Digital Commons Network^™

Quantification Of Eccentricity In Stems Of Two Species Of Purshia, Lance S. Evans

Western North American Naturalist

Plants of Purshia tridentata and Purshia stansburyana, 2 shrub species from the western United States, naturally display eccentric stem growth. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively document stem eccentricity for these 2 species. Stem segments were obtained from 3 different plants of each species at locations in central Utah. Each stem was sawed into 8-mm sections and photographed for analysis. Every stem section was then marked at a 36° interval to produce 10 wedge-shaped sectors. The areas of each sector were determined and analyzed. Stem segment areas were about 40, 60, and 100 mm² for stem …

Whole-Genome Sequencing-Based Phylogeny, Antibiotic Resistance, And Invasive Phenotype Of Escherichia Coli Strains Colonizing The Cervix Of Women In Preterm Labor., Marvin Williams, Alyssa B. Jones, Amanda L. Maxedon, Jennifer E. Tabakh, Cindy B. Mccloskey, David E. Bard, Daniel P. Heruth, Susana Chavez-Bueno

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is a major neonatal pathogen and the leading cause of early-onset sepsis in preterm newborns. Maternal E. coli strains are transmitted to the newborn causing invasive neonatal disease. However, there is a lack of data regarding the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of E. coli strains colonizing pregnant women during labor.

METHODS: This prospective study performed at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center (OUHSC) from March 2014 to December 2015, aimed to investigate the colonization rate, and the phylogeny, antibiotic resistance traits, and invasive properties of E. coli strains colonizing the cervix of fifty pregnant women diagnosed with …

2021-12-03 Minutes Of The Executive Committee Of The Academic Senate, University Of Dayton. Academic Senate. Executive Committee

ECAS Minutes

Approved minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate of the University of Dayton.

The Nutritional Profiles Of Five Important Edible Insect Species From West Africa—An Analytical And Literature Synthesis, Jacob P. Anankware, Benjamin J. Roberts, Xavier Cheseto, Isaac Osuga, Vincent Savolainen, C. M. Collins

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Undernutrition is a prevalent, serious, and growing concern, particularly in developing countries. Entomophagy—the human consumption of edible insects, is a historical and culturally established practice in many regions. Increasing consumption of nutritious insect meal is a possible combative strategy and can promote sustainable food security. However, the nutritional literature frequently lacks consensus, with interspecific differences in the nutrient content of edible insects generally being poorly resolved. Aims and methods: Here we present full proximate and fatty acid profiles for five edible insect species of socio-economic importance in West Africa: Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), Musca domestica (house fly), Rhynchophorus …

A New Approach To Transportation Pricing: Lessons From The Poem Project, Shoshana Cohen, Emma Sagor

PSU Transportation Seminars

In October 2021, Portland City Council accepted the Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility (POEM) report. This was the culmination of 18 months of work by the POEM Task Force, a group of 19 volunteer community members who explored whether pricing tools—or charges related to driving or using road space—could be used to improve mobility, reduce climate impact, and make our transportation system more equitable. More information is available at Portland.gov/POEM.

At this seminar, POEM Project Managers Shoshana Cohen and Emma Sagor from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will share how this project took on the topic of …

Choir Christmas Concert, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2021-2022

Experience a festive garland of heartwarming carols such as Cameron Roses’ Infant Holy and selections from John Rutter’s Gloria, Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. The centerpiece of the Christmas concert includes Z. Randall Stroope’s Magnificat, Shawn Kirchner’s setting of Brightest and Best, Paul Stookey’s Christmas Dinner arranged by Stephen Zork, and the reverent symphonic setting of See Amid the Winter’s Snow by Dan Forrest. The concert, presented in a collaborative purpose by instrumentalists and vocalists from the Department of Music, is designed to inspire you to serve those that Jesus Christ came to save.

