5257 research outputs found
Sort by
EXPLAINING PENSION TRENDS AND RECENT PENSION PERFORMANCE
No full textDue to significant unfunded liabilities, many employer-sponsored retirement plans both domestically and internationally are shifting away from defined benefit (DB) pension plans to defined contribution (DC) plans. This is especially the case in private industry. Many expected that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause the funding status of DB plans to worsen. However, the opposite occurred. This is primarily due to decreased life expectancies and improved financial market performance. We utilize a 2004-2021 dataset that contains state level GDP, revenue, pension, and life expectancy data to study U.S. state DB pension plans. We are able to explain over 80% of the variability of pension funding status. Despite the recently improved funding status of DB plans, they remain underfunded. The overall trend away from DB retirement plans and toward the use of DC plans is likely to continue
The Success Equation: Scaling the PIVOT Framework for STEM & Healthcare Student Success
No full textStudent success in STEM and healthcare increasingly depends on intentional design of equitable, scalable pathways that integrate structured programming, immersive experiential learning, and modern workforce-aligned upskilling. This manuscript introduces the PIVOT Framework— Pathways, Innovation, Vision, Opportunity, and Transformation—as a comprehensive, evidencedriven model for reimagining student success strategies in STEM and healthcare education. The framework emphasizes early engagement, longitudinal support, and competency-based preparation, ensuring students develop the skills and professional identities necessary for success. Drawing from a range of high-impact practices—including paid internships, research-based learning experiences, mentoring structures, digital skills integration, and stackable credentialing—the manuscript demonstrates how coordinated institutional strategies improve persistence, accelerate career readiness, and expand representation in the STEM and healthcare workforce. By centering equity, adaptability, and cross-sector collaboration, the PIVOT Framework offers a scalable model for institutions seeking to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving global workforce
Collaborative Governance: Promoting Farmland Ownership Among Racial Minorities in Maryland
No full textThis study aimed to understand how Collaborative Governance processes have been used to promote farmland ownership among racial minorities in Maryland. The ownership of farmland within the state of Maryland has been influenced by historical, political, and social dynamics, specifically those pertaining to racial and cultural minorities. The study attempted to gain clarity on this topic by incorporating a mixed-methods research methodology that included narrative interviews and an online survey. Over 200 potential participants were identified using internet-based sourcing, including personal websites, social media pages, and farming-related publications. However, only five participants completed the narrative interview portion of the study, while just eight online surveys were completed. The qualitative analysis of interviews and the quantitative analysis conducted on the online survey found that responses between the two data collection instruments were closely aligned. Central themes that emerged from the data analysis process were: obstacles and challenges, collaboration with others, farming assistance programs, and collaborative governance. Ultimately, this demonstrated that the farmland ownership experiences of racial minority farmers in Maryland may be characterized by a variety of obstacles and challenges while also showing significant involvement in collaborative governance processes. Due to the small number of farmers willing to participate in the study, these findings develop a baseline understanding of potential perspectives, but cannot be generalized across the entire population of racial minority farmers in Maryland
Plagiomnium cuspidatum (Woodsy Thyme-Moss)
No full textPlagiomnium cuspidatum (Woodsy Thyme-Moss)
4/2/2019
Group: Bryophytes
Type: Mosses
Family: Mniaceae Notes
Common Names: Woodsy Thyme-Moss; Baby Tooth Moss; Woodsy Leafy Moss
Years Noted: 2007; 2019; 2020; 2022; 2024
Identified and First Noted By: Spencer Ruston
Also Noted By: Nur Ritter; Paige Vermeulenhttps://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/gna_bps_bry/1102/thumbnail.jp
Orthotrichum strangulatum (Drummond Moss)
No full textOrthotrichum strangulatum (Drummond Moss)
2/17/2020
Group: Bryophytes
Type: Mosses
Family: Orthotrichaceae Notes
