13251 research outputs found
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It’s Still Hot in Here: Exploring the Relationship Between Incentivization and Climate Related Behaviors to Combat Climate Change
No full textConsumer behavior continues to play a centralized role in the anthropogenic (i.e., human) factors causing exponentiated rates of climate change at a global scale. The present study utilized a mixed-method research design which combined components from both quantitative and qualitative research. The purpose of the mixed-methods study was to examine the extent to which self-monitoring and incentivization through extra credit in a graduate psychology course would impact participants pro or anti-climate behaviors using two commercially available applications. In the primary study, eight participants selected from a graduate psychology course at Missouri State University completed a combined intervention including self-monitoring of climate related behavior using two commercially available applications. Following the two weeklong baseline phase, extra credit was provided contingent upon improved performance in a changing criterion design across participants. After the intervention phase, a follow-up qualitative interview was completed with all eight participants, to obtain the perspectives of the participants about different components of the research study. A three-tiered thematic analysis was conducted. Three major themes emerged throughout the analysis: (1) barrier to reducing emissions, (2) behavioral influence, and (3) influence of values. Results provide implications for future research, and limitations as well as potential avenues for future research are discussed
High performing ensemble of convolutional neural networks for insect pest image detection
No full textPest infestation is a major cause of crop damage and lost revenues worldwide. Automatic identification of invasive insects would significantly speed up the recognition of pests and expedite their removal. In this paper, we generated ensembles of CNNs based on different topologies (EfficientNetB0, ResNet50, GoogleNet, ShuffleNet, MobileNetv2, and DenseNet201) optimized with different Adam variants for pest identification. Two new Adam algorithms for deep network optimization based on DGrad are proposed that introduce a scaling factor in the learning rate. Six CNN architectures that vary in their optimization function were trained on the Deng (SMALL), large IP102, and Xie2 (D0) pest data sets. Ensembles were compared and evaluated using several performance indicators. The best performing ensemble, which combined the CNNs using the different Adam variants, including the new ones proposed here, competed with human expert classifications on the Deng data set and achieved state of the art on all three insect data sets: 95.52% on Deng, 74.11% on IP102, and 99.81% on Xie2. Additional tests were performed on data sets for medical imagery classification that further validated the robustness and power of the proposed Adam optimization variants. All MATLAB source code is available at https://github.com/LorisNanni/
A Democratic Norm Endures January 6th: Congress and Deference to States’ Election Certifications
No full textCongress rarely overturns elections to either of its chambers. legislators tend to follow a norm of deference to election results lawfully submitted by states. This norm is longstanding and is the product of the Constitution, federal law, and habit. Yet, on January 6, 2021, our national legislature flirted with violating that norm and denying the presidency to Joseph Biden based upon spurious claims of electoral fraud. Fortunately, legislators from both parties forged strong majorities to uphold the norm, and subsequently reaffirmed it during Congress\u27 review of a disputed Iowa congressional election. Viewing both these events closely reveals both that those who would discard or uphold a norm argued from within the American democratic tradition, and that partisan calculations were paramount
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Apocalypse
No full textSome forms of vaccine hesitancy may have roots in religious beliefs about future apocalyptic events. Such beliefs engender fear of centralized governmental authority as manifest in public health mandates involving vaccines or masks. The author’s upbringing as a religious survivalist provides perspective on why some people display vaccine hesitancy. Several ways to address these fears are discussed
Modulation of Electrocochleography Responses by Contralateral Broadband Noise in Young Adults
No full textWhile it is known the auditory efferent system contains two distinct subgroups – the medial olivocochlear nucleus (MOC) and the lateral olivocochlear nucleus (LOC) – not much is known regarding the function of the LOC in humans. This study aims to evaluate the effect of activating the lateral olivocochlear (LOC) neurons via contralateral broad band noise (CBBN) on electrocochleography responses. A ten-minute time-blocked paradigm was utilized to evaluate both the slow and fast effect of the LOC neurons. Recordings were obtained at four points within this ten-minute block both with and without the presence of 50 dB SPL CBBN to observe the difference in action potential (AP) amplitude and latency using three different stimulus presentation rates (11.1, 58.59, and 97.66 clicks/second). Significant enhancement of the AP amplitude was observed at all rates when CBBN was present. This finding supports the theory that the LOC does function to modulate afferent auditory responses in humans
A Nation of Priests: Authority, Expertise, and the Religious Nones