The Effects Of An Authentic Collaborative Project On University Directing Students’ Learning Experiences, Nur Hilyati Ramli, Safia Najwa Suhaimi, Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan

The Qualitative Report

This phenomenological study reports an authentic collaborative project between students of acting and directing (AD) and students of Teaching English as Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in University Sains Malaysia (USM). The project, which is integrated and infused with features of authentic learning and creative drama education, aims to provide the AD students with new learning experiences that are authentic in nature and that focuses on their abilities to direct a full theatre performance. Using qualitative data collection methods (i.e., online reflections and open-ended items), the study identified and determined six meaningful learning experiences that the 29 AD students gained: …

Gene Dosage Effects Of Poly(A) Track-Engineered Hypomorphs, Geralle Powell, Slavica Pavlovic Djuranovic, Sergej Djuranovic

Open Access Publications

Manipulation of gene activity through creation of hypomorphic mutants has been a long-standing tool in examining gene function. Our previous studies have indicated that hypomorphic mutants could be created by inserting

Using Nasal Povidone-Iodine To Prevent Bloodstream Infections And Transmission Of Staphylococcus Aureus Among Haemodialysis Patients: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Control Trial Protocol, Ana-Monica Racila, Amy O'Shea, Rajeshwari Nair, Kimberly Dukes, Loreen Herwaldt, Linda Boyken, Daniel Diekema, Melissa Ward, Jason Cobb, Jesse Jacob, David Pegues, Susan Bleasdale, Anitha Vijayan, Anubha Mutneja, Mony Fraer, Debra O'Connell-Moore, Pam Tolomeo, Minerva Mendez, Erin Jaworski, Marin Schweizer

Open Access Publications

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 38% of haemodialysis patients carry

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will perform an open-label, stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial to assess the effectiveness of nasal PVI compared with standard care. Sixteen outpatient haemodialysis units will participate in the study. The 3-year trial period will be divided into a 4-month baseline period and eight additional 4-month time blocks. The primary outcome of the study will be

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received IRB approval from all study sites. A Data Safety and Monitoring Board will monitor this multicentre clinical trial. We will present our results at international meetings. The study …

Social Needs, Chronic Conditions, And Health Care Utilization Among Medicaid Beneficiaries, Amy Mcqueen, Linda Li, Cynthia J. Herrick, Niko Verdecias, Derek S. Brown, Darrell J. Broussard, Rachel E. Smith, Matthew Kreuter

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Messiness Of (De)Coloniality: An Autoethnography Of The Cross-Cultural Researcher, Amber Kelley

The Qualitative Report

In this paper I explore the complexity of psychological cross-cultural research, particularly noting the ways in which cross-cultural mental health research and the global mental health movement are still driven by Western conceptualizations of mental health. By taking up decolonial theory through autoethnographic methods, I consider the responsibility, ethics, and tensions in conducting cross-cultural mental health research, particularly as a White researcher with non-White, non-Western participants. Ongoing reflexivity as a researcher and practitioner offers the opportunity to engage in culturally responsive practices that continue challenging the coloniality of Western psychology which can pervade global mental health studies when unchecked. I …

Transforming Problematic Into Positive: Practice-Based Recommendations For Resolving Paradigmatic And Methodological Conflicts In Appreciative Inquiry, Bryan D. Jennewein Phd

The Qualitative Report

Researchers have employed Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in a variety of methodological contexts, in a variety of settings, and toward a variety of outcomes. For practitioners seeking to both identity and amplify the best of what is, AI has been a sort of multi-functional toolset, improving outcomes both small and grand. Amidst this successful history of the application of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), little attention has been given to some of the limitations or even risks of applying its practices to whatever extent and toward whichever outcomes. The models supplied by AI may prove problematic in several ways, among them: ontological realism, …

Studying South African Black Gay Men’S Experiences: A First-Time Researcher’S Experience Of Reflexivity In A Qualitative Feminist Study, Tshepo B. Maake

