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Cultivating financial literacy in the next generation of agricultural producers in Central Texas : a single case study exploration of learning strategies and resources.
No full textYoung and beginning farmers and ranchers (YBFRs) in Central Texas do not possess adequate financial literacy to support their long-term viability as producers (Bumcrot et al., 2013; Urban et al., 2020), potentially resulting in an inadequate supply of food producers (Glick et al., 2014; Griffin et al., 2020; Katchova & Ahearn, 2017). Without sufficient financial acumen, these YBFRs are in danger of not persisting as agricultural producers creating a shortage in the next generation of agricultural producers to produce the nation’s food and fiber supply. I sought to explore how self-regulating YBFRs in Central Texas develop financial literacy to support their persistence as agricultural producers.
Bandura’s (1991) social cognitive theory of self-regulation served as the framework for this study, with a focus on the three principal subfunctions: self-monitoring, self-judgment, and affective self-reaction. I designed this qualitative single-case study to gain a deep understanding of the experiences of YBFRs with developing financial literacy and the perceived impact that experience had on their persistence as agricultural producers. I recruited participants from Capital Farm Credit’s borrowers through purposive sampling, including homogeneous, chain, and criterion sampling. Participants met the definition of Young (less than 35 years old) and Beginning (less than 10 years of experience owning an agricultural operation). I collected data through semi-structured, on-farm interviews and a focus group session.
There were three key findings of this study. First, while YBFRs’ mentors and family helped them learn to monitor their financial behaviors they became self-reliant due to their experiences and independent research. Second, while YBFRs utilized technology-based tools to judge their financial behaviors through self-comparison, they also valued the use of self-reflection of their happiness and the satisfaction of transferring knowledge to the next generation. Finally, while YBFRs’ admitted that fear from risk influenced their affective self-reaction to challenges, they built resilience through overcoming challenges motivated by the desire to build an agricultural operation to leave to their successors. The implications of this study will shape outreach and programming efforts for YBFRs in the Farm Credit System and future research on YBFR financial literacy
The navigational strategies of women students of color facing imposter phenomenon in campus leadership positions at a predominately White institution.
No full textIn this paper, I examine the navigational strategies employed by women students of color in campus leadership positions to mitigate feelings of imposter phenomenon. Using the framework of possible selves, this study explores how students' aspirations for their future selves motivate their actions within their leadership roles. By analyzing participants' symbolic interactions with their environments and communities, four key themes emerged: relying on trusted communities for support, finding safe spaces to build confidence and get involved, viewing faith/religious beliefs as one’s guiding identity, and striving to leave a legacy of positive change. The implications of this study highlight the critical role of cultural communities and the harmful effects of ongoing political attacks on DEI initiatives, which can undermine students' confidence and exacerbate experiences of imposter phenomenon
The injustice that permeates : survival and resistance in rural Alabama during the civil rights era.
No full textThis dissertation examines rural Alabama during the civil rights era from the perspective of the majority of Black Alabamians who chose not to participate in activism. Despite dominant national narratives of the civil rights movement, the simple fact is that most Black people in the region chose not to join activist efforts, and yet historians have yet to fully tell their story. By examining economic, social, and political conditions in this heavily agricultural region, I argue that concerns over financial stability, familial protection, and commitment to place resulted in activism avoidance that has been acknowledged but unexamined in studies of the civil rights movement. Though Black women and men in the area were certainly interested in seeing political change, the threat of economic retaliation and displacement inflicted by wealthy whites and white landowners deterred resistance. Instead of engaging in activist efforts, most Black women and men primarily sought to survive in a region that, for all its hostility and complexity, was their home. Ultimately, this dissertation aims to take seriously historian Pete Daniel’s observation that narratives of a “successful civil rights movement…leveled mountains of conflict and ignored valleys of despair."
Religious motivations, service attendance, and self-regulatory virtues : a self-determination approach.
