB's …

Exosomes Derived From Tumor Adjacent Fibroblasts Efficiently Target Pancreatic Tumors, Saini Setua, Poornima Devi Shaji, Ana Martinez Bulnes, Anupam Dhasmana, Swathi Holla, Nirakar Sahoo, Tripti Saini, Mohammed Sikander, Bilal B. Hafeez, Manish K. Tripathi, Vincent Diego, Meena Jaggi, Murali M. Yallapu, Sheema Khan, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

The application of extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes (EXs), is rapidly expanding in the field of medicine, owing to their remarkable properties as natural carriers of biological cargo. This study investigates utilization of exosomes derived from stromal cells of tumor adjacent normal tissues (NAF-EXs) for personalized medicine, which can be derived at the time of diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound. Herein, we show that exosomes (EXs) derived from NAFs demonstrate differential bio-physical characteristics, efficient cellular internalization, drug loading efficiency, pancreatic tumor targeting and delivery of payloads. NAF-derived EXs (NAF-EXs) were used for loading ormeloxifene (ORM), a potent anti-cancer and desmoplasia inhibitor as …

Abc Efflux Transporters And Solute Carriers In The Early Developing Brain Of A Marsupial Monodelphis Domestica (South American Gray Short-Tailed Opossum), Yifan Huang, Katarzyna M. Dziegielewska, Mark D. Habgood, Fiona Qiu, Ana C. Leandro, Paul D. Callaghan, Joanne E. Curran, John L. Vandeberg, Norman R. Saunders

School of Medicine Publications

This study used a marsupial Monodelphis domestica, which is born very immature and most of its development is postnatal without placental protection. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to identify the expression of influx and efflux transporters (ATP-binding cassettes [ABCs] and solute carriers [SLCs]) and metabolizing enzymes in brains of newborn to juvenile Monodelphis. Results were compared to published data in the developing eutherian rat. To test the functionality of these transporters at similar ages, the entry of paracetamol (acetaminophen) into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured using liquid scintillation counting following a single administration of the drug along with …

The Needless Search For A Founding-Era "Hearsay" Definition, Jeffrey Bellin

Faculty Publications

Modern Confrontation Clause doctrine permits only unconfronted “out-of-court statements that would have been admissible in a criminal case at the time of the founding.” To operationalize this concept, the Supreme Court identifies “testimonial hearsay” as the Clause’s primary concern. Its opinions regularly dive into the historical record to refine what counts as “testimonial” but ignore that record in defining “hearsay.” This omission cannot last. Cases in the lower courts, and one on the Court’s recent docket, concern testimonial but (arguably) non-hearsay statements. And while confrontation jurisprudence is supposed to be tied to founding-era evidence law, the “hearsay” definition, casually referenced …

Deciphering Water Quality And Algal Dynamics In Clear Lake Through Hyperspectral Analysis Using Emit Data, Wenzhao Li, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study evaluates the potential application of hyperspectral Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) remote sensing for monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) and water quality in Clear Lake, California. The research focuses on correlating the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations with EMIT spectral signatures, using waterbody-wide statistical analysis of Chl-a and EMIT data sampling at various lake locations. Results demonstrate distinct spectral signatures associated with varying Chl-a levels, highlighting the potential of hyperspectral imaging in differentiating algae levels and assessing water quality variables. It also indicates the EMIT’s utility in filling data gaps and offering high-resolution monitoring. This study underscores the …

Assessing Rice Phenological Features With Hyperspectral Imaging Insights From Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (Emit), Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In California's Central Valley, water management and crop health, particularly in rice cultivation, are critical. This paper details the application of Earth surface Mineral dust source InvesTigation (EMIT) hyperspectral imaging, specifically employing Spectral Correlation Mapper (SCM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID), for precise phenological analysis. By aligning EMIT data with Hyperion satellite references, we address spectral and geographical discrepancies. Our methodology includes seasonal sampling of spectral curves to capture the phenological stages of rice. Results show a strong correlation (R ² = 0.86) between August EMIT and Reference dataset, emphasizing EMIT's utility in enhancing agricultural practices and water efficiency in …

Digital Threads: Crafting Sustainable Fashion With 3d Printing & Virtual Garments, Aayushree Lama, Lori Wahl

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

The fashion industry annually disposes of 92 million tons of textiles in landfills and is ranked third in the world for emissions. The industry has a projected increase of 50% in global emissions by 2030. Sustainable practices must be explored and implemented to reduce waste and use resources more responsibly. Over-production has resulted in unwanted products that are disposed of before being worn. 3D printing offers a way of producing fantastical digital designs using new approaches to construction as well as the ability to print on demand. This research developed a sustainable method of producing wearable attachments using a combination …

Quantification Of Ampicillin Through Kinetic Exclusion Assay (Kinexa) Technology, Julie Li

