17179 research outputs found
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Risky Business: Evaluating the Risk of Catfish-Mediated Dispersal of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in Canyon Lake, Texas
No full textZebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are a highly invasive species that pose significant ecological and economic threats to freshwater ecosystems. While human-mediated dispersal, particularly via boats, has been extensively studied, dispersal through biological vectors, such as catfish, remains less understood. Catfish may disperse zebra mussels by consuming them, as zebra mussels can survive passage through their digestive tract at lower temperatures. However, the role of catfish in zebra mussel dispersal has not been studied in Texas. The objectives of this study were to examine (1) the number of zebra mussels in the guts of catfish at different times of the year (February, June, October); (2) seasonal variation in zebra mussel densities in Canyon Lake over the past three years; and (3) evaluate the risk factors for zebra mussel dispersal via catfish by developing a conceptual diagram to identify and assess key drivers of dispersal, including catfish abundance, zebra mussel densities, and environmental conditions. A total of 113 catfish (Ictalurus furcatus and Ictalurus punctatus) were sampled across three periods: February (n = 65), June (n = 27), and October (n = 22). Zebra mussels were only found in the catfish guts in February, with 23% of 30 randomly selected catfish containing at least one living zebra mussel. Of the 9,292 zebra mussels consumed, 40 were found alive (0.4% survival rate), with juvenile mussels between 2 and 10 mm showing higher survival rates. Zebra mussel densities in Canyon Lake were highest during winter and spring of 2023 and 2024 which experienced significant drought conditions in Texas. The risk for zebra mussel dispersal via catfish may be highest in early spring, when juvenile mussels (<10 mm) are most abundant, catfish mobility is increased, and cooler water temperatures support zebra mussel survival through catfish digestion. This study highlights the need for further research to refine risk models to inform effective comprehensive zebra mussel management strategies.Biolog
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed by Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents: A Delphi Study
No full textTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension agents are an integral part of the agency. ANR agents serve agricultural producers in their community by providing easily accessible information and resources. However, ANR agents are prone to experience high turnover rates and job burnout (Ensle, 2005). Currently, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service does not have a very specific or comprehensive list of job-specific competencies for ANR. The purpose of the research was to survey an expert panel of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension staff (n = 15) and compile a list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that ANR agents should possess to succeed on the job. Texas State University IRB approved the human subject research prior to initiation. The Delphi method was utilized, and data was collected via Qualtrics across three rounds. The first round was an open-ended questionnaire that created a list of necessary KSAs. The following two rounds required ANR panelists to rate each KSA’s importance on a 5-point Likert scale and then the third round used a binary system to determine whether each KSA should be retained for the comprehensive list. At the conclusion of the study, the panel of experts reached a consensus on a final list of KSAs. The data was viewed through the lens of the theoretical framework for the study, the competency model theory, which describes the idea of intelligence versus competence. This study could lead to changes within certain institutions in the state of Texas or even across state lines. Extension agents are vital to society and namely to the agricultural community. The more well-prepared the extension agent, the greater outreach of agriculture and research. Recommendations for future research include the utilization of created KSA lists for studies involving current agents or colleges of agriculture. Round 1 provided 95 new hire KSAs and 103 mid-career KSAs, and there were 10 new hire and 13 mid-career categories created using inductive reasoning based on the data. In Round 2, 27 new hire statements and 10 mid-career statements were removed. After Round 3, panelists reached a consensus with a total of 68 new hire KSAs and 27 mid-career KSAs.Agricultural Science
Mental Health in Chronically Ill College Students: Pain Interference and Attachment Style
No full textNo abstract prepared.Family and Consumer Science
Changed perspective: Seeing through the eyes of a child with emotional disorder
No full textNo abstract prepared.Nursin
Beyond Gendered Expectations: Examining Women's Educational Leadership as a Powered Phenomenon
No full textAs women pursue educational leaderships positions, breaking the glass ceiling is a part of the battle to be fought for equity for women. Having a powered approach for leadership development in women creates accessibility into leadership positions. Therefore, this research aims to understand challenges of female superintendents. Specifically, the lived experiences with regards to equity gaps and representation, limited opportunities, and the conflict of work/life balance were researched and further developed through understanding the impact of mindset, leadership styles, and mentorship on the participants' success. The research aimed to investigate factors of success for women in leadership through a phenomenological research lens. A qualitative research design of phenomenology consisted of initial and follow-up interviews with female superintendent participants. The data analysis used Creswell and Poth’s Spiral (2018). This provided a “general contour” for the analysis process.