No full textReligion, especially service attendance, has been proposed to cultivate the virtues of self-control (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009) and patience (Schnitker & Emmons, 2007). Self-determination theory provides a framework for understanding how religious behaviors may or may not be internalized (Hardy et al., 2022). This study investigates the temporal relations between religious motivations, service attendance, self-control, and interpersonal patience. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to estimate between-person and within-person effects (Hamaker et al., 2015) among 610 undergraduates at four measurement occasions six months apart. Between-person, external motivation was negatively associated with self-control only; introjected motivation was negatively associated with service attendance and self-control, but not patience; and identified motivation was positively associated with attendance, self-control, and patience. Within-person, external motivation negatively predicted subsequent patience, and patience negatively predicted subsequent external motivation; attendance positively predicted subsequent introjected motivation; and identified motivation positively predicted subsequent attendance
Navigating text data mining training for humanities librarians : a microcredential case study from Baylor University.
No full textAs humanities librarians, supporting researchers with digital humanities methods like text data mining (TDM) in their research and teaching is vital. However, when contemplating the number of available TDM tools, both novice and experienced humanities librarians can become overwhelmed. How do humanities librarians know which text-mining tools are appropriate to learn in order to meet research needs? With finite time and a seemingly endless number of tools, how can we prioritize the training we need? How can we match tools to specific research questions? In this chapter, the humanities librarians at Baylor University present two evaluative rubrics created at our library that engage these questions as well as examples of how we structure our training and the types of projects we have supported
Evaluating the MyPATHH app : an examination of the engagement and efficacy of a mobile device application to support post traumatic growth and mental health.
No full textVeterans and First Responders are exposed to high occupational hazards resulting in increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD diagnoses have high comorbidity with other disorders such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicide risk elevations. Many treatments for PTSD are focused on symptom reduction but fail to include supports for important aspects of the lives of military veteran and first responders. These aspects include social support systems, addressing stigma from self or others, and existential factors such as purpose and meaning in life and service to others. The Boulder Crest Foundation has developed the Warrior PATHH program based on post-traumatic growth (PTG) theory that aims to help trauma survivors from these populations by promoting growth in the aftermath of trauma and reducing PTSD associated symptoms. This study evaluates the MyPATHH mobile app which supplements the Warrior PATHH program for student engagement and support. Four subsamples from a total sample of 510 students of the program were retrospectively evaluated for veteran and first responder social engagement and engagement with a 90-day training course. Outcomes of interest included post-traumatic growth, depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress symptom severity. Results of the studies revealed differences in response and engagement with the app between first responders and veterans, as well as differences in outcomes following access to the mobile application in these two populations
Effects of hypereutrophication and imbalanced nutrient stoichiometry on phytoplankton community composition and biogeochemical processes in lakes.
No full textNitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability play a critical role in shaping freshwater ecosystems by influencing biogeochemical cycling, primary production, and phytoplankton stoichiometry and community composition. This dissertation explores how N:P stoichiometry affects eutrophic lake dynamics through a multi-year, fully replicated mesocosm experiment with an extreme N:P treatment gradient. First, we investigated eutrophic lakes’ ability to transition from proximate N limitation to ultimate P limitation due to N accumulation from N2 fixation. Despite substantial N2 fixation in low N treatments, phytoplankton biomass remained N-limited, and reactive N did not accumulate over multiple years. These findings challenge assumptions that N2 fixation alone can alleviate N limitation in eutrophic lakes. Next, we examined how resource N:P stoichiometry influences seston carbon (C), N, and P composition. We found that seston C:N:P ratios aligned with the Redfield ratio (C106:N16:P molar) under N-limited conditions, demonstrating that the Redfield ratio may not serve as an accurate nutrient limitation threshold in freshwater ecosystems. Overall, we observed that seston N:P was more constrained relative to the extreme N:P supply. Lastly, we analyzed how extreme N:P imbalances influence phytoplankton community dynamics. The high N:P treatments had greater phytoplankton biomass and increased cyanobacteria dominance, including toxin-producing genera, particularly in mid and late summer. These results suggest that eutrophic lakes with high N:P stoichiometry are more susceptible to toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Collectively, these studies provide new insights into the impacts of ecosystem N:P stoichiometry. Understanding these dynamics is critical for predicting ecosystem responses to N and P enrichment and imbalance to better inform nutrient management strategies for freshwater ecosystems
Sexual immune dimorphism in ecological context : the impact of estrogen on human immune function and development of bacteria killing assay.