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research on gay experiences in South African society is slowly gaining momentum. However, it is accompanied by serious ethical implications and positionality dilemmas that should be considered in carrying out such research. Black gay researchers’ discussions of reflexivity in research that focuses on gay identities and realities in South Africa remain minimal. This paper focuses on a first-time gay male researcher’s experience of being reflexive in a qualitative feminist study on the realities of Black gay men in mining workplaces. It highlights the importance of reflexivity and how it is enacted by a gay researcher who studies a gay …

Academics’ Understandings Of The Literacy Needs Of International Graduate Students, Edwin Creely, Raqib Chowdhury, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

This article critically explores the understandings about the English academic literacy needs of international graduate students from the perspective of academic teaching staff in a Faculty of Education at a large Australian university. Research suggests that international graduate students for whom English is another language, on coming to English speaking countries, acquire English academic literacies as part of a complex set of academic competencies needed for successful graduate study. In this study, 16 academic teaching staff participated in focus groups and revealed their understandings and practices about academic literacies in the context of their experiences of working with international graduate …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: November 2021, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Veteran employment trends and statistics among various demographics during November 2021.

Bile Acid Profiling Reveals Distinct Signatures In Undernourished Children With Environmental Enteric Dysfunction, Xueheng Zhao, Kenneth D R. Setchell, Rong Huang, Indika Mallawaarachchi, Lubaina Ehsan, Edward Dobrzykowski Iii, Junfang Zhao, Sana Syed, Najeeha Talat Iqbal, Junaid Iqbal, Kamran Sadiq, Sheraz Ahmed, Syed Asad Ali

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Intestinal inflammation and malabsorption in environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) are associated with early childhood growth faltering in impoverished settings worldwide.
Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify candidate biomarkers associated with inflammation, EED histology, and as predictors of later growth outcomes by focusing on the liver-gut axis by investigating the bile acid metabolome.
Methods: Undernourished rural Pakistani infants (n = 365) with weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) < -2 were followed up to the age of 24 mo and monitored for growth, infections, and EED. Well-nourished local children (n = 51) were controls, based on consistent WHZ > 0 and height-for-age Z score (HAZ) > -1 on 2 consecutive visits at 3 and 6 mo. Serum bile acid (sBA) profiles were measured by tandem MS at the ages of 3-6 …

Classrooms Into Courtrooms, Naomi M. Mann

Faculty Scholarship

The federal Department of Education’s (DOE) 2020 Title IX Rule fundamentally transformed the relationship between postsecondary schools (schools) and students. While courts have long warned against turning classrooms into courtrooms, the 2020 Rule nonetheless imposed a mandatory quasi-criminal courtroom procedure for Title IX sexual harassment investigatory proceedings in schools. This transformation is a reflection of the larger trend of importing criminal law norms and due process protections into Title IX school proceedings. It is especially regressive at a time where calls for long-overdue criminal justice reform are reaching a boiling point across the nation. Its effects are especially troubling because …

Uncoupled Seasonal Variability Of Transparent Exopolymer And Coomassie Stainable Particles In Coastal Mediterranean Waters: Insights Into Sources And Driving Mechanisms, Marina Zamanillo, Eva Ortega-Retuerta, Carolina Cisternas-Novoa, Cèlia Marrasé, Carles Pelejero, Josep Pascual, Josep M. Gasol, Anja Engel, Rafel Simó

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and Coomassie stainable particles (CSP) are gel-like particles, ubiquitous in the ocean, that affect important biogeochemical processes including organic carbon cycling by planktonic food webs. Despite much research on both groups of particles (especially TEP) over many years, whether they exist as distinctly stainable fractions of the same particles or as independent particles, each with different driving factors, remains unclear. To address this question, we examined the temporal dynamics of TEP and CSP over 2 complete seasonal cycles at 2 coastal sites in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, the Blanes Bay Microbial Observatory (BBMO) and the L’Estartit …