No full textMuch of recent scholarship on the nones and the spiritual but not religious attempts to understand them through the concept of authority. Often scholars argue that authority has left traditional American religious institutions and that the nones are self-authorized in terms of religion. Scholars often make these claims without considering what self-authorization means. This thesis shows that attributing authority to the self is problematic and aims to provide another lens through which to view the nones. The better approach is to view the nones as experts rather than authorities. Thus, this thesis argues that the nones are religious experts. Furthermore, the thesis argues that the nones have a claim to religious expertise equal to that of institutional religious experts
Further Investigation of the Initiating Mechanism of the Type I Collagen Glomerulopathy
No full textThe progressive accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins in the renal mesangium results in fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, and eventual renal failure. Mice deficient in integrating α2(I) collagen into the type I collagen structure, termed Col1a2-deficient mice, model kidney fibrosis through the condition Type I Collagen Glomerulopathy, because homotrimeric type I collagen accumulates extracellularly in the mesangium of renal glomeruli. Accumulation of homotrimeric type I collagen compresses blood vessels in glomeruli, which reduces filtration, increases pressure, and results in fibrosis. Picrosirius red (PSR) staining was used on Col1a2 deficient and wildtype mice to evaluate collagen deposition. Histological evaluation and lesion scoring of kidney sections demonstrates that in comparison to wild-type mice, Col1a2-deficient homozygous mice exhibit abnormal glomerular collagen deposition. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was then used to explore initiating factors of the Type I Collagen Glomerulopathy in Col1a2 deficient and healthy mice. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) contribute to wound healing, differentiating blood and vascular tissues, repairing blood vessels, and growth of mesenchymal cells. PDGF isoforms are commonly involved in fibrosis, especially in kidneys. Using IHC, PDGF-B and PDGF-D were used to explore a relationship between Type I Collagen Glomerulopathy and these isoforms. PDGF-B was found in glomeruli and tubules of diseased tissues, while PDGF-D was only found in tubules of diseased kidneys. This relationship between PDGF-B and glomerulopathy could lead to therapeutic developments to block the deposition of collagen and limit the progression of conditions that result in renal fibrosis
Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan Derivatives Intended for Gene Delivery Applications
No full textChitosan has been studied as a non-viral vector capable of efficient gene delivery due to its favorable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and is non-toxic to mammalian cells. Incorporating electrostatic interactions in non-viral vectors enhance the vector permeability. This work focuses on two parts. Firstly, cationic chitosan derivatives were synthesized using quarternary ammonium and phosphonium groups. This was achieved by coupling carboxylic acid ligands with these quarternary groups to chitosan through an amide bond. The carboxylic acid ligands were synthesized from 4-methylbenzoic acid and either triethyl phosphine or triethyl amine. The ligand was then attached to chitosan through an amide bond using hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC). These compounds were then analyzed with 1H NMR and FT-IR analyses to determine the extent of incorporation of triethylammonium and triethylphosphonium groups into the chitosan backbone. Electrostatic interactions between these compounds and pDNA were studied using agarose gel electrophoresis. At charge ratios of 4:1 N+:P- or P+:P-both triethyl ammonium and triethyl phosphonium compounds complex with DNA. The second part of the work focuses on previously synthesized derivatives N(1carboxybutyl-4-triethylammonium chloride) chitosan and N(1-carboxybutyl-4-triethylphosphonium chloride) chitosan. These compounds were also studied using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and circular dichroism. These compounds were also PEGylated to aid in stability in aqueous media. The size of DNA/polymer complexes were between 140-340 nm at varying concentrations. Zeta potentials showed complete complexation after a weight ratio of 3:1 of polymer to DNA was achieved. Circular dichroism measurements revealed that at weight ratios at 4:1 of polymer to DNA that conformational changes of the DNA would occur. This work aims to investigate the newly synthesized compounds as viable gene therapy candidates capable of enhanced affinity towards nucleotides as well as further studying previously synthesized compounds for their efficiency towards complexing with DNA
Qualitative Comparison of the United States and United Kingdom Healthcare Systems
No full textThe United States and United Kingdom healthcare systems vary based on their public access, financial dependence, health outcomes, gross domestic product, and much more. The systems have continued to grow with different focuses of importance in the quality of care that is being distributed to their populations. The U.K. universal healthcare system represents their value of accessibility and affordability, while the U.S. privatized system(s) represents their value of economic growth. The study provided a qualitative analysis of the systems\u27 differences by integrating real world experiences and perceptions of the systems from individuals that have encountered and interacted as a patient in both the U.K. and the U.S. models. Participants had lived in each country for at least one year and recruitment was conducted by a snowball method. An interview guide was used to structure each interview, and were recorded, transcribed and analyzed via a phenomenological approach. Participants identified main themes of wait-time differences, financial relief and financial burden variances, and a need for growth within each system. The quality of care received was shown to be dependent on the prioritization of accessibility, affordability, and availability of the individuals interviewed