Common Names: Drummond Moss; Strangulate Orthotrichum Moss; Shy Bristle Moss
Years Noted: 2019; 2020
Identified and First Noted By: Nur Ritter
Comments: Growing on boulders in the Gordon. Noted occasionally in the forest south of Stadium Road.https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/gna_bps_bry/1121/thumbnail.jp
Rhizomnium punctatum (Dotted Thyme Moss)
No full textRhizomnium punctatum (Dotted Thyme Moss)
4/23/2020
Group: Bryophytes
Type: Mosses
Family: Mniaceae Notes
Common Names: Dotted Thyme Moss; Red Penny Moss; Dotted Leafy Moss
Years Noted: 2019; 2020
Identified and First Noted By: Nur Ritterhttps://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/gna_bps_bry/1111/thumbnail.jp
Polytrichum ohioense (Ohio Haircap Moss)
No full textPolytrichum ohioense (Ohio Haircap Moss)
2/18/2020
Group: Bryophytes
Type: Mosses
Family: Polytrichaceae Notes
Common Names: Ohio Haircap Moss; Oak Haircap Moss
Years Noted: 2007; 2020
Identified and First Noted By: Spencer Ruston
Also Noted By: Nur Ritterhttps://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/gna_bps_bry/1143/thumbnail.jp
Sea Turtle Turning
No full textData are for the analysis of the kinematics of turning by juvenile sea turtles
The Effects of Prenatal Alcohol and Nicotine Exposure on Later-Life Drug-Seeking Behavior and Memory Performance
Full text linkAlcohol and nicotine are the two most commonly consumed licit substances among pregnant individuals, and the potential consequences of prenatal exposure to each drug include a variety of neurological and behavioral alterations. These may include an increased likelihood of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) and/or cognitive impairments later in life. However, 30% of pregnant individuals who report consuming alcohol also report consuming nicotine, yet the potential consequences of combined prenatal exposure are not understood. Furthermore, 40% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned, meaning that drug exposure most commonly occurs during the first trimester. However, there is limited research investigating whether combined prenatal exposure to alcohol and nicotine may exacerbate behavioral alterations more than individual prenatal exposures, particularly with early pregnancy exposure alone. This study examined whether co-exposure to alcohol and nicotine via electronic cigarettes during the first trimester increases drug-seeking behaviors and/or impairs memory performance more than individual exposures using a rat model. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to alcohol, nicotine, the combination, or an e-cigarette vehicle from gestational days (GD) 5-11, mimicking the human first trimester. Following birth, adolescent offspring were examined for nicotine-seeking behaviors using a self-administration vapor paradigm. Offspring were also examined for memory performance using a novelty object recognition paradigm during both adolescence and adulthood. Results indicated that neither prenatal alcohol and/or nicotine via e-cigarettes altered drug-seeking behaviors, although females exhibited more drug-seeking behaviors compared to males. Additionally, combined prenatal exposure did not alter memory performance in either adolescence or adulthood
Food and alcohol disturbance norms and behaviors: Examining their association and the role of gender
Full text linkFood and alcohol disturbance (FAD) is a behavioral pattern that consists of compensatory behaviors, such as dietary restriction and exercise, which are used in conjunction with alcohol consumption. Despite growing research on FAD, its relationship with descriptive social norms and gender differences remains underexplored, particularly in non-college adult populations. The present study examined the prevalence of FAD behaviors, their associations with descriptive norms, and potential gender differences in these relationships. Using a broad-age adult sample recruited through Prolific (n = 727), item-level FAD descriptive norms were analyzed to determine their specific relationship with FAD behaviors. FAD descriptive norms were measured using a descriptive norms questionnaire adopted from Hill and Ruark (2022), and FAD engagement was measured using the Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS; Rahal et al., 2012). Findings suggest that individuals who perceive FAD behaviors as common in their social circles are more likely to engage in them, with exercise and calorie restriction emerging as the most frequently perceived norms. Gender differences were observed for the perception of calorie-related norms, with women perceiving these behaviors as more common than men. These results highlight the need for targeted norm-based interventions to address FAD engagement and its associated risks