Overarching themes of failure, vulnerability, gratitude, and forgiveness were seen in the superintendents’ work. To accentuate their leadership, each superintendent revealed their superpower or an area that they view as a catalyst for their work. Finally, they offered future female leaders’ advice in the areas of leadership positions, student development, and personal growth. This works aides in building a systematic power structure for the development of future women leaders.
Future research investigates the impact of mentorship models, strategies for intentional networking, and the identification of leadership superpowers could offer valuable insights for the development of the next generation of female leaders. This exploration of lived experiences creates pathways for future women in educational leadership to succeed.Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psycholog
Effects of a Bovine Appeasing Substance Applied at Estrous Synchronization and the Impacts on Reproductive Performance in Beef Cows
No full textManagement practices induce stress, resulting in impaired growth and reproduction. Therefore, techniques to mitigate stress and its effects must be investigated. One strategy includes administration of a synthetic maternal bovine appeasing pheromone studied to have calming effects on cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a bovine appeasing substance (BAS) applied at estrous synchronization on reproductive stress and pregnancy rates. Multiparous crossbred beef cows (n = 131) were stratified by body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and post-partum interval, then allocated to 1 of 2 pens. Pens were assigned randomly to treatment 1) administered BAS topically to the nuchal skin (5 mL) and poll (5 mL) at estrous synchronization (BAS; n = 71), or 2) control where BAS was not administered (CON; n = 60). BW was recorded on d 0, 7, breeding (d 9 and 10), and 106 to calculate change in BW. BCS was recorded on d 0 and d 106. Estrous synchronization and breeding protocols followed a 7-day-CO-Synch + CIDR combined with heat detection and timed artificial insemination (AI). Blood subsamples (BAS, n = 80; CON, n = 80) for serum cortisol and progesterone analysis were collected on d 0, 7, breeding (d 9 and d 10), and 106. Pregnancy was determined on d 106 via transrectal ultrasonography. Cortisol, progesterone, and change in BW were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedures of SAS while GENMOD was used for AI, pregnancy (pregnant vs. nonpregnant), and calving variables. Significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05. There were no effects on BW for treatment (P = 0.44) or treatment by day interaction (P = 0.75). However, cattle on d 106 were heavier compared to d 0, 7, and breeding day (P ˂ 0.01). There were no differences in BCS for treatment (P = 0.86) or treatment by day interaction (P = 0.91). There were no differences for cortisol concentrations for treatment (P = 0.34) or treatment by day interaction (P = 0.55). There were differences in day (P ˂ 0.01) for cortisol concentrations where d 0 had lower concentrations compared to breeding day and d 106 for all cattle. There were no effects on treatment (P = 0.15) or treatment by day interaction (P = 0.17) for progesterone concentrations. However, on d 0 all cattle had greater progesterone concentrations compared to d 10 (P ˂ 0.01). There were no observed differences in overall pregnancy (P = 0.34) or calving (P = 0.34). between treatments. Although there were no differences in overall pregnancy, 51.18% of cattle were open while 48.82% were bred. Pregnancy via AI showed significant differences (P ˂ 0.01) between treatments. In CON, 18 were bred via AI compared to 6 in BAS while 25 in BAS were bred via natural service (NS) compared to 13 in CON (P ˂ 0.01). Previous research has reported a reduction in stress when a bovine appeasing substance was applied. In our study, applying a bovine appeasing substance at estrous synchronization did not reduce stress at the time of AI and did not impact reproductive success.Agricultural Science
Promoting interdisciplinary student self-efficacy in population health competencies
No full textBackground:
The public health nursing (PHN) workforce needs expansion and improved readiness to meet the demands of evolving population health needs, care
in communities, and new disease threats. There is a gap in Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) education in preparing graduates with the competencies to ready them to enter the public health workforce. Many practicing PHNs are unfamiliar with the Quad Council Coalition (QCC) Community/Public Health Nursing Competencies and the competencies.
Program Goal:
Enhance nurse education and strengthen the nursing workforce through expansion of experiential learning using innovative simulation-based technology.Nursin
Latina Educators Advocating for their Daughters in the Public School System: Exploring Educational Journeys through Testimonio and Platica
No full textLatinas continue to confront barriers within the education system that must be overcome to achieve academic success and increase access for future generations. Using their educational journeys as navigational tools, this study shows how four Latina mother educators evolved into nepantleras, women with an understanding of nepantla, the metaphorical space between the cultural borders of Mexico and the US. This dissertation uses testimonio and plática to explore the uniquely different educational journeys of four Latina educators working in the public school system with the intended purpose of advocating for their daughters. The research sought to understand how their experiences informed their sense of advocacy for their daughters, students, and families to become bridges that link their communities to resources and empowerment. Using nepantla and funds of knowledge as a theoretical framework, three themes and subthemes emerged that shed light on their evolving narratives and insights as students in public school, daughters, mothers, and educators stewarding their own daughters through the school system. Themes and subthemes revealed from this study describe shared interpretations of their educational journeys (1) awareness of an institutionally biased narrative of themselves and their tamilies (2) familial cultural narrative influences personal identity and counters the institutional narrative (3) transformative narrative influences identity as agents of change in the wider ecosystem. For each theme, subthemes detail shared experiences in their own words, such as how they utilized their funds of knowledge in their school roles, grew their abilities to navigate educational institutions and developed personal agency to become intentional in the advocacy of their daughters, students, and families. They demonstrate comfort within the ambiguous space of nepantla by removing conflicts and barriers and embracing the creativity and hybridity of multiple perspectives. In their nepantlera roles they are bridges for the next generation of Latinas navigating nepantla, by offering guidance, knowledge, and advocacy.Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psycholog
Grassland soil respiration remains stable despite nutrient enrichment and soil disturbance
No full textGrasslands help mitigate climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon into the soil. Soil respiration is the primary terrestrial flux of CO₂ back into the atmosphere, releasing approximately 68-80 peta-grams annually. Though small changes in soil respiration can impact grassland carbon storage over long time periods, the impact of global change drivers like nutrient addition and soil disturbance on respiration is poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of soil disturbance and nutrient enrichment on soil respiration, and we hypothesize that these factors increase soil respiration, with their interaction resulting in a compounding effect. We constructed and used a globally coordinated Disturbance and Recovery Across Global Grasslands (DRAGNet) experiment in Temple, Texas, measuring soil respiration monthly during peak growing season in 2024. The experiment consists of 25, 5m*5m, plots arranged in a Latin square design for (1) Control (C), (2) NPKµ, (3) disturbance (D), (4) NPKµ + D, and (5) NPKµ cessation treatments Our results show that soil respiration in these experimental grassland plots follows a clear seasonal pattern, peaking in the height of the growing season and declining thereafter. Contrary to our initial hypotheses, neither nutrient addition nor soil disturbance significantly influenced soil respiration rates, though these measurements were taken months after treatment implementation. These findings indicate that factors beyond these treatments—such as root biomass, soil moisture dynamics, or microbial community shifts—may be more critical in regulating carbon fluxes in grassland ecosystems.Biolog
