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Identity Negotiation Strategies for Academic Success: A Qualitative Study of Latina Women’s Experiences in Highly Selective Institutions
No full textA lack of academic preparation, deficient knowledge of the United States’ higher education systems, and low socioeconomic status have ranked highest in contributing to Latinos not achieving the same level of academic access and completion when compared to their peers. In the last decade, the number of Latinos who were able to successfully overcome such barriers and gain access to higher education has increased; however, there is still a clear underrepresentation at higher education institutions. A recently explored topic is identity negotiation and the strategies used to reconcile, adapt, or assert different aspects of a person’s identity to be more culturally attuned to higher education. While there is ample literature as to Latinos in higher education, generally, there is a gap in the literature regarding the strategies employed by Latinos who do successfully complete their education to understand the strategies employed to succeed, with little to none found specifically to understand the strategies that Latina women employ to negotiate their identities within highly selective, predominantly White institutions. This qualitative study seeks to further investigate those strategies of Latinas who successfully achieved their educational goals at their highly selective institutions
Multiple Means: Applying Core Concepts from the Universal Design for Learning in the Applied Saxophone Studio Space
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to provide methods and rationale for the implementation of pedagogical techniques from Universal Design for Learning in the applied saxophone studio space. Universal Design for Learning is separated into three important sections, which are Multiple Means of Engagement, Multiple Means of Representation, and Multiple Means of Action and Expression, each of which assist in the formation of lessons that create equitable learning experiences for all students. This document will present effective teaching strategies that are specific to the private saxophone studio space, which I have developed over the course of my experience teaching private lessons. Metrics for analyzing the effectiveness of these teaching methods and philosophies will be presented, specifically discussing how private saxophone instructors can better plan for their lessons and how they can assess the effectiveness of their teaching. The goal of this paper is to start an open conversation on the validity of educational philosophy in the applied studio environment, and how these ideas can assist in the understanding and retention of the information that instructors present to their private students
The Impact of Targeted Professional Development for Trauma-Informed Strategies on Teacher Efficacy in Managing Student Behavior in an Alternative School Setting
Get PDFEven though there has been a significant rise in the occurrences of childhood trauma,
school districts have been reluctant to consider the implications for students and deliver
professional development for teachers in the use of trauma-informed strategies. The purpose of
the design-based school improvement intervention was to introduce trauma-informed practices to
positively impact the management of student behavior and build stronger teacher-student
relationships for secondary teachers in a District Alternative Educational Program. In this
qualitative study, the researcher measured the impact of targeted professional development,
which included a better understanding of trauma, the populations of students that trauma impacts disproportionally, the effective use of selected trauma-informed strategies, and the use of self-
care strategies. Findings revealed positive impacts on the participants’ effectiveness in managing student behavior and cultivating and sustaining positive teacher-student relationships. The data
collected in the study, including participant interviews, surveys, observations, and journal
entries, reveals the potential for wider implementation of the study
Effects of Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) Control by Herbicide on Understory Forage Elements and Soil Dynamics
No full textHuisache (Vachellia farnesiana) and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) are both native but invasive woody shrubs. Huisache’s ability to rapidly take over a landscape, and mesquite’s trait of being the first to invade land after a disturbance create a devasting mix that can cause problems for land managers and landowners (Taylor, 2014). From 2022-2024, I studied huisache presence, species composition, forage biomass and nutrition, and soil nutrients at three properties in south Texas that are piloting a novel method of huisache control. In the first year of treatment, they sprayed a reduced rate of less-expensive chemicals (compared to standard recommended treatments) across the whole pasture (24 oz Grazon, 4 oz Tordon, and .4 oz MSM 60). In the second and third years they sprayed the same reduced rate in 60-foot alternating strips. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of this novel herbicide control method for huisache and understand its effects on forage production, soil composition, and forage nutrition. The results show that treatment resulted in a dramatic decrease in huisache canopy cover and a slight decrease in mesquite canopy cover; forage biomass also increased while total species composition was unaffected. Furthermore, soil nutrients like nitrogen and sulfur increased from the pre-spray periods to the post spray periods, while soil pH levels decreased, becoming more acidic. Finally, the forage nutrition collected during the study was not affected by the treatment. These results can help give landowners and land managers more options when it comes to treatment methods, while also allowing them to consider the risks and benefits
Investigating the synergistic effects of Acid-Producing Bacteria as Natural Antimicrobials Against Salmonella Serovars
No full textThis thesis delves into pathogen control within the meat sector, specifically focusing on
the beef industry and addressing the persistent challenges posed by microbial contamination
despite current intervention strategies. The literature review highlights the critical need for
effective solutions, with a focus on acid-producing bacteria (APB) as a promising alternative for
both pre-harvest and post-harvest interventions. By producing organic acids, APBs create hostile
environments for pathogens, including Salmonella, which remains a significant public health
threat due to its survival capabilities and pathogenicity.