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

This work is focused on investigating the utilization of aptamers in conjunction with the Kinetics Exclusion Assay (KinExA) technology for detection and quantification of the antibiotic ampicillin in solutions. To achieve the scientific objectives of this project, I exploited the strong affinity of biotin for streptavidin and functionalized microscopic beads to be utilized as capture elements for fluorescent, free ampicillin aptamers left in equilibrated solutions. To capture single stranded DNA aptamers, the last layer immobilized on the beads comprised single stranded DNA molecules complementary to the aptamer’s sequence. Equilibrated mixtures of a fixed aptamer concentration and variable ampicillin concentrations have …

Survey On Adversarial Attack For Malware Detection, Danny Kim, Md. Mashrur Arifin, Jyh-Haw Yeh

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Malicious software, commonly known as malware, refers to any type of intrusive software designed to perform harmful actions on a computer system. Recently, Machine Learning (ML) techniques have been used to create new malware variants, enabling attackers to generate thousands of previously unseen malware samples. Traditional detection methods, such as signature-based detection, rely on prior knowledge of malware and therefore often fail to identify new variants. This limitation has led cybersecurity experts to increasingly adopt ML techniques for malware detection.

While ML-based approaches have shown promising results by generalizing malware signatures to detect previously unseen malware, they remain vulnerable to …

Transcriptional Investigations Into Neonatal Gut Development Related To Early Feeding, Sierra Keele, Laurel Nuñez, Yimin Chen, Matayah Fox, Jordan Richter, Ben Worthley, Bethaney Fehrenkamp

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Introduction: While numerous correlational studies suggest that human milk (HM) optimizes infant gut development, little is known about the physiological process. To investigate HM's protective mechanisms for intestinal development, we used the neonatal piglet model. The recommended time to exclusively breastfeed an infant is six months, which is equivalent to one month in piglets. We hypothesized that HM-fed piglets would show increased paracellular junctions and reduced inflammatory markers in the intestines compared to infant formula (IF)-fed piglets.

Methods: We reared littermate Yorkshire-duroc piglets for 28 days, assigning them to HM-fed (n=6) and IF-fed (n=6) groups, alongside controls reared on sow’s …

Conservation Of Sagebrush Ecosystems Through Diet Analysis Of An Obligate Species, Kari Felton, Alex G. Hardy, Michael A. Schroeder, Ashley Martwick, Gregory Donald Randolph, Stephanie J. Galla, Jennifer Sorensen Forbey, Stephanie F. Hudon

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an obligate species that depends on sagebrush to survive and serves as an indicator species and umbrella species for the sagebrush ecosystem. The sagebrush ecosystem has been declining rapidly therefore understanding the impacts on Sage Grouse could aid researchers and land managers in best practices to protect the long-term viability of the species, the ecosystem, and 350 other species that depend on it, including humans. One way to understand these impacts is through dietary indicators, such as the availability of preferred forage plants. In the past, this has been done by direct observation, …

In Search Of Rare Earth-Free Magnets: Boron's Impact On The Magnetic Hysteresis Of Mn-Al-Ga Alloys, Nikolas Hall, John Martin, Peter Müllner

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

The transition from a fossil fuel economy to one based on renewable energy has caused a surge in demand for magnets in clean-energy applications, such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. The most powerful magnets currently available rely on rare-earth elements; however, very little mining or processing of these materials occurs in the United States, creating a vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Ferromagnetic alloys of manganese, aluminum, and gallium have emerged as potential alternatives to rare-earth-containing magnets, but they have yet to become commercially viable. Interstitial atoms alloyed in small quantities may hold the key to improving these materials’ magnetic …

Illuminating The Blockchain: Visualizing Bitcoin Transactions, Anomalies, And Dark Web Connections, Ezekiel Pinkerton, Sophia Oyakhire, Gaby Dagher, Steve Cutchin

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

In the evolving cryptocurrency landscape, Bitcoin continues to be a hub for legal and criminal activity. The primary objective of this study is to improve the readability and transparency of blockchain data by creating a comprehensive framework for Bitcoin transaction visualization. Our approach provides crucial insights into possible fraudulent activity by highlighting and identifying irregularities in transaction patterns through the use of refined data interpretation and visualization tools. The system also includes tools for identifying and visualizing transactions connected to the dark web. We aim to show the effectiveness of our technique by revealing hidden patterns and enabling a deeper …

Dobbs And Sterilization Decision-Making: Understanding The Coercive Spillover Effects In Reproductive Choice, Thomas Williams

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

The Supreme Court majority in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization argued their decision would have limited impact beyond abortion rights. This Article examines how Dobbs and subsequent state abortion restrictions are likely to increase women’s reliance on permanent sterilization procedures, particularly among already marginalized populations. Drawing on emerging data and historical context, I argue that some post-Dobbs sterilizations should be understood as effectively coerced by state policies, implicating reproductive justice concerns and potentially undermining fundamental rights established in Skinner v. Oklahoma. Then, I demonstrate how interdisciplinary bioethics frameworks and methodologies can help courts better understand the full implications of …