Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Organic Seed Systems: Directions For Extension Programming In Northeast Seed Systems, Megnot Mulugeta, Daniel Tobin, Carina V. Isbell

Journal of Extension

Despite the importance of seed availability to food and agriculture, seed systems have received scant attention within Extension research and practice. To address this gap, we designed a participatory needs assessment revolving around the 2021 Northeast Organic Seed Conference to assess individuals’ experiences within Northeastern organic seed systems and their opinions concerning their resource access, challenges, and sense of empowerment. Based on a post-conference survey, our findings suggest that Extension’s future efforts should focus on facilitating partnerships between and among community-based/non-profit seed groups, at-home gardeners, seed companies, university researchers, and legal scholars to promote equity and inclusion.

Extension Professionals Support Agricultural Education Career Awareness, Rebecca Mott, John Tummons, Jon C. Simonsen, D.A. Cletzer, Jaelyn Peckman, Seth Plaugher

Journal of Extension

The Covid-19-induced moratorium on campus visits allowed faculty from University of Missouri’s Agricultural Education & Leadership (AEL) program and Missouri Extension time to reconsider our campus visit structure and be more purposeful in our recruitment efforts. We organized a showcase to expose high school students to career paths and help them understand how our program could help prepare them for career success in the formal agriculture classroom, Extension, or the agriculture. We urge extension professionals to consider how they can be involved with events that raise students’ awareness about career opportunities while simultaneously recruiting the next generation of extension employees.

Relational Dynamics Following Divorce: Evaluation Of An Online Co-Parent Education Program, J. Kale Monk

Journal of Extension

I sought to investigate the potential efficacy of an online divorce and co-parent education program. Across 9-years of evaluation data for the Focus on Kids online program, participants (N = 6,679) reported a high degree of program satisfaction. According to pre-post test reports, average knowledge of how to support children across the divorce transition increased. Participants also increased in their intention to avoid engaging in behaviors that are distressing for children. Overall, this study provides evidence for the efficacy of online divorce education and provides support for the advancement of online programming as a promising avenue for Extension more …

California 4-H Computer Science Education Pathway, Steven M. Worker, Roshan Nayak, Fe Moncloa

Journal of Extension

Young people need digital competency and confidence to effectively harness computing power to solve problems and design solutions; a core component is improving young people’s computational thinking. Unfortunately, access to computer science education is lacking for all youth, and in particular for youth who live in lower-income households, who are Black or Latino, or live in rural areas. With funding from Google, through the National 4-H Council, California 4-H embarked on a three-year project to build the capacity of 4-H professionals, volunteers, and teenagers to facilitate computer science education with youth. Our programming was effective as assessed with survey methodology. …

Feminine Language For God In The Hebrew Bible And The Implications For The Image Of God In Women, Shanté Grossett O'Neal

Masters Theses

Genesis 1:27 affirms that God created males and females in his image, suggesting that there are both masculine and feminine aspects to God's nature. Despite this, evangelical Christians often emphasize God's masculine attributes and minimize God's feminine qualities. This thesis seeks to promote awareness of the feminine language for God in the Hebrew Bible and to consider its implications for understanding the image of God in women. The research begins with a historical overview of feminist and evangelical scholarship on language for God, as well as an introduction to the Conceptual Metaphor Theory and its application in Biblical Studies. The …

Cornus Officinalis Extract Activates The Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway And Delays T1d Onset In The Nod Mouse, Justin D. Fletcher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disorder that results in the destruction of the insulin producing pancreatic β cells. The only therapeutic option following T1D clinical onset is exogenous insulin supplementation. At present, there is no cure for T1D and attempted interventional therapy has been focused on modulating the immune system. Few attempts have been pursued at preserving β cell function and survival. Here we provide a novel approach using extract from the fruit of the Cornus officinalis (CO) tree to preserve β cell function through the prevention of β cell stress. CO has been used in traditional Chinese …

Bilateral Tensor Fascia Suralis Muscles And Unilateral Accessory Biceps Femoris Muscle: A Cadaveric Case Study, Makayla M. Swancutt, Jared M. Hailey, Jennifer F. Dennis

Student Publications

Purpose This study reports the findings of bilateral tensor fascia suralis muscles (TFS) and a unilateral accessory muscle belly of the biceps femoris (AMBF) in a 72-year-old female.