Study I investigates the antimicrobial potential of 15 different APB strains against various
Salmonella serovars. The study demonstrates that these bacteria, particularly Propionibacterium
strains, significantly lower the pH of their environment and exhibit strong inhibitory effects on
Salmonella. S. Enteritidis was the most inhibited, while S. Heidelberg was the least inhibited.
The findings suggest that APBs are more effective than organic acids alone in enhancing food
safety by inhibiting pathogen proliferation.
Building on these insights, Study II explores the synergistic effects of multi-strain APB
combinations against seven Salmonella serovars. This study reveals that these combinations
produce higher concentrations of organic acids and demonstrate strong antimicrobial activity.
Particularly, the combination of two Propionibacterium strains, one Lactobacillus strain, and one
Bifidobacterium strain was the most effective, achieving significant inhibition of several
Salmonella serovars. This indicates a promising sustainable strategy for reducing Salmonella
contamination in food production environments, further enhancing the understanding of how
combined APB strains can be more effective than individual strains.
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Texas Tech University, Maria Camila Duarte Villanueva, December, 2024
Overall, this research underscores the potential of APB in creating sustainable and
effective pathogen control strategies in the meat industry, enhancing food safety from farm to
fork. These comprehensive studies provide valuable insights into the application of APB for
mitigating risks associated with foodborne pathogens, particularly Salmonella, and contribute to
the development of more integrated approaches to food safety. This holistic approach presents a
significant step forward in improving food safety protocols and protecting public health
Rapid Sampling and Polarimetric Statistics of Lightning With a Phased Array Radar
Get PDFPrevious studies of lightning detection by radar mostly consisted of observations with reflector-antenna systems yielding slow volume scan times. Phased array radars offer much faster scan times that are likely to capture echoes from propagating lightning channels. Rapidly updated range-height indicator scans were used to observe severe storms that occurred in central Oklahoma with the fully digital S-band Horus PAR to examine echoes from lightning plasma. Numerous lightning echoes were observed during the sampling period in good spatial and temporal agreement with lightning mapping array detections of very high frequency radiation sources. Statistically, they result in increased horizontal reflectivity factor, deviations in radial velocity and spectrum width, highly variable differential reflectivity and differential phase, and decreases in correlation coefficient. Results presented also highlight the capability of phased array radars to better observe lightning compared to current radars, and aid in the study of storm electrification and lightning physics
Weed Management for Sustainable Cotton Production in West Texas
No full textThis research investigates the effect of commonly used herbicides and varying irrigation levels on soil health, weed management, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) productivity in the Texas High Plains over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024). The study addresses the challenges faced by cotton growers due to water scarcity from declining Ogallala aquifer levels and weed infestations, particularly by Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), in a semi-arid climate. By evaluating the impact of pre-emergent herbicides (trifluralin, prometryn, S-metolachlor, and acetochlor) and post-emergent herbicides (glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba) applied at recommended and double field rates on soil health, and by examining how different irrigation levels [100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and 50% ETc] affect herbicide efficacy, the research study aims to provide insights for sustainable cotton production.