Editorial: Biodiversity, Connectivity And Ecosystem Function Across The Clarion-Clipperton Zone: A Regional Synthesis For An Area Targeted For Nodule Mining, Craig R. Smith, Malcolm R. Clark, Erica Goetze, Adrian G. Glover, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean is a vast region of abyssal plains and hills, polymetallic nodule fields, and seamounts. Because of the cobalt, nickel and copper content of polymetallic nodules in this region, the CCZ is targeted for deep-seabed mining. In order to safeguard seafloor biodiversity and ecosystem functions across the region in the event of mining, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in 2012 designated nine 400×400 km no-mining areas, called Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs) (Wedding et al., 2013). The APEIs were designed based on environmental correlates of biodiversity and ecosystem function to …

Inflection Points, Kinks, And Jumps: A Statistical Approach To Detecting Nonlinearities, Peren Arin, Maria Minniti, Samuele Murtinu, Nicola Spagnolo

All Works

Inflection points, kinks, and jumps identify places where the relationship between dependent and independent variables switches in some important way. Although these switch points are often mentioned in management research, their presence in the data is either ignored, or postulated ad hoc by testing arbitrarily specified functional forms (e.g., U or inverted U-shaped relationships). This is problematic if we want accurate tests for our theories. To address this issue, we provide an integrative framework for the identification of nonlinearities. Our approach constitutes a precursor step that researchers will want to conduct before deciding which estimation model may be most appropriate. …

An Assessment Of Disaster Preparedness In The Libraries Of South-Western, Nigerian Universities, Modupe Aboyade, Funmilola Susan Kolajo, Sunday O. Popoola Prof, Priscilla Abike Agbetuyi, Michael Adekola Adetunji

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper examines the extent of disaster preparedness in libraries of three South-western Nigerian universities. The survey research method was adopted, randomly administering on a ratio of 1:1:2:3, eighty (80) copies of the questionnaire to staff members of four university libraries. A 73% response rate was recorded and simple frequency tables, Likert Scale aided with summative indexing and Chi square test were used for analyzing the collated data. Four research questions were answered with three universities selected for the population study. There were fifty-eight respondents, made up of 30 males (51.7%) and 28 (48.3%) females.Disaster Likelihood Index (DLI) was used …

To Scrutinize The Status Of Library Staff In The High School Libraries In Goa, Pravin Vasant Kamat Mr., Shambhavi Nikhil Joshi Mrs., Nikhil Arvind Joshi Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Few studies have reported the status of high school libraries from Goa. Keeping the importance of early education the present study highlights major issues through qualitative as well as quantitative methods. This study focuses on the library staff of High school libraries, their qualification and pay scale. Librarians in High schools are often treated as non–teaching staff and are given office-related clerical work. The authorities have shown negligence in setting up the required standards for High school libraries in Goa. No proper guidelines are formed which could help librarians to develop their school library. It was found that the majority …

Tis The Season, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

‘Tis the season. . .for? Money, Money, Money.

Islamist Terrorism And The Classical Islamic Law Of War, Joseph Hoelz

International Law Studies

Islamist terrorists have had a large influence on U.S. foreign and domestic policy for more than twenty years, and yet policy makers, legal practitioners, and the public know very little about what motivates these violent extremist organizations. A primary unifying principle among the various Islamist terrorist groups is their desire to return to a religiously ordered State, justified and based upon their interpretation of the Shari’a, or Islamic law. This article explores the Islamist terrorist interpretation of Shari’a law and how it generally contradicts that of mainstream Islamic scholars. The article begins with a review of the primary and secondary …

Lean On Me(Dia): Helping Pre-Service Teachers To Recognize The Value Of Media Integration Partnerships In The K-6 Classroom, Brittany E. Kiser, Kelly A. Burlison