Case report The findings were initially identified during educational dissection of the lower extremities by medical students. The AMBF and bilateral TFS were further dissected to identify their origins and insertions. The left TFS (length, 22.83±0.05 cm; width, 6.24±0.14 mm) originated from the biceps femoris long head muscle (BFLH) and inserted onto the crural fascia overlying the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle. The right TFS (length, 114.89 ±0.62 mm; width, 9.82±0.11 mm) …

Interview No. 1787, Antonio Marín

Combined Interviews

Mr. Antonio Marín is a former resident of El Segundo Barrio. Arriving to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico, at the age of 5, he recalls entering for the first time through the Santa Fe port of entry from Ciudad Juárez to downtown El Paso. He and his family first rented a single-room apartment and then moved to a two-room flat in a tenement. Antonio attended Aoy Elementary and Bowie High School. He talks about how Southside El Paso was a segregated community of Mexicans and Blacks, where they would get along well in places like Douglass Elementary. Mr. Marín …

Interview No. 1789, Jorge Peña

Combined Interviews

In this interview, Mr. Jorge Peña describes his childhood living in Ciudad Juárez. Walking to school, playing with other kids on the street, as well as his family are some of the memories he has from these early years. One that stands out is crossing to El Paso to eat at restaurants and go shopping, creating a positive impact in his desire to cross the border in the future. When the time came for Jorge to enter high school, he came to El Paso to live with an aunt. He then attended Irving High School, went to El Paso Community …

The Perceptions Of Elementary Teachers In An Inclusive Classroom Environment Related To Their Teacher Preparatory Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Jevauwn D. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe elementary general education teachers’ perceptions of teaching in an inclusive classroom environment related to their teacher preparatory programs while teaching in a public school setting in a rural southeastern state. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which describes how an individual will approach a task based on their level of competence and readiness. The central research question was: How do general education teachers describe their level of preparedness for inclusive education based on their teacher preparatory programs? This study used a transcendental phenomenological design to gain insight …

Trust And Its Implications For Trauma, Casidhe C. Daniels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trust presents as a complex and frequently misunderstood building block. While people often demonstrate an inherent belief that trust is naturally engrained in others, adverse life events and traumatic experiences can alter a person’s level of trust. Trust has the ability to change and become redefined. This can occur in a negative manner when trauma is incurred. While the individual’s is often innocent because of the challenges they have experiences, successes, failures, and traumatic events develop an ability to trust others and to what degree they face the lingering implications and diagnoses result.

Character: The Flame Of Writing, Madison Kate Stagner

Masters Theses

The Keeper: A Ring’s Promiser follows three parallel plots; two reside in the present, the other in the past. The knowledge revealed in one increases the precariousness of the other. While in the very beginning, these three perspectives were intended to volley within one book, the course has evolved. Due to this becoming a series, the plots will intertwine slower than intended. The introduction of the others will be woven later than intended. In this first novel, the reader will follow the dynamic journey of a young Amara Knightfall. The soon-to-be queen, Elaraina Wastereon, will be tied into the plot …

Optical Imaging To Investigate Neurovascular Injury, Repair, And Disease, Ryan Michael Bowen

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Local neural circuitry and global neural networks in the brain are often investigated using mesoscopic, hemodynamic imaging such as optical intrinsic signal (OIS) imaging or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), relying on oximetric signals as proxies of neural activity. However, the tight neurovascular coupling that ties regional changes in blood flow to changes in neural activity in normal states can be severely disrupted in disease states. I show that neurovascular coupling is significantly interrupted in mouse models of Cantu syndrome, a rare disease caused by gain-of-function mutations in ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Such marked disruptions in neurovascular coupling in disease …

Leveraging Permutation Testing To Assess Confidence In Positive-Unlabeled Learning Applied To High-Dimensional Biological Datasets, Shiwei Xu, Margaret E. Ackerman

Dartmouth Scholarship

Compared to traditional supervised machine learning approaches employing fully labeled samples, positive-unlabeled (PU) learning techniques aim to classify “unlabeled” samples based on a smaller proportion of known positive examples. This more challenging modeling goal reflects many real-world scenarios in which negative examples are not available—posing direct challenges to defining prediction accuracy and robustness. While several studies have evaluated predictions learned from only definitive positive examples, few have investigated whether correct classification of a high proportion of known positives (KP) samples from among unlabeled samples can act as a surrogate to indicate model quality.