No full textSexual immune dimorphism refers to differences in immune function between males and females, shaped by hormonal, genetic, behavioral, and evolutionary factors. This dissertation examines these differences through an ecological and evolutionary lens, focusing on the role of estrogen in immune modulation and the development of a bacteria killing assay to assess innate immunity in human saliva. Females generally exhibit stronger immune responses than males, providing advantages in pathogen defense but increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases. Males, in contrast, have higher susceptibility to infections, influenced by the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. These patterns align with life history theory, which suggests that reproductive investment and immune function are shaped by trade-offs between survival and reproduction. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on exogenous estrogen exposure reveal that estrogen enhances inflammation, regulates cytokine production, and influences both innate and adaptive immunity. This hormonal modulation is critical for understanding sex differences in disease susceptibility and immune resilience. Empirical data from the Waco COVID Survey further explore sex differences in immune responses, behavioral adaptations, and vaccine hesitancy. Another study on unrealistic optimism in disease risk perception highlights how sex-based differences in immunity influence health behaviors. To advance methodological approaches, this dissertation introduces a bacteria killing assay using human saliva, providing a non-invasive tool to measure innate immune function. This method facilitates assessments of immune variability across reproductive stages, hormonal profiles, and environmental conditions. Findings underscore the importance of integrating sex-specific approaches in immunological research, clinical medicine, and public health. By combining evolutionary theory, hormonal analysis, epidemiological data, and methodological innovation, this research advances understanding of immune variability and its implications for human health. These insights reinforce the need for interdisciplinary approaches in studying immune function, considering biological, environmental, and evolutionary influences
Accelerating k-means : novel strategies for algorithm improvement.
No full textClustering is an unsupervised machine learning task. The goal is to group similar points together. The k-means algorithm is one of the most widely used clustering algorithms due to its efficiency and simplicity. In each iteration, it finds a better solution and converges when the algorithm reaches a local minimum.
However, for large datasets, the k-means algorithm can be computationally expensive. The performance of each iteration depends on the number of points n, dimensions d, and requested clusters k. The number of iterations required for convergence depends on the quality of the initialization but can theoretically be superpolynomial in the worst case. Therefore, the k-means clustering algorithm might run for many iterations, with each iteration being slow due to the input parameters. These computational challenges limit the scalability of k-means to massive datasets.
This dissertation reviews existing acceleration techniques and introduces four novel strategies to improve k-means efficiency. We propose methods utilizing dimensionality reduction, loosening the bounds in triangle inequality-based algorithms, and using probabilistic and random skipping. Our approaches reduce the runtime of the k-means algorithm while preserving cluster quality
Development of a shape-memory-alloy-based smart guidewire for biomedical applications.
No full textMinimally invasive surgery has been shown to improve patient outcomes when compared to conventional, open surgical procedures that require a significant incision, decrease tissue damage, reduce procedure times, and improve overall patient outcomes. However, current guidewire technology has limited internal navigability relying on external manipulation of the wire to reposition the guidewire internally. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a group of materials that have the unique ability to recover trained shapes through heating after mechanical deformation. Nitinol, a type of one-way SMA, has high biocompatibility as shown through its use over decades as a self-expanding cardiac stent. The use of a smart guidewire made of Nitinol has the potential to provide greater internal control for arterial navigation. Current technology also utilizes X-ray fluoroscopy to locate the wire internally during endovascular navigation. This imaging modality produces ionizing radiation, is expensive, and requires a clinical setting. By utilizing ultrasound for wire localization, procedures can become safer by reducing or eliminating ionizing radiation, portability is increased for more rural or battlefield applications, and financial costs may be reduced. Cochlear implants are surgically inserted devices intended to assist those with hearing loss to understand speech and sound. Currently, an electrode array that is surgically placed within the cochlea is not fully inserted, both to preserve the remaining delicate function of the structure of the ear and because of the difficulty navigating the tight spiral shape of the cochlea. Utilization of a shape memory alloy guidewire trained to a coil shape can assist in increasing the insertion depth of the array. This dissertation focuses on the feasibility of using shape memory alloys, specifically Nitinol, as smart guidewires for the application of improved arterial navigation for minimally invasive surgery and to achieve increased insertion depth of cochlear implant electrode arrays. For arterial navigation, the feasibility of ultrasound as a localization modality is demonstrated, and for cochlear implants, the focus is on the training and development of a guidewire in the unique spiral shape of the cochlea