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Seasoned educators know that media specialists regularly support classroom teachers, though far too few new teachers are aware of this partnership opportunity. This presentation will consist of an interactive session in which the performance responsibilities and overlap of the classroom teacher and library media specialist are discussed, with specific attention paid to implementation in the pre-service environment. Presenters will showcase various examples of pre-service teacher work and insights, using media to complement and supplement existing curriculum, which foster an emphasis on student voice and student choice through the use of various media technologies. Session participants will engage in hands-on activities, …

Using The Behaviour Change Wheel Program Planning Model To Design Games For Health: Development Study, Michael C Robertson, Tom Baranowski, Debbe Thompson, Karen M Basen-Engquist, Maria Chang Swartz, Elizabeth J Lyons

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Games for health are a promising approach to health promotion. Their success depends on achieving both experiential (game) and instrumental (health) objectives. There is little to guide game for health (G4H) designers in integrating the science of behavior change with the art of game design.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to extend the Behaviour Change Wheel program planning model to develop Challenges for Healthy Aging: Leveraging Limits for Engaging Networked Game-Based Exercise (CHALLENGE), a G4H centered on increasing physical activity in insufficiently active older women.

METHODS: We present and apply the G4H Mechanics, Experiences, and Change (MECHA) …

Multi-Objective Optimisation Of The Benchmark Wind Farm Layout Problem, Pawel L. Manikowski, David J. Walker, Matthew J. Craven

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Wind farm layout optimisation has become a very challenging and widespread problem in recent years. In many publications, the main goal is to achieve the maximum power output and minimum wind farm cost. This may be accomplished by applying single or multi-objective optimisation techniques. In this paper, we apply a single objective hill-climbing algorithm (HCA) and three multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (NSGA-II, SPEA2 and PESA-II) to a well-known benchmark optimisation problem proposed by Mosetti et al., which includes three different wind scenarios. We achieved better results by applying single- and multi-objective algorithms. Furthermore, we showed that the best performing multi-objective algorithm …

The Effect Of Cellulase On Cell Wall Structure And The Rumen Digestion Of Timothy Silage, A. Aniwaru, T. Ishida, T. Watanabe, K. Tomiyama, H. Terui, K. Ataku, L. E. Chase

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of additives on the structure changes of related tissues during the ensiling process and the rumen digestion of timothy. In the first cut-timothy, the addition of LC+AC improved the fermentation qualities of the silage. Addition of cellulase resulted in significant decreases in NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose content. SEM examination of the samples suggests that the degradation of parenchymal tissues was enhanced by the cellulase, but no significant differences were observed among the additives in the rumen digestion. The NDF and cellulose digestibility of the AC- and LC+AC-treated silages were …

Quality Of Ammoniated Brachiaria Decumbens Hay, L. O. Fernandes, Ricardo A. Reis, L. R. A. Rodrigues

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The experiment was conducted at UNESP-Jaboticabal to evaluate the quality of Brachiaria decumbens hays harvested after seed ripening. The hays were submitted to the following treatments: control, anhydrous ammonia (3.0% NH₃ in the DM), and urea (5.0% in the DM). The chemical composition, digestibility and the performance of steers were evaluated using a complete randomized block design with three treatments and six replications. The ammoniation either with NH3 or urea increased (P< 0.05) the CP content, and the IVDMD. The NH₃ treatment reduced (P < 0.05) the contents of NDF and ADF, and the urea application reduced (P < 0.05) the contents of hemicellulose and lignin. The ammoniation did not affect (P > 0.05) the neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen, and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen values. Steers receiving Brachiaria hay plus soybean meal (1.08 kg DM.day), hay …

Ensiling Of Different Legumes Compared To Grass, S. Slottner, C. Rammer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to examine the ensiling characteristics of four different forage legumes: galega (Galega orientalis), lucerne (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense), and compare these with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), using different additives. The crops were mowed using a sickle bar mower and chopped using a precision chop harvester. The crops were ensiled either direct cut or wilted to 35-45% DM. Wilting took place on a barn drier. Forages were ensiled either untreated or with addition of formic acid, Promyr or …