Michael Cook An V. Ivins City : Brief Of Appellee, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appellate C ase No.: 20230768-CA Trial Court Case No.: 220500679

Honorable Keith C. Barnes

Debra Jean Ream, Appellant V. Jacob Ream, Appellee : Brief Of Appellant, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appeal taken from the orders entered by Judge Derek P Pullan in the Fourth Judicial District Court of Utah County, Case Number 230400484

Ryan J. Schriever, Daniel G. Shumway, Attorneys for Appellant

Leveraging Integrated Rna Sequencing To Decipher Adrenomedullin's Protective Mechanisms In Experimental Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Fabian Theis, Lukas M Simon, Binoy Shivanna

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease commonly affecting premature infants, with limited therapeutic options and increased long-term consequences. Adrenomedullin (Adm), a proangiogenic peptide hormone, has been found to protect rodents against experimental BPD. This study aims to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which Adm influences BPD pathogenesis using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced model of experimental BPD in mice. Bulk RNA sequencing of Adm-sufficient (wild-type or Adm+/+) and Adm-haplodeficient (Adm+/−) mice lungs, integrated with single-cell RNA sequencing data, revealed distinct gene expression patterns and cell type alterations associated with Adm deficiency …

State-Level Reimbursement Parity And Adoption Of Telehealth Services By Health Services Organizations, Sabrie Jalisa Satterwhite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to investigate payment parity as a significant barrier in telehealth adoption by health services organizations (HSOs) in the United States. Ambulatory services have been a preference for Medicaid and Medicare and private payers. However, telemedicine is a platform that presents massive potential in expanding access and quality of care, while boosting healthcare management by significant margins. This study was conducted to explore how reimbursement parity impacts HSO adoption of telehealth services. The micro-meso-macro analytical framework for understanding patient-reported outcomes was used as the theoretical foundation for the project. The research question sought to establish if there …

Residential Older Adults’ Experiences Related To Mental Health From Covid-19 Isolation, Heidi Beth Lubetkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many illnesses afflicting older adults in U.S. communities, including mental health wellness. Since 2020, at the inception of the pandemic, older adults living in residential settings, including assisted living and skilled nursing homes, experienced harsh limitations in their everyday lives. The conditions included prolonged periods of isolation and reduced interactions between caregivers and loved ones. Therefore, it is important to understand the experiences of older adults living in facilities and their ability to adapt to the environment. The research question addressed in this study gained insight into the effects of mandated isolation on older adults. Using …

Assessing If Culture Contributes To African American Absence In The Accounting, Angelette Jones Mercier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African-Americans currently represent less than 3% of all US accountants. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory the purpose of this study is to explore if African American culture leads to the accounting career being a less attractive business career option. In analyzing various research studies, one researcher suggested employing various tactics, including mentorship and recruitment in lower income areas to counteract this unevenness. Debates on whether the lack of exposure to accounting as a career option or the overall reputation of accounting in light of highly publicized scandals may have exacerbated the problem. The research question addressed if cultural mores …

Fspde: A Full Stack Plausibly Deniable Encryption System For Mobile Devices, Jinghui Liao, Niusen Chen, Lichen Xia, Bo Chen, Weisong Shi

Michigan Tech Publications

In today’s digital landscape, the ubiquity of mobile devices underscores the urgent need for stringent security protocols in both data transmission and storage. Plausibly deniable encryption (PDE) stands out as a pivotal solution, particularly in jurisdictions marked by rigorous regulations or increased vulnerabilities of personal data. However, the existing PDE systems for mobile platforms have evident limitations. These include vulnerabilities to multi-snapshot attacks over RAM and flash memory, an undue dependence on non-secure operating systems, traceable PDE entry point, and a conspicuous PDE application prone to reverse engineering. To address these limitations, we have introduced FSPDE, the first Full-Stack mobile …

The Pause: Impacting Moral Distress In Our Caregivers, An Integrative Review, Bethany Corinne Furman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral distress is endemic to healthcare in the emerging post-covid era. Moral distress is defined as the knowledge of the correct or ethical action but the repeated inability to act in that manner. First studied in nursing, it has been found in nearly every facet of healthcare and is strongly associated with clinician burnout, intent to leave position, and behaviors that can in turn compromise patient safety. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses experience moral distress at higher rates than other subspecialties. Prevention of and recovery from moral distress is complex, but various forms of debriefing have long been suggested to …

Lived Experiences, Perceptions, And Caregiving Trajectories Of Family Caregivers Of Youth With Substance Use Disorders (Suds) In Zambia, Ireen Manase Kabembo

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

There is unequivocal evidence that family caregivers contribute to healthcare systems worldwide by providing care for persons with chronic illnesses in the home setting. his study explores the lived experiences, perceptions, and caregiving trajectories of 30 family caregivers of youth aged 16-24 diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) in Zambia. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, a caregiving timeline, and participant observation and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Guided by the integrated theoretical framework of positioning theory and the theory of caregiving dynamics, this study offers a new lens for understanding caregiver’s experiences regarding caregiver identity, self-perceptions, interpersonal relationships, …