The results indicate that the application of these herbicides did not adversely affect soil health indicators such as soil organic matter, pH, or electrical conductivity, even when used at twice the recommended rates. Application of pre-emergent herbicides, S-metolachlor and acetochlor enhanced soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, suggesting stimulation of microbial activity and maintained or increased β-glucosidase enzyme activity, which is crucial for soil carbon cycling. Regarding cotton productivity, herbicide application improved plant growth parameters, including height and biomass. Pre-emergent herbicides, particularly prometryn and S-metolachlor at higher rates, significantly increased lint and seed yield compared to untreated control and post-emergent herbicides, especially dicamba at 2x recommended rate, resulted in the highest lint and seed yield in both years.
When examining the impact of irrigation levels on herbicide efficacy, the study found that reducing irrigation to 50% ETc did not significantly affect total weed density or biomass but effectively reduced the height and biomass of Palmer amaranth, a most troublesome herbicide-resistant weed. Herbicide treatments included pre-emergent herbicides followed by a tank-mix of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides, which were most effective in controlling weeds, such as a combination of acetochlor, prometryn or S-metolachlor, respectively, with glyphosate significantly reduced weed density and biomass compared to untreated control and sole pre-emergent application. Despite the reduction in cotton plant height under deficit irrigation, lint yield was comparable between two irrigation levels (50% ETc and 100% ETc) due to effective weed control and timely precipitation during the boll-setting stage, which mitigated the stress from reduced irrigation. The sequential herbicide application, particularly S-metolachlor and acetochlor, resulted in significantly higher lint yield than untreated control under both irrigation levels.
In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the most common cotton herbicides recommended can effectively control weeds without harming soil health. It also demonstrates that deficit irrigation is a viable water-saving strategy that does not compromise cotton yield and herbicide efficacy. Farmers can enhance weed control and sustain cotton productivity in semi-arid regions facing water scarcity by integrating effective herbicide management programs with optimized irrigation practices. This research provides valuable insights for developing sustainable cotton production systems that balance effective weed management, soil health preservation, and efficient water use
Fat-Free Mass: Friend or Foe to Metabolic Health?
Get PDFBackground: Fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) are body composition estimates commonly reported in research studies and clinical settings. Recently, fat-free mass indexed to height (fat-free mass index; FFMI) has been shown to be positively associated with impaired insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance. Consequently, hypertrophic resistance training which can increase FFM was also questioned. This paper sets out to evaluate these propositions. Methods: In this narrative review, we discuss possible reasons that link FFMI to adverse metabolic health outcomes including the limitations of the body composition model that utilizes FFM. The safety of resistance training is also briefly discussed. Results: Approximately 50% of FFM is comprised of skeletal muscle (SM), with the other 50% being viscera, skin, and bone; FFM and SM cannot be conflated. FFM and fat mass (FM) can both rise with increasing body weight and adiposity, indicating a positive correlation between the two compartments. Risk assessment models not adequately adjusting for this correlation may cause erroneous conclusions, however which way FM and FFM are indexed. Adipose tissue accumulation with weight gain, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or bioelectrical impedance, can inflate FFM estimates owing to increased connective tissue. Increased adiposity can also result in fat deposition within skeletal muscle disrupting metabolic health. Importantly, non-skeletal muscle components of the FFM, i.e., the liver and pancreas, both critical in metabolic health, can also be negatively affected by the same lifestyle factors that impact SM. The most frequently used body composition techniques used to estimate FM and FFM cannot detect muscle, liver or pancreas fat infiltration. Prospective evidence demonstrates that resistance training is a safe and effective exercise modality across all ages, especially in older adults experiencing age- or disease-related declines in muscle health. Conclusions: The association between FFM and insulin resistance is largely an artefact driven by inadequate assessment of skeletal muscle. If FM and FFM are used, at the minimum, they need to be evaluated in context with one another. Body composition methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging, which measures skeletal muscle rather than fat-free mass, and adipose tissue as well as muscle ectopic fat, are preferred methods. Resistance training is important in achieving and maintaining good health across the lifespan. While strength and power are critical components of resistance training, the reduction of skeletal mass through ageing or disease may require hypertrophic training to mitigate and slow down the progression of this often-inevitable process