Catching The Unlikely Gambler : How And Why Gacha Games Appeal To Conscientious Consumers, Jingyi Zhang

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Gacha games, often featuring Japanese anime-style characters and designs, are characterized by their eponymous gacha mechanics, wherein players obtain random virtual items using in game currency purchasable with real-world money. While scoring significant market success, gacha games are frequently likened to gambling by critics due to their chance-based purchase system. Despite this gambling-like feature, here we identify a paradoxical attraction of gacha games for individuals high in conscientiousness, a trait typically linked to self-discipline and gambling aversion. Through five behavioral experiments involving actual gacha game players, we consistently found that higher conscientiousness correlates with increased gacha game engagement, as captured …

Asset-Building Policy And Black Reparations: Effective Delivery And Wealth Accumulation, Trina R. Shanks, Jin Huang, William Elliott, Haotian Zheng, Margaret M. Clancy, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

Discussions of reparations focus on who should pay reparations, who should receive them, and how much should be paid, but there is much less consideration of the delivery design. Drawing upon children’s account research, particularly evidence from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment, and insights from the implementation of Child Development Account (CDA) policies, this brief summarizes options for delivering reparations, discusses the policy model for delivering CDAs, and elaborates that model’s implications for the structure of a reparations policy.

For a fuller treatment of these matters, see “A Policy Platform to Deliver Black Reparations: Building on Evidence from Child …

Editorial For "Parallel Cnn-Deep Learning Clinical-Imaging Signature For Assessing Pathologic Grade And Prognosis Of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients", Pegah Khosravi

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Cognitive Impairment On Driving Behaviour And Route Choices Of Older Drivers: A Real-World Driving Study, Reihaneh Derafshi, Ganesh M Babulal, Sayeh Bayat

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Maintaining driving independence is important for older adults. However, cognitive decline, a common issue in older populations, can impair older adults' driving abilities and overall safety on the roads. This study explores how cognitive impairment influences driving patterns and driving choices among older adults. We analyzed real-world driving patterns of 246 older adults using GPS dataloggers. Our sample included 230 cognitively normal older adults (CN; Clinical Dementia Rating

The Impact Of Social Stress And Alcohol Intoxication On Cognitive Processes Among College Students With Heavy Episodic Drinking, Caroline R. Scherzer

LSU Master's Theses

College students with high social anxiety and heavy episodic drinking appear to consume alcohol more frequently and at greater quantities, presumably because individuals with higher trait social anxiety may be more responsive to the stress-response dampening effects of alcohol in social contexts due to appraisal disruption and activation of implicit social cognitions. However, little work has tested this hypothesis within a controlled lab-based setting. The current study tested whether the sequence of alcohol intoxication and induction of an anticipatory social stressor interacts with trait social anxiety to predict changes in anticipatory social anxiety, craving, implicit drinking identity, and implicit self-esteem. …

Robots, Markets, And The Value Of Deal Lawyers, Heather Hughes

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Emerging forms of automation using artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledgers are raising transformative questions for the practice of law. Deal lawyers are well-situated to understand the convergence of various modes of automation and their implications for their clients and the markets they facilitate. This Article contends that digesting threats and leveraging opportunities associated with new technologies calls for granular, context-specific assessment. It presents one instance of automation in one predominant market—the market for asset-backed securities (ABS)—by comparing securitization to a blockchain-based analog, tokenization. It considers how lawyers support the ABS market and how automation of lawyers’ functions could intersect …

Microglial P2y6 Calcium Signaling Promotes Phagocytosis And Shapes Neuroimmune Responses In Epileptogenesis, Anthony D Umpierre, Bohan Li, Katayoun Ayasoufi, Whitney L Simon, Shunyi Zhao, Grace Thyen, Jiaying Zheng, Yue Liang, Dale B Bosco, Mark A Maynes, Zhaofa Wu, Xinzhu Yu, Jaeyun Sung, Aaron J Johnson, Yulong Li, Long-Jun Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microglial calcium signaling is rare in a baseline state but strongly engaged during early epilepsy development. The mechanism(s) governing microglial calcium signaling are not known. By developing an in vivo uridine diphosphate (UDP) fluorescent sensor, GRABUDP1.0, we discovered that UDP release is a conserved response to seizures and excitotoxicity across brain regions. UDP can signal through the microglial-enriched P2Y6 receptor to increase calcium activity during epileptogenesis. P2Y6 calcium activity is associated with lysosome biogenesis and enhanced production of NF-κB-related cytokines. In the hippocampus, knockout of the P2Y6 receptor prevents microglia from fully engulfing neurons. Attenuating microglial calcium signaling